Kolkata: In a climbdown, Gorkha Janamukti
Morcha on Tuesday gave up its claim for inclusion of the entire
Dooars in the Gorkhaland state, for which it spearheading a
movement, while proposing the establishment of an interim
set-up.
"There are Adivasis living also in the Dooars. We have
proposed inclusion of only Gorkha-populated areas in Dooars
for an interim set up," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said
over phone.
Giri is in Delhi for the March 18 tripartite talks.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the government may not accept
everything at the March 18 talks in New Delhi.
"There may be more talks," he said
The GJM, Giri said, had suggested that a new setup
will replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council
formed following a tripartite agreement among the Centre,
West Bengal government and GNLF chief Subhas Ghishing in 1988.
"The new setup will be named Gorkhaland Region
Authority or Darjeeling Dooars Regional Authority," he said.
Under the proposal which has been submitted to Union
Home Minister P Chidambaram, the GJM has sought legislative,
judicial and financial powers for the proposed setup.
"It will be a temporary arrangement till December 31,
2011. The interim arrangement is without prejudice, and will
not affect, alter or diminish in any manner whatsoever the
legitimate demands of the people for the creation of a
separate state of Gorkhaland under Article 3 of the
Constitution," Giri said.
The GJM has sought constitution of a 55-member elected
board to run the proposed set-up, which will have a speaker
and a Deputy Speaker. There could be some other nominated
members including one to be nominated by the state Governor.
Giri said the GJM has demanded 102 departments for the
new arrangement, which will have the right to levy and collect
taxes. The DGHC has 32 departments.
It will also have legislative, executive and judicial
control over all departments assigned to it. It has sought
induction of Gorkhaland personnel volunteers in the police,
army and paramilitary forces.
In addition to planned and non planned funds, the GJM
has demanded special initial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore for
five years. It has also asked for the right to have a public
service commission and set up industries and a better
communication system.
He said the new arrangement will also possess the
right to "exclude the application of laws framed by the West
Bengal government".
Secretary of Darjeeling district committee of the
CPI-M Jibesh Sarkar, however, said, "A solution has to be
found in a realistic way. The GJM proposal does not conform to
reality."
Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad leaders
welcomed the proposal saying an interim regional development
council will help the uplift of Adivasis and the Dooars.
"We have launched a movement for the development of
the region and uplift of the tea workers. We have no objection
to the proposal as such. We will take a call at our central
committee meeting," said Rajesh Lakra, secretary of ABAVP's
Dooars-Terai Regional Unit. He, however, clarified that his
organisation would not support Gorkhaland.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 19:08