Mamata writes to PM seeking revocation of interlocutor’s appointment

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to the Prime Minister asking the Centre to reconsider and revoke the appointment order of an interlocutor on the issues of Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai.

The letter comes as a reaction to the Central government’s decision to appoint an interlocutor to take forward the talks for this region.

In her letter to the PM, the Chief Minister said, “I am surprised and shocked to know that the government of India has appointed Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd) as an interlocutor to hold discussions on the issues relating to Gorkhas in Darjeeling Hills, Terrai and Dooars regions of West Bengal.”

“This appointment has been made without any consultation with the government of West Bengal, even though the issues under reference directly relate to the governance, peace, and administrative stability of the area under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), an autonomous body under Government of West Bengal. Such unilateral action is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism that forms one of the foundational principles of our constitution,” said Banerjee in the letter.

The Bengal CM in the letter maintains that the GTA was constituted following a tripartite agreement signed on 18th July, 2011 at Darjeeling, between the Centre, State and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha.

“The GTA was created to ensure socio-economic, infrastructural, educational, cultural and linguistic developments of the hill areas, while safeguarding the ethnic identity of the Gorkhas and promoting peaceful co-existence among all communities, a hallmark of the unity and harmony of the hills,” she.

She added that there has been peace and harmony prevailing in the hill districts which had been possible with the concerted and continuous efforts made by the State government since it came to power in 2011.

Maintaining that the State is committed to continue with their efforts in that direction, the Chief Minister wrote, “The State government is firmly of the view that any initiative concerning the Gorkha community or the GTA region must be undertaken in full consultation with the State in order to preserve the hard-earned peace and tranquillity in the region. Any unilateral action in this sensitive matter will not be in interest of peace and harmony in the region.”