New Delhi, july 14: Even as a bandh crippled life in Darjeeling, the Centre on Monday suggested holding of tripartite meeting with the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on August 24 on the demand of creating a separate Gorkha state.
The Centre has asked the state government to communicate the proposal to the GJM and convey back the response to it.
“The Union government has suggested to the West Bengal government that the tripartite meeting could be held on August 24. The Centre also told the state government to communicate the message to the GJM,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
Life came to a standstill in all three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district today due to GJM’s indefinite bandh called to press for a separate state and other demands.
A GJM delegation, led by its general secretary Roshan Giri, has left for Delhi to demand fresh rounds of talks.
All shops and business establishments were closed and employees left their offices early, police said.
GJM publicity secretary Benoy Tamang said the organisation would continue the bandh till its demands were met as the hill people had a sufficient stock of essentials.
Tamang said movement of vehicular traffic was relaxed to enable stranded tourists and students to leave the hills.
–PTI