Mamata open to discussing Darjeeling unrest

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday indicated she was open to holding discussions with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the Darjeeling situation, even as she blamed “foreign forces” close to the BJP for playing a part in the flare-up in the hills.
She also accused the central government of “non-cooperation”, and claimed the crisis could have been averted through timely deployment of central forces.
Darjeeling has been on the boil for around a month following the revival of the agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The principal hill party Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has called an indefinite shutdown, which is continuing for 24 days.
Asked whether she wanted to talk to the Home Minister, Banerjee responded: “I have talked to him six times. If he wants to talk, we have no problem in discussing.” (IANS)