West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing deep displeasure over the appointment of an interlocutor by the Central Government on the issues of Gorkha community in Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai region. Mamata has demanded cancellation of this ‘unilateral’ decision and termed it as a step taken without consultation with the state government, against the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Bengal CM in letter to PM Modi Mamata Banerjee Said, ‘I am shocked by the unilateral appointment of a negotiator by the Government of India on issues related to the Gorkhas in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars regions.’ The Center has appointed former IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as interlocutor and government representative to discuss Gorkha issues, which comes just ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections.
Consultation with state government mandatory
Mamata reminded in her letter that Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was formed on July 18, 2011 by a tripartite agreement between the Central, State Government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). GTA is an autonomous body under the state government, which is responsible for the socio-economic, cultural development of the area. He stressed, ‘Consultation with the state government is mandatory in any decision related to the Gorkha community or the GTA area. Since 2011, there has been peace in the hill districts due to the continuous efforts of our government.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned that without the consent of the state, no decision would be in the interest of harmony and peace of the region. He requested the PM to reconsider the decision and cancel the appointment of the negotiator. Adding a handwritten message of ‘Happy Diwali’ at the end of the letter, he appealed for cooperation from the Central Government. This controversy is politically sensitive in the context of Bengal elections, where Darjeeling The 7 assembly seats in the Lok Sabha always remain at the center of discussion.
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