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The appointment of an interlocutor by the Union government to address long-standing Gorkha grievances has ignited fresh political discourse across the Darjeeling Hills, with local leaders divided over the central government’s intentions.
Former Border Security Force Director General and Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Kumar Singh has been designated to examine the political and administrative demands that have remained unresolved for decades. Sources indicate Singh may visit the region by mid-November, though official confirmation is pending.
The announcement has drawn criticism from Anit Thapa, Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Mocha (BGPM). During a constituency meeting in Sonada-Pachang, Thapa dismissed the move as “mere emotional propaganda” designed to court voters ahead of upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.
“If they truly wanted to solve the problem, they could have done it long ago. This is nothing but another ploy to influence voters,” Thapa said, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of opportunistically raising Gorkha issues only during election seasons.
The Gorkha region has witnessed periodic unrest since the 1980s, with demands ranging from greater autonomy to statehood. The GTA, established in 2012, was meant to provide semi-autonomous governance to the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, but many locals view it as insufficient to address their cultural and political aspirations.
Meanwhile, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which has historically championed the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, is taking a more collaborative approach. The party has called for an all-party meeting on November 9 at the GDNS Conference Hall in Darjeeling to forge consensus before the interlocutor’s visit.
GJM youth leader Noman Rai announced that invitations have been extended to twelve political organizations, including major players such as the BJP, Trinamool Congress, BGPM and the Indian Gorkha Joint Front. “We must not go divided when the interlocutor arrives. This is an opportunity to put forth a collective and consistent stand before the government,” Rai emphasized.
Both Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla have been invited to participate in the discussions, underscoring the significance of the meeting in shaping the region’s political future.
When questioned about the GJM’s current position on statehood—particularly whether it still demands a separate Gorkhaland or supports the proposed “Gorkhaland Territorial Region”—Rai provided context to the evolving stance. He revealed that during a September meeting between GJM president Bimal Gurung and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the latter proposed a high-autonomy model similar to the Bodoland Territorial Region, tentatively called the ‘Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.’
“The GJM was born with the objective of creating Gorkhaland,” Rai clarified. “We could have kept this [discussion with Shah] confidential, but we decided to make it public for the sake of transparency.”
Rai indicated that the GJM’s final position would depend on broader political consensus. “If every political party in the Hills agrees to push for a separate state, the GJM will fully support that stand,” he stated.
The appointment of an interlocutor comes at a sensitive time in the region’s politics, with the BJP-led central government facing criticism for not fulfilling previous promises to the Gorkha community despite representing the Darjeeling constituency in Parliament since 2009. For residents of the Hills, the effectiveness of this latest initiative will likely be measured not by political declarations but by concrete progress toward addressing their aspirations for identity and governance.
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4 Comments
The Gorkha region has seen longstanding political tensions, so I can understand Thapa’s skepticism. Appointing an interlocutor is a potential olive branch, but the timing is certainly suspicious given the upcoming elections. Curious to see if this leads to any meaningful progress.
Interesting move by the government, though Thapa’s skepticism is understandable given the long-standing Gorkha issues. Appointing an interlocutor could be a positive step, but the timing raises questions about potential political motivations.
It’s an interesting development, though the political dynamics at play make it difficult to assess the government’s true intentions. Thapa’s dismissal of the move as ’emotional propaganda’ highlights the deep-rooted trust issues in the region.
Thapa makes a fair point – if the government was truly committed to resolving Gorkha grievances, why has it taken so long? This appointment does have the feel of an election-time tactic. However, an open dialogue could still yield positive results if approached in good faith.