The moment is opportune for BJP to deliver on its promise to people of Darjeeling hills

Editorial, EOI, 7 June 2024 : The indifferent result of the BJP in the LokSabha elections in West Bengal may be a boon in disguise for the people of the hill regions of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. 

This will make it easier for the next BJP-led government at the Centre to fulfil its promise of arranging a permanent solution of the political problems of these hills. 

The BJP has been making this promise since the Lok Sabha election in 2009when it won for the first time the Darjeeling seat; but it still remains unfulfilled.

It is not a surprise that the Gorkha National Liberation Front has made it clear that the BJP must deliver on its promise before the 2026 assembly election in West Bengal or face the possibility of losing its support. 

“I have said earlier that this will be our last support for the BJP. If they betray us again, the result will not be good for the BJP next time,” GNLF President Mann Ghisingh has said. "The BJP has to seriously work from day one to deliver on its commitment made to the Gorkhas. Promises have been made and now it's time to deliver.

Only promises will weaken the faith and trust of the hill people."

The central leadership of the BJP had obviously been dragging its feet on the issue of a permanent political solution in the hills with the hope that in the coming days it would form the government in West Bengal. 

Any political solution in the hills that will give more autonomy to Darjeeling --- be it a separate state or bringing the hill council under the sixth schedule of the Constitution --- will not be liked in the plains areas of the state and make it difficult for the BJP to come to power in West Bengal. 

Now with the setback of the BJP in West Bengal and the control of the party over the next government to be formed at the Centre considerably weakened, the possibility of any change in the political scenario in West Bengal in 2026 has become remote. 

There is no reason why the BJP-led government at the Centre should not deliver on its promise made to the people of the hills now. In fact, it is high time they should do so because Darjeeling has elected to the Lok Sabha BJP candidates four times in a row: 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. 

It will be an injustice to the people of the hills if the next Narendra Modi government continues to ignore the demand which has much justification. It will also be relatively easy for them to do so as West Bengal is going to be poorly represented in the next government and there will be no pressure group within the government to prevent it from happening. 

While taking a decision on the the issue of permanent political solution, the Centre will of course have to take into account the broader national perspective; especially in view of the fact that the hill regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are close to the disputed borders with China and the Nepal border across which movement of people is free in view of an agreement between India and Nepal. 

These Gorkha-dominated hills harbour in their bosom other communities too, living since time immemorial. The solution that may be worked out should not leave them dissatisfied either.