By IANS,
New Delhi : The next round of talks with Gorkhaland activists will be held Dec 21 after a “positive outcome” of the previous rounds, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here Tuesday.
Three rounds of talks have been held between the central government, the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). The third round Aug 11 was chaired by the home secretary.
“I may point out that the GJM leadership has been positive about the outcome of the talks. The next round of talks is planned Dec 21 at Darjeeling,” Chidambaram told reporters here.
The centre, the West Bengal government and representatives of the GJM, at their tripartite talks Aug 11, agreed in principle to do away with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and set up an alternative framework.
The GJM, led by president Bimal Gurung, has been spearheading a movement for setting up a separate Gorkhaland state by bifucrcating West Bengal. The organisation has been mobilising a movement in the hills also for opposing the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling district.