The Darjeeling MP Raju Bista today raised the issue of Permanent Political Solution (PPS) and the demand for 3-tier Panchayat elections to be held in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the Parliament.
Bista, maintaining that the demand for the PPS was for Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, said that the area has suffered immense systematic deprivation under the succeeding Bengal Governments. He said that he informed the house that the governance system was non-existent today with there being no Panchayat system in place.
“Their region has been overrun by illegal immigrants, while the indigenous communities are becoming marginalized by the day which pose a grave threat to national security,” he said in a press statement adding that he has requested the Central Government for immediate intervention to ensure that the PPS is implemented urgently.
The press release further stated that the PPS should be derived from the Constitution of India, respecting the region and national security along with fulfilling the aspirations of the people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars.
Speaking about the 3-tier Panchayat elections demand the Darjeeling MP said, that he had informed the Parliament how the Bengal Government had kept the region deprived of the constitutionally guaranteed grassroots level governance system for the past 16 years, and has been running the hill regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts without conducting any Panchayat elections since 2006.
Bista alleged that despite not conducting Panchayat elections, the TMC led government was appropriating the Panchayat funds meant for the hill regions.
“It was only after the Central Govt finally stopped funding meant for Panchayats in the hills under the 14th and the 15th Finance Commission, that the WB Govt has now announced they will be conducting Panchayat elections in the region,” he said while maintaining that the state government was attempting to subvert democracy in the region by planning to conduct 2-tier elections which is unconstitutional.
“Therefore, I have requested the Rural Development Ministry to ensure conducting of 3-tier Panchayat Elections in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts, keeping people’s sentiments in mind,” he added.
