Doubts Linger Over Central Government’s Move to Appoint Retired IPS Officer as Darjeeling Interlocutor: Locals Question Permanent Political Solution

Rajesh Sharma, KalimNews, Jaigaon, October 26, 2025 :  The Indian government's recent appointment of retired IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as an interlocutor for resolving the long-standing political issues in Darjeeling has reignited heated debates among the local residents. While Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has praised the decision as a “historic victory for the people,” many hill residents remain skeptical, questioning whether this will be another short-lived political gesture or a genuine step toward a permanent solution.

For years, the people of Darjeeling have sought a resolution to their political identity crisis, and while the appointment of interlocutors has been a repeated tactic by the central government, it has often led to short-term fixes rather than a lasting solution. Past attempts have seen the creation of two hill councils—the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988 and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2011—both of which have been criticized for offering limited autonomy without addressing the core political demands of the Gorkha community.

Historical context plays a significant role in the current discontent. The Darjeeling region, originally part of Sikkim, was leased to the British in 1835 before being merged into West Bengal in 1947. Despite this administrative integration, the region's cultural and linguistic identity has remained distinct, contributing to a continuing sense of alienation. This identity crisis, particularly among the Gorkha community, has been further fueled by the community’s long-standing demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The Gorkhas’ contributions to India’s national defense have only strengthened their claim for a political entity that recognizes their identity and dignity.

The formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988, after violent protests led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and their leader Subash Ghisingh, was seen by many as a compromise, offering limited powers without resolving the region’s underlying political issues. Similarly, after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), led by Bimal Gurung, launched another phase of agitation for Gorkhaland, Lieutenant General Vijay Madan (retd) was appointed as an interlocutor, leading to the creation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). However, neither of these councils has been able to bring about the political solution that the people of Darjeeling demand.

Many in the region view the appointment of Pankaj Kumar Singh with caution, fearing that it could be another political move aimed at stalling the issue rather than addressing it head-on. Locals have raised concerns that past interlocutors have only served to delay, rather than resolve, the issue, with none of the previous agreements resulting in the creation of a separate state for the Gorkhas, as they continue to battle for autonomy and recognition.

The issue is more than just about governance or administrative changes; it is about the core issues of identity, dignity, and the existence of the Gorkha community in the larger context of India. The establishment of autonomous hill councils has been seen by many as half-measures—temporary fixes that fail to address the deeper political aspirations of the people of Darjeeling.

According to many locals, real peace in Darjeeling can only be achieved when both the Delhi and Kolkata governments demonstrate genuine political will and courage to resolve the issue of Gorkhaland. Until then, the region’s political struggles, which have spanned decades, will continue to persist.

In light of these concerns, the appointment of Singh as an interlocutor is seen by many as another stopgap measure in a decades-long political struggle that has yet to see resolution. Only time will tell if this new initiative will break the cycle of failed attempts and lead to a lasting peace for the people of Darjeeling.