BJP leader's different voices

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Aug 28, 2018, Darjeeling: When in opposition, senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy had famously addressed the public from Kalimpong in 2009 stating that he was hopeful that he would be celebrating Independence Day in a separate state of Gorkhaland the following year.

In power for the past four years, Rudy, who was also a minister of state in Narendra Modi's cabinet for nearly two years, has a different narrative all together. Rudy, who was perceived to be close to former BJP Darjeeling MP, Jaswant Singh, during his address at the Independence Day celebration in Kalimpong in 2009 had famously said that he hoped to celebrate I-day in a separate state of Gorkhaland "next year".

I-day celebration in Kalimpong is among the biggest events in the region which carries on for three days. Rudy's statement, therefore, was not looked up as an off-the-cuff remark by the hill people.

On Monday, Rudy was in Kalimpong, as chairman of standing committee on water resources. He talked about the "state government's role" and the need for "consensus".

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the committee's meeting, Rudy was reminded of his Kalimpong speech.

He said: "It is a big demand here and I understand the Centre is aware of it. When the right time comes and the state government decides, then a decision will definitely be taken."

"People like us are always involved in this (statehood) discussions, we will remain so in future. I believe this is such an issue that a decision needs to be taken through consensus," said Rudy.

Bengal politicians have never wavered from their opposition to divide the state. Their stand was similar in 2009 and remains the same even today.

Rudy, however, had not talked about the state government's role or the need for consensus when his party was in the Opposition in 2009.

Apart from being a former union minister of state in the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (independent charge), parliamentary affairs, commerce and industry, civil aviation (independent charge), he was also a national general secretary of and spokesman for the BJP in the past.

Also, Rudy is well aware that states like Jharkhand and Telangana were formed despite opposition from the governments of the parent states, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.

"The BJP leader seems to be desperately trying to cover up for not having done anything to redress the emotive issue of hill people, despite having made tall claims in this regard in the past," said a hill observer.