GJM reiterates Gorkhaland demand

KOLKATA:(Express News Service) : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which began the official-level talks with the state government on Monday, reiterated its demand for a separate Gorkhaland.  Although the GJM may put more emphasis on territorial jurisdiction, the party on Monday sent out the feelers that the demand for Gorkhaland was an emotive issue and would always remain a part of their discussions. “The meeting was fruitful but incomplete. We will have a meeting tomorrow as well. We have raised seven points including territory… The (Gorkhaland) demand is always there,” said GJM secretary Roshan Giri.

A seven-member delegation, including four MLAs and led by Giri, met state Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and other state officials on Monday. The bilateral meeting followed GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s show of support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.   The GJM was expected to ask for greater autonomy and increase of territory than what was earlier included in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).  The GJM had been demanding that the entire Terai and Dooars be included in the DGHC. However, the GJM later softened its stand on Gorkhaland demand after its chief Bimal Gurung’s meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 30. Gurung had then dismissed the issue saying they would “talk about Gorkhaland later”.  The GJM has reposed faith in the Mamata Government to tide over the impasse in the Hills and had said that they “didn’t want to put any pressure on the new government”.  Even Home Minister P Chidambaram advised them to “co-operate” with the state government. If the official-level talks are successful, it will be followed by talks at the political-level.