Siliguri, June 23: Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today said as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, his word and stand on Gorkhaland was final for his party.

“As PCC chief, whatever stand I take regarding Gorkhaland is final. Anyone who has spoken differently has only expressed his personal view,” Das Munshi said.

The PCC chief was on his way to Delhi and was answering questions on the difference in views between the plains and the hill leaders of the Congress regarding statehood. On June 17, two Congress leaders from the hills, Chabi Rai and Nakul Chhetri, had attended an “all-party” meeting called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and signed a resolution for Gorkhaland.

The state leadership of the Congress had then, like its counterparts in the CPI, BJP and Trinamul Congress, disowned the two and called them “self-styled leaders”.

Das Munshi today welcomed the decision of the Morcha leaders to give a 60-hour breather to the indefinite shutdown in the hills and express willingness to hold dialogues.

“I am thankful to them that they have finally taken some initiative to hold talks with the central and state governments. But they must come forward unconditionally,” he said. The Union minister said the move will also benefit the residents of neighbouring Sikkim.

Das Munshi also lauded Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for the manner in which he has tackled the Morcha movement. Bhattacharjee has already held an all party meeting in Calcutta to resolve the crisis in the hills. He has also invited the Morcha leaders for discussions without setting any pre condition.

“The chief minister has taken some positive steps and we are expecting a solution soon,” Das Munshi said.