The Telegraph

Kalimpong, April 3: Members of the minority community in the subdivision are far from happy with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s decision to support the candidature of senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh for the Darjeeling parliamentary seat.

For obvious reasons none of them with strong views are willing to go on record.

C.D. Simmick, the president of the Kalimpong Christian Minority Society, said it would not be proper for him to comment without discussing the matter with other members. He, however, admitted that the track record of the BJP vis-à-vis the minority communities was not very inspiring. “We are aware of what happened in Orissa. Hopefully, the BJP will change its attitude towards minorities.”

A member of the local Muslim community here, Aman Chisti, said it would take a while before the people come to terms with the Morcha’s decision. “The party will have to explain its decision to the people,” said Chisti, his tone suggesting disappointment.

He, however, said the minority community’s commitment to the cause of Gorkhaland would not waver because of the Morcha move.

Others, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, were more blunt and said they were not at all happy with the decision. “How can we vote for a party whose leaders openly talk about slitting our throats. If the Morcha was not keen on fielding its own candidate, it should have backed an Independent,” said a businessman.

The moderates were more at ease with the decision. “The BJP is the best bet for Gorkhaland, which is the ultimate goal of the hill people. And by electing a leader of Jaswant Singh’s stature, our cause will find a strong voice at the national level. For once, we should vote as a community and not as a religious group,” said a college student, who is a Christian.