BJP revisits Gorkhaland in amended manifesto

The original manifesto had glossed over the issues regarding Gorkhas and Bodos saying “BJP has always stood for greater decentralization through smaller states.” However, it had not mentioned the names of the communities.

Soon after the amendment was released, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung sought to take the credit for the move. “The GJM had demanded the inclusion of the sentence — long pending demands of the Gorkhas and Adivasis —- and I am happy that the BJP released an addendum to the manifesto last night,” he said in a Facebook post.

The GJM, which is spearheading the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state, is supporting senior BJP leader S S Ahluwalia who is contesting from Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

Sources said the party had made a similar promise in the last election also when senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh contested the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, termed the BJP move as ‘divisive’ politics.