Hillslide

The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in general and Subhash Ghising in particular are obstinately clinging on to their plea for Darjeeling to be declared a state separate from West Bengal. When the interests of the Darjeeling people in this issue are showing definite signs of fading out, Mr. Ghising is trying to leave no stones unturned, but in vain. After all, there is no reason why Darjeeling should stick to its long-drawn demand of being declared a separate state. West Bengal is well and truly a cosmopolitan state, with people from different corners of the country settling here peacefully and happily for various purposes since long. No way, the Gorkha and Nepali cultures are under threat from the other cultural groups found in the state. So, why continue to harp on the issue of separate statehood and disturb the socio-political and economic stability of the district?