GJM spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur
Chettri has high hopes about the BJP coming to power at the Centre.
Speaking to media persons today at the party office, Chettri said the
BJP is most likely to form the government in Delhi. At the same time, he
also warned the state government could unleash its wrath in the
Darjeeling hills if this does not happen, while its candidate from
Darjeeling also gets defeated. According to the GJM leader, if events
turn out as he anticipates, the “hill people will have to face the wrath
of the state government as it will not differentiate between party
affiliations then”.
Chettri said the GJM decided to support
the BJP as it is in support of small states and as its in its election
manifesto has promised the “problem of Darjeeling will be looked into
sympathetically”.
He expressed apprehension about the
state government resorting to highhandedness when dealing with the
Darjeeling hills if the BJP candidate does not win the election. Urging
people to vote for SS Ahluwalia, Chettri said, “In the past, we could
not elect a candidate from a party that seemed imminent in forming
government. That was unfortunate for us. But we should not fall behind
this time around when a dispensation that will agree to a Gorkhaland
state is likely to come to power.”
In the past, Chettri has spoken highly
of sitting MP Jaswant Singh, but he chose to criticise the BJP veteran
today accusing him of taking the Gorkhaland issue lightly. “He (Singh)
used to take interest only when we were in Delhi to egg him on.
Actually, he never took the issue of the Gorkhas seriously. If he had
been really concerned, a leader of his stature could have raised our
issue when Telangana was being formed,” stated Chettri.
On being asked about the antagonistic
stance of the state BJP on the statehood issue, the Kalimpong MLA tried
to temper it saying it was due to political compulsions. Stressing the
GJM-BJP alliance has been formed for the statehood cause, Chettri said
it would be really unfortunate for the Gorkha community if the BJP fails
to form a government at the Centre.
On the GNLF’s poll strategy, Chettri
feels it will possibly extend support to the TMC. “How did GNLF leaders
climb up the hills? Who brought them here? The state government can give
them protection after the elections are over. For this reason too, the
GNLF will most likely support the TMC,” said Chettri.
Meanwhile, the GJM sub-divisional
committee today held a workers’ meeting at the party office here. The
meeting was presided over by party sub-divisional convener Norden Lama
where GJM spokesperson HB Chettri, GTA sabhashad Dr. RB Bhujel, Sunil
Pradhan, Dawa Lepcha, Tara Lohar Lepcha, municipality chairperson
Gangamaya Gurung, vice chairman Jayan Lepcha and sub-divisional
secretary Kumar Lepcha, among others were present.(EOIC)