The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), which chose to steer clear of the statehood demand when Subash Ghishing was alive, has now decided to observe April 5, the day it was founded, as ‘Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas’.
Ghisingh formed the GNLF in 1980 to pursue the demand for a Gorkhaland state. In 1986, he launched a bloody agitation that lasted 28 months and led to the death of more than 1,200 people. A peace accord was signed in 1988 and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, an autonomous body, was formed, which brought an end to the bloody agitation.
However, during the fag end of his life till his death on January 29 of this year, Ghisingh never advocated for a Gorkhaland state. In 2004, he instead raked up the issue of conferring the Darjeeling hills with the Sixth Schedule status. He asked all DGHC councillors to resign in support of the demand and with a deft move became the hill body’s caretaker administrator and also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the state and central governments in December 2006.
But current leaders of the GNLF have a different take on Gorkhaland. “Ghisingh was the first to coin the word Gorkhaland and it has become synonymous with the Darjeeling hills now. In fact, all political parties here have embraced the issue of statehood to maintain their political identity,” said MG Subba, Darjeeling sub-divisional convener of the GNLF.
Asked about the decision to observe Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas, he said, “The world has come to know about the Gorkhaland demand because of our party president. He sacrificed the major part of his life pursuing the demand. Hence it is only fitting we observe the party’s foundation day as Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas to honour the founder,” said Subba.
The GNLF has decided to organise a programme at the Mela ground in Kalimpong where the new president, Mann Ghisingh, will address supporters for the first time after taking office. “Our new president will be present at the programme and deliver his first public speech. He is expected to announce future programmes as well,” Subba said.
The GNLF’s demand is to revive the now defunct DGHC till such time the hills are accorded with the Sixth Schedule status. The contention is that the erstwhile council had constitutional guarantee unlike the existing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Source: EOIC
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| GNLF decides to observe ‘Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas’ on April 5 |
However, during the fag end of his life till his death on January 29 of this year, Ghisingh never advocated for a Gorkhaland state. In 2004, he instead raked up the issue of conferring the Darjeeling hills with the Sixth Schedule status. He asked all DGHC councillors to resign in support of the demand and with a deft move became the hill body’s caretaker administrator and also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the state and central governments in December 2006.
But current leaders of the GNLF have a different take on Gorkhaland. “Ghisingh was the first to coin the word Gorkhaland and it has become synonymous with the Darjeeling hills now. In fact, all political parties here have embraced the issue of statehood to maintain their political identity,” said MG Subba, Darjeeling sub-divisional convener of the GNLF.
Asked about the decision to observe Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas, he said, “The world has come to know about the Gorkhaland demand because of our party president. He sacrificed the major part of his life pursuing the demand. Hence it is only fitting we observe the party’s foundation day as Gorkhaland Namkaran Diwas to honour the founder,” said Subba.
The GNLF has decided to organise a programme at the Mela ground in Kalimpong where the new president, Mann Ghisingh, will address supporters for the first time after taking office. “Our new president will be present at the programme and deliver his first public speech. He is expected to announce future programmes as well,” Subba said.
The GNLF’s demand is to revive the now defunct DGHC till such time the hills are accorded with the Sixth Schedule status. The contention is that the erstwhile council had constitutional guarantee unlike the existing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Source: EOIC
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