Ghisingh snubs GTA offer

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Sept. 21: GNLF chief Mann Ghisingh today objected to the Bengal government's decision to include him in the board of administrators to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, saying he had not been consulted.

"It was a unilateral decision and I was never consulted. My party leaders had made that clear yesterday but I felt the need to speak to the media to clarify my stand. The GNLF has always objected to the formation of the GTA and considers it an illegal body. Under no circumstance will I join the board as a member," Ghisingh said this evening.

Ghisingh, whose letter to the Bengal government had paved the way for the bipartite talks, said the decision to form the board had put the negotiations in a jeopardy.

"I had no inkling that the state is planning to form such a board and that I would be included in it. We still believe in restoration of normality in the hills and want the agitation for statehood to continue simultaneously. But this sudden decision, we believe, has jeopardised the negotiation process," said the GNLF chief.

In a meeting today, GNLF leaders discussed whether there was any "justification" in attending the next rounds of talks with the government on October 16.

"We will hold another meeting of the central committee tomorrow and take a final decision," Ghisingh said.