Date:23/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/23/stories/2008052357141600.htm

National

Gorkha leaders insist on statehood

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: Leaders of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) that has called for the creation of a separate State comprising the Darjeeling hills and certain areas contiguous to it in West Bengal, rejected an appeal not to divide the State, reportedly made to them by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here on Thursday.

A GJM delegation met Mr. Bhattacharjee to discuss their demand for a Gorkhaland state.

Map submitted

A ‘map’ of the proposed state was submitted to the Chief Minister that includes chunks of the Dooars and the Terai in the plains of north Bengal.

“The Chief Minister requested us not to divide West Bengal but we reiterated that the GJM will settle for nothing less than separate Statehood,” Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary and a member of the delegation, told The Hindu.

“Mr. Bhattacharjee also spoke of greater regional autonomy and additional powers to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) but he was told that the only demand of the people of the region is Gorkhaland,” Mr. Giri said.

The delegation pointed out to the Chief Minister that “the DGHC has become a farce and a useless body. “The people have also rejected the move for granting Sixth Schedule status to the region,” he added.

The Chief Minister was requested “to view the demand for Gorkhaland in a new perspective and evolve means to fulfil the aspirations of the people,” Mr. Giri said.