GNLF to find new options for hill rule

Man Ghising at Kalimpong

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Siliguri: The Gorkha National Liberation Front said on Sunday that the party would consult with constitutional experts to explore new avenues for a better administrative arrangement in the hills and a proposal would be put before the Bengal government.

The decision has been attributed to the GNLF's attempt to cement its base as the party thinks a section of hill people is unhappy with the rebel faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha heading the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration now.

Mahendra Chhetri, the general secretary of the GNLF, said the central committee of the party had met in Kalimpong on Sunday and decided to explore new options for the hills' administration.

"The present state of affairs in the hills suggests a separate state cannot be formed immediately. We will continue to raise the demand for Gorkhaland but simultaneously, we want a better administrative arrangement to be put in place in the hills. So, we have decided to consult with legal and constitutional experts to explore new options in the hills. Our plan is to mention the new proposal at the next round of bipartite talks between the hill parties and the state government (at Pintail village) in Siliguri on November 21," said Chhetri.

The GNLF's plan to explore new administrative options is because of the perceived reservations among a section of people about the recent formation of the board of administrators to run the GTA. The state government had appointed rebel Morcha leaders Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa as the chairman and the vice-chairman of the BoA of the GTA, respectively.

Since the statehood agitation had resumed in June, the GNLF has been consistently regaining its ground.

(Shared by Kalimpong News: Source & Courtesy- The Telegraph- https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/gnlf-to-find-new-options-for-hill-rule-185572)