The West Bengal Government will set up a three-member “fact verification committee” to look into recommendations of the high power committee.
The high power committee headed by Justice (retd) Mr Shyamal Sen was set up to look into the demand for inclusion of 398 mouzas under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration's (GTA) ambit by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
GJM is the dominant political outfit in the hills demanding a separate statehood based on ethnicity.
The report, rejected by the GJM, has recommended inclusion of 5 mouzas – three from Darjeeling and two from Dooars – into the autonomous body (GTA).
“The GJM has rejected the Sen committee report. It has been decided to set up a three-member Fact Certification Committee to look into the report,” GJM General Secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, told reporters today after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee.
According to Mr Giri, the committee report was “biased, one-sided and humiliating.”
Asked if the Morcha would resort to fresh agitation in the Darjeeling hills, he said, “We have not yet decided on it. We will report back to our President Bimal Gurung.”
On election to the GTA, he said: “We did not come to discuss this issue. We came to register our protest against Sen Committee report. We urged the State Government to reject the Sen Committee report.”
Later a press note issued by the state home department stating that the “fact verification committee” would be headed by the Secretary of the department of North Bengal development.
“It would look into any representation that may be submitted by any person, association or group on the factual aspects of the report of the high power committee,” it stated.
It also said that the election schedule to the GTA will be notified “immediately”.