State will not pull out Central troops from Hills

SNS, Kolkata, 29 November 2013: Notwithstanding the 21 November "cordial" tripartite meet involving the Centre and the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), the state government has decided not to pull out Central force from Darjeeling till at least the end of December.

The state has also decided not to push for election of a new Chief Executive for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) ~ a post that has been lying vacant ever since GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung resigned on 30 July.

Around 15 companies of Central troops were deployed in the Hills from July-end when the GJMM renewed its agitation for a separate state. Of these, four companies were later withdrawn in September. At present, there are 11 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) posted in the Hills with the Centre approving their stay till 30 November.

But according to a senior official in the state Home Department, despite the current lull in violence in the Hills, the state government is not in favour of withdrawing the Central troops immediately. "We want the Central forces to remain in Darjeeling, at least till December-end and the matter has been taken up with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.

The state administration is particularly wary that the tabling of the Telangana Bill in Parliament, which is now expected to happen on 4 December, may once again stoke up the statehood sentiment in the Hills. "The situation in Darjeeling has come under control after several months and hence we do not want to take a chance by withdrawing the Central troops and again rush them back in the event of any untoward incident," the officer added.

The government has also left the matter of electing a new Chief Executive for GTA in GJMM's court and has decided not to make any push on this. "GTA is now functioning normally as the GTA Sabha has delegated the powers of the Chief Executive to his deputy and hence, we do not have any concerns over electing a new chief for the Hills body. We will act only if there is a request in this regard from the GJMM; but the government will not accept anyone for the post who is behind the bars."

Although the GTA Act stipulates that a new GTA Chief Executive will have to be elected within a month of resignation by an incumbent, there is a "Removal of Difficulty" clause in the Act using which the government can extend the timeframe.