Special power cry by Harka

Harka Bahadur Chhetri

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 25: The Jana Andolan Party has demanded that the GTA be provided constitutional recognition with legislative powers by bringing the hill body under Article 371 of the Constitution till the formation of Gorkhaland.

Speaking to The Telegraph over the phone today, Andolan president Harka Bahadur Chhetri said: "We want the GTA to be granted a constitutional guarantee by bringing it under Article 371 till Gorkhaland is formed. The hill body should also be provided with legislative powers. Even though we believe the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has proved to be incompetent to run the GTA, providing legislative powers to the hill body would mean that issues like state interference would not arise."

Article 371 can be used by the President to give special powers to a state, a region or a local community for the larger good, keeping in mind the prevailing exceptional circumstances there.

Chhetri said the Andolan would approach the state government and the Centre with the demand.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which controls the GTA, has never said anything about constitutional validity for the hill body. The party today said the GTA is an intermediary measure before statehood, its ultimate goal, is attained.

The Mamata Banerjee-led dispensation has tried repeatedly to break the stranglehold of Bimal Gurung's party in the Darjeeling hills.

A proposal for constitutional powers to the hill body would be contrary to the stand taken by the Morcha and the state government.

Chhetri has spoken about this demand at a time his ties with Mamata have soured. The new move by the Andolan could be perceived as a challenge to Mamata by the state government.

The GTA has been set up under the GTA Act passed in the Bengal Assembly, not under any of the Articles of the Constitution. At the moment, the Assembly can dissolve the GTA if it so desires as was done with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. A constitutionally-recognised body cannot be dissolved by an Assembly.

Chhetri's demand for legislative powers for the GTA would also mean that the state's role in the functioning of the hill body would be limited. "There will definitely be some control of the state government but a body with legislative powers would be more powerful," the Andolan chief said.

In 2005, Subash Ghisingh-led Gorkha National Liberation Front, Centre and the Left Front state government had signed an agreement to bring the hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The administrative body that could be formed under the Sixth Schedule was to have legislative powers. The bill on the Sixth Schedule status for the hills was not taken up by Parliament.

A section of political observers in the hills said the Andolan's demand suggested the party wanted to create its own space.

Told about Chhetri's demand, Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: "We want the GTA to be an interim body and did not want a constitutional guarantee as that would have given permanency to the GTA."

TMC meeting

TMC (hill) district committee has decided to organise a padayatra in Darjeeling on November 9 followed by a public meeting there on November 11.