Tribal leader Wants Dooars in GTA
Times of India
GOKE (DARJEELING): Ousted Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parshad (ABAVP) leader John Barla on Monday threatened to start an agitation in the plains to pressure the government to include Terai and Dooars in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Barla, who was invited by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership to attend the Agro-Horti Fair in Goke, 14 km from Darjeeling town, said the delay in formation of GTA and in the high-power committee's survey to decide on the regions to be included in it proved that it was all eyewash. "Adivasis are with mebecause they know I am right. We will start an agitation in Dooars and Terai from February to demand the early formation of GTA and the inclusion of new areas in it," claimed Barla.
Barla, a former president of the Terai-Dooars regional unit of the ABAVP, was expelled from the tribal body last December. The ABAVP's central committee leaders had apparently found Barla and some others guilty of disobeying the tribal body's constitution when he decided to join hands with the GJM for GTA and also proposed a Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA). The GJM, too, is reportedly not happy with the progress made by the survey committee. "We will wait till March and after that, think afresh. This unnecessary delay cannot be tolerated," said a party source.
The GJM central committee leadership is expected to make an announcement in Darjeeling on Tuesday to reflect its displeasure over the delay of the formation of GTA. Barla said he would start an awareness campaign from February to educate the people of Dooars and Terai about the benefits of GTA. "We have already started work at the grassroots level in the Terai and Dooars to educate people about the GTA and the GATA and their benefits. I am positive that people will understand and accept it," he added. Rubbishing the government's explanation of the delay in completing the survey by citing shortage of manpower, Barla claimed: "This survey is simply eyewash. The government did not expect the tribal community to support the inclusion of their territories in the GTA. It has taken the government by surprise."
The former tribal leader does not believe that working together with GJM would create divisions in the ABAVP's ranks, but feels that it would benefit the Adivasis instead. "It is there for everyone to see. What did we achieve in the four years of fighting with the GJM? Development in Terai and Dooars is zero. But working together will definitely benefit both the Adivasis and the Gorkhas," Barla claimed. He cited the example of the victory of the GJM-ABAVP combine in the recent student elections in Dooars.
Amid all this, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parshad leadership is apparently planning to bring back into the party fold its former Terai-Dooars unit secretary Rajesh Lakra, who had stepped out in 2010 to float his own organization. But Barla does not see it is as a crisis for himself. "I am working for the people and will continue to do so. There will always be obstacles before those who want to do good work, but I am positive people will support me," he said. Under Lakra's leadership the ABAVP had given stiff resistance to GJM's movement in the plains until he decided to part ways in 2010. However, after taking over the regional leadership responsibilities, Barla had been moderate in his approach to GJM's movement.
Barla, a former president of the Terai-Dooars regional unit of the ABAVP, was expelled from the tribal body last December. The ABAVP's central committee leaders had apparently found Barla and some others guilty of disobeying the tribal body's constitution when he decided to join hands with the GJM for GTA and also proposed a Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA). The GJM, too, is reportedly not happy with the progress made by the survey committee. "We will wait till March and after that, think afresh. This unnecessary delay cannot be tolerated," said a party source.
The GJM central committee leadership is expected to make an announcement in Darjeeling on Tuesday to reflect its displeasure over the delay of the formation of GTA. Barla said he would start an awareness campaign from February to educate the people of Dooars and Terai about the benefits of GTA. "We have already started work at the grassroots level in the Terai and Dooars to educate people about the GTA and the GATA and their benefits. I am positive that people will understand and accept it," he added. Rubbishing the government's explanation of the delay in completing the survey by citing shortage of manpower, Barla claimed: "This survey is simply eyewash. The government did not expect the tribal community to support the inclusion of their territories in the GTA. It has taken the government by surprise."
The former tribal leader does not believe that working together with GJM would create divisions in the ABAVP's ranks, but feels that it would benefit the Adivasis instead. "It is there for everyone to see. What did we achieve in the four years of fighting with the GJM? Development in Terai and Dooars is zero. But working together will definitely benefit both the Adivasis and the Gorkhas," Barla claimed. He cited the example of the victory of the GJM-ABAVP combine in the recent student elections in Dooars.
Amid all this, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parshad leadership is apparently planning to bring back into the party fold its former Terai-Dooars unit secretary Rajesh Lakra, who had stepped out in 2010 to float his own organization. But Barla does not see it is as a crisis for himself. "I am working for the people and will continue to do so. There will always be obstacles before those who want to do good work, but I am positive people will support me," he said. Under Lakra's leadership the ABAVP had given stiff resistance to GJM's movement in the plains until he decided to part ways in 2010. However, after taking over the regional leadership responsibilities, Barla had been moderate in his approach to GJM's movement.
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