West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly objected to the Centre’s decision to appoint retired IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as an interlocutor for discussions on Gorkha issues in Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee called the move “unilateral” and said it undermines the “spirit of cooperative federalism.”
Mamata Banerjee expressed her “shock and surprise” at the Union Government’s decision to appoint the interlocutor without any prior consultation with the West Bengal Government, despite the matter being directly related to governance and administrative stability in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) region.
She said the issues concerning the GTA — an autonomous body functioning under the West Bengal Government — require sensitive handling and cooperative engagement between the Union and the State.
Peace and Stability in Hills at Stake
Banerjee reminded the Prime Minister that the GTA was constituted after a Tripartite Agreement on 18 July 2011 between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the presence of the then Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
The GTA was formed to ensure the socio-economic, educational, cultural and linguistic development of the hill areas while preserving the ethnic identity of the Gorkha community.
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“There has been peace and harmony prevailing in the hill districts of our state,” she noted, adding that this stability was the result of “concerted and continuous efforts” by her government since 2011.
CM Urges PM to Reconsider Appointment
In the letter, Mamata Banerjee urged the Prime Minister to revoke the appointment order of the interlocutor, arguing that any initiative related to the Gorkha community or the GTA region must involve full consultation with the State Government.
She warned that unilateral action could disrupt the fragile peace in the region and stressed the importance of maintaining mutual respect between the Union and the States.
Full Text of Mamata Banerjee’s Letter to PM Modi
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 issues relating to Gorkhas in Darjeeling Hills, Tarai and Dooars regions of West Bengal.
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This appointment has been made without any consultation with the Government of West Bengal, even though the issues under reference directly relate to the governance, peace, and administrative stability of the area under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), an autonomous body under Government of West Bengal. Such unilateral action is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism that forms one of the foundational principles of our Constitution.
Here goes my letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, communicating my surprise and shock at the unilateral appointment by the Government of India of an interlocutor for the issues relating to Gorkhas in Darjeeling Hills, Tarai and Dooars regions of West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/nNN1OtqAeY
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 18, 2025
It may be recalled that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was constituted following a Tripartite Agreement signed on 18th July, 2011 at Darjeeling, between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), in the presence of the then Hon’ble Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was created to ensure socio-economic, infrastructural, educational, cultural and linguistic developments of the hill areas, while safeguarding the ethnic identity of the Gorkhas and promoting peaceful co-existence among all communities, a hallmark of the unity and harmony of the hills.
There has been peace and harmony prevailing in the hill districts of our state. This has been possible with the concerted and continuous efforts made by our government since it came to power in 2011. We are committed to continue with our positive efforts in that direction.
The Government of West Bengal, therefore, is firmly of the view that any initiative concerning the Gorkha community or the GTA region must be undertaken in full consultation with the State Government, in order to preserve the hard-earned peace and tranquillity in the region. Any unilateral action in this sensitive matter will not be in interest of peace and harmony in the region.
I would, therefore, request you to kindly re-consider and revoke this appointment order issued without prior and due consultation with the Government of West Bengal, as is expected in the true spirit of federalism and mutual respect between the Union and the States.
