Ethnic Groups In North Bengal Reject BJP MP's Union Territory Demand

John Barla, the BJP MP from Alipurduar, recently sparked a political debate in the state when he called for bifurcation of Bengal, drawing sharp retort from the Trinamool 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 a 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. They said it was an attempt to create unrest ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024.