The unrest in Darjeeling fuelled by the demand for a separate Gorkhaland entered its 20th day on July 4. Schools and colleges have remained closed and internet services suspended for the last 17 days. Tourism has suffered a hit as this is the peak tourist period even as hotels are all empty. The agitation was triggered by the West Bengal Government’s decision on May 18, this year to make Bengali compulsory in all schools. This short-sighted decision inflamed passions and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha took this announcement as an affront to the cultural sensitivities of the Gorkha people who have their own language. The agitation is reminiscent of the Gorkhaland movement led by Subhas Ghising’s Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in the mid-1980s. As is usually the case, the West Bengal Government has treated this matter as a law and order problem and is dealing with it in that manner. For the people of Darjeeling, however, the issue is political as language defines and promotes culture and history of a people. Take away language and you take away a vital part of their history!
Meanwhile Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee has thrown the problem to the Centre and demanded central forces to deal with the situation. The Centre has refused to comply citing this to be a state problem which can be tackled by the state police. On July 4, the Calcutta High Court has intervened and asked the Centre and the West Bengal government to resolve their differences over the deployment of Central Armed Police Force in the hills. At present, in addition to the state police there are 11 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in Darjeeling which comprises the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, for tackling the present issue. But the point is whether mere deployment of forces can quell the disturbances which have taken a strong political hue with the demand for Gorkhaland having become more strident. Examples abound from the North East where the overwhelming presence of security forces has failed to control sub-nationalist movements!
