DDUDF demands inclusion of representative from Gorkha Community in the review committee for Indo Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950

Mukesh Sharma, Kalimpong News Express, KalimNews, 19 August 2014, Kalimpong,:  Indian PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Nepal to review its 1950 treaty with Nepal has sparked a new political excercise in Darjeeling Hills. A spark to seek a re-look at Article VII of the pact to help solve the “identity” problem of Indian Gorkhas has risen in recent times in the Hills. 

During a joint meeting of Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh , Gorkhaland Task Force and Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) held today at Kalimpong discussion was made about the future program and the 1950 Indo Nepal Friendship Treaty. 
After the meeting speaking with reporters Dr Enos Das Pradhan President of BGP said that National Working Committee of BGP will be held at Delhi on 14th September which will witness participation of all representatives . BGP has planned to lead a joint Forum to meet PM and HM in Delhi. BGP has requested MP SS Alhuwalia to arrange for the appointment with both the leaders.
Pradhan informed that DDUDF will submit a memorandum to External affairs minister Sushma  Swaraj demanding inclusion of one representative from Gorkha Community in the review committee. He Said that a national convention on this meeting will soon be held for which we have planned to call all the top Gorkhas in higher posts all over the country including CM ,MP, MLA representative for different political parties, organisation etc .
Meanwhile DDUDF President Mahendra P Lama said that Several crucial issues were discussed between  between India and Nepal during the just concluded successful visit of the Prime Minster of India to Nepal. In many significant issues some concrete decisions were taken as a way forward. Among these issues, the issues related to Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty signed in 1950 was also discussed.This Treaty has always wrongly touched the sentiments of the Indian Gorkhas and has also adversely affected them in many ways
Mahendra P Lama said that the Indian Gorkhas look at this treaty from the view point of a bilateral arrangement which has adversely affected their political identity and Indian nationality because Article 7 and Article 8 of the Treaty permit unrestricted movement of citizens of both the countries in each others’ territory on a reciprocal basis.“The free flow of people from Nepal through the entire stretch of the 1751-km open border and their settlement in different parts of India has rather adversely affected the Indian Gorkhas as their Indian identity and nationality gets diluted because of the presence of the people with similar culture and language but of Nepalese nationality. Though Indian Gorkhas raised the issue in several national forums, there is no durable and permanent solution yet,” 
DDUDF has appealed to the Indian Gorkhas that  this is  the ultimate attempt by the Indian Gorkhas to really give a final shape to their quest for national identity. In  this regard, Lama Said that it is very essential for the political parties; civil society institutions; social-cultural and other professional organisations; media persons-teachers-industrialists and farmers;  sportsperson-students-intellectuals and businessmen and the members of parliament and legislative assemblies to come together and deliberate on this very critical issue in a single forum. 
Besides, they all have to decide on the strategy and further course of action so that a conclusive and durable solution comes out of the entire process. There is no time for the Indian Gorkhas to falter, dither and vacillate on these issues now. Unlike in the past, this is not the moment for them to look at this national issue from a very narrow political party and self-centric individual perspective. DDUDF would like to participate fully and wholeheartedly in this entire process of deliberations and consensus building. 
In fact, DDUDF unilaterally offers to bring out a comprehensive BASE PAPER in order to take the entire deliberations forward. To provide sound arguments and detail politico-legal information and statistics and firm basis for substantive discussion, this BASE PAPER will deal with history, sociopolitical dynamics, geographical and demographic dimensions, facets of international relations, the conduct and management of borders, trials-tribulations and harassment and atrocities faced by the Indian Gorkhas and finally the need to have constitutional provisions and a separate state as a durable and permanent solution.