A group of intellectuals from West Bengal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to restore normalcy in Darjeeling hills and opposing the demand for the creation of separate State of Gorkhaland.
“Contrary to the allegation of the hill people, the people of Bengal have always stood by them in their efforts to enrich their culture, language and the ethos with proper honour,” the letter states.
The signatories include Sahitya Akademi award winner Sirshendu Mukhopadhay, actor Rudra Prasad Sengupta, painters Gangesh Halui and Wasim Kapoor, Sanskrit scholar Nrishinga Prasad Bhaduri among other writers, actors and film makers.
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“We may also point out that further division of Bengal, as proposed… will be suicidal given the present status of Indo-Nepal relation and the possibility of the Siliguri corridor of India being turned into a geopolitical underbelly,” the letter warns.
The communication which has been sent to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee states that public life has been thrown out of gear due to ongoing agitation in the hills.
“ Unfortunately, their demand for further division of Bengal is getting generously indiscrete support from some political quarters operating from outside,” the letter said.
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