Gorkhaland agitation: CPI-M asks HM to hold tripartite meet

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today wrote to Union Minister Rajnath Singh seeking the government to convene a tripartite meeting to restore normalcy in Darjeeling, which has been witnessing unrest over demand of Gorkhaland.

Yechury, in his letter, said that representatives of the Centre, the West Bengal government and the Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha should meet to tackle the "grave situation" that has arisen in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of the state.

He also expressed concerns over reports of "serious human rights violation" in the wake of "virtual" economic blockade following the unrest, triggered after the state government's announcement of making Bengali a mandatory language.

"Given the worsening situation and gross denial of human rights and the hardships that the people are being subjected to, urgent intervention is required.

"It is clear that the restoration of peace and normalcy in the area can happen only through a dialogue for which the process of talks between three parties that created the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) must immediately begin," Yechury said in the letter.

He also enclosed two letters from ex-Darjeeling MP Saman Pathak to give "an idea of the hardships that the people in the region are facing" following the unrest.

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