MHA begins tripartite talks with Gorkhas and WB

October 14, 2021

The Union Home Ministry started tripartite talks with “Gorkha representatives” from Darjeeling Hills, Terrai & Dooars region as well as the Government of West Bengal on October 12, 2021.

Highlights

Tripartite talks were started in a bid to resolve long-standing demand of statehood in North Bengal region.
Talks were chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah and Gorkha delegation led by Darjeeling MP Raju Bishta.
During the meeting, officials discussed several issues related to Gorkhas and the region.

Background

On this issue, last meeting was held in October 2021 when a delegation of Gorkha leaders came to meet the then MoS Home, G Kishan Reddy, for discussing the statehood issue.

Demand raised by delegation

Delegation from the Gorkhaland raised their demand of separate state of Gorkhaland as well as grant of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Gorkha sub-communities. Issue of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was raised, the delegation noted that they will not discuss GTA as Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) that was signed between Union of India, Government of West Bengal and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in 2011, was not welcomed by the West Bengal.

What is the Gorkhaland Issue?

Gorkhaland comprise of Nepali-speaking people from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and other hilly districts of West-Bengal. People of these areas have cultural, ethical, and language differences with Bengali community of West-Bengal. Demand of Darjeeling as a separate administrative region was first initiated in the year 1907. However, the term “Gorkhaland” was coined during 1980s by Subhash Ghising. Subhash Ghising was the founder of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).