"We are not accepting the report of Justice Shyamal Sen Committee. This is insulting and biased. We will take recourse to agitation," GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said.
When pointed out that during the March 23 agreement this year signed between West Bengal government and GJM to accept the recommendations of Justice Sen Committee, Giri said "we expected more than 150 mouzas would be included."
Asked if GJM would participate in the elections to GTA if it was held in July as the state government was planning, he said "we have not decided that yet. Our party will sit and decide the future course of action".
GJM central committee member Harkabadur Chetri said the Central Committee and the study forum would meet tomorrow at which party president Bimal Gurung would be present to take a stand.
"The recommendations of the Shyamal Sen committee is lower than our expectations. The phone calls we are receiving speak of disappointment over the recommendations. They feel it to be insulting," he said.
A tribal body, Adivasi Vikash Parishad, which was opposed to inclusion of additional areas from the Terai and Dooars in GTA, however, welcomed the recommendations.
Birsa Tirkey, president of ABVP which along with other groups in the plain areas of North Bengal had organised anti-GTA bandh in Dooars and Terai in April this year, said "we welcome the recommendations."
He said the five mouzas in the plains had been recommended for inclusion in the GTA as the Gorkhas numbered eight to ten per cent though they claimed that their numbers were over 50 per cent in the Terai and Dooars.
He also pointed out that GJM had told Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the people that they would accept whatever the recommendations committee were.
CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacherjee, a former minister, said "we want peace in Darjeeling. If peace comes by implementing the report, it is good."
He said his party would discuss the recommendations before taking a stand.
