Darjeeling: The crucial Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) meeting now being in progress here today to elect a chief executive is heading for a ‘ futile exercise,’ as the main party – Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) – decided to abstain in the election.
GJM president Bimal Gurung said although they would participate in the meeting called by the West Bengal government but they would not take part in choosing the chief executive.
The post of the chief executive fell vacant after Mr Gurung resigned on July 29 and spearheading the movement for separate statehood in Darjeeling.
The political observors here said unless the GJM takes part in the election process to choose a leader, all exercise will be futile.
GTA principal secretary RD Meena would preside the meeting.
Mr Gurung said they would instead try to place a resolution and pass for releasing 11 GTA members and over 800 party activists, who have been arrested since August 3.
“How can we take part in choosing the GTA chief executive when our executive members are in jails,” he asked.
State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called upon the Gorkha leaders to choose an elected member and work for development of Darjeeling.
She said in Kalimpong on Tuesday, if the GTA members failed to have an executive from them, the government would act to fill the vacant post.
“The developmental works can wait but we want first our identify by carving out a separate state,” Mr Gurung said.
He alleged the GTA was in namesake and all powers are vested with the state government.On Union Home Minster Sushil Kumar Shnde’s appeal to call off the ongoing strike in the hills, Mr Gurung said they will take a decision after the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) returned from new Delhi.
He said Mr Shinde assured the Hill delegation that the Centre would soon convene a tripartite meeting to solve the Hill impasse.
The tripartite meeting would be held at secretary level where Union Home Secretary, West Bengal Chief Secretary and Home Secretary and members of the GJAC would represent the talks.
“The GJAC will meet soon and take appropriate action but the movement for Gorkhaland will continue,” he reiterated. (UNI)
