EDITORIAL: DANGER DRIFT
Posted by barunroy on July 15, 2009
FROM THE TELEGRAPH
Governments everywhere find it hard to deal with separatist politics. But the West Bengal government has long lost the will or ability to even try to tackle it in the Darjeeling hills. The result is a dangerous drift that is allowed to continue in a sensitive border region. The latest call for another indefinite bandh in Darjeeling shows once again the total collapse of the administration in the area. The people there are left at the mercy of the agitators, and normal life is completely disrupted. The government has abdicated all its responsibilities to enforce the rule of law. The only concern of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government seems to be to avoid the use of force and bloodshed at all costs. This can hardly be the mandate for governance anywhere. But then, both New Delhi and Calcutta have long sought to buy peace in Darjeeling by surrendering to the violent tactics of “Gorkhaland” movements. The withdrawal of the State from Darjeeling today is actually an old story that began with the violent stir by Subash Ghisingh’s Gorkha National Liberation Front in the mid-1980s. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which leads the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state now, moved into the vacuum created as much by the fall of Mr Ghisingh as by the collapse of the State.
True, it would be politically and administratively wrong to treat the agitation in Darjeeling as only a law and order problem. The demand for a separate administrative arrangement for Darjeeling predates India’s independence. Ironically, it was the communists who first voiced the demand for “self-determination” for the people of Darjeeling in 1946. No matter which party led such an agitation in different times, the demand had always had the support of an overwhelming majority of the people in Darjeeling.The issue, therefore, needs a political solution that would respect the popular sentiment. The problem is that almost all major political parties used it over the past 20 years only to further their narrow partisan interests. It is time leaders of these parties, both in West Bengal and at the national level, realized the importance of a durable solution to the problem. After all, the way the Centre and a state government deal with a statehood demand will have its impact in other parts of the country where such demands exist. But letting Darjeeling drift is a sure recipe for worse problems.
layman said
No matter which party led such an agitation in different times, the demand had always had the support of an overwhelming majority of the people in Darjeeling
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Mr. Editor,
I think you mentioned a very important point here: (movement) ‘always had the support of an overwelming majority of the people in Darjeeling’. I think Government should respect people’s popular sentiment. People are just demanding for a separate state within India, what’s wrong with that? The more it is dragged, the more irreversibly the relationships between citizens of different ethnic genres break, which is extremely harmful for the development of country at large. We are already afflicted with these shortcomings in various forms, be it in Kashmir or Orrissa or Gujrat or north east or Panjab.
Its high time the word political solution is defined properly. It should no longer sound like ‘by passing the Gorkhaland demand’
Sincerely,
citizen
patleybaskounpad said
this telegraph editorial says nothing new….it is an intelligent analysis of the issue but runs short of recommending solutions…
it is a safe way out…..but doesn’t lead anywhere….
JTM said
The article at least talks abt a solution and does not question whether the inhabitants of Darj are foreigners or Indians. Also the writer is not committing to whether the WB govt should use force or not.
hari said
the editorial is well written.
Some people may want clear written recommendatons like 1. Eat apple a day 2. wash your hands after you…etc. while some are happy that the inhabitants of Darj were not called foreigners etc….
But if one were to look a little deeper then the message would come that the editor is giving his unbiased view (which is correct) at the same time reminding all that the situation in Darjeeling is receipe for sure problem if it is left to rift.
THe problem of the country IndIa splitting into unmanagalble little states is also pointed out.
So on the whole a well written documentary.
Just to note – NOT Calling Darj people as foreigner should not be taken as a favour. We are Indians and if anyone has doubts its his /her ignorance
MMM said
The Hills has always been in the hands of dictatorial irresponsible leadership. Hills have moved backward by the agitations and its would keep moving backwards with the ongoing agitation. People have a false faith that GL is achievable on linguistic grounds like many linguistic groups of NE States. There is no practical logic behind the demand for GL other than the ground of a separate land for a particular ethnic group in the name of self determination and recognition as an Indian ethinic group and the greed to live on the central government’s doles as people highly envy the close neighbor Sikkim.
How is a state achiavble where the demand is supported by less than 50% of the people of the area demanded in GL.
Cental Govt. should make it clear its stand on such demands which is going to promote people’s greed to live on Govt. charity and grow communal hatred.
JTM said
Just to note – NOT Calling Darj people as foreigner should not be taken as a favour.
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#3 Comment was written keeping in view an earlier editorial by TT of which I think you not are aware of
The hill people will eventually get their dues but it would be sad if in the contest, others lose their esteemed and honourable face. If I may tell you the matter is slowly catching the attention of public society beyond just the east.
patleybaskounpad said
#4
i an surprised you needed to do some ‘deep’ reading of a telegraph editorial to finally understand what even an idiot on the street knows..which is, there is a problem in Darjeeling and that the longer it takes to find out a solution the messier it will get…
professionally raped said
Let us not forget that we live in a democratic set up, where the right and voice of the people are respected… well in the manner of speaking that is…as far as the hills is concerned. If anybody disagrees to this then they have to come here & live in the hills. It is so easy to say that Darjeeling is in turmoil, and the political pundits find it a pleasure to ‘discuss’ darjeeling over a cup of coffee.
The turmoil in real sense is within the citizens, who doesn’t even bother whether GJM or GNLF or CPM is fighting for their cause. We are so humialted since time immemorial that some of us have started taking disparities and offences as a part of life. Simple instances like frequent power cuts, irregular and irratic water supply, poor telephone and internet network, poor road condition, lack of emergency services etc, I mean who would tolerate all these anomalies and negligence. The very thought of ‘buying’ water for domestic use and boast ourselves to be tourist destination with such meagre and feeble infrastructure is so bloody ironic.
Let us for once compare Darjeeling with the rest of India. The answer is so vivid and obvious! But wait… the people of Darjeeling hills in comparision to the rest of India are, to my opinion are much honest, hardworking,and has the irritability to adjust in every odds. The Gorkhas have the knack of beleiving in the one who shows some sympathy. Today GJM boasts of mass support but if tomorrow CPM or TC or INC etc shows the same kind of diligence on Gorkha issue, there will be a mass turnover…. such are our brothers and sister.
This bucolic attitude of ours was well understood by Jyoti Babu, Rajiv Gandhi, Buta Singh, Indrjeet Khullar, Ghising. They messed around with the hills for more the two decades. And of late the key manipulators have tested the waters in a different manner; sow some money in the name of development and watch the ‘tamasha’.
Darjeeling hills is so segregated geographically that frequent bandhs and unstability doesnot make much of a difference in the national exchequer. Even politically, what difference does Darjeeling seat make to the ruling State or the Central Government????
Probably this part of the country is least thought about by any governing party who is in power, we are so happy with the system of negligence, that we have over the supressive years woven a rich tapestry of mutual coexistance amongst various communities of people who resided and migrated to Darjeeling hills, so much so that we have seen them prosper and marvel at their prosperity.
The time has come for Gorkhas to hold their heads high and stand up for their right. Mr.CM, P.M. ans Sonia madam are you all listening??