The sky is overcast in Darjeeling hills. Those who expected the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would put an end to all agitation and spread sweetness and light may be in for a rude shock. That includes West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister S.K. Shinde. Subsequent meetings between Mamata Banerjee and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung also went off amicably. The hills were all smiles during the tourist season. But Darjeeling is now headed for turmoil after a few months of peace. The GJM has announced that it will renew its agitation for a separate Gorkhaland. Telengana has set an example. The Morcha will hold rallies in the next few days to garner support for Gorkhaland. Its central leadership will chalk out the future course of action. Bimal Gurung together with a delegation had met S.K. Shinde earlier requesting that the demand for Gorkhaland should be considered. The GJM had agreed to sign the GTA pact for the development of Darjeeling district. But it had never relented on the demand for statehood. Govind Chhetri of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists has stated that only statehood can solve the problems of the hills.
One of the weaknesses of Mamata Banerjee is her incurable optimism. By signing the GTA pact she thought that the hills problem had been solved. She has not realized that by recognizing the name ‘Gorkhaland’, she had bent over backwards too much. It is the thin end of the wedge. Gurung’s friendly attitude may have been deceptive. Of course, the West Bengal Chief Minister would never accept bifurcation of her state. But after the Centre’s possible surrender on the Telengana issue, she has to face a serious problem. What she has achieved in Jangalmahal is commendable. But her accord with the GJM was a half measure. Resumption of trouble in Darjeeling will hit the economic interests of both the district and the entire state. The decision on Justice Shymal Sen’s recommendation on the number of mouzas to be granted to the GJM is still up in the air.