Binay Tamang urges Union govt to grant 'Scheduled Area' status to N Bengal, GTA areas

Amitava Banerjee, MP, 8 Oct 2018 , Darjeeling: The demand for declaring North Bengal and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration areas as a 'Scheduled Area' resonated on Monday. 

Binay Tamang, President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, has demanded that the Union government immediately grant 'Scheduled Area' status to North Bengal and the GTA areas. 

Incidentally, 'Scheduled Areas' are socially and economically backward areas. Scheduled areas find mention in the 5th schedule of the Indian Constitution under Article 244(1).

States like Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh have been granted 'Scheduled Areas'. 

Tamang on his way back to Darjeeling from Delhi, talking to media persons at Bagdogra Airport said: "Both North Bengal and the GTA areas are socially and economically backward areas. If the Government can declare economically sound areas in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and other states, then why not North Bengal and the GTA areas?" questioned Tamang.

He alleged that the BJP was indulging in vote politics in the Hills. "Twice we elected BJP MPs for Gorkhaland. 

They had also assured that they would incorporate 11 Gorkha communities in the Scheduled Tribe list. Forget Gorkhaland, they have not done anything for the schedule tribe status as well," stated Tamang. He stated that the BJP Government by using central forces had prevented the GJM from observing their foundation day on October 7 in Delhi. 

"They threatened to arrest me and did not even allow a cultural programme. The BJP complain that there is no democracy in West Bengal but I found that there is no democracy in the capital of this country. We were humiliated," retorted Tamang. The GJM plans to hold a massive rally in Delhi after Diwali. "Whether they give us permission, even if we are arrested, we will go ahead with the rally," added Tamang. 

Tamang alleged that all of this was the handiwork of SS Ahluwalia, BJP MP from Darjeeling.