Gorkha Leaders Seek Mizoram CM's Support

Aizawl, Feb 16 : A team of Gorkha leaders has sought the support of Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on the issue of a separate Gorkhaland in West Bengal, an official release said here on Thursday.

Siliguri-based Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (Federation of Indian Gorkha) leaders met the Chief Minister here Wednesday, the statement said.

The five-member team led by Parisangh secretary general Sukhman Moktam urged Lal Thanhawla to support their demand for a separate Gorkhaland in Darjeeling, it said.

"The Gorkha leaders requested the Mizoram Chief Minister to take up the issue with the central government at the earliest to form Gorkhaland."

On July 18 last year, a tripartite agreement was signed between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the West Bengal and central governments to set up a new autonomous, elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).