JALPAIGURI: Though the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) ultimate aim may be to achieve a separate Gorkhaland state comprising the Dooars and Terai along with the Darjeeling Hills, little has been done ever since the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) came to power.
A large section of Nepalis in the plains are therefore anxious about their future and have expressed unhappiness at the Hills party.
"The GJM leaders must not have gone into any agreement with the state and the Centre, excluding the Dooars and Terai. We too have fought for the cause and have borne more trouble as we are surrounded by the tribals. It has been one long year and there has been no discussion on Dooars and Terai since the formation of the GTA," a GJM activist from Kalchini said.
It may be recalled that since the beginning of the Gorkhaland movement in 2008, the Nepalis living in Dooars and Terai had played an active role . They participated in the movement with all their vigour
and in the process developed an enmity with the tribals. A clash between the two groups had also claimed the life of one Akbar Lama of Ethelbari.
But at the time of signing an agreement, the GJM leaders settled down for GTA, excluding the Dooars and Terai.
The Nepalis had initially accepted the move. But lack of initiative on the part of GJM issue of inclusion of Dooars and Terai
has triggered a sense of dissent among them. Moreover, their doubts have increased ever since the state government's high-power committee ruled out the addition of the 399 mouzas from Dooars and Terai to the GTA. Although the matter has gone for a revision, a section of the Nepali population feel that if the GTA starts getting funds properly, their matter would be forgotten.
"The long silence is intolerable. It makes us think if the Hills leaders have forgotten us.
In the 80s, when Ghisingh had launched his movement for Gorkhaland, the people of Dooars had supported him. But when DGHC was signed, Dooars and Terai were forgotten. Let's hope this time it isn't like that," a Birpara youth said.
The GJM leadership seems to be aware of a resentment brewing in the plains. against them in the Dooars. It is therefore that the party has decided to hold a series of meetings with their supporters starting from December. Keeping in mind the ensuing panchyat polls next year, GJM's first target now, as it seems, is not to lose the support base they have in the Dooars.
"We have decided to hold a series of meetings with our men in December. The panchayat polls are drawing near and our party will play an active role in the elections," said Samuel Gurung, a central committee member of GJM, who is in charge of the Dooars.
The GJM leaders in the Dooars, however, are ready to wait till the panchayat polls. "Let's see what strategy the party adopts in the panchayat polls and after that. We still are keeping our faith on the Hills leadership," said Madhukar Thapa.
Achieving a separate Gorkhaland state comprising the Dooars and Terai along with the Darjeleing Hills may be the ultimate goal of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). But with more than a year passing by since the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the Dooars and Terai being left out of it, a large section of Nepalis living in the plains are fast turning unhappy with the Hills party as there has been no development on the issue in the period in-between.
From the beginning of the Gorkhaland movement in 2008, the Nepalis living in the Dooars and Terai had played an active role in it. They participated in the movement with all their vigour and in the process grew an enmity with the tribals with whom they have been living with from decades. A clash between the two groups also claimed the life of one Akbar Lama of Ethelbari.
But when it came to coming into an agreement, the GJM leaders settled down for GTA excluding the Dooars and Terai. Initially, however, the Nepalis living in the plains had accepted formation of the GTA. But the lack of development on the issue of amalgamation of Dooars and Terai in the one year time has added to the unrest of large section of Nepalis in Dooars. Their confusion has increased after the experts' committee ruled out adding 399 mouzas from the Dooars and Terai to the GTA. Although the matter has gone for a revision, a section of the Nepali population has started believing that if the GTA starts getting funds properly, their matter would be forgotten.
"The GJM leaders must not have gone into any agreement with the state and the Centre excluding the Dooars and Terai. We too have fought for the cause and have borne more trouble since we are surrounded by tribals. It has been one long year and there has been no discussion on Dooars and Terai since the formation of GTA," a GJM activist from Kalchini said.
"The long silence is intolerable. It always makes us think whether the Hills leaders have forgotten us. In the eighties when Ghisingh had launched his movement for Gorkhaland, then too people of Dooars had supported him. But when DGHC was signed, Dooars and Terai were forgotten. Let's hope this time it is not like that," another youth from Birpara added.
The GJM leadership has realised that a resentment is brewing against them in the Dooars. It is therefore that the party has decided to hold a series of meetings with their supporters starting from December. Keeping in mind the ensuing panchyat polls next year, GJM's first target now, as it seems, is not to lose the support base they have in the Dooars.
"We have decided to hold a series of meetings with our men from December. The panchayat polls are drawing near and our party will play an active role in the elections," said Samuel Gurung, a central committee member of GJM, who is in charge of the Dooars.
The GJM leaders in the Dooars however are ready to wait till the panchayat polls. "Let's see what strategy the party takes in the panchayat polls and after that. We still are keeping our faith on the Hills leadership," said Madhukar Thapa.
A large section of Nepalis in the plains are therefore anxious about their future and have expressed unhappiness at the Hills party.
"The GJM leaders must not have gone into any agreement with the state and the Centre, excluding the Dooars and Terai. We too have fought for the cause and have borne more trouble as we are surrounded by the tribals. It has been one long year and there has been no discussion on Dooars and Terai since the formation of the GTA," a GJM activist from Kalchini said.
It may be recalled that since the beginning of the Gorkhaland movement in 2008, the Nepalis living in Dooars and Terai had played an active role . They participated in the movement with all their vigour
and in the process developed an enmity with the tribals. A clash between the two groups had also claimed the life of one Akbar Lama of Ethelbari.
But at the time of signing an agreement, the GJM leaders settled down for GTA, excluding the Dooars and Terai.
The Nepalis had initially accepted the move. But lack of initiative on the part of GJM issue of inclusion of Dooars and Terai
has triggered a sense of dissent among them. Moreover, their doubts have increased ever since the state government's high-power committee ruled out the addition of the 399 mouzas from Dooars and Terai to the GTA. Although the matter has gone for a revision, a section of the Nepali population feel that if the GTA starts getting funds properly, their matter would be forgotten.
"The long silence is intolerable. It makes us think if the Hills leaders have forgotten us.
In the 80s, when Ghisingh had launched his movement for Gorkhaland, the people of Dooars had supported him. But when DGHC was signed, Dooars and Terai were forgotten. Let's hope this time it isn't like that," a Birpara youth said.
The GJM leadership seems to be aware of a resentment brewing in the plains. against them in the Dooars. It is therefore that the party has decided to hold a series of meetings with their supporters starting from December. Keeping in mind the ensuing panchyat polls next year, GJM's first target now, as it seems, is not to lose the support base they have in the Dooars.
"We have decided to hold a series of meetings with our men in December. The panchayat polls are drawing near and our party will play an active role in the elections," said Samuel Gurung, a central committee member of GJM, who is in charge of the Dooars.
The GJM leaders in the Dooars, however, are ready to wait till the panchayat polls. "Let's see what strategy the party adopts in the panchayat polls and after that. We still are keeping our faith on the Hills leadership," said Madhukar Thapa.
Achieving a separate Gorkhaland state comprising the Dooars and Terai along with the Darjeleing Hills may be the ultimate goal of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). But with more than a year passing by since the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the Dooars and Terai being left out of it, a large section of Nepalis living in the plains are fast turning unhappy with the Hills party as there has been no development on the issue in the period in-between.
From the beginning of the Gorkhaland movement in 2008, the Nepalis living in the Dooars and Terai had played an active role in it. They participated in the movement with all their vigour and in the process grew an enmity with the tribals with whom they have been living with from decades. A clash between the two groups also claimed the life of one Akbar Lama of Ethelbari.
But when it came to coming into an agreement, the GJM leaders settled down for GTA excluding the Dooars and Terai. Initially, however, the Nepalis living in the plains had accepted formation of the GTA. But the lack of development on the issue of amalgamation of Dooars and Terai in the one year time has added to the unrest of large section of Nepalis in Dooars. Their confusion has increased after the experts' committee ruled out adding 399 mouzas from the Dooars and Terai to the GTA. Although the matter has gone for a revision, a section of the Nepali population has started believing that if the GTA starts getting funds properly, their matter would be forgotten.
"The GJM leaders must not have gone into any agreement with the state and the Centre excluding the Dooars and Terai. We too have fought for the cause and have borne more trouble since we are surrounded by tribals. It has been one long year and there has been no discussion on Dooars and Terai since the formation of GTA," a GJM activist from Kalchini said.
"The long silence is intolerable. It always makes us think whether the Hills leaders have forgotten us. In the eighties when Ghisingh had launched his movement for Gorkhaland, then too people of Dooars had supported him. But when DGHC was signed, Dooars and Terai were forgotten. Let's hope this time it is not like that," another youth from Birpara added.
The GJM leadership has realised that a resentment is brewing against them in the Dooars. It is therefore that the party has decided to hold a series of meetings with their supporters starting from December. Keeping in mind the ensuing panchyat polls next year, GJM's first target now, as it seems, is not to lose the support base they have in the Dooars.
"We have decided to hold a series of meetings with our men from December. The panchayat polls are drawing near and our party will play an active role in the elections," said Samuel Gurung, a central committee member of GJM, who is in charge of the Dooars.
The GJM leaders in the Dooars however are ready to wait till the panchayat polls. "Let's see what strategy the party takes in the panchayat polls and after that. We still are keeping our faith on the Hills leadership," said Madhukar Thapa.
Source: timesofindia
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