GTA about Darjeeling only, Gorkhaland a national issue: AAGSU

ALL ASSAM GORKHA STUDENTS’ UNION (AAGSU)’s response to formation of GORKHA TERRETORIAL ADMINISTRATION (GTA) in Darjeeling
Guwahati, 23rd July 2011: The central core steering committee of All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) apex students’ and youths’ organization of Gorkhas of Assam has decided to inform the nation that formation Gorkha Territorial Administration(GTA) has no connection to the Gorkhas of Assam and Northeast and it is merely about road, water, education, safety, socio-poltical and economic development of Darjeeling.
The agreement nowhere mentions anything about Gorkhas of nation besides Darjeeling hills. 40% of the national Gorkha population who resides in Assam and Northeast do not find a place in it. It is a matter of huge displeasure for supporters of Gorkhaland movement from these region. We do not refrain from condemning the act of keeping us in total darkness on clauses of GTA while the leaders of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJM) have been promising of packages and Special Protected Class (SPC) for the Gorkhas of Northeast region.
AAGSU is of the opinion that Gorkhaland is not about Darjeeling Hills only, it is about identity and ethnicity of the Gorkhas of this nation. It is not only about the piece of land in the North Bengal region but about emotional and political identity amongst population of the nation. We express our displeasure on the activities of leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Northeast Co-ordination Committee who promised the people of NE region of SPC and special grants and reservations and are silent today at the signing of GTA agreement by their central leaders where the word Northeast does not find even a mention.
GTA agreement totally fails to meet the hopes and aspirations of Gorkhaland and Gorkhas of the nation. But we welcome it in context of Darjeeling. GTA is nowhere near powerful to the Bodoland Territorial Council or other autonomous councils of Northeastern region so this could just be eyewash comparatively. Neither the ST statuses of some tribes of Gorkhas have been recognized nor any territory for administration is decided, on the other hand Dooars and parts of Siliguri being leftout indicate that GTA is just renewal of existing DGHC.
“The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement in itself is a milestone for the development of Darjeeling district of West Bengal and it particularly benefits the population of three subdivisions of the dist, but the incomplete work of ensuring the national identity of Gorkhas across India must continue with bigger mandate by one nationally present organization. We welcome the renewal of development process in Darjeeling dist. Initiated by the West Bengal government Mamta Banerjee and approved by Union Home ministry that shall empower administrators of Darjeeling is not the result of the Gorkhaland movement but central and state governments policy to suppress the nationwide hopes and aspiration of Gorkhaland.

The work to concretise national identity for Gorkhas must go on and it will continue and AAGSU will also contribute in every way possible in this struggle for the Gorkha national identity”, said Nanda Kirati Dewan, Information and Publicity Secretary of AAGSU while interacting with mediapersons at Gorkha Thakurbari who have been seeking AAGSU’s stand on GTA. He made it loud and clear that leaders of GJM Northeast Co-ordination committee have been campaigning for Special Protected Class for Gorkhas of the region. AAGSU had dropped dissolving Special Protected Class Demand Committee in a highly empowered delegates session and demanded the formation of legislative decision empowered Gorkha Autonomous Council (GAC) within the geographical territory of Assam. It formed Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC) in 2003 and since then have been carrying out the movement relentlessly and as and when required has been a part of Gorkhaland movement in the national context.
Coming down heavily NECC, GJM; ‘’GJM leaders has kept quiet now and this has prompted AAGSU to speak on this issue. AAGSU will not tolerate and hit back if our emotions are not respected. In Assam we are committed for a Gorkha Autonomous Council that is being supported by Gorkha organization leaders and intellects across Northeast and more than 42 social, democratic and community students’ organization of the state including the umbrella organization United Peoples’ Federation of Assam(UPFA). “, the AAGSU leader decried.
All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union have welcomed the move of Assam Government to upgrade the prestigious and premier Cotton College established in 1901 to Cotton College State University and have appreciated the thinktank process of establishing one university each in Jorhat, Diphu and North Lakhimpur. This will definitely facilitate better higher education and benefit the students of the Northeastern states besides Assam.
~via isikkim