West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh today faced protests by supporters of expelled GJM leader Binay Tamang, who demanded that the saffron leaders leave the hills immediately and refrain from "disturbing peace and stability" of the region.
Tamang's supporters came on the street and demonstrated against the state BJP chief when he reached here leading a BJP team.
Ghosh, however, refuted the allegations that he had come to the hills to foment trouble, and said it was due to his initiative that peace had returned to the hills.
"I talked to the Union home minister after which peace returned to the hills," he claimed.
Slamming Tamang, who was made chairman of Board of Administrators (BoA) for Darjeeling hills by the Mamata Banerjee government, the BJP leader said, "It does not matter what a traitor is saying.
"He (Tamang) has betrayed the people of the hills and is acting as a stooge of the state government. Before seeking a clarification from me, he should first clarify the stand of the state government (on Gorkhaland)," the state BJP chief said.
Ghosh said GJM supremo Bimal Gurung was the undisputed leader of the hills and others were nothing but "extra players".
The BJP team, which will visit the Darjeeling hills and neighbouring Sikkim, is scheduled to hold meetings with party workers and GJM leadership.
Another expelled GJM leader and vice chairman of the BoA for Darjeeling hills, Anit Thapa also accused the BJP of creating tension in the region.
"What were they doing for three and half months when the hills were burning? When peace has returned, they want to create trouble," he alleged.
West Bengal Tourism Minister Gautam Deb also asked the BJP to clear their stand on the separate statehood demand by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
"Do they support the demand for Gorkhaland or oppose it," he asked.
Last night, GJM supremo Bimal Gurung, who is in hiding, in an audio message had welcomed the BJP leaders to the hills and said the party should ensure removal of Binay Tamang from the post of chairman of BoA for Darjeeling hills.
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