West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of violating the spirit of cooperative federalism by appointing former IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as an interlocutor to resolve issues in North Bengal’s hills without consulting the state government.
In a strongly worded letter to Modi, Mamata said she was “surprised and shocked” to learn of the Centre’s unilateral decision. She alleged that the move could “undermine the administrative and social stability of the state” and disrupt the peace that has been maintained in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) region.
“I am surprised and shocked to know that the Government of India has appointed Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd) as an interlocutor to hold discussions on the issue relating to Gorkhas in Darjeeling Hills, Tarai and Dooars region of West Bengal. This appointment has been made without any consultation with the Government of West Bengal, even though the issues under reference directly relate to governance, peace, and administrative stability of the area under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), an autonomous body under Government of West Bengal,” Mamata wrote in her letter to the Prime Minister.
She further stated that “such unilateral action is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism that forms one of the functional principles of our Constitution.”
Mamata emphasised that any step concerning the Gorkha community or the GTA region must be taken in full consultation with the state government. “Any unilateral action in this sensitive matter will not be in the interest of peace and harmony in the region,” she added.
The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to revoke the appointment of the interlocutor and ensure that the state government is consulted before taking similar decisions in the future.
The Centre’s appointment of Singh was welcomed by BJP MP from Darjeeling Raju Bista and several other hill leaders. Bista also met Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung on Saturday to discuss the issue and thanked the Prime Minister for the decision.
Various Gorkha organisations have long been demanding a permanent political solution for the hills, including the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state comprising Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and parts of the Terai-Dooars region, as well as recognition of 11 hill tribes under the Scheduled Tribes category.
According to sources in Nabanna, the state secretariat, the Chief Minister views the Centre’s decision as a serious breach of protocol in a matter that directly affects state governance. Officials say Mamata’s letter carries a significant message aimed at preserving Centre-State harmony and ensuring that the fragile peace in the hills remains undisturbed.
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