Gangarampur (WB), April 14
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the BJP would seek a constitutional solution to the long-standing Gorkha issue in the Darjeeling hills, while keeping West Bengal intact. Speaking at an election rally in Gangarampur, in the district of Dakshin Dinajpur, he accused regional political figures of working in coordination with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress.
Shah also alleged that a mosque modelled on the historic Babri Masjid was being constructed with state backing, and said his party would oppose the move.
Outlining economic measures, he promised to ease restrictions on the movement of potatoes from West Bengal to other states, saying this would help farmers secure better prices.
The minister said a government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party would act to curb political violence, dismantle what he described as entrenched local networks of corruption, and take action against illegal immigration.
He also reiterated campaign pledges to expand infrastructure in north Bengal, including setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a cancer hospital, an Indian Institute of Technology, an Indian Institute of Management and a sports university.
In addition, he said the Rajbanshi language would be proposed for inclusion in India’s constitutional list of recognised languages, and that an eco-adventure hub would be developed in Darjeeling.
