Kolkata/ Siliguri: In a softening of stance, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today decided to send a four-member team to Kolkata to open a dialogue with the state government on their demands, while relaxing their indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills for 60 hours.

GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri told PTI from Darjeeling that the team bound for Kolkata would leave in a few days , while the team for Delhi would leave tomorrow.

A four-member team, led by him, would leave for Delhi to talk to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Leader of Opposition L K Advani and BJP President Rajnath Singh.

The team is also likely to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Giri said that the 60-hour breather would start from six PM from this evening to six AM till Wednesday in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

The relaxation was decided at the central committee meeting today at the "request from different quarters including ministers and MPs" and also considering the "overall situation", he said.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had renewed the invitation for talks on January 18 without any pre-condition, but the GJM had been insisting that the talks be held only in Delhi where the chief minister might be present.

The GJM had begun the indefinite bandh on June 16, demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Source : PTI