Raju Bista, the BJP of Darjeeling, made an attempt on Sunday to mollify the residents of Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills by passing a missive to them over their longstanding demand for a permanent political solution.
“I would like to mention to the people that we are moving in the right direction. They should not desert the BJP, as it is the Bharat sarkar (Indian government) and the Modi sarkar (the Modi government) that will do justice with them,” said Bista, while speaking with newspersons at Milan More, a locality on the northern outskirts of Siliguri, on Monday.
Over the past few months, the BJP has seemed to be under pressure in the hills as the Narendra Modi government has not taken any visible initiative since 2014 to meet two prominent demands of the hills — a permanent political solution and conferment of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 hill communities.
Even at the winter session of Parliament, which concluded a few days back, there was no mention of these issues from the Centre.
Bista, who was time and again vocal on these demands and also flagged the issues in Parliament, said that he has met the Prime Minister once and Union home minister Amit Shah at least thrice recently to speak on the issues.
“We are (going ahead) with the issue (PPS) in an appropriate manner. I met the Union home minister on three occasions and the Prime Minister once. These meetings were not social gatherings but one-on-one talks. I was assured by the Union home minister that he would do something.... But we have to accept that the issues are a little complicated, and thus, it is taking time,” said the MP.
In the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has won thrice consecutively since 2009, which is why the party is keen to retain it in 2024 as well.
“A number of days are still left before the next Parliament polls. We should keep our patience,” he added.
The MP’s assertion comes at a time when new political equations have started developing in the hills. While several regional parties are raising their voices in support of the demands again, the Congress has inducted Binoy Tamang, a popular face in hill politics and Trinamul has as an ally Anit Thapa’s Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha.
“The BJP could secure the votes of the hill people thrice in a row as the party promised to look into the old demands. This time, however, the political turf is different as a section of hill residents are disillusioned with the saffron party. That is why, it seems, the BJP MP is now trying to control the damage,” said a political veteran of the hills.
Trinamul leaders, when told about Bista’s message, said the BJP has resorted to old political tactics to draw votes.
“The party is desperate and thus is trying to play the old polarisation card by stoking the sentiments of people in the hills. This time (2024 elections), however, the people of the hills will not vote the BJP as they have realised that the promises made by leaders of the party are hollow,” said a Trinamul functionary based in the hills.