Mamata hopes to end Darjeeling stand-off
KOLKATA: An hour-long meeting on Tuesday between three most important political parties of Darjeeling that are demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decided to take steps to withdraw the bandh that had been continuing for the past 78 days.
The decision on withdrawal of the strike will be taken in a meeting of the central committee after members of the political parties return to Darjeeling. But all the political parties from the Hills have unanimously agreed to restore peace in Darjeeling during the meeting headed by the Chief Minister at Nabanna on Tuesday.
Expressing her satisfaction over the hour-long “positive and cordial meeting” with leaders of major political parties including Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and Jana Andolan Party (JAP), Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: “The door for dialogue has opened and the dialogue will continue.”
There will be a meeting again at 3 pm on September 12 in the state government’s administrative headquarters in North Bengal — Uttar Kanya — with members of the political party on the issue.
She said: “GJM, GNLF and JAP have raised the issue of Gorkhaland as it is their prerogative and they have their right to raise their voice in a democracy. However, we have clearly stated that we will not discuss the issue of Gorkhaland and at the end everybody agreed to the point that we want to restore normalcy for which the process has started with today’s (Tuesday) interaction. The dialogue and regular interaction will continue.”
Stating that the state government has requested them to withdraw the bandh at the earliest as it is continuing for the past so many days and hampering development work, the Chief Minister said: “All in the meeting are in favour of restoration of peace in the Hills. But they have to speak to other members of their respective parties to take a decision on withdrawing the indefinite strike that has adversely affected the tea sector, education, transport and tourism sector. Withdrawal of the bandh is essential to give respite to the people of the Hills.”