Amit Shah Chairs Key Meeting On Permanent Solution For Bengal Hills

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a crucial meeting with political leaders and representatives from the Darjeeling hills to discuss a permanent political solution to the region's long-standing issues. The meeting was held at Sukna near Siliguri during Shah's three-day visit to north Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and several BJP leaders from the hill region attended the discussions.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and senior party leader Roshan Giri were also present, along with Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Mann Ghisingh and BJP MLAs representing the hill constituencies. The discussions are focused on addressing the political concerns of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and finding an arrangement within the constitutional framework. The long-pending demand for a permanent political solution has remained a key issue in the hills for decades.

The meeting comes after the BJP secured all six Assembly seats in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections with support from the GJM. The GJM leadership has expressed the expectation that the political issue in the hills can be addressed through coordination between the Centre and the state government. Gurung and Giri had also met Adhikari in Kolkata in July to discuss the demand and other concerns affecting the region.

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The political dispute in the Darjeeling hills has historically been linked to the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. Previous arrangements, including the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and later the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, were intended to address administrative and political concerns but have not provided a lasting resolution. The BJP had made a permanent political solution for the hills a pre-election commitment.

Apart from the larger political question, issues related to development and administration in the hills are also expected to feature in discussions. These include concerns involving teachers, tea gardens, transport and the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. The July meeting between the GJM leadership and the West Bengal government had also included discussions on replacing the GTA with a more enduring institutional arrangement.

Following Saturday's discussions, the Centre announced the formation of an intermediary committee headed by former IPS officer Pankaj Singh to examine the problems of the hills and work towards a permanent solution. The committee will submit its report to the Centre. The move marks a fresh attempt to address the political, administrative and development-related concerns of north Bengal's hill areas through discussions involving the Centre, state government and regional stakeholders.

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