Centre playing for time on tribal demand: Binoy

SNS, DARJEELING,  7 JANUARY 2018: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Binoy Tamang today alleged that the demand for granting tribal status to 11 different communities in the Hills is being deliberately delayed by the Centre as, according to him, the BJP wants it to make the same its own issue during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, He also claimed that the Centre remained silent during the recent Gorkhaland agitation in the Hills because the "104- day strike happened under the direction of the BJP."

In a press statement, Mr Tamang, who is also the chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), said that the delay was a "stunt" of the Centre, and alleged that the BJP government was trying to stretch the demand for the tribal status throughout 2018 and make it their poll plank here in 2019.He cited some media reports on the issue.

"The truth of the news items can be verified, as the Vishnu Maini committee had been formed to examine the demand for tribal status for the 11 communities, and whose term has already ended. The Centre has, however, formed another committee for six more months, which we have come to know through our sources, who also claim that the committee's tenure is till 13 May 2018," said Mr Tamang.

The release further maintained that in April 2016, the tribal ministry had formed a committee under the then joint secretary Ashok Pai, to examine the demand fort tribal status to Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha (Dewan), and Dhimal communities living in Darjeeling, Sikkim and other Gorkha populated areas.

"The Ashok Pai committee could not complete its work and it was replaced by the committee under Vishnu Maini.Vishnu Maini had also visited Darjeeling and Sikkim in 2017, but after that the committee had become inactive. We now have reports that a new committee for this purpose has been formed for six months," said Mr Tamang.

"All this proves that the Centre does not hold any sympathy towards the Gorkhas, but plays with the emotions and trust of the Gorkhas for a parliamentary seat. During the last Bidhan Sabha elections Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Birpara and Bagdogra in Siliguri, had announced that the communities would he given the tribal status," he added.

The release further said that Mr Modi had from Khaprail in Siliguri announced that the dreams of the Gorkhas was his dream and that he lead earned the trust of the Gorkhas then, due to which a BJP candidate won the seat here with huge margins,

"Even though S.S.Ahluwalia was made the Darjeeling MP for the demand of Gorkhaland, he never raised the issue (at the centre), while he also did not speak for the problems faced by the people during the recent agitation," said Mr Tamang.

The press release also stated that the leaders of the BJP were only keeping the Gorkhas occupied with various assurances, with home minister Rajnath Singh also having said that a committee would be formed to examine the demand for Gorkhaland, which never happened.

"The agitation in the Hills was scripted by the centre due to which no official enquiry has been made nor ally concrete steps taken. The 104-day strike took place in the Hills under the direction of the BJP and the centre remained mum due to this fact, even after many people lost their lives. They did all this with an intention of creating turmoil in the Hills for their political benefit.The Centre is also supporting people against whom police cases under the UAPA have been slapped," Mr Tamang said. He demanded that concrete steps should be taken Centre towards granting tribal status to the 11 communities.