Morcha claim on Gorkhaland committee

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Dec. 15: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that the Centre had shown inclination to form a committee to examine the Gorkhaland demand and termed the meeting between the Union home minister and party delegation "fruitful" despite getting signals that the matter would be referred to the state. The state is expected to oppose the panel but the Morcha camp claimed that they were confident it would be set up. "The Union home ministry will write to the state government and also seek a representative on the committee. This is basically because the Centre has to respect the federal structure of the country. We are confident that the committee will be formed irrespective of the state's opinion or decision," a Morcha source said. Today, Bimal Gurung, and eight other party leaders, including Darjeeling and Kurseong MLAs, met home minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi. Jual Oram, the Union tribal minister, and home ministry and panchayat department officials were also present. "The issues that were discussed were forming the committee to examine the demand of Gorkhaland, granting tribal status to 11 communities, setting up a central university and making functional a three-tier panchayat system in the hills. The government will write to the state about forming a committee. The Union government will seek a member. A review meeting will take place in January end," Giri said. A Morcha leader termed the development "fruitful".