Government holds talks with GJM

Kolkata, Jul 27 (UNI) Crucial talks between the West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM),spearheading a movement for 'Gorkhaland,' will be held here today.

Even though Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has already rejected the demand for a separate state carved out of West Bengal, the talks are likely to revolve around for a tripartite negotiation, which the GJM has been demanding for to defuse the tumultuous situation in the Darjeeling hills.

Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb said yesterday that issues like development, administrative rearrangement and greater autonomy to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) would be taken up for discussions.

He, however, said anything short of the 'Gorkhaland' issue would be taken up for talks.

Earlier, a four-member delegation of the GJM met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in Delhi. They submitted a memorandum in support of their demands. Mr.Patil had said the issue should be resolved through dialogue with the state government.

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