Tamang demands All India Gorkha Assembly- to work for Gorkhas all over India

SNS, DARJEELING, 1 FEBRUARY 21: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Binoy Tamang today raised the demand for an All India Gorkha Assembly (AIGA), which he said would benefit Indian Gorkhas in the country, while also providing them political security.

"We have been demanding statehood for a longtime now, with panics here also having an alliance with different national parties over the years for the same. However, it is evident that they do not have the mindset to grant us this demand. So we have to think of an alternative for which we are demanding an All India Gorkha Assembly, which can be formed after amending the Constitution," Mr Tamang told reporters.

According to him, the AIGA would not affect the demand for Gorkhaland, which would also remain. He, however, maintained that statehood would prove to be beneficial only to those thing in a specific area, while being only an emotional thing for those Gorkhas living all over India. He said that the AIGA would work for Gorkhas all over India.

We want constitutional justice for the Indian Gorkhas and safeguard of their interests against things like the NEC for which we are demanding the AIGA. The body will be a national level body of Gorkhas consisting of elected Gorkha representatives from all across the country," Mr Tamang said.

According to him, the AIGA will also carry the identity and existential issues of the Gorkhas and would work under a suitable ministry and be financially supported by the ministry's budget.

"We have prepared a framework for this body, which we will send to the government, and we want constitutional experts to be used to prepare its structure," said Mr Tamang.

He said that they will be sending their demand to the Prime Minister, along with Governors and Chief Ministers of states where Gorkhas live.

Other demands raised by the Morcha (Tamang camp) include review of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty-1949 and Indo-Nepal treaty-1950, with certain clauses in it to be amended. Mr Tamang also said that the meetings between Bhutan and India on the treaty should be made public, alongwith the Eminent Person Group report on the Indo- Nepal Treaty and the Indian government stand on it.

Mr Tamang also demanded inclusion of the proposed Gotkhaland area in the Northeast Council.