Mamata Banerjee Protests Centre’s Move to Appoint Gorkha Issue Interlocutor

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lodging a strong protest against the Centre's recent decision to operationalise the office of an interlocutor for Gorkha-related issues in the Darjeeling hills, calling the move "unilateral, unconstitutional and politically motivated."

In her letter dated November 17, Banerjee reminded the Prime Minister of her earlier communication on October 18, in which she had urged him to reconsider and revoke the appointment of a retired IPS officer as the interlocutor.

The PMO had acknowledged the letter and advised the union Home Minister to examine the matter.

However, she expressed "grave concern" that despite this, the Ministry of Home Affairs went ahead and allowed the interlocutor's office to begin functioning, as communicated through a memo dated November 10.

Calling the development "shocking," the chief minister said the Centre's action had been taken without consultation or concurrence of the West Bengal government.

"This unilateral and arbitrary action is wholly unconstitutional, without jurisdiction, and devoid of any legal sanctity," she wrote.

Banerjee asserted that the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong subdivisions were governed by the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Act, 2011, legislation enacted by the West Bengal Assembly and backed by Presidential assent.

Under Section 2(h) of the Act, she said, the "appropriate government" is clearly defined as the Government of West Bengal, leaving no scope for the Centre to appoint any interlocutor in matters concerning these regions.

Terming the Centre's decision an "ultra vires, colourable and malafide exercise of power," Banerjee said it violated the constitutional distribution of powers between the union and the States.

"The appointment of an interlocutor to deal with issues already governed by a valid State law is a blatant encroachment upon the federal structure of the nation," she wrote, calling it an assault on the autonomy of West Bengal.

The Chief Minister underscored that the hill regions, once troubled by prolonged unrest, had remained peaceful and stable since 2011 due to administrative reforms and welfare measures undertaken by the state government.

The Centre's latest intervention, she warned, appeared to be a "politically motivated attempt to disturb the peace and stability of the region."

Banerjee said the West Bengal government "categorically rejects and strongly objects" to the Centre's "arbitrary and politically coloured interference," adding that such actions "erode the spirit of unity and mutual respect" foundational to India's federal democracy.

She concluded by urging the Prime Minister once again to intervene personally and revoke what she described as an unconstitutional and arbitrary order.