Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh today
stirred up a hornet’s nest by alleging the BJP was never sincere towards
the demand for a Gorkhaland state. The veteran leader’s surprising
disclosure comes after the party recently ejected him from its rank.
Singh has chosen to contest the ongoing Lok Sabha election as an
independent candidate.
Arriving in his constituency on
Saturday, the MP reflected on the regular disparities between himself
and the saffron front, while asserting his views on the demand for
Gorkhaland.
He said, “It is sad the BJP has not
fully accepted the statehood demand of the Darjeeling hills. The party
is trying to ride on two boats over the Gorkhaland issue. I don’t know
if the BJP is sincere towards the statehood demand, but I certainly am.”
The former BJP veteran also said he believes the state unit of the BJP would never accept a division of Bengal.
“It is a reality that the state BJP will
never agree to a division. Bengal has already seen two divisions and
does not want another. But I don’t view the creation of a Gorkhaland
state as a division of Bengal because that is the only correct
solution,” said Singh.
In 2009, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
agreed to support Singh’s candidature from Darjeeling after the BJP gave
assurance it would take up the statehood demand and also incorporated
the issue in its election manifesto. Singh won the Darjeeling seat by a
whopping margin.
The BJP has again tied up with the GJM
in the ongoing general election for the Darjeeling seat and fielded SS
Ahluwalia, the party’s vice-president and a five-time parliamentarian.
The mutual understanding has remained “support” for the statehood
demand.
Asked for his comments on whether his
ouster from the BJP would estrange him with the GJM too, Singh said,
“The BJP expelled me and that is the party leadership’s decision. On the
other hand, the GJM is till supporting the BJP and this is the Morcha’s
choice. We may have political differences, but my personal relations
with the GJM will continue to remain cordial going forward. In fact, I
will always support the justified demand for a Gorkhaland state in
Parliament, whenever or whoever takes it up,” said the legislator while
extending his best wishes to Ahluwalia.
Singh, who has held portfolios in the
external affairs and defence ministries, is contesting the LS election
from his home town of Barmer in Rajasthan and this is his 10th political
outing. He first stood as BJP candidate from Jodhpur in the fourth
general election in 1967.
“I have remained active in politics for
more than 40 years and contested in nearly a dozen elections. I did not
want to stand this time, but had to give in to the sentimental demand of
the residents of my hometown,” he said.
Responding to allegations of remaining
absent from his constituency for the greater part of his tenure and his
surprise visit to Darjeeling, the MP said, “With elections come
allegations and it is not necessary to give answers to all of them.
Meantime, I have given five years of my life to the Darjeeling hills and
gained the respect, love and support of the people here. As I don’t
want people to think of me as a selfish person, I have come to catch up
with old friends and acquaintances.”
Singh is expected to stay in Darjeeling for another three or four days and meet GJM leaders before heading back to Rajasthan.(EOIC)