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Gorkhaland Statehood Demand Takes Centre Stage in Darjeeling Talks
Leaders in Darjeeling met a team appointed to discuss the long-running Gorkhaland issue.
The Gorkhaland Apex Committee said the hills, Terai and Dooars need a separate state.
The team also suggested speaking with different ethnic communities in the Terai and Dooars.
Anit Thapa of the BGPM said he hoped the talks would help meet people’s wishes.
The day before, Bimal Gurung asked for 396 mouzas to be included in a proposed administrative arrangement.
He also sought Scheduled Tribe status for 11 Gorkha communities.
Another hill leader repeated the call for separation.
The Gorkhaland Sangram Party protested outside the GTA office and demanded that the administration be abolished.
A Gorkhaland Apex Committee delegation met a three-member interlocutor team in Darjeeling on Friday.
The committee argued that a separate state was the only permanent solution for the hills, Terai and Dooars.
The interlocutor proposed meeting representatives of ethnic communities in the Terai and Dooars.
BGPM chief Anit Thapa said he remained hopeful that dialogue would fulfil people’s aspirations.
Other demands included adding 396 mouzas and granting Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Gorkha communities; a group also called for abolishing the GTA.
- Who
- The Gorkhaland Apex Committee, BGPM and other hill leaders met or made demands to interlocutor Pankaj Kumar Singh’s team.
- What
- The discussions and statements focused on the Gorkhaland demand and related administrative and community-status demands.
- Where
- Darjeeling, West Bengal.
- When
- Friday; Bimal Gurung met the interlocutor on Thursday.
- Why
- The interlocutor was appointed to examine the long-pending Gorkhaland issue, and leaders presented their positions and demands.
Separate state and abolition
Dialogue and administrative arrangement
How to address hill aspirations
Separate state and abolition
The Gorkhaland Apex Committee said a separate state was the only permanent solution; Ajoy Edwards also reiterated the demand for separation.
Dialogue and administrative arrangement
Anit Thapa expressed hope that dialogue would produce an outcome that fulfils people’s aspirations; the interlocutor proposed meeting representatives of ethnic communities.
Role of the GTA
Separate state and abolition
The Gorkhaland Sangram Party demanded that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration be abolished.
Dialogue and administrative arrangement
Bimal Gurung sought inclusion of 396 mouzas in a proposed administrative arrangement. The article does not state the interlocutor team’s position on the GTA.
Key facts
- Meeting duration
- Around 45 minutes
- Interlocutor
- Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Team members named
- Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Arvind Khare and West Bengal Home Secretary Sanghamitra Sarkar
- GAC position
- A separate state was described by committee member Mahendra P. Lama as the only permanent solution for the hills, Terai and Dooars.
- Bimal Gurung’s demands
- Inclusion of 396 mouzas in a proposed administrative arrangement and Scheduled Tribe status for 11 Gorkha communities
- Protest
- The Gorkhaland Sangram Party demonstrated outside the GTA office, demanding the administration’s abolition.
Sources
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