Gorkhaland back in hill politics ahead of Shah’s visit

Darjeeling: The Gorkhaland issue is back in hill politics ahead of Union home minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Siliguri on Jan 31, coinciding with the maiden tour of the Centre-appointed interlocutor for the Darjeeling hills, Terai and the Dooars.Shah's visit has been planned with the aim to energise party workers and strengthen booth-level preparedness. Party sources said the minister would address a workers' conference in Bagdogra.
As the BJP attempts to consolidate its electoral pitch through high-profile visits and administrative moves, hill leaders appear unwilling to settle for symbolism, demanding instead a clear political commitment to the Gorkhaland cause and its inclusion in the BJP manifesto for the upcoming Bengal assembly polls.The Narendra Modi-led govt has appointed former deputy national security adviser Pankaj Kumar Singh as the official interlocutor to facilitate talks on a "political and permanent solution" to the hill issues, a move announced by Shah himself. Singh is currently touring the hills.Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), an ally of Trinamool Congress and a dominant political force in the hills, threw a challenge at Bengal BJP and the party's Darjeeling MP, Raju Bista, demanding an unequivocal support for Gorkhaland in the party's manifesto.BGPM president and chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Anit Thapa, assailed "interlocutor politics", which he said had been timed for electoral gain rather than genuine resolution to the issue. "I heard Raju Bista asking me to meet the interlocutor. What will help us achieve Gorkhaland? Meeting the interlocutor or raising the issue in Parliament?" Thapa said."Still, I accept his request, but first, BJP's manifesto must declare that Gorkhaland will be created by dividing Bengal. After that, wherever he asks me to go, I will go."Thapa said an interlocutor had been appointed for the hills in 2009, but nothing came of it. "No one asks what that interlocutor achieved. People are politically aware now. Whenever there is unrest in the hills, an interlocutor appears. But today there is peace. On the eve of elections, I see no reason for an interlocutor to come," he said.Questioning the Centre's seriousness on the issue, Thapa said, "The people of the hills sent Bista to Parliament to raise the issue of Gorkhaland. Is the interlocutor bigger than an elected MP? Did the Centre not listen to him all these years?"Speaking to TOI, MP Bista said, "Perhaps Anit daju is not aware that BJP had included ‘Permanent Solution for Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars' in the manifestos of the 2019 general elections and the 2021 Bengal assembly polls. BJP has a proven track-record of fulfilling the vision outlined in its manifesto. An interlocutor has been appointed to fulfil the commitment made in the manifesto."Bista said that in his Republic Day speech, he had publicly requested Thapa to meet the interlocutor and share his views with him. Let the people know what he thinks of our collective aspirations. Is he afraid of Kolkata? Is he afraid of Mamata Banerjee? Why is he refusing to meet the interlocutor? Whose interest is served when he doesn't engage with the central govt representative? He appears to be rattled, may be because he knows that he will remain GTA chief as long as TMC is in office in Kolkata."Adding to the confrontation, Thapa's party colleague Vijay Kumar Rai alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls was being used to marginalise the Gorkha population. "Even respected citizens such as Amar Singh Rai, former MLA and ex-chairman of Darjeeling Municipality, are being summoned to SIR hearings. My family members, too, have been called for SIR hearings," he said.