Darjeeling, Sept. 25 -- Following the resignation of the GTA Chief, Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the appointment of an administrator by the West Bengal Government, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha met in Darjeeling on Friday. The meeting saw the Sabha revive the demand for Gorkhaland, while the administrator briefed members on various development issues.

Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) president and GTA Sabha member from Sadar-III, Ajoy Edwards, questioned the fate of the Gorkhaland proposal adopted during the first GTA Sabha meeting on September 19, 2022.

"All 45 elected and five nominated members, the full house, had passed a resolution calling for the reopening of dialogue on Gorkhaland. The house was told that the demand was not dropped when the GTA agreement of 2011 was signed. Now, four years later, we want to know the fate of the resolution. A resolution adopted by elected members cannot disappear into a file," Edwards said. He also demanded that the Government of India and the West Bengal Government expedite talks on a permanent political solution (PPS).

"The Governor of West Bengal has assured that PPS will be formulated in consultation with all stakeholders. The GTA Sabha must be represented in the talks. It is the most extensive elected body covering the hill region and its members carry the direct mandate of the people," Edwards said. "As long as the GTA exists, we will continue to be the voice of the people, but we will never abandon the demand for a permanent political solution to Gorkhaland," he added. GTA administrator Smrutiranjan Mohanty, appointed on September 7, said the administrator was appointed following the resignations and the resulting vacuum.

"However we will work in coordination with the GTA Sabha. They will function as an advisory board. This is an interim arrangement till a new arrangement is in place," added Mohanty. The administrator stated that the GTA Sabha was informed of different development schemes. "Under the annual action plan Rs. 360 crore has been allotted to the GTA. The Sabha was informed of how much will be spent in different sectors this year. Priority will be given to construction, repair and maintenance of roads along with disaster management," he added. Mohanty further stated that Rs. 249.88 crore has been allocated under disaster management. "465 schemes will be undertaken. Whatever work is incomplete will be completed and after proper assessment old payments will be made" stated the administrator.

29 GTA Sabhasads were present in the meeting held at the Lalkothi, the GTA secretariat on Friday.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.