BJP and Allies Discuss Appointment of Interlocutor for Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars Issues

KalimNews, November 7, 2025 :  In a crucial meeting held in Siliguri on Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partners discussed the political developments in the region following the appointment of an Interlocutor by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address long-standing political and administrative issues in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars. Senior party leaders, elected representatives, and alliance partners from across North Bengal participated in the meeting, which centered on the implications of the Interlocutor’s appointment and the future course of dialogue aimed at resolving decades-old concerns.

The meeting was chaired by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who welcomed the Union Government’s initiative and described it as a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to engaging in dialogue and resolving issues in the region. The participants expressed their support for the appointment of an Interlocutor, acknowledging that the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars have distinct geographical, historical, and socio-cultural contexts that require sensitive and inclusive policy approaches. They saw the appointment of the Interlocutor as a positive step towards achieving a constitutional solution that safeguards the identity and aspirations of the people in these areas.

MP Raju Bista emphasized that the government’s move is a constructive effort to address the region's challenges and reiterated the alliance's collective resolve to work with the Central Government to ensure peace and stability in all political engagements. "All alliance partners have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate fully with the Central Government. We are committed to ensuring that peace and stability remain the guiding principles of all political engagement," said Bista, who chaired the meeting.

The meeting also agreed that an all-party meeting and regular consultations will be held to effectively convey the region's aspirations to the appointed Interlocutor and concerned authorities. Bista further appealed for wider cooperation, urging all stakeholders, including the people of the Hills, Terai, and Dooars, as well as the West Bengal Government, to extend their support to the constructive initiative. "We unanimously urge all stakeholders to support this initiative, which we believe will bring lasting peace and development to the region," Bista added.

Meanwhile, the Gorkha Youth Activist Network (GYAN) submitted a formal representation to the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Home Affairs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, raising concerns about the appointment of Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd.), as the Interlocutor for Gorkha issues. GYAN has sought clarification on several points, including the absence of an official Gazette notification regarding the appointment, the terms of reference, and details of the Interlocutor’s mandate.

Raju Bista, in his address, mentioned that the concerns raised by GYAN would be carefully reviewed. “While we welcome the appointment of the Interlocutor, we also understand the importance of ensuring transparency and clarity in the process. We will work with all concerned authorities to ensure that the appointment process is fully transparent,” Bista said.

The meeting saw the presence of several prominent figures from the region, including Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimbha, Kalchini MLA Bishal Lama, CPRM leader J.B. Rai, GJM leader Roshan Giri, GNLF leader Man Ghising, GRNM leader Dawa Pakhrin, SMM leader Bikash Rai, and BJP leaders Dr. Kalyan Dewan and Sanjeev Lama, among others.

In closing, Bista reiterated the call for collective efforts in addressing the region's challenges. “We appeal to all stakeholders, including the people of Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars, and the West Bengal Government, to support this initiative. Our collective goal is to create a peaceful and prosperous future for the region,” he said.