Nationalism of the Gorkhas and Issues of Bangladeshi Infiltration into West Bengal

Gorkhas’ have submitted memorandums many times, in the last 40 years, to scrap Article 7 of the Indo-Nepal peace treaty (1950). It reads as follows: ‘The Governments of India and Nepal agree to grant, on a reciprocal basis, to the nationals of one country in the territories of the other the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature’.

Indian Gorkhas have never been happy with Article 7 and, therefore, one of the main objectives, among others, of Gorkhaland Movement of the 1980s led by late Subash Ghishing was to scrap the Treaty.

This is the level of nationalism and loyalty of the Indian Gorkhas towards their country.

Now look at the case of West Bengal!
The Indo-Bangladesh border is a closed border and there is no free movement across. But if you look at the demographic trend of W. Bengal particularly in North Bengal in the last 70 years, you will be surprised!

The partition of the country led to large-scale resettlement of the Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh in the region. That is absolutely fine. It was need of the time.

However, after the creation of Bangladesh in the early 1970s, there has been a large-scale illegal immigration of the Bangladeshis into the State of West Bengal often encouraged by the successive state governments! Ironically, Mamata Banerjee, recently, even threatened Mr Modi to dare touch a Bangladeshi let alone repatriating her/him to Bangladesh.

You will be surprised to know that the percentage share of Hill populace in Darjeeling district has continuously gone down over the years. The share was around 72% in 1951; it went down to 65% by 1961, 54% by 1981, and 49% by 2011. Actually, the hills populace largely represented by the Gorkhas, are fast becoming minority in the district. This is what figures in the successive Census of India reports indicate!

The citizens of the country need to understand this double standard of West Bengal for the larger national security interest of the Country. This is a grave concern for all of us and India needs to seriously think and debate on this.