Confusion over merger of Dooars land with Darjeeling

KOLKATA: People in the foothills are still in confusion over the proposed induction of 302 mouzas into new Darjeeling hill council from Dooars and Terai. A large section of total population is against the induction.

The political scenario turned more confusing after tribal outfit Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad has stepped forward to tie up with Subash Ghishings Gorkha National Liberation Front to tame Gorkha population in the foothills.

In past three years since the upsurge of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morchas Gorkhaland movement, people in Dooars comprising all major ethnic groups like Adivasis (who are majority in the tea gardens of the foothills) and non-gorkha non-Adivasi population were demanding that they would not allow induction of land into the hill council from the foothills.

They did not hesitate to go for a fierce clash with GJM to resist GJMs foothills plans. Initially organizations like Mal Janajagaran Mancha or Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee, believed to be the shadow outfits of some mainstream political parties, led the movement but in the later stage, ABAVP played the most prominent role in anti GJM campaign.

Following chief minister Mamata Banerjees announcement to set up a review committee on GJMs demand of territorial expansion in the foothills (which suggested Banerjee is not against of expansion) raised a fresh controversy.

Meanwhile, ABAVP, who could be main opponent of GJM, has shifted their stand and focused on demanding sixth schedule in the foothills.

Like before, we are against induction of land from the foothills and we will intensify our movement demanding sixth schedule status, said John Barla, ABAVP leader. To strengthen their demand, tribal leaders are now trying to tie up with Subhas Ghisings GNLF, who lost his domain in the hills and in an exile in the foothills.

Our demand of sixth schedule status is not for only tribal population, it will provide privilege to the gorkha population residing in the foothills, said Barla, justifying his negotiations with the GNLF.

The recent political move of the tribal leaders, however, put other non-gorkha and non-adivasi organizations in a fix as they have no gain in supporting special constitutional status for the foothills, which also includes a large chunk of Koch-Rajbanshi population who occupies a considerable population in Terai area where GJM has its expansion plans.

The main stream parties in the foothills (Trinamool Congress and Congress) are now in a wait and watch policy for their political obligation. The CPM, however, made its stand clear that they would not accept the induction process. We will come down on the roads to unite people against this territorial expansion of hills council, said Manik Sanyal, CPMs Jalpaiguri district secretary