GJAC members sceptical over tripartite meet

SNS, Siliguri, 1 October: Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) members expressed scepticism over whether the tripartite meeting to resolve the crisis in the Darjeeling Hills would be held at all. 

As per GJMM, the meeting is slated for 23 October; GJMM said the Centre communicated the date to them, but the state government has denied any knowledge of it. 

Two senior members of GJAC, Mr R B Rai of CPRM and Mr Enos Das Pradhan of Bharitiya Gorkha Pari-sang, said that they are still in the dark about the official communication and the agenda of the proposed meeting. 

Mr Rai, who is also GJAC secretary, said: “I do not know anything officially regarding the meeting. However, I feel only a free-wheeling meeting with the demand for Gorkhaland serving as the principal agenda can thaw the ice of hostility. In case the meeting is aborted, things would be on the boil again. 

Mr Bimal Gurung has already hinted at a bloody phase of the movement to step up pressure.” Stating that the agenda would be a bone of contention, he further said that the Union home minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde had assured them that the dialogue would revolve around the issue of Gorkhaland. 

“He unequivocally said that the GTA would not figure in the dialogue when we met him in New Delhi early last month,” he added. “If the meeting is held at all, it would focus on the implementation of the GTA pact,” Mr Rai said.