PINTAIL VILLAGE: Peace got another chance on Monday in the volatile Darjeeling hills with the signing of a tripartite agreement that attempts to meet the Gorkhas' century-old quest for self-rule while keeping the geographical unity of Bengal intact. The accord is well-timed for chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had promised to resolve the hill crisis within three months of coming to power, and could also help the Centre in creating options for Telangana and other statehood movements.
At Pintail Village, the epicentre of the Gorkhas' campaign for ethnic identity in the Terai, the Central and state governments and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) signed an agreement to pave the way for the creation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The new arrangement will replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which came into existence in 1988 following a similar accord signed between the Centre, the Left Front government and Subash Ghising's Gorkha National Liberation Front.
The GTA agreement was signed in the presence of Union home minister P Chidambaram, Mamata and GJM chief Bimal Gurung amid celebrations by thousands of Gorkhas who had turned out in their traditional attire. Contrary to expectations, the GJM chief didn't sign the accord and GJM state general secretary Roshan Giri did it on his behalf. The two other signatories were Bengal home secretary G D Gautama and Union home joint secretary K K Pathak.
Aware of the Left Front's criticism that the accord would divide Bengal, Mamata told the gathering that Darjeeling would remain an integral part of the state. "Development of the hills is crucial if the plains are to prosper. The GTA will receive all help from the Centre and the state," she said. "People have raised questions about the GTA's name. The draft, which was prepared on August 17, 2010, had the name Gorkhaland Regional Authority. I didn't change anything apart from the word 'Regional'. The hills and plains are like two sisters, who have to develop and prosper together."
Taking a dig at outfits opposed to the accord, Mamata said: "Ora nijeder Amra Bangali boley. Amra ki tahole kangali? (They call themselves Amra Bangali. Who are we then?) We are all Indians and proud to be so. Just as people have a right to love Bengali language and culture, others have the right to love Nepali language and culture." The CM added that a committee was set up to determine whether any part of the Dooars and the Terai should be included in the GTA. "Everybody will get what they deserve. What is the confusion in this? Just like Darjeeling, the Dooars and the Terai are very dear to us," Mamata said.
The GTA will comprise the Hills sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Elections to the posts of 45 members will be held within six months after which it will start functioning. A committee has been set up to look into the GJM's demand for inclusion of several mouzas (village clusters) from the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. Chidambaram hailed the agreement, but had a word of caution for Gurung and GJM. "You have a stupendous task ahead and will have to build brick by brick. Both the Centre and the state government will be by your side. You will also have to bear in mind that the area under GTA will be a plural society. People living here belong to different communities, religions, cultures and races. The new administration will have to respect this plurality. We shall be watching you carefully as you rebuild Darjeeling," he said.
Chidambaram attributed the signing of the treaty to two "wise" persons — Mamata and Gurung. "I would like to compliment both of them for their wisdom, sagacity, foresight and love and compassion for the people. There will be many hurdles but none that can't be sorted out through dialogue and determination," Chidambaram said.
Gurung thanked Mamata and called the accord a victory of the people's struggle. He asked the government to pay attention to the committee that will demarcate parts of the plains that are to be brought under GTA. He added, "Our Gorkhaland movement is on. But GTA is a positive step." Unlike the 1988 accord, the new pact was silent on whether the GJM had formally dropped the Gorkhaland demand.
Bengal chief secretary Samar Ghosh said: "Under this agreement, maximum possible autonomy has been given to the GTA within the framework of the Constitution and the central and state Acts."
In stark contrast to the jovial mood in the Hills, Siliguri observed a bandh in reponse to anti-accord outfits. Shops and establishments along the busy Hill Cart Road and Sevoke Road were closed.
At Pintail Village, the epicentre of the Gorkhas' campaign for ethnic identity in the Terai, the Central and state governments and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) signed an agreement to pave the way for the creation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The new arrangement will replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which came into existence in 1988 following a similar accord signed between the Centre, the Left Front government and Subash Ghising's Gorkha National Liberation Front.
The GTA agreement was signed in the presence of Union home minister P Chidambaram, Mamata and GJM chief Bimal Gurung amid celebrations by thousands of Gorkhas who had turned out in their traditional attire. Contrary to expectations, the GJM chief didn't sign the accord and GJM state general secretary Roshan Giri did it on his behalf. The two other signatories were Bengal home secretary G D Gautama and Union home joint secretary K K Pathak.
Aware of the Left Front's criticism that the accord would divide Bengal, Mamata told the gathering that Darjeeling would remain an integral part of the state. "Development of the hills is crucial if the plains are to prosper. The GTA will receive all help from the Centre and the state," she said. "People have raised questions about the GTA's name. The draft, which was prepared on August 17, 2010, had the name Gorkhaland Regional Authority. I didn't change anything apart from the word 'Regional'. The hills and plains are like two sisters, who have to develop and prosper together."
Taking a dig at outfits opposed to the accord, Mamata said: "Ora nijeder Amra Bangali boley. Amra ki tahole kangali? (They call themselves Amra Bangali. Who are we then?) We are all Indians and proud to be so. Just as people have a right to love Bengali language and culture, others have the right to love Nepali language and culture." The CM added that a committee was set up to determine whether any part of the Dooars and the Terai should be included in the GTA. "Everybody will get what they deserve. What is the confusion in this? Just like Darjeeling, the Dooars and the Terai are very dear to us," Mamata said.
The GTA will comprise the Hills sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Elections to the posts of 45 members will be held within six months after which it will start functioning. A committee has been set up to look into the GJM's demand for inclusion of several mouzas (village clusters) from the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. Chidambaram hailed the agreement, but had a word of caution for Gurung and GJM. "You have a stupendous task ahead and will have to build brick by brick. Both the Centre and the state government will be by your side. You will also have to bear in mind that the area under GTA will be a plural society. People living here belong to different communities, religions, cultures and races. The new administration will have to respect this plurality. We shall be watching you carefully as you rebuild Darjeeling," he said.
Chidambaram attributed the signing of the treaty to two "wise" persons — Mamata and Gurung. "I would like to compliment both of them for their wisdom, sagacity, foresight and love and compassion for the people. There will be many hurdles but none that can't be sorted out through dialogue and determination," Chidambaram said.
Gurung thanked Mamata and called the accord a victory of the people's struggle. He asked the government to pay attention to the committee that will demarcate parts of the plains that are to be brought under GTA. He added, "Our Gorkhaland movement is on. But GTA is a positive step." Unlike the 1988 accord, the new pact was silent on whether the GJM had formally dropped the Gorkhaland demand.
Bengal chief secretary Samar Ghosh said: "Under this agreement, maximum possible autonomy has been given to the GTA within the framework of the Constitution and the central and state Acts."
In stark contrast to the jovial mood in the Hills, Siliguri observed a bandh in reponse to anti-accord outfits. Shops and establishments along the busy Hill Cart Road and Sevoke Road were closed.
~TOI
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