GNLF harps on DGHC’s ‘constitutional’ status

SNS, Kurseong, 13 July 2014: The manner in which leaders of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) have been shouting slogans and highlighting the “constitutional guarantee” of the erstwhile Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) is reminiscent of the famous dialogue of the Bollyhood hit ‘Deewar.’

One of the protagonists in the movie says he has buildings, bungalows, bank balance and cars, and asks his brother in the film what he has. The brother replies: ‘Mere pass maa hai’ (I have a mother with me).

In a similar vein, the GNLF leadership feels that though the present Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) may be an autonomous body and has more power and funds, it “lacks a constitutional guarantee.”

The sixth schedule status that the GNLF has been demanding for Darjeeling Hills also has “that most important ingredient, which is constitutional guarantee,” the leaders believe.

Talking to reporters here yesterday, the GNLF Kurseong branch president, Nima Lama, said the DGHC may have been a small autonomy, but “it is bigger and better than the GTA, as the DGHC has constitutional guarantee and only through such a constitution-framed autonomous body can one obtain guaranteed security.”

Mr Lama also said that the DGHC should be restored until the bill for the Sixth Schedule status is passed in both the houses of parliament. Following a protracted agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, the DGHC was formed on 22 August 1988 for Darjeeling Hills through a tripartite agreement among the GNLF, state government and the central government.

The GNLF leadership also feels that the land and identity of the Gorkha community can be secured only through the constitutional Sixth Schedule status.

GNLF leaders say that such a status is the stepping stone for the formation of a separate state for the Gorkha community living in India.

Presently, advocating the DGHC and the Sixth Schedule status, GNLF activists have been organizing different activities in the Hills. Yesterday, they organized a rally in Kurseong town and some other places in the hills.