Govt finalises tripartite agreement draft for hills

The West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today finalised the draft of the tripartite agreement involving the Centre to end the the political impasse in the hill areas of Darjeeling. Both the parties also decided to set up a nine-member committee to address the the issue of including the the Nepali-majority areas in the Terai-Dooars in the contemplated autonomous council for the Darjeeling Hills.

“Draft of the agreement was finalised today in the meeting. There were some differences which we have sorted out. Now this will be sent to the centre,” GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri said after a meeting with the government officials here. Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and Home Secretary GD Gautama represented the state government in today's meeting.

He also said that the meeting inovlving representatives of GJM, West Bengal and Central government is likely to take place soon. “The tripartite meeting will take place within 7-10 days. We hope the agreement will be signed soon after the meeting,” he said.

However, a nine-member committee will be formed to look into the GJM's demand for the inclusion of the Nepali-majority areas in the Terai-Dooars in the contemplated autonomous council which will replace earlier body called Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).

“A nine-member committee to look into the matter about Terai-Dooars. Both the GJM and state government will have four members each in the committee, while there will be one representative from the Government of India,” Giri said.

A month back ,West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) had signed an official-level agreement to set up a more powerful body to replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). The new setup would have full administrative, financial and executive powers and would be given more autonomy than the DGHC.