Gorkhaland agitation

Gorkhaland agitation

Before the ink, of the memorandum of settlement, arrived at between the Government of India, West Bengal government and the Gorkha National Front supremo, Subhas Ghising upgrading the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council set up in 1988 to a Sixth Schedule council in the line of Bodoland Territorial Council with greater powers, could dry up, an unprecedented agitation led by Ghising’s erstwhile deputy Bimal Gurung under .the banner of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha rejected the settlement, disowned Subhas Ghising and launched an agitation demanding a separate State of Gorkhaland with huge popular support. For the last few days the Gorkha -Janamukti Morcha had paralysed the tourist town of Darjeeling commercial centre – Siliguri and the agitation turned violent. The Chief Minister. Buddhadev Bhattacharjya who earlier rejected the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State has now called an all party meet and also invited representatives of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha for talks. Subhas Ghising led the movement for a separate Gorkhaland in the eighties under the banner of Gorkha National Front and succeeded in getting an autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988 comprising hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong along with some mouzas of Siliguri Subdivision. As the Chief Executive Councillor, his relation with the Government of West Bengal was marked by highs and lows in respect of fund and powers. So when the Union Government conceded the demand for upgrading the Bodoland Autonomous Council to Bodoland Territorial Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003. Ghising pressed for Sixth Schedule status to his Council which was agreed to by the Union and the West Bengal Governments and necessary notification was under process. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha is now demanding a State which should include Siliguri, Terai and the Dooars within its ambit resulting in clashes between Gorkhas and non Gorkhas. The situation is tense and would need delicate handling. How the West Bengal Government deals with the situation would be watched with interest in Assam where Bodo leaders consider the BTC as a stepping stone for a separate State. Autonomous Councils are not recommended by the Moily Commission on Administrative Reforms as it fails to fulfil the aspirations of the people and generate divisive forces within the State. West Bengal and Assam have already been truncated. It should not be further divided. Source: assam tribune editorial 15.06.08