The agitation demanding a separate state for the Gurkhas of Darjeeling and the neighbourhood areas is nothing but a Chinese fuelled separatist movement to capture more borderlands in northern regions through Nepal.

You can’t just create a state just for a specific ethnic group and name it. Apart from Gurkhas there are lots of Bhutiyas, Lepchas, Sherpas, Marwaris and Bengalis in that region. Even from Nepali language speaking perspective in 3 different Indian states Nepali speaking populations are Assam- 1.91%, Uttarakhand-1.05%, West Bengal -1.27%. Then why do they demand Gorkhaland only in West Bengal? Reason: China’s lust for chicken neck aka Siliguri corridor.

It is the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) that is playing petty ethnic hatred politics and engages vandalism. The murderous attacks on Police, CRPF in later 1980s is well known. Torching CRPF vehicles, blocking food supplies to everyone except one community, stopping children going to schools, along with death of 1200 people for 2 years in 1986-1988. Nepal supported Subhas Ghising’s movement in that time and still backing GJM activities now. Apart from doing violence GJM never proposed their policies clearly. Is the intention just to grab some land and enjoy all power? They are proposing the borders with Jaigon, the border crossing to Bhutan and Raigonj, which shares a border with Nepal. If Gorkhaland is formed, its corrupt murderous leaders would also be the first recipients of Chinese goods coming from Nathula Pass Trade Route. It will be easier for China to do more illegal trade.

Recent incidents also sharply indicate Chinese influence on Gurkhas through Nepal. The Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand requested all Gurkhas not to fight against China on behalf of India amid India-China border tension followed by killing of Indian troops in Galwan valley. Kathmandu accepted Chinese proposal to make Mandarin mandatory in Nepal’s schools.

How crucial Beijing has become to Nepal economically over some years is significant. In 2019 trade volume between China and Nepal reached to $1.5 Billion, 170,000 Chinese tourists came to Nepal (2019) and China gave about $106 million grant. When Sub Inspector Amitabha Mallik was killed in 2017 and others injured to catch Bimal Gurung in Tukvar, Patlaybas area (who was hiding in Sikkim and tried to enter Darjeeling), further investigation revealed that Chinese currencies are being used in huge amount even in the remote villages of Sikkim. Also, during the same 2017 Darjeeling violence, Sikkim ex-CM Pawan Chamling backed the demands of the separate Gorkhaland.

Connecting these dots- the intention of this separatists’ movement is very clear – grab power and open the business for China. After seizing Tibet in the 1950’s, China has been eyeing the five areas. Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim being part of India can only be taken through an open conflict. While it has been putting pressure on Bhutan to acquire some of its territories, but because of India-Bhutan treaties, it could not do much. In this context its efforts were brought to a halt by India at Doklam. Therefore, Nepal is where China focused its attention and has been able to gain considerable influence plus funding the Gorkhaland movement. China is developing the trans-Himalaya rail link with Kathmandu and later plans to extend it to the border with India. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China is being extended to Nepal. It includes a road from Kathmandu to Rasuwagadhi as an alternative to the Totapani road and another from Kathmandu to Kerung.

Such links with Tibet will be helpful for Nepal to access Chinese products more easily and eventually they will be smuggled into India. There is one full regiment of Gurkhas in the Indian army (approximately 20,000+ troops). Presently China is trying to induct Gurkhas into the Chinese army and at the same time discourage them from joining the Indian army. It will possibly make efforts to involve some of the Gorkha soldiers in the Indian army in intelligence work for China. Already China has extended this monetary aid to the Kathmandu-based non-government organisation (NGO) to carry out a study on the motivation behind the Gorkha community to join the Indian Army. Their whole plan is clear – Create Gorkhaland then Merge with Sikkim. Secede to Nepal and Make way for China to control Siliguri.

Image Source: Deccan Herald