Gorkhaland demand gain momentum

SILIGURI - Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) General Secretary Roshan Giri has said that the interim set up is a forward step towards achieving the goal.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Giri said: “”The government is saying that there are many issues which cannot be resolved now, so you take interim decision and move forward by negotiating. We think, as it’s our boundary, territory, and the issue of delimitation has arisen, so we think we are one step forward towards achieving Gorkhaland.”

Earlier in New Delhi, Giri met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram over the formation of a separate Gorkhaland state.

Giri who led a delegation of his outfit said: “We had a detailed discussion on our demand with the Home Minister. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and was very positive.”

He further said the details of this meeting would be revealed after he returns to Darjeeling and holds deliberations with GJM President Bimal Gurung and other senior office bearers.

” We will divulge the details of this meeting after having deliberations with our President,” he added.

Giri had announced on January 6 that a 25-day long shutdown would be enforced in Darjeeling.

According to Giri, the members of the Central Committee of GJMM would also hold a “fast unto death” strike, slated to begin from February 16.

A renewed demand for a separate Gorkhaland region, which would include Darjeeling and some contiguous areas of Jalpaiguri District, has created fresh turmoil over the past few months.

The four issues obstructing the interim authority are territorial jurisdiction, its authority to manage the regional tea gardens, the selection of its members and a description of the councils legislative powers.

At the fifth round of tripartite talks in New Delhi, the GJM had agreed to the constitution of an interim council by 2011 prior to the creation of a separate state.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal estimated to be around a million has been demanding a separate state. (ANI)