Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday expressed confidence that the newly-formed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would take the development agenda ahead in Darjeeling hills.

“You (members of the GTA) have a big responsibility now. We have given you Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. It is your responsibility to administer it properly. You have to look after the roads, tourism and also work for the most backward people in the region,” Shinde said at the swearing-in ceremony of the GTA.

The swearing in of the GTA marked the culmination of a tripartite agreement between the Centre, State and Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in July 2011 to have an autonomous hill council. The move was aimed at pacifying the GJM’s demand for the separate State of “Gorkhaland” based on ethnicity.

Shinde assured that funds would not be a constraint for the GTA.

Officer Bearers

GJM President Bimal Gurung was elected as the first Chief Executive of GTA.

Addressing the gathering, he said that the region had suffered from years of neglect. According to him, development of the region was the joint responsibility of the State Government and the Centre.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that her wish of resolving the crisis in the hills has been fulfilled. She maintained that the State was ready to help the fledgling GTA to usher in development in the region.

“Whatever you want, demand it, but don’t fight with us (Bengal government),” she said in a note of caution to the GJM leadership which, in the past, was engaged in aggressive movements against the State Government.

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