“The Bharatiya Janata Party does not support the formation of the separate state of Gorkhaland.” West Bengal Pradesh Committee (Bharatiya Janata Party)

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]

DARJEELING: Ritabrat Bandhopadhyay of the West Bengal Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party has refuted BJP Darjeeling Member of Parliament Jaswant Singh’s statement that “The state of Gorkhaland must be formed to resolve the long standing demand of the Gorkhas”. Bandhopadhyay said, “Jaswant Singh is known speak out of line. Whatever, he has said, is his personal opinion and not the official stand of the party on the issue of the formation of the separate state of Gorkhaland. The Bharatiya Janata Party does not support the formation of the separate state of Gorkhaland. Our party manifesto of 2009 does not specify anywhere that we support the formation of the state of Gorkhaland. It was mentioned that we would work for the rights of the Gorkhas and other tribal people in the region.”

Bandhopadhyay’s statement has brought about in open the difference in stand between the Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party and some of the national leadership of the party including the party MP from Darjeeling Jaswant Singh. Singh was not available for the comment.

(http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/magazine/2011/02/11/breaking-news-state-bjp-pradesh-committee-refutes-jaswant-singhs-statement-formation-gorkhaland/)

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