As the head of what has increasingly become a lame duck administration, state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has proved to be thoroughly unfit to head a government. With neither the GJM nor the centre having any confidence in the state administration to maintain the rule of law, the very future of the North Bengal districts hangs in the balance.

It has been a rude shock to the state government to learn that the centre would not send in army units to the affected areas simply because the state police cannot be expected to do its primary duty of maintaining order. The message to Bhattacharjee and the Left front could not be clearer: as the elected government, it is their duty to sort out their problems, from the beginning to the end. This is precisely the responsibility Bhattacharjee and his colleagues have been consistently shirking, ever since the GJM launched their movement for Gorkhaland from 2007.

As violence broke out on Feb 8 as a GJM processions sought to violate sec 144 CrPC orders and move forcibly into Dooars areas, leading to the police action that followed, several questions remained unanswered. Why was there no intelligence with the state police about the impending trouble brewing? Why was the administration caught unprepared for the rampant destruction of government property in the hills?

Since 2007, the GJM has on umpteen occasions shown itself as a totally undependable, irresponsible outfit whose leaders are not exactly noted for their truthfulness, or a deep knowledge of the history of Darjeeling, which they distort at their own sweet will! Whenever they have professed their Gandhian ways, their words have been followed by massive outbreaks of disruptive violence which GJM leaders have then attributed to local people. It has been no exception this time either.

The fact is the original inhabitants of Darjeeling are the native Lepchas and Bhutias, among other tribes. It is much later that Gorkhas and Nepalis illegally moved in large numbers to the area, mostly thrown out of Bhutan for their anti-social activities. The Lepchas or Bhutias do not want Gorkhaland. The Communists took a typically opportunist position by encouraging the illegal immigration, seeing in them a potential vote bank. Incidentally, the left front adopts a similar welcoming attitude towards illegal migrants from Bangladesh, too endangering national security.

Kolkata-based Nepali analysts have wondered why the state government attaches such importance to Mr. Bimal Gurung and his breakaway outfit, the GJM. “Why are Gurung and the GJM accepted as the sole representatives of peoples” sentiments? The man had some criminal charges pending against him. Earlier, the government pinned all its faith on Ghishing, who got his way simply by threatening and browbeating the Left. Now Gurung is doing the same. Neither Ghishing nor Gurung, who was Ghishing’s deputy, really care about peoples” welfare in Darjeeling. Where have the crores of rupees spent by the centre and the state over two decades through Ghishing and his GNLF, have gone? “, asked an analyst. ”It seems the left front understands and submits only to the language of violence and force, learning nothing out of its experience with the GNLF.”

Even as a clueless administration ran to the centre for help, a statement issued by Chief Minister Bhattacharjee made pathetic, even ludicrous, reading in the circumstances. He appealed to people to maintain calm and not disrupt normal life — this, after government property, in the shape of offices, libraries, power installations, tourist lodges and several vehicles worth Rs 50 crore , had been destroyed! No wonder his bete noire, Trinamool Congress leaders pilloried him for his utter failure to make any progress in handling the situation in North Bengal.

An indefinite bandh called by the GJM has been called in Darjeeling even as local people openly express their disgust with frequent work disruptions. The local economy, especially the tea and tourism sectors have been hit hard. Press reports from the area quote indignant people asking why the state government does not move in and try to restore order. But a cowardly administration led by a pathetic bunch of political leaders cannot be expected to be so bold. (IPA Service)