Edwards meets AAP leader in Delhi, expresses support for Kejriwal

EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 10, 2024 : Hamro Party president, Ajoy Edwards after meeting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Rajesh Sharma in Delhi claimed AAP would support the demand for including the Hills areas under the sixth schedule. 

On Friday the HP president said he had a fruitful meeting with the AAP leader, who is in-charge of the northeastern states, and as a reciprocal measure decided to extend support to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“The Gorkhas of Darjeeling have been demanding the status of 6th Schedule to be implemented. In the year 2007a bill was introduced in Parliament but due to various circumstances it could not be passed. To make our demand a reality Sharma has assured the AAP party's support," said Edwards. 

Ahead of the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Edwards had joined the INDIA bloc and supported and campaigned for the Congress candidate Munish Tamang. 

The Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) for the implementation of the sixth schedule had been signed between the state, centre and the GNLF on December 6, 2005.However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party led by Bimal Gurung and other political parties opposed the sixth schedule and with help of the BJP got the bill that was placed in Parliament in 2007, to be put in the back burner.

This was followed by four years of agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state spearheaded by the GJM which ultimately resulted in the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in 2012. Apart from meeting Sharma, Edwards also submitted a letter addressed to Kejriwal expressing his support towards him and his “fight against injustice”. 

Commending the “exemplary work” being done by the AAP CM in Delhi, Edwards said, “As the president of Hamro Party, a proud member of the INDIA Alliance, I have closely followed the remarkable progress you have achieved in various sectors, which has served as an inspiration to me and many others across the nation. In these challenging times, as an alliance partner of the INDIA Alliance, HP stands firmly in solidarity with you, advocating for justice and fairness.”