Gorkha delegation holds talks with Union government; West Bengal govt skips meeting
Expressing gratitude to the Central Government, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and MoS Nityanand Rai for their continued support towards addressing the long-standing issues of the Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars region.
NATIONAL
A crucial round of talks regarding the future of the Gorkha community and the Darjeeling region was held today, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs (N) Nityanand Rai. However, the West Bengal government once again chose to stay away from the discussions, drawing criticism for disregarding the federal structure.
The meeting, which lasted over one and a half hours, was attended by representatives from Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars along with senior officials from the Union government. The discussions revolved around the history of the region, ongoing issues of deprivation and discrimination, and possible constitutional solutions to protect the identity and rights of the Gorkha people.
One of the key demands highlighted during the meeting was the recognition of the 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes. The delegation firmly stated that any acceptable solution must safeguard the land, people, and culture of the region through constitutional means.
Union Minister Nityanand Rai reiterated the Centre’s commitment to finding a permanent solution through dialogue while respecting the federal structure. He assured the delegation that the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, would take necessary steps based on their inputs. Further decisions will be made after consultations with Amit Shah.
The Gorkha delegation included key political figures such as GNLF Chief Mann Ghising, GJM Chief Bimal Gurung, CPRM President J.B. Rai, GoRaNiMo Chief Dawa Pakhrin, SuMuMo Chief Bikash Rai, BJP District President Dr. Kalyan Dewan, Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba, and Kalchini MLA Bishal Lama, among others.
Senior officials present in the meeting included Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Roumuan Paite.
Expressing gratitude to the Central Government, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and MoS Nityanand Rai for their continued support towards addressing the long-standing issues of the Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars region.
The absence of the West Bengal government from the meeting raised concerns among Gorkha leaders, who see it as a lack of interest in resolving their demands.