BJP MP from Darjeeling roasted over social media post

BJP Member of Parliament from Darjeeling, SS Ahluwalia, finds himself at the receiving end of his constituents’ ire. They are clearly unhappy over the missing MP who allegedly has not been seen in Darjeeling ever since a violent movement for separate Gorkhaland was revived last month.

With the BJP and the Union Government not openly supporting the demand for separate Gorkhaland but the party allegedly funding partly the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s agitation, Ahluwalia finds himself in a tricky situation.

With emotions running high and the GJM expecting New Delhi to intervene and announce Darjeeling Hills as a Union Territory, if not a separate state, BJP finds itself in a Catch-22 position. Any overt support for another partition of West Bengal would almost certainly ensure the loss of support in the rest of the state in which BJP and the RSS have invested heavily in recent times.

But a seemingly supportive Facebook post (reproduced below) by Ahluwalia has received over 550 comments, which reflect how dangerous the situation is in the hills. Feelings are running high and Nepali speaking Gorkhas, wherever they are, seem in no mood to relent. Some of them even suggesting that Gorkhas should no longer serve in the Indian army.

Some of the edited excerpts of the comments are followed by the original facebook post by Ahluwalia.

Sovit Chelsea Chhetri: You should immediately resign from your post if you cannot utter the word #Gorkhaland. You are not fit to represent the Gorkha community. U are trying to save Ur chair by playing with the sentiment of Gorkhas. If Grokhas take up arms who will be responsible for it? BJP should make its stand clear.

I think all problems will be solved if Darjeeling along with its hills is given the status like Pondicherry. No seperate state but a separate administration.

Chitramani Pradhan: Everybody's wondering why the Centre is so quiet...watching the fun ??? No responsibility of central govt for Darjeeling ...is Darjeeling in India ??? Darjeeling needs immediate intervention of the centre...

UD Khawas: Now, Gorkha army should understand, each and everyday you brothers are serving our country. But the Government doesn’t want to listen ( to us). Gorkhas give their lives for their country ( but) the government is killing their brothers and sisters.

Barshana Rai: Dear (SS Ahluwalia)Sir, please hear: either support us whole heartedly or don't support us at all. We Don't need half-hearted leaders...too much bloodshed and your sympathy doesn't in anyway contribute to our cause..

The original post of the BJP MP which provoked such strong reaction is reproduced below :

SS Ahluwalia, MP, Darjeeling: Last night, a young man was shot dead in Sonada by the state police, and again this morning, a protest against this oppression in Darjeeling chowk turned bloody when another young man was killed by the police.

The past three weeks have seen the killing of six young people, all at the hands of West Bengal Police. It is shameful that Gorkha people, who have proven their loyalty and love for Mother India again and again as defenders of the nation, have now been forced to face the full strength of state sponsored oppression in their own home Darjeeling.

Su. Mamata Banerjee is playing a blatant game of divisive politics, and using her position to stoke fire in the hills in order to destroy the one corner of her electorate she feels slipping out of her grip. With Sec144 imposed by the state, along with the state blockade of the NH which is being used to cut off food and essential supplies to the hills and even in vindictiveness to Sikkim, had put the entire region on the brink of collapse, with shortage of food and rations forcing people to the streets, only to be shot down. This is a violation of the National Food Security Act, as well as violating the Fundamental and Human rights of the people of the region.

Darjeeling is burning again, and I appeal to the people of the hills and the state government that a confrontational approach and oppression will not bring anything except loss of life and property.

In the past, we have seen that only tripartite (the people, the state and the Centre) efforts have brought peace and calm along with the scope for further developments.

I ask the CM Su. Mamata Banerjee to take immediate corrective measures to ensure an environment conducive to peace is restored, by stopping all repressive measures of the state and administration, beginning with the order of a CBI enquiry into the killings on the 17th, the 7th and the 8th, withdrawal of excess state police forces, and ensuring that essential supplies and food rations reach the MR/PDS shops and the people, and by restoring Internet connectivity.

I ask her, the CM of the State, to ensure that the above measures are taken, so that the people of Darjeeling may see peace and normalcy return to their lives. I also ask the leadership in the hill parties to work on reciprocal manner toward creating an atmosphere to allow a political dialogue towards the fulfillment of their rights and demands. “