Dialogue over formation of a separate Gorkhaland in right direction: Jaswant Singh

NEW DELHI - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh on Saturday said the dialogue between the regional Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the West Bengal Government and the Centre over the formation of a separate Gorkhaland state is going on in the right direction.

Singh accompanied by a delegation of six members from the regional Gorkha Janmukhti Morcha (GJM) party, including party president Bimal Gurung held a conference at his residence here today.

Singh said the talks are going in the right direction for an interim resolution to be passed.

“The talks are in the right direction, at the right pace, and towards the right decision. So I would like to not comment beyond that, because the direction that we are going towards is more important,” he said.

Further advocating the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state, Singh said that it is a solution in national interest.

“Do not look at the issue as a simple case of separate state demand; look at it as a solution. Neither should the problem be seen as plains versus hills or Bengalis versus Gorkha; it’s in the benefit of the country,” he said.

Singh further said that he is optimistic that the concerned parties will come to a consensus and an interim resolution will be drafted before the West Bengal elections.

Gurung said the delegation is satisfied with its visit to the national capital after meeting several leaders including senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The meetings of the GJM leaders with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram have also been scheduled.

Gurung further said that the ultimatum to carry out shutdowns in Darjeeling on Sunday has also been cancelled.

Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have been demanding a separate state in Darjeeling hills, to help them protect their culture and heritage. (ANI)