BJP will deliver promises to hills before election, says Mann Ghisingh: Raju Bista not so optimistic

"The Union Minister gave us positive assurances. We have faith in it. We are positive these will be delivered before the election," said Ghising

EOI, ARJEELING, JANUARY 11, 2024 : Gorkha National Liberation Front Chairman Mann Ghising has put his faith in the BJP delivering on its promise before the LokSabha election to be held later this year. The GNLF leader expressed his view after meeting union Home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday. 

"In the meeting, I reminded the Union Home Minister about the promise made by the BJP before the 2019 general election which has been incorporated in its election manifesto. The Union Minister gave us positive assurances. We have faith in it. We are positive these will be delivered before the election," said Ghising. 

Darjeeling MP and BJP national spokesperson, Raju Bista facilitated the meeting of Ghising with the Home Minister. Darjeeling district BJP president, Kalyan Dewan was also part of the delegation. 

"We raised the issue of a permanent political solution for the hills and granting of tribal status to the Gorkha communities as envisaged by the BJP, with the Union Home Minister. 

The issues are of utmost importance to the hill people," said Ghising. 

The GNLF chief lauded the effort of the Darjeeling MP in raising the issues of the Gorkha community  in Delhi with senior BJP ministers and during the Parliament sessions. "Our MP has worked tirelessly for the Gorkhas. Our issues have been raised and placed in parliament by the MP which has not been done before by anyone," said Ghising. 

The hills have successively voted for the BJP since 2009 in exchange for the promise of a Gorkhaland state. 

The BJP MP from Darjeeling was however ambiguous in his Press statement issued on Thursday. "We conveyed the crucial major concerns of our region to the Union Home Minister. We have been assured that the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is genuinely committed to ensuring justice for the people of our region and that the Centre is working towards fulfilling these issues," said Bista. 

Following the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha breaking its relation with the BJP after the unsuccessful 2017 statehood agitation, the GNLF extended its support to the saffron party. 

A few days ago, Darjeeling BJP MLA and GNLF secretary general Niraj Zimba had said rival political parties were conspiring and spreading rumours to derail the pact. 

"Certain political parties are saying that the Centre will grant tribal status to only a few Gorkha communities. This is false and baseless. The Centre is definitely cooking something good for the hills. However, we will not accept any step motherly treatment," he said. 

The senior GNLF leader while asking people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha election said any arrangements provided should have constitutional guarantee.