Darjeeling crisis: It's a choice between development & peace, and anarchy, says Derek O’Brien

Trinamool Congress (TMC) national secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, in an email interview with ET, on the ongoing crisis in Darjeeling, among other issues. Excerpts:

On the GJM saying that TMC has been reluctant in giving powers to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) that was promised autonomy six years back
The GJM has reneged on a key clause of the Memorandum of Agreement they signed in 2011. The Centre, the state government and the GJM had signed this tripartite agreement (in 2011, after TMC came to power in the state). The clause reads: ‘The GJM agrees to ensure that peace and normalcy will be maintained in the region.’ The GJM must follow this in letter and spirit. Honestly, this is not about parties winning or losing, but about democracy flourishing in the North Bengal hills.

There is another reason why the GJM is flustered. Since 2012, the GTA has received over Rs 1,000 crore and these accounts now need to be audited. Even their resignation from the GTA is a farce (all 45 elected members of the GTA, including chief Bimal Gurung, resigned from the body on Friday). There are only a few days left for the term to finish.

On whether Mamata Banerjee is ready for a dialogue with the GJM leaders
Mamata Banerjee has personally overseen developmental projects in the region. Uttarkanya, the secretariat for North Bengal, has been opened. Local people no longer need to travel to Kolkata to interact with the state administration. The Kalimpong sub-division has been made into a district and Mirik upgraded to a sub-division. Over 8,50,000 people have benefited from discounted medicines available at a wide network of fair price shops. Hundred per cent electrification, a long-standing demand in the hills of Bengal, has been achieved. A medical college is being set up in Kurseong. So the choice is very clear — on one side there is development and peace and on one side there is anarchy.

On the TMC’s focus in the Northeast
Trinamool was established in 1998. The Election Commission gave us national party status recently. We have 47 MPs and over 200 MLAs. Even though our base is in Bengal, we are now focusing on three or four states in the next few years. We want to grow organically.