The political impasse in the Darjeeling hills will have to be resolved through the ongoing “discussions and dialogue,” Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Sunday.
Describing the March 18 meeting in New Delhi among representatives of the Centre, the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha as “very cordial,” Mr. Bhattacharjee told journalists in Siliguri that none of the sides concerned “has given its last word” on the matter as yet.
“A dialogue is on and we [the sides concerned] will be meeting again in May,” the Chief Minister said, adding “a solution will have to be found through discussions and dialogue.”
The State government would be “studying” the interim arrangement proposed by the GJM leadership for the region, he said. “We will have to see what it means.”
The GJM's proposal for an “interim authority” for Darjeeling districts and certain areas contiguous to it was the focus of the March 18 talks.
The interim authority will last till December 31, 2011 and be a precursor to the creation of a “Gorkhaland” State, the GJM leadership has maintained.
The State government had ruled out any bifurcation of West Bengal but was willing to take forward the process of granting greater powers to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council or any other body that could replace it.
Though it may not be averse to the suggestion of an interim authority, the State government has made it clear that the GJM's demand for the inclusion of those areas in Darjeeling district beyond the three hill sub-divisions is not tenable.
Matters related to the jurisdiction of a possible interim authority that could replace the DGHC as well as the powers to be granted to it are expected to be the focus of the next round of political talks between the Centre, the State government and the GJM in May.
