Bista omitted 'Gorkhaland' from Parliament speech on purpose, says Tamang

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 18 November 2019 | Darjeeling: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Binay Tamang alleged that in his speech in the Parliament on Monday, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista purposefully steered clear of the word Gorkhaland. Tamang further urged Bista to table a Bill for the separate state of Gorkhaland.

Bista had raised the demand for "a permanent solution to the long pending demands of the people of Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars under Matters of Urgent Public Importance (Rule 377)," during his speech in the Parliament.

"I am most hopeful that the government will expedite the process of finding a permanent political solution so that people can live in peace and prosper," stated Bista. 

"Why the jugglery of words? Permanent political solution for the Gorkhas unequivocally means creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland. He purposefully avoided the word Gorkhaland," alleged Tamang.

The GJM president further stated that the Tribal minister's answer to Bista's question regarding grant of tribal status to the Gorkhas is a clear indication that the government has not taken any concrete decision on granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Gorkha sub-communities.

"The Gorkhas have been taken for a ride once again by the BJP with their false promises," alleged Tamang.

He has also shot a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the time was ripe for BJP to fulfill their electoral promise, riding on which they have won the Darjeeling Parliamentary seat thrice.

The three demands of the Gorkha community include creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland (permanent political solution), conferring tribal status to 11 Gorkha sub-communities and declaring all Gorkhas as protected class or indigenous people for the purpose of National Register of Citizens.

Tamang also urged the Prime Minister to table a Bill for the creation of Gorkhaland in the winter session of the Parliament, which commenced on Monday.