Telengana Developments is Likely to Reignite Gorkhaland Movement

SILIGURI: Recent developments over Telengana issue are about to reignite the separate statehood demand in queen of hills Darjeeling in West Bengal. After keeping Darjeeling hills boiling for last couple of years, the movement for separate state 'Gorkhaland' took a low key following formation of a separate autonomous body for Darjeeling by state Government under support from Center in July 2011. Now the demand, spearheaded by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, seems to be coming to surface once again with new shape and magnitude. "Formation of separate autonomous body Gorkhaoland Territorial Administration (GTA) is not the end of all movement. 

Our prime is still separate Gorkhaland state," said Mr. R Giri, General Secretary of GJM, in a recent public meeting. After being elected, Giri holds an executive post in GTA too. "They (Government) will have to allow separate state Gorkhaland if they think of Telengana," he added. While talking on the issue, GJM thin tank Dr H B Chetri said, " Government formed Srikrishna Committee to asses various aspects of Telengana. 

Whatever be its report, very formation of the committee shows center's seriousness on Telengana. But, despite assuring many times, central of West Bengal state Government are yet to include much older Gorkhaland issue in its priority list. If finally breaks out, the fresh movement for Gorkhaland would put West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Bannerjee under definite embarrassment. "This is the end of all chaos in Darjeeling. In shortest possible time, Darjeeling will become a dreamland like Switzerland," she said after signing of an agreement between GJM and State in presence of Central Government representatives in July 2011 to form GTA. 

The fresh Gorkhaland movement may cost enough to GJM as this may tarnish the well known friendship between Miss Bannerjee's party TMC and GJM. The handshaking has returned many electoral and political benefits to both of them against their common enemy, left front, the erstwhile ruling political force in West Bengal. Despite that, "We do not have any option in hand as demand of Gorkhaland statehood is a sentimental issue in hills and we may even lose our relevance if it is put to backbench. This is for our own existence," accepted a senior GJM leader.