Sikkim, Darjeeling move together to secure ST status for left-out Gorkha communities; led by Golay, Raju Bista

PRASHANT ACHARYA, SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, SILIGURI / GANGTOK, OCTOBER 6, 2024: A coordination meeting was held in Siliguri on Sunday, focusing on the demand for tribal status for 11 left-out Gorkha communities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Dooars, and 12 of Sikkim. The meeting brought together leaders and representatives from these regions.

It was almost after three decades that leaders from Sikkim and Darjeeling came together on one platform and unanimously agreed to fight for the constitutional rights and submit a joint ethnographic report. Sikkim and Darjeeling had made similar moves together previously for constitutional recognition of the Nepali language and for scheduled tribe status for Limboo and Tamang communities.

Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang and Darjeeling M.P. Raju Bista were present at the four-hour-long meeting between representatives from 11 Gorkha communities from Darjeeling and 12 from Sikkim. Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba, Kalchini MLA Vishal Lama, Rajya Sabha M.P. from Sikkim D.T. Lepcha, and Lok Sabha M.P. from Sikkim Indra Hang Subba were also present.

Prem Singh Tamang said that the meeting was cultural, not political, and aimed at addressing long-pending demands. "This is a constitutional issue. Today, we discussed various reports, including an infographic and survey report, and decided to form a Joint Action Committee. The committee will consist of five members each from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Dooars," Tamang said.

The newly formed "Team for Tribal Status for Sikkim and Darjeeling" would focus on revising and improving reports previously submitted to the Office of the Registrar General of India and on submitting a fresh report to the RGI. "Earlier, both states worked separately, but now we will move forward jointly," Tamang said, speaking on past collaborations between Sikkim and Darjeeling on Nepali language and Limboo–Tamang issues.

Sikkim representatives for the JAC included S.K. Rai, Mani Kumar Pradhan, Khilburna Gurung, and Narayan Khatiwada, while Darjeeling would be represented by Ramesh Rai, Deepak Pradhan, Bal Bahadur Sharma, D.B. Bhujel, and Prabin Giri. S.K. Rai would serve as the president of the committee, and Deepak Pradhan would be the committee general secretary.

Both Prem Singh Tamang and Raju Bista have been in regular discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Tribal Ministers and are hopeful of a positive outcome soon. Asked about the previous rejection of the proposal by the RGI, the Sikkim Chief Minister said: “The RGI has asked us to submit the report in a fresh way so that it is not rejected. We have been asked to file a new proposal report. In this, Darjeeling and Sikkim have decided to move together."