Mamata Banerjee writes to PM, objects to Centre's interlocutor for Gorkha issues

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced her strong objection to the Centre’s appointment of a government interlocutor on Gorkha issues in Darjeeling, Dooars, and Terai, describing the move as “unilateral” and made without consultation with the state government.

The Centre’s decision to appoint former Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Kumar Singh as the Centre’s representative on matters relating to the Gorkha community in the region has sparked immediate political controversy in West Bengal, with Banerjee and her party asserting that such moves undermine state authority and could impact the delicate socio-political balance in the hills.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee expressed her “surprise and shock” over the appointment of Singh.

The letter, shared publicly by the CM, comes just days ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, adding a fresh layer of political tension.

Banerjee mentioned that the issues fall directly under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), an autonomous body under the West Bengal government, and reminded that GTA was constituted following a tripartite agreement between the Government of India, West Bengal government, and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). She emphasised that “any decision pertaining to the Gorkha community or the GTA region must be taken in consultation with the state government,” warning that unilateral decisions could disrupt harmony in the sensitive region.

The Chief Minister concluded her letter on a personal note, wishing the Prime Minister a “Happy Diwali” in her own handwriting, even as she called for reconsideration and revocation of the interlocutor’s appointment.

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