Thapa hits out at Guv: GTA audit statement : Former GTA BoA chief says good quality dev work for all to see

SNS, 28 JUNE 21 : While Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar today alleged corruption in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and said he would have the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) run an audit into it, the former chairman of the Hill body, Anit Thapa, made counter allegations and said that the Governor was making "politically motivated" statements.

Wrapping his week-long visit to Darjeeling today, the Governor said, "During my stay here, serious complaints were made to me by representatives of people regarding rampant corruption and inefficiency of the GTA. Inspite of thousands of crores being given to the GTA there has been no matching development."

"Unfortunately, since 2017 there has been no elected body of the GTA, which is against democracy. As the governor, I have the power, authority and will ensure that there is a special audit been done by the CAG so those who were in the BoA are held accountable," he said.

After the 2017 statehood agitation and division of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha party, the Binoy Tamang-Anit Thapa faction headed the GTA with a nominated Board of Administrators appointed by the state government.

Before that, Bimal Gurung, leader of the other faction of the Morcha, was the elected GTA chairman. Recently, from May this year, the GTA principal secretary has been asked to continue as the administrator of the body through a government order. Mr Thapa was removed from the post of chairman before the Assembly elections in March.

"The issue of an audit was raised earlier also, and we welcome it, as it is necessary for a government body and as far as I know general audits have been held in the past. When I took over the GTA, everyone knows about the development work and the quality of it," said Mr Thapa.

"However, whenever the governor comes here, his statements are politically motivated. We respect and honour the post of the Governor, but he comes here only to incite the people and create unrest. We have brought peace in the hills and I appeal to the people not to be provoked by anything. We want peace to remain here," he said.

On his arrival in the Hills, black flags shown by members of the Gurung faction of the Morcha in Darjeeling and the TMC (Hills) unit in Kurseong greeted Governor Dhankhar in the Hills.