‘I think Gorkhaland is a very legitimate demand. If we are able to separate ourselves from the sentiment of it in every possible way and think from the perspective of national security, social harmony, economic benefit, administrative benefit, administrative convenience and all of that, we will find that it is a legitimate demand.’ – Jaswant Singh
Jaswant Singh has rightly spoken about Gorkhaland in his recent interview with the Statesman. If the Bengal government does not understand or does not want to understand, this will be lethal for the whole country. Singh has also reiterated the fact that Gorkhaland is a just demand considering crucial factors such as national security and social harmony. The people of Darjeeling and the Dooars have been fooled times and again. Had the leaders been more sincere about the gravity of Gorkhaland, it would not be a dream till now, it would have become a reality. The faction between the Gorkha leaders of Darjeeling has further exacerbated the situation. Reviewing the case of Gorkhaland over the years, one significant factor that has been obtruding the proposal for statehood is unity. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha league (ABGL) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) have divided the people into three separate streams. It is easy for the Bengal Government to coax and bribe the leaders as long as they are divided. They have been playing the same trick of ‘Divide and Rule Policy’ which had been inherited from the Britons. This fact has to be accepted and admitted by all the supposed leaders of Gorkhaland. The other truth that the leaders must be aware is that there will be more plots in future to have the Gorkhas divided. The Bengal government is looking for opportunities to tip Gorkha leaders whenever and wherever they can. This reality has to be understood by the people. The leaders must be aware that any more juggleries with the sentiments of the people will not be tolerated any more.
It might be too puerile to think of an alliance between all the Gorkha parties of Darjeeling who have been fighting for the same goal however if there are opportunities to come up together for the cause of Gorkhaland, the leaders must do so by all means. If the parties can stand up together despite their political differences for the common objective of Gorkhaland, nobody will have the guts of stop the formation of a separate Gorkha state.
The leaders must understand that any negotiations with the West Bengal government other than statehood would be a live Bomb for the Hills and the Dooars. The People do not have the capacity to endure another leader who wants to give them a council or any such related status. It has taken a lot of time, sacrifice and blood of the Gorkhas to reach the revolution to this height, there is no way of receding back without a state. The People of the hills have not forgotten the gory sacrifice of July 27, 1986 where people were killed indiscriminately and the massacre that followed after on different dates and different time. They haven’t forgotten those frequent strikes where they had to pawn their jewelries to keep them alive. The loss of lives for the cause of Gorkhaland cannot be compensated by any other price other than a state.
The hills and the Dooars have been neglected by the government for a long time. The roads, water and electricity facilities are in shambles. The schools of Darjeeling which are regarded as the best schools in India have been frequently disturbed by the agitation. The movement that started in the 80’s has been aborted times and again either by the West Bengal government or by the idiocy of the local leaders. The movement has consumed hundreds of lives and has taken a long time. The Gorkhas who have valiantly sacrificed their lives for the security of their motherland for so long must have a state of their own. Any further political doddle from the Bengal government is likely to invite civil war in Darjeeling and the Dooars. Kolkata should not try to throttle the movement any more as this time, the fight for statehood is decisive.
The leaders must understand that any negotiations with the West Bengal government other than statehood would be a live Bomb for the Hills and the Dooars. The People do not have the capacity to endure another leader who wants to give them a council or any such related status. It has taken a lot of time, sacrifice and blood of the Gorkhas to reach the revolution to this height, there is no way of receding back without a state. The People of the hills have not forgotten the gory sacrifice of July 27, 1986 where people were killed indiscriminately and the massacre that followed after on different dates and different time. They haven’t forgotten those frequent strikes where they had to pawn their jewelries to keep them alive. The loss of lives for the cause of Gorkhaland cannot be compensated by any other price other than a state.
The hills and the Dooars have been neglected by the government for a long time. The roads, water and electricity facilities are in shambles. The schools of Darjeeling which are regarded as the best schools in India have been frequently disturbed by the agitation. The movement that started in the 80’s has been aborted times and again either by the West Bengal government or by the idiocy of the local leaders. The movement has consumed hundreds of lives and has taken a long time. The Gorkhas who have valiantly sacrificed their lives for the security of their motherland for so long must have a state of their own. Any further political doddle from the Bengal government is likely to invite civil war in Darjeeling and the Dooars. Kolkata should not try to throttle the movement any more as this time, the fight for statehood is decisive.
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