Darjeeling issue to be settled through negotiation: Sitaram Yechury

Addressing an election rally here, the senior leader said there was no room for any violence in democratic politics. He said any dispute could be settled across the table and the Darjeeling issue would also be solved through negotiation.

He said they would not encourage any violence since this method did not work in a democratic society.

West Bengal government, he added, had been working hard to uplift the condition of the people in the Hills and would so also in future.

The Rajya Sabha member said, ''We want peace and prosperity in the Hills and return of the democracy in Darjeeling.'' He also appealed to elect the Left Front candidates in three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

The CPI(M) leader also lashed out at the Centre alleging that corruption had gripped the United Progressive Alliance Government.

He said the 2G spectrum scam had deprived the government of Rs 1.73 lakh crore, which could have enabled the government to distribute rice and wheat to over 80 per cent poor people at the rate of Rs 2 per kilogram.

--UNI