Darjeeling: BJP’s Raju Bista nearly lost the Darjeeling ticket to a former bureaucrat. Contesting Lok Sabha elections from the hills for the second time in a row, he is confident his victory margin will cross 5 lakh this time.
Speaking to News18, Bista touched upon the issue of Gorkhaland demand, the understanding with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung, and infrastructure projects in the pipeline.
Accusing the West Bengal government of “ditching Gorkhas” and “looting” Darjeeling, he also lashed out TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly misleading the public on the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Edited excerpts:
Was it difficult getting a BJP ticket from Darjeeling for the second time?
Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalingpong… people are not my vote bank, but my family. The BJP has a tradition here. Leaders decide things for us. They only give ticket to candidates the public wants. I am not an old politician; I am only five-years-old in politics. I have always worked for the people of the hills and the Northeast. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda who knows the most about Darjeeling. The BJP does not believe in dynasty politics. Many people are interested in contesting elections, but it’s up to the party.
Why should people vote for you again?
For the first time, people are saying they want to see the sitting MP as the candidate. There are a lot of reasons for that. There are certain political issues here in Darjeeling. Eleven Gorkha communities need to be given tribal status and we have declared in our manifesto that we will offer a permanent solution. We are moving forward to that solution according to the Constitution. We have seen under PM Modi’s leadership that he has made the impossible possible. That’s his strength. I am sure the people here also believe that PM Modi can make things possible.
As far as development is concerned, the Bengal government has looted this area. People do not like the Bengal government here because they use our resources, give us Rs 5 and that too they take back. The Bengal government considers Darjeeling to be theirs, but doesn’t consider people of Darjeeling to be theirs.
I did a lot of development here in the last five years. There is a four-lane road coming up to ease traffic. The 100-year-old Coronation Bridge collapsed, but there is now an alternative Coronation Bridge coming up here. A 180-km Ring Road is coming up in Siliguri. Rs 35 crore has also been sanctioned for drinking water.
What is your party’s stand on Gorkhaland demand? Why couldn’t the ‘permanent solution’ be implemented in last five years?
It’s not true that nothing happened on that front. Home Minister Amit Shah has done several meetings, our representatives met him. When PM Modi visited, he too, promised a resolution and we are moving towards that. People have faith in the PM. When didi (Mamata Banerjee) promises something, the opposite happens. But that is not the case with PM Modi.
Gorkhas have been dominated and tortured for the last 100 years. But now they have hope and aspirations. I feel one with the community. When I go to Kolkata, they ask me ‘are you Nepali?’. We are good friends with Nepal and we have an open border. That does not mean we are foreigners. We have identity crisis here and a solution is required. Between 2024 and 2029, this problem will be solved.
As far as Gorkhaland is concerned, the people of this region have been neglected. You have to hear what the people say. The Bengal government never did that and even ditched the people here.
A BJP MLA from Kurseong is contesting against you as an Independent.
Everybody has the right to contest. When the party decided on the candidate, he opposed the decision. Let him do whatever he wants. He became an MLA for PM Modi. He is not fighting against the party, but against the people. It’s just drama, nothing serious.
Anit Thapa, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president and head of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), says their candidate Gopal Lama will win since they won Panchayat elections along with the TMC. What’s your take on this claim?
Anit Thapa knows his place. Did you see any TMC flag in the hills? They are asking for votes by hiding their flag. Gopal Lama is good, but in 2017 our people died. That blood is on Gopal Lama’s party symbol. They can say anything they want. Ask them how much development they have done and they will not have an answer. They have divided the people in the name of boards. They have tried to divide Gorkhas and done nothing else. Now they are distributing money and saying whoever votes for them will get a bike. I tell the people that I will always work for them and be with them.
Why you are again taking Bimal Gurung’s help?
Mamata Banerjee has tried to break the Gorkhas. What’s the point of another district in Kalingpong? There is only one DM and SP, and no development. I want the people to come together, that’s why (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president) Bimal Gurung supported us and we welcome it. Gurung has worked for the people.
Mamata Banerjee says CAA will take away the citizenship of some people and make them ‘foreigners’?
What has she done apart from misleading people? CAA gives (citizenship) right to the people and does not take it away. Mahatma Gandhi promised that during Partition but Congress did not fulfill it. Now, PM Modi is doing it. Mamata Banerjee will decide who gets citizenship? She only bats for one community. She is 110% anti-Hindu.
Are you confident of winning?
I will talk to you on June 4. This time, the margin will cross 5 lakh.
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