Ahluwalia calls for talks on hills

TT, New Delhi, Aug. 3: Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia today appealed to both the state government and the agitating Gorkhas in the hills to initiate talks to end the impasse.

"I want to tell chief minister Mamata Banerjee that whatever is happening in Darjeeling will not be solved by administrative pressure or police bullets.Solution will come through democratic process and political dialogue," he told the media after a delegation from the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee met him here.

"I am appealing to both the sides. The Gorkhas should give up violent protests since violence will not end the stalemate," he added.

Sources said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was unhappy with the remarks of the MP, who had won from Darjeeling on a BJP ticket with the hill party's support. 

"Instead of supporting the agitation,  he said the hill people should end violent protest. This cannot be accepted," said a source.