Kolkata: With the indefinite fast by the
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in Darjeeling entering the seventh day
today, the party rejected the West Bengal government's appeal
to withdraw the stir but said it would participate in the
tripartite talks on December 21.
GJM president Bimal Gurung announced in Darjeeling
that the party would participate in the talks, GJM General
Secretary Roshan Giri told PTI from Kurseong.
Asked to comment on West Bengal Home Secretary
Ardhendu Sen's statement that the fast could mar the
tripartite talks, he said "They want to derail the talks."
The talks, he said, should only be on Gorkhaland.
"Gorkhaland is the ultimate solution. The interlocutor was
appointed by the Centre for Gorkhaland. The agitation is for
Gorkhaland and will continue over Gorkhaland."
He hoped that the talks would be fruitful. "If the
talks fail we will broaden our agitation. The hunger-strike
will go on."
Reacting to West Bengal chief secretary Ashok Mohan
Chakraborty's statement that talks and agitation could not go
hand in hand, Giri said "We will participate in talks.
Agitation is one thing and talks are another thing."
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 23:58