Gorkhaland Agreement: Will prosperity follow peace?

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has ensured that the Memorandum of Agreement starts with a mention of the demand for Gorkhaland as its stated position even though both the Centre and the State have warded off the issue for the present. Is this a tactical retreat or a giving of ground by the GJM? That remains an open question.

For now, it's best to be a part of massive euphoria after the tripartite agreement signed between the GJM, Central leadership and Mamata Banerjee at Pintail in Siliguri. One of the immediate fall-outs of the deal will be that it will bring much-needed peace to the hills but will it usher in prosperity and development? That depends upon those implementing the accord.

The deal recognises the GJM as the sole authority of the Darjeeling Gorkhas. Is that a statement of fact? As far as the accord is concerned, it can best be described as old wine in a new bottle. It is an improvement on the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council with more financial powers but does not quite answer the wish list. This will open the door for other local parties to step in at a later date. Being a tank man, it seems to this writer that it's a slight improvement from T-54 to T-55 but is not a revolutionary new tank. In other words, the Maruti has been replaced by the Alto with not enough funds for fuel. It is certainly not what the people expected.

The deal suffers from most of the flaws of the old system; nepotism is waiting to happen, a lack of trust and, above all, failed promises given to the people in the name of Gorkhaland. Gurkha communities elsewhere in Himachal, Uttarakhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and J&K will always hold this grouse against the Darjeeling Gurkhas that in our living memory they twice let down their brethren who had high hopes and expectations from them.

It also ensures that since 1907 the Gurkhas have always been outsmarted 26 times each time this emotive issue was raised. It ensures a captive kitty of only Rs 200 crore a year, "peanuts" for 59 Government departments, when the cost of development in the hills is higher than in the plains.

Full marks to the Centre which burnt its fingers on the Telangana issue for overcoming this hurdle but will it satisfy the people in the long run? The Rs 200 crore sum is for a period of three years after which the GTA will have to go back to the Centre which, in three years, will be busy with general elections. Is that a mere coincidence?

The deal does have other positives. It now ensures that people-centric socioeconomic development issues have become autonomous and there will be democratic elected members of the GTA. It now will depend squarely on the people's representatives and their sense of duty, maturity and foresight as to how to bring development to the hills. The memorandum has a short opening followed by 32 paras in the main text. Annexure A covering 59 subjects has been transferred to GTA for implementation. The two additional Annexures include B1 for 27 projects to be undertaken by GTA for accelerating growth and social development and B2 listing 12 major projects to be implemented by GTA. Centre or State funded projects are on the B2 list. The list and issues are exhaustive and have been worked out in detail. If implemented properly, they will bring good times to this region.

Currently, the accord is an open call but a few issues still remain. The first is the fact that Bimal Gurung did not personally sign the deal because of anger regarding sell-out on the Gorkhaland issue. It, therefore, implies that a leader is ready to backtrack even before the first shot is fired. How then will he implement the same with zeal and confidence? It will be recalled that the GJM fought the last Assembly elections and won a resounding victory on the plank of Gorkhaland. What happens if the Telangana issue hots up? The GTA lacks legislative powers and is hence toothless. This compares nowhere with the Sixth Schedule which has constitutional safe guards and was rejected by these very people.

A high-level committee is to be formed for the areas of Dooars and Terai as per Para 5 and 6 of the Agreement. The area in question had a bandh on the day the accord was signed clearly indicating their unwillingness to this issue. The Adivasi Vikas Parishad had already launched agitation against the GJM's claim for inclusion of their areas into the proposed GTA and want Sixth Schedule status of the Indian Constitution for the foothills. Thus Bimal Gurung and company are fighting a losing battle.

Was this the best that could have been achieved or did GJM punch below the belt? The issue of a State becomes emotive as it is an identity issue to Gurkhas settled elsewhere in India. Along with identity it brings a rallying point, preserves a way of life, and in doing so also preserves the culture of a people. The issue, therefore, becomes emotive, across all States wherever, Gurkhas are settled. Are the GJM being politically naïve or oversmart?

However, there is a lot of difference between the political stalwarts of New Delhi, the non-division of Bengal by a shrewd Chief Minister and single-minded politicians of this area. Above all, it has opened doors to other players to talk of a sell-out and plunge the hills into chaos once again.

Brig CS Thapa (Retd) is an advisor to the Pioneer Dehradun and writes a column, 'Mount View' for its Dehradun and Chandigarh editions.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, 24 July 2011

http://www.dailypioneer.com/355688/Gorkhaland-Agreement-Will-prosperity-follow-peace.html

(The views expressed in the article are that of the author and do not represent the views of the editorial committee or the centre for land warfare studies).