Kolkota, India: June 13, 2008- International Reporter (IRS)/NDTV -  West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has invited all-party members to meet in Kolkata on June 17 on the Gorkhaland agitation, which is gone from bad to worse. There is every likelihood of inviting the GJM leadership to attend the meet, even though there is no confirmation to this effect, they may attend the meeting.
 
Meanwhile, Bengalis and Gorkhas stand divided in West Bengal's Siliguri and the Army is on standby to contain any rioting that may break out.

There have been clashes in the area ever since Gorkhas demanded a separate state of Gorkhaland and roads leading to the popular holiday hill station of Darjeeling were blocked.

Section 144 has been imposed in several parts of Siliguri and the police are now patrolling the town and its neighbourhood.

From early Thursday morning, huge crowds gathered at junctions of all roads leading from Siliguri to Darjeeling to prevent any vehicles, specially those carrying food supplies, from going to the hill station.

As the day progressed, the picketers clashed with the police and, with the situation threatening to go out of hand, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya called in the Army.

''I am appealing to all for peace. Having surveyed the situation, I am calling in the army. We have contacted them. They will be deployed in Siliguri and its neighbourhood as soon as possible,'' said Buddhadeb.

Later, after Section 144 was imposed in several parts of Siliguri and the situation came under some control, the decision to deploy the Army was deferred. Instead, 10 companies of paramilitary forces, including Seema Suraksha Bal, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security  Force (BSF) were sent in.

The root of the problem is Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's demand for Gorkhaland whose map includes Siliguri.

However, Siliguri is in the plains and dominated primarily by Bengalis. As a result of it, ethnic tensions have spiraled between the Bengalis and Gorkhas.

The latest word says that GJM may attend CM’s all party Meet on 17 June.