Two BJP lawmakers on Tuesday raised the "language imposition" issue in the Darjeeling hills to which their Trinamul counterpart reacted sharply, saying the two leaders should have got facts right before speaking.
Language is a sensitive issue in the hills. In 2017, a violent 104-day strife was triggered by the language issue in the region.
BJP lawmakers — Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Kurseong MLA B.P. Sharma (Bajgain) — on Tuesday issued statements hinting that the state government was imposing Bengali language across the state.
The legislators’ reaction was based on media reports.
Some media outlets reported that Bengali would be made compulsory in private institutions across the state and the decision to this effect was taken during Monday's state cabinet meeting.
Based on them, Bista issued a statement stating: “I have received many messages of concern following the WB Cabinet decision to impose Bengali as a compulsory language in all private English medium schools in the state.”
“Bengali is one of the most beautiful, expressive and sweet languages in the world, and those who want to learn it will do so out of their own free will. But in imposing Bengali as a compulsory language to be learnt by all, the TMC Govt is undermining all other mother tongues that are indigenous to the state…,” Bista said.
Kurseong MLA B.P.Bajgain also wrote a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday afternoon asking her to “re-evaluate the decision to impose Bengali as a compulsory secondary language and respect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Hill, Terai and Dooars.”
Bengal education minister Bratya Basu, however, clarified early during the day that Bengali would not be imposed across the state.
“I want to clarify once again; people can learn the language that they want. For example in Darjeeling and hill areas if they want to learn Nepali, Nepali will be their first language, in Cooch Behar if Rajbonshis want to learn Rajbonshi, that will be the first language, same in Purulia…..in this three-language policy, importance will be given to the regional mother language,” said Basu.
Shanta Chhetri, the Rajya Sabha member of Trinamul, reacted sharply to the statements of the BJP MP and MLA. “The (BJP) legislators hold responsible positions and should act responsibly. They should have ascertained facts before making statements that can have serious repercussions across the state. They should stop playing with fire. We condemn their statements on the language issue," she said. “Language is such a sensitive issue and the BJP legislators should not look at burning the hills,” she added.
Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), an ally of Trinamul in the hills, also held a media conference on Tuesday and stated that although no notification had been issued, the party would not allow language to be imposed in the hills. “Education is a transferred subject to the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) and we will take our decision,” said Rajesh Chauhan, BGPM leader and GTA Sabha deputy chairman.
Later, both the BJP MP and MLA explained their actions.
“It is my duty to speak when our people raise any concern. The fact that they (state education minister Basu) had to come up with a clarification means something was amiss. Trinamul always looks to polarise people before any election. If the issue has been settled, it is fine as this is what we all want,” said Bista.
Sharma insisted he did not act in haste and instead reacted after listening to Basu. “He did not specifically talk about the Terai and the Dooars, which is why I raised the issue,” the MLA said.
The 2017 Gorkhaland agitation, which closed the hills for 104 days, was triggered primarily after a state minister said Bengali should be compulsorily taught in the state. Although no official notification was issued, the statement created huge controversy. Even a clarification by chief minister Mamata Banerjee that Bengali would not be imposed in hill schools did not pacify the region.
