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India-Pakistan

India grants autonomy for 3 eastern hilly districts

2011-07-19

(KUNA) -- A historic tripartite pact was signed Monday among the Government of India, Government of eastern most state of West Bengal, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), granting autonomy for the three hilly districts - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

The signing of the agreement is seen as a major step towards resolving the issue of creation of Gorkhaland as a separate state, a demand made by the GJM for past many years. The area comprising of the three districts - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong - lies in the hilly terrains West Bengal known mainly for tea gardens. The agreement will create an elected autonomous body - the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) - to administer the three hilly districts.

The signing ceremony was held at the foothills of Darjeeling in the presence of the country's Home Minister P. Chidambaram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and GJM chief Bimal Gurung.

Chidambaram and Mamata Banerjee promised full backing of the Centre and West Bengal Government to the GTA, which will, henceforth, have 45 elected and five nominated members to carry out the administration work. It will get a special financial package from the Centre over three years for the overall development of the region.

The GTA will have full control over tourism, agriculture and public health. It can also appoint lower-grade employees. Besides, it will have full control over the school and college teachers' appointments.

Meanwhile,
...back at the mall, Clarissa spent the day shopping for new underwear. Tonight was going to be a special occasion...
a 48-hour shutdown was observed by some groups opposed to the agreement. They alleged that the agreement was an attempt to die down the demand for a separate state Gorkhaland. As a result of the shutdown, both private and government vehicles kept off the roads and market places wore a deserted look in districts like Siliguri and Jalpaiguri.

Posted by:Fred

#6 When I was in India I heard more than once a about how Kashimr was the high ground and was needed defensively. At the ranges of modern combat I never really bought that angle. Perhaps there is high ground in Kashmir that makes parts of the province more valuable than others defensively but its too far from India to make a difference.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2011-07-19 23:28

#5 A friend of mine married a girl from Kashmir. The most beautiful place in the world for a honeymoon, he said.

And thank you, john. You are always full of information.

Given that the K in Pakistan stands for Kashmir, I don't see that they could ever give up their claim. They got the first half when the locals on the other side of the border came charging through upon independence, back when the country was still sane. The mighty Pakistani army followed them in, they didn't lead the way.

Posted by: trailing wife 2011-07-19 22:43

#4 For example, no law passed by the Indian parliament applies in Jammu and Kashmir unless it is also passed by the state legislature.
J+K has representation in the Indian Federal parliament but that parliament may not levy taxes in J+K.
No non-Kashmiri Indian citizen may own land in Jammu and Kashmir.

Posted by: john frum 2011-07-19 19:01

#3 Jammu and Kashmir state is far more autonomous than this newly created Gurkha district.

Posted by: john frum 2011-07-19 18:57

#2 Does anybody actually give a shit about Kashmir except Pakistan, aside from how Indian possession of most of Kashmir cheeses off the Pakistanis? The only reason anyone else has an interest in the region is the potential for war in the Pakistani grudge. The Pakistanis hate that they don't own Kashmir themselves, letting the Kashmiris run themselves in an autonomous administrative entity won't make the Pakistanis *happy*. And really, the transnational progressives are kind of distracted by other issues (read "Palestine").

Posted by: Mitch H. 2011-07-19 13:47

#1 If it works peacefully it might act as a roadmap for Kashmir. If India could get Kashmir to become independent without losing face in the process and without it going to Pakistan they might get International support and cut off a major source of tension in the region.

Heck, for that matter they could do the same with Punjab and watch the Pakistani's fight desperately to keep their section of Punjab from leaving Pakistan and joining the new state.

Pakistan would unravel not long afterwards.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2011-07-19 10:31

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