Mamata Banerjee met AVABP deligation-rejected the demand-clarifies on future of Terai, Dooars

Dooars, Oct 12 : Continuing with her bid to satisfy everyone, on the third day of her visit to the Hills, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met a 10-12 member AVABP deligation in Dooars and promised them to look into the issues they put forwaded to her.
Sources said a team comprising ABAVP State Committee General Secretary Tez Kumar Toppo, ABAVP vice president Sukra Munda among other party leaders, met her and discussed at length about the issue of bringing the tribal and adivasi dominated-region of Terai and Dooars under the Sixth Schedule-- a long-due demand.
Mr Kumar informed that they deliberated over the issue of all round development of the area by providing them a platform for the progress of the region.
The ABAVP demanded of the chief minister that the mouzas of the region that were chosen to be included in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA), should be left off.
The ABAVP expressed satisfaction over the meeting and revealed that the CM asked for time.
The chief minister after attending a public meeting at Malbazer in Dooars towards the evening, left for Siliguri.




Mamata Banerjee Wednesday rejected the demand of the Adivasi Vikas Parishad (AVP):

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Oct 12 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday rejected the demand of the Adivasi Vikas Parishad (AVP), an apex tribal representative body, for forming a territorial administrative unit in north Bengal, but promised overall development of tribal-dominated areas of the region.
The AVP demanded the formation of the "Adivasi Territorial Administration (ATA)" under the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the constitution on the lines of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for the "development of tribals of Terai (plains) and Dooars (Himalayan foothills) in the state" at a meeting with Banerjee at Chalsa in Japaiguri district.
"Today We have demanded the formation of an Adivasi Territorial Administration (ATA) under the provision of the Sixth Schedule before the chief minister. The ATA should be formed under lines of the GTA for the developments of tribals of north Bengal," John Barla, president of AVP, told reporters after the meet with Banerjee.
An AVP delegation, led by Barla, placed a memorandum which included demand for the formation of the ATA.
Earlier, the AVP had protested the signing of the tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hills between Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and West Bengal and central governments on July this year.
At the core of the accord was the formation of a new autonomous Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.
Talking to IANS over phone, Barla said, "She (Banerjee) said right now we are not thinking about ATA. But she has promised all kinds of development for Terai and Dooars. She has also said overall development in north Bengal cannot be completed without the development of Terai and Dooars."
The GJM has been demanding the inclusion of Terai and Dooars under the GTA.
A high-powered committee has already been set up to assess the various aspects of the demand.
When asked about that, Barla said, "We had already submitted our demand to the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, who is also a member of the high-powered committee, that Terai and Dooars should not be included under the GTA as tribals are the majority in this area. Tribals do not want to go under the jurisdiction of GTA."

Mamata clarifies on future of Terai, Dooars region:

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Oct 12 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said the formation of a high-powered area demarcation committee does not mean "giving away" the Terai and Dooars region to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
The Terai and Dooars region constitutes the plains of Darjeeling district, Jalpaiguri district and the upper region of Cooch Behar district.
"Please do not get tense. We have just formed a high-powered committee. That does not mean that we have given away Terai and Dooars. The people of hills have placed their demand...So we have formed the committee. Now you can also place your demands before the committee," Banerjee said while addressing a rally at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district.
Banerjee came to Dooars (Himalayan foothills) Tuesday night after a two-day visit to Darjeeling hills.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the predominant political party in the hills, has long been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out from the northern parts of the state. It has also been demanding inclusion of Terai and Dooars under the GTA.
--IANS