As the Centre sets in motion the process for creation of a separate Telangana state, it has assured the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC), who have been pitching their demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, that their concerns will be addressed sooner than later.
Darjeeling has witnessed a spate of agitations and unrest over the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state following the Centre’s decision to create Telangana.
On Tuesday, the Union home ministry promised the GJAC leaders that it will convene a tripartite meeting soon involving the West Bengal government and Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) to discuss the demand for Gorkhaland. Soon after the government’s assurance, the agitators hinted at suspending their indefinite strike in Darjeeling.
Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde conveyed to a delegation of Gorkha leaders led by Darjeeling MP and BJP leader Jaswant Singh that Union home secretary Anil Goswami will soon hold the meeting with chief secretary of West Bengal and GJAC leaders to discuss the demand for separate state.
“I will also talk to the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) to discuss the issue,” Mr Shinde told reporters after the meeting.
He also asked the agitators to withdraw their ongoing indefinite strike in Darjeeling and its adjoining areas as it was causing hardships to the people.
“The home minister appealed to us to withdraw the agitation. Since the government agreed to GJAC’s demand for talks, we are ready to consider the appeal. GJAC will take a final decision,” GJAC leader Roshan Giri told reporters.
GJAC is a conglomerate of eight pro-Gorkhaland parties. Mr Giri said they were ready to resolve the issue through negotiations.
Soon after the UPA government announced its decision for carving out Telangana state, all the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling continued to remain paralysed following a call of indefinite shutdown by the GJAC. The GJAC had earlier asked people to strictly observe its “Ghar Bhitre Janta” (people inside homes) programme during state chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s two-day stay in the hills from Monday.