'No parting with Terai, Dooars land for Gorkhaland'

According to ABAVP state working president Tej Kumar Toppo, they would hold a meeting in the Dooars most likely on 15 November and adopt a resolution over Morcha leader Bimal Gurung's return to the Hills

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, SILIGURI, 26 OCTOBER 2020 : After fugitive Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung joined hands with Chief M inister M amata Barterjee, theAkhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) plans to hold a meeting in the Dooars tentatively on 15 November to discuss the matter. The Parishad also said it will not allow Terai Dooars land to be taken if a separate state of Gorkhaland is formed.

According to ABAVP state working president Tej Kumar Toppo, they would hold the meeting as the Parishad president Birsha Tirkey is scheduled to visit the region on 14 November. "We would adopt a resolution over Bimal Gurung's return to the Hills, apprehending unrest and violence even in the Terai and the Dooars region if there is any fresh movement, demanding inclusion of additional land from the plains for a separate state of Gorkhaland," Mr Toppo said today.

"We would stand by our earlier decision. We will not give up an inch of land from the Adivasi-dominated Terai and the Dooars region. We don't have objections if both the Centre and the state grant them a separate state comprising the Hill areas. We would intimate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of our stand after adopting a resolution in the meeting," he added.

It may be noted here that the Dooars region, which is called "mini India" for its unity in diversity among people belonging to different communities, witnessed violence when the GJMM, under Bimal Gurung, demanded a separate state, comprising areas of the Terai and the Dooars where Nepali-speaking people live. The agitation happened during the tenure of the Left Front in the state and when theTrinamul Congress was trying hard to come to power in Bengal. Frequent clashes broke out at different places between Nepali and Adivasi people, especially in the Dooars region then. The ABAVP played a key role in resisting the GJMM moves that time.

Significantly, Alipurduar MP John Barla and Sukra Munda belonging to the ABAVP, were initially against the GJMM, but they later joined hands with Mr Gumng, demanding a Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration. Later, when the Trinamul Congress came to power, Mr Munda joined the TMC and Mr Barla the BJP. Mr Barla did not answer phone calls despite several attempts today.

However, MLA from Madarihat Manoj Tigga, when asked, said: "John Barla is now an MP belonging to the BJP. What he did earlier is immaterial. In politics, there is no last word. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the NDA and he joined it again. Similarly, Bimal Gurung has left the NDA. But the question is what is role of the Trinamul Congress and the state government? The present situation proves how the Trinamul Congress framed false cases against opposition political leaders. We are sufferrers and victims. Even John Barla was behind bars for nearly 80 days."

Though there is a difference of opinion between Mr Toppo and Mr Tigga, both of them rooted for peace in their region. Asked to comment, Dooars-based GJMM leader Madhukar Thapa, who is close to Mr Gurung, said it was still not clear when and how Mr Gurung would return to the region.

"Let Gurung Daju come to the Hills. Without his presence, there is no way we can formulate a strategy.There is no plan at present. The party's central committee meeting should be converted. If there is a majority of members (after deducting the number of members who belong to the Binoy faction now) We can easily formulate a strategy," he said.

Mr Thapa, who is against the present policy of the NDA government, added that Mr Gurung will "become successful again as he would start working in the political arena and achieve our goals."

"Our main motto is recognition of our identity. Both the Centre and the state has given us Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and then Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in future, we would achieve our goals," he said.

Asked to comment on whether Miss Banerjee would be able to recover lost ground in this region, Mr Thapa said: "The percentage of Gorkha people is a decisive factor in 10 Assembly Constituencies from Hills to the plains."

Though Mr Thapa said that there is no chance of violence in the future in the Dooars region, Mr Toppo pointed out to a sharp division between two communities, Nepali and Adivasi, on the issue of development projects through development boards.

It may he mentioned here that Mr Gurung, on the run since the 2017 agitation for Gorkhaland, made a public appearance after three years in Kolkata recently and announced his withdrawal of support to the NDA at the centre and joining of hands with Miss Banerjee.