Now, GJM seeksUT status for Hills

DARJEELING: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha now wants either Union Territory status for Darjeeling or a separate state as the "final solution". For now, it is ready to accept a hill council, but only with more areas added to it. It also don't want a constitutional guarantee, since that might give a permanent status to the council.

This seems to be the new approach of GJM leaders, following resentments in the hills, even in GJM units, over the agreement signed with the Mamata Banerjee government last week. Heads of different frontal organizations of the party were called in Darjeeling on Tuesday to apprise them of what had transpired at meetings of GJM leaders with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Union home minister P Chidambaram.

GJM leaders during the day sought to stem the growing resentment following the understanding over formation of a new hill council. "The new body will be formed by a direct election process. But it will ot have any constitutional guarantee," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. He reasoned that having a constitutional guarantee would make the new arrangement for a permanent solution. "The option to the government is that of a UT or a separate state as permanent solution," Giri said. Initially, GJM had settled for an interim council to replace the existing DGHC, but with constitutional guarantee. Giri said the demand for a state had been on record even while accepting a new body. "GNLF dropped the Gorkhaland demand in the accord signed in 1988 and again in 2005, while accepting the sixth schedule status for the hills. But, we have not done that," asserted the GJM secretary.

On the sidelines of the meeting with frontal organizations, GJM president Bimal Gurung asserted that the new body would not be accepted without addition of new territories. "The process of verifying ground realities to incorporate new areas in the new body is in progress. A committee that will be formed will decide the areas to be included in the new body. But minus new areas we will not accept any arrangement," Gurung said.

But, Gurung also sought not to take a hard stand on his demands so that future negotiations with the state government were not cut off. "The new government in Bengal has promised to find a solution within 100 days. We must give them time to work," the GJM leader said. "Nothing is finalized yet. We only discussed with the new government several issues. We have come to a consensus on issues but that will only be finalized in a tripartite meeting," the GJM chief said. Gurung said the party would write a draft agreement and scrutinize the state government's proposal, but with consent of people. "We will not take a unilateral decision. We will prepare our own draft and scrutinize the one the Bengal government will give us. I will accept and approve it if the people and the party units all over the country give their consent in writing," Gurung said

TOI