GJM uncertain of participation in tripartite talks

Toughening its stance, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha said on Saturday that its participation in the tripartite talks scheduled for December 21, on separate statehood issue was "uncertain" and would depend on the outcome of current talks with the Centre.

"The Morcha has lost faith in tripartite talks. Our participation in the talks at Darjeeling is very much uncertain. We will take a decision after we get some feedback from Delhi on our demand for Gorkhaland on the lines of Telangana," the outfit's central committee member Harkabahadur Chetri told PTI over telephone from Kalimpong. 

Chetri said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had told a GJM delegation headed by party general secretary Roshan Giri in Delhi on Friay that he understood the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling. "If he understands the aspirations of the people he should understand that it was creation of a separate state,"Chetri said.

Stating that there has to be a political settlement, he said the tripartite meeting scheduled on December 21 was at administrative

level. "An administrative settlement means within West Bengal which was agreed to by Subhas Ghishing (The Gorkha National Liberation Front president) in the late eighties."     

Stating that the GJM was gearing up for a four-day bandh in the Hills from December 14, Chetri quoted GJM president Bimal Gurung as saying that the talks were "useless". "If we do not get a positive response we will intensify our agitation. We do not want to live like slaves in West Bengal," Chetri said.
    
Meanwhile, GJM general secretary Giri told PTI from Delhi "Our president and the central committee will decide whether
to participate in the tripartite talks or not." In Kolkata, West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters that the tripartite meeting would be held on December 21 as scheduled.
    
Asked about state government's stand on the indefinite fast by the GJM leaders which entered the second day, he said
that the district magistrate was talking with the protesters. The last tripartite meeting was held in Delhi on August
11.