Darjeeling: GJM leader Binay Tamang has asked the BJP to clear their stand on the Gorkhaland issue. He further warned of law and order problem during the visit of BJP leaders to the Hills. The BJP team is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
"We have heard that state BJP leaders including state president Dilip Ghosh along with the BJP MP from Darjeeling S S Ahluwalia will be visiting Darjeeling. We appeal to them to make the BJP's stand clear on the Gorkhaland demand before visiting the Hills. We will not be to blame for any protest or demonstration they face in Darjeeling," warned Tamang.
Without naming Bimal Gurung, the GJM leader alleged that the BJP team is coming up to Darjeeling to lend support to some leaders.
"They will be arriving here to prop up some leaders. It could create law and order problems. Normalcy and peace is returning to Darjeeling and we do not want any unrest" stated Tamang.
Incidentally, GJM president Bimal Gurung is now on the run having been implicated in a number of cases. He has also been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Tamang stated that the masses are unhappy with the BJP and specially MP S S Ahluwalia. "Despite the agitation and death of 10 Gorkhaland supporters, the MP remained inconspicuous and the BJP silent" claimed Tamang.
He stated that twice Darjeeling had ensured the victory of BJP Parliamentary candidates. "In 2009 and 2014 Jaswant Singh and S S Ahluwalia won the parliamentary elections from Darjeeling on the Gorkhaland plank. However, they have done nothing for Gorkhaland," alleged Tamang.
The GJM leader stated that when a GJM team had met BJP national president Amit Shah in Delhi recently,
Shah had clearly stated that the BJP is yet to take a stand on this issue.
"S S Ahluwalia, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture during a recent visit to Tripura had clearly ruled out the bifurcation of both Tripura and West Bengal through the creation of Twipraland and Gorkhaland respectively," stated Tamang. The Hill public will definitely oppose and demonstrate during their visit.
Ghosh along with other state leaders will be arriving at Kalimpong on Wednesday. "They will be attending Dusserah Milan Samaraho at the Marwari Palace in Kalimpong on Wednesday and the GDNS Hall in Darjeeling on Thursday. The state president will have an interactive session with the public, political leaders and intellectuals in Kalimpong and Darjeeling," stated Manoj Dewan, BJP Darjeeling district president. MP Ahluwalia will not be visiting Darjeeling. From Darjeeling, the team will be visiting Sikkim.
Meanwhile, Bimal Gurung urged the public to meet the BJP team and apprise them of the "state and police excesses in Darjeeling."
"I am also arranging a meet for the GJM front leaders with the BJP team," stated Gurung but did not clarify whether he will be part of the team.