GNLF to urge Centre to clarify if Darjeeling belongs to India: Dewan

SNS, Kurseong, 27 December: The Gorkha National Liberation Front has decided not to press the Sixth Schedule status for the Hills, but to urge the Centre to clarify whether Darjeeling Hills belongs to India or Nepal.

Talking to the reporters in Kurseong, the GNLF spokesperson Mr Daya Dewan said they will visit Delhi soon to discuss with the central government in this regard.

Mr Dewan informed that such a decision was recently taken by the GNLF leaders at a meeting organised under the leadership of their party general secretary Mr Mahendra Chettri.

Mr Dewan clarified that in 1994, the then GNLF president Late Suhash Ghisingh had filed a case in the Supreme Court in connection with the Indo-Nepal 1950 Treaty and its Article 8. As per Mr Dewan, during that time, Supreme Court had said that it is a political issue and it should be discussed politically.

Accordingly, the GNLF former supremo Ghisingh had started demanding up upgradation of the DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council). He further added that Late Ghisingh had never demanded the Sixth Schedule status of the Indian Constitution for Darjeeling Hills and in stead it had been given by the government when their supremo Late Subash Ghisingh had demanded upgradation of DGHC. However, the DGHC was a constitutionally recognised arrangement.

Mr Dewan said that as per the Article 8, all the previous treaties signed between India and Nepal will henceforth remain cancelled.

When all other previous treaties became void automatically vide 1950 treaty- Article 8, what is the present status of Darjeeling hills or where does Darjeeling stand and whether Darjeeling Hills belong to Nepal or India, he questioned.

Hence now with the issue of the 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty and its Article 8 as well as with the previous history of Indo-Nepal agreements, they will press for their demand, If Darjeeling region has been really brought or included under the jurisdiction of India then the government must accordingly agree regarding the implementation of the Sixth Schedule status of the Indian constitution to Darjeeling hills, he added.

He also added that though the DGHC is a constitutionally recognised arrangement, the Sixth Schedule status of the Indian Constitution is more powerful than the DGHC.