Congress to examine demand for Gorkhaland, assures Munish Tamang

We (the Congress)will recognize the sentiments of Gorkhaland. After the Congress comes to power and the UPA government is formed, we will try to address this demand of the hill people," Tamang said in a public speech

EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 4/--/ Congress candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat Munish Tamang said on Thursday the Congress would look into the demand of a separate Gorkhaland state, if it formed the Government in Delhi after the election. Munish Tamang, flanked by alliance partners Hamro Party and the CPI (M),submitted his nomination papers at the office of the District Magistrate of Darjeeling during the day.

“We (the Congress)will recognize the sentiments of Gorkhaland. After the Congress comes to power and the UPA government is formed, we will try to address this demand of the hill people," Tamang said in a public speech before filing his papers. 

Tamang however said the Congress would also revive the Sixth Schedule Bill which had been put in the back burner. 

"It was the Congress that had brought the Sixth Schedule Bill in Parliament. If we form the government then we will revisit the Bill and work towards a new beginning and solution," he said.

Gorkha National Liberation Front founder Subash Ghisingh had raised the Sixth Schedule demand. 

A Bill was placed in Parliament in2008 by the then UPA government. However the BJP opposed the Bill and got it scrapped at the advice of its ally the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Besides the long-pending Gorkhaland demand, issues like land right, granting tribal status to the Gorkha communities, improving the health and education sectors and eradicating unemployment would betaken up by the Congress. 

Asked about the opposition of West Bengal Pradesh Congress general secretary Binoy Tamang to his candidature, Munish Tamang said: "I was nominated by my party. I have no personal competition against him.

I hope he will support me and work for the issue of the Gorkha community". President of the Darjeeling District Congress Committee Shankar Malakar admitted the party was weak in the hills but was confident that with the new alliance with Hamro Party it would stage a good show..

“In the hills we do not have a proper presence. But, the Hamro Party being an alliance of the INDIA bloc has strengthened us. With our different alliances we will give a tough fight to the BJP and the Trinamool Congress," he said. Hamro Party President Ajoy Edwards said people should not get swayed by false promises of the BJP and its partners among the regional parties.

"The BJP was never sincere towards us. In2017 when atrocities were being committed on our people by the West Bengal government, the BJP did not extend any support. They have not kept the election promises even after 15years.

The GNLF and the GJM have bowed down to the BJP and will not speak for the Gorkha community any more, "he said. CPI (M) leader Saman Pathak said his party would go all out to support the Congress candidate in the election.

“The partners of the Left Front are totally supporting the Congress candidate. We have started campaigning the day his name was announced,” he said.