Interim authority for Darjeeling?

The Centre on Thursday favoured setting up an ' authority' for Darjeeling and neighboring areas with certain powers over development matters to the agitating Gorkhas who have been demanding a separate Gorkhaland state.

This came during the first round of political talks with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) which presented a blueprint of an interim regional authority.

The talks were attended by minister of state for home Ajay Maken, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi, interlocutor Lt General Vijay Madan besides state government represenatives.

"The Centre is in favour of setting up an interim authority for the area after consulting all stakeholders including state government as it wants development activities to resume there. Adequate funds will be given by the Centre for this purpose", said Maken.

Giri came up with the blueprint of the "interim authority" having powers similar to a state. Though the Centre did not fully agree with the GJM's draft, officials here expressed the hope that some common ground could be found during the next round of talks scheduled for mid-May.

The Centre, despite its reservations, is hopeful of considering some of the demands put forth by the Morcha.

According to the plan mooted by GJM, the regional authority should have no interference from West Bengal government. It should have powers on law and order and have a body like a state assembly.

The regional authority may be named either Gorkhaland Regional Authority or the Darjeeling and Dooars Regional Authority, the sources said.

Times of India