Gurung seeks Delhi role on GTA

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Sept. 18: Bimal Gurung today called on Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to complain about the "incapacitated functioning" of the GTA and sought the Centre's intervention to fulfil the commitments made in the GTA agreement.

The GTA chief executive said he had informed Singh about the state government's alleged meddling in the functioning of the hill body and non-transfer of departments among other things.

After the meeting, Gurung said in a press release: "....met Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble minister of home affairs and informed about the issue of incapacitated functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration which was deemed to be an autonomous administrative institution that was born out of a tripartite agreement..."

The Darjeeling MP, S.S. Ahluwalia, and Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma were also present during Gurung's meeting with Singh.

The Morcha chief said he had told the Union home minister that the hill body was not being allowed to function autonomously by the state and "functions and functionaries of the 40 departments and 59 subjects to be transferred haven't yet come under the active control of the GTA".

"Gurung said he had appealed to the Centre "to hold a meeting for fulfilment of commitments as mentioned" in the GTA agreement.

The GTA chief said the minister's response "has been positive".

Shared from the Telegraph by KalimNews in Kalimpong News at http://kalimpongonlinenews.blogspot.in/2015/09/gurung-seeks-delhi-role-on-gta.html and http://kalimpongnews.net/2015/09/19/gurung-seeks-delhi-role-gta/