Create space for talks: Deb to Morcha

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Siliguri, Aug. 14: State tourism minister Gautam Deb today asked the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to create "space" for talks on the situation in the Darjeeling hills.

"There can be differences in opinions. But that does not allow somebody to make such moves which would hit normal life and encourage violence. The state is open for talks, as has been said by our chief minister several times. Appropriate steps should be taken so that an appropriate space is created to facilitate such talks. Those who are into the movement should take such initiatives," the minister said.

Deb's assertion comes a day after Union home minister Rajnath Singh advised a six-member delegation of the GMCC (Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee) to withdraw the hunger strikes and indefinite general strike and sit for talks with the state government.

"The Union home minister is a prudent person and has well understood the importance of Darjeeling. That is why he has advised hill leaders to hold talks with the state government. He has also urged them to withdraw the strike," Deb said.

He was replying to questions on yesterday's meeting between the GMCC and Singh in Delhi.

The minister said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri's recent statement was nothing but a "face-saver".

Recently, Giri had issued a statement, mentioning that the state had not made any formal invitation to the party to sit for talks.

"We had formally invited Morcha leaders to attend an all-party meeting convened here on June 22. They did not attend the meeting. From the state's side, all we want is that they should withdraw the strike, shun violence," Deb said.

The minister, however, refrained from a direct reply when he was asked whether he would take any initiative as a senior member of the state Cabinet to start talks with the Morcha and whether the state would send a formal invitation to the hill party.

"Earlier, we had friends and acquaintances in some of the hill parties and there was also some administrative space. But the situation is different now. Even then, if somebody is interested in formal or informal talks to facilitate the process of restoring normalcy in hills, it can always happen."