Centre has invited us for tripartite talks, says GJM

The Centre has invited Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is spearheading the stir for a separate state in Darjeeling hills, to attend tripartite talks in New Delhi, the GJM claimed on Monday.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the Morcha had received a phone call from the Ministry of Home Affairs inviting it to participate in the tripartite talks to be held on 23 October in New Delhi.

‘Though we have not received any official letter, only a phone call from the Ministry of Home Affairs, we have decided to attend the tripartite talks as we believe that our demand for Gorkhaland could be solved via talks,’ Giri said.

The GJM general secretary said they had appealed to the Centre to immediately withdraw central para-military forces from Darjeeling.

On 3 September, the Centre had promised to convene a tripartite meeting soon involving the West Bengal government and the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee to discuss the demand for Gorkhaland after which the agitators hinted at suspending their indefinite strike in Darjeeling.