Darjeeling unrest: Mamata Banerjee calls for talks on August 29

Bringing hopes of possible peace restoration, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that a dialogue will be initiated to discuss the Darjeeling issue on August 29 at Nabanna.

The move comes in response to a letter from the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) urging her to hold talks regarding the the prevailing unrest in the hills.

Hence the talks between the government and the hill parties have been scheduled for August 29 at the State Secretariat in Nabanna.

The CM called the GNLF letter a 'constructive' step and has invited all the major political parties in the hills to the meet. She however, did not refer to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the party which began the agitation.

On Monday, the pro Gorkhaland forces had approached West Bengal Government in an effort to resolve the ongoing Hill impasse. The indefinite bandh hit the 68 day mark on Monday with the deadlock continuing.

In a press release GJM Assistant Secretary Binay Tamang on Monday stated "The responsibility of ensuring peace in Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars is not only the responsibility of the residents but also that of the Central Government and the Government of West Bengal. We therefore request the Governments to initiate talks at the earliest so that peace and normalcy can be restored in our region at the earliest."

Meanwhile, the twin blasts in Darjeeling and Kalimpong on Saturday has further spurred the agitators to demand for immediate talks. Though there was no casualty in Darjeeling, a civic police died in the blast in Kalimpong along with a Home Guard who was grievously injured.

OneIndia News