Three-day BGPM dharna against BJP's 'failed promises' ends with plan to intensify agitation
Telegraph | 15 February 2024
At the end of the three-day dharna against the BJP's "failed promises" on Wednesday, hill party Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatrantik Morcha (BGPM) announced a slew of protests to intensify its agitation.
Anit Thapa, the president of the BGPM, on Wednesday said: “The three-day dharna has come to an end today. We will, however, continue to create awareness about the failure of the BJP-led Centre to fulfil promises made to us before the (2019) election.”
The BGPM will organise protests at the gram panchayat offices from Monday to Friday.
“After the gram panchayat programme, we will again take our awareness campaign to the booth level from Monday of the week after next,” announced Thapa.
The BGPM held a three-day dharna at the district and sub-divisional headquarters to protest against the BJP’s failed promises.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the BJP had promised tribal status to 11 hill communities and a permanent political solution for the region.
“We will now have to make our people aware that the BJP has hoodwinked us for 15 years,” said Thapa.
The BJP has won from Darjeeling Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms since 2009.
Thapa has instructed all the elected GTA Sabha members, panchayat pradhans and members to be on the ground in protest.
“GTA Sabha members, panchayat pradhans and members need to take forward this awareness campaign,” said Thapa.
The BGPM started its campaign for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat with the BJP’s failures as its major poll plank.
Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista has also come out strongly against the BGPM and “warned” that the protesters would be left “red-faced” when the Gorkha ST announcement is made.
“The Parliament Session for 17th Lok Sabha may have ended, but the BJP Govt continues, and our party will fulfill all our commitments, some sooner, and some may take a bit longer,” Bista had said when the BGPM started its protest.