Local BJP in a bind to take a position

For almost a decade, the BJP has slowly made inroads into the Darjeeling hills, riding on its alliance with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that commands a wide following in the region. The saffron party has won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha twice on the back of a promise to back a separate state of Gorkhaland.

But now, BJP leaders in the hills are feeling the heat as a violent movement for Gorkhaland rages in the hills. Increasingly, the local population is asking party leaders to take a stand on an issue that has simmered for more than a century.

“The Darjeeling BJP unit is in a dilemma,” said a hill BJP leader.

“The BJP has taken the Nepali speaking people of the hills for a ride,” said another senior party leader from Darjeeling.

The BJP won Darjeeling parliamentary seat in 2009 and 2014. The current MP, SS Ahluwalia, speaks about favouring a separate state for the Nepali speaking people of Darjeeling, but has over the last decade done practically nothing to fulfill the aspiration, say local residents.

“The BJP central leadership should understand the sentiments and emotions of the people…BJP leadership has to come clear on its stance on the formation of Gorkhaland. The hill BJP unit has no option but to join the movement for a separate state.”

Ashok Bhattacharya, former Bengal minister whose government and party had opposed the demand for a separate Gorkhaland, said the BJP government at the Centre wasn’t obliged to favour Gorkhaland, considering the region’s strategic location.

The area is bordered by Nepal in the west, Bhutan in the east and China not too far in the north.

“The BJP at the Centre will not want to create another Kashmir-like situation in the border districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, keeping in mind the defence perspective and the strategic location of the region,” Bhattacharya said.

“The BJP the centre is playing a dual game and using the GJM.”