19.7.11

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration created





Peace got another chance on Monday in the volatile Darjeeling hills with the signing of a tripartite agreement that attempts to meet the Gorkhas’ century-old quest for self-rule while keeping the geographical unity of Bengal intact. The accord is well-timed for chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had promised to resolve the Hills crisis within three months of coming to power, and could also help the Centre in creating options for Telangana and other statehood movements. At Pintail Village, the epicentre of the Gorkhas’ campaign for ethnic identity in the Terai, the central and state governments and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) signed an agreement to pave the way for the creation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The new arrangement will replace the 1988 Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council that was created after a similar accord signed between the Centre, the Left Front government and Subash Ghising’s Gorkha National Liberation Front. The GTA pact was signed in the presence of Union home minister P Chidambaram, Mamata and GJM chief Bimal Gurung.
Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Accord Signed on Aug 22, 1988 between Centre, state & GNLF
Name: Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council
Status : Autonomous council 42 members—28 elected, 14 nominated by state
Area : 3 hill subdivisions: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, and 13 village clusters in Siliguri subdivision
Powers : Land allotment etc. No new govt posts or taxes

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Accord, 2011 Signed on July 18 by WB govt, GJM and Centre
Name : Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
Status : Maximum autonomy. 45 councillors to be elected, 5 to be nominated by govt
Area : Existing areas under erstwhile DGHC. Joint panel to examine inclusion of areas in the Terai and Dooars
Powers : Over industry, IT. Can create govt posts and levy fees

Thousands of Gorkhas turned out in their traditional attire to celebrate the creation of a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration on Monday. Contrary to expectations, the GJM chief didn’t sign the accord and GJM state general secretary Roshan Giri did it on his behalf. The two other signatories were Bengal home secretary G D Gautama and Union home joint secretary K K Pathak. Aware of the Left Front’s criticism that the accord would divide Bengal, Mamata told the gathering that Darjeeling would remain an integral part of the state. “Development of the Hills is crucial if the plains are to prosper. The GTA will receive all help from the Centre and the state,” she said. “People have raised questions about the GTA’s name. The draft, which was prepared on August 17, 2010, had the name Gorkhaland Regional Authority. I didn’t change anything apart from the word ‘Regional’. The Hills and plains are like two sisters, who have to develop and prosper together.” The CM added that a committee was set up to determine whether any part of the Dooars and the Terai should be included in the GTA. “Everybody will get what they deserve. What is the confusion in this? Just like Darjeeling, the Dooars and the Terai are very dear to us,” Mamata said. The GTA will comprise the Hills sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Elections to the posts of 45 members will be held within six months after which it will start functioning. A committee has been set up to look into the GJM’s demand for inclusion of several mouzas (village clusters) from the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. Chidambaram hailed the agreement, but had a word of caution for Gurung and GJM. “You have a stupendous task ahead and will have to build brick by brick. Both the Centre and the state government will be by your side. You will also have to bear in mind that the area under GTA will be a plural society. People living here belong to different communities, religions, cultures and races. The new administration will have to respect this plurality. We shall be watching you carefully as you rebuild Darjeeling,” he said. Chidambaram attributed the signing of the treaty to two “wise” persons — Mamata and Gurung. “I would like to compliment both of them for their wisdom, sagacity, foresight and love and compassion for the people. There will be many hurdles but none that can’t be sorted out through dialogue and determination,” Chidambaram said. Gurung thanked Mamata and called the accord a victory of the people’s struggle. He asked the government to pay attention to the committee that will demarcate parts of the plains that are to be brought under GTA. Subhas Ghising was on Monday a lonely man at his rented house in Jalpaiguri district as the new Gorkha Territorial Administration replaced the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council he headed for over 23 years. Ghising, the founder of the Gorkha National Liberation Front and who had once ruled Darjeeling with an iron hand, did not respond to reporters’ queries about the new hill council. It was Bimal Gurung who took the wind out of the sails of Ghising and drove him out of the Hills in 1998, a year after he floated the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This step if a victory for Democracy...