People's Democracy

Left Front Stand on the Treaty

The leader of opposition in West Bengal, Suryakanta Misra, issued a press statement on July 17 in Kolkata and detailed Left Front’s position two days before the signing of the treaty. Below is the full text of the statement:

We express our concern regarding the treaty which the state government is going to sign on July 18 in the name of resolving the long drawn problem in Darjeeling. We oppose the movement organised initially by GNLF and now GJM (Gorkha Janamukti Morcha) on the demand for a separate state. We want the formation of an autonomous elected council with more autonomy within our state, within the present DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) territory and it should function democratically.

Tripartite meetings on this issue were initiated during the tenure of the Left Front government and there was positive progress. The central government was of same opinion with the state government. The idea was to form an autonomous elected council within the present DGHC territory. Addition of any new area was not in consideration of both the state and central governments. A rough draft of agreement was also prepared. Before that, an all party meeting was also convened by the then chief minister and a unanimous proposal was resolved. But no representative of TMC (Trinamool Congress) participated in the said meeting.

The present state government, without considering the continuity of the tripartite meeting, initiated bipartite meeting without any discussion in assembly or all party meeting. The matter of the discussion was neither disclosed to the people. News media remained the only source.

In such circumstances the state government, along with the central government, is going to sign an agreement with the GJM in Siliguri on July 18. The matter of the agreement is totally hidden. We heard that the government is considering adding several maujas of Terai and Dooars areas within the new body. We oppose this. The nomenclature of the new body should have been openly discussed in assembly. Without following these steps the matter should not be finalised. We heartily want a permanent solution of the problems of Darjeeling area. But if the decisive steps are not backed by logical and realistic process then instead of the solution the complexity will be increased and new problems will be created.