Telangana model cannot be applied in Bengal: Pranab

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee once again made it clear that she will not support the demand for a separate state for Darjeeling Gorkhas. We do not want any division of Bengal, said Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on Saturday.

The GJM,meanwhile,announced that the 96-hour-bandh,starting December 14,will not be withdrawn. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had urged the Gorkha leadership that they should desist from bandhs when a tri-partite talk is slated in Darjeeling on December 21.

Kishenji demands autonomy for 3 Bengal dists

KOLKATA: A demand for autonomy for three tribal-dominated districts of West Midnapore,Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal was made by a top Maoist leader on Saturday,who also justified the Gorkhaland statehood issue.We demand autonomy for the three districts on the lines of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, Maoist leader Kishenji told PTI from an undisclosed location. He alleged that the West Bengal government had denied the legitimate rights of the people of the districts. We demand autonomy to protect the language,culture and religious beliefs of tribals. PTI