State govt invited for 12-Oct talks says Bista

He says Home Minister's presence in meeting shows its importance

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 9 OCTOBER 21 : With doubts and questions being raised on a meeting called by the Union Home ministry in Delhi on 12 October, Darjeeling's BJP MP Raju Bista today said that it was a tripartite meeting with the Bengal government also invited to it.

Mr Bista arrived in Darjeeling today, where he offered puja at the Mahakal Mandir and held a meeting with BJP alliance parties at his house.

"The meeting that will be held on the 12th is going to be in the political level, and the presence of the home minister in it shows the importance given to it. It is a tripartite talk and the Bengal government has been called for it," said Mr Bista, adding that the invitation has been sent to the West Bengal chief secretary.

He also said that like previous times, Dooars had not been left out, with stakeholders from that area also been invited to the meeting.

"It took one and half months more for the meeting to be held. as it took time to include the Dooars too," he said.

According to the MP two issues will be discussed in the meeting--Permanent Political Solution (PPS) and tribal status for 11 Gorkha communities, for which the tribal ministry secretary and RGI have also been invited to the meeting.

"If we miss this opportunity, the Gorkhas will have to face hardship for the next hundred years. I have been trying sincerely for it as only two and half years remain and something concrete on it should happen, as after that I don't know how many years it might take," Mr Bista said.

He added that it was not possible for a solution to be had in one meeting, and that more meetings would follow. He said that it was up to the state government and the Home ministry to take it further.

Speaking on the state government's role in the meeting, he said, "India has a federal structure and the state government has a big role to play and they have also said they want a solution."

However, when asked if the state government would attend the meeting, he said, "Let us not speculate things right now and see what happens on that day," while also maintaining, "The home ministry has made up its mind and the lackadaisical attitude of the state government will not do. A solution will come forward."

Mr Bista said that he also wanted to send across a message to the TMC and state government that they did not want a PPS but a body like the GTA. 'We want such a PPS that has the role of the Centre as the big brother and is constitutional, along with giving maximum freedom," he said.

On the allegations being levelled that the meeting has been called on a holiday, he said, "I talked about this with the joint secretary of the home ministry and he said there was no holiday. Moreover, I feel that Phulpati is an auspicious day and what better day to hold such a meeting."

On statements from other opposition leaders that only the BJP alliance parties were called to the meeting, he said, "It is for the home ministry to decide as to whom they should call. Moreover, the state government has been called and it is not necessary that after the mother (Mamata Banerjee) has been called, their children have to be called too. They have already said that they will do whatever their mother will say"

Later, in a note, Mr Bista said that he joined Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba and Kurseong MLA BP Bajgain to attend a BJP alliance party meeting in Darjeeling.

"The meeting was held to discuss the forthcoming tripartite talks called by the Union Home Ministry on 12 October," he said.

"In the meeting attended by Sh RB Rai, CPRM, Sh Y Lama GNLF, Sh Dawa Pakhrin  GoraNiMo, Sh Pratap Khati ABGL, Sh Bikash Rai SuMuMo and BJP Darjeeling leaders, I extended my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region, who have remained steadfast in their faith and trust on BJP and the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi ji," Mr Bista said.

"I informed the Alliance Partners that Hon'ble Home Minister Sh Amit Shah ji himself will be chairing the meeting, which is a very positive sign for all of us," he added.

"The faith and trust shown by the people from our region towards BJP and the commitment made by BJP towards the people here will be fulfilled. The time for Gorkhas to get justice has come," he added.

He also said he applauded the patience and unity shown by the alliance partners.

"This unity is important as the talks move forward, so I appeal to each and every political party, social organizations, intellectuals, academics, thinkers and thought leaders to support these talks through their inputs. We have this historic opportunity to transform our region and set a new future for our region and people," he said.