Darjeeling, Sept. 9 -- Anit Thapa, president, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), made it clear that the BJP would have to live up to its commitment of carving out Gorkhaland now that it is in power at both the Centre and in West Bengal. Thapa addressed a mammoth rally in Kurseong, commemorating the sixth foundation day of the party.

Pushing the Gorkhaland ball into the BJP's court, talking to media persons on the sidelines of the commemoration, Thapa stated, "We have played our part. After coming to power in the GTA, we had adopted a resolution for the formation of Gorkhaland. Again, when the BJP claimed that the GTA has emerged as an obstacle to Gorkhaland, we stepped down, resigning from the GTA. Now it is BJP's turn to live up to its commitment." Incidentally, Thapa had resigned from the post of GTA Chief, with the government appointing an administrator to the GTA on September 7.

Thapa stated that the BGPM had approached the public for votes during the last Assembly elections with the commitment of continued peace and development in the Hills.

"The local leaders of the BJP and alliance partners had asked for votes in the name of Gorkhaland. Now that they are in power, they will have to carve out Gorkhaland and we will support them," stated Thapa.

He further stated that earlier the BJP would claim that the TMC government in Bengal was the biggest obstacle to Gorkhaland and that as soon as the 'Double Engine' government came to power in Bengal, Gorkhaland would be created. "What now? The BJP is in power. They are the ones to give Gorkhaland. We are waiting," stated Thapa.

Commenting on the GTA, Thapa stated: "The BJP had assured that they would scrap the GTA as soon as they came to power in Bengal. We quit the GTA for Gorkhaland. We will never return to the GTA ever," stated Thapa.

Reacting to the Chief Minister's comments on institutional corruption in the GTA and the inquiry into this, Thapa stated: "I welcome this. Now I am not in the GTA, they can thoroughly investigate."

The day saw a huge turnout of BGPM supporters at the Monteviot ground in Kurseong. Turning to the party's future priorities, Thapa said that along with increasing organisational strength, priority would be given to protecting regionalism.

"BGPM would take the initiative to restore regionalism. We will definitely become your voice,"

he said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.