TMC says BJP attempting to divide W.Bengal by raising Gorkhaland issue

Members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to divide the state of West Bengal by raising the issue of forming a separate state of Gorkhaland in the Lok Sabha.

TMC members engaged ina shouting match with their BJP counterparts after senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh made a strong plea for a political solution to the Gorkhaland issue.

The disruption arising out of the issue forced Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn proceedings in the House till 2 p.m.

One Trinamool Congress member, Kalyan Banerjee, entered the well chanting "shame, shame, Jaswant Singh" and accused him of trying to divide the state.

This was objected to by some BJP members.

Singh has been elected to Lok Sabha from Darjeeling, a part of the hilly region of West Bengal where a major section of locals are seeking a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Singh said the Centre should help arrive at an amicable settlement of Gorkhaland issue by ensuring talks among all concerned as part of the Tripartite Agreement between the Centre, the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

An urgent resolution of the issue is necessary as the area is witnessing a bandh for the past 11 days, he said, adding the Centre should call the GJM leaders and state government representatives for talks soon.

"Let peace be ensured, no threat issued and a political dialogue started," Singh said.

As he was about to end his remarks, Trinamool members, including Banerjee, Sudip Bandopadhyaya and Sougata Ray, were on their feet shouting "Bengal will not be divided" and "we will not allow you to do it."

The issue of Gorkhaland has suddenly hotted up in the wake of the decision to create a separate state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh.