With the Centre keen on an interim arrangement to replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council which runs the administration in the district, non-GJM Hills parties on Tuesday held parleys with the West Bengal government on the tripartite talks.
The talks with political parties from Darjeeling were held here prior to the political-level tripartite talks among the Centre, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), and West Bengal government on August 17.
Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra and Municipal Affairs Minister Asok Bhattacharya, who convened the meeting, told reporters that it was essential to consider the opinion of non-GJM Hills parties before the next round of talks, since the Centre has so far been talking only to the GJM.
Mr. Mishra said that the parties were told to submit their views in writing before August 6, which would be communicated to the Centre by August 9.
All India Gorkha League leader Dawa Sherpa, however, ruled out an “interim arrangement” until law and order and governance was restored in the Darjeeling hills. “Interim arrangement or any temporary measure is no solution. The Darjeeling issue needs a permanent solution. We don’t need a pain killer for this major issue, because such a measure is neither feasible nor acceptable,” Mr. Sherpa said.
The GJM has now settled for an interim council which, the party demanded, should also include the Dooars and the Terai in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.
The meeting was also attended by State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh.
