ST status to 11 Gorkha communities: SDEM accuses regional parties of doing precious little on this issue

Our demand has gone unheard," said the SDEM

EOI, DARJEELING, FEB 7, 2024 : The Sikkim Darjeeling Ekikaran Manch (SDEM) advocating merger of the Darjeeling hills with Sikkim state today accused the regional political parties of selling out the issues of the people for monetary and political gains.

On Wednesday the SDEM highlighted the Lok Sabha passing the bill granting schedule tribe status to four communities of Jammu and Kashmir. "On Tuesday, Parliament passed a bill granting ST status to four communities in Jammu and Kashmir citing it was a long pending demand. Similarly, our demand for ST status to eleven Gorkha communities is also pending for a long time. However, our demand has gone unheard," said the SDEM general secretary, Shankar Hang Subba.

The SDEM general secretary alleged the BJP and its ally Gorkha National Liberation Front were playing vote politics. "If the ST status demand of Jammu and Kashmir can be fulfilled then why have our demand not been placed in Parliament and passed. The BJP and its ally are responsible and have to answer this deprivation," said Subba.

The BJP in its 2019 election manifesto has promised to find a permanent political solution for the hills and granting tribal status to the eleven left out Gorkha communities.

The GNLF although wary of the BJP not fulfilling its election promise and backlash in the Lok Sabha election this year have decided to put faith on the saffron party. "Leave aside the greater demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland and the PPS, the issue of ST status has been kept in the back burner by the BJP. The GNLF must seek explanation from its ally and answer to the people of the hills," said Subba. Subba said the words of BJP MP from Darjeeling, Raju Bista stood vindicated that regional political parties of the hills were more interested in making money. "A few years back in his public speech, Bista had said that political parties of the hills lacked dedication to the issues of the people. The MP had alleged the regional political parties of vested interests. Why are these parties quiet now," said the SDEM general secretary.

Various political parties over the years have been demanding ST status for the Bhujel, Manger, Gurung, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami and Yakha Dewan communities.

The BJP in Delhi had even formed commissions on three occasions to verify the demand but the report is waited. The SDEM leader urged the hills people to be aware of false promises of political parties during lections. "If we follow blindly then we will be fooled again. Promises will be made by political parties, now the LS election is near. However, we have to be aware and conscious before giving our votes," said Subba.