DARJEELING | TOI: After a six-month lull, streets in the Hills buzzed with the separate statehood demand on Sunday, with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters taking out rallies and organizing public meetings to voice their resentment. The activists made it clear that the chief minister's clarification just a day before that the Centre was sitting on the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Bill could not assuage the Hills people.
Thousands of people, led by the GJM's youth and women wings, hit the roads with their "Gorkhaland" demand in different rallies held in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions. The rallies, a pre-announced programme, were organized in accordance with GJM chief Bimal Gurung's directive to put pressure on the government to get the Presidential seal on the GTA Bill.
"More than six months have passed but the GTA is yet to be implemented. The delay is unnecessary and we want to send strong message to central and state governments that we are not happy," said Urmila Rumba, senior leader of the Nari Morcha.
Party sources said such rallies will be organized on every Sunday till March 27, the deadline the GJM has set for GTA implementation.
"It is the duty and responsibility of the state government to keep its promise. We have been patient for so long but now the water is starting to flow over the head," warned Rumba. Shops and business establishments downed shutters for few hours to participate in the rally.
Though the GTA agreement was signed in July last year, the bill is yet to get the President's approval. The mandatory inter-ministerial report is due as the bill will have to go through 18 ministries before being placed before the President. Also, there has been a delay in the submission of a report by a high powered committee that is verifying GJM's demand for inclusion of additional areas of Terai and Dooars in the new administrative set up.
Addressing the crowd, Isha Mani Pakhrin, the GJM town committee president, echoed similar sentiments but stopped short of blaming the state. "The CM has assured us of full support to get the GTA implemented. But, why the unnecessary delay? We hope that the CM gives us satisfactory answers when she comes to Darjeeling on February 28 after meeting central government representatives," Pakhrin said.
Thousands of people, led by the GJM's youth and women wings, hit the roads with their "Gorkhaland" demand in different rallies held in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions. The rallies, a pre-announced programme, were organized in accordance with GJM chief Bimal Gurung's directive to put pressure on the government to get the Presidential seal on the GTA Bill.
"More than six months have passed but the GTA is yet to be implemented. The delay is unnecessary and we want to send strong message to central and state governments that we are not happy," said Urmila Rumba, senior leader of the Nari Morcha.
Party sources said such rallies will be organized on every Sunday till March 27, the deadline the GJM has set for GTA implementation.
"It is the duty and responsibility of the state government to keep its promise. We have been patient for so long but now the water is starting to flow over the head," warned Rumba. Shops and business establishments downed shutters for few hours to participate in the rally.
Though the GTA agreement was signed in July last year, the bill is yet to get the President's approval. The mandatory inter-ministerial report is due as the bill will have to go through 18 ministries before being placed before the President. Also, there has been a delay in the submission of a report by a high powered committee that is verifying GJM's demand for inclusion of additional areas of Terai and Dooars in the new administrative set up.
Addressing the crowd, Isha Mani Pakhrin, the GJM town committee president, echoed similar sentiments but stopped short of blaming the state. "The CM has assured us of full support to get the GTA implemented. But, why the unnecessary delay? We hope that the CM gives us satisfactory answers when she comes to Darjeeling on February 28 after meeting central government representatives," Pakhrin said.
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