CPM for greater powers for Hills Party to root for 'revival' of Sixth Schedule Bill

SNS, SILIGURI, 12 DECEMBER 2020 : The CPI-M will raise the demand for a highest form of regional autonomy, like greater powers under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, for the Hills, the party has said. It added that it wants revival of the earlier bill to that effect during the Assembly elections. 

The party further challenged chief minister Mamata Banerjee to make the 'deal' with Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Bimal Gurung public.

"Except for the Gorkhaland demand, we want permanent solution for the Hills. As part of the permanent solution, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which allows greater autonomy to regions, should be implemented in the Hills. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill to grant Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills was introduced in the Lok Sabha in November 2007, however, the issue was put on the back-burner. We are demanding that the same bill be revived and implemented," senior CPI-M leader and chairperson of the board of administrators ofthe Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Asok Bhattacharya, said here yesterday.

After being referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, the final report on the said bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on February 28, 2008. The committee had then cautioned the government against going ahead with the bills.

CPIM leaders said the issue will he raised during campaign for next year's Assembly elections. According to Mr Bhattacharya, they were also demanding that Miss Banerjee speak openly about their 'deal' with Mr Gurung.

"I directly want to know from her and she should speak up about their deal with Bimal Gurung. Whether all cases registered by the Trinamul Congress government under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and anti-terror law against him have been withdrawn. She has to make it clear," he said.

Darjeeling district Left Front convener and CPI-M secretary Jibesh Sarkar said that during the Assembly elections and parliamentary elections, the division of politics comes to the fore.

"People of the Hills are betrayed because of the politics of vote by the Trinamul Congress. Bimal Gurung had been on the run for three years and more than  100 criminal charges are slapped against him. What is the fate of the cases?" Mr Sarkar said.

He said his party had stressed on area-wise campaigns ahead of the elections.

"There are 1958 booths in the district and the Dabgram Fulbari Assembly constituency. There are 874 booths in the Hills and 1084 booths are in the Plains. We have already formed committees in around 1000 booths and focused on area-wise campaigns. All frontal organisations are extensively campaigning. We are working to reduce minor gaps," Mr Sarkar said. The party has already formed Assembly-wise committees. A booth-level conveners' meeting of the Siliguri Assembly constituency was held here today.