Rajnath Singh lobs Gorkhaland ball back in Mamata Banerjee court

TNN, 14 August 2017, DARJEELING: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged leaders of the Gorkhaland movement to call off their 60-day stir but left it to the Mamata Banerjee-led government to initiate a dialogue, sources privy to the meeting said.

The Centre's reluctance to mediate a tripartite dialogue comes as a blow to the fledgling coalition of 13 pro-Gorkhaland parties, led by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), whose patience is now being tested by the inconclusive two-hour discussions at Singh's New Delhi home. The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) had till now chosen to ignore the state's dialogue overtures and instead pinned their hopes on Delhi.

Back in Darjeeling, the mood was sombre after residents realised there was no immediate end in sight to the indefinite bandh. Expectations had been running high as the GMCC members left for Delhi on Sunday morning. A handwritten poster was put up at Chowk Bazaar, proclaiming those attending the talks should only focus on Gorkhaland.

In a release, the home minister said: "Violence can never be a solution to any problem. In a democracy, solutions are always found through restraint, mutual dialogue and within the legal ambit. We all are aware of the strategic importance of the locality and the challenges that we face in the region, and I am kept informed of the developments on a regular basis by my colleague, Shri S S Ahluwalia, MP, Darjeeling.... Keeping in mind the national interest, as well as in the interest of our Gorkha brothers and sisters, who are brave and large-hearted people and have contributed immensely to nation building, I appeal to GJM and all other stakeholders to call off the hunger strike, and also to withdraw the bandh call, allowing normalcy to return to the area. It is a move that will help create an atmosphere for finding a solution to the current crisis."

The home minister also appealed to the state government to start a dialogue. "I also appeal to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to initiate dialogue with the GJM and other stakeholders of Darjeeling, who are on a strike for the last 60 days. In the meantime, the state government should restore all civil supplies and also restore internet services, cable TV and local channels. I also appeal to the people of Darjeeling to display sensitivity, and also keep in mind their civic responsibilities. No grievances and problems can be resolved without any dialogue."

GJM leader Swaraj Thapa, said Singh had told them that he was mindful of the sufferings of Darjeeling residents. "We urged him to start the process of creating a separate state. The state is suppressing our democratic movement," Thapa said. The GJM leader said Singh had asked them to end the agitation. "We will soon decide the future course of action," he said.

"We have insisted that the Centre should open a dialogue on the separate statehood issue. The process is long but we are also aware of the Bengal government's stand," said Kalyan Dewan, the GMCC convener.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, only five days ago, had said she was willing to sit for talks. But she had drawn the line at Bengal's division. "Darjeeling is an integral part of West Bengal. I will not allow Bengal's division and will not tolerate any intervention by external forces. But, having set these things aside, I am ready for any discussion on the matter. I am willing to discuss this with an open mind. The violence was stoked days before the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority votes. I wanted the elections to be held. I want to send a message of peace and harmony to my brothers and sisters in the Hills. They are our own, like we are to them," Banerjee had told the state assembly.

The meeting at Singh's residence was attended by Darjeeling MP S S Ahluwalia, apart from pro-Gorkhaland leaders like Gorkha National Liberation Front's N B Chhetri, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist's Arun Ghatani and Gorkhaland Rashtriya Nirman Morcha's Dawa Pakhrin. Curiously, two top GJM leaders — Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri (who has been camping in Delhi for sometime now) — did not attend the meeting.

(With PTI inputs from New Delhi)