BJP uses Gorkha Bill to corner Left Front

Party will not let the Bill be passed, which means it must be referred to the standing committee.

Finding the Left in a tight spot over unrest in the Darjeeling area of West Bengal, the BJP has positioned itself into not giving either the state government or the Left parties any political respite.

It has decided it will not help the government pass the Bill, which will give constitutional validity to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in a hurry. The West Bengal government is desperately pinning its hopes on this Bill to defuse tension in the area.

As it is a constitutional amendment Bill, at least 50 per cent members have to be present in the House during the voting and among them, at least two-thirds have to support the Bill.

Therefore, the measure can't be passed without the BJP's support. Government managers were still trying to find a solution but till late evening no compromise had been reached. State Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattarjee met senior BJP leader LK Advani in the evening to attempt a compromise.

The BJP's stand means the Bill will have to be referred to the standing committee, which means a delay of three to four months. The Central government, to help out its Left partners, wants to pass it in Parliament by bypassing the standing committee.

If the BJP cooperates, the legislation to create an autonomous self-governing Council, called the Gorkha Hill Council, could be passed as early as Tuesday in the Lok Sabha and Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha.

BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj made it clear the party would not allow the Bill to be passed in haste. "This is an important Bill and it should be referred to the standing committee," she said.

For the BJP, this will be a chance to show that law and order in West Bengal has worsened. The BJP will use issues related to Singur, Nandigram and Taslima Nasreen, and now Darjeeling, to beat the ruling Left coalition with.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said, "It is the prerogative of the chair to decide which Bill is to be referred to the standing committee. There is no hard and fast rule."

The state government is worried that Subhas Ghising, leader of the Gorkha Council, may take this opportunity to start a fresh agitation for a separate state. Darjeeling, located near the Nepal border, has strategic significance. Neither the state nor the Centre wants any disturbance in the area. The Left-ruled state, already reeling under several political problems, wants to appease the council at any cost.

The new council will enjoy the benefits of a "parallel government". It will be empowered to make its own laws on education, agriculture and health. At present, council laws have to be approved by the state government but under the new system, it will send legislation directly to the governor.

Apart from the usual funds, the council will get Rs 30 crore extra from the Planning Commission every year. It will also be able to levy local taxes at will.