Darjeeling bandh formally called off as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha "loses" ground, BJP becomes "inconsequential"

By Sadhan Mukherjee*
The Darjeeling hill flames are doused, or are they? Whatever may be the compulsion, after 104 days the bandh has been formally called off by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung in response to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s appeal for talks.
The fact is that life in the hills was already becoming normal following Binoy Tamang’s call. In that context the Home Minister’s appeal to call off the bandh sounds rather a diplomatic move and probably is a face-saver for Bimal Gurung faction of GJM.
It is clear that while the state government depends more on Binay Tamang, the centre seems to keep Bimal Gurung on good books. It may also be a ploy also to play one faction of GJM against the other.
According to the state government, the Home Minister’s appeal and the withdrawal of bandh appear meaningless when a new Gurkha Territorial Administration (GTA) board headed by Binay Tamang had taken charge, internet has been re-opened and shops are lifting their shutters showing in effect that the bandh is already withdrawn.

What remained is the fear if the Bimal Gurung faction will resort to violence to keep the bandh technically going.
The Home Minister’s appeal also indicates that the home secretary has been asked to open discussion but it is not clear if it will be a tripartite discussion. The question is: why did the centre until now did not show any interest to initiate a meeting and left it to the state government to resolve it “as a law and order” issue.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already held two rounds of meeting with hill leaders. Life has been returning to normal.
Trinamul’s view is that behind the current move is the BJP’s growing frustration as it is becoming irrelevant in state politics, especially in relation to hills. That is why on Monday BJP MP from Darjeeling SS Ahluwalia and state BJP president Dilip Roy met Rajnath Singh post haste and demanded that the Home Minister should announce a meeting to resolve the Darjeeling issue under centre’s auspices and also assure it would be held soon.

Not only the other GJM was losing ground fast in the hills, but the BJP itself was becoming inconsequential in state politics, they asserted. Hence, the next day came the statement from the Home Minister.
Gurung has been steadily losing his main lieutenants going over to Binay Tamang camp. In such a situation Gurung must have realised that may be the announcement of lifting of the bandh would be the better part of valour. He also reportedly opposed any harsh measures against those who have left his camp.
Binay Tamang retorted to Gurung’s overture saying that the hill people were not accepting the immobilisation of hill life while some one hiding in the jungle was issuing fiats. District Magistrate Jayasi Dasgupta commented in an oblique reference to Gurung: If you are thinking so much about the hill people, when then why hide in the jungle and Sikkim hotel? Why not come to the main bazaar and announce it!
The coming days will show who wins in this tug of war for GJM leadership.
---
*Veteran journalist

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog