Writes Jyoti Kumar Mukhia
“.....without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle.” – Paulo Freire
A political mess is created in the Darjeeling hill by the reaction of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), the rulers of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), against the alleged dadagiri of didi that state is interfering in the works of GTA. 2 MLAs resigned from assembly and 2 defected GJM. The political discourse aftermath of the resignation and defection is around development. No one is questioning was it necessary for the MLAs to resign? GJM has not told the masses how state has been interfering in the works of GTA. I hope on 30th September at Kalimpng rally, Bimal Gurung will surely elaborate his thesis of high handedness of state over GTA works. I also expect that Bimal Gurung will explain to people why MLAs resignations were necessary.
From the statements floated by various political parties and the opinions of political thinkers in the hills, I understood that the priority issue of the GTA area is development. At last political parties and educated mass in the hills have accepted the theory advocated by Area MP, Govt of India (UPA, BJP) and Govt of West Bengal (TMC) that Darjeeling needs development. Period.
Didi will continue to showcase her dadagiri in the future too. She as the head of the state wants undivided and peaceful Bengal. She will ensure that during her raj nothing will move without her signal. She is unperturbed by the forthcoming threats of Bimal Gurung. It is because she knows it very well that GTA is her birth child and knows that she can run it as she wants based on MoU and legislative power. If at all GJM reignites Gorkhaland movement, she knows that she has prepared the field in the hills which will not make this movement successful. Secondly, she knows that GJM will never dissolve GTA and without dissolving GTA, Gorkhaland movement will have short life span.
If we are to believe Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri and Trilok Dewan that GJM is not able to run GTA then one can raise the credibility and ability issues of GJM in running GTA. The allegations say that sabhasad assembly is run by bureaucrats, resolutions passed in Sabhasad assembly are not sent to State govt. Based on this Dr Harka denies the highhandedness of state. He cites an example from his experience that in one of their delegation visit to centre govt, GJM raised the issue of state govt in the work of GTA. Centre asked for the papers, resolutions against this allegation. It is said Roshan Giri admitted such evidences are not available with them. So the question arises, Bimal Gurung as a chairperson of GTA, running the GTA as a builders’ house or administrative set up? Can he provide for the public to believe his allegation some evidences from his administration showing that there is high handedness from state govt? Political gimmicks are fine but people look for evidences too. Days are gone for emotional politics. GTA cannot be run with fancy thinking. GTA needs development for which it is set up and good governance is one of the pillars of development. If Dr Harka’s allegations are mere political vendetta then Bimal Gurung must make public, One, the audit report of GTA (if it is done), two,What was the budget provision for GTA in the current FY? Three, How much fund has been transferred to GTA and how much of it has been utilised? Four, It is good for the public to understand the process of fund allocation for GTA, how it is sanctioned and transferred. Do GTA needs to prepare proposal for getting the fund or allocated fund gets transferred directly to GTA? These are nitty gritty of administrative issues but before the public actually believes what Dr Harka has said, it is very important even for us educated people to understand the entire process of planning, monitoring and implementation in GTA. Then we can decide who is telling the truth Dr Harka or Bimal Gurung.
Amidst all the noise, there are still unanswered questions: Why was resignation of MLAs necessary to curtail the interference of state? Were MLAs not sent to lobby for Gorkhaland? Can we expect now no interference from state govt? If state govt interfered in GTA’s work, was it not logical for the sabhasads to resign and dissolve GTA? Was it really interference of state or issue of Accountability?
Now let me look into the issue of upgrading Kalimpong to district status. Is it good? Yes ofcourse. When we are talking about development of the hill then formation of multiple districts, blocks like multiple development boards are necessary and good. Kalimpong is the largest subdivision in the hill. After it’s up gradation to district people at large will be benefitted. The formation of multiple ethnic development boards under CM office has given access to housing facilities (as of now)to poorest of the poor household under the board and also created a platform for the emerging leaders under such board. I hope GTA does not become federation of such boards and also GTA does not have reservation of seats for the members from these boards. Similarly after the formation of new Kalimpong district there will be more blocks, smaller and manageable administrative set up, easy access to offices are some of the benefits apart from the financial benefits. But what would be the funding model for the new district? Will GTA’s fund be the major source or extra funding will be available?
GTA is set up with the development framework. Development is the major agenda of didi and she is pursuing her agendas in full swing as a chief minister of West Bengal. As the party supremo, she does want TMCs footprint in the hills. Through her acquisition strategy for expanding TMC’s footprint she is able to bring under TMCs fold the voters and youth from the various ethnic groups starting with Lepchas from Kalimpong. It should be noted that Kalimpong is the largest subdivision in Darjeeling district with over one lakh voters which can change the political arithmetic in the hill politics. The political tactics of Didi was successful in Kalimpong because of the mismanagement of Bimal Gurung and lack of his foresight. After ethnic groups acquisition she needs a face for sustaining. TMC does not have a credible face in the hills. And at this juncture comes in Kalimpong the defected leader, National spokesperson, a thinker from GJM, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri. He will be the next credible face of TMC if didi ADOPTs him. If didi will be further successful in managing Kalimpong and Bimal further mismanages it, TMC will definitively have a stronghold in Kalimpong and the butterfly effect can be felt in other parts of the hills including Dooars in no time. One can expect more fund flow in Kalimpong, more Boards formation headquartered at Kalimpong and flame of districthood for Kalimpong.
Districthood of Kalimpong would be the burning issue in the days to come and all other issues from other parts would be diluted. GJM has already taken the credit for the demand of districthood for Kalimpong and will demand further for upgrading Mirik, Kurseong and Darjeeling to District. But for the moment the real test rests on Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri’s next strategic step. How will he checkmate GJM and give full footprint to TMC in Kalimpong? If his steps yield this desired result then he will be the face of TMC.
Now the big question, where is the issue of Gorkhaland? If we are to believe Bimal Gurung’s announcement for starting GL movement, what would be the face of next movement. Is Bimal Gurung going to start movement without GTA as he had started 2nd GL movement by dissolving DGHC? Or is the political buzz for the “Power to hold GTA”? GNLF (6th schedule), CPRM (Strong GTA), TMC (Development) are clear about their political agenda. What about GJM?
In the conclusion, Gorkhaland has gone to the backburner. By the actions of the political parties and their fight, it is evident that the political fight is for capturing Lalkothi. If this premise is true, then the political agenda of Didi is fulfilled. TMC expansion will be at full speed in near future. No doubt, if this trend continues I can see Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri as the next Chairman of GTA.
“.....without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle.” – Paulo Freire
A political mess is created in the Darjeeling hill by the reaction of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), the rulers of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), against the alleged dadagiri of didi that state is interfering in the works of GTA. 2 MLAs resigned from assembly and 2 defected GJM. The political discourse aftermath of the resignation and defection is around development. No one is questioning was it necessary for the MLAs to resign? GJM has not told the masses how state has been interfering in the works of GTA. I hope on 30th September at Kalimpng rally, Bimal Gurung will surely elaborate his thesis of high handedness of state over GTA works. I also expect that Bimal Gurung will explain to people why MLAs resignations were necessary.
From the statements floated by various political parties and the opinions of political thinkers in the hills, I understood that the priority issue of the GTA area is development. At last political parties and educated mass in the hills have accepted the theory advocated by Area MP, Govt of India (UPA, BJP) and Govt of West Bengal (TMC) that Darjeeling needs development. Period.
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| Mamata Banerjee and Harka Bahadur Chettri A file photo |
If we are to believe Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri and Trilok Dewan that GJM is not able to run GTA then one can raise the credibility and ability issues of GJM in running GTA. The allegations say that sabhasad assembly is run by bureaucrats, resolutions passed in Sabhasad assembly are not sent to State govt. Based on this Dr Harka denies the highhandedness of state. He cites an example from his experience that in one of their delegation visit to centre govt, GJM raised the issue of state govt in the work of GTA. Centre asked for the papers, resolutions against this allegation. It is said Roshan Giri admitted such evidences are not available with them. So the question arises, Bimal Gurung as a chairperson of GTA, running the GTA as a builders’ house or administrative set up? Can he provide for the public to believe his allegation some evidences from his administration showing that there is high handedness from state govt? Political gimmicks are fine but people look for evidences too. Days are gone for emotional politics. GTA cannot be run with fancy thinking. GTA needs development for which it is set up and good governance is one of the pillars of development. If Dr Harka’s allegations are mere political vendetta then Bimal Gurung must make public, One, the audit report of GTA (if it is done), two,What was the budget provision for GTA in the current FY? Three, How much fund has been transferred to GTA and how much of it has been utilised? Four, It is good for the public to understand the process of fund allocation for GTA, how it is sanctioned and transferred. Do GTA needs to prepare proposal for getting the fund or allocated fund gets transferred directly to GTA? These are nitty gritty of administrative issues but before the public actually believes what Dr Harka has said, it is very important even for us educated people to understand the entire process of planning, monitoring and implementation in GTA. Then we can decide who is telling the truth Dr Harka or Bimal Gurung.
Amidst all the noise, there are still unanswered questions: Why was resignation of MLAs necessary to curtail the interference of state? Were MLAs not sent to lobby for Gorkhaland? Can we expect now no interference from state govt? If state govt interfered in GTA’s work, was it not logical for the sabhasads to resign and dissolve GTA? Was it really interference of state or issue of Accountability?
Now let me look into the issue of upgrading Kalimpong to district status. Is it good? Yes ofcourse. When we are talking about development of the hill then formation of multiple districts, blocks like multiple development boards are necessary and good. Kalimpong is the largest subdivision in the hill. After it’s up gradation to district people at large will be benefitted. The formation of multiple ethnic development boards under CM office has given access to housing facilities (as of now)to poorest of the poor household under the board and also created a platform for the emerging leaders under such board. I hope GTA does not become federation of such boards and also GTA does not have reservation of seats for the members from these boards. Similarly after the formation of new Kalimpong district there will be more blocks, smaller and manageable administrative set up, easy access to offices are some of the benefits apart from the financial benefits. But what would be the funding model for the new district? Will GTA’s fund be the major source or extra funding will be available?
GTA is set up with the development framework. Development is the major agenda of didi and she is pursuing her agendas in full swing as a chief minister of West Bengal. As the party supremo, she does want TMCs footprint in the hills. Through her acquisition strategy for expanding TMC’s footprint she is able to bring under TMCs fold the voters and youth from the various ethnic groups starting with Lepchas from Kalimpong. It should be noted that Kalimpong is the largest subdivision in Darjeeling district with over one lakh voters which can change the political arithmetic in the hill politics. The political tactics of Didi was successful in Kalimpong because of the mismanagement of Bimal Gurung and lack of his foresight. After ethnic groups acquisition she needs a face for sustaining. TMC does not have a credible face in the hills. And at this juncture comes in Kalimpong the defected leader, National spokesperson, a thinker from GJM, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri. He will be the next credible face of TMC if didi ADOPTs him. If didi will be further successful in managing Kalimpong and Bimal further mismanages it, TMC will definitively have a stronghold in Kalimpong and the butterfly effect can be felt in other parts of the hills including Dooars in no time. One can expect more fund flow in Kalimpong, more Boards formation headquartered at Kalimpong and flame of districthood for Kalimpong.
Districthood of Kalimpong would be the burning issue in the days to come and all other issues from other parts would be diluted. GJM has already taken the credit for the demand of districthood for Kalimpong and will demand further for upgrading Mirik, Kurseong and Darjeeling to District. But for the moment the real test rests on Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri’s next strategic step. How will he checkmate GJM and give full footprint to TMC in Kalimpong? If his steps yield this desired result then he will be the face of TMC.
Now the big question, where is the issue of Gorkhaland? If we are to believe Bimal Gurung’s announcement for starting GL movement, what would be the face of next movement. Is Bimal Gurung going to start movement without GTA as he had started 2nd GL movement by dissolving DGHC? Or is the political buzz for the “Power to hold GTA”? GNLF (6th schedule), CPRM (Strong GTA), TMC (Development) are clear about their political agenda. What about GJM?
In the conclusion, Gorkhaland has gone to the backburner. By the actions of the political parties and their fight, it is evident that the political fight is for capturing Lalkothi. If this premise is true, then the political agenda of Didi is fulfilled. TMC expansion will be at full speed in near future. No doubt, if this trend continues I can see Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri as the next Chairman of GTA.
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