Rajnath Singh appeals Mamata Banerjee to initiate dialogue with Gorkhaland statehood movement leaders

Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders of Gorkhaland statehood movement to end the over two-month-long statehood agitation. 

According to a home ministry statement, Singh has also requested the leaders of the Gorkhaland statehood movement to call of the indefinite strike, which entered its 60 days on Sunday and end their hunger-strike.   

Singh chaired a two-hour-long meeting with the leaders of Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) — an umbrella body of all hill parties demanding separate Gorkhaland. 

The Gorkhaland leaders submitted a memorandum to Singh detailing all their demands. 

The GMCC led by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) said it had urged the home minister to initiate the process for creating a separate state. 

According to the statement released by the home ministry, Singh has appealed the WB chief minister Mamata Banerjee to restore all civil supplies and the internet, cable tv and local channel services in the hill region.

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Singh said, “I am concerned over the developments in Darjeeling and loss of valuable lives and suffering of the people.”

He added a solution should be found keeping in mind the national interest, as well as in the interest of our Gorkha brothers and sisters.

Swaraj Thapa, a leader of the GJM, said the home minister had told them that he was mindful of the sufferings of the people in Darjeeling.

"We have urged him to start the process of creating a separate state," Thapa said.