Gorkhaland protest: GJM leader meets Rajnath Singh, says hunger strike will be lifted after discussions

The only way to handle and resolve the ongoing protests in Darjeeling is the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, the principal advisor Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Swaraj Thapa said. The hunger strike will be lifted only after discussions with other stakeholders, he added.

The principal advisor on Sunday met Union Minister Rajnath Singh wherein the latter asked the stakeholders to find a solution to resolve the issue. Urging the Home Minister to initiate the process, Thapa said, "We said there cannot be any solution other than a separate state for the region and that the people of the entire region cannot feel that they have been given the due unless a separate state of Gorkhaland is created."

"Our stand on the hunger strike is that we will take a decision on this in the next few days by consulting with our leadership and by discussing with various political parties and stakeholders," he further said.

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The Home Minister is aware of the sufferings of Gorkha and the non-Gorkha people in Darjeeling and the surrounding region, he said.

After the meeting with Rajnath, Thapa quoted him as saying that he was well aware about the fact that the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland has been there for a long time.

The Home Minister invited Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) for talks to resolve the Darjeeling unrest, which entered its 60th day on Sunday.

The invitation came in response to a request filed by GMCC on Saturday urging the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to restore normalcy in Darjeeling hills.

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