Gorkha tripartite meeting likely next week

The Centre is likely to convene next week a tripartite meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and West Bengal Government to sort out differences on the proposed pact for creating a Gorkhaland Autonomous Authority.

Official sources said the GJM has requested the Home Ministry to convene a tripartite meeting to discuss the issues concerning the proposed agreement as the outfit wanted a review of certain provisions of it.

The Home Ministry is awaiting the response of the West Bengal government to the GJM request for the tripartite dialogue.

“Once we get the nod of the State government, the meeting will be called. Hopefully, it will take place next week,” sources said.

The GJM has been insisting inclusion of more areas in the proposed Gorkhaland Autonomous Authority (GAA) than what the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council have i.e. only three sub-divisions in Darjeeling district.

The GJM wants that other areas such as Mal, Matiali, Nagrakata, Phansidewa and Birpara in Dooars should also come under the proposed GAA.

The divesting of certain legislative powers to the GAA is another contentious issue. None of the bodies such as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council have such wide-ranging powers which are being proposed by the GJM.

The proposed agreement includes holding direct elections to the proposed GAA and vesting it with certain legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers.

Sources said the Centre was not going to accede any “unconstitutional” demands even though West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in a hurry to resolve the Gorkhaland issue quickly.

Since its inception in 2007, the GJM has been fighting for a separate State that includes Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district in the plains and contiguous areas in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district. 

-PTI