GJM slams Dilip Ghosh's 'anti-Gorkhaland' remarks

Darjeeling: The Hills were a witness to postering by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay Tamang faction) against BJP state president Dilip Ghosh's alleged anti-Gorkhaland comments.

"The BJP always does a U turn on their pre-poll commitments," alleged Binay Tamang, President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM.)

"The Gorkhas feel let down. Every time during election the BJP asks for votes in the name of Gorkhaland and after winning they take a U turn. We strongly condemn this," stated Tamang, talking to media persons in Pintail Village near Siliguri on Wednesday.

The GJM President was referring to BJP West Bengal State President Dilip Ghosh's statement regarding Gorkhaland. Ghosh talking to media persons in Jalpaiguri on Sunday had clearly stated that his party has made no commitments regarding the creation of Gorkhaland.

"We are sympathetic to Gorkhaland demand. We want development of the Gorkhas but we had never promised a separate state," claimed Ghosh.

Tamang said not only the Gorkhaland issue, but the BJP has let down the people of the Hills in other issues too.

"Darjeeling MP Raju Bista had questioned the Tribal Minister in Parliament regarding the granting of tribal status to the 11

sub communities of the Gorkhas in question number 2351," stated Tamang. Answering this question, Renuka Singh Saruta Minister of State for Tribal Affairs said there are certain modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion or exclusion or changes in the Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe lists.

"As per the modalities only those proposals which have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government/ UT Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. The committee submitted its report which was referred to the ORGI for comments. ORGI have commented that the report of the said Committee is beyond the scope of the Modalities approved by the Government of India with regard to inclusion of any community in the ST list of a state," stated the minister.

Regarding the Central University question (question 3432) raised by Raju Bista in Parliament, Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank," Minister of Human Resource Development stated: "There is no proposal to set up a new Central University in Darjeeling.

"Education is a concurrent subject. State Government also take initiatives to enhance the access to higher education in their respective states along with other private universities/ Institutions," stated the HRD Minister.

"We have been let down by the BJP in all three issues namely Gorkhaland, inclusion of Gorkha sub communities in the ST list and Central University in Darjeeling," stated Tamang.