CM keen to hold talks with GJM

Kolkata, Jun 23 (UNI) Amid reports of the impending visit of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJM) delegates to Kolkata, the West Bengal Government today said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was keen on holding talks with the outfit to stabilise the situation in Darjeeling.

''The Chief Minister is keen to talk to them. If the GJM wants, negotiation can be arranged the next day the team arrives,'' Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters.

The GJM said in Darjeeling that a delegation of the party, spearheading a movement for 'Gorkhaland' carving out of West Bengal, would be arriving in the city tomorrow.

The Home Secretary, however, said the Government had so far received no formal letter for talks from the GJM.

He said the Chief Minister had already sent letters twice to GJM chief Bimal Gurung inviting the hill outfit for talks.

To a question on GJM's persistent demand for tripartite talks, Mr Chakraborty said the state Government wanted it to be a bipartite affair. '' Let there be bipartite talks. If it fails, then only tripartite dialogues can be held, '' he added.

With the GJM withdrawing for 60 hours the indefinite shutdown in the hills, the state Government today sent LPG, kerosene and edible oil to Darjeeling by road, Mr Chakraborty said.

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