`Broader Front' in the makingto tackle Mr Gurung- Hill situation is now precarious, following political developments

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, 17 DEC 2020 SILIGURI: In a significant political development after fugitive Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung joined hands with Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee once again, a team of leaders from different parties in the Hills today met Union Minister of State for 11 Home department, G Kishan Reddy, in Delhi and discussed issues pertaining to this region.

While the Centre told the team that it was still working on the promises the BJP had made to the Hills, observers said that the meeting holds significance at a time when the political landscape in the region is fast changing.

According to them, the BJP might be trying to form a "broader Front" to tackle Mr Gurung.

Interestingly, BJP's national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is also the party's observer for West Bengal, led the delegation comprising Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) president, Mann Ghishing, former Darjeeling RB Rai, who is the president of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), senior leader of the All India Gorkha League Pratap Khati, Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Manch (GRNM) leader Dawa Pakhrin, Sumeti Mukti Morcha leader Bikash Rai, Darjeeling organizational district BJP president Kalyan Kumar Dewan, Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba, GNLF general secretary Mahendra Chhetri, and CPRM leader Kishore Pradhan.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who is mainly dealing with matters related to the Hills, today said the delegation of BJP alliance partners from Darjeeling region, accompanied by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya met Union Minister of State for Home C Kishan Reddy and senior Ministry Officials to discuss various issues concerning Darjeeling Hills, the Terai and the Dooars.

"The delegation apprised the Honourahle Minister of the situation prevalent in our region," Mr Bista, who is also the BJP national spokesperson, said.

According to a political observer, who is a retired official, he would not be surprised if the BJP gradually unites the entire political forces in the Hills against the Morcha led by Bimal Gurung. "However, the Hill situation is now precarious, following political developments there and the division between the Bimal Gurung faction and Binoy Tamang faction in the Hills," he said.

"As a political party, the BJP is more powerful than the TMC. Now the question is how Mamata Banerjee will tackle the situation and maintain peace in the Hills, as Bimal Gurung has decided to work for the Trinamul Congress in the Assembly elections that are due for next year," the retired officer said.

Sources said Mr Gurung is set to address a public rally in Darjeeling on 20 December, while on the other hand, his party general secretary Roshan Giri today rushed to Kolkata to look into the several court cases pending against the Morcha leaders since the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation, which, sources say, the state government has decided to withdraw.

Further, the sources said that the Trinamul Congress's political strategists have planned to engage religious leaders associated with Christian and Buddhist organizations to work against the BJP in the region. On the other hand, reliable sources said that an "Ultra left wing" has started working in the Hills recently.

Meanwhile, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said about today's meeting in Delhi: "Detailed discussions were held for over one-and-a-half-hours on the two main issues concerning our region in detail. Firstly, granting of Schedule Tribe status to the 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes. Secondly, Permanent Political Solution for the long pending demand of the people."

"The Minister of state for Union Home department informed the delegation that the central government is diligently working towards fulfilling both the commitments, and appraised the delegation about the progresses that have been made so far with regards to these two issues," Mr Bista said.

According to the Darjeeling MP, Minister Reddy stated that the process for inclusion of the 11 Gorkha communities in the Scheduled Tribe list has already been undertaken, and that the Union Home Ministry is in communication with the Registrar General of India (RGI) regarding the request to expedite the process.

"Regarding the Permanent Political Solution, the Union minister informed the delegation that the government is aware of the significance of the need for peace, stability and economic progress in the 'Chicken Neck' region, and is actively working towards finding a Permanent Political Solution," Mr Bista said, adding, "The minister informed the delegation of the steps taken so far in this regard and has stated that the process is a top priority for the government."

On the other hand, AIGL leader Pratap Khati said today's meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. "Leaders discussed the issues in bold detail. Another meeting on the two agenda will be held very soon," Mr Khati said.