Darjeeling, Aug. 1: Asok Bhattacharya today held a meeting with administrative officials in Darjeeling to concretise the development projects he had announced earlier despite the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha crying hoarse over the minister’s alleged attempt to mislead the hills with the sops.

In fact, the Morcha’s decision to close down DGHC offices, even though state and central government offices have been allowed to remain open, is an attempt to thwart Bhattacharya’s plan to implement the new initiatives in the hills.

However, an undeterred Bhattacharya, the MLA and urban development minister from Siliguri, today announced some more schemes for the region. “The state government is actively looking into the introduction of Lepcha language in primary schools. The minister concerned is expected to make an announcement soon,” he said “I have also been told that certain communities like the Lepchas are facing difficulties in obtaining the Gorkha certificate. I have asked the officials to look into the matter and solve the problem immediately.” Gorkha certificates are issued by subdivisional officers, and hill youths need them to apply for jobs in the armed forces.

The minister also announced that 25 people in the Kalimpong subdivision who had lost their homes to landslides had already been given land for free to rebuild their houses.

Ghisingh in Delhi

Subash Ghisingh today left for Delhi, two days before an all-party meeting in Writers’ Buildings the invitation to which the GNLF chief had rejected.

The state government had invited the Democratic Front, a six-party anti-Morcha conglomerate, and the GNLF to the August 3 meeting. Ghisingh’s rejection of the invitation had created resentment in the GNLF.

Rajen Mukhia, a leader of the GNLF’s Terai branch, said: “This was a rare opportunity that we had received from the government to speak out against the present state of affairs in the hills. But it is unfortunate that instead of utilising it, we lost the chance.” If Ghisingh continues with his silence and abstains from the dialogue with the government, the GNLF’s existence will be threatened, said a leader in the Terai.