KOLKATA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that if elected, the Gorkha issue will be resolved in a constitutional manner and Bengal will not be divided.Addressing a rally in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur, Shah said the change in stance of the Bengal BJP Netas, who had hitherto supported Gorkhaland, said: “I want to tell the Gorkha brothers in Darjeeling that the BJP, once in office, will not only develop an eco-adventure center in the mountains but will also resolve the Gorkha issue in a constitutional manner without dividing the country.”Earlier in the day, during a media interaction, he made it clear that creating a separate Gorkhaland state was not on the agenda of the BJP. He also attacked what he called the “tukde tukde gang”, accusing them of trying to break through to Bengal through the Siliguri corridor.In its manifesto for the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP promised to recognize Gorkha identity and include the Rajbanshi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has given unconditional support to the BJP candidates in Darjeeling, Kushion and Kalimpong for a “permanent political solution” in the hill region.Addressing three rallies in Bengal on Tuesday, Shah also outlined development plans for north Bengal. He said the BJP plans to set up four industrial parks, a semiconductor factory and four industrial towns in the region. He added that the BJP government will start setting up AIIMS in North Bengal within two months and set up a 600-bed cancer hospital. He also promised to provide land titles to tea estate workers.Attacking the TMC for alleged corruption, Shah said: “When the Center allocated Rs 100 crore for flood relief, the Trinamool people pocketed all the money. We will hold them accountable for every penny they took.”He also accused CM Mamata Banerjee of deporting Humayun Kabir as a political strategy. “She (Mamata Banerjee) is evicting Kabir to deceive people. They are building Babri Masjid through Kabir. Bengal cannot build Babri Masjid,” Shah said.Shah reiterated his support for women’s reservation and posted on X that the proposed bill was the “need of the hour”.
