Tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland likely in June

TOI, 22 May 2023, Kolkata: The Union home ministry is likely to convene a tripartite meeting in June to find a 'permanent political solution" to the issues related to the demand for Gorkhaland. The meeting will involve the Bengal government and other stakeholders.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said: “The state government sent only a resident commissioner to the last meeting and that showed their lack of commitment towards finding a permanent, political solution to the issues of the Gorkhas.”

Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the state had been depriving the region financially and putting up hurdles in the path of its development. "They have created several bodies like the Lepcha Board and Bhutia Board. which are now non-functional. Darjeeling has remained devoid of aid from the Finance Commission," he said.

Countering these claims Rajya Sabha MP and TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen said: "The development in the Hills has taken place only after Mamata Banerjee became chief minister. Earlier, the state government did not even bother to go to the Hills and talk to the people there. BJP may have an MP from the area, but he has done nothing for the people living there."

While both Gorkha National Liberation Front and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have accepted Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, they have not dropped the demand for Gorkhaland from their agenda. 

A few days ago, Hills leader Binoy Tamang wrote a letter to the home ministry seeking a tripartite review meeting.