WB Governor to Meet President over the GTA issue

DARJEELING: West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan has assured the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation that he would be meeting President Pratibha Patil on February 15 in Delhi and will request for early implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The GJM has threatened to resurrect the Gorkhaland demand if the Government fails to form the GTA by March 27, 2012. A 10 member GJM team led by General Secretary Roshan Giri, met the Governor on Tuesday. "We apprised the Governor of the ground reality, despite assurance by the Government the GTA is not yet implemented. He assured us that he would take up the matter with the President on February 15 and request for an early implementation", said Giri.

The Governor who had arrived at Darjeeling on February 6 will be leaving the Hills on Wednesday. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the State, Centre and the GJM on July 18, 2011, for the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA,) an autonomous administrative body to replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. This MOA paved the way for the passing of a GTA Bill by the West Bengal Assembly. The Bill is at present under inter-ministerial consultation. Following a green signal from the ministries, the Bill will require an assent from the President of India.

Meanwhile GJM President Bimal Gurung’s allegations that the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF- comprising of Hill opposition parties) has been indulging in subversive activities, running underground Maoist training camps in Kalimpong, has invited flak from Hill opposition parties. Gurung had also stated in a public address in Kalimpong on Monday that the entry of Maoists into Kalimpong along with the training camps has been brought to the notice of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Pratap Khati, General Secretary, All India Gorkha League on Thursday lodged a General Diary (GD) against Gurung at the Kalimpong Police Station. "Gurung has threatened the Hill opposition parties with dire consequences if they fail to fall in line. Gurung has criminal antecedence, his name having featured in the Madan Tamang murder FIR. We have lodged a GD against him" said Pratap Khati, General Secretary, AIGL.

"Gurung should immediately withdraw such irresponsible statements or it will attract criminal proceedings. We also demand that the Government immediately look into Gurung’s private army- the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) training camps and the source of funding for the 10,000 odd GLP personnel that Bimal Gurung is maintaining" demanded Khati. The AIGL General Secretary further stated that West Bengal chief minister has committed a historic blunder by entering into the GTA agreement with a Gurung and the GJM.

( Hindustan Times )