A Permanent Solution, UT, 6th Schedule Status Feature In The List Of Assurances For Darjeeling

WEPEN, April 5, 2019: Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday stated that she will resolve the identity issue of the Gorkhas and work out a permanent solution. The Indian National Congress promised a Union Territory status to the Darjeeling Hill and Dooars. Other leaders of the Congress mooted for the 6th Schedule status for the Darjeeling Hills.

In a press conference in Darjeeling town on Friday while a leader assured that if voted to power Congress would push for the union territory status from the Hills and Dooars. In the same press conference, the Darjeeling District Committee President mooted for the 6th schedule status for the Hills.

“Congress if voted into power in Delhi will push for UT status for the Hills (Sukna upwards and also including Dooars.) The Congress is sincere about Darjeeling and if any party can resolve the problems of Darjeeling it is the Congress,” stated Mohan Sharma, INC leader.

He stated that the Congress Government at the Centre had constituted Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988; Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in 2011 and inclusion of the Nepali language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 1992.

“6th Schedule status is most suited for the Darjeeling Hills. I had tabled the 6th Schedule Bill when the UPA Government was in power. If voted to power we will press for the 6th Schedule status,” stated Dawa Narbula, former Congress MP and President, Darjeeling District Congress Committee.

Interestingly, the GNLF has been pressing for the 6th Schedule demand since 2005. In this general election the GNLF is supporting the BJP.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee’s campaign trail led her to Naxalbari in the plains of the Darjeeling district on Friday.

“We will work out a permanent solution to the Gorkha identity issue,” assured Mamata Banerjee. Demanding Modi and the BJP’s ouster from Delhi, Banerjee stated, “We are together – Hill and plains. This is India. This is Bengal. Here Bengalis, Gorkhas, Adivasis, Minorities are all one. There is no difference.”

She stated that the BJP is the root cause of all unrest. “We conciliate the Hills and the BJP fans the communal fire every time. They want disturbance, strife and violence in the State,” alleged Banerjee.

“We want peace, and development. We want to work together. We want schools, hospitals, roads and tea gardens to be open,” advocated the TMC Supremo.

Meanwhile the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM – a breakaway faction of the CPIM in the Hills) has extended support to the BJP candidate Raju Bista.