M A I N   N E W S

No more new states, says Pranab
Tribune News Service/PTI

Kolkata, December 12
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today ruled out the possibility of formation of any more new state in the country.

“The demand for Telangana is 60 years old. This does not mean everywhere new states are to be created,” Mukherjee said, talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a new hospital in North 24 Parganas today. The demand for Telangana could not be bracketed with demands for Gorkhaland, Kamtapur or other new states, he said.

He said that so far as Telangana was concerned, Home Minister P Chidambaram had made a statement that "there were stages for formation (of a state). These are preliminary stages." A state, he said, has to express its views because the President would like to know it before recommending a Bill to be considered in Parliament.

In a related development, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) toughened its stance, saying its participation in the December 21 tripartite talks on separate statehood issue was "uncertain" and would depend on the outcome of current talks with the Centre.

"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 the 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 that it was creation of a separate state," Chetri said.

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 that 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. The last tripartite meeting was held in Delhi on August 11.

Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by GJM leaders entered the second day today. No untoward incident was reported but the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed as a precautionary measure. GJM activists took out several processions in the hills and at Siliguri in which Gorkha women took part.

GJM president Bimal Gurung said the statehood of West Bengal would not be disturbed with formation of Gorkhaland. On the contrary, the bifurcation would help run both states better. “It is a 102-year-old demand and we will fight for Gorkhaland to the last,” he announced.

Supporters for separate Kampur in Coochbehar and its surrounding Assam along with GJM activists also launched an indefinite fast near Coochbehar town today. A large number of tribal people in the district and nearby areas are taking part in the mass hunger strike.

Simultaneously, Amra Bangali and several other social organisations in Darjeeling launched a counter-agitation against bifurcation of the state. CPM and other Left Front partners are supporting the agitation.

Criticising the Gorkhaland demand, CPM minister Ashoke Bhattacharya said that the people of West Bengal - irrespective of caste, creed, religion and political differences - would oppose it tooth and nail. He said locals would launch a mass hunger strike in Siliguri and elsewhere.

Tourists take off

A large number of tourists holidaying in Darjeeling - including several hundred foreigners - started leaving the hills following the GJM’s four-day bandh from December 14. However, GJM president Gurung urged tourists not to leave the hills. “The bandh will be peaceful and tourists would not be disturbed. Our workers and supporters will ensure tourists are not put to inconvenience,” he said.