GJM legislators to call on Mamata during her Darjeeling visit

Darjeeling

18 Oct 2013

Stepping down from its earlier adamant stand, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership today extended an olive branch to the state government saying it is willing to meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit to the hills later this month.

Talking today to media persons in Darjeeling, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said a courtesy call would be made to the CM during her visit on October 24. “Our three MLAs will go to meet the chief minister on a courtesy note when she is in Darjeeling. We know she is on a political visit, but we will definitely call on her,” the GJM leader said.

Both GJM leaders and the MLAs had refused to meet Banerjee when she was in the hills earlier this year.

Even so, the GJM general secretary clarified the people’s apprehension was the factor behind the party’s decision to meet its ‘nemesis’. “The people are apprehensive about the post October 23 scenario in the hills. And as our MLAs are part of the Assembly, it makes sense to meet the chief minister,’ said Giri.

The chief minister has refused to buckle down to the GJM’s pressure tactics of starting an agitation for statehood. Several senior GJM leaders and activists including Gorkhaland Territorial Administration elected members have been arrested. Banerjee also got Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce all decisions pertaining to the hills would be taken in consultation with the state government.

The GJM general secretary also did not make any attempt to veil the party’s reconciliatory attitude, saying the hills need to be peaceful and a dialogue process must start to resolve existing problems. “We want to solve the problems through dialogue and negotiations. Darjeeling is peaceful and we want to keep it that way. We also want to tell prospective tourists the hills are safe to visit. But the tripartite talk must take place soon,” said Giri.

During a function on October 7 in Kurseong to celebrate the party’s seventh foundation day, GJM president Bimal Gurung had echoed similar sentiments stating the dialogue process was the correct way forward in achieving a solution. He had also said the hills MLAs would meet the state government.

When asked about the official letter from the central government for the tripartite meeting, Giri said, “We have not received any letter yet, but we are sure the meeting will be held. It was the Union government that informed us verbally. But there is a possibility of the date being shifted.”

Commenting on the chief minister’s visit and the courtesy call, Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma said it was standard protocol. “We will definitely meet Banerjee as she is the chief minister. Also, we are part of the assembly and protocol says we must call on her when she is in the hills,” he said, but refused to say why they failed to meet the CM during her visit earlier this year.