BJP ally GNLF condemns ‘no divisionof Bengal’ comment of Dilip Ghosh

EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 22, 2023: The Gorkha National Liberation Front.an alliance partner of the BJP, has in strong words condemned the statement made by the BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh that Bengal would not be divided. 

On Friday on his arrival in Kalimpong district for the party's organizational programme, the BJP vice president said there was no question of division of Bengal, are mark he repeated in Darjeeling,on Saturday.

The GNLF immediately condemned Ghosh's anti-Gorkha statement and put up posters in Kalimpong and Darjeeling towns. 

After the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had called off its partnership with the saffron party, the GNLF cosied up and lent its support to the BJP in the hills .

However, because of the BJP's reluctance to spell out their commitment to the Gorkhaland demand and defining the promised "permanent political solution" for the hills, the GNLF has found itself in political sticky waters. 

"Since 2009 we have voted for the BJP. They have made promises before elections and now they must fulfill them. We don't want a financial package but a political solution," said the Gorkha National Youth Front Kalimpong branch committee president Buddha Tamang. 

With the latest snub by the BJP national vice president, the GNLF is in damage control mode with the panchayat election expectedly later this year and the Lok Sabha election in 2024.

"We have first to understand in which context the BJP vice president made the remark. We have faith that the BJP will deliver. His(Ghosh's)statement could be personal. But if it's the party stand then we condemn it," said Y Lama, the GNLF spokesperson. 

The Hamro Party has also condemned the BJP national vice president's statement. "It is sad and unfortunate that the BJP leader comes to the Darjeeling hills and takes a stand which has been asserted by the West Bengal government," said HP spokesperson Ladhup Ghising. The HP spokesperson however lauded the stand of BP Bajgain, the BJP MLA from Kurseong to seek a referendum on the Gorkhaland demand from the people. 

"The stand by the MLA is commendable. There is a glimmer of hope. If west and together we can achieve our dreams," said Ghising. 

The BJP MLA from Kurseong will start a mass contact drive from next week to get the views of the people on the Gorkhaland demand asserting people had voted for him for the statehood demand