In spite of all the police actions taken by the government led by Mamata Banerjee in the hills of West Bengal, the unrest in the region does not seem to settle down. The GJM parties backed by GNLF and a few other local bodies have been demonstrating protest in the hills for a few days now. The main demand of the protesters is, a separate state for the Gorkhas.
An agreement was signed between the government and the GJM in 2011, establishing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), which provided limited regional autonomy to the Gorkhas. However, this agreement could only maintain peace for a few years. The demand for a separate statehood again gained momentum in the hills a few days back.
There were two main reasons that triggered the protest. First being the announcement made by Mamata Banerjee to make Bengali a compulsory subject for all students till 10th. Mamata was tactfully trying to set up the Bengali dominance in the region following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the way he had promoted Gujarati asmita. Mamata wanted to instigate the idea of Bengali nationalism to counter her rival’s Hindutva-based politics. This was followed by a cabinet meeting in Darjeeling after a gap of 44 years. Imposing Bengali nationalism symbolically in the region has proved counter-productive because Bengali domination of hill people, comprising Nepali-speaking Gorkhas and other indigenous groups, is a long-standing grouse, alongside regional underdevelopment, is at the core of the almost century-old demand for a separate state.
The second reason behind the unrest is the impending elections of GTA. After the results of the recently held Municipal Elections in the region, it was the first time that any party from the plains was able to win seats in the hills. Local body polls were held in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik. Of these towns, Mirik with the least voters gave a majority to TMC when it won six of the nine seats. TMC also won three seats in Kurseong, two in Kalimpong and a lone seat in Darjeeling.
BJP remains an important player in the region by virtue of its nominee, union minister SS Ahluwalia, representing Darjeeling. Jaswant Singh was also elected from here to the fifteenth Lok Sabha, also with GJM support. However BJP has remained silent regarding the demand for a separate statehood. In its manifestos in 2009 and 2014, the BJP restricted itself to “sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas”. Significantly, in 2014 it initially dropped reference to the issue but forcefully included it when GJM chief Bimal Gurung expressed severe misgivings.
With the latest string of events in the hills BJP remains in an uncomfortable position as the party cannot antagonise Bengali sentiment by backing demand for Gorkhaland. However, on the issue of separate Gorkhaland, BJP became clear in recent days when its representative at a meeting with GJM and four other hill-based parties backed a resolution to launch a fresh agitation for Gorkhaland. The decision of its district representative left its national leaders with a lot to explain.
Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that the present boundaries are not open for redrawing. The government seems to be firm on this decision not agreeing to change at any cost, even ruling out BJP’s challenge. Formation of bodies like Lepcha Development Board, Sherpa Development Board, Gurung Development Board, Tamang Development Board provide indication of her emerging strategy. As local bodies polls demonstrated, the tactic has benefited the TMC.
Looking at the firmness of both, the protesters demanding for Gorkhaland and Banerjee not agreeing to the demand, to control the situation not spreading to other regions the Centre may have to intervene. The Union government has little option but put political interests of the ruling party on the back seat.