Government’s action in the hills, a step towards failure to reach a solution

Vivek Ghatani, KalimNews, Siliguri, 10 August 2013: The Bengal government ruled by a first time chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been putting all efforts to put a check on the increasing voices for Gorkhaland with acts and move that could well spiral the movement for separate state led by Bimal Gurung the chief of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) with adverse effects. 

With the government taking cue by arresting top Gorkha leaders, the Gorkhaland personals and the latest one barring information and broadcasting has only left the hill people to believe and be confirmed that the Bengal government has shown a step mother attitude to them whether it be the left front government or the TMC. The hill people have been complaining of the step motherly attitude of the Bengal government since decades here. 

A number of residents Saturday expressed that the step taken by the administration barring the cable TV network in the hills is a way to suppress democracy. The governments move and acts is ultimately back firing them as the shut down of TV networks would only rapidly build a negative thought on Mamata Banerjee government. “No Television means people would be frustrated and come to the streets supporting Gorkhaland,” feels a resident in Darjeeling. 

Majority of the general people have been sitting indoors glued their eyes to the television watching developments on the agitation. Observers said it is true that almost every single individual of the hills wants Gorkhaland. “It is a different point that only few take to the streets when it comes to agitate for Gorkhaland. But now that the cable TV network has been shutdown people are really angry as they feel the government is acting in an undemocratic way. People would have no option now but to hit the streets which means more problems for the government,” said an observer. 

Sources in the hills said that the agitation this time is going in the right path. The government is hell bent to curb the agitation by using unnatural means which sources in the hill feels would only evoke violence while voices for Gorkhaland would be stronger. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) at the moment has no problems even as the government has been picking its activists in all the three hill subdivision under cases that occurred during the 44 months agitation before the GJM settled with the Gorkhaland agitation. 

With no sign of indefinite bandh to be withdrawn as of now and the government also looking to act more harshly at the moment things look grim in the hills that impasse would be solved at the earliest.