WB CM asks GJM to call off agitation in hills

Malbazar (WB), Feb 19 (PTI) In a fresh effort to resolvethe Darjeeling crisis through dialogue, West Bengal ChiefMinister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asked the GorkhaJanmukti Morcha to call off their agitation in the hills.

Rejecting the demand for a separate ''Gorkhaland'', thechief minister said the problem had to be resolved throughtalks.

"Let the Morcha call off the agitation and stop creatingtrouble in the hills," he said at a public function inJalpaiguri district.

The GJM had launched an indefinite bandh in DarjeelingHills on February 9 to protest the police firing at Sipchu inJalpaiguri but lifted it for four days from today.

"They (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) are trying to fomenttrouble in Dooars. The state government will never allow it. Iadvise Adivasi Vikas Parishad to maintain calm. How long willthe Morcha create trouble?", Bhattacharjee asked.

The Adivasi Vikash Parishad, which was against inclusionof Dooars and Terai in the proposed new state, submitted amemorandum to the chief minister demanding that Dooars andTerai be included in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution,which provides for administration of tribal areas in Assam,Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

Bhattacharjee said he will invite the Parishad leadersfor talks after returning to Kolkata.

The chief minister wondered what they meant by the term"separate state" saying, "Bengalis, Nepalis, Biharis andAdivasis will have to live together. Otherwise it will causeharm to all. The state government will never allow any one ofthem to create trouble."

Concerned over the situation in Darjeeling Hills arisingout of the GJM bandh, he said, "They are calling frequentbandhs. People cannot work. After two days, they will not getfood and will have to starve." PTI Cor PB SUN NN AHM SMI