indo-asian news service
Kolkata, August 22: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced the state government will hold talks with “all major political parties” on August 29 in a bid to restore peace and normalcy in the agitation-hit north West Bengal hills.
Banerjee said the president of the central committee of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has written to the state government, asking for a ace high-level intervention to end the present crisis in the Hill areas of Darjeeling” and has “humbly requested for talks to restore peace and normalcy in the Hills”. The Trinamool Congress supremo said the state government has decided to “respond positively to the request”. Not only the GNLF but “all major political parties will be called” on August 29 at state secretariat Nabanna at 4 p.m., she said.
“Representatives of the development boards will also be called to the meeting. I have said it earlier as well that those who are in favour of restoration of normalcy, government is ready to talk with them anytime. This (request for dialogue from GNLF) is a constructive and positive indication,” Banerjee said.
