Binoy Tamang warns hill people of danger of CAA and NRC under BJP rule

Various communities of the north Bengal region including the Darjeeling hills would have to face the consequences if the CAA were to be implemented and urged the Darjeeling MP of BJP Raju Bista to take stock of the situation

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 4, 2024 : The newly nominated general secretary of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee Binoy Tamang on Wednesday cautioned the Gorkha community of the impending danger of the BJP enforcing the Citizenship Amendment Act before the Lok Sabha election, later this year. Tamang said that of late, despite protests, the BJP leadership in Delhi had been voicing their support to implement CAA and National Register of Citizens before the Lok Sabha election in the country.

The Congress leader said various communities of the north Bengal region including the Darjeeling hills would have to face the consequences if the CAA were to be implemented and urged the Darjeeling MP of BJP Raju Bista to take stock of the situation. Tamang said those running for the Lok Sabha tickets from the region should first work to find a solution. "Many faces are doing the rounds for the LS candidate. However, foremost it is important that the Gorkha community is protected by constitutional status. The sitting MP must work to address this grave problem before thinking of the MP seat," he said. Tamang joined the Congress last year in December. Earlier, he had been with the Binal Gurung led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and then had floated the second faction of the GJM with Anit Thapa.

Following differences with Thapa, Tamang had joined the Trinamool Congress. He left the Trinamool in 2021 after unsuccessfully contesting the MLA election. Since then, he had been an unattached leader from the hills. Tamang who for a brief period was also the chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration said having witnessed first hand the suffering of people in Assam following the imposition of CAA and NRC it was imperative for the different communities residing in the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region to be cautious. "I had gone to Assam with a team. I saw how the people there, including the Gorkhas suffered. As a political leader it is my duty to make the people aware of the dangers of the CAA and NRC even though we are citizens of the country," he said.

Tamang said the CAA and NRC criteria required 14 documents to be furnished by the citizens, which for the hills was impossible. "The Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars regions have lease land, vested land, DI fund land, tea garden, forest village and Cinchona plantation. Over 80 percent of people residing in these areas do not have the required documentation. So if the CAA is implemented, without a constitutional status our community will have to suffer," he said. The BJP was forced to backtrack on the CAA and NRC following widespread protests in the country including in the hills