Darjeeling: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief
Binay Tamang has decided to call on Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling
in Gangtok on March 27, raising hopes of ending months of acrimony with
the hill state's leadership.
Tamang and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had criticised Chamling for interfering in the Darjeeling hills' politics.
"To strengthen our age-old ties with Sikkim, I along with Anit
Thapa (general secretary, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) will call on Sikkim
chief minister, Pawan Chamling at his residence, Mingtogang in Gangtok
at 3 pm on March 27," Tamang said on Saturday.
The ties between Bengal and Sikkim had hit rock bottom after
Chamling passed a resolution supporting Gorkhaland during the statehood
agitation last year and reports emerged that Bimal Gurung - Tamang's
Morcha rival - had taking shelter in Sikkim for sometime while in hiding
after facing cases related to the Darjeeling unrest.
However, following a meeting between Mamata and Chamling in
Siliguri on March 17, the peace ball was set rolling between the two
states.
Tamang's decision to call on Chamling is expected to have a
major impact on relations between the two states as the leaders are
expected to hold detailed discussions on every issue that affects the
Darjeeling hills and Sikkim.
Speaking on Saturday, Tamang said the meeting was necessary to clear the
air on "misunderstandings that have cropped up recently". "The time has
come to strengthen our bonds which had been strong in the past," said
Tamang.
Observers believe that the presence of Gurung loyalists in Sikkim is
likely to figure prominently during the meeting between the two leaders.
"This would mean that Gurung who is already on the run will have his
problem compounded," said an observer.
The issue of rail link to Sikkim is also likely to come up in
the meeting. "The GTA has not given a no- objection certificate as we
want the railways to fulfil three of our conditions. These are setting
up three stations on Darjeeling side, tunnels should be dug without
using explosions and social welfare schemes must be initiated for the
locals," said Tamang.
Tamang, however, added that these issues have more or less
been solved. "The GTA will have a final meeting with the railways on
April 4. We have already had interactions with the railways on earlier
occasions and most of the issues have been solved including setting up
stations on our side," said Tamang.
The first railway project to Sikkim has started but with the
GTA not having given its clearance to start work in the portion that
runs through GTA area, all hurdles have not yet been cleared.
Police talent hunt
The deadline for receiving entries for Rising Sun, a singing
and dancing talent show organised by Darjeeling police as part of its
efforts to boost community policing following last year's violence, has
been extended by two days till march 27.
The competition has a total prize money of Rs 26.44 lakh.
"Since we are getting innumerable queries, we have decided to extent the
registration date till Tuesday," said Sidharath Dorji, DSP (town).
The Telegraph
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