The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on Thursday alleged that
“opposition parties” were trying to spread “misinformation” on their
demand for the Sixth Schedule status for the Hills and that a conspiracy
was being hatched to counter the “popularity” of the party among the
masses. “Like in the year 2007, there is misinformation being spread on
the Sixth Schedule status by other political parties.
Darjeeling fell in the excluded and partially-excluded areas some
time back. The central government had adopted an Act in 1935, which also
passed an order the next year for excluded and partiallyexcluded areas.
A list had also been prepared, in which the Naga Hills, North Cachar
Hills (Dimasa), North East Frontier and the Lushai Hills have been
mentioned as excluded areas, while in the partially-excluded areas were
the Garo Hills and Mikir Hills (Karbi Anglong).
The Sixth schedule has been implemented in these areas,” the GNLF
Darjeeling sub-division spokesperson, Sandip Limbu, said. The Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration was formed after stiff opposition from the
Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha to the implementation of the Sixth Schedule
status in 2007. “The primary thing about the Sixth Schedule is excluded
and partially-excluded areas, while the thing tribal or not is
secondary.
Darjeeling had not asked for the Sixth Schedule, but it being a
deserving area, a Memorandum of Settlement had been signed for it
between us, the centre and the state in the year 2005. Now, other
parties are trying to spread the information that the schedule will be
for tribals and not the general people. This is only being done by them
to bring about a rift between the tribal and non-tribal people among the
Gorkhas,” Mr Limbu said. He added that his party condemns this act.
The party spokesperson further pointed out to the census in 1931 when
everyone in the Hills was referred to as tribes. He said that the other
parties were trying to create a propaganda and division here by
maintaining that the general caste people were Gorkhas and the tribals
were non- Gorkhas. “Our understanding is that the Gorkhas should be
ruled by Gorkhas. Anyone can rule as the chief executive member, but
he/she should run it as a Gorkha,” said Mr Limbu.
He also claimed that the land ownership documents in tea gardens,
cinchona plantation and forest villages would also be had once the Hills
are given the Sixth Schedule status. According to Mr Limbu, the seat
distribution in the Sixth Schedule would be 10 for the schedule tribe,
15 for general, three will be left open, which the GNLF wants to be
given to the Schedule Caste with five members being nominated by the
governor.
“There is no bigger arrangement than the Sixth Schedule, and if other
political parties can bring in any arrangement bigger than this, we
will leave them the way. This is more powerful than the GTA or any other
Council and one of the greatest autonomies one can get and a road
towards Gorkhaland,” Mr Limbu claimed.(SNS)
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