Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised a permanent solution to the Gorkha issue within six months of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forming a government in West Bengal. The remarks came while Shah was addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidates from the Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong assembly constituencies in Sukna, near Siliguri, on Tuesday.

He stated that this solution will be in accordance with the wishes of the Gorkhas, and that a permanent solution will bring joy to the faces of Gorkha brothers and sisters. He added that people will say goodbye to Mamata Didi's government, which has committed atrocities against the people of the hills and Gorkhas.

Every Scam Will Be Investigated Once BJP Forms Govt: Amit Shah

The Home Minister further stated that this Bengal election is an election for freedom from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. He also stated that multiple scams have occurred under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Once the BJP forms the government in the state, this will be investigated. Furthermore, all cases filed against Gorkhas by the Trinamool Congress government during the hill protests will be dropped.

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Furthering the attack on Mamata government, he said that for the development of hills including Gorkha and tribal communities, the Bengal government allocates a budget of Rs 2000 crore, whereas the budget for Muslims and Madrasa is Rs 5800 crore.

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What Is The Gorkha Issue

The demand for Gorkhaland, a separate state, has persisted for several years, driven by the demands of the Nepali-speaking Gorkha community living in West Bengal's Darjeeling and Kalimpong. In 2011, a semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was formed to look after the upper reaches of Darjeeling and parts of the foothills. The movement in this regard has seen several protests over the years with serious agitations reported in 2017.

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Over the years, the political equation in the region has been shaped by shifting alliances. These include local parties like - Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). These come alongside national and state-level parties like the BJP and TMC. 

For the Bengal polls, the TMC has formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BJPM), led by Anit Thapa. Under this arrangement, the TMC has allocated the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong constituencies to its ally. The BJP on the other hand continues to gather support from Bimal Gurung's GJM, BJP is however contesting the elections independently in the region.

Darjeeling will go to polls in the first phase on April 23. The second phase of polls will be held on April 29, followed by counting on May 4.


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