Bista talks to Modi on `permanent solution'

TT, Siliguri/Darjeeling: BJP MP Raju Bista has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for "arriving at permanent political solution" and "reminded him about" the demand to grant tribal status to 11 Gorkha communities.

The Darjeeling MP said in a statement that he had met Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday and the latter had asked him to take up the issues with home minister Amit Shah.

"I have requested his intervention with regards to arriving at permanent political solution as committed to in our 2019 `Sankalp Patra'. I also reminded him about the pending issue of conferring scheduled tribe status to 11 left-out Gorkha tribes and requested him to help in expediting the process. I also told him that the people of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency have elected a BJP MP for the third consecutive time," said Bista.

The BJP manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections reads: "We are committed to work towards finding a permanent political solution to the issue of Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars regionIn the course of the meeting on Wednesday, Bista also spoke about the importance of "chicken's neck" (the Siliguri corridor where width of the Indian sub-continent is the narrowest) in terms of security and told Modi how Siliguri could emerge as the hub of international trade, tourism and commerce.

The MP also elaborated on the need for rejuvenation of the tea industry, protection of the rights of forest dwellers and conservation of culture, tradition, lifestyle and language of indigenous communities in the region.

"The Prime Minister acknowledged that it is necessary to have peace in the chicken's neck region and told me that the central government is equally concerned about resolving issues of the region. He also advised me to take up these issues (with) Union home minister and I will meet him soon," the MP said.

Without referring to the Bista-Modi meeting, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang said: "Why is the MP not raising the issue of Gorkhaland in Parliament? He should also clarify whether `the permanent political solution' he is referring to is Gorkhaland or some other political arrangement within BengalThis is the first time in recent months that the MP has met Modi and discussed with him issues of his constituency..