New Delhi: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) activists have initiated a series of black flag protests across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and nearby regions. The demonstrations, which began on August 5, are aimed at urging the Indian government to expedite the implementation of a ‘permanent political solution’ (PPS) for the region.
PPS is an undefined term from the Bhartiya Janata Party’s 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto which was widely interpreted as a Gorkhaland state but the saffron party has never officially confirmed this. The term was first used by GNLF founder Subash Ghisingh in an open letter to the Union government, it is believed.
The black flags initiative has come in the wake of GNLF president Man Ghisingh’s July 27 speech, on the occasion of Martyr’s Day, where he called for an intellectual movement to press the government for action.
While speaking to the Sikkim Express, Singh said that flags represent the Gorkha community’s dissatisfaction with the Union government’s failure to meet their demands and that this gesture should not be misinterpreted as anything other than a peaceful expression of displeasure.
GNLF leader Kishore Loksam said that the movement would persist in a peaceful, democratic manner until justice is served. “Now the government must deliver justice to the Gorkhas. Until we receive justice, we will continue this movement in a democratic manner,” Loksam said.
On August 5, senior GNLF leader and BJP MLA Neeraj Tamang Zimba, speaking on the issue at the state assembly, said that the Gorkha community has been consistently denied political and constitutional justice within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
Zimba referenced a 2017 statement by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in which she said that the resolution of such matters lies with the Union government and Parliament. He also criticised the 1954 merger of Darjeeling Hills and surrounding areas with West Bengal under the Absorbed Area (Laws) Act, describing it as unjust and unconstitutional.
“I understand that terms like ‘Separation,’ ‘Division,’ ‘Disintegration,’ and ‘Bifurcation’ carry negative implications,” Zimba said, urging the assembly to see the Gorkha Homeland Movement as an opportunity to rectify this historical oversight.
Acknowledging that many among his own party do not support a separation from West Bengal, Zimba said it is not just about separation but historical injustice. “Justice must not be denied. Justice must not be delayed. Our demand is for demerger from West Bengal to correct a historical wrong that has persisted for too long,” he added.
Martyr’s day speech
“The announcement that I made on Saheed Diwas was done without any discussion with our party. I did it as a Gorkha,” Man Ghising told the Sikkim Express.
Ghisingh maintained that his future statements and actions would be as a swabhiman Gorkha. He said the people in the hills should not be confused in regard to the announcement for putting up of black flags.
“In the hills, this type of politics has always been prevalent, with some claiming that due to the Union [government], this is being done to bring disturbance in the hills, while others believe that the state government is responsible. We should all not believe this. This is not about creating disturbance but about expressing our sadness and dissatisfaction. If we Gorkhas cannot do even that, the future looks grim for us,” he added.
