Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Darjeeling rally demands Gorkhaland statehood after nine-year hiatus
A group of people in a place called Darjeeling, in India, held a big rally to ask for their own state called Gorkhaland.
People in the hills have wanted this for a very long time.
Sunday's rally was the first big event for this demand in nine years.
A man named Sanjay Thulung led the rally.
He said his group will start a political party soon.
The organizers gave the central government three months to take concrete steps.
They warned that they will protest even harder if nothing happens.
Leaders of another group said the central government told them a new state is not possible right now.
Instead, they talked about giving the region a special type of administration, like one that already exists in another part of India.
But the people at the rally said they want a full state of Gorkhaland and nothing less.
Hundreds marched in Darjeeling on Sunday in the first major rally for Gorkhaland statehood in nine years.
Sanjay Thulung, a former Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha member, led the rally and said his yet-unnamed group would soon launch a political party.
Organizers gave the Centre a three-month deadline to take concrete steps, threatening to intensify the agitation if nothing is done.
The rally follows renewed talks on a permanent political solution under Bengal's new BJP government, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit the hills, while slogans were directed at Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders claimed Amit Shah told the party in 2024 that a separate state was not possible and suggested a Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)-like arrangement.
- Who
- Sanjay Thulung, a former GTA Sabha member leading a yet-unnamed group, along with supporters from the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), the Gorkhaland Activist Samuha and the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM).
- What
- A rally demanding the creation of Gorkhaland as a separate state, with a three-month deadline given to the central government.
- When
- Held on a Sunday, nine years after the last major agitation (the GJM's 104-day general strike in 2017); a follow-up rally in Mirik is planned for August 20.
- Where
- Darjeeling, West Bengal; the march went from Darjeeling railway station to Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall.
- Why
- To press for Gorkhaland statehood amid renewed discussions on a permanent political solution promised in the BJP's 2019 election manifesto.
Gorkhaland statehood activists
GJM leadership and reported Centre position
Type of political solution
Gorkhaland statehood activists
Rallyists, led by Sanjay Thulung, reject the existing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and any arrangement on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Region, insisting on full statehood.
GJM leadership and reported Centre position
GJM leaders have spoken of a 'Gorkhaland Territorial Region' on the lines of the BTR, and general secretary Roshan Giri claimed Amit Shah told the party in 2024 that a separate state was not possible at the moment.
Path to resolution
Gorkhaland statehood activists
Thulung's group will wait three months and intensify the agitation if the Centre does not take concrete steps toward forming a Gorkhaland state.
GJM leadership and reported Centre position
The Bengal government says it is committed to a permanent political solution through negotiations with all stakeholders.
- Demand
- Separate Gorkhaland state
- Rally leader
- Sanjay Thulung, former GTA Sabha member
- Rally route
- Darjeeling railway station to Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall
- Deadline to Centre
- Three months
- Last major agitation
- GJM's 104-day general strike in 2017
- Next planned rally
- Mirik on August 20
- Governor's commitment
- Governor R.N. Ravi said Bengal is committed to a 'permanent political solution' (June 18)
- Reported Centre position
- Amit Shah reportedly told GJM in 2024 that statehood was not possible now and suggested a BTR-like provision