KalimNews, March 26, 2025, Kolkata: After a gap of three years and five months, the Ministry of Home Affairs has scheduled the second round of tripartite talks to address the long-standing issues of the Gorkha community. The meeting will take place on April 2, 2025, at 11 A.M. in the North Block, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista confirmed that he received an invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs for this crucial meeting, which will involve the Central Government, the West Bengal Government, and stakeholders from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars regions. He expressed confidence that the discussions would be productive and lead to positive developments for the region.
Bista reiterated that the Union Government remains dedicated to resolving the aspirations of the Gorkha people through peaceful dialogue and a holistic approach that takes into account the concerns of all stakeholders. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their commitment to addressing historical issues and ensuring justice for the people of Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars. He expressed gratitude to the leadership for prioritizing the well-being and development of the region.
The first round of tripartite talks was convened by Home Minister Amit Shah on October 12, 2021, in an effort to find a resolution to the region’s concerns. This meeting saw participation from representatives of the Central Government, the West Bengal Government, and stakeholders from the Gorkha community. At the time, the Union Home Minister had assured all parties that a second round of talks would be held in November 2021, with the participation of senior officials from the West Bengal Government. However, this meeting did not take place as planned.
During the first meeting, the West Bengal Government was specifically requested to send senior officials to participate in further discussions. The Union Government emphasized that the all-round development and prosperity of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars region remains a top priority. The Gorkha community has long sought political recognition and separation from West Bengal, citing linguistic, cultural, and traditional differences as the basis for their demand.
The previous meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah was attended by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and MP from Alipurduar John Barla, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Anil Kumar Jha, Registrar General of India Vivek Joshi, and Principal Resident Commissioner of West Bengal Krishna Gupta, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
On behalf of the Gorkha community, the delegation included Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba, Kurseong MLA B.P. Bajgain, Kalchini MLA Bishal Lama, GNLF Chief Mann Ghising, CPRM Chief R.B. Rai, GoRaNiMo Chief Dawa Pakhrin, ABGL Chief Pratap Khati, and SuMuMo Chief Bikash Rai.
As the second round of talks approaches, expectations are high for meaningful progress toward a resolution that addresses the concerns and aspirations of the Gorkha community. The upcoming meeting is anticipated to be a significant step forward in ensuring a fair and just outcome for the people of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars region.
