In a rare show of bonhomie between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP, the West Bengal Assembly on Monday, August 5th, 2024 unanimously passed a resolution opposing any attempt to divide the state, in other words crush any demands of self determination and nationality movement in the state. The Bidhan Sabha of West Bengal in a motion under the Rule 185, passed an unanimous decision in favour of Akhanda Bengal. The proposal was primarily initiated by some MLAs of TMC such as Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Arup Biswas, Baluchik Baraik, Nirmal Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Debashish Kumar and Sashi Pandra and was unanimously supported by all the BJP opposition such as leader of the opposition Suvendu Aadhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Shankhar Ghosh etc . BP Bajgain was not allowed by his own party BJP and also the speaker of Bidhan Sabha to speak in the assembly and he protested against the resolution by walking out of the house. "We believe in cooperative federalism. We are opposed to any attempt to divide the state," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said while speaking on the motion. The BJP, maintained that it is opposed to the idea of bifurcation of the state and asserted that it rather wants its development, especially of the northern parts. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari proposed the inclusion of a line in the motion: "We want overall development of united West Bengal." "We are against any attempt to divide West Bengal," he asserted. The proposal was accepted by Banerjee, paving the way for unanimous passage of the resolution. Amid demands from various quarters for a separate state of Gorkhaland, Greater Coochbehar Kamtapur and also for carving out a separate Union territory comprising northern West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress moved this resolution under Rule 185.
The West Bengal Assembly had passed a similar resolution through voice vote in February last year against attempts to divide the state. Looking at this rare political alignment between the two contending parties of West Bengal it is evident that both the BJP and TMC is against the formation of small states within the territory of India. Although TMC has maintained this stand right from its inception and it was also very clear to the people of Darjeeling but this should be an eye opener for all the ‘ blind followers’ of BJP from the region of North Bengal. For more than decade BJP has maintained a ‘fake solidarity’ with the people of Darjeeling and it was the Darjeeling constituency from where Jaswant Singh from BJP had first won its seat in West Bengal legislative assembly in 2009. The BJP has used the sentiments of the people of North Bengal especially Darjeeling Terai and Dooars into slowly gaining their entry into West Bengal Legislative assembly. And now, when it’s entry is guaranteed, BJP is trying to win the sentiments of ruling Bengali chauvinism by putting out it’s ‘ anti small state core ideology.’ Neither the BJP nor the TMC stands with the minorities and self determination aspirations of the oppressed nationality but all they propagate is parliamentary appeasement and communal disharmony. This exposure now stands clear and the people of North Bengal especially Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Terai and Dooars should realise this and get out of this trap of BJP’s hypocrisy and TMC’s authoritative political framework. This should also been an eye opener for all the regional political parties who have poisoned, pledged and polarised themselves into loyalty between the two parties. Theoretically speaking, this should also be an indicator that we should understand the fine difference and also the interdependence of development agenda and identity movement for the self aspirations of the people of North Bengal. While the majority of the people from North Bengal are dependent on tea garden economy and still the working class of tea gardens don’t receive a daily minimum wages. It is the working class of this region who have suffered the most loss and discrimination in every form. The ownership of land is changing its character and slowly but steadily land grabbing by the state government is rampantly increasing. The real motive behind it being the selling of land to the highest bidder for hospitality, industrialisation and enhancing tourism. If the local regional parties and the civil society of North Bengal especially Darjeeling,Kalimpong, Terai and Dooars do not understand this now, then the future of this region and it’s people is furthermore heading towards a deep abysmal crisis from which we may never overcome. The real question being, is this the end or the beginning?
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