Gurung hints at dropping GTA if funds are insufficient

PHOTO LAVAINFO

Mukesh Sharma Kalimpong, November 30: “We have been handpicked by the public, thus we will not leave any stone unturned for the overall development of the hills. We are here to serve the public. And if we do not get enough fund we might even drop the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)”, said the GTA Executive Chief, Bimal Gurung while speaking with the media at Kalimpong today. Mentioning the enrolment of government primary teachers in the hills, Gurung asserted that everything possible will be done for educational development.

 269 teachers have been recruited so far, he said and also assured that the unsolved matter regarding the candidates who appeared for the teacher’s interview in 2002 will be solved soon. The GTA Executive Chief also made clear that the 3-tier Panchayat election will not be conducted in the hills at the moment. “We will conduct the poll only after coalition with the John Barla faction of the Terai- Dooars region”, he clarified. As per the GTA agreement, the Centre and the State government should conduct a 3-tier Panchayat election in the hills, added Gurung.

 Likewise, speaking about GTA, he said that it was the idea of the Centre and the State government which has been passed by the Ministry of Law and Justice and further has been consented by the President. “If GTA fails, it has to be handled by the Centre and the State. As always we are ready for an agitation”, he cautioned. Gurung, who has recently been included in the State cabinet has fallen victim to numerous allegations from the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM).

 Reciprocating to it, he said that the CPRM leaders throughout their tenure did nothing. Instead, they were against Gorkhaland. They should at first look into themselves and pin point others, he added. “We have not sold the Gorkhaland matter, the CPRM is putting baseless allegations”, said Gurung. Lastly, labeling the opposition leaders as ‘Winter politicians’, the GTA Executive Chief said that they only know to conduct Dharna at New Delhi during winters.