The Adivasi Vikash Parishad has called a 48-hour strike in the Terai and the Dooars region to protest against the physical survey of the area by the high-power committee on the Gorkha Territorial Administration.
The survey will be conducted by the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts this month, as ordered by Justice Shyamal Sen, chairman of the committee set up to determine the territory of the GTA.
All tea gardens in Terai and Dooars will be shut during the bandh and dispatch will also be stopped. Birsha Tirkey, president of Adivasi Vikash Parishad, said, “We have been ditched by the state. We had given enough time, but the government did not understand our problem. So, if a movement is needed to prove our point, we have to start a movement. We will not let our land go to the GTA. We will not allow the committee to conduct a survey here.”
The AVP will organize a movement from April 1, demanding immediate dissolution of the committee. They will hold rallies every day in the region to stop the Gorkhas from holding meetings in the area, said Tirkey.
“We will never go to the hills and clash with the Gorkhas. But if they come here and threaten our existence, we will not sit idle. The tribal population in the area is feeling deceived.”
Police and administration will be on alert from April 1. AVP leader Rajesh Lakra said, “We have submitted a written letter to the district administration saying that if the Gorkhas make a forced entry here, there will be a law and order problem.”
The survey will be conducted by the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts this month, as ordered by Justice Shyamal Sen, chairman of the committee set up to determine the territory of the GTA.
All tea gardens in Terai and Dooars will be shut during the bandh and dispatch will also be stopped. Birsha Tirkey, president of Adivasi Vikash Parishad, said, “We have been ditched by the state. We had given enough time, but the government did not understand our problem. So, if a movement is needed to prove our point, we have to start a movement. We will not let our land go to the GTA. We will not allow the committee to conduct a survey here.”
The AVP will organize a movement from April 1, demanding immediate dissolution of the committee. They will hold rallies every day in the region to stop the Gorkhas from holding meetings in the area, said Tirkey.
“We will never go to the hills and clash with the Gorkhas. But if they come here and threaten our existence, we will not sit idle. The tribal population in the area is feeling deceived.”
Police and administration will be on alert from April 1. AVP leader Rajesh Lakra said, “We have submitted a written letter to the district administration saying that if the Gorkhas make a forced entry here, there will be a law and order problem.”
Express news service
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