Leaders of the National Federation for New States (NFNS), a pan-India body representing regions demanding separate and smaller states, are disappointed with the BJP-led Centre for failing to address their issues despite “promising” statehood in several parts of India.

The NFNS concluded its two-day convention in Darjeeling on Sunday where the mantle to lead the NFNS was handed over to hill leader Munish Tamang, a proponent of the separate state of Gorkhaland, for a five-year term.

The immediate past president of NFNS, Shrihari Aney, also the chairman of the Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi and former advocate-general of Maharashtra, said: “We are disappointed with the government at the Centre primarily because it had promised statehood to several parts of India and it has taken no steps thereafter to fulfil its promise….”

The focus this time is on Gorkhaland. The NFNS came up with a Darjeeling declaration supporting the demand for Gorkhaland.

The NFNS was started by late Union minister George Fernandes, when he was the NDA convener in 1999 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power. Leaders like P.S. Sangma, Shibu Soren, Ajit Singh and Amar Singh have been associated with the NFNS.

The members during their meeting said that they were committed to mount “pressure” on the central government to work towards forming smaller states in the country.

“In December, we are planning to hold a meeting and probably a convention in the Bundelkhand area. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are scheduled early next year and through the convention some pressure might be built (on the Bundelkhand statehood demand),” added Tamang.

The federation has proposed the Bundelkhand state which would cover chunks of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Apart from the proponents of Bundelkhand, Vidarbha and Gorkhaland, the representatives of Tipraland, Ladakh, Bodoland, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglo and Telangana were also present at the convention in Darjeeling.

The NFNS leaders maintained that past experience with regard to creation of smaller states such as Telangana and Jharkhand suggest that “pressure from local representatives in Parliament help a lot to bring the issue into focus.”

The leaders in favour of smaller states maintained they would play their part in bringing the Gorkhaland issues in focus at the Centre but added that they expect the local stakeholders to play an active part at the grassroots level in raising awareness.

“The NFNS does not participate in local agitations, its members conduct local progammes. We lend support to agitations by providing national exposure and moving the powers in Delhi,” said Aney.

Raju Bista, from the BJP, currently represents Darjeeling in the Lok Sabha. The BJP, however, in his election manifesto only promised a permanent political solution for the hills, which so far remains undefined. Its alliance partners in the hills interpret this as a separate state.

GNLF break-in bid

The GNLF claimed on Sunday that an attempt had been made to break into the central committee office of the party situated at Dr Zakhir Hussian Road in Darjeeling on Saturday night. Party president Mann Ghisingh lives on the top floor of the three-storey building. The GNLF has filed a police complaint related to the incident.