Apprehensions over impact of Assam NRC list hit political circles of North Bengal

Darjeeling: NRC has emerged as the pivotal point of politics of this region at present. The Trinamool Congress has warned that there will be widespread and full-fledged resistance if the BJP tries to implement NRC in Bengal.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binoy faction) has announced a series of programmes against NRC and the exclusion of more than a lakh Gorkhas from the list in Assam. A Rajbangshi forum on the other hand has demanded immediate implementation of NRC in Bengal.

The Bhumiputra Aikya Manch (a Rajbanshi forum) have also threatened to oppose the migration of any person who failed to make it to the NRC list in Assam to Bengal. Around 19 lakh people have been struck out of the list in Assam.

"Infiltration is the biggest problem in this region. We have demanded NRC to stop further infiltration. Along with that we will resist any attempt by any person trying to settle here from Assam after having failed to make it to the NRC list in Assam," threatened Bangsibadhan Burman, Chairman of the Mancha.

The Mancha feels that if people from Assam are allowed to migrate it will eat into the local economy of this region aggravating the unemployment issue.

"Thus we who have been residing here for ages will face the brunt. A demographic change will also occur. We will not allow this," stated Atul Roy, the Vice-Chairman of the Mancha.

Rajbangshis also known as Kamtapuris constitute a large chunk of the voting populace of North Bengal. The Mancha has taken out a huge rally in Siliguri on Wednesday. This development is a matter of concern for the ruling Trinamool Congress as the Mancha has echoed the BJP's demand of implementing NRC in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, the GJM (Binay faction) has encashed on the NRC issue to rejuvenate the political outfit in the Hills. A meeting of the central committee and the frontal organizations in Darjeeling decided to send a delegation to Assam to express solidarity with the Gorkhas left out of the NRC list.

"We will not allow a rerun of Assam in any other region. There are talks of NRC being implemented in other states of the country," stated Binay Tamang, President, GJM. The hill political outfit has demanded that the Gorkhas be accorded the original inhabitant status in Assam. The party has lined up a number of political activities.

Posterings will be down throughout the Hills and plains of the district on NRC on September 7. Deputation will be given to administrative heads including DM, SDOs and BDOs on September 12 by the women's wing of the GJM.