GNLF upset with BJP

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 3 Nov 2019, Darjeeling: The BJP's alliance in the hills has come under strain with one of its major partners, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), warning that it "should not be underestimated".

Ajoy Edwards, president of the GNLF's Darjeeling branch committee, said his party had chosen to stay "silent" when Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista faced attacks and protests in the hills recently.

The trigger was the absence of Bista and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Bimal camp) representatives at an October 2 all-party meeting convened by the GNLF in Darjeeling.

"We felt bad. We had called all (including Trinamul and ally Morcha-Binay camp). Our partner GJM 1 (Bimal) also did not come and when they did not come, Raju Bista also did not come," said Edwards.

Bista could not be immediately reached for comment. However, in a Facebook post, Bista said he had intimated Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla "about the recent attempt on (his) life" in Kalimpong.

Edwards made it clear that the GNLF should be "treated on an equal footing" in the alliance. "So has only GJM 1 (Bimal camp) ensured the victory? The party felt bad," said Edwards.

In recent weeks, effigies of Bista have been burnt in the hills and the Darjeeling MP was allegedly attacked by Morcha (Binay camp) supporters when he was on his way to Kalimpong. The BJP MP also was also stopped in Darjeeling on his way to a tea garden.

The GNLF made it clear it had "now become strong" in the hills and added that situation would have been different if it had not joined hands with BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Edwards said no one should "underestimate" the GNLF. "The government should not and our alliance partner, too, should not." Edwards declared that the BJP should consider GNLF on an "equal footing" and that it would not accept any "stepmotherly treatment".

He made it clear that they were not walking out of the alliance but would meet Bista to settle these "issues within the family"..