The tricky relationship between TMC and the Darjeeling Hills.

In a fiery statement in the Swaraja magazine, MP Shri Raju Bista accuses TMC leader and CM of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee of repressive politics and engaging in high level scams. This comes after the Calcutta High Court nullified the appointments of 1911 Group D teachers, 618 secondary level teachers, and 842 Group C staff in West Bengal schools. Trinamool Congress and CM Mamata Banerjee have always been in the center of multiple scandals related to scams and "ghotalas". From early allegations of involvement in scams such as Saradha, Basil etc, to Coal-related scams, Mining-related scams, Dairy scams, PWD scams, Education and Health scams to recent allegations in MGNREGA and SSC, CSC scams, CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC have not been strangers to allegations. 

The truth of the allegations can be debated as none were ever concretely linked to CM Mamata Banerjee herself. However the question does arise that, would she be aloof to such high level operations within her own organization ? Another interesting trend to note is that these scams have a disproportionately high rate of occurrence in the GTA region. With the Darjeeling Hills being a major focal point of the recent teacher recruitment scams. However the nature of the scams do change as in other regions money was the main means of appointment, however in the GTA region loyalty towards TMC was the main criteria of appointment. 

The Gorkhaland area has always been a major focal point of the politics of the TMC. The Gorkha-Bengali ethnic tensions have always been tricky at best, but CM Mamata Banerjee has been adding fuel to the fire for a long time. In repeated statements she has said that she is strongly against dividing Bengal and creating Gorkhaland, despite the fact that this is what majority of political parties in the Hills have wanted. Excluding the creation of a new state, a unique environment in which the Gorkhas could be allowed to self govern was also not encouraged by the CM. On the contrary, in 2017 CM Mamata Banerjee announced the introduction of Bengali as a compulsory subject in the curriculum. This was not well received by the Nepali speaking Gorkhas who would go on to demand for statehood a second time creating a state of  revolution in the Hills for the second time. 

The subsequent lockdown of the Hills for 104 days ultimately benefitted CM Mamata who has always been against the BJP. The Gorkha Bengali tensions have caused Darjeeling to become Bengal's Kashmir. "In the hills, a Nepali-Bengali fight will strengthen the Trinamool in north Bengal, is what Mamata Banerjee thinks," says Dilip Ghosh, MP from Medinipur, WB. The conflict in Darjeeling provides a sentimental emotion among Bengalis creating an us vs them narrative that CM Mamata Banerjee can exploit to gather supporters who are otherwise divided. Her stand against Gorkhaland has helped her create a distinct Bengali nationalism which is her main stance against the BJP. 

After the 2017 revolt against her, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was established by CM Mamata Banerjee to provide solutions to the problems that were plaguing the hills. This succeeded the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, founded by the Central Government and hoped to be an improvement on it. However in the six years since its inception, the GTA has been at best a name change and at worst creating more problems than it promised to solve. The issues of the Hills that caused the Gorkhas to revolt for a separate state lie the same at best and have become even more serious at worst. The rights and wages of the tea garden workers still remain unchecked. The development and protection of the culture of Gorkhas has in fact seen decline. The development of the infrastructure is only skin deep and the problems of traffic, residence and waste are inflated as Gorkhaland tries to develop without proper infrastructure. 

On the cultural front the Hills remain more divided than ever. The establishment of individual boards for the various tribes was done in order to protect their unique cultures and traditions. However disproportionate development and funding of these boards led to the growth of resentment and strife among the communities. Kalimpong was encouraged to grow out of the shadow of Darjeeling, with promises of development and power. However the creation of the new district has led to Kalimpong regressing and not developing as the inadequate infrastructure of the town cannot cope with its growth. It has also led to an alienation of the town and further divide among the people.

The extent of scams and "ghotalas" has also been notably higher in the hills. This has notably stifled the growth and development as the funds never make it to the projects. Many Gorkhas accuse the GTA of being a revolving door of funds in which state funds are re-distributed back among high ranking TMC officials. The Darjeeling Chronicle has done a fascinating exploration of the teacher recruitment scams in the Hills, and it clearly points to a disproportionate and discriminatory treatment of Gorkhas. The issue of Gorkhaland never seemed more relevant. 

Written by Ariyaan Moktan.