Ajoy Edwards to join Rahul Gandhi’s yatra from Imphal

The HP taking part in the rally may be a strong indication that they have lost hope on the BJP with whom they were in a seat sharing alliance in the panchayat polls, held last year

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 13, 2024 : Trying to stitch a new equation, Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards set off to Imphal on Saturday to lend weight to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra initiated by the Congress.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will launch the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Imphal on January 14. The HP taking part in the rally may be a strong indication that they have lost hope on the BJP with whom they were in a seat sharing alliance in the panchayat polls, held last year. Edwards however said participating in the yatra was for something his party believed in.
“Our team is mainly taking part in the Nyay Yatra even though it is a political programme as we feel that the invitation is for all the people who want justice in the country. We are taking part in this rally for the Gorkha community. We taking part in this programme does not mean we are joining the Congress as this rally is an open clarion call to the people of the country for justice,” said Edwards.
He said they were taking part in this program for the Gorkha community living all over the country. 

Political pundits feel that the different political outfits here which sided with the BJP in the past, pinning their hope on the BJP for fulfilling the promises made in their election manifesto like Permanent Political Solution and tribal status for 11 left-out communities were losing their confidence on them; with nothing being done by them as yet even though the Lok Sabha election was coming closer. 

The political observers were of the opinion that these regional parties were looking for an alternative to the BJP so that the demand of the Gorkhas could be fulfilled. 

Citing an example to the “injustice to Gorkhas”, Edwards said, “In the year 1993 the Bodoland Peace Accord had been signed and in the year 2003 the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was incorporated in the Sixth Schedule.
The BTC was formed much later than the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) the accord for which was signed in 1988. So it is a sad thing that till now certain facilities are not available here.” 

“The BTC after being incorporated in the Sixth Schedule have the right to their land along with them also receiving Rs 2,200 crores in the last Budget. On the other hand, the DGHC which is known as the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration now is only receiving Rs 175 crore. This is not justice as those younger than the GTA are getting these facilities,” he added.