By indulging in hate campaign, the GJM is harming its own cause
It's unfortunate that a tense situation prevailed in Darjeeling even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was there to hold a Cabinet meeting for the first time in 45 years to discuss several developmental projects for the Hills, which is a good gesture. Violence erupted after supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) resorted to stone-pelting and vandalisation of property so much so that they gheraoed the Raj Bhavan and the Army had to be called up to restore the situation. Emotions ran high as the GJM supporters indulged in sloganeering and came out to the streets demanding that their voices be heard. The Hills had, in fact, been simmering for quite some time. Initially, protesters mainly comprised of workers and supporters of the GJM, but later it grew to include students, teachers and Nepali academics and linguists. Protests erupted due to the growing resentment among the Gorkhas in Darjeeling and the State Government over the latter's decision to make Bengali compulsory in all schools. Arguably, there's no point for the GJM to have created an unpleasant situation because first, the Chief Minister had already made some concessions by making it clear that the State would recognise Nepali as an official language, which had been another long-standing demand by the Gorkhas. Second, Banerjee’s decision to make Bengali compulsory for students is in full compliance with the three-language policy that mandates the official language of the State be taught in schools. This means that Nepali and/or Hindi can be the third language or even first language for the students. Much deeper, the problem has to do with the GJM's long-standing demand for a separate State which is, of course, out of question. The battle for a Gorkhaland is not new. It has, in fact, erupted time and again but nothing really has gone its way. The GJM itself has had a very complicated history. Ever since the establishment of a regional council, the GJM, headed by Bimal Gurung, has given the local leaders some sort of autonomy. Time and again they have come in talks with the Government to find a solution to a stalemate but no tripartite talks have worked.
Yet another reason for the Gorkhas to agitate is to do with Gurung’s desperate bid to regain lost ground in the area ever since the Trinamool Congress won the Assembly elections last year. But there’s no reason why the GJM must resort to violence, especially at a time when the tourist season has just begun. Many tourists, mainly foreigners, are stranded. The best course for the GJM is to work hand-in-hand with the Government. By indulging in agitation, and by threatening to go on a dharna the GJM is, in fact, harming its own cause. The best way forward for them is to cooperate with the State Government and not let the matter spiral out of control. In times like these, it is all the more necessary for the mainstream leaders and those heading the sub-nationalist movements to take all necessary moves to avoid further conflict that may lead to a serious law and order problem.