Deb barb at Bista over GTA board

TT, 15 Aug, Siliguri: Bengal tourism minister and Trinamul Congress leader Gautam Deb on Wednesday rejected Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista's charges and said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was being run by a board of administrators as per law.

Bista had said the GTA was being administered by a person appointed illegally by the state government. He also said the state had not conducted polls to the GTA even after the elected body had completed its term.

"It seems he (Darjeeling MP) has no idea of clauses in the GTA accord. It is specifically mentioned in the agreement as to how the hill body will function after the elected body completes the tenure," said Deb. "The GTA was an outcome of a tripartite agreement and former Union home minister had signed it. As the Centre has a role in the agreement, it (Centre) should play its part now," he added.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Anit Thapa is the chairman of the board of administrators appointed by the state government to run the GTA.

Asked about Bista's comment that he would approach the Union home minister and seek his intervention on the GTA and some other hill issues, the minister said the state government was acting on the hill body as per the Indian Constitution and the GTA agreement.

The minister also said Trinamul had started taking initiatives to revive its support base in north Bengal.

"We will soon carry out the Didi Ke Bolo campaign in two wards under my Assembly segment. I will hold a meeting with leaders of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts in Alipurduar next month," said Deb. Deb was recently made the chairman of a core committee to look after Trinamul's activities in the three districts.

"In the general election, the BJP secured huge leads in most Assembly seats in the three districts. That is why, it seems, he is planning a dual strategy. On one hand, he will carry out the campaign in rural and urban areas, while on the other hand, he will hold talks with leaders of the districts to draw up plans to revive support," said an insider..