The Hindu : New Delhi News : Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee invites Gurung for talks

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Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
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Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee invites Gurung for talks

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: A day after it was decided to hold discussions “without preconditions” with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which is demanding the formation of a separate State, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday sent an invitation to GJM president Bimal Gurung for talks.

Tuesday’s all-party meeting here reiterated that there should be no bifurcation of the State but the government would initiate talks with the GJM leadership to “find a political solution to a political problem.”

The Chief Minister has been stressing that his government is prepared to grant greater regional autonomy with additional administrative and financial powers to the Darjeeling hill region.

A copy of the resolution adopted at the meeting was also sent to Mr. Gurung.

The GJM leadership, which has been insisting on tripartite talks involving the Centre, on Tuesday expressed its disinclination to sit for separate discussions with the State government.

The bandh called by the GJM continued to be observed in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling distric. Sikkim still remained cut off from the rest of the country with its lifeline — NH 31 A, a stretch of which passes through the Darjeeling hills — closed to traffic.

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