GJM seeks political dialogue on demand for separate Gorkhaland
Darjeeling: Union Home Secretary GK Pillai has said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has asked for a political-level discussion at the next round of talks. Talking
to reporters after holding tripartite talks with representatives of the GJM and
the State government here on Monday, Pillai said: "We had detailed discussions
with the state government and the GJM on various aspects of the formation of the
state of Gorkhaland, the issues involved and the political consensus that needed
to be created which is not there at the moment." "We looked at the various Constitutional
provisions as well as the manner in which new states are created...giving the
present circumstances, the GJM indicated that they would like the next round of
talks to be held at the political level. They suggested that these talks be held
at the political-level within 45 days," he added. The state government and the
Centre will give their views and we will come before them (GJM) within that period,"
Pillai said. Asked if the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), set up in 1988,
would continue to function, Pillai said: "It will do so if it is not repealed.
In the last tripartite meeting in Delhi on August 11, it was agreed to abolish
DGHC and work for an alternative framework in Darjeeling ." However, representatives
of the GJM said the only solution was to create a separate state. "They said that
they would be getting back to the Home Minister. They will be talking with them...our
only demand is Gorkhaland, we didn't budge an inch from the demand of Gorkhaland.
We have made it very clear that nothing sort of Gorkhaland is created the problem
can't be solved," said Roshan Giri , general secretary of GJM. Gorkhas, who are
ethnic Nepalese, have been demanding that a separate state should be carved out
of the Darjeeling region, which would help them to protect their culture and heritage.
The demand for Gorkhaland gained momentum after New Delhi announced last week
that it would carve out a new state of Telangana out of the present state of Andhra
Pradesh in south India.
