The Hindu : National : “GJM may settle for alternative set-up”

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“GJM may settle for alternative set-up”

Marcus Dam

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is of the impression that the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) campaigning for a separate State to be carved out of the Darjeeling hills and certain contiguous areas, is reconciled to the fact that its demand for a Gorkhaland State will not be met, at least for some time to come.

That it has settled for an administrative arrangement with greater financial and administrative powers (than that vested in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) was evident during the tripartite talks held in New Delhi on Tuesday, the State’s Home Secretary, Ardhendu Sen, said here on Wednesday.

The talks were convened by the Centre to find a way out of the political stalemate in the Darjeeling hills arising from the GJM’s statehood demand.

The West Bengal government reiterated that it did not feel that a situation has arisen that warrants the creation of a separate State.

There can be development in the region through discussions, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said.

Mr. Chakraborty and Mr. Sen were among those who had attended the tripartite talks.

The alternative administrative set-up proposed for the Darjeeling hills as decided at the tripartite talks will be determined following consultations between the Centre, the State government and the GJM leadership, it was decided .

It is too early to suggest what sort of a shape the alternative set-up will take. “Each of the parties will have to agree on the model before it can be put in place,” District Magistrate, Darjeeling, Surendra Gupta, who was also present at the tripartite talks told The Hindu.

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