GNLF group in BJP `rethink'

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 29 Mar 2019, Darjeeling: A section of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leaders in Kalimpong on Thursday threatened a "rethink" on the decision to support the Darjeeling BJP candidate Raju Bista if the BJP did not mention Sixth Schedule status for the hills in the party's "national manifesto".

Maurice Kalikotey, a GNLF leader from Kalimpong, met other party leaders and supporters from the region.

"Since I was getting queries and our cadres were confused with the decision (to support the BJP candidate through an alliance with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Bimal Gurung faction)", we decided to organise this meeting," Kalikotey said.

The former president of GNLF Kalimpong branch committee said: "We have passed a resolution that BJP must write in their national manifesto that the Sixth Schedule bill would be passed in the first Parliament session after coming to power." The contention of the Kalimpong leader is that the Sixth Schedule demand was a "dream of Subash Ghisingh (founder president) and the the party".

"Subash Ghisingh had said that community is bigger than party and land is bigger than community. We believe that Sixth Schedule is about our land," said Kalikotey.

The statement is not fully in sync with the announcement of central committee leaders of the GNLF.

Observers believe it could pose fresh problems for the party in taking on the Trinamul-Morcha (Binay) camp in the election.

Neeraj Zimba, spokesman, GNLF, had on Wednesday said: "During this election, issue is not so important. The important thing is whether you are with the Gorkhas or against the Gorkhas." Zimba also said they are talking about highest form of autonomy "not less than the Sixth Schedule".

"Things will be clear once the manifesto is released. We have talked about many things, including granting of tribal status to 11 communities with the BJP," said Zimba.

Zimba did not take calls or respond to messages on Thursday for comment on the Kalimpong group's stand.

GNLF leader J.B. Tamang, working president of GNLF's trade union, Himalayan Plantation Workers' Union, was sent to a day's judicial custody by a Kurseong court on Thursday. He had been arrested on Sunday in a 2018 case..