Gorkhaland demand: WB govt, GJM begin talks to restore peace in Darjeeling

Two other hill parties-GNLF and JAP-included in deliberations

The West Bengal government and the major hills parties opened dialogues on Tuesday, to resolve the demand for a separate statehood in northern West Bengal and restore peace and order in the Darjeeling hills.

As the prolonged shutdown in the hills entered its 70th day, hitting the region's economy as well as normal life, both the West Bengal government as well as the parties supporting the shutdown felt it necessary to open dialogues to end the stalemate holding talks at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

However, although the Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Gorkhaland National Liberation Front (GNLF) and Jan Andolan Party (JAP) -