Fulfil your election promises, Hamro Party tells BJP

EOI, DARJEELING, DEC 2, 2023 :  The Hamro Party has written to Home Minister Amit Shah and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, reminding the promise made by the BJP to find a permanent political solution and granting tribal status to the Gorkha communities in its election manifesto and threatened to oppose the saffron party before the 2024 Lok Sabha election. 

HP president Ajoy Edwards in his letter to the BJP leaders said it was imperative that the central government under the BJP deliver on its promise. 

"The promises articulated in your 2019 election manifesto must transcend Fulfil your election promises, Hamro Party tells BJP mere rhetoric and materialize as tangible, impactful action. If before the 2024 election the BJP do not deliver, then we will not be able to extend support to the BJP," he said. 

The HP president underlined the fact that to show its commitment to the Gorkha community, the winter session of the parliament was the final opportunity. "The winter session will start soon. 

This is the final opportunity for the BJP to demonstrate its genuine commitment to the Gorkha community across the country," said Edwards. In its 2019 election manifesto the BJP made the commitment to find a PPS for the hills and grant tribal status to the eleven left out Gorkha communities. 

However, the assurances have failed to see the light of day much to disappointment of the Hill people and political parties supporting the BJP. The BJP made headway in Bengal following the Gorkha community voting for Jaswant Singh in 2009 followed by SS Ahluwalia in 2014 and Bista in 2019. 

The HP which supports the BJP however is finding itself in a tight corner with the saffron party unwilling to make concrete commitment. 

The BJP has failed to clarify its version of the PPS even though political parties and hill people view a separate state of Gorkhaland as the ultimate goal. 

"We will be compelled to initiate comprehensive campaign against the BJP in North Bengal region. The region comprises eight LS seats and the Gorkha community holds significant seat in the constituencies. This may potentially impact the reputation and electoral prospect of the BJP in many seats," said Edwards. 

The BJP Darjeeling MP a few days back without specifying had said the BJP would fulfill one of the promises made during the 2019 election, hinting to the tribal status demand.