CPI(M) advocates for immediate Sixth Schedule status for GHC

Kolkata,Jan 15 (UNI) The CPI(M) today demanded that the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre immediately implement the Bill according Sixth Schedule status to the Gorkha Hill Council (GHC).

In a statement, released in its 22nd state party conference here, the CPI(M) also sought the cooperation and support of all the political parties in this regard and said early implementation of the Bill would usher in peace, democracy and uplift in the Darjeeling Hills.

The party said the Bill would ensure more autonomy for the people of the Hills, adding it would also launch a concerted movement for according the same status to the entire hills and plains.

The Centre was forced to place the Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament due to the endeavour of party MPs and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the statement said adding the Bill was expected to be implemented on December four, but it went to the Standing Committee due to the BJP's opposition.

"We are expecting that the Bill would be implemented in both Houses in the coming session," it stated.

The conference also demanded that the Centre should follow its own independent foreign and nuclear policy and appealed to the people to raise their voice against the UPA Government's treading the US policy.

The statement also appealed to the people to be united and defeat all the anti-people alliance forces in the coming Panchayat election.

Alleging that the united opposition was hatching a deep conspiracy over the issue of land acquisition for industry, the party said an effort was being made to create anarchy through violence and terrorism to hinder the way of industrialisation.

"The Opposition is involved in a deep conspiracy over the issue of land ... the ultra left and the extreme rightist parties--all are united with this objective...the role of a section of the so called intellecutal is also anti-people," the party said in a resolution.

Observing that generating employment was the aim of industrialisation, the party said the state was attracting massive investments in heavy industries besides service and commercial sectors.

"The state Government will have to take a logical stand on compensation for the acquired land, rehabilitation of the affected and alternative arrangements for bargadars and agricultural labourers while the party should unite the peasantry with the objective of industrialisation," the resolution said.

UNI AKM SJC SS1838