BJP MLAs back state/UT demand

SNS,  SILIGURI, 22 JUNE : BJP MLAs have now supported the demand for a separate state or Union Territory for North Bengal raised by Alipurduar MP John Barla.

While the Matigara-Naxalbari MLA, Anandamoy Barman, today talked of the reasons behind Mr Barla's demand for a separate state, MLA from Dabgram-Fulbari, Sikha Chatterjee, a former TMC leader, also demanded that North Bengal should be turned into a Union Territory.

Significantly after Mr Barla's demand, another MP from Bankura in South Bengal, Soumitra Khan, has demanded another separate state in the name of Jungle Mahal, comprising Rarh Banga areas. All the demands, however, come at a time when BJP state president Dilip Ghosh has told reporters that the MPs had been making such demands "out of frustration."

"The party does not support them. The party still believes in a single state of West Bengal. The state government should bring in overall development. Owing to deprivation and underdevelopment, locals think that an alternative way is to create a separate state. But a separate state cannot be created following locals desires. The party does not approve of such separate state. Leaders will have to toe the party line. Separate state is not at all the party line," Mr Ghosh said.

On the other hand, to counter the MP's "propaganda" by demanding separate states and raising the issue of deprivation and underdevelopment, Trinamul Congress leaders at the district level have lodged complaints at different police stations against Mr Barla and Soumitra Khan.

While TMC leaders lodged the police complaint against Mr Barla in Cooch Behar a few days ago, the TMC district president in Alipurduar has also lodged a complaint at the Alipurduar police station against both Mr Barla and Mr Khan, as, TMC sources said they apprehend a law and order problem, following the demands.

"TMC leaders in North Bengal region have been asked to file police complaints against them in their respective areas," a TMC source said today.

On the other hand, MLA, Mr Barman, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved an AIIMS-like health facility for North Bengal, but that the state government had not yet implemented it, "depriving people in this region."

"There was a separate School Service Commission for the northern region, but the state has stopped its functioning. The state has set up Uttarkanya, the branch secretariat, here, but it is now simply a tourist spot," he said.

Ms Chatterjee, meanwhile, said that people in North Bengal have different opinions about deprivation and development issues.

"North Bengal has been deprived for the past many years, ever since the tenure of the Left Front. There is no satisfactory development even during the tenure of the Trinamul Congress. If the present state government cannot bring in development as per the people's desire, it should give up control over the area. We specifically demand total development for north Bengal, otherwise we will demand a UT status for the region," Ms Chatterjee said.