A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed to have broken the deadlock over Darjeeling, Gorkha Janmukti Mocha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung showed faith in her politics. In an exclusive interview with Ratnadip Choudhury, he accuses the Left Front of cheating the people of the hills. Edited excerpts.
Mamata Banerjee has claimed that the recent agreement between the state government and the GJM has broken ice. How do you term this development?
What I can say is that it is a significant step ahead, a success for all sides involved. It is the media that coins terms for such developments; I do not want to term it anything. But, we are happy that now everyone is on the same page. This kind of conducive situation is required to take the process further if we are to arrive to a political solution. But, I can tell you that the ground situation has improved a lot. Here we see a Chief Minister who would like to keep her promise that she made to the people of the hills and North Bengal, and she is on course. We have faith in her approach.
The GJM is now supporting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal. What made Bimal Gurung and Mamata Banerjee come closer?
One might think we came closer due to political compulsion, but that is not the case. We supported the TMC because we believe in the issues on which Banerjee has based her politics for the last one decade. We value her sincerity. Her politics is for “maa, mati, manush”. Our politics is also for the same cause. We admire her struggle that threw away an autocratic power from West Bengal. So, we decided to be with her. Bengal is the pride of the people of hills, and Darjeeling is the pride of Bengal. I agree with her plan for the development of Darjeeling. Whenever we spoke to her we could see that she not only understood our struggle and objectives but had faith in us as well. She wants the crisis to end, so we have enough reasons to support her cause.
Can we say that her brand of politics matches with that of Gurung?
Journalists can phrase it in whatever way that helps them. Both of us have been involved in politics at the grass roots. In that way I admire her, and, yes, our ideas do match. We can bring good days back in the hills.
Journalists can phrase it in whatever way that helps them. Both of us have been involved in politics at the grass roots. In that way I admire her, and, yes, our ideas do match. We can bring good days back in the hills.
The GJM had earlier held several rounds of parleys with the Left Front government. Where do you feel the Left went wrong?
The Left has ruled West Bengal for decades, and all this while what the hills saw was neglect. The Communist Part of India (Marxist), perhaps, did not have the heart to solve the problem of the tribal areas. The plight of the hills fell on deaf ears of its leaders. Banerjee has shown that she has the heart to take the issue towards a possible solution. She has also proved that the Left Front government perhaps wanted the deadlock to continue. It was more difficult for the Left because there were multiple levels of decision making in the CPI(M), but in the TMC Did takes all decisions.
The Left has ruled West Bengal for decades, and all this while what the hills saw was neglect. The Communist Part of India (Marxist), perhaps, did not have the heart to solve the problem of the tribal areas. The plight of the hills fell on deaf ears of its leaders. Banerjee has shown that she has the heart to take the issue towards a possible solution. She has also proved that the Left Front government perhaps wanted the deadlock to continue. It was more difficult for the Left because there were multiple levels of decision making in the CPI(M), but in the TMC Did takes all decisions.
But, your political opponents say that the so-called agreement is just a political stunt from Banerjee and the GJM, since you fought the poll on the plank of a separate Gorkhaland state.
The opposition parties have no base. Both the GJM and the TMC have won huge mandate. Our victory on all seats in the hills proves that people believe that we have made no compromises. The idea is to reach to a solution and carry on with the development that was stalled by the Left Front for so many years. The new proposed administrative setup will have a lot of powers for proper developmental works. It will not be a remote-controlled council like the one the Left Front managed from the Writers’ Building through Subas Ghisingh.
The opposition parties have no base. Both the GJM and the TMC have won huge mandate. Our victory on all seats in the hills proves that people believe that we have made no compromises. The idea is to reach to a solution and carry on with the development that was stalled by the Left Front for so many years. The new proposed administrative setup will have a lot of powers for proper developmental works. It will not be a remote-controlled council like the one the Left Front managed from the Writers’ Building through Subas Ghisingh.
The demand for Gorkhaland is not a new one. It is not like that Bimal Gurung spoke of it for the first time. After me, other people will raise this demand. So, the political movement for the creation of Gorkhaland will continue. We do not want to mix the creation of the new administrative setup with the political movement. This was the mistake the Left Front made. Politics and developmental works can go hand in hand. Had the Left been sensitive to the region, we could have cooperated with them. We tried our best, but they gave us step-motherly treatment.
Are you saying that even if you get more power with a new administrative setup, you will not give up the demand for a separate state?
Gorkhaland is a long-standing demand and the aspiration of our people. The birth of the GJM is to achieve the dream and aspiration of our people. So, till the time our people aspire, we will carry on the political movement for Gorkhaland. Let the new administrative setup take place, let us get enough power to implement the decision and policies that will help the region, then all other things will settle down. We need the new government to settle as well. Look at the neighbouring Sikkim. It has progressed so much, but West Bengal remains poor. Our human resource goes outside to work. We need to keep them at home. The CPI(M) never thought of this.
Gorkhaland is a long-standing demand and the aspiration of our people. The birth of the GJM is to achieve the dream and aspiration of our people. So, till the time our people aspire, we will carry on the political movement for Gorkhaland. Let the new administrative setup take place, let us get enough power to implement the decision and policies that will help the region, then all other things will settle down. We need the new government to settle as well. Look at the neighbouring Sikkim. It has progressed so much, but West Bengal remains poor. Our human resource goes outside to work. We need to keep them at home. The CPI(M) never thought of this.
In the hills, the GJM has no opponent now. But you want a larger part of Terai and Dooars in the new administrative setup. The other communities in that area do not want that. How will you and the TMC tackle this issue?
A high-level joint committee has been set up to look into this issue. Let the report come in. I appreciate the seriousness of the state government for setting up such a committee. Like the GJM, Mamata Didi does not believe in vote-bank politics. If you take up the cause of the downtrodden, votes will follow. There have been scuffles earlier, but now everyone is more matured. No community faces any threat from the GJM. I can tell you that we enjoy support everywhere. We will press on the issue of delimitation and prevail upon the state government to get it done as a part of our political movement.
A high-level joint committee has been set up to look into this issue. Let the report come in. I appreciate the seriousness of the state government for setting up such a committee. Like the GJM, Mamata Didi does not believe in vote-bank politics. If you take up the cause of the downtrodden, votes will follow. There have been scuffles earlier, but now everyone is more matured. No community faces any threat from the GJM. I can tell you that we enjoy support everywhere. We will press on the issue of delimitation and prevail upon the state government to get it done as a part of our political movement.
How will the didi’s chota bhai– as she fondly refers to you – going to build shining hills?
Our movement has been a political one. Earlier people’s voice was not heard. Both Didi and the GJM have a dream for Darjeeling and the entire region that will come under the new administrative setup. We will strive hard up realise those dreams. If we cannot deliver, people will show us the way, as they have done to the Left Front.
Our movement has been a political one. Earlier people’s voice was not heard. Both Didi and the GJM have a dream for Darjeeling and the entire region that will come under the new administrative setup. We will strive hard up realise those dreams. If we cannot deliver, people will show us the way, as they have done to the Left Front.
>>With inputs from Urmi Bhattacharjee in Darjeeling
Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?