LOC15:01
12:01 GMT
NEW DELHI, July 18 (KUNA) -- A historic tripartite pact was signed Monday
among the Government of India, Government of eastern most state of West
Bengal, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), granting autonomy for the three
hilly districts - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.
The signing of the agreement is seen as a major step towards resolving the
issue of creation of Gorkhaland as a separate state, a demand made by the GJM
for past many years.
The area comprising of the three districts - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and
Kurseong - lies in the hilly terrains West Bengal known mainly for tea
gardens.
The agreement will create an elected autonomous body - the Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration (GTA) - to administer the three hilly districts.
The signing ceremony was held at the foothills of Darjeeling in the
presence of the country's Home Minister P. Chidambaram, West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee, and GJM chief Bimal Gurung.
Chidambaram and Mamata Banerjee promised full backing of the Centre and
West Bengal Government to the GTA, which will, henceforth, have 45 elected and
five nominated members to carry out the administration work. It will get a
special financial package from the Centre over three years for the overall
development of the region.
The GTA will have full control over tourism, agriculture and public health.
It can also appoint lower-grade employees. Besides, it will have full control
over the school and college teachers' appointments.
Meanwhile, a 48-hour shutdown was observed by some groups opposed to the
agreement. They alleged that the agreement was an attempt to die down the
demand for a separate state Gorkhaland. As a result of the shutdown, both
private and government vehicles kept off the roads and market places wore a
deserted look in districts like Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. (end)
py.ibi
KUNA 181501 Jul 11NNNN