PINTAIL VILLAGE (SILIGURI) :A delirious Gorkha population danced and sang till late Monday night, long after a tripartite agreement was signed for the creation of a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration at Pintail Village, a resort on the outskirts of Siliguri.
The signatories to the deal were West Bengal Home Secretary GD Gautama, Union Home Secretary RK Singh and GJM general secretary Roshan Giri. Present on the occasion were Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Cabinet colleagues and Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. Gorkha Janamukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and all his key men too were present.
Describing the agreement as historic, the chief minister told the GJM leadership: "After your long struggle, a moment of peace has come. Henceforth, you will govern Darjeeling. I appeal to you to make Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and the entire West Bengal more beautiful."
"Elections to the new Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will take place within six months from today and I believe GJM will be able to run the hill administration more effectively and beautifully. Darjeeling is in West Bengal and to me Siliguri and Darjeeling are two sisters. Today's agreement will strengthen the bond between the people of the plains and the hills, even though I know it very well that moves are afoot to divide the people to extract very narrow political mileage," Banerjee said.
She was referring to the moves made by Left parties and some local tribal elements in Darjeeling district against the agreement.
GTA will replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which was formed after the 1988 tripartite accord between the Centre, state and the Gorkha National Liberation Front, which was then the face of the Gorkha community's aspirations. The chief minister announced some development schemes for Darjeeling hills moments before the agreement was signed. She announced that super-speciality hospitals would be set up in all sub-divisions of the Darjeeling hills. GTA will be given adequate financial support to promote tourism.
A bridge will be constructed on the River Teesta and new schools and colleges would also be set up in the hills to enable local people to educate their children.
Chidambaram said "GTA will get full support from both the Centre and the state." "Both the governments will stand beside you in running the new administration. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had all wanted to be here today. They have conveyed their good wishes to the people of the hills," Chidambaram said.
"I congratulate Mamata Banerjee and GJM leader Bimal Gurung, as I feel that the situation for signing the agreement was created due to their sincere and tireless efforts. I also believe that there is no hurdle in this universe which cannot be overcome through dialogue and negotiations. But I must tell you that today's development has been possible due to Mamata Banerjee and Biman Gurung."
An over-joyed GJM president Bimal Gurung said: "We are thankful to Mamata-didi for giving us this happy moment, which could have come much earlier."
The chief minister replied, "GTA has been formed for Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. The state and the centre will extend all help to it. But we all want a strong Bengal. Nothing comes in the name. Only work matters."
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