Kalimpong, May 16:
A fresh wave of political debate has emerged in the hills following a thought-provoking poster campaign by renowned politician Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri at Damber Chowk on Thursday. The poster, carrying a bold message, asserts that “the only remaining model is the Sikkim-Darjeeling merger.” This has stirred significant discussion in Darjeeling’s political circles, raising critical questions about the current directionless political climate.
Dr. Chettri expressed deep concern, describing the present era as a “time of political absurdity.” According to him, people have become fearful of even mentioning fundamental issues in Darjeeling today. Concepts like PPS (Permanent Political Solution), once widely discussed among the public, remain largely misunderstood in their true essence.
He reminded the public that although the Government of India had promised a PPS, the region has elected four Members of Parliament over the years without being able to achieve that goal. Dr. Chettri questioned the lack of tangible outcomes despite having both representation and government support. He emphasized that the government has made it clear—implicitly if not explicitly—that the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state is no longer on the table.
The central theme of his posters revolves around the potential merger of Sikkim and Darjeeling. According to Dr. Chettri, political parties in the hills have yet to deeply grasp the core issues. He posed vital questions: What can actually be achieved? And what kind of strategy is required to achieve it?
He highlighted that the Gorkha National Congress and other leaders like Bikramaditya Rai have long been advocating for the idea of Sikkim-Darjeeling unification. He mentioned that a recent seminar held in Kalimpong also reflected continued exploration of this concept by various political groups.
Dr. Chettri underscored a key point: the demands and concerns of the hill region have been clearly communicated to the Indian government through the formation of a “Standing Committee.” He revealed that the Sixth Schedule (a constitutional provision for tribal governance), accompanied by documents signed by the late Subash Ghisingh, has already been submitted to the authorities.
Acknowledging past opposition, Dr. Chettri clarified that the Sixth Schedule is not entirely unacceptable. If certain provisions that negatively affect the public are revised, it could still serve as a potential solution.
In his view, the Sikkim-Darjeeling unification is not just a feasible option but could provide a much-needed clear direction to the region’s currently aimless politics. He announced plans to launch similar awareness campaigns in Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kurseong. Citing Damber Babu’s earlier efforts to build an all-India level organization, Dr. Chettri expressed his intent to revive and strengthen that initiative.
This bold poster campaign and statement by Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri has sparked serious debate about the present and future of politics in Darjeeling. Whether political parties can now take responsibility and formulate a collective agenda in the interest of the hills—or if the people will once again be pushed back for another five years—remains to be seen.