India signed an "historic" deal on Monday granting autonomy to an ethnic group in the Himalayan tea-growing area of Darjeeling that has fought for decades for a homeland.
The agreement between the federal government, the state of West Bengal in India's east and a political group leading the Gorkha protesters was sealed in the scenic village of Pintail, about 600 kilometres (380 miles) from Kolkata. Indian Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have led a violent campaign since the 1980s demanding that the separate state of Gorkhaland be carved out of West Bengal's mountainous district of Darjeeling.
The newly created Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will have powers to manage public works, social welfare, education, health and forests in administrative areas under its mandate.
Newly elected West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee it as a "historic day" that would end the violence in the popular tourism spot, where decaying infrastructure is a legacy of decades of neglect. "There is nothing to fear... Bengal is not being divided. Darjeeling is close to our heart and it will now smile," added the mercurial leader, who ended 34 years of continuous Marxist rule in her state in May.
"There will be an elected local body, there will be schools, colleges, hospitals, jobs will be available and Darjeeling will shine," said Banerjee, who has pledged to develop Darjeeling along the lines of Switzerland.
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