Left Front will demand discussions on the hill accord

" Rename gives Left shoehorn "

Calcutta, July 28: The Left Front will demand discussions on the hill accord and the conditions for proposed talks with Maoists at an all-party meeting called by the state government next week for consultations on the plans to rename West Bengal.

“The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration pact was signed by the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha keeping the Assembly and the public in the dark. We demand to know why this was done and whether the agreement is a step towards the inclusion of certain regions in the Dooars and the Terai in the set-up,’’ an RSP leader said.

“We will also demand discussions on the government’s Jungle Mahal package… the terms and conditions laid down by the government regarding talks with Maoists… whether the rebels have agreed to lay down arms, surrender and join the talks table,’’ he added.

The Jungle Mahal and Darjeeling issues do not, however, figure on the agenda of the August 3 meeting.

Front chairman Biman Bose said: “The two issues were not discussed (with the Opposition) by the government. The House also didn’t get the opportunity to debate them. What’s the harm in raising these issues at the all-party meeting?’’

He said the government should also allow discussions on the “reign of terror unleashed by Trinamul in the state”.

Besides the renaming of West Bengal and East Midnapore, reorganisation of districts is also on the agenda of the meeting. The Front has decided to hear out the government in this regard rather than offer proposals. “We haven’t been given any agenda note on the renaming proposal. So, we don’t know what is the government’s stand,’’ Bose said.

~TT