BJP state chief’s no to Gorkhaland.... HITTING BACK Furious GJM lashes out, threatens to lodge complaint against Dilip Ghosh

Amitava Banerjee, HT, 29 December 2016, DARJEELING: While the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has been pinning its hopes on ally BJP to fulfil the Gorkhaland demand, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh made it clear that his party does not support the separate state demand. The party, however, wants to work for the uplift and development of the Gorkhas residing throughout the country.

Dilip Ghosh has said the creation of a separate state is the discretion of the central government.

The GJM has threatened to lodge a complaint against Ghosh with the BJP central leadership for his anti-Gorkhaland stance.

The GJM has been spearheading an agitation with the demand for a state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of West Bengal. In 2009 and 2014 parliamentary elections the GJM had supported the BJP candidate in tHITTING BACK Furious GJM lashes out, threatens to lodge complaint against Dilip Ghoshhe Darjeeling constituency. The BJP election manifestoes has assured of “sympathetically considering the longpending demand of the Gorkhas and Adivasis.”

The GJM has been interpreting the phrase “long pending demand of the Gorkhas” as “Gorkhaland.” Ridding piggyback on the Gorkhaland issue and backed by the GJM, the BJP candidates emerged victorious in both the 2009 and 2014 parliamentary elections from the Darjeeling constituency. ‘We are not for Gorkhaland as it is not in our manifesto or agenda. We will work for the upliftment and all round development of the 1 crore 25 lakh Gorkhas residing throughout India. Their contribution towards the security of this country and nation building is immense. We want the Gorkhas to enjoy all the facilities available and live with dignity in this country. The BJP wants an arrangement to ensure the all round development of the Gorkhas residing throughout the country,” said Ghosh.

Regarding the “long pending demand of the Gorkhas” that appears in the election manifesto of the party, Ghosh explained, “These are problems pertaining to the Hills. BJP wants development in the Hills hence the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was constituted. Since the formation of the GTA, the BJP-led central government has allotted many grants to ensure development. We hope that these funds are being used judiciously for the all round development of the masses. Whatever shortcomings are there can be resolved through dialogue.”

However, Ghosh stated that creation of a separate state is discretion of the central government. “Centre decides whether a state will be formed or not. Centre holds talks for this and talks are on. However, West Bengal Gorkhaland demand does not feature in West Bengal BJP’s agenda and that is clear. The GJM knows this and they are our allies,” said the state BJP chief.

The GJM raising vehement objections to Ghosh’s statement said, “The long pending demand of the Gorkhas is Gorkhaland and not development.

Gorkhaland is the aspiration of the Gorkhas residing throughout the country and not just the Hills. Ghosh is not above the constitution. The constitution allows the formation of separate state. Our demand is with the Centre and nothing to do with the state or Ghosh. As a Bengali, Dilip Ghosh will never support Gorkhaland,” said Roshan Giri, general secretary, GJM.

Giri further stated that such statements could spoil relations between the BJP and the GJM. Interestingly, Rahul Sinha, BJP national secretary addressing a rally in Darjeeling on December 17, 2015 had stated that the saffron party does not support the Gorkhaland demand.