Shah Meets Darjeeling Leaders Over Long-Pending Gorkhaland Demand

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened talks with political and community leaders from the Darjeeling hills region to discuss strategies for delivering on the BJP's pre-election pledge to address the long-standing Gorkhaland issue.

The meeting brought together representatives from various hill communities whose aspirations for separate statehood have remained unfulfilled since the 1980s. The Gorkha community and other residents of the region have consistently advocated for political autonomy and administrative independence from West Bengal.

The BJP had committed to finding a "permanent political solution" to the Darjeeling question as part of its electoral platform. The discussions reportedly centered on exploring constitutional and administrative frameworks that could accommodate the region's demands while maintaining national unity.

The Darjeeling hills have witnessed periodic unrest and political movements demanding separate statehood. Previous administrations have offered various forms of autonomy, including the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and later the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, though these have not fully satisfied community aspirations.

Shah's engagement with hill leaders signals the government's intent to pursue dialogue on the issue. The outcomes of these talks are expected to shape policy approaches toward resolving the region's political status in the coming months.