In a bid to placate the angry Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday blamed the Centre for the delay in the implementation of the GTA agreement and assured them that she would herself meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the third week of February for its early implementation.
The GJM president Bimal Gurung had on Wednesday served an ultimatum to the state government and the Centre and threatened to burn the copy of the GTA accord on April 17 if the tripartite agreement was not implemented by March 27. Ms Banerjee’s meeting with the GJM delegation took place in the midst of this tension. She justified the GJM anger. Mr Gurung himself did not attend the meeting, but a five-member GJM team led by party general secretary Roshan Giri held a30-minute meeting with Ms Banerjee.
After the meeting, Ms Banerjee said the GJM leaders were “offended” and she agreed with them. “The Centre has delayed (the implementation ) of the tripartite agreement not us. They sought clarification which immediately provided. The demand of the GJM is totally justified. I will talk to the PM on the GTA on February 23 or 24 and will then come to Darjeeling on February 28 with several development projects,” she announced.
Later, it was learnt that the PMO had given her an appointment for evening of February 22.
Acknowledging that their meeting was “good” Mr Giri voiced his happiness over Ms Banerjee’s assurances. “The CM said that she would herself meet the Pm on either February 23 or 24.”