Gorkha Committee demands Sixth Schedule for Darjeeling hills

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 28 July 2024: To advocate for Sixth Schedule status for the Gorkhas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the plains, and Dooars, the Gorkha Hill Sixth Schedule Movement Committee (GHSSMC) was formed during a meeting held on Sunday in Simulbari.

During the meeting, members shared their opinions for the future strategies to advance the movement for Sixth Schedule status. A similar meeting would be convened in Kalimpong in the near future, the meeting decided.

Any offer from the Centre to the hills—whether it be a Union Territory or a separate state—should be accompanied by Sixth Schedule status stated Mahendra Chhetri  while addressing the gathering. He asserted that implementing Article 244(2) and Article 275(1) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is the only viable solution to address the political aspirations of the Gorkhas in the current scenario.

Member representatives elected were Manjila Tamang from Darjeeling, Suraj Ghising from Kurseong, M K Tamang from Mirik, Deepraj Rasaily and Prashant Subba are elected as the Convenors of the youth wing of the GHSMC.

Chhetri highlighted that Subash Ghisingh was the only Gorkha leader who could come forward to lead the Gorkhas and had consistently championed the constitutional rights of the Gorkhas and believed that the Sixth Schedule was essential to protect the land rights, culture, traditions, and legislative rights of the Gorkhas in India.

Chhetri called on national parties to recognize the dignity of the Gorkhas and fulfill the vision of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subash Ghisingh by advocating for Sixth Schedule status for the hills. 

It will work to compel the government to grant this demand but will need support from all end and will also come in contact with the Gorkhas and inform on how the demand is going to be fulfilled. Its not a political party but it will fight for this political right with only one point agenda, Chhetri added.