All hill oppositions in one room – condemns Sixth Schedule, instigates Gorkhaland

Darjeeling, November 8: Historic moment was witnessed, when complete opposition leaders of Darjeeling hills assembled at Library room of GDNS, Darjeeling. The meeting was called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and presided over by Mr. Bimal Gurung, president of GJM.

Nine hill political parties were present in the meeting, excluding CPI(M) and ruling party GNLF. Following leaders were present in the meeting:

GJM:– Mr. Bimal Gurung - president, Mr. K Ramudamu – vice president (schedule caste association – president), Mr.Roshan Giri – general secretary (AGSU – president), Mr. Raju Pradhan – secretary (advocate);
 
ABGL (Gorkha League):- Mr. Madan Tamang - president, Mr. N C Khaling – vice president, Mr. Laxman Pradhan – secretary;
 
CPRM:- Mr. R B Rai - general secretary (former MP), Mr. D S Bamzan – spokesperson, Mr. Sawan Rai - secretary;

Congress:- Mr. Chabbi Rai - secretary Darjeeling unit, Mr. Nakul Chhetri;

BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party):– Dr. G S Yonjon – president Darjeeling committee

GNLF(C):– Col. D K Pradhan - president

GRS (Gorkha Rastriya Congress – Sikkim/Darjeeling merger):– Mr. D K Bomzan - president, Mr. Shankarhang Subba - general secretary;

Trinamul Congress:- Mr. Gopal Singh Chhetri – general secretary Darjeeling committee

Bharatiya Gorkha Janshakti:- Mr. Bidhan Chandra Rai – president


Setting aside all the political differences, the meeting intensively discussed about long standing aspiration of Gorkha people – the separate state of Gorkhaland, Sixth Schedule and its impacts and unanimously passes the two resolutions as:

i)   Today’s meeting completely condemns the MOS (memorandum of settlement), Sixth Schedule for Darjeeling hills signed by Central Govt., West Bengal Govt. and Mr. Subash Ghisingh, on December 6, 2005, which is undemocratic, unconstitutional and against the people’s will, which will be protested. Therefore, Gorkhaland is demanded instead of Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling hills.

ii)  Political rights and justice for Gorkha people from the Article 3 of Indian constitution, plea will be made to Central government for the initiation and processes for the formation of separate state Gorkhaland.

The joint resolutions signed by all the leaders will be submitted to the Central government. Opposition parties including Congress of Darjeeling hills support the democratic, peaceful demands and issues raised by GJM, including burning of MOS on November 15 at 11:19.