Snehangshu Adhikari says the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is diluting its ‘statehood for Gorkhaland’ demand for a few sops, like the Gorkhaland National Liberation Front did in 1988
The fact that Darjeeling with its panoramic view of the Kanchenjungha is very close to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s heart is no secret. During a recent two-day trip to Siliguri, he reaffirmed his fascination while saying, “When I visit Darjeeling, I hope to catch a glimpse of Kanchenjungha at any cost. However, all wishes cannot be fulfilled all the time. Whenever I get a chance, I will surely visit Darjeeling.” The man with a positive attitude further added, “Though we are far from reaching a concrete solution to the administrative problems in the Darjeeling Hills, the proposals of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and of the Centre are with us. Discussions are on. We expect a major positive development at the sixth round of tripartite talks scheduled for the middle of May. The issue might not be resolved at that meeting but there would be fruitful progress towards a solution. And as of now, the situation in the Hills is peaceful.”
But Subrata Tamang, 56, a local garments shop-owner on the Darjeeling mall, finds little reason of optimism. For almost the past 20 years, Subrata is witnessing the same unstable situation. March 18 was anticipated to be the brightest day of the year, as people of the Hills were expecting some solution arising out of the fifth round of tripartite talks between the Centre, the state government and GJM. But GJM’s demand for a separate state has not evoked any positive response from either the Centre or the West Bengal government. Gorkhaland at present seems to be just a day dream. Possibly even GJM is resigned to accept this reality as GJM chief Bimal Gurung has presented an interim administrative set-up for the region with an executive committee and a 55-member body with power to legislate. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri submitted the blue print for the “interim authority” at the meeting attended by Union minister of state for home Ajay Maken, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi, West Bengal minister for municipal affairs Ashok Bhattacharya, West Bengal health minister Surya Kanta Mishra and state home secretary Ardhendu Sen. After the meeting, there was the proverbial ‘feel good’ photo session but the grapes remain sour for the Gorkhas.
“As the ‘secret proposal’ was sent earlier only to Union home minister P. Chidambaram on February 18, the state government pretended that they were totally unaware of the proposal. But this is not true as the GJM proposal has been circulated throughout the nationwide media,” Amar Rai, spokesperson for the eight-member GJM delegation, commented. GJM is now accusing the state government for delaying the political discussions and the whole process of bringing peace back to the Hills.
Now, what exactly is GJM demanding from the Centre in their proposal? According to Roshan Giri, “The proposed council ‘Gorkhaland Regional Authority’ or ‘Darjeeling and Dooars Regional Authority,’ will be an interim set up till December 31, 2011. The Gorkhaland Regional Authority seeks to have legislative powers on matters such as town and country planning, culture and mining of certain minerals.” Beside these, their demands include: ST status for all Gorkhas, constitutional sanctions, freedom from West Bengal laws, a separate high court, complete fiscal powers, Panchayat and civic body control, oOwn police force, separate public service commission, members of Gorkhaland Police (set up by GJM) be absorbed in the forces, waiver of all taxes between January 2007 and December 2011, withdrawal of cases against GJM activists.
The fact that Darjeeling with its panoramic view of the Kanchenjungha is very close to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s heart is no secret. During a recent two-day trip to Siliguri, he reaffirmed his fascination while saying, “When I visit Darjeeling, I hope to catch a glimpse of Kanchenjungha at any cost. However, all wishes cannot be fulfilled all the time. Whenever I get a chance, I will surely visit Darjeeling.” The man with a positive attitude further added, “Though we are far from reaching a concrete solution to the administrative problems in the Darjeeling Hills, the proposals of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and of the Centre are with us. Discussions are on. We expect a major positive development at the sixth round of tripartite talks scheduled for the middle of May. The issue might not be resolved at that meeting but there would be fruitful progress towards a solution. And as of now, the situation in the Hills is peaceful.”
But Subrata Tamang, 56, a local garments shop-owner on the Darjeeling mall, finds little reason of optimism. For almost the past 20 years, Subrata is witnessing the same unstable situation. March 18 was anticipated to be the brightest day of the year, as people of the Hills were expecting some solution arising out of the fifth round of tripartite talks between the Centre, the state government and GJM. But GJM’s demand for a separate state has not evoked any positive response from either the Centre or the West Bengal government. Gorkhaland at present seems to be just a day dream. Possibly even GJM is resigned to accept this reality as GJM chief Bimal Gurung has presented an interim administrative set-up for the region with an executive committee and a 55-member body with power to legislate. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri submitted the blue print for the “interim authority” at the meeting attended by Union minister of state for home Ajay Maken, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi, West Bengal minister for municipal affairs Ashok Bhattacharya, West Bengal health minister Surya Kanta Mishra and state home secretary Ardhendu Sen. After the meeting, there was the proverbial ‘feel good’ photo session but the grapes remain sour for the Gorkhas.
“As the ‘secret proposal’ was sent earlier only to Union home minister P. Chidambaram on February 18, the state government pretended that they were totally unaware of the proposal. But this is not true as the GJM proposal has been circulated throughout the nationwide media,” Amar Rai, spokesperson for the eight-member GJM delegation, commented. GJM is now accusing the state government for delaying the political discussions and the whole process of bringing peace back to the Hills.
Now, what exactly is GJM demanding from the Centre in their proposal? According to Roshan Giri, “The proposed council ‘Gorkhaland Regional Authority’ or ‘Darjeeling and Dooars Regional Authority,’ will be an interim set up till December 31, 2011. The Gorkhaland Regional Authority seeks to have legislative powers on matters such as town and country planning, culture and mining of certain minerals.” Beside these, their demands include: ST status for all Gorkhas, constitutional sanctions, freedom from West Bengal laws, a separate high court, complete fiscal powers, Panchayat and civic body control, oOwn police force, separate public service commission, members of Gorkhaland Police (set up by GJM) be absorbed in the forces, waiver of all taxes between January 2007 and December 2011, withdrawal of cases against GJM activists.
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