Many political leaders of India have repeatedly said that West Bengal should not be broken apart to create a separate Gorkhaland state. Yet at a tri-partite bureaucratic level talk regarding the Darjeeling issue, it has been decided that the demand for forming a separate Gorkhaland state may be discussed at the political level.
Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have been demanding that a separate state should be created for them in the Darjeeling region. This would help them preserve their culture and heritage which are different from the rest of the region. This news of a discussion regarding the topic has given them renewed hope that finally their demand may be met.
At a press conference on Monday, G K Pillai, the Union Home Secretary has said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has asked for this political-level discussion. He added that no decision will be reached without a political consensus which is not there at the moment. In the end, the State Government and the Centre will give their decision.
