Darjeeling, Aug. 16: The pro-statehood hill parties today expressed readiness for a dialogue with the Bengal governor but adopted the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s stand of not talking to the state government.
“There is no point talking to the Bengal government, because they will not talk about a Gorkhaland state. However, if the governor (is willing to) intervene and act as a mediator, we are ready to talk to him ---- if he invites us,” said Morcha leader Raju Pradhan.
Pradhan has been appointed coordinator of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, formed by an all-party meeting in Darjeeling today to decide the course of the agitation.
The presidents and vice-presidents of the Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League, Gorkha Rashtriya Congress, Congress, BJP, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang and the Gorkhaland Task Force have been made ex-officio members of the committee.
The committee today announced a five-day shutdown from August 19 to 23 but kept the judiciary out of its purview. “The committee has decided to call the Ghar Bhitra Janata (people inside homes) to honour the people’s wishes,” Pradhan said.
Observers believe that since emotions are still running high on the statehood issue, the nine parties decided on another shutdown before scaling the agitation down.
The committee, however, made it clear it was preparing for the long haul. “It (grant of statehood) is a long-drawn process and the people are its power house. We have to preserve our resources,” Pradhan said.
His remark seemed to imply the committee did not want to hobble the region’s economy, especially with the tourist season drawing near.
Sabha delay
R.D. Meena, principal secretary to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), said a meeting of the autonomous body’s Sabha to elect a new chief executive would be held only after serving notices to the members.
“We have received a letter from the GTA chairman expressing his desire to hold a GTA Sabha on August 16. However, the meeting to elect the new chief executive will be held after serving notices. We shall have to abide by the procedures laid down in the GTA Act and Rules.”
Sources said a 10-day notice would have to be served.
“There is no point talking to the Bengal government, because they will not talk about a Gorkhaland state. However, if the governor (is willing to) intervene and act as a mediator, we are ready to talk to him ---- if he invites us,” said Morcha leader Raju Pradhan.
Pradhan has been appointed coordinator of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, formed by an all-party meeting in Darjeeling today to decide the course of the agitation.
The presidents and vice-presidents of the Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League, Gorkha Rashtriya Congress, Congress, BJP, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang and the Gorkhaland Task Force have been made ex-officio members of the committee.
The committee today announced a five-day shutdown from August 19 to 23 but kept the judiciary out of its purview. “The committee has decided to call the Ghar Bhitra Janata (people inside homes) to honour the people’s wishes,” Pradhan said.
Observers believe that since emotions are still running high on the statehood issue, the nine parties decided on another shutdown before scaling the agitation down.
The committee, however, made it clear it was preparing for the long haul. “It (grant of statehood) is a long-drawn process and the people are its power house. We have to preserve our resources,” Pradhan said.
His remark seemed to imply the committee did not want to hobble the region’s economy, especially with the tourist season drawing near.
Sabha delay
R.D. Meena, principal secretary to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), said a meeting of the autonomous body’s Sabha to elect a new chief executive would be held only after serving notices to the members.
“We have received a letter from the GTA chairman expressing his desire to hold a GTA Sabha on August 16. However, the meeting to elect the new chief executive will be held after serving notices. We shall have to abide by the procedures laid down in the GTA Act and Rules.”
Sources said a 10-day notice would have to be served.
The Telegraph
Narayanan willing to talk to GJM
Kolkata, Aug 15 : A day after refusing to mediate on the Gorkhaland issue, West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan Thursday said he "was willing to talk to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership".
"If he wants to talk to me, I will talk to him," said Narayanan on media queries whether he would engage in a dialogue with GJM chief Bimal Gurung.
Narayanan also hoped for an amicable solution to the issue of a separate Gorkhaland state for which the GJM has been agitating.
"I hope some kind of discussion between the parties (GJM and the West Bengal government) emerges so we may have a solution without recourse to violence," added Narayanan.
Narayanan Wednesday had ruled out any mediation.
"Governors don't mediate. If I was not a governor, then may be in my earlier avatars, I could have but as a governor I can't," the former national security advisor had said.
The GJM has ruled out any dialogue with the state government saying the matter concerned the central government and they would talk only with the Delhi leadership.
Life in North Bengal's Darjeeling hills has been paralysed following an indefinite shutdown by the GJM started Aug 3 to press for a separate Gorkhaland state.
While the Calcutta High Court has declared the shutdown illegal, the state government has been cracking down on the movement arresting key Morcha leaders and supporters.
The GJM, meanwhile, has relaxed the shutdown for four days, beginning Thursday.
The Gorkhaland movement for a separate state -- to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and its neighbouring Jalpaiguri district -- has left many dead over the past two-and-half decades, besides affecting the region's economy chiefly based on tea, timber and tourism.
--IANS -
Narayanan also hoped for an amicable solution to the issue of a separate Gorkhaland state for which the GJM has been agitating.
"I hope some kind of discussion between the parties (GJM and the West Bengal government) emerges so we may have a solution without recourse to violence," added Narayanan.
Narayanan Wednesday had ruled out any mediation.
"Governors don't mediate. If I was not a governor, then may be in my earlier avatars, I could have but as a governor I can't," the former national security advisor had said.
The GJM has ruled out any dialogue with the state government saying the matter concerned the central government and they would talk only with the Delhi leadership.
Life in North Bengal's Darjeeling hills has been paralysed following an indefinite shutdown by the GJM started Aug 3 to press for a separate Gorkhaland state.
While the Calcutta High Court has declared the shutdown illegal, the state government has been cracking down on the movement arresting key Morcha leaders and supporters.
The GJM, meanwhile, has relaxed the shutdown for four days, beginning Thursday.
The Gorkhaland movement for a separate state -- to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and its neighbouring Jalpaiguri district -- has left many dead over the past two-and-half decades, besides affecting the region's economy chiefly based on tea, timber and tourism.
--IANS -
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