In a significant statement Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the long-pending Gorkha problem would be solved after the BJP came to power in Bengal.
Saying that the Indian Constitution had “vast” possibilities Shah told a public rally that all problems could be solved within the frame work of it.
“It is a promise being made by me that a permanent political solution to the Gorkha problem will be reached once there is a double-engine government of the BJP in place … once there is a BJP Government in Bengal with the one in the Centre you will not have to resort to agitations anymore,” the Home Minister said without however mentioning the kind of problem he was referring to.
On the implementation of the National Register for Citizens he said that though it was not immediately being considered by the Centre it would never in future affect the Gorkhas upon its implementation.
“The Government is not thinking a NRC for now… But even if in future it is done Gorkhas will not have to worry about it because they are as good a citizen of this country as I am… They are the pride of India,” he said.
Attacking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for putting a “full stop” on the developmental works in Darjeeling, he said “no development work is done here … only the TMC leaders use this place for holidaying.” Saying that the BJP Government would give “amnesty” to all those against whom criminal cases had been lodged by the TMC Government Shah said that “by lodging criminal cases against some of the Gorkha leaders Didi has tried to ruin the cordial relationship between the BJP and Gorkhas … but that plan will never succeed.”
Shah on Tuesday held a number of rallies in North Bengal including Islampur and Dhupguri.