DARJEELING, : Even though no representative of the West Bengal government attended
the second round of tripartite meeting held on Thursday at Delhi, “for a
solution of the Gorkha issues”,political parties representing this area claimed
the meeting to be“positive and good”.
In
the meeting that took place in the North Block, the Union government was
represented by the Minister of State for Home Affairs,NityanandRai with
representatives of political outfits like the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Gorkha
National Liberation Front (GNLF),Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist
(CPRM), Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM) along with the Darjeeling MP
Raju Bista also present along with other officials of different ministries.
“The
meeting took place for about 90 minutes and I feel that compared to the past
whatever tripartite meetings have taken place, this one was the most positive
and effective one. In the past also such meetings had taken place and this time
we wanted to hear what the Central government and the Home ministry had to
say,” said Bista afterthe meeting.
“Our
demand was that the people of Terrai, Hills and Dooars should get justice under
the Constitution of India. The MoS Home Affairs also clearly said that the Central
government and the Home ministry want justice for the Gorkhas and the people of
Dooars and Terrai region. Healso said that the policy and behaviour of the West
Bengal government against the people was made clear today as the Bengal chief
secretary was supposed to attend the meeting today but he did not attend,” he
said.
Bista
added that till last night there was confirmation of the Bengal chief secretary
attending the meeting but at the last moment he did not take part.
The
Darjeeling MP further mentioned that the Central government has taken notice of
the fact that even after inviting the State government they did not attend it or
have sent the Resident Commissioner in the past.
“I
feel that this means that the West Bengal government should agree to whatever
the Central government and the Home ministry decides,” he said.
Without
mentioning any dates, Bista shared that the next meeting would be held soon, and
it would be a decisive one for which the State government should also attend as
it would prove beneficial for them. He said that a meeting would take place
between them and Union Home minister Amit Shah which the
Home secretary had assured them at the meeting. He maintained that until the
people’s wish and aspiration was not fulfilled, they would not settle on
anything.
The
Darjeeling MP added that the Home ministry also kept forward different options
in front of them which he did not want to make public until something concrete
was finalized in the next meeting. He maintained that they kept forward two
issues in the meeting which was a Permanent Political Solution for this area
along with tribal status for 11communities.
Bista
said that in the meeting today it was learnt that after the first tripartite
meeting, a clarification had been asked to be given by the Bengal government on
the tribal status issue but till now they had received nothing but the presence
of the Tribal secretary and the Registrar General of India (RGI) showed that the
Centre was serious on the matter.
“I
feel that a solution for both the issues will come at one time and the solution
will cover all issues like that of identity, land,development and aspirations,”
he said.
When
asked about the demand of Gorkha land, Bista said, “The issue of Gorkha land is
always there and this whole thing started with that issue and it will always be
there. Today also we have kept that issue,but the Centre has also told us
something on some issues which we will not make public. We have seen till now
that whenever something good is about to happen for us it gets spoiled.”
He
however added that all the different options were discussed today among which
included Bodoland Territorial Region, 6th Schedule,Union Territory, and Gorkha land
but the main thing would be officially declared by the Home ministry after a
decision is reached.
The
last tripartite meeting was held on October 12, 2021 at Delhi while the second
round was called after a period of more than three years.
