Anit Thapa presents 31-point charter of demands on GTA to Mamata Banerjee

 I am very clear that we have to take the hills forward and not backward. I want to work in the present, which is to develop the region. And for this we have to work with Bengal," Thapa said.

EOI, DARJEELING, FEBRURY 8, 2023:  Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Executive Officer Anit Thapa on Wednesday met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna in Kolkata and submitted a 31-point charter of demands related to the proper functioning of the council body.

The 31 points covered in the charter covered issues like transfer of departments to the GTA and allocation of the planned budget, education and health; among others.

Thapa said the meeting on Wednesday was a follow-up to previous ones held with the Chief Minister. 

"It is very important that for better and smooth functioning of the GTA the Act must be implemented in full. We have had talks with the Bengal CM before and this is a follow up meeting. We have about 31 points that need to be implemented for the council body to work well. This we appraised the Chief Minister about," he said.

The 31-point charter includes issues like strengthening of the GTA through proper implementation of the GTA Act of 2011, release of pending state plan fund for the current financial year and the backlog of 2014-2015, issuance of land rights for people of the tea gardens and cinchona plantation, formation of subordinate recruitment board and separate School Service Commission and regularization of voluntary teachers; to name a few.

Opposition political parties of the hills are clamouring to have the GTA scrapped, calling the body unconstitutional and unable to deliver for the people and instead trying to take forward the statehood demand. However, Thapa differed. 

He asserted that his stand was based on ground realities and practical observations. The development in the hills could only be ushered through the GTA, he said.

"Gorkhaland is a central subject. I am very clear that we have to take the hills forward and not backward. I want to work in the present, which is to develop the region. And for this we have to work with Bengal," Thapa said.

Anit Thapa, who is also the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president, said people had now become conscious of the false propaganda of Gorkhaland by the opposition political parties. 

"Is it possible to achieve Gorkhaland shouting in the hills? Political parties fought elections, including to the GTA polls, with the issue of Gorkhaland but they lost. People will not befooled every time," he said.

The Bimal Gurung led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Ajoy Edwards-led Hamro Party and Binay Tamang have come to an understanding to take the statehood demand forward, keeping aside differences.

The BGPM president ruled out positive outcomes from different political parties sharing a common platform to voice the demand for a separate state. 

"Their main agenda is to take on the BGPM. In fact, Gurung, Edwards and Tamang have a history and differences that is hard to erase. I don't think their alliance will give positive results," said Thapa. 

With the panchayat election nearing after over two decades, political analysts pointed out, it would be interesting to watch how the political landscape of the hills plays out.