[dropcap]G[/dropcap]ranting statehood to the much agitated for Telengana, has in a sense stirred up a hornets’ nest in that several areas across the country have voiced their desire for a State of their own. While many areas are rather peaceful including support from certain political quarters, the Darjeeling Hills have decided to take the bull by the horns. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee has issued an ultimatum of 72-hours to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to withdraw its indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling Hills. Failing this, the State government would be compelled to take “strong action.”Every demand for statehood has its own merit but some have demerits also. The case of Darjeeling, however, is several decades old. When the movement began under leadership of Subhash Ghising in the early 1980s, it had fired up Gorkha sentiments and ambitions/desire for a State of their own. Among the most pressing reasons were that the government in Kolkata tended to regard Darjeeling Hills as a very good source of revenue through tourism as also the various brands of tea that are exclusive to the area, but which would come under the overall purview of the State government. Hence the concept of Gorkhaland had become somewhat of a continuing nuisance, or anathema, to Kolkata.
Since the agitation continued in fits and starts not least being hampered by dissension within the Gorkha community leadership, the West Bengal eventually gave its assent to creation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)—an autonomous and elected Hill Development Council much before the advent of Didi Mamata. in hopes of appeasing the simmering discontent of the Hills people.
The fiery Chief Minister’s claim, and justification, is that because of the shutdown, everything from education to economy, is suffering just because the shutdown has been politically motivated. She even went to the extent of warning some Central politicians not to indulge in the divide and rule policy, and asking Central agencies not to interfere in the West Bengal’s internal affairs. While she has proclaimed that she is all for democratic agitation, the GTA shutdown in Darjeeling Hills has disrupted life since the past week which she described as disruptive method. She has been very clear that the demand for Statehood as “unreasonable.”
The GJM, on the other hand, in a counter-strike has demanded that Mamata Bannerjee take back her 72-hour ultimatum on withdrawal of the shutdown. Mamata Didi has, however, expressed a spark of optimism in that with the resignation of GJM supremo, Bimal Gurung, as the chief executive of GTA, the “next man’ would be asked to take over as per the GTA agreement. Both the State government and the GJM seem to be heading for a head-on collision wherein the GJM has warned of imposing public curfew and even bloodshed if Mamata stuck to her ultimatum and even use the police. So, it’s a stalemate as of now unless some wiser counsel prevails forthwith.
Like in all political settlements, perhaps the West Bengal government should try and address the genuine grievances of the Gorkha community which have been bypassed, neglected or avoided for whatever reasons for so many years.
Advocates of Gorkhaland can also make their pitch more vigorously across the negotiating table face to face although they may justify their current method as being of the last and desperate resort. They must not go by the logic that just because the UPA government has created Telangana State, so also they must get their share of the loaves and fishes anyhow. Rather, their demand(s) must adhere to the original reasons that made the concept of emergence of a Gorkhaland imperative.
