GNLF Demands Sixth Schedule status

EOI, Darjeeling, 5 July 2014: The Gorkha National Liberation Front today held rallies and a street corner meeting in Darjeeling and Kalimpong to make vocal its demand for re-instating the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council again until the Sixth Schedule status is accorded to the hills. Further, the party maintained such programmes would be held for six consecutive Saturdays across the three sub-divisions.

GNLF Darjeeling sub-division branch convener MG Subba said, “The programmes are being staged following the directive of our party chief Subash Ghisingh who wants us to hold them on six Saturdays. Though the programme was today held just in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, it this will be held in many places across the hills next Saturday. Our demand is the re-instatement of the DGHC until the Sixth Schedule status is passed. Moreover, the DGHC is a constitutionally guaranteed body unlike the GTA.”

The DGHC was formed on August 22, 1988 with the GNLF later on demanding Sixth Schedule status for the hills, which ended with a memorandum of understanding between the Centre, the state government and the GNLF on December 6, 2005. However, other political parties in the hills strongly opposed the Sixth Schedule and it could not be passed in the Lok Sabha.

When asked about the party’s future programmes, Subba said, “Once the current campaigns end, the central committee will meet and decide on more programmes.”

It may be mentioned here that the GNLF has been making this demand since April of this year when it announced support to TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia in the general election.

The day’s rally in Darjeeling started from Ava Art Gallery and ended in Chowrasta, while in Kalimpong it started from Town Hall and ended at Damber Chowk. Street corner meetings were also held in both places. About 150 to 250 participants were seen in the two rallies each, informed sources.