Bista seeks Shah's intervention in hills

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT,13 Aug 2019, Darjeeling: Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista on Monday sought the intervention of Union home minister Amit Shah as the hills allegedly lacked democracy and the Bengal government slapped cases on 200 people.

Bista, who was on a visit to his constituency, said he believed in the federal structure of the country but added that the Centre's intervention was necessary to solve issues in Darjeeling.

"Five thousand people are out of Darjeeling, 200 people have more than 150 cases slapped on them; there is no democracy, no panchayat election, BJP councillors are being forced to stay outside," said Bista.

Given the situation, the MP said, the Union home minister has to intervene.

"I have told the home minister that federal structure is in place but how can we allow our people to die. He should intervene, either through the state government or bureaucracy. But he has to intervene. Time has come to intervene and solve this issue," said Bista, adding that patience of people was running out.

He reiterated that finding a "permanent political solution" for Darjeeling was a promise and there would be no going back on it.

The MP said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration should be scrapped and that would push forward the process of starting talks to find a permanent political solution.

Directing his answer to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang, Bista said: "You want Gorkhaland. Dissolve the GTA as it would help find a permanent political solution. People will remember you for this sacrificeThe BJP also wants a three-tier panchayat system in the hills but when pointed out that the Terai already had the Siliguri Mahukama Parishad (SMP), which is equivalent to a zilla parishad, Bista said that was a "complex issue" and a complete "overhaul" of the administrative set-up was needed.

For the implementation of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills, a constitutional amendment is needed and Bista said that was possible..