GJM to settle nothing short of Gorkhaland

Kolkata, May 22 (UNI) Rejecting the appeal of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJM) today stuck to the demand for a separate state, saying it would settle nothing short of a 'Gorkhaland'.

'' The Chief Minister appealed to us not to divide West Bengal.

But we said we shall settle for nothing short of a separate state.

Our only demand is Gorkhaland, '' GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters after he met the Chief Minister in a delegation at the Writers' Buildings.

As the GJM leaders stuck to their demand, the Chief Minister called for a tripartite meeting involving the Centre to discuss the issue.

Mr Bhattacharjee offered greater autonomy and additional power to Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC), but the hill leaders rejected.

'' Darjeeling had been subjected to years of deprivation. DGHC is a farce and it is useless. Our people have also rejected the sixth schedule status. The only solution is separate statehood for the area, '' Mr Giri said.

The four-member GJM delegation received an invitation from the Chief Minister for talks through District Magistrate of Darjeeling Rajesh Pandey.

The members were vice-president Pradip Pradhan and two central committee members Amar Lama and Anmol Prasad besides, Mr Giri.

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