Centre names interlocutor to hold talks with Gurkhas
The Center has appointed former Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Kumar Singh as interlocutor to hold talks with Gurkha representatives to address their political demands, including the call for a separate State, officials said on Friday.
Lieutenant General Vijay Madan (retired), the last interlocutor appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2009, resigned in 2011.
The move, which comes ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, assumes significance especially as the ruling Trinamool Congress has consistently opposed the idea of bifurcation of the State.
Political parties in the Darjeeling Hills welcomed the appointment of an interlocutor to discuss the long-standing demand of the people of the region for a permanent political solution.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, in a social media post, said that IPS (retired) Pankaj Kumar Singh, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) of India, has been appointed as the interlocutor by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to discuss issues concerning the people of the district.
“For the first time in the history of our region, we have reached the stage of appointing an interlocutor without any bloodshed, without political unrest, without a single loss of life. For us, this means a remarkable victory for the people of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars,” Bista said on social media.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), led by Bimal Gurung, the political party that has been raising the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State for the last two decades, also welcomed this development.
“A permanent solution for our region under the Constitution of India is not only vital for the protection of the rights of the Gorkha community but also for the overall progress and well-being of the entire region and the people living in it,” a statement by Mr. Gurung said.
‘A historic step’
The GJM leader thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for taking this positive step towards resolving the concerns of people in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars region. Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), the political party that started the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s, hailed the decision as a historic step that reflects the Indian government’s sensitivity, determination and fair approach towards resolving the problems of the Gorkha community.
“The appointment is seen as a move to promote an inclusive and consultative process that provides all stakeholders with the opportunity to present their views, suggestions and concerns constructively,” GNLF said in a statement.
However, the Trinamool Congress, which opposes the idea of bifurcation of the state, termed the move as a political gimmick. Darjeeling district Trinamool congress president (Hills), L B Rai, said the move was a political ploy ahead of the elections.
Earlier, in April 2025, the Union Home Ministry had held a tripartite meeting with Gorkha representatives in New Delhi to address issues related to the Gorkha community.
The demand for a separate Gorkhaland State has been a mainstay of politics in the hills since the 1980s. In 2019, the BJP manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls had referred to a “permanent political solution” for the region. However, this statement was not mentioned in the 2024 BJP manifesto. Darjeeling Hills has been electing BJP MPs and legislators who have enjoyed the support of the saffron party for the last two decades.
New Interlocutor Mr. Singh, a 1988-batch retired Indian Police Service officer, also served as Director General of Border Security Force till December 31, 2022. Appointed NSA Acting Director in 2023 for two years.
On April 3, the MHA resumed dialogue with Gorkha representatives after a gap of more than three years to address issues concerning the community.
At the meeting chaired by Home Minister Nityanand Rai, the delegation, including Mr. Bista, demanded a permanent solution to the Gorkhaland (separate state for Gorkhas) issue and granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to 11 Gorkha sub-communities.
It was published – 18 October 2025 05:00 IST
