Ghising not allowed to join Gorkha Janamukti Morcha

Darjeeling, Mar 17 : The chief of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Bimal Gurung, has said that Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghising would not be allowed to join the GJM.

Gurung accused Ghising of being involved in several financial scandals during his two-year term as the head of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.

"This is despite his change of stance on the demand for Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling Hills and throwing support for a separate Gorkhaland State now," he said.

Meanwhile, Ghising has decided to keep himself out of public view. Even his hardcore supporters are not being allowed to meet him at his Zakir Hussain Road residence.

Ghising had resigned as the caretaker administrator and chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) last week.

His resignation was a fallout of protests by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), that considered Ghising its principal political adversary.

The GJM had launched an economic blockade and started a fast-unto-death programme in the Darjeeling Hills on February 20, demanding the immediate removal of Ghising from the post and the scrapping of a move to grant Sixth Schedule status to the region.

A high-powered parliamentary panel had then advised the Centre to review the proposed inclusion of the area under the Sixth Schedule.

In a bid to stem the revolt against him, Ghising had renewed the demand for creation of a separate Gorkhaland State.

The GNLF leadership had also dropped their demand for Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling Hills that Ghising has been pursuing since 2005.

Articles 244(II) and 275(I) of the Indian Constitution have made provisions for a Sixth Schedule status. The Articles state that if various indigenous groups live in a district or area, then they can be granted Sixth Schedule status leading to its autonomy.

The GJM is also demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of the Darjeeling Hills and certain areas contiguous to it.

ANI