Situation will worsen if talks delayed: GJM

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung said on Thursday said if tripartite talks on Gorkhaland were not held immediately, the situation in the Darjeeling hills will further worsen.

"Tripartite talks have to be held as soon as possible, else the situation in the hills will deteriorate and the state government would be responsible for it," Gurung said in an audio message from an undisclosed location.

Gurung also accused the government of trying to force the withdrawal of the ongoing shutdown.

Urging the pro-shutdown activists to further intensify the "picketing" from Friday, Gurung said the government would have to take responsibility if any untoward takes place in the hills.

"I appeal the bandh supporters to beef up picketing from tomorrow. If something goes wrong, the government of West Bengal would be fully responsible for it," he said.

Gurung's comments came two days after the second phase of the government sponsored All Party meeting in Jalpaiguri, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed on a few points with the hill parties but refused to commit stating legal issues.

"We can't commit now. Because the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (hill development body) which had the provision of tripartite talks, is now not an elected body, but one run administratively. So we have to look into the legal issues," Banerjee had said. - IANS