SILIGURI, 5 MARCH: Former state urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya today said the formation of the GTA might come to a halt because the state government and chief minister Mamata Banerjee are not serious about it.
"Chief minister Miss Banerjee is trying to avoid her responsibility by blaming the Centre for the delay of the GTA implementation," said the senior CPI-M leader.
"But both the state government and the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha are responsible for the delay due to procedural mistake and difficulties in the tripartite GTA agreement and the GTA Bill passed in the Assembly.
"Had the chief minister accepted the proposals of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, the state would have managed to escape from the present juncture. The GTA pact and the Bill contradict the Indian Constitution on the issue of formation of zilla parishad under the GTA in the Hills," Mr Bhattacharya said.
Notably, there is no three-tier panchayat system in the Hills and zilla parishad in Darjeeling district. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council functions for the Hills and the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad for plains areas in Darjeeling district.
"The CPI-M party wants implementation of the GTA soon," Mr Bhattacharya continued. "But we are apprehending that the fate of the GTA is almost uncertain. The chief minister should have studied deeply to resolve the crisis before singing the GTA pact and at present she should think the matter seriously to find out escape route.
"We are confused about the purpose of her three-day Darjeeling trip. If her object is speedy implementation of the GTA, her present ‘populist politics’ is not the way to a solution in the Hills.
"If she wants to accept the proposal of the GJMM leaders to resolve the crisis and tries to form interim nominated GTA board, the state would have to face another problem. Since drafting of the GTA pact the state has invited unforeseen problems.
"The GJMM leaders have been demanding interim nominated board without elections. The CPI-M would oppose if the state goes for nominated board.
"There is no provision to form board by nomination in the tripartite GTA agreement. In the accord it was specifically mentioned that the GTA would be formed within six months within the existing jurisdiction of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
"The CPI-M in its recently ended state conference has adopted resolution that high power regional autonomous council with constitutional protection is the only political solution in the Hills. The party has been demanding regional autonomous council since 1950," said Mr Bhattacharya.
"The party demands implementation of the GTA soon," he said.
"Chief minister Miss Banerjee is trying to avoid her responsibility by blaming the Centre for the delay of the GTA implementation," said the senior CPI-M leader.
"But both the state government and the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha are responsible for the delay due to procedural mistake and difficulties in the tripartite GTA agreement and the GTA Bill passed in the Assembly.
"Had the chief minister accepted the proposals of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, the state would have managed to escape from the present juncture. The GTA pact and the Bill contradict the Indian Constitution on the issue of formation of zilla parishad under the GTA in the Hills," Mr Bhattacharya said.
Notably, there is no three-tier panchayat system in the Hills and zilla parishad in Darjeeling district. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council functions for the Hills and the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad for plains areas in Darjeeling district.
"The CPI-M party wants implementation of the GTA soon," Mr Bhattacharya continued. "But we are apprehending that the fate of the GTA is almost uncertain. The chief minister should have studied deeply to resolve the crisis before singing the GTA pact and at present she should think the matter seriously to find out escape route.
"We are confused about the purpose of her three-day Darjeeling trip. If her object is speedy implementation of the GTA, her present ‘populist politics’ is not the way to a solution in the Hills.
"If she wants to accept the proposal of the GJMM leaders to resolve the crisis and tries to form interim nominated GTA board, the state would have to face another problem. Since drafting of the GTA pact the state has invited unforeseen problems.
"The GJMM leaders have been demanding interim nominated board without elections. The CPI-M would oppose if the state goes for nominated board.
"There is no provision to form board by nomination in the tripartite GTA agreement. In the accord it was specifically mentioned that the GTA would be formed within six months within the existing jurisdiction of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.
"The CPI-M in its recently ended state conference has adopted resolution that high power regional autonomous council with constitutional protection is the only political solution in the Hills. The party has been demanding regional autonomous council since 1950," said Mr Bhattacharya.
"The party demands implementation of the GTA soon," he said.
statesman news service
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?