Hamro Party to support Congress in LS election

The HP president had gone to the north east to participate in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 30, 2024 : With the Lok Sabha election just round the corner, the Hamro Party, having lost faith on the BJP, is now keen to ally with the Congress in the hope of getting justice for the Gorkha community. 

On Tuesday, HP president Ajoy Edwards issued a Press statement lambasting the BJP and asserting faith on the grand old party. 

"It was when the Congress was in power that the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration were formed. It was during the Congress regime that the Nepali language was included in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution. We feel that the Congress will be able to provide justice to our community. We have to restitch old relations as it is need of the hour," said Edwards. 

The HP president had gone to the north east to participate in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Last year, the HP leader met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi along with some political parties from the hills.

Edwards drew comparisons between the attitude of the Congress and the BJP while dealing with the concerns of the people. "Manipur and other northeast states are politically unstable as lots are happening there. The Congress is standing with them in their needs now. However, in 2017 when our people were getting killed, the BJP remained indifferent to our sufferings," he said. 

The HP president said it was difficult to trust the BJP; given its track records over the last 15 years. "We have given 15 years to the BJP but they have failed to deliver on any of their promises made during the election. How can we believe them now when their term is about to expire? This is also the reason I joined the yatra of Congress," Edwards said. To prove its sincerity the BJP should get the promises made in the election manifesto passed in the interim budget session of Parliament in February, Edwards said.

"We will campaign for the BJP even if one of the issues promised to the Gorkha community gets passed in Parliament. The BJP is in majority and it will not be difficult for them to place and pass a Bill," he said. The BJP in its 2019 election manifesto had promised to find a permanent political solution for the hills, grant tribal status to the 11 left- out Gorkha communities and implement the Minimum Wage Act for the benefit of tea garden workers. Ruling out supporting any Trinamool Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha election, the HP leader said the INDIA bloc should field an independent candidate for the hill seat. 

"There is bound to be tussle among various partners to field a candidate for the Lok Sabha seat from the hills. We will not accept Trinamool Congress candidate. We suggest that the INDIA bloc feild an independent candidate who we will support," said Edwards