The impasse in Darjeeling hills is back to square one as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has threatened to go on a war path against the state government.
The GJM on Sunday announced a series of agitation programmes, including a 72-hour bandh in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars from July 2, to protest against the recommendations of the Justice (Retired) Shyamal Kumar Sen Committee. The GJM leadership held a meeting at Darjeeling on Sunday to finalise its strategy after the high-powered committee for determination of territorial areas of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration recommended to include only five mouzas of the plains to the GTA as against the GJM’s demand for 396 mouzas.
“We had believed that the committee would give us proper justice but unfortunately it played with our emotions. We had demanded for 396 mouzas, but the committee gave only five mouzas. We are not happy with this report and won’t accept it. We will meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee and urge her not to implement this report. We have also decided to oppose the GTA elections,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri announced in the evening. The GTA elections are likely to be held in July.
Continuing his attack against the high power committee, he said that the committee did not visit any area of Terai and Dooars. “Though GJM had nominees in the committee, but they were not informed about the recommendations. It was virtually a one-member committee,” Mr Giri added.
In the marathon meeting, the GJM leadership decided upon a series of agitation programmes in June and July. The party will send letters to the chief minister and the Darjeeling district magistrate against the report of the committee on June 12.
“We will also seek appointment with the chief minister. A 21-member delegation will meet the chief minister, demanding to scrap this report. On June 27, all elected GJM councillors, including the chairpersons of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik municipalities will tender their resignations, protesting these recommendations of the committee. We will call a bandh on July 2, 3 and 4 in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars,” Mr Giri said.
If the state government refuses to meet the demand, all four GJM MLAs will resign on July 17. On the same day, the GJM will burn the copy of the GTA agreement at Chowkbazar in Darjeeling. On July 27, the party will organise a mass rally in Darjeeling. “If the state government decides not to hear us, we will not accept the GTA agreement any more,” he threatened.
On July 18, 2011, during the signing of the tripartite agreement between the Centre, the state government and the GJM towards formation of the GTA at Pintail Village near Siliguri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that it was a historic day for the people of Darjeeling. She had also termed this agreement as one of the main achievements of her government in the first year in office. The agreement was signed to resolve the long-standing impasse in the hills. However, before the first anniversary of the signing of the GTA agreement, the future of this pact has become very much uncertain.