Trinmool Congress Indicates massive Changes in GTA

DARJEELING : The Trinamool Congress feels that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has no moral right to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA.) The TMC is also of the opinion that poriborton is the need of the hour in the Hills . The statement comes a few days ahead of the GTA Sabha meet slated for September 27 to elect a new chief executive member. GJM president Bimal Gurung had resigned from the post of GTA chief on July 30th and spearheaded an agitation in demand of a separate state. “The GJM has betrayed both the public and the government. They rallied people in the name of Gorkhaland and settled for the GTA. On the other hand after signing the GTA tripartite agreement and then being elected to office, they failed to complete the tenure of 5 years. With the UPA deciding to carve out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, the GJM discarded the GTA and started walking the agitation path,” said Sarda Subba, general secretary, Trinamool Mahila Congress, Darjeeling (Hills.) “After rallying the public on the streets for more than a month and also calling a bandh in the name of Gorkhaland, what moral right do they have to return back to the GTA and elect a new chief ?” questioned Subba. 

The TMC has plans of opening up an organisation for adhoc GTA workers shortly. “There were more than 6,000 adhoc employees in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) who are now continuing in the GTA. Many of them have expressed interest to join the Trinamool Congress and will shift allegiance from the Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan (JAKS affiliated to the GJM) to the TMC in a day or two. They have already met TMC top brass Gautam Deb,” added Subba. Subba alleged that owing to lack of political will of certain political outfits the adhoc employees have not been regularised yet. “We will work towards the regularisation of these employees and also filling up of vacancies in various state Government departments in the Hills,” said Subba. According to her TMC president chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting the Darjeeling Hills in November. “When she visit’s the Hills she will be meeting the adhoc workers owing allegiance to the TMC,” stated Subba. “The Hills has to have a political change along with a change in mindset of the populace,” added Subba. 

Reacting to reports of GJM ready to take part in the GTA sabha meetings lated for September 27, GJM central committee member Jyoti Rai said, “The GJM central committee will meet on September 27 morning to decided whether to take part in the meeting or not.” The GTA Sabha meeting to elect a new chief will be held at the Gorkha Ranga Mancha in Darjeeling town at noon on September 27. Meanwhile, the sate government has translated into action the “Dies Non” threat (no work no pay.) While most of the state government employees received 6 days of pay for the month of August (they failed to turn up for work on the remaining days in August owing to the bandh) the GTA employees received 8 days of salary. “As per the standing order of the state government for the month of September, 6 days of salary will be deducted. If the State Government later reconsiders the 6 days of salary will be paid back,” said district magistrate Puneet Yadav. The August bandh had continued till September 9.

Times Of India