Hill row over BJP’s stand on Gorkhaland: BJP MLA for referendum onstatehood demand in hills

EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 21, 2023: The BJP's yet to commit to its version of a permanent political solution for the hills but BJP MLA from Kurseong, BP Bajgain has said he will start a ‘Jan Sampark Abhiyaan’ soon to reach out to the people to create a referendum on the statehood demand.

Interestingly, BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh who arrived in the Kalimpong district on Monday has asserted there was no question of division of Bengal. 

The Kurseong MLA said his statement was based on the promise committed by the party and included in the election manifesto. 

"People voted for me because of a separate Gorkhaland state. The BJP has made a promise to find a solution for the hills which has been included in the election manifesto. In fact, in three Lok Sabha elections the Gorkha community voted for the BJP. Now it's time for the party to deliver," said Bajgain. 

The BJP MLA had opposed the Trinamool Congress - sponsored motion adopted in the State assembly against division of West Bengal. 

"The statehood demand is not the issue of the Trinamool or the BJP but of the people. In the Assembly I had opposed the motion and sought a referendum," he said.

On the question if he had been informed of the BJP vice president's visit to Kalimpong, Bajgain said he would not have gone. 

"He (Ghosh) gave a statement on Gorkhaland, an issue that I was talking about Gorkhaland, because I was part of the agitators. This is wrong. I am talking about an issue which has been the commitment of the BJP," he said.

The MLA also questioned the decision of the BJP to participate in the upcoming panchayat election in the hills, to be held after nearly two decades. 

"The Union Home Minister is saying the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will not fulfill the aspiration of the people, but the Hill BJP says it will contest the panchayat election. I feel the panchayat election will give legitimacy to the GTA which our party is opposed to and raise the council body to the status of a Zilla Parishad," said Bajgain. 

BJP leaders in Delhi are non committal but BJP M.P. from Darjeeling and one of its national spokespersons Raju Bista has asserted time and again without taking the ‘Gorkhaland’ word that his party will fulfill the dreams and aspiration of the Gorkha community. 

Bajgain said he would accept any reprisal measures meted out by the party's high command but would continue to reach out to people with the statehood demand.