Hills voice echoed in Delhi

Delhi, December 20: All the political parties excluding GNLF and CPI(M), from Darjeeling hills were present in Delhi parliament annexure and tendered their case on the proposed Sixth Schedule status before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for home affairs today. On behalf of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, attorney Anmol Prasad, presented a 145 pages document to the Committee headed by BJP MP, Susma Swaraj. During the remarkable presentation of their course of hearing, Mr. Prasad reviewed the tripartite MoS of Sixth Schedule singed by Central Government, West Bengal Government and Caretaker Mr. Subash Ghisingh, clause by clause and its negative repercussions in Darjeeling hills and put forward several questions regarding the responsibilities of its consequences.

The hills opposition parties, GJMM, ABGL, CPRM, GNLF(C), Gorkha Rastriya congress, BJP Darjeeling committee, Congress Darjeeling committee, expressed their collective views and also invited Parliament Standing Committee members to the Darjeeling hills to get a first hand view of the hill people on the Sixth Schedule issue. Categorically all the opposition parties rejected implementation of the Sixth Schedule in Darjeeling hills and advocated the separate statehood demand for Gorkhaland.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, only apolitical organisation, representing entire Gorkha community from the country, also participated in a hearing along with all the political parities of the hills and expressed its views to the committee. BGP has been pursuing for separate state of Gorkhas and believes Sixth Schedule can not fulfill the aspiration of Gorkhas.

All Indian Schedule Caste, an association of Schedule caste, also joined the hearing called by Parliament Standing committee. Kamansingh Ramudamu represented on behalf of association and rejected the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling hills during the hearing procedure.

Later, GJMM delegation joined the protest programme, staged in front of Jantar Mantar Bhawan, Delhi, which has been the epicenter for all types of protest in the capital organised by GJMM Delhi branch. Gorkhas from different parts of the country residing in Delhi joined the protest. Banners were raised condemning the sixth schedule and the people behind this. There were slogans for the demand of Gorkhaland with the placards supporting the voice. “This event today was very encouraging and brought the Gorkhas of different regions closer to one another. It was a pleasure to see our men and women being united far away from their birth place. We also vowed to meet more often and stand together in a wide range of issues concerning the Gorkhas today”, comments Drunk Monk.

Mr. Bimal Gurung, president of GJMM, said during the occasion, today we have been able to put forward the people’s voice in front of Standing Committee, as well the country. We are always determined to raise our voices in Parliament and streets of Darjeeling hills against people supporting Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling hills.