Centre not performing responsibility on Darjeeling: minister

Accusing the Centre of not performing its responsibility on Darjeeling, a West Bengal minister today said the state was ready for talks with GJM, provided a proper environment prevailed in the hills.
"The GTA agreement was a tripartite one. When the problem arose in the hills, the state government took various steps to solve the crisis. But the Centre, which is also a party to this agreement, is avoiding responsibility," North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb told reporters here.
Asked whether the state would sit for talks with the GJM to resolve problem, he said, "Our state government never said that we will not sit for talks. We are always ready for talks, but for talks there has to be a proper atmosphere."

Deb claimed that stability was returning to the hills because of the steps taken by the state government.
"I have already visited 15-16 times. In future I have plans to visit 16-18 more places in hills for distribution of food to the people of the hills," he said.