Siliguri (WB), Aug 22 (PTI) The Centre on Saturday constituted a committee to draft an agreement and finalise modalities for a "permanent political solution" to the Gorkha identity issue in the Darjeeling hills and its adjacent areas, officials said after a key tripartite meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gorkha leaders and the West Bengal government.The meeting aimed to find a roadmap for the BJP-promised "permanent political solution" to the long-standing issues and demands of the hill people and their recognition under the ambit of the Constitution."All issues relating to the hill population of West Bengal were discussed in detail. Their demands pertaining to a distinct identity, a permanent political solution and recognition under the Constitution of India were taken up. The Union home minister promised a permanent political solution soon under the umbrella of the Constitution," a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said "To finalise modalities, it was decided to form a committee under Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, former deputy national security advisor and current interlocutor, to finalise the details regarding the final agreement that will be drafted towards a permanent political solution for the people of the hill areas of West Bengal under the Constitution of India," the statement added.

Shah, the release said, also promised to sympathetically look into all other demands of the community."He said that adequate funding from the Centre will ensure all pending issues are taken care of," the communication addedThe meeting, held at a hotel in Sukna in the Darjeeling foothills on the third and final day of Shah's visit to the state, was chaired by the Union home minister and attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and leaders of various political parties of the hills and other stakeholders of the region. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, and the party's senior leader Roshan Giri, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Mann Ghisingh, several state ministers and BJP MLAs from the hills, besides senior officials of the state government were among those present at the meeting. Also present were BJP MPs Raju Bista and Harshvardhan Singla, MoS, Hill Affairs Bishal Lama, MLAs Bharat Chettri, Sonam Lama and Noman Rai, among others.In October, 2025, the MHA had appointed Pankaj Kumar Singh, a retired IPS officer and former DG, BSF who also remained the deputy national security advisor from 2023-25, as the official government interlocutor for the issues related to Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai.

His role focuses on leading political dialogue and addressing long-standing demands of the Gorkha community.BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said that Saturday's meeting was held on a historic day since it coincided with the date of signing of the Gorkha accord in 1988.The accord, signed between the Centre, the West Bengal government and the GNLF, had led to the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) following a violent agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland."The history of struggle of the hill communities spans over four decades during which the previous Left and TMC government trampled over the aspirations of the hill people. The sacrifice made by our people involves nearly 2,000 people who were martyred, over 5,000 people displaced and women tortured and raped," he alleged.Bista said that while representatives of the various communities put forth their concerns and expectations at the meeting, Adhikari also spoke on how he intends to address the issues of the hill people.

"After hearing out all stakeholders, Shah summed up the meeting by elucidating how a permanent solution to the issues could be reached in the days ahead," the MP said.GJM leader Roshan Giri said the Gorkha leadership was committed to finding a solution through constitutional means and would work with the Centre in the process."Union Home Minister Amit Shah has clearly said that whatever solution is reached to address the issue will have to be under the constitutional framework. I am in favour of a constitutional solution and have put forward my suggestions in accordance with that," Giri told reportersAttempts made by previous state governments to address the Gorkha identity issue through arrangements such as the establishment of the DGHC and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) have, arguably, failed to secure long-term peace, economic prosperity and political stability in the region.Agencies