Statehood on lips, GTA moves resolution for full salary

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 4: The GTA today passed a resolution for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said there would be no general strike in the hills till October 23.

The Centre has reportedly told the hill party that a tripartite meeting would be held in New Delhi on October 23.

The decision of the GTA executive Sabha to pass a resolution on Gorkhaland is a ripple effect of the Union cabinet’s nod for the formation of Telangana yesterday.

Today, the GTA executive Sabha members met in Darjeeling around 4.30pm and passed three resolutions in an attempt to pass on a message to the public that the party is not sitting idle while the process to form Telangana was on.

Jyoti Kumar Rai, GTA executive member, said the first resolution was to welcome the Centre’s decision to create Telangana. “We welcome the Union cabinet’s decision. Through the resolution, we would like to congratulate the people and the leaders of the Telangana movement and we, too, want Telangana to be formed as early as possible,” he said.

The second resolution was for Gorkhaland state. “The executive Sabha has passed a resolution to create a separate state of Gorkhaland, which is the aspiration of the people of Darjeeling hills, Terai and the Dooars,” said Rai. The third resolution pertains to the interference of the state government in the running of the autonomous hill body.

“We have passed a resolution stating that the show-cause notice served to employees for not attending office during the agitation should be withdrawn and the deducted salaries be disbursed immediately,” said Rai.

The state had passed an order to deduct salaries of 7,500-odd GTA employees for not attending office. The GTA employees have received eight days’ salary for August.

A GTA source said: “The show-cause notices were technically sent by the GTA and if the employees decide to move court that they would have to move against the GTA. By passing the resolution,The onus will now be on the state government,” said a GTA source.

Sources said a section of the GTA employees want to move court against the state’s decision to deduct salaries.

Morcha leader R.B. Bhujel said: “The Morcha or the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee will not call a strike till October 23. The future course of the agitation will be decided after the tripartite meeting.”