Opposition in Darjeeling rejects 6th Schedule

Darjeeling, Oct 2 (UNI) The Union Cabinet's decision to accord an autonomous status for DGHC with 6th Schedule received a mixed reaction in the hills.

The All India Gorkha League (AIGL) today rejected the decision of the Union cabinet and said it was a ploy and farce to hoodwinr the people.

The Union Cabinet yesterday decided to introduce two government sponsored bills in the Parliament to create the autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council by ammending the Articles 244 and 332.

Aigl President Madan Tmang has alleged this was only a ploy to appease GNLF Chief Subash Ghishing and divert the minds of the people from their original goal of separate statehood for Darjeeling and Dooars.

Mr Ghishing is expected to return here today from a weeklong Indonesian trip.

Mr Tamang said neither the people nor the opposition parties had been consulted in this particular matter, which can vitally affect the furture of Nepalis in the country, particularly in Darjeeling district and Dooars.

He alleged that Mr Ghishing had no people's mandate to enter into any agreement with anybody to decide their future and as such he rejected the memorandum of settlement of 6th December 2005.

Mr Tamang said all the concerned people must be heard and the subject deliberated upon thoroughly, before coming to an amicable settlement because the only solution was to grant a separate statehood.

He said the proposed state must be properly demarcated and demanded the position as on 15th August 1947 must be the basis for such demarcation. He also demanded dismissal of Mr Ghishing as Caretaker Administrator and holding of DGHC election before the end of this year.

Mr Tamang appreciated some GNLF leaders who have also raised the demand of Gorkhaland state. He said they would wait and watch the situation arising out of the demand raised by GNLF leader Bimal Gurung.

Former MP and General Secretary of Communist Party Revolutionary Marixist (CPRM) R B Rai in a statement alleged the cabinet decision was an eyewash and it was an effort to pacify the people of Darjeeling hills.

He alleged 6th Schedule was meaningless without a Central University and reservation for scheduled caste.

Mr Rai said the only aspiration of the hill people was the creation of Gorkha land within the Indian Union.

UNI