Kalimpong -GJM backed BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia, while addressing a meeting in Kalimpong today, reiterated the BJP’s stance towards the formation of smaller states. Though he refrained himself from mentioning the word ‘Gorkhaland’, he stated Mamata Banerjee’s resistance to a division of the state bears no significance.
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| SS Ahluwalia and Bimal Gurung in a public meeting in Kalimpong |
“Mamata Banerjee keeps repeating she won’t allow the bifurcation of the state. But this is not how things function in a democracy. Lalu used to say the same and Mamata is following his path. But remember that Lalu, who had once said ‘Jharkhand will be formed upon my corpse’, is still alive while the state has been formed.”
The BJP candidate also condemned former Kalimpong SDO Deepak Ghosh for submitting a report to Mamata claiming the Gorkhas to be infiltrators. He said, “The Gorkhas are not at all infiltrators because the Constitution was also signed by Ari Bahadur Gurung, a Gorkha, when it was adopted. Either Mamata should prove the Gorkhas are infiltrators or she has to jail Deepak Ghosh.” He also assured the BJP government will set up Ari Bahadur Gurung’s statue in Delhi and Darjeeling and also ensure Tenzing Norgay Sherpa is honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
The BJP candidate also criticised independent candidate Dr. MP Lama saying, “The country has not seen the formation of a government led by an independent candidate. The 16.30 minutes allotted to him (Lama) in Parliament will pass in the wink of an eye before he can table his issues properly.”
He alleged Lama has been deputed by Mamata Banerjee to divide votes. “In exchange she must have assured him the VC’s chair in Jadavpur or a governer’s post if the supposed Third Front comes to power.” Slamming TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia for the latter’s allegations that the BJP is not in favour of Gorkhaland, Ahluwali asked, “Then is the TMC in favour? Does Mamata Banerjee support it?”
He stressed the BJP is in support of smaller states to ensure better governance and cited the creation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand as examples. He also claimed Telangana became a reality due to the BJP’s persistent fight for its creation.
Source:EOI
