The West Bengal government has requested the Centre to arrange a tripartite meeting with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to resolve the Darjeeling crisis, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Thursday.
"I talked with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday over phone and requested him to arrange a tripartite meeting involving the Centre, state and GJM. The state government is also writing a letter to the Centre in this regard," he told the assembly.
The GJM chief Bimal Gurung had earlier requested him to take the initiative for the tripartite talks in New Delhi at the earliest, he said while replying to a calling attention motion by Trinamool Congress legislator Saugata Roy.
Bhattacharjee said he had told the GJM leadership on June 27 that there was no need for a separate state as demanded by them.
"I said there is need for more economic and social development in Darjeeling and perhaps more autonomy can be given to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council," he said.
In reply to a question by Roy, Bhattacherjee said he was against the use of force to open central and state government offices in Darjeeling, which were shut by the GJM as part of their agitation.
{{/usCountry}}In reply to a question by Roy, Bhattacherjee said he was against the use of force to open central and state government offices in Darjeeling, which were shut by the GJM as part of their agitation.
{{/usCountry}}The GJM wants creation of Gorkhaland comprising the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, besides Siliguri subdivision in the plains and adjacent Dooars in North Bengal.