6th Schedule will solve Gorkha impasse: GNLF

Amitava Banerjee ,7 Dec 2016, DARJEELING: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has appealed to chief minister Mamata Banerjee to open a dialogue with the party for incorporating Darjeeling Hills in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution which they claim is the long term political solution to the impasse.
The GNLF on Tuesday commemorated “6th Schedule Day” in the Hills by bringing out rallies. The Gorkha National Women’s Organisation (GNWO, women’s wing of the GNLF) has written to Mamata seeking her intervention regarding the granting of 6th Schedule status.
The 6th Schedule is a special provision for safeguard of tribal rights, tradition, culture and language.
The memorandum to the CM through the district magistrate, Darjeeling, requested her to look into the memorandum of settlement signed by the Centre, Bengal government and Subash Ghisingh on December 6, 2005 to incorporate the Darjeeling Hills in 6th Schedule. GNLF feels that areas in the Garo Hills, Khasi Hills, Jayantia Hills and Mizoram after independence were accorded 6th Schedule status. However, it was not accorded to Darjeeling which resulted in the lack of safeguard of the unique customs, traditions, culture and identity of Indian Gorkhas. “Please open a fresh dialogue with GNLF and take up the matter with the Centre and all other stakeholders for the long term political solution of the Darjeeling Hills issue,” said the letter.