Defeat attempt to change country's demography: Bengal governor

Claiming that separatist forces were "blooming and flowering" across the country, West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi on Monday called upon the people to defeat the forces that are working to "change the demography of the country".

Speaking at an event to mark the 115th birth anniversary Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Tripathi also expressed concern over the fate of West Bengal in the next 15-20 years.

He said Kashmir alone was not battling separatism and blamed political appeasement for the rise of anti-national forces in various parts of India.

"It's not Kashmir alone, there are many parts of the country, where due to political appeasement, communal appeasement or due to vote bank politics, separatist forces are blooming and flowering.

"It's not the question of Kashmir alone, cultural attack means demographic change in the country. Those who are aiming to change the form of the country, it is our duty to defeat those forces," he said.

Stressing Mookerjee's Kashmir agitation was because of "attacks on nationalist forces and because India's integrity was being challenged", he noted that the "seed of separatism has again started to flourish".

"The country's integrity is being challenged from different sources," said the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

"Now we have a new form of separatism - cultural infringement, cultural attack and cultural views, much like the British did... we now have a different section of people making such impositions.

"Unless, this trend is nipped in the bud, the problem that came across Mookerjee in 1953, that problem is going to resurface in front of this country," said Tripathi.

Claiming that it was the efforts of Mookherjee that ensured that a large part of West Bengal was prevented from being annexed to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Tripathi said he was concerned over the state's future.

"At times during informal discussions, I express my concern, after 15-20 years what will be the fate of West Bengal? I have said in a sentence and rest is for you to understand," said Tripathi.

Asked later by the media to elaborate, he said: "I have said whatever I had to; it's for you to interpret."

While Tripathi refused to elaborate about his comments on Bengal, a host of BJP leaders including party president Amit Shah have over time raised alarm over rise of Bangladeshi infiltrators in the country.