Gorkhaland agitation to continue? Modi govt maintains ‘wait and watch’ policy

The Centre said that there was no proposal to form a panel to look into Gorkhaland demand.

New Delhi, July 26: It looks like the Centre is in no mood to look into the demand of the Gorkhas, residing in the hills of West Bengal, for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre made it clear that there was no proposal to constitute a committee to look into the separate state demand of the Gorkhas in Darjeeling and its adjoining areas.

The Narendra Modi government revealed its stand in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"There is no proposal to appoint a committee to look into the merits and demerits of the demands of the Gorkhas, Adivasis and others," Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply to a question in the Lower House of Parliament.

The statement clearly indicated that as of now the Centre wants to maintain a "wait and watch policy" as far as the Gorkhaland issue is concerned.

The hills in North Bengal have been witnessing an indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, since June 12.

The indefinite bandh called by the pro-Gorkhaland supporters entered its 42nd day on Wednesday.

"Violence and damage to public property have been reported during the agitations," said Ahir.

He added that according to the Constitution, the states were primarily responsible for the maintenance of law-and-order.

The Centre, on a request from a state government, provided assistance by sending Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel, said the minister.

Similarly, CAPF battalions were provided to the West Bengal government as well for the maintenance of law-and-order in the Darjeeling hills, he added.

OneIndia News