Representatives of various tribal organisations of Terai and Dooars on Wednesday made it clear that they would not allow any area from the Terai and Dooars to be included in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administrat-ion (GTA). The chief minister held a meeting with the tribal leaders at Chalsa in Dooars on Wednesday. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has demanded to include 195 mouzas in Dooars and 106 mouzas in Terai, which are Gorkha dominated, in the GTA. The state government has formed a high-powered committee to look into it.
Nine tribal organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Toto Kalyan Samiti and the Bodo People’s Forum, submitted memorandums, consisting their demands to the chief minister during the meeting with the chief minister.
During their meeting, the representatives of these organisations put three alternatives for Terai and Dooars. They have demanded to form an authority, Adivasi Territorial Administra-tion for Terai and Dooars on the line of the GTA or set up an autonomous council, Adivasi Autonomous Council for the two regions.
Their third alternative is to include Terai and Dooars in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Though the chief minister did not make any comment on their demands, she later reiterated that Darjeeling Hills and Terai-Dooars were like brother and sister. “There is some attempt to disrupt peace and harmony. If you (read the tribal leaders) want to say something, tell to the high-powered committee,” she said.
, while addressing a programme at Malbazar later. She also announced several new projects related to railways, education and health facilities for Terai and Dooars which would be implemented in next few years.
Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Suryakanta Mishra, however, said in Kolkata that it was not still clear that peace would stay in the Darjeeling Hills for long, especially when the GJM did not give up its Gorkhaland demand. “The chief minister has ruled out the possibility of creation of any state. It is welcome. But at the same time, the GJM has reiterated that they want Gorkhaland. Holding elections is necessary to restore peace in the hills permanently. However, it is not clear whether GJM will allow holding of elections unless their demand for inclusion of the mouzas of Dooars and Terai in the GTA is made,” Dr Mishra added.