Modi Reaches Out to Gorkha Population in North Bengal, Makes Promises Ahead of Lok Sabha Polls

Reaching out to the Gorkha community in north Bengal on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP was "very close" to fulfilling their "longstanding demand".

In an effort to garner support for his party in the area, Modi concurrently made a number of announcements for the small tea growers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Assemblies of the Gorkha brothers and sisters must be met with peace and amity, the BJP has vowed. People had never imagined that we would destroy Article 370, but we have created Ram Mandir. The Gorkhas' demands have always been respected by our party, and we will work to fulfill their goals. Let me say that we are extremely near to fulfilling their long-standing demand," Modi declared on Saturday afternoon during a public meeting in this city.

"The BJP has a detailed plan for the advancement of North Bengal. We want the three Ts of the region to prosper: tea, timber, and tourism," he continued.

The statement from the prime minister coincides with concerns being expressed throughout the hills on the timing of the BJP's response to their request for a long-term political solution (PPS). Since the BJP's vow that PPS would be fulfilled, hill inhabitants have voted for the party in significant numbers since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Several political figures, including BJP leaders, have questioned when this promise would be fulfilled.

"It is clear that the prime minister made an effort to appease irate people in the hills, who have repeatedly brought up the two main issues—PPS and Scheduled Tribe status—to eleven different hill communities. As the sole Lok Sabha seat in Bengal that the party has won three times since 2009, it appears like the Prime Minister and his party don't want to lose it, a political expert said.

In light of recent election results, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), the largest political organization in the hills, was eager to point out that the Prime Minister had just reiterated his pledge in front of the 2024 elections.

The Prime Minister's comments support our earlier claims that the BJP has done little to assist the Gorkhas over the previous 15 years. Now that the Lok Sabha elections are almost here, he reiterated the pledge. However, the people living in the hills would not accept it this time, according to Rajesh Chouhan, the deputy chief of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and leader of the BGPM central committee.

In the hills, Trinamul is cooperating with the BGPM, led by Anit Thapa, as an ally.

During the gathering that included tea workers, Modi reiterated his title of "chaiwala (tea seller)."

This area is home to about 40,000 tiny tea growers. We are providing them with the advantages of central programs such as the PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the PM Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance), and the Kisan credit card. They will benefit greatly from it, Modi asserted.

According to people in the industry, almost seven lakh people are either directly or indirectly involved in it.

A tiny Siliguri-based tea planter stated, "The announcements will definitely impact those who make a livelihood from the sector, and their families."

The Confederation of Small Tea Growers' Associations head, Bijoygopal Chakraborty, praised the announcements.

The prime minister's announcement that growers will profit from these government programs is encouraging. We had desired that," he remarked.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.