Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to withdraw its indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling hills and invited them for talks for an amicable solution of the issue.

“In a democracy, dialogue is the only way out to resolve any problem. Solution can be found through restraint, mutual dialogue and within the legal ambit,” he said in his appeal.

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The Home Minister also asked union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to convene an official level meeting within a fortnight to discuss all related issues.

“I have been pained immensly by what has happened in Darjeeling Hills. I appeal to the GJM and its leader Bimal Gurung to withdraw the ongoing bandh and to help create a conducive atmosphere for allowing normalcy to return to the area, particularly in view of the festive season,” Rajnath Singh said.

The GJM, which has called for an indefinite strike has been demanding a separate state and has asked the Central government for a “tripartite dialogue” to resolve the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas. It had remain defiant over withdrawing the agitation till tripartite talks between the Central and state governments and other stakeholders are organised.

Eleven people have lost their lives so far while several have been injured and the entire people of the area put to a lot of hardship due to the strike.