By IANS,
Kolkata : A tri-partite meeting between the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, the West Bengal and the central government on the issue of a separate Gorkhaland in the Darjeeling hills is likely to be held in New Delhi later this month, state Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said here Friday.
“The centre has agreed to hold the meeting in Delhi. The date and agenda are yet to be finalised, but most likely it will be held in the second week of this month,” Chakraborty told reporters.
The home ministry’s communication to this effect was received by state Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, who would represent the West Bengal government in the discussions.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, meanwhile, held a series of meetings with Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya and senior officials on the Darjeeling issue Friday.
The GJM, led by its president Bimal Gurung, has been spearheading a movement in the hills for a separate Gorkhaland state, besides opposing the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling district that offers greater autonomy to the hill governing body Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).
The GJM had demanded the tripartite talks.
The party had organised an indefinite shutdown in the hills twice over its demand for a separate state, severely hitting industry and tourism – the bread and butter of the region.