Statehood demands from two BJP leaders; “irresponsible”, says Trinamool

Two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have demanded for separate state/Union territory carved out of West Bengal. The demands made in the past few days from BJP leaders has led Bengal’s ruling party Trinamool Congress to say that these are “irresponsible” statements coming from the BJP.

BJP MP from Alipurduar, John Barla, has demanded for a separate union territory be carved out of north Bengal, alleging “no development” in the area for years. “There have been movements here for a separate Kamtapuri, a greater Cooch Behar and for Gorkhaland. I think that north Bengal should be made into a separate union territory,” Barla has said.

On Monday, BJP MP from Bishnupur Soumitra Khan, demanded a separate state for “Jangalmahal”. While this includes the forested areas of western parts of Bengal in the districts of Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore and Jhargram, Soumitra Khan has said the demand for statehood is for other districts including Birbhum, Burdwan, Asansol, East and West Midnapore as well.

Already, four complaints have been filed against John Barla in various police stations by the Trinamool Congres. Bengal’s ruling party has accused the BJP of brewing trouble after failing to come to power in the state in the recently concluded assembly elections. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that it is an “irresponsible gameplan by the BJP”. Even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said she would not allow any part of Bengal to “lose its freedom and be dependent on New Delhi”.

The BJP’s Bengal unit, however, denied making any such demands. Party state president Dilip Ghosh said his party does not have any such agenda and attempts are being made by the Trinamool Congress to malign the BJP.

In a state where the agitation for Gorkhaland has been brewing since the 1980s, this is a fresh controversy that is bound to have an impact in the state politics for the coming weeks.