India positive on Gorkhaland demand

DARJEELING, Sept 10 - The Indian government has shown its positive attitude toward the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state within the Indian federation in the first round of tripartite talks held in New Delhi on Monday.The talks were held among representatives from the agitating Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), the ...

"The possibility of establishing a separate Gorkhaland state has increased as the talks were positive," said Roshan Giri, general secretary of GJM, who led the 20-member delegation comprising leaders from eight hill parties in the meeting.

"The government has taken seriously the demand for separate statehood for Gorkhaland by separating some parts from West Bengal, and it has proposed further discussions on the issue," he said.

Those participating in the talks were Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, Home Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti, Administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council BL Meena and eight other government officials.

Leaders of the agitating parties handed over a 50-page document to senior government officials, including maps, evidences, economic bases, and historical facts to show why a separate Gorkhaland state is needed, according to Giri.