He noted that even as the Chief minister asked the concerned parties to hold talks, his ministers issued provocative statements, which aggravated the situation. The minister called upon the state government to immediately convene an all-party meeting to resolve the ongoing crisis in Darjeeling.
Opposing the demand of a separate state by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Dasmunsi said that more power could be given to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC) under the constitution, but a state within a state was not acceptable. He also opposed inclusion of the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district in the DGHC. Asked whether the Centre would intervene in the situation, Dasmunsi said an all-party meet had to be called first, after which the state government should report to the Centre.
“In the late ‘80s, the Centre had played a key role in the signing of the Darjeeling Accord. The Centre has never let down the state government,” the minister said.
Stating that the Pradesh Congress Committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation, Dasmunsi said he also had a talk with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He said he would speak to Union Home minister Shivraj Patil tomorrow on the situation. Dasmunsi also slammed the GJM for harassing tourists in the Hills by calling an indefinite bandh.