Sixth Schedule: GNLF seeks Bill in House

SNS, KALIMPONG AND DARJEELING, 6 DECEMBER 2018: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has demanded that the central government introduce a Bill on granting Sixth Schedule status to the' Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the winter session of parliament.

The party put up posters on public walls in Kalimpong in this regard to day and said that such a status tor the Hills had been recommended by the (Parliament's} standing committee.

"The agreement tor the Sixth Schedule to be implemented in the Hills was readied 13 years ago by Subash Ghisingh," GNLF supporters said. Lopsang Tamang, a local leader of the party in Kalimpong, said there is a need for people to understand the''value of Sixth Schedule."

In Darjeeling, GNLF steering committee member Ajay Edwards said that his party will bring consensus among the people and political parties in the Hills on their demand for the Sixth Schedule status. According to him, they will be trying to garner support on the issue from political parties and the locals.

Mr Edwards was speaking on the sidelines of a programme held at the party office here to mark 'Accord Day,' the day the Memorandurn of Settlement (Mos) for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule between the state, Centre and the GNLF was signed in 2005.

"We want to bring a silent majority of the people for the issue of Sixth Schedule, tor which we want to make them understand the issue. We will also discuss the matter with other political parties. We want to tell them that the Sixth Schedule is not only the issue of the GNLF but the entire Hills. We have also planned a non-political discussion on the topic on December where we have incited different organizations, along with NG0s," Mr Edwards said.

"Gorkhaland is already the main aim and vision of all political parties here, along with the locals, but at present, the Sixth Schedule is more likely the long-term solution, while Gorkhaland is a permanent solution which we also want to tell the people,' he added.

According to Mr Edwards, the status would mean solutions to many problems like unemployment, as under the Sixth Schedule, an Employment Board would have to be formed. He said that around Rs 2,000 to 3,000 crore will also come as revenue from the various dam projects as the Sixth Schedule en compasses that, while it will guarantee land rights too. Asked about the up coming Lok Sabha elections, Mr Edwards said, 'No decision has been taken on that so far. The 14-member steering committee will look into that. The ftirst meeting of the body will be held on Saturday.