By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan Friday backed the state government saying it was not responsible for delaying the dialogue process in the Darjeeling hills.
Asked if the government was deliberately delaying the process, Narayanan said: “It’s certainly not the case. There are issues but I don’t think the state government can be accused of delaying the process.”
Describing as “bad” the situation in the Darjeeling Hills, made up of sub-divisions Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, Narayanan said the talks have to go on between the state government, the central government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM).
“All parties must behave with a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Several rounds of tripartite talks have failed to yield results over the demand of the GJM for a separate Gorkhaland state, to be carved out of the Darjeeling district and parts of neighbouring Jalpaiguri.
Tension flared up in the hills after two GJM activists were killed Tuesday in police firing.