GJM on the backfoot

EOI, Editorial, 8 August 2013: The leadership of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has dismounted from the high horse it was riding. The leaders had the temerity to say that they would no longer talk to the State Government and hold direct talks with the Centre to realize their demand for a separate Gorkhaland. They knew that their position was constitutionally untenable but they were keeping up the pretence. But now, sections of the Gorkha population seem to have been disenchanted with the type of disruptive ‘movement’ the GJM is conducting as it again threatens to disrupt the  economic life of the Darjeeling district which had been returning to normality with the tourist traffic picking up. Resorting again and again to the type of movement the Darjeeling Gorkhas have witnessed since the days of Subhas Ghising is yielding diminishing returns.

The State Government has taken a firm stand against disrupting social life and creating lawlessness. The Central leaders may have met and talked to the GJM leaders but given them no assurance on Gorkhaland. There are indications that some GJM leaders are having second thoughts about the wisdom of quitting the GTA in a huff.  It has failed to produce any effect on the State Government as the Chief Minister promptly accepted their resignations. Even the State BJP has spoken against granting Gorkhaland. The State leadership of the party has dismissed Jaswant Sinha’s support to the GJM as his ‘personal opinion’.

What is needed now is for the GJM leadership to return to the discussion table and talk to the State Government. Bimal Gurung’s main problem is that beyond the periphery of party faithfuls, his charisma with the general Gorkha people is on the wane. The TMC has apparently won over some Gorkhas to its fold though their number may not be very high. The road blockade put up before the Home Secretary’s car did not serve any purpose: he walked all the way to the District Magistrate’s office to demonstrate the State Government’s resolve to meet the challenge fully.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been sympathetic to the urges of the Darjeeling people and their urge for stepping up the tempo of development. It is precisely with this end in view that the Gorkha Hill Council was replaced by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration with greater powers. Instead of giving it a full trial over a period of time and assessing its performance, reviving the demand for separate Gorkhaland simply because a separate Telangana has been granted speaks of the immaturity and lack of foresight of the GJM leadership. This will not help them.