Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants that areas under Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) should have a three-tier panchayat system like the rest of West Bengal and election for the rural body should be conducted within two months.
"We have been asking for holding of panchayat elections in our (GTA) area since the GTA agreement was signed two years ago, but necessary constitutional amendment is yet to be made," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said today.
The demand was put forth by GJM at a tripartite meeting here on Monday in which representatives of the Centre, West Bengal government and the GJM took part.
However, both the state and the Union government told the GJM that setting up of the panchayat system would not be possible within a short time as its requires amendment to the Constitution.
GJM leader and MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri said the GTA agreement signed in 2011 had provisions of a three-tier panchayat. For this, Article 243 M of the Constitution needs to be amended, the GJM legislator said.
GJM leaders demanded that the mouzas in the Terai and Dooars should be amalgamated with the GTA area before conducting the panchayat elections.
GJM also demanded withdrawal of political cases against party leaders. "There are more than 350 political cases against our workers and members. According to GTA agreement, the cases have to be withdrawn but nothing has been done yet," Giri said.
The last panchayat elections in the Darjeeling Hills was held in 2001 when the hills were under the rule of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. A two-tier panchayat system existed in the areas under the DGHC.
Source: Press Trust of India | Darjeeling(WB) June 6, 2013
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