Our way or the highway Highway Committees and NH 31A locals alert a highway uprising if not granted a separate Constituency

 Monday, May 28, 2012 Mukesh Kr Sharma 

: Much hullabaloo has been created in the hills after the topic of demarcation of 45 seats of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) came into notice after being highlighted by the District Administration Office under Darjeeling District Administration 24 hours ago. Though the Kalimpong Subdivision has been allotted 13 seats still the locals of the National Highway (NH) 31A, stretched from Rangpo, West Bengal to Sevoke, who have been demanding for a separate Constituency since long, are much disturbed. SAGAR LAMA AND VISHAL RAI The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has been looking after the said area under the Highway Block Committee. The residents of the area foremostly dreamt of a separate State, Gorkhaland and secondly to have a Constituency of their own. Regarding the latter, the Committee after the GJM came into power had also gained 100% assurance from all the Administrative Officers of the Block Office, Sub Division Office and even from the Morcha President and the MLAs. 

The Draft prepared by the Morcha had mentioned about allotment of 45 numbers of seats under each 45 seats and formation of a separate Constituency for the NH 31A area. The people of this area were satisfied with this Draft but after the topic came under highlight not only were their dreams were shattered but they complain of being by including them with 5- 7 various areas. After this decision was flashed out in the newspapers, all the heads of the Morcha workers of the of the highway area called on an immediate meeting at the Chittrey Tourist Lodge today. The meeting under the Presidentship of the Lohapool Branch President, DB Gurung was attended by all the Presidents and Secretaries of the Morcha Branches and Sub Branches from Kali Jhora, Rambi, Lohapool, Teesta, Melli, Tar Khola etc. The main topic of discussion being the demarcation of seats, they whined that they have been heavily betrayed. Further, it was decided that in order to make the highway area a separate Constituency they will do the utmost and also conduct extreme ways like indefinite hunger strikes and self immolations if needed. During the initiation of the Gorkhaland agitation the NH 31A served as a weapon shutting down the neighbouring State, Sikkim and putting the Central Government on high alert. The people of the area who still visit the Kalimpong Court regularly for the hearing sessions for supporting the agitation, now feel let down. The President of the Highway Block Committee, Sagar Lama addressing the media after the meeting informed that 90% of the NH 31A comes under the Kalimpong Sub Division. Before Kalimpong was allotted 12 seats and after the inclusion of the highway it was 13 seats, but after the notice has been issued the highway area is lost somewhere for it has been divided into various parts, he complained. 

The Committee has now decided to give an ultimatum to the Administration until Wednesday starting from tomorrow (i.e. May 28, 2012). The Committee within these 3 days will be putting forward their grievances to all the Block Development Office, Sub Divisional Office and District Collector’s Office. If their demands are not met within the said days then, the public of the highway area will come out in the streets and will demonstrated rallies, Dharnas, Bandhs, self sacrifices, hunger strikes etc., warned the President. Likewise, the Highway Yuva Morcha President, Bishal Rai also condemning the notice stated that much injustice is done to them. The notice is against the economical, social and political development of the area, asserted Rai. Further, countering the time given by the Government for June 02 for time revision, Rai said that instead they are giving time to the Government until May 30 to make the highway a separate Constituency. If the demand is not fulfilled then all the people of the highway area will start on an insurgency for which the Administration will be answerable, he warned. Rai, recommending the GJM Central Committee to take this issue seriously cautioned that the highway shall blare if their necessary need is not fulfilled and the Morcha shall to be responsible for it. He also mentioned that all the Morcha office bearers of the highway branches and sub branches will also put forward their resignation if their issue is left unattended. Lastly, Rai appealed all the highway residents to be ready for this ‘soon to be’ agitation. “Being in a democratic country we shall also conduct our agitation the democratic way”, he concluded. Deeply affected by the notice the highway locals claim that their area fulfills all the criteria of becoming a separate Constituency. “Though all the paper works regarding the same has been completed, we have been betrayed by few of our own leaders”, they complained. They also alleged that the politicians are eyeing on the Hydel and Railway Project for their own vested needs.