Five-member GJM team to attend all-party meet, raise Gorkhaland demand

Kolkata, Aug 26 (IANS) A five-member delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will attend the August 29 all-party meeting convened by the West Bengal government on the Darjeeling issue, and raise the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland during the parleys.

"A five member delegation led by me will attend the meeting and raise the demand for Gorkhaland," GJM Joint Secretary Binay Tamang told IANS oN Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said the party was "in favour of a tripartite meeting "between the hills" parties, state and central government to resolve the crisis.

"We hope for a positive outcome of the meeting. The central government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both are prepared to help," BJP state President Dilip Ghosh said.

Normal life has been paralysed in the hills covering large areas in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts following the indefinite shutdown called by the GJM since June 12 on the statehood demand.

The Gorkhaland Movement Co-ordination Committee(GMCC) formed later to broadbase the movement by roping in other parties, has also backed the stir which has greatly impacted the hills' three economic mainstays -- tea, timber and tourism.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that the state government would hold talks with "all major political parties" on August 29.

However, the GMCC would meet on Sunday at Kalimpong.