Narendra Modi’s message for the hills is loud and clear

Delhi has pondered over the political demands of the hills, and has something up its sleeves; but will not like to go into the details of it in a hurry

Editorial, EOI, 11 March 2024 : The message of the Prime Minister from the Kawakhali meeting ground is loud and clear. The priority of the Centre is the economic development of north Bengal, which includes the hill regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. 

Delhi has pondered over the political demands of the hills, and has something up its sleeves; but will not like to go into the details of it in a hurry. Whatever be the solution to the political problems of the hills, however, this will not be at the cost of disturbing the peace in the region.

Currently, the attention of the Centre is concentrated on developing the infrastructure in north Bengal and bringing it at par with other parts of the country. North Bengal is the gateway to the northeast and is also the conduit for trade with neighbouring countries. Therefore, the development of north Bengal has become the priority of Delhi. 

In the course of his short visit to Siliguri on Saturday, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the new terminal building of Bagdogra airport and inaugurated railway projects worth Rs 4,500 crore and national highway projects worth over Rs 3,000crore. The emphasis is thus on connectivity. A few projects for electrification of railway routes were announced by the Prime Minister. Trains should not run slow when they reach north Bengal and the north-east, he said. 

Since the days of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, the focus of the Centre has been on Look East Policy. The Narendra Modi government has upgraded this into the Act East Policy. The Prime Minister wants the north-eastern region to be the engine of growth for the Indian economy. A well-developed transport network is the first prerequisite for such a plan, roads, railways and air connectivity.

Since the Rohingya crisis and the subsequent military coup in Myanmar, however, the Act East Policy has suffered to an extent. But, Bangladesh has come to the help of India, with the S k Hasina government offering India facility of using the Chittagong and Mongla Ports. Routes which consignments from India can avail to reach these ports have also been laid down. 

North Bengal is an essential part of this conduit. Besides, north Bengalis also important for the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan as a corridor to reach the seaports in Bangladesh; and also for trade with Bangladesh. 

Landlocked as these two Himalayan countries are, they have no option but to trade through north Bengal and Bangladesh. Otherwise, they will have to look north to China. This will be against the national interests of India.

For such a model of development to proceed smoothly, there must be political stability in the plains of north Bengal and the adjoining hill areas. Delhi is unlikely, therefore, to encourage demands like a separate state of Kamtapur or a Greater Coochbehar. Delhi has options on the table to settle the political problems of the hills, besides a separate state of Gorkhaland. It will be more appropriate if the new government weighs the pros and cons of these options, instead of the outgoing government rushing through a decision. 

In any case, economic development of north Bengal and the north-east region will also have spin-offs for the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong which, as things stand, are no less necessary than a solution to the political problems.