AGSU demands seperate Gorkhaland

Ranchi, June 23 : The All Gorkha Students' Union today raised their old demand for a separate Gorkhaland claiming they have information that Telangana and Vidarbha are in the process of being carved out of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively.

AGSU president Roshan Giri accused the Centre of maintaining double standard concerning 'treatment' meted out to the longstanding Gorkhaland demand adding their struggle for land, based on Gorkha culture, was still on.

''Even the state assemly has passed the proposal regarding the land which is predominantly inhabitated by the Gorkhas in West Bengal,'' the AGSU president told UNI adding the matter was still in the Union government's court.

''The sixth schedule status supposed to be given to us is still awaited,'' he lamented.

He said according to information, the Centre was in the process of granting statehood to Telangana and Vidarbha. ''Then why should we be left out,'' he wondered.

Meanwhile, Mr Giri has sought the support of All Jharkhand Students' Union president Sudesh Mahto, who is also the state Home Minister, to stand by them in their struggle for Gorkhaland.

He was here to attend the 21st foundation day ceremony of the AJSU observed here yesterday.

Addressing a rally,that gathered on the occasion, Mr Giri drew the state home minister's attention to the plight of tea labourers from Jharkhand.

UNI