Lieutenant-General Vijay Madan (retired), who was the final interlocutor to be appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2009, had give up in 2011.
The transfer coming forward of the West Bengal Assembly election assumes significance, particularly with the ruling Trinamool Congress persistently against the concept of bifurcation of the State.
Political events within the Darjeeling Hills have hailed the appointment of an interlocutor to carry discussions on the long-standing demand of a everlasting political answer for the individuals of the area.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista in a social media put up stated Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (retired), who served as India’s Deputy National Security Adviser (Deputy NSA), had been appointed interlocutor by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to debate points regarding individuals of the area.
“For the primary time within the historical past of our area, we have now reached the stage of appointing an interlocutor with none bloodshed, political unrest, or the lack of a single life. For us, this signifies a outstanding victory for the individuals of Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars,” Mr. Bista stated on social media.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) led by Bimal Gurung, a political celebration that has been elevating the demand for creation of a separate State of Gorkhaland for the previous twenty years, additionally welcomed the event.
“A everlasting answer beneath the Constitution of India for our area shouldn’t be solely very important for shielding the rights of the Gorkha group, but additionally important for the general progress and prosperity of your entire area and individuals who stay right here,” an announcement by Mr. Gurung stated.
‘A historic step’
The GJM chief thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for taking this optimistic step in the direction of resolving the considerations of the individuals from Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars area. Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), the political celebration that launched the motion for Gorkhaland within the Nineteen Eighties, hailed the choice as a historic step, reflecting the Indian authorities’s sensitivity, dedication, and simply strategy in the direction of resolving the Gorkha group’s points.
“The appointment is seen as a transfer to foster an inclusive and consultative course of, offering all stakeholders a possibility to current their views, ideas, and considerations constructively,” the GNLF stated in an announcement.
The Trinamool Congress, which has opposed the concept of bifurcation of the State, nevertheless, described the transfer as a political gimmick. Darjeeling district Trinamool congress president (Hills), L.B. Rai stated the transfer was a political gimmick forward of elections.
Earlier, in April 2025, the Union Home Ministry had convened a tripartite assembly with Gorkha representatives in New Delhi to deal with points regarding the Gorkha group.
The demand for creation of a separate State of Gorkhaland has been the fulcrum of politics within the hills because the Nineteen Eighties. In 2019, the BJP manifesto for Lok Sabha polls had referred to a phrase “everlasting political answer” for the area. In 2024, the BJP manifesto, nevertheless, had no point out of the phrase. The Darjeeling Hills have been electing BJP MPs and legislators who had the assist of the saffron celebration for the previous twenty years.
New Interlocutor Mr. Singh, a 1988 batch retired Indian Police Service officer, has additionally headed the Border Security Force as its Director General until December 31, 2022. In 2023, he was appointed Deputy NSA for 2 years.
On April 3, the MHA resumed dialogue with Gorkha representatives after a spot of greater than three years to deal with the problems regarding the group.
In the assembly chaired by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, the delegation which included Mr. Bista, demanded a everlasting answer to the Gorkhaland (separate State for Gorkhas) concern and grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) standing to 11 Gorkha sub-communities.
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