Jan Awaj, a Delhi-based non-political organisation, deals with issues and problems related to the Gorkha community living across the country. The organisation showed a lot of interest in the outcome from Darjeeling in this year’s Lok Sabha election.
Tamang said the massive votes garnered by BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia from the hills are actually an indication of hope that a Gorkhaland state will soon be formed.
“The people did not vote for any particular party in this election; the votes were for Gorkhaland. The votes gained by the BJP came due to the promises and assurances it made prior to the election,” he said.
“I cannot say Gorkhaland can be formed within the tenure of the new government at the Centre, but this is the closest our hopes have ever reached that our demand will be fulfilled,” said Tamang, adding now everything depends on the BJP’s commitment and the GJM leadership’s honesty and dedication towards the issue.
Commenting on independent candidate Mahindra P Lama’s defeat, Tamang said, “Dr. Lama is a learned and highly capable person and has always worked for the benefit of the Gorkha community. However, to think he can win an election just because of his fame and name was the biggest mistake he made.”(EOIC)