Gorkha tripartite talks to take place in New Delhi today

New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): Tripartite talks involving the Central Government, the West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will be held here today.

A 12-member team of the GJM led by its senior leader Amar Lama will seek to establish the demand for 'Gorkhaland' as per provisions of the Constitution.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen will represent the State Government while Amar Lama, Jyoti Rai, Rohit Sharma and Tilkamal Chettri are among the 12-GJM member delegation.

The Central team will be represented by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, who will also chair the third round of talks.

Earlier, the Centre had proposed to hold the talks on August 24, but the GJM wanted it to be preponed.

The last tripartite meeting between the three sides took place on December 29 last year where it was decided to take forward the talks after the Lok Sabha polls.

Since late 2007, the demand for a separate state has been started more intensely by the Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung.

This movement has vowed to create a separate state by 2010. He has called for a more non-violent form of protest by refusing to pay state taxes to the government including electricity and phone bills.

Activities for support of Gorkhaland has also been seen in areas outside Gorkhaland. The mainstream parties of Sikkim have openly supported the Gorkhaland movement and pledged solidarity. (ANI)