“The Morcha has lost faith in tripartite talks. Our participation in the talks at Darjeeling is very much uncertain. We will take a decision after we get some feedback from Delhi on our demand for Gorkhaland on the lines of Telangana,” the outfit’s central committee member Harkabahadur Chetri said over telephone from Kalimpong.

He said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had told a GJM delegation headed by party general secretary Roshan Giri in Delhi yesterday that he understood the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling.

“If he understands the aspirations of the people, he should understand it was creation for a separate state,” Chetri said.

Calling for a political settlement, he said the tripartite meeting scheduled on December 21 was at administrative level.

“An administrative settlement means within West Bengal, which was agreed to by Subhas Ghishing (The Gorkha National Liberation Front president) in the late eighties.”

Stating that the GJM was gearing up for a four-day bandh in the Hills from December 14, Chetri quoted GJM president Bimal Gurung as saying the talks were “useless”. “If we do not get a positive response, we will intensify our agitation. We do not want to live like slaves in West Bengal,” Chetri said.

Meanwhile, GJM general secretary Giri said from Delhi, “Our president and the central committee will decide whether to participate in the tripartite talks or not.”

In Kolkata, West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters that the tripartite meeting would be held on December 21 as scheduled.

Asked about the state government’s stand on the indefinite fast by the GJM leaders which entered the second day, he said the district magistrate was talking with the protesters.

The last tripartite meeting was held in New Delhi on August 11 this year.

Kishenji wants autonomy for 3 Bengal districts

Kolkata: Top Maoist leader Kishenji today demanded autonomy for three tribal-dominated districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal while justifying the Gorkhaland statehood issue.

“We demand autonomy for the three districts on the lines of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council,” Kishenji said from an undisclosed location.

He alleged the West Bengal government had denied the people of the districts their legitimate rights.

“We demand autonomy to protect the language, culture and religious beliefs of tribals.”

Asked if he meant statehood, he said, “The people of the three districts are not yet prepared for statehood.”

Asked if it was part of the demand for a “greater Jharkhand”, Kishenji said, “That demand is no longer relevant. The scenario has changed.”

“Moreover the formation of Jharkhand has not solved any problem. Going forward with the ‘greater Jharkhand’ demand will not solve the problem of tribals,” he said. Kisenji, however, supported the demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling saying it was “legitimate”.