The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP) on Sunday clinched a deal for inclusion of all mouzas of Terai and Dooars into the jurisdiction of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administ-ration (GTA), an autonomous and independent body. It was also decided in the two-day meeting that they would request the state government as well as the Centre to rename GTA as Gorkhaland and Adivasi Territorial Administ-ration (Gata).
Addressing a joint press conference with ABAVP president John Barla, GJM president Bimal Gurung said: “We want to include all the mouzas (not only the Gorkha-dominated districts) of Terai and Dooars into the authority. We have taken these resolutions for the all-round development of the hills and Terai and Dooars. It will bring peace between the hills and plains which Mamata didi (chief minister Mamata Banerjee) also wants.” Mr Barla also confirmed the development.
This is a significant development, especially after representatives of various tribal organisations of Terai and Dooars, including the ABAVP, had on October 12 informed the chief minister that they would not allow any area from Terai and Dooars to be included in the GTA. During their meeting, the representatives of these organisations had put three alternatives for Terai and Dooars.
They had demanded to form an authority Adivasi Terri-torial Administration for Terai and Dooars on the line of GTA or set up an autonomous council for the two regions.