‘Jaswant’s return to BJP will strengthen Gorkhaland movement’

DARJEELING - The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Thursday welcomed Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh’s return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it would strengthen the Gorkhaland movement.

“It is an internal issue of the BJP, but this decision will give a momentum to our movement. It will tremendously boost the morale of the hill people,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said here.

Giri said Jaswant Singh won the Lok Sabha election from Darjeeling constituency last year with the GJM’s support, which was based on an understanding that he would forcefully raise the Gorkhaland issue in parliament.

But when he was expelled from the BJP for writing a book praising Pakistan founder Mohd Ali Jinnah, it created problems for the GJM.

“As Jaswant Singh was our local MP, we maintained regular contacts with him by keeping him posted about the party’s plans and programmes. Side by side, we had to convey the same message to the BJP leaders as the party had agreed to raise its voice in favour of our demand in the parliament,” GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri said.

“Now there is no need for us to contact the BJP leaders and our MP separately to discuss our plans and programmes,” Chhetri said.

“Jaswant Singh is a senior leader and he will definitely hold a prime post in the BJP. He will surely make all the senior BJP leaders aware about our plans and programmes,” he added.

The GJM is spear-heading the demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas of Darjeeling and parts of adjoining Jalpaiguri district.