Amit Shah takes up BJP promise on Darjeeling hills

On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah led a high-level meeting at a resort in Sukna, near Siliguri, to discuss a lasting political solution for the Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong hills. This move aims to fulfil a major Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promise made before the election.

On the final day of Shah’s three-day visit to North Bengal, the meeting included West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, and BJP representatives from the three hill constituencies: Noman Rai (Darjeeling), Bharat Kumar Chhetri (Kalimpong), and Sonam Lama (Kurseong). Also present were Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, along with Man Ghisingh from the Gorkha National Liberation Front. Senior State officials and ministers also joined the discussions.

The event carried strong symbolic meaning. August 22 marks the anniversary of the 1988 Gorkha Accord, which created the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Bista described it as “a historic day for the Gorkha community and for Darjeeling.” He said the representatives spoke about the community’s 40-year struggle, the loss of over 2,000 lives, violence against women, and the displacement of more than 5,000 people, along with issues affecting Darjeeling, the Terai, and the Dooars. Chief Minister Adhikari then explained the state government’s position, after which Shah outlined the next steps.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that the Home Minister made it clear the resolution would be “a constitutional one.” A committee led by Pankaj Kumar Singh, appointed by the Centre in 2025, will finalise the next proposal to submit to the Government of India. Bista also confirmed that a panel from the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Singh, will prepare the agreement.

For almost 40 years, the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State has influenced politics in the hills.