The West Bengal government on Tuesday hinted it was not averse to discussing the Gorkhaland issue with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, saying more power for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council may be considered, even though an all-party meeting convened by the chief minister remained silent on the issue.
"In my earlier letter to the GJM for talks, we did not set any condition. We still do not have any pre-condition," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya told newsmen when asked after the all-party meeting whether the government was ready to discuss the Gorkhaland issue as demanded by the GJM.
The resolution unanimously adopted at the all-party meeting, however, said, "Keeping the present integrity of West Bengal intact, increasing the financial and adminstrative powers of the DGHC may be sympathetically considered."
While stating that his government would not take an attitude of confrontation with the GJM, the chief minister reiterated the appeal to it to come for talks, saying that a political dialogue was the only solution to the imbroglio.
Stating that he had no objection to a tripartite discussions with the GJM and the Centre, he said, "We want a solution to the problem, be it through a bipartite or tripartite meeting. But this requires preparation of the ground. For this, there is a greater need to exchange views with the Centre as also with the agitators."