Mamata writes to Modi, seeks revocation of appointment of interlocutor on Gorkha issues

Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing “shock and surprise” over the Centre’s decision to appoint retired IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as interlocutor for talks with Gorkha groups in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars without consulting the state government.

Banerjee requested the Prime Minister to reconsider and revoke the appointment order issued.

In her letter, Banerjee termed the move “unilateral” and “inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism.”

Her letter read: “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 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — an autonomous body functioning under the Government of West Bengal. Such unilateral decision is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism that forms one of the foundational principles of our Constitution, “ her letter read.

Banerjee reminded the Prime Minister that the GTA was formed following a Tripartite Agreement in July 2011 between the Centre, the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, in the presence of the then Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

“The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (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,“ her further read.

The Chief Minister further reiterated that there has been peace and harmony prevailing in the hill districts of Bengal and attributed it to the concerted and continuous efforts made by the Bengal government since it came to power in 2011. “We are committed to continue with our positive efforts in that direction,” Banerjee wrote. She stated that the Bengal 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 government in order to preserve the hard-earned peace and tranquillity in the region.

“Any unilateral move in this sensitive matter will not be in the interest of peace and harmony in the region,” she maintained.

Concluding the letter with a handwritten note wishing the Prime Minister a “Happy Diwali,” Banerjee reaffirmed her government’s commitment to maintaining peace in the Hills, “in the true spirit of federalism and mutual respect between the Union and the states”.