Hill Janjati group rues delay in ST status nod: It's a long process, says Darjeeling's BJP MP Raju Bista

SNS, SILIGURI, 23 FEBRUARY 2022 : Ahead of elections to the Darjeeling Municipality, Bharatiya Gorkha 11 Janjati Mahasangh, a grouping of 11 sub-tribes in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, has expressed unhappiness at the role of the Centre, as their longstanding demand for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list has not yet been fulfilled, and this, despite promises and assurances.

Addressing a press conference here today, the president of the Mahasangh. Kanchan Gurung, said: "The matter is still pending and there is no positive information on it. Though some officials have assured us during meetings, we are virtually upset over the delay in granting us tribal status."

According to Mr Gurung, he recently met authorities concerned in Delhi so as to know about the central government's decision to grant tribal status to 11 Hill communities in West Bengal and how much longer they would have to wait.

"Hill people are very simple minded. It is unfortunate that before elections, to secure votes, issues in the interest of the Hill people come to the fore, but after elections, political parties forget their commitments," Mr Gurung said, adding that officials always tried to "pacify" them. Significantly, Mr Gurung, showcasing an official paper, said: "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already taken a decision to grant the communities tribal status on 28 February 2014 and informed the Centre of her agreement, but nothing has happened."

Asked to comment on the matter, Darjeeling's BJP MP Raju Bista said: "Their statement also reasserts the fact that the central government is working tirelessly towards the re-inclusion of the 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes."

"Including any group as Scheduled Tribe is a long process and it takes years for the formalities to be completed. There is a process and all formalities have to be fulfilled according to the norms. I am happy to report that the process has been fast-tracked after the first round of tripartite talks, and I am most hopeful of a positive announcement by the government within the next few months," Mr Bista said. "After the conclusion of the first round of tripartite talks, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been working in the background, and soon the second round of talks will also be called," Mr Bista said, adding, "I assure the people that the Central Government is committed to fulfilling our Sankalp Patra commitments, and though it has taken time, the BJP will do justice to the Gorkhas."