Darjeeling tripartite pact to be signed on July 18

Kolkata, July 15: The tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hill authority among the Centre, West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would be signed on July 18, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today (jUL 15).

"The tripartite agreement will be signed on July 18 and Home Minister P Chidambaram will be present on the occasion," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat here.

She said that in view of the uncertain weather conditions in the Darjeeling hills, the pact would be signed at Sukna within Darjeeling's jurisdiction.

The chief minister said that the Leader of Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra would also be invited, besides members of the North Bengal Development Council.

Banerjee hoped the signing of the pact would usher in peace in the hills and said a few vested interests were spreading a false campaign to disrupt the process.

PTI