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Tripartite meet on Gorkhaland issue

KOLKATA: A tripartite meeting involving the Centre, the State and the leadership of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to resolve the political stalemate in the Darjeeling hills is likely to be held in New Delhi in the second week of this month.

The Centre has sent a communication to the State administration stating that it is agreeable to the talks, State Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakravarty said here on Friday.

The Chief Secretary will probably be representing the State.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had spoken to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil last month seeking such a meeting as was being demanded by the GJM leadership.

The GJM has stepped up its campaign for a separate State and called for replacing the letters “WB” (West Bengal) with “GL” (Gorkhaland) on the number plates of all government cars in the Darjeeling hills from August 8.

“This is applicable to all cars owned by the government.

“It is, however, not meant for cars used by the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate,” Mr. Giri said.

The State administration has said that legal steps would be taken if the number plates of vehicles in the hills are changed as was being demanded by the GJM.

Mr. Giri also described as “meaningless” the non-official motion adopted by the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday that ruled out any division of the State.

“The motion is meaningless and irrelevant and we shall continue our movement for self-determination and the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State,” he said.

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