GJM ‘ST’ proposal rings alarm bells – Tribal Status only for ‘Economic Benefits’ for ‘all communities’ in the region – Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri

March 17, 2010 — himalgroup

BY ROMIT BAGCHI
The Statesman

SILIGURI, 16 MARCH: Alarmed over the GJMM proposal for a blanket conversion of the Gorkha community into the Scheduled Tribe status to avail of the expected Interim Council largesse, the non-Gorkha ethnic population in the Darjeeling hills, which includes the Bengalis and the Biharis among others, has started doubting the GJM leadership’s concern for them.

“Associated with the Darjeeling hills in weal and woe for generations, we are appealing to them to keep our interests in view while taking up the hill cause with the Centre and the state government at the 18 March tripartite dialogue,” they said.

According to Mr Subhamay Chatterjee, a fourth generation resident in Darjeeling and himself associated with the GJM movement since its inception, the party proposal, almost echoing the Subash Ghisingh rhetoric was a shock. “We have nothing to say about the demand to incorporate the Gorkha community in the Scheduled Tribe status. But what about us, the non-Gorkha ethnic population inhabiting the hills for generations? We expected at least a mention about us in the draft document sent to the Centre for consideration. Though there is a minority cell proposal in the communiqué sent by the Centre to the GJM we wonder if it alludes to the religious or the ethnic minorities. We appeal to the hill leadership not to give a short shrift to our interests while pursuing the Gorkha community cause at the 18 March three-way dialogue,” he said.

Echoing, another Darjeeling resident, Dr Pratapaditya Guha said that the GJM leadership seemed least bothered about the well being of the non-Gorkha ethnic population in the hills. “Being minority we have right to be safeguarded in the fast moving political trajectory in the hills. We hope that the GJM leadership would not show the same hauteur Mr Subash Ghisingh displayed towards us,” he said.

Expressing the same anguish, another resident Mr Nitin Prasad said that the non-Gorkha population had grown apprehensive of its ethnic security in the emerging scenario. “We are part and parcel of the Darjeeling tapestry and we are proud of its inclusive legacy. We deserve a modicum of understanding from those spearheading the statehood struggle,” he said.

Recounting a recent experience, a resident Ms Rina Dey, said that the primary school council authority had rejected her application for a teaching job because of her ethnic status. (A condition imposed by the West Bengal or Gorkha Government ?!!)

“The posts are reserved for the Nepali-speaking (Gorkha only ?!!) applicants. Is this instance a portent for what is awaiting us in post Interim Darjeeling?” she asked.

Allaying the fear, the GJM media secretary, Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri said that the non-Gorkha minorities should also embrace the tribal status to avail of the facilities the party was striving to secure for the hills.

“We must understand that the tribal status has only economic implication. Embracing it does not rob one of cultural identity. We have proposed it only for fast economic uplift of the long neglected region. Nobody should read more into it,” Dr Chhetri said.