Gorkhaland creation not in our jurisdiction: Mamata
An hour long meeting between three most significant political parties of Darjeeling that are demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland and chief minister Mamata Banerjee failed to decide on a date for withdrawing the indefinite shutdown in the hills, which has been continuing since June 15.
Though the parties raised their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, the chief minister said that the state government made it clear that it was beyond their jurisdiction. “They raised the demand for the separate state of Gorkhaland. Everyone has the democratic right to place a demand. But we made it clear that it was beyond our jurisdiction,” remarked Mamata Banerjee after the meeting.
“Gorkhaland is their issue, and also their sentiment. But we also have our compulsions,” remarked the CM at a press conference after the meeting.
“Gorkhaland is our century old issue that we have raised. The state government has given its views. Now we will go back, discuss and decide the future course of action,” said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) coordinator Binay Tamang.
In short, it indicates the agitators can’t have much hope for Gorkhaland. On August 13, Union home minister Rajnath Singh told the agitators in Delhi that they should approach the Bengal chief minister for talks. The message was clear: the Centre was not interested in carving out a separate state.
Tamang also said the issue of lifting the bandh will be a part of the matters to be discussed among the hill parties.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Gorkha National Liberation Front and Jan Andolan Party representatives were present at the meeting. The chief secretary, home secretary and ministers Partha Chatterjee, Aroop Biswas and Indranil Sen were present in the meeting.
“The meeting was positive and the atmosphere was cordial. The dialogue for restoring normalcy has begun. The next meeting will be held in Uttarkanya (in Siliguri) and on September 12,” said the chief minister. “All the parties agreed to restoring normalcy. Let them take time,” the CM said.
So far nine persons have lost their lives in the agitation that became violent intermittently since June 8 when the first violence began in Darjeeling in presence of the chief minister.
“We have requested the hill parties to lift the bandh. But they have to decide. We can only appeal to them,” she said.
Gorkhaland is our century old issue that we have raised. The state government has given its views. Now we will go back, discuss and decide the future course of action BINAY TAMANG, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) coordinator