Telangana and Gorkhaland issues unrelated: BJP

KOLKATA: After supporting Congress over the passing of Telangana Bill in Parliament, BJP today said the issue of Gorkhaland in West Bengal was not related to Telangana.

"The issue of Gorkhaland should not be connected with Telangana. The people of Telangana were much deprived although the region contributed most to the state's income," BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters here.

Lekhi said BJP's support to the Telangana Bill was purely based on administrative reasons and directed to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.

When pointed out that the passage of the Bill would create fresh unrest in the Darjeeling hills and lead to the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, she said there was a state re-organisation committee which holds dialogue with all the stakeholders.

Yesterday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised BJP and Congress for "forming an unholy nexus" in getting the Bill passed in the Parliament.

Asked whether BJP, if came to power after the Lok Sabha polls, would pay heed to Banerjee's demand for restructuring of West Bengal's loans, Lekhi said in a quasi-federal structure, it was the duty of the Centre to ensure equitable distribution of funds among the states.

"We are not in the government. But in principle, the state's demand makes sense," she said.