KOLKATA: Just two days before Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Siliguri, BJP added a footnote to its manifesto to placate Gorkha sentiments.
The addendum on Tuesday does not mention Gorkhaland but promises to "sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other people of Darjeeling district and the Dooars region."
This token gesture was enough to appease Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which was upset after the BJP manifesto on Monday made no reference to either Darjeeling or GJM's statehood demand. The Morcha is backing BJP's S S Ahluwalia for Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat and it, too, was hard-pressed to explain to its supporters why the manifesto ignored it. Even the BJP vice-president had a hard time explaining why the manifesto was released with no mention of creation of a Gorkha state.
Gurung was quick to put the misgivings behind him. He said, "In the BJP manifesto it has been clearly stated that 'BJP has always stood for greater decentralisation through smaller states'. GJM had demanded including 'long-pending demands of Gorkhas and Adivasis' and I am happy that BJP released an addendum to the manifesto last night."
The addendum, signed only by an office secretary Arun Kumar Jain, clubs Kamtapuri, Rajbongshi and other people of North Bengal (including recognition of their language) and promises to take initiatives for "permanent solution" of long-pending issues of Bodos and other tribals of Assam and the people of Sikkim, Leh, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and other such "neglected regions".
Battling the ruling Trinamool Congress nominee Bhaichung Bhutia in their home turf, a beleaguered Gurung has fallen back on Gorkhaland to coalesce all his supporters. Gurung didn't stop at that. He has been portraying the Darjeeling Lok Sabha elections as a referendum for Gorkhaland. He had written on Facebook earlier, "Other independent candidates are saying that they will go to the parliament and raise the Gorkhaland demand but we must understand that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has brought someone who will give Gorkhaland. This year don't vote for Bimal Gurung or for any of the GTA Sabhasads but cast your vote for Gorkhaland. This elections we will vote for the future of 'Gorkha community'. I have shown my sincerity for 'Gorkhaland' by supporting the BJP and now it's your turn to show your sincerity for it by voting for the BJP."
There, however, are fissures within the Hills parties. Former North Bengal University VC Mahendra Lama, a very respectable Hill voice is contesting as an Independent. Gurung's mentor-turned-foe Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghisingh has thrown his weight behind Trinamool candidate Bhutia. It has been a shot in the arm for Trinamool, which is trying to cut into Gurung's GJM vote-bank.
Lama is also trying to wedge a divide between Ahluwalia's assertions for BJP's policy of having smaller states for better administrative control and the state BJP's insistence that Darjeeling will never be severed from Bengal. Lama said, "We challenge if Narendra Modi can give in writing that he will pass the Gorkhaland bill within six months of coming to power, we will accept the BJP candidature. But, sadly we are sure the BJP will never mention Gorkhaland in their election manifesto nor take it up later," he asserted, adding that even Ahluwalia knows this very well. (TOI)
The addendum on Tuesday does not mention Gorkhaland but promises to "sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other people of Darjeeling district and the Dooars region."
This token gesture was enough to appease Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which was upset after the BJP manifesto on Monday made no reference to either Darjeeling or GJM's statehood demand. The Morcha is backing BJP's S S Ahluwalia for Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat and it, too, was hard-pressed to explain to its supporters why the manifesto ignored it. Even the BJP vice-president had a hard time explaining why the manifesto was released with no mention of creation of a Gorkha state.
Gurung was quick to put the misgivings behind him. He said, "In the BJP manifesto it has been clearly stated that 'BJP has always stood for greater decentralisation through smaller states'. GJM had demanded including 'long-pending demands of Gorkhas and Adivasis' and I am happy that BJP released an addendum to the manifesto last night."
The addendum, signed only by an office secretary Arun Kumar Jain, clubs Kamtapuri, Rajbongshi and other people of North Bengal (including recognition of their language) and promises to take initiatives for "permanent solution" of long-pending issues of Bodos and other tribals of Assam and the people of Sikkim, Leh, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and other such "neglected regions".
Battling the ruling Trinamool Congress nominee Bhaichung Bhutia in their home turf, a beleaguered Gurung has fallen back on Gorkhaland to coalesce all his supporters. Gurung didn't stop at that. He has been portraying the Darjeeling Lok Sabha elections as a referendum for Gorkhaland. He had written on Facebook earlier, "Other independent candidates are saying that they will go to the parliament and raise the Gorkhaland demand but we must understand that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has brought someone who will give Gorkhaland. This year don't vote for Bimal Gurung or for any of the GTA Sabhasads but cast your vote for Gorkhaland. This elections we will vote for the future of 'Gorkha community'. I have shown my sincerity for 'Gorkhaland' by supporting the BJP and now it's your turn to show your sincerity for it by voting for the BJP."
There, however, are fissures within the Hills parties. Former North Bengal University VC Mahendra Lama, a very respectable Hill voice is contesting as an Independent. Gurung's mentor-turned-foe Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghisingh has thrown his weight behind Trinamool candidate Bhutia. It has been a shot in the arm for Trinamool, which is trying to cut into Gurung's GJM vote-bank.
Lama is also trying to wedge a divide between Ahluwalia's assertions for BJP's policy of having smaller states for better administrative control and the state BJP's insistence that Darjeeling will never be severed from Bengal. Lama said, "We challenge if Narendra Modi can give in writing that he will pass the Gorkhaland bill within six months of coming to power, we will accept the BJP candidature. But, sadly we are sure the BJP will never mention Gorkhaland in their election manifesto nor take it up later," he asserted, adding that even Ahluwalia knows this very well. (TOI)