Dipen Pradhan, SNS,DARJEELING, 4 AUG: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration today became a reality when Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung along with 44 other elected and five nominated members took the oath of office in a historic swearing-in ceremony in the presence of Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and chief minister Mamata Banerjee amidst frenetic cheering by thousands of people who thronged the venue ~ Chowrasta ~ from different corners of the Hills.
The colourful ceremony continued for about four hours with Governor MK Narayanan administering the oath to Mr Gurung as the chief executive of the GTA sabha. The only jarring note was struck when several groups chorused the demand for a separate Gorkhaland, though it didn't disturb the general tenor of the programme.
The GTA replaces the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council set up in 1988 by the previous Left Front regime. There was expectancy in the air and promises flew thick and fast from Mr Shinde and the chief minister who assured the GTA that they would provide all assistance to it for all-round development of the Hills.
Mr Gurung declared: “From today onwards I swear to work within every norm of the government of West Bengal. Till yesterday we were agitators but from now onwards we are mere followers of the state to take up the responsibility to develop the hills, Terai and Dooars. The state government and the Centre are too required to help in development through the GTA.”
Mr Gurung urged the chief minister and the home minister to provide jobs to the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) as they expected to be benefited from the GTA after having taken part in the agitation for 44 months. “The 4000-5000 GLP youths have been hoping that through the GTA the chief minister will provide them jobs” he said.
The GJMM had been demanding jobs for the GLP youths in the Army or the police, but their demand had been kept on hold as many of the youths were rejected due to failure to meet physical and educational requirements. However, Mr Shinde announced there would be relaxation in these norms for GLP youths and they would accommodated as police Mr Shinde further added: “I come from a humble background and I understand the problems of the deprived people. We will not hesitate to sanction more funds if required.” Miss Banerjee announced the state government would provide jobs to the relatives of every martyr who had lost lives during the Gorkhaland agitation, build a university, construct highways linking Darjeeling with the plains and set up polytechnics and IITs.
Don’t rock the boat: Gurung to workers
DARJEELING, 4 AUG: The GJMM chief and now the GTA sabha chief executive, Mr Bimal Gurung today asked his followers not to rock the boat at this time. “The two (GTA and Gorkhaland) must not be muddled now, as the GTA sabha has just assumed office. We are now focussed on development which would be carried out in association with the Centre and the state government. We will not, however, forego our territorial demand in the Terai-Dooars,” he said.
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