Expectation high for a positive outcome of 2nd round talk on Darjeeling issue

Sliguri/Darjeeling, Sep 12: Expectation is rife for a positive outcome from today's second round of government-sponsored meeting to put an end to the current stalemate in Darjeeling crippling life for over three months since June 8. The meeting, to be chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Uttarayan in Siliguri, would involve all the political parties operating in the hills. During the August 29 talk at Nabanna, Ms Banerjee made it clear that the statehood issue was not under the jurisdiction of the State Government even as at the same time she acknowledged that any political party could raise such issue democratically. Ms Banerjee said her government was keen on restoring normalcy in the hills first and subsequently would take up other issues, adding people have been forced to starve following the indefinite shutdown bringing all economic and social activities to a grinding halt for the past three moths. Meanwhile, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) yesterday issued a statement, saying its nine-member delegation, headed by president Mann Ghishing, would attend the second round of dialogue., It said the government has invited the GNLF to attend the meeting as it did in the first on August 29 at Nabanna.  UNI