INDIA signed an “historic” deal yesterday granting autonomy to an ethnic group in the Himalayan tea-growing area of Darjeeling that has fought for decades for a homeland.
The agreement between the federal government, West Bengal and a political group leading the Gorkha protesters was sealed in the scenic village of Pintail, about 600 km (380 miles) from Kolkata.
Indian Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have led a violent campaign since the 1980s demanding that the separate state of Gorkhaland be carved out of West Bengal’s mountainous district of Darjeeling.
The newly created Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will have powers to manage public works, social welfare, education, health and forests in administrative areas under its mandate.
Newly elected West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee termed it as a “historic day” that would end the violence in the popular tourism spot, where decaying infrastructure is a legacy of decades of neglect.
“There is nothing to fear… Bengal is not being divided. Darjeeling is close to our heart and it will now smile,” added the mercurial leader, who ended 34 years of continuous Marxist rule in her state in May.
“There will be an elected local body, there will be schools, colleges, hospitals, jobs will be available and Darjeeling will shine,” said Banerjee, who has pledged to develop Darjeeling along the lines of Switzerland.
Supporters of Bimal Gurung, whose Gorkha Janamukti Morcha group spearheaded the drive for autonomy, screamed in joy at the deal-signing ceremony, watched by Banerjee and home minister P Chidambaram.
“The task ahead of you is stupendous and you will have to rebuild brick by brick,” Chidambaram said as he pledged federal aid to the newly formed administrative body.
The tea-growing hills have been a hotbed of protests since the 1980s when the Gorkha National Liberation Front rose in revolt against the West Bengal government.
Late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made a first attempt at granting autonomy in 1988 when he created the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, but support for this organisation broke down in the last decade.
Gurung formed the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha pressure group in 2007 and rebelled against the Council and the state government.
