Newly elected GTA members sworn in

Union Home Minister Shinde promises all support needed for development

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Kolkata: The newly elected members of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) were sworn in on Saturday in the presence of West Bengal Governor N.K. Narayan, newly appointed Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Railways Minister Mukul Roy and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) had earlier swept the polls of the newly created Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), winning all 45 seats unopposed in the Darjeeling hills governing council. GJM chief Bimal Gurung was sworn in as the chief executive of the GTA.

The home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee assured all support to the newly formed autonomous hill agency.

“I congratulate the members of newly formed GTA. We will do all that we can to help you,” said Shinde at the swearing-in ceremony. “I assure all of you that we will extend all kinds of support. We will give you Rs. 2 billion every year for next three years. If more money is needed for development, we will give you,” the Home minister said.

Shinde also assured the new administration that the youth of Darjeeling will get relaxations in physical norms laid down for recruitment to posts of constables in central police forces. He also urged the GTA to develop infrastructure for development of the region.

The long standing agitation, demanding the forming a separate state of Gorkhaland - out of the northern hills of West Bengal has led to loss of many lives in the last two decades. It has also led to crippling regions economic as it destroyed major industries like tea, timber and tourism.

One of the primary challenges of Mamata Banerjee government was to bring back peace in the hills. On July 18 last year, a tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM, the state and central governments for setting up a new autonomous, elected GTA, a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.

“You should work hard for the development of hills; the state government is there always with you. We will build a university here in Darjeeling, the hospital will also be renovated here,” said Banerjee. She asked Gurung to ensure jobs in the GTA for the family members of the martyrs of the Indian Army. “Whatever you have to ask from me you can, but please don’t quarrel. We will all stay together like one family,” the Chief Minister added.

The process of elections to the 45 GTA seats, held July 29, came to an end Thursday with GJM emerging victorious. The GJM had already won a majority even before the elections took place by bagging 28 seats uncontested, after candidates of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and Independents withdrew from the fray, accusing the GJM of letting loose a reign of terror. The Trinamool Congress, which initially decided to contest 17 seats, also pulled out after Banerjee so decided.

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