“The GJM no longer represents the people of the hills. The chief minister has endorsed this demand and it will be sent to the central government. In fact, at present, any tripartite meeting on the hills is meaningless. However, the chief minister also said we will have to wait for what the Centre does,” Ashok Bhattacharya, Minister for Urban Development, who represented the state government in the tripartite talks among the state government, the central government and the GJM in February this year, said.

Bhattacharya, who had a long meeting with the chief minister in the afternoon to discuss the situation in the hills, is also going to Darjeeling soon. “I am going to Darjeeling very soon and will visit Madan Tamang’s house,” the minister said.

No major CPM leader has ever visited the hills in the last 30 years for which the area has been disturbed.

The chief minister today sent a wreath to Darjeeling to be placed during Tamang’s funeral.

Bhattacharya also said that more special police forces will be sent to Darjeeling to ensure law and order there. “The police will see to it that all shops and offices remain open and normal life is maintained,” the minister said.

He also said the state government had all the proof of who played what role in Tamang’s killing. “Tamang laid down his life for the sake of democracy in the hills. And the people in the hills have come out on the streets against the colossal arrogance of the GJM. However, nobody will be spared if he or she is found guilty. We will also look at the role of the policemen present at the venue of the meeting during the attack,” the minister said.