National

GJM team to meet Patil

NEW DELHI: A four-member team of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) is likely to hold talks with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil here on Tuesday to explore ways of ending the crisis in Darjeeling.

Sources in the Ministry said the aim was to facilitate tripartite talks, involving the West Bengal government. Another four-member team of the GJM has left Darjeeling for Kolkata to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattarcharjee.

Even as the GJM members meet Mr. Patil here, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta will leave for Sikkim on a daylong visit there. Sikkim has borne the brunt of GJM agitation. as bandhs and strikes are called in support of the Gorkhaland demand.

Mr.Bhattacherjee earlier sent a letter to GJM chief Bimal Gurung inviting him for a dialogue on the Darjeeling issue without any precondition.

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