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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| India 'Gorkha state' talks begin | India 'Gorkha state' talks begin |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A meeting called by the Indian government to discuss the creation of a separate state in the tea-producing Darjeeling hills has begun. | A meeting called by the Indian government to discuss the creation of a separate state in the tea-producing Darjeeling hills has begun. |
| The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is demanding a separate state and fairer treatment for Darjeeling's Nepali-speaking Gorkha community. | The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is demanding a separate state and fairer treatment for Darjeeling's Nepali-speaking Gorkha community. |
| The movement got a boost after the Indian government announced a new state of Telangana earlier this month. | The movement got a boost after the Indian government announced a new state of Telangana earlier this month. |
| Gorkha volunteers ended a protest fast ahead of the talks. | Gorkha volunteers ended a protest fast ahead of the talks. |
| This followed an appeal by the federal Home Minister P Chidambaram. | This followed an appeal by the federal Home Minister P Chidambaram. |
| "We responded to his appeal to create an appropriate atmosphere for the talks," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. | "We responded to his appeal to create an appropriate atmosphere for the talks," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. |
| The Indian government is represented by the country's home secretary GK Pillai and the West Bengal government by its chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti in the tri-partite talks. | The Indian government is represented by the country's home secretary GK Pillai and the West Bengal government by its chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti in the tri-partite talks. |
| 'Out of question' | 'Out of question' |
| "We only want to discuss how a separate Gorkha state can be created. Nothing else. Ours is as old a demand as Telangana and this is our last battle," Mr Giri said. | "We only want to discuss how a separate Gorkha state can be created. Nothing else. Ours is as old a demand as Telangana and this is our last battle," Mr Giri said. |
| But there was no indication that either the Indian government or that of West Bengal would accept the demand for a separate Gorkha state. | But there was no indication that either the Indian government or that of West Bengal would accept the demand for a separate Gorkha state. |
| "All such contentious issues can be resolved by discussions. But nobody should try to impose their agenda on the others," Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said. | "All such contentious issues can be resolved by discussions. But nobody should try to impose their agenda on the others," Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said. |
| "A separate state will not really help the Gorkhas." | "A separate state will not really help the Gorkhas." |
| There have been demonstrations demanding a separate state | There have been demonstrations demanding a separate state |
| West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has said the government was willing to give "more autonomy" to Darjeeling. | West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has said the government was willing to give "more autonomy" to Darjeeling. |
| "But a separate Gorkhaland is out of question," he said. | "But a separate Gorkhaland is out of question," he said. |
| Thousands of GJM supporters thronged the venue of the talks in Darjeeling after offering prayers in local temples and monasteries. | Thousands of GJM supporters thronged the venue of the talks in Darjeeling after offering prayers in local temples and monasteries. |
| Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in anticipation of trouble if the talks fail. | Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in anticipation of trouble if the talks fail. |
| The Gorkhas in Darjeeling ran a long campaign for a separate state in the 1980s but then settled for considerable autonomy. | The Gorkhas in Darjeeling ran a long campaign for a separate state in the 1980s but then settled for considerable autonomy. |
| But now their leaders say the autonomy deal has not worked and they blame the Left coalition government of West Bengal for its failure. | But now their leaders say the autonomy deal has not worked and they blame the Left coalition government of West Bengal for its failure. |
| The last three new states in India were formed in 2000 - Chhattisgarh was created out of eastern Madhya Pradesh; Uttarakhand was created out of the hilly areas of northern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was carved from Bihar's southern districts. | The last three new states in India were formed in 2000 - Chhattisgarh was created out of eastern Madhya Pradesh; Uttarakhand was created out of the hilly areas of northern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was carved from Bihar's southern districts. |