Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation meet Prime Minister, union home minister and finance minister separately in Delhi

NEW DELHI/ DARJEELING: A four member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation met the Prime Minister, union home minister and finance minister separately in Delhi on Friday. Led by GJM president Bimal Gurung the delegation comprised of General Secretary Roshan Giri along with Central Committee members Jyoti Rai

and Diwakar Gurung.
The meetings mainly revolved around the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA- an autonomous administrative mechanism for the Darjeeling Hills.)
"We requested the Prime Minister along with the Union Finance and Home Minister for an extension of the special benefits enjoyed by the North East States to the GTA. The seven north east States enjoy tax holidays, subsidies and special grants. All these benefits should be extended to the GTA" stated Rai.
The GJM delegation put forward the demand for a Central University and an IIT institute for the GTA area. "A Central University has been a long standing demand in the Darjeeling Hills. Both the Central University and the IIT is a Central Subject, hence we put forward our request" stated Rai.
The GJM has appealed for the delegation of power to the GTA for the management of Reserve Forests. Though the List of subjects to be transferred to the GTA includes management of Forests, it has excluded Reserve Forests.
"Many important roads will pass through Reserve Forests (with no alternatives available.) Likewise water pipelines also pass through Reserve Forests. Reserve forests are the important catchment area for important water projects. To facilitate development work Reserve Forests have to come under the GTA. In case of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) the management of Reserve Forests lie with the BTC, likewise it should also be given to the GTA" remarked Rai.
The GJM delegation also requested that the GTA be made the authority for handing out "Gorkha Certificates." Gorkha Certificate is a proof of identity (for a Gorkha) required for availing physical exemption in armed and paramilitary forces and for joining the Gorkha Brigade of the Indian Army.
"Till date there is no agency or person assigned to issue this certificate and persons requiring Gorkha Certificates have been filing affidavits. The GTA should be given the power to issue Gorkha certificates" suggested Rai.
"The Prime Minister along with the other Ministers were very positive to our demands. They have assured us that they would look into our demands and do the necessary. All the three meetings have been very fruitful" added Giri.(Hindustantimes)

According to Times Of India

A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation met home minister P Chidambaram in Delhi on Friday and took up the key issue of transfer of the reserve forests under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) areas to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) when it comes into existence.
The four-member delegation was led by GJM president Bimal Gurung. "We spoke to Chidambaram about the necessity of delegating power to the GTA to administrate the reserve forest that is presently under the DGHC. Otherwise, we may have to face problems with development work in the Hills," said Jyoti Rai, the GJM assistant secretary, over phone from Delhi on Friday evening.
The GJM has demanded that at least 1,115 sqkm of the reserve forest under the DGHC be transferred to the GTA. "It covers 38% of the geographical area of the Darjeeling hills," said Rai. The GJM's contention is that the reserve forest could be a hindrance to development work in rural areas. "We may have to build new roads and carry out some development work through the reserve forest," argued the GJM leader.
The GJM leader maintained that the Union home minister had cited the case of reserve forest being transferred to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and suggested that the same could be implemented in the GTA. Along with the transfer of the Tauzi department and inclusion of Terai and Dooars in the GTA, transfer of the reserve forest has been a key demand put forward by the GJM to the central and state governments.
The party leaders also asked the him to provide the GTA with the authority to issue Gorkha certificates that is at present under the district administration, said Rai. At present, the SDO issues the certificate, which is required during recruitment in the Army.
Another important issue raised by the GJM was providing tax benefits to GTA that is under the provision of the North East Council (NEC). "We asked the home minister to provide GTA with the facilities given of the NEC in the form of tax waivers and benefits," said Rai.
Next, the GJM delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to persuade the latter to establish a central university and an IIT or an IIM in the Hills. "We have requested him to declare the projects from Delhi," said Rai.