Situation still not conducive for talks with GJM: Bengal govt

The Morcha on Monday had withdrawn its 96-hour bandh. But on Tuesday,it gave a bandh call of all Central and state government offices — only banks and post offices are exempt.

Its hunger strike at the same time has been on.

The offices in the hills will not be allowed to function till the hunger strike continues,the Morcha said.

Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen,who left for Delhi for preparatory discussions for the tripartite talks with Home Ministry officials,said: “Two persons have fallen sick. We are watching the situation and will take appropriate steps as and when needed. The situation is not at all conducive for talks.”

The Morcha,on its part,is unwilling to give up the hunger strike.

“I don’t think our hunger strike will be withdrawn. Our other agitational programmes are also underway. We are ready to participate in the tripartite talks and are preparing the ground for the same,” said Amar Lama,member,central committee of the GJM.

The Morcha is also blaming the state government for trying to derail the talks. “We have understood their (the state’s) design. But the hunger strike will go on,” Roshan Giri said.

Giri,in charge of the party’s publicity,is in Delhi to liaison with Union ministers and officials and also political parties like the BJP.It was at the behest of the BJP as well as Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Union Home Secretary G K Pillai that the GJM withdrew its bandh call on Monday.

The Centre,meanwhile,welcoming the Morcha’s decision to withdraw the call for bandh in the Darjeeling Hill area,appealed to it to call off the ongoing hunger strike immediately.