Gorkhaland issue resolved, says Mamata
KOLKATA(IANS):West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday claimed that the over two-decade-old contentious issue of a separate Gorkhaland in the state's northern part has been resolved and an agreement signed. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, spearheading the demand, however said it has not gone back on its demand.
"I want to inform you that Darjeeling problem has been solved. We are very happy. You all know that official level talks were going on. An agreement has been signed," Banerjee told media persons here after the talks between West Bengal government officials and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which was spearheading the Gorkhaland movement.
Congratulating the people of Darjeeling for their long struggle, the chief minister said she has already informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram about the development and will visit Darjeeling "very soon" for a tripartite meeting where the final agreement will be inked.
"Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed. It has been decided at the official level. Rest of the details will be given to you soon," said Banerjee, with GJM leaders including its secretary general Roshan Giri by her side.
"We will visit Darjeeling very soon. We want the tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM) to be held in Darjeeling only. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only," she said.
The chief minister said the central government has been requested to make arrangements for the tri-partite meeting in Darjeeling.
"It was not one-side traffic, it was both-side traffic. We from the core of our heart wanted to solve the Darjeeling matter and we have solved it. Everything has been done keeping in mind the interests of both sides," said Banerjee when asked to spell out the magic formula that brought about the breakthrough.
"Today's meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy," Giri told reporters.
However, GJM legislator and party spokesman Harka Bahadur Chhettri said his party has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaland.
The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland covering parts of northern Bengal gained momentum during the 1980s under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghising. But the reins of the movement were later taken over by the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which forced Ghising out of the hills.
KOLKATA(IANS):West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday claimed that the over two-decade-old contentious issue of a separate Gorkhaland in the state's northern part has been resolved and an agreement signed. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, spearheading the demand, however said it has not gone back on its demand.
"I want to inform you that Darjeeling problem has been solved. We are very happy. You all know that official level talks were going on. An agreement has been signed," Banerjee told media persons here after the talks between West Bengal government officials and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which was spearheading the Gorkhaland movement.
Congratulating the people of Darjeeling for their long struggle, the chief minister said she has already informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram about the development and will visit Darjeeling "very soon" for a tripartite meeting where the final agreement will be inked.
"Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed. It has been decided at the official level. Rest of the details will be given to you soon," said Banerjee, with GJM leaders including its secretary general Roshan Giri by her side.
"We will visit Darjeeling very soon. We want the tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM) to be held in Darjeeling only. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only," she said.
The chief minister said the central government has been requested to make arrangements for the tri-partite meeting in Darjeeling.
"It was not one-side traffic, it was both-side traffic. We from the core of our heart wanted to solve the Darjeeling matter and we have solved it. Everything has been done keeping in mind the interests of both sides," said Banerjee when asked to spell out the magic formula that brought about the breakthrough.
"Today's meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy," Giri told reporters.
However, GJM legislator and party spokesman Harka Bahadur Chhettri said his party has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaland.
The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland covering parts of northern Bengal gained momentum during the 1980s under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghising. But the reins of the movement were later taken over by the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which forced Ghising out of the hills.
Darjeeling issue settled: Mamata Banerjee
KOLKATA(PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.
"Today is a historic day. The Darjeeling issue which has been lingering for a long period is settled at the official-level talks. I have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram," Banerjee told reporters at the Writers' Buildings.
Asked about the 'magic formula' that clinched the agreement, Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, "It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development."
Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, "I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present."
Asked if a financial package will be given to Darjeeling, she retorted, "Shall I attend a wedding without a gift? We love the people of Darjeeling."
Later GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that transfer of 'tauji' or the right over tea gardens and resolution of the problem of casual employees of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council were reached at the meeting.
Asked about the GJM's original demand for Gorkhaland, Giri declined to comment.
Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.
KOLKATA(PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.
"Today is a historic day. The Darjeeling issue which has been lingering for a long period is settled at the official-level talks. I have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram," Banerjee told reporters at the Writers' Buildings.
Asked about the 'magic formula' that clinched the agreement, Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, "It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development."
Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, "I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present."
Asked if a financial package will be given to Darjeeling, she retorted, "Shall I attend a wedding without a gift? We love the people of Darjeeling."
Later GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that transfer of 'tauji' or the right over tea gardens and resolution of the problem of casual employees of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council were reached at the meeting.
Asked about the GJM's original demand for Gorkhaland, Giri declined to comment.
Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.
Mamata claims Darjeeling dispute resolved
Kolkata(CNN-IBN): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that the Darjeeling dispute has been resolved and a formal agreement with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has also been signed. Mamata said that she has informed the Union Home Ministry about the agreement.
Mamata said that the West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would talk to the Center and hold a formal tripartite meeting in Darjeeling and formalise the agreement.
However, the agreement does not talk about the separate state of Gorkhakland.
According to the agreement between the state government and the GJM an autonomous body with financial, executive and administrative powers will be formed. The bill regarding the setting up of the autonomous body will be passed in the next West Bengal Assembly session.
The body will have more powers than the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
A committee will also be formed to find if the new body should have jurisdiction over the Dooars, Siliguri and Terai along with the Darjeeling hills where the Gorkhas are in a majority.
The committee will be set up in the next two days and will submit its report in six months. After the report is submitted a tripartite meeting with the Centre and the entire agreement would be finalised.
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri welcomed the agreement and said they have not diluted their demand for Gorkhaland.
"We have not compromise with the demand of Gorkhaland. The committee has been formed, which will give its report. The agreement is yet to be reached which will be done in time. The Chief Minister understood the problem. It's not a final agreement. We will rectified it later and the agreement will be signed later. On the issue of land management of tea garden, a committee has been formed which will give report," said Giri.
The GJM sees the agreement as a step towards the formation of Gorkhaland. Mamata had promised to settle the dispute within two months if she won the Assembly elections and now she can claim to have fulfilled her promise in 18 days.
Kolkata(CNN-IBN): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that the Darjeeling dispute has been resolved and a formal agreement with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has also been signed. Mamata said that she has informed the Union Home Ministry about the agreement.
Mamata said that the West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would talk to the Center and hold a formal tripartite meeting in Darjeeling and formalise the agreement.
However, the agreement does not talk about the separate state of Gorkhakland.
According to the agreement between the state government and the GJM an autonomous body with financial, executive and administrative powers will be formed. The bill regarding the setting up of the autonomous body will be passed in the next West Bengal Assembly session.
The body will have more powers than the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
A committee will also be formed to find if the new body should have jurisdiction over the Dooars, Siliguri and Terai along with the Darjeeling hills where the Gorkhas are in a majority.
The committee will be set up in the next two days and will submit its report in six months. After the report is submitted a tripartite meeting with the Centre and the entire agreement would be finalised.
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri welcomed the agreement and said they have not diluted their demand for Gorkhaland.
"We have not compromise with the demand of Gorkhaland. The committee has been formed, which will give its report. The agreement is yet to be reached which will be done in time. The Chief Minister understood the problem. It's not a final agreement. We will rectified it later and the agreement will be signed later. On the issue of land management of tea garden, a committee has been formed which will give report," said Giri.
The GJM sees the agreement as a step towards the formation of Gorkhaland. Mamata had promised to settle the dispute within two months if she won the Assembly elections and now she can claim to have fulfilled her promise in 18 days.
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