Gorkhaland issue: Home min to hold tripartite talks after Puja

Darjeeling/New Delhi: In order to find a permanent solution to the long-pending demands of the Gorkha people, the Union home ministry has decided to hold a tripartite talk with the representatives from the Centre, the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) after the forthcoming Puja vacations.

The Union home secretary announced this soon after a meeting with the representatives of the GJM in New Delhi on Friday. The home secretary also assured the GJM representatives that a fact-finding team would be sent to Darjeeling and other places to look into the charges of misuse of law-and-order machinery by the district administration and police.

Stressing on the need for finding a political solution to the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas and other people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong district, Terai and Dooars region at the earliest, the GJM also demanded introduction of a bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament for inclusion of 11 tribes – Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha and Dhimal – into the ST list.

During the talks, the GJM members also urged the Union home ministry to constitute an expert committee to study the economic, administrative and political viability of Gorkhaland state which will include the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Terai and Dooars region.

The GJM also demanded the Centre to create a conducive atmosphere in Darjeeling region so that proper dialogue could begin.

Alleging that an undeclared “police raj” was imposed in Darjeeling, “where false and fabricated cases are/being slapped against anyone who is even remotely deemed of being supportive of the demand for Gorkhaland”, the GJM also called for a high-level inquiry into all deaths during the Gorkhaland agitation.

The meeting was attended by Union home secretary and other MHA officials on behalf of the government, and was led by Lobsang Yolmo, the former Gorkhaland Terrirorial Administration chairman.