Union Home Minister calls Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for talks on Sunday

Political observers opine that the GJM not wanting to face consequences alone, displaying political maturity has passed the ball in the GMCC's court.

Darjeeling, August 12, 2017: In a sudden development Bimal Gurung, President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in a press release claimed that the Union Home Minister has invited the GJM for talks in Delhi on Sunday at 4:30 pm on Sunday.

The GJM, however, has asked the political and apolitical pro-Gorkhaland outfits to decide on the invitation.

The press statement dated August 12, states "Today the GJM received an intimation from the Union Home Minister requesting us to join for talks tomorrow at 4:30pm in New Delhi.
Because this movement has today transitioned into a people's movement, with all the hill political parties as well as non-political bodies together, I have submitted this invitation for their consideration. I am hopeful that the hill parties leading the movement will attend
the meeting, and help find a possible road map to Gorkhaland statehood. I thank the honourable Home Minister for the kind invite, and hope that the Central government will do justice for the Gorkha's at the earliest."

The release was signed by Gurung. The release was circulated after a Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC- a conglomeration of political and apolitical pro
Gorkhaland outfits) meeting in Kalimpong on Saturday. Though media persons were briefed at the end of the meeting there was no mention of the invite from the Home Ministry.

Most of the GMCC members did not respond to call when contacted regarding Sunday's meeting. However it is confirmed that members of the GMCC will be attending the Delhi talks.

Neeraj Zimba, Spokesperson of the Gorkha National Liberation Front and member of the GMCC stated that GMCC representatives would be attending talks. Kalyan Dewan, GJM leader and GMCC Convener will also be present.

The GJM MLAs are already present in Delhi along with Roshan Giri, General Secretary, GJM. They will be attending the talks too.

The sudden invite comes on the heels of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to Delhi. Banerjee departed from Delhi on Saturday evening.

A renewed agitation for Gorkhaland has been on since June with an indefinite bandh clamped in the Hills since June 15. The indefinite bandh hit the 59th day mark on Saturday with a fast unto death touching the 22nd day mark.

The agitators have been constantly demanding for the Centre's intervention to resolve the impasse. They have however shut the doors to the State stating that they would sit for talks only with the Centre that too over the Gorkhaland issue.

Delhi had till now maintained a calculated silence over the issue obliquely maintaining that the West Bengal Government would have to initiate the process honouring the federal structure of the country.

There was immense pressure build up on the GJM with other political parties and apolitical parties decrying that as the movement had taken shape of a people's movement the GJM did not have the right to take any unilateral decisions. They had demanded that it would have to be a collective representation (of pro Gorkhaland forces) attending the
talks and that discussions should be held only on the Gorkhaland issue.

Political observers opine that the GJM not wanting to face consequences alone, displaying political maturity has passed the ball in the GMCC's court. Political observers further opine that the Union Home Minister would definitely request the agitators to lift the
ongoing bandh. The forthcoming Independence day coupled with the Home Minister's request would be reasons enough to call off the bandh.

OneIndia News