Ethnic groups in north Bengal reject BJP MP’s separate UT proposal

John Barla, the saffron party MP from Alipurduar, recently sparked a political debate in the State when he called for bifurcation of Bengal, drawing sharp retort from the TMC and other parties.

Several ethnic groups, which had spearheaded agitations for creation of separate states in north Bengal over the past few decades, have now rejected a BJP MP’s controversial demand for an Union Territory comprising all districts of the region, calling it an “unrealistic” and “vindictive” move. John Barla, the saffron party MP from Alipurduar, recently sparked a political debate in the State when he called for bifurcation of Bengal, drawing sharp retort from the TMC and other parties. Ironically, Mr. Barla’s demand did not find resonance with the prominent identity-based groups in the region - the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJM), Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA) and those backing the Kamtapur movement.