Oufit seeks relaxation of norms for recruitment of Gorkhas in paramiltary

DARJEELING, 27 MAY: The Darjeeling-Dooars People's Forum has submitted a memorandum to the Union home minister to bring about changes in the advertisement notice published in January regarding relaxation in height, chest measurement and the like in the recruitment for the central paramilitary forces for the Gorkha community living within the territory under the administrative jurisdiction of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration .

The secretary to the forum, Mr Prabin Gurung today said: “From the advertisement it is clear that the recruitment for the Gorkha community people in the paramilitary forces with relaxation is restricted only to the residents of three sub-division of Darjeeling district falling under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. If this is implemented it would amount to discrimination against the Gorkhas residing in areas outside the GTA territory. We demand this territory-specific discrimination be done away with so as to ensure that the Gorkha community people living across the country enjoy the same relaxation in physical qualifications for paramilitary force recruitment.”   

It can be mentioned here that in the earlier recruitments, relaxation was available to the Gorkha people irrespective of their geographical confines. The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha demanded that a special permission be granted for the bloc recruitment of the GLP cadres in the paramilitary forces under the new order of relaxation.  

Mr Gurung further said: “This smacks of a deep-rooted conspiracy to divide the community between those residing within the GTA confines and those living elsewhere.  The GJMM should raise the issue during the upcoming

GTA review meeting slated for 3 June scheduled in Darjeeling

in the interests of the

Gorkha community as a whole.” sns