Gorkhaland issue: Tripartite meeting on Dec 21

The Centre on Monday said a tripartite meeting to resolve the vexed Gorkhaland issue would be held in New Delhi on December 21.

“Representatives of Centre, state government and GJM would attend the meeting,” the Centre’s interlocutor on the matter Vijay Madan told newsmen here.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Madan had a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty and Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen.

Mr. Madan, a retired Lieutenant General of Army, said the Gorkhaland issue needed a political solution. “There is no problem in the world that could not be solved through dialogue,” he said.

Mr. Madan is scheduled to meet Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Municipal Affairs Minister Asok Bhattacharya and several state government officials tomorrow before returning to Darjeeling on Wednesday.