Last Monday's accord on the status of the Hills of West Bengal, signed at Pintail on the outskirts of Siliguri, has been described as a successful effort to “bring to fruition a tripartite agreement that promises a lasting solution to the Gorkhaland issue”. Admittedly, there is no doubt that an “effort” has been made by all the parties involved, namely, the Centre, the state of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), to forge a settlement to the vexed issue. But more important is whether the accord will lead to a resumption of normal life for the average citizen in the Hills for an appreciable length of time, which would be the best indication that the ghost of the agitation begun by Subhas Ghisingh in the eighties has been laid to rest finally.

What, precisely, has the Pintail agreement achieved? Briefly, a proposed autonomous Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has been agreed to which would devolve a great many administrative powers, including the raising of taxes (which covers tea gardens), to the local leadership which, at the moment, largely comprises the Bimal Gurung-led GJM. Quite clearly, what this means is that the Hills leadership will from now on be in charge of local affairs, which would cover, among other areas, health, education, tourism and municipal matters. This apart, the GTA would also be the recipient of the Rs 600-crore financial package which the Centre has promised to the Hills over the next three years for development work.

Unresolved issue

But, first, before the new mechanism can be operationalised, its territory must be clearly ascertained. Certainly, the issue has been discussed in detail among the principal players for some time, but an agreement still eludes them on the subject. A committee has been proposed which is expected to settle the differences among the signatories, but then, as is well-known, the practice of setting up of committees is very often resorted to as a filibustering tactic, especially in cases where it is commonly acknowledged that an agreement is quite impossible. Most people are aware of the problem, but the central issue is whether the young people of the Hills, as also the political activists there, will accept this “solution” to their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

After all, as late as in February the GJM leaders made it abundantly clear that no talks with either the State authorities or the Centre were possible unless the agenda included the setting up of “Gorkhaland”. And the Pintail accord did not include anything specific on the subject apart from the weak reference that the GJM had agreed to the setting up of the GTA “while not dropping its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland”. On the other hand, Ms Mamata Banerjee stated unequivocally, at Pintail itself, that “There will be no division of Bengal”, that “Darjeeling is not outside West Bengal”, and that “it is the heart of West Bengal”.

The question now is: how long will Bimal Gurung be able to hold on to his position as leader in Darjeeling? Every Indian would like Darjeeling to be made into another Switzerland? Only, the road ahead promises to be inordinately difficult.

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