GJM for amendments in draft Bill

Giri said: “We have to fight for the administrative and financial powers,which were omitted in the draft Bill. Moreover,the word “sabha” has repetitively come up in the draft in place of the administrative body.”

There are several changes made on the formation of the executive body. Moreover,in the agreement it was mentioned that before passing any by-laws,the quorum has to be constituted of 17 members,which is one third of the 50-member administrative body. However,in the draft it has been mentioned that the quorum has to be formed with 26 members. The power of the autonomy and the self governance has also been curtailed and the draft does not mention for the security of the ethnic identity,added the source.

“We have discussed the objectionable points that are mentioned in the draft of the Bill. We today met our advocate to draft an amendment to the Bill. We have spoken to Chatterjee and Ghosh. And they have given a green signal to us to draft the amendments to be incorported in the bill,” said a senior leader of the GJM,who was present in the meeting between the state government and the GJM leadership.

The leader added that 50 per cent of the clauses which are there in the GTA agreement have been changed.

Harka Bahadur Chhtrei,GJM MLA,said: “The spirit of the memorandum is lost in the GTA draft bill. There are major omission of such clauses,which will not allow the autonomy to function in the area. If this Bill is passed in the Assembly,the autonomous body — GTA — will lose its existence. We have requested the government to consider an amendment to the Bill.”

“We are ready to compromise with the timeframe. If there is time constraint in regard to amend the bill,we can also wait for the next Assembly session since we are not in a hurry to pass the GTA bill with these clauses which can be detrimental for the existence of GTA,” added Chhetri.