Gurung congratulates Mamata, says ray of hope after 34 years

Kolkata, May 30 (PTI): Pinning hopes in the new West Bengal government, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today appeared to soften its stand on Gorkhaland statehood, even as an official-level meeting to look into the Darjeeling issue was announced for June 6."We want an early solution to the Darjeeling problem," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters after a meeting with GJM President Bimal Gurung, General Secretary Roshan Giri and four newly-elected Morcha MLAs at the Writers' Building.Apparently softening its demand for Gorkhaland, Gurung said after the meeting, "this is not the time to discuss the issue." Describing the meeting as "good and cordial", he said, "There is a ray of hope after 34 years." "We are happy at what the chief minister has told us.It was a courtesy call and we came to congratulate Banerjee on her resounding electoral success," Gurung said."Be positive. Darjeeling is very much in West Bengal.They are our brothers and sisters," said Banerjee.She said state government officials and Morcha representatives would take part in the bipartite meeting at official-level on the Darjeeling issue.