Is everybody serious about Gorkhaland?

Hillman the Analyst, KalimNews, 31 December 2014: Apropos The Statesman News Service 22 December 2014 “CPRM call to unite for Gorkhaland” and “ST status won’t help fulfill the demand for Gorkha’s identity, says RB Rai Tribal tag a plot to dilute state demand: CPRM” by Vivek Chhetri, both of which articles seems to convey that the CPRM stance seems to be appropriate in the political atmosphere particularly in Darjeeling District & Dooars by asser

ting the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, seemingly their primary object or so it seems at this moment of time. They have placed the ST demand as a non performing asset and alleged that the demand is only an election 2016 ploy.

Whether this assertion is right or wrong is a separate issue and can be discussed over a cup of tea in any length of time. But it is evident that the ST demand at this moment of time is considered terminally late considering that such demand issues would have been felt proper before the Census undertaking 2011 which is now already a past event. Despite this late realisation there is no harm at all on seeking a dream which imagination itself will fulfill the desire to live for another day – and seek another fresh dream, which again may never come. 

But one dream is certain to become a reality is that Darjeeling District will complete its constitutional journey as a Partially Excluded Area 1935 and then in the Fifth Schedule 1952-56 and again recently in the Fifth Schedule on 10 December 2013 is now full of expectations in being identified as a Union Territory (which could be with or without the Dooars). This is not to indicate that Dooars will be left out of the ambit of its constitutional journey. It will either be merged (1). with Darjeeling District as a UT or (2).with Bodoland Territorial Council and (3). a separate administrative unit under Sixth Schedule, West Bengal.

2.Apropos the Statesman 29 December 2014 “GJMM to go on Delhi dharna from 15 January” This is awfully good news considering Bimal Gurung, GJM Chief is taking the statehood issue to Delhi once again. Although it is given to understand that “every week 30 members … will share the dharna” is welcome sign that statehood is practically on sight particularly after the Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Bimal and GJM representatives that a committee is being formed to look into the statehood issue.

This news is impacting while taking into consideration that already West Bengal State is now under the provisions of the Fifth Schedule reckoned so by the Governor of the State in 2013. After all the establishment of the Fifth Schedule alone is indicative that the demand for statehood is constitutionally is now provided. 

This is inconsideration of the fact that the provisions of the Fifth Schedule alone is a defining factor in creating new states as it was done fro 13 new states created under its provision. Telangana was the last state created under the Fifth Schedule in 2013. Before Telangana the three news states Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarkhand were created under the Fifth Schedule. This writer believes that Darjeeling District too is due to become a UT/state any moment from now. The countdown has begun since 10 December 2013.  

Therefore considering all aspects Bimal Gurung is on track in taking the demand now to Delhi from 15 January 2015. Best of luck to Bimal Gurung and GJM. You will be successful. You are advised to bang on both doors of Parliament to pass The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies pending before Parliament since February 2013.