Bimal-Binay ST tag duel

Darjeeling: Roshan Giri on Tuesday posted pictures of Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahulwalia meeting Union tribal affairs minister along with leaders seen as backers of Bimal Gurung and claimed they had received an assurance that a report on granting of tribal status to 11 Gorkha communities would be prepared within "six weeks".

Giri's post on social media attracted sharp criticism from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Binay Tamang, who termed them "as rejected leaders" trying to take credit just before elections.

"Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation led by MP Shri S.S. Ahluwalia met tribal (affairs) minister Jual Oram today, i.e. 21st August 2018 at New Delhi. Minister has asked for six week time to compile the report," Giri posted on social media.

Giri said the leaders who accompanied Ahluwalia were R.P. Waiba, Lt Col (retd) Ramesh Allay, Lopsang Lama, Rohit Thapa and Anil Lopchan.

Within hours, Tamang released a written statement. (Read here)  "The submission of a memorandum under the leadership of Darjeeling MP, S.S. Ahluwalia by rejected leaders of the hills, on the issue of granting tribal status to 11 hill community is an act of political opportunism."

Tamang, who heads the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), said the hill body had taken many steps at the highest level on the issue. "It is because of our initiative that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Jual Oram last February," said Tamang.

He added that under the GTA's initiative, representatives of the 11 communities had met Oram and ministers. "After our relations improved with Sikkim chief minister, Pawan Chamling, he, too, is working relentlessly on this issue," said Tamang.

The Centre had constituted a committee to examine the demand for inclusion of the 11 groups - Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar,Thami, Yakhha and Dhimal as STs - just before the Bengal polls in 2016.

Late on Tuesday evening, Giri again posted a message saying the same team had met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and sought a meeting. They claimed Singh had promised such a meeting on September 26, 2017, which had prompted Gurung to lift the 104-day statehood strike.

The Telegraph