The Gorkha National Liberation Front(GNLF)
today organised a massive public meeting at the Monteviot ground in
Kurseong championing the cause of Sixth Schedule status for the
Darjeeling hills.
Over the last several days, the GNLF had
been holding different meetings with its frontal wings in various
places in and around the Kurseong region. In today’s meet, a large
number of party supporters from within the Kurseong region convened at
the ground. GNLF supporters arrived in truckloads for the meeting
reminding observers of the party’s heydays when the paty’s public
meetings used to be jam-packed.
The speakers mainly stressed on the
implementation of the Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling hills.
They claimed only this will solve the problems of the Gorkha community
while it is also a stepping stone towards the formation of a separate
state for the Gorkha community.
Strongly condemning the GJM and its
leadership, the speakers said the GJM has betrayed the hill people on
the pretext of Gorkhaland, but none of them are sincere regarding the
statehood demand and is using it just for personal benefits.
The GNLF speakers said the GJM has been
accusing the Subash Ghisingh-led party of being against the aspirations
of the Gorkha community, but the Morcha must admit it is GJM leadership
that has sold the Gorkha community to fulfill their personal interests.
Everyone knows the GJM leadership participated in the TMC meeting at the
Brigade ground in Kolkata where they waved TMC flags gleefully.
The GNLF also appealed to vote for TMC
candidate Bhaichung Bhutia, a Padmashree and Arjuna awardee, to bring
back the constitutionally approved DGHC as well as to get the Sixth
Schedule bill passed in both houses of Parliament. The GNLF leaders said
they are supporting Bhaichung in lieu of their demands and accordingly,
the TMC candidate should place the party’s demands in Parliament.
The main speaker of the meeting was
Tshering Dahal, the GNLF women’s wing senior leader. She said the land
and identity of the Gorkha community can be secured only through the
Sixth Schedule.
Other speakers at the meeting included
former Municipality vice-chairman Sanjay Chettri, veteran GNLF leader
Kurseong Durga Pradhan, senior leader Yudha Chettri, GNLF Mirik Youth
leader Lhadup Ghisingh and others(EOIC)