Centre sets October hill tripartite date

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Sept. 30: The Centre has decided to convene a tripartite meeting on October 23 in New Delhi to discuss the hill impasse fulfilling the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's demand.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, today said: " I received a call from Suresh Kumar, the joint secretary of the Union home ministry who is looking after Centre- state relations, today and the official has conveyed to me that the tripartite meeting would be held in New Delhi on October 23." The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, a conglomeration of six political and apolitical outfits, had decided to suspend the closure of the hills from September 11 to October 20, citing Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's assurance to call a tripartite meeting.

In Delhi, sources in the home ministry said no decision had been taken on the composition of the team of negotiators.

At best, the talks could involve the Union home secretary, the Bengal chief secretary and GTA officials.

When chief minister Mamata Banerjee was told about the talks, she expressed irritation. " Who has called the meeting?" she asked. " We are the convenor, yet we don't know anything about it.

Then what is the meeting all about?" Asked about the meeting, state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee said at Writers' Buildings in the evening: " So far, we have not received any intimation about the talks from the Centre. When we do, we will take a call on it." Asked about the Morcha's demand for withdrawal of central paramilitary forces from the hills, he said: " No, they will not be withdrawn.

They will stay there." Soon after Giri's announcement, Morcha chief Bimal Gurung posted on Facebook: " GJM believes that our demand can be solved with dialogue." Gurung, stating he was " happy" with the Centre's decision, again sought the withdrawal of central forces from the hills. " We are also appealing to the Centre for withdrawal of central forces immediately," the post read.

Sources said the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee would be forced to keep the agitation on hold after October 20 — the earlier cut- off date to end the protest break — to keep the atmosphere " conducive" for talks.

Gurung told to stay The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee ( JAC) on Monday rejected Bimal Gurung's resignation from the post of JAC chief.

Enos Das Pradhan, the JAC advisor, said: " The constituent members were of the opinion that since Gurung is the president of the largest party in the hills spearheading the agitation, he should carry on leading the committee as well." In the Dooars, Manish Tamang, the secretary of western Dooars zonal committee of the Morcha, was arrested on Sunday night from a tea estate near Malbazar in connection with two old cases.

He was wanted in a case related to arson and another related to a blockade and ransacking a vehicle, police said.

Tamang has been remanded in eight days' jail custody.

He is the second Morcha leader from the Dooars after Ashok Lama to be arrested in connection with old cases.

Tea bonus The Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union has said the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation had agreed to pay bonus at the rate of 20 per cent to the workers of three corporation gardens by October 8, instead of two.