KOLKATA: The Darjeeling tripartite accord, to be signed on Monday, is an alarm signal for West Bengal, the state's former ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) says. "The name of Gorkha Hill Council will be changed to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration . The changing of the name itself suggests that in which way the state is heading," CPI-M central committee member Mohammed Salim told reporters here Sunday.
The parties to the agreement are the West Bengal and central governments, and the pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM).
The signing will be held at Sukna in Kurseong sub-division, near the plains of Siliguri of Darjeeling district.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday announced that the tripartite agreement will be signed July 18 and union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will attend the function.
"They are showing that by one announcement the problems in hills will be solved...but new areas are being included (under the jurisdiction of the proposed new developmental council). That is an alarm signal," Salim said.
The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland covering parts of northern Bengal gained momentum during the 1980s under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front ( GNLF )) supremo Subash Ghising.
But the reins of the movement were later taken over by the Bimal Gurung-led GJM , which forced Ghising out of the hills.
Left Front to boycott Darjeeling pact
With the CPI(M)-led Left Front deciding to ‘boycott’ the tripartite pact with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Monday, political consensus seems set to elude the new Bengal government. The pact is being considered a major achievement of the Mamata government.
Opposition leader, Suryakant Mishra, who was invited to attend the agreement in Sukna said, “We cannot participate in an agreement over which no dialogue was held with all political parties.”
Describing the move as `hasty’, Mishra said they assume that no formal cabinet approval was elicited in favour of the pact.
“We have strong objection to the new name — Gorkhaland Territorial Administration — as it would only beget more disturbances in North Bengal.”
Mishra even quoted Congress sources saying that not much discussion was held at the political level.
He said: “We want a permanent solution, but it should come after an all-party discussion as we anticipate more problem in adjoining areas in North Bengal as a spin-off of the pact.”
He also attacked the Centre, saying it has digressed from its earlier stand.
~economic times/DNA
Opposition leader, Suryakant Mishra, who was invited to attend the agreement in Sukna said, “We cannot participate in an agreement over which no dialogue was held with all political parties.”
Describing the move as `hasty’, Mishra said they assume that no formal cabinet approval was elicited in favour of the pact.
“We have strong objection to the new name — Gorkhaland Territorial Administration — as it would only beget more disturbances in North Bengal.”
Mishra even quoted Congress sources saying that not much discussion was held at the political level.
He said: “We want a permanent solution, but it should come after an all-party discussion as we anticipate more problem in adjoining areas in North Bengal as a spin-off of the pact.”
He also attacked the Centre, saying it has digressed from its earlier stand.
~economic times/DNA
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