Mamata angry over appointment of mediator for talks on Gorkha issues, writes letter to PM

Kolkata, October 18 (IANS). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing her deep displeasure over the recent decision of the central government. He said the appointment of a ‘mediator’ by the Center to negotiate issues related to the Gorkha community in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars region was done without consulting the state government, which is against the spirit of federal cooperation. The Chief Minister wrote in his letter, “I am surprised to know that the Government of India has appointed Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd) as the mediator for talks on Gorkha issues. This decision has been taken without any discussion or consultation with the Government of West Bengal, while this entire matter is directly related to the state administration, peace and good governance of the GorkhaGTA Territorial Administration of the Gorkjehaland Territorial administration. Mamata Banerjee also reminded in the letter that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was established following the tripartite agreement reached in Darjeeling on 18 July 2011 between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). This agreement was signed in the presence of the then Union Home Minister and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The chief minister said that the GTA was formed with the objective of ensuring social, economic, educational, cultural and linguistic progress of the Gorkha community and maintaining the spirit of peaceful coexistence of the hilly areas. He said that due to the continuous efforts of the state government in the last decade, an atmosphere of peace and harmony were established in Darjeeling and the surrounding hilly areas. In the letter to the Prime Minister, Mamata Banerjee said that such a unilateral decision could become a threat to the peace of this delicate region. He said, “The West Bengal government firmly believes that any initiative related to the Gorkha community or the GTA area should be taken only after full discussion with the state government. Any step taken without consultation can affect the peace and harmony in the region. At the end of his letter, the Chief Minister urged Prime Minister Modi to reconsider this appointment order and cancel it, so that he maintains mutual spirit between the state and the federal spirit. wish the Prime Minister a Diwali. Also expressed good wishes and said, “We must all move forward with peace, cooperation and constitutional spirit.” –IANS VKU/VC Share this story Tags