Tamang: Get rid of Sixth Schedule first

Darjeeling, Dec. 3: Madan Tamang today brought back the bogey of the Sixth Schedule status and appealed to all political parties to work towards withdrawing the bill from Parliament before pressing for Gorkhaland.

The ABGL president’s statement follows a reply by the Rajya Sabha secretariat that the Sixth Schedule Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2007 and the Constitutional (107th amendment) Bill 2007 are still pending in the Upper House.

“The reply was given on November 7. It was in response to a query made under the RTI (Right to Information) Act. Till the bill remains pending in Parliament, we cannot move ahead with the Gorkhaland demand,” said Tamang.

“I will write to all the political parties tomorrow, telling them that they should work towards withdrawing the bill first. It may be a major hurdle in demanding Gorkhaland. I will also circulate the copy of the reply among the people for they have the right to know the fact,” said Tamang.

The ABGL leader was critical of the BJP and the Congress. He said both parties are claiming that the Sixth Schedule bill had been stalled keeping in mind the next general elections.

“G.S. Yonzone of the BJP and even the Congress are now claiming that they had a hand in stalling the bill. The fact is that it has not been stalled (only shelved). Even the standing committee on home affairs that scrutinised the bill had said it would be passed after taking into consideration the ground realities,” said Tamang. “The BJP must stop telling lies.”

“I want the hill parties to first extract an assurance from the Union home ministry that the bill will be withdrawn immediately. Unless we receive such an assurance, the Gorkhaland talks cannot be fruitful,” said Tamang.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is currently spearheading the Gorkhaland movement, had said the bill was in the “dustbin” and that the hills would not accept the Sixth Schedule status. “Claiming that a bill is in the dustbin and withdrawing it from Parliament are two different things,” said Tamang.

The ABGL leader also said many parties were preparing to accept the special status in the near future.

“I have heard that a new name like Gorkhaland Territorial Council for the proposed set-up under the Sixth Schedule is being thought of. If we accept such a status, it will mean that we are willing to stay within Bengal and this will be a great betrayal for the hills, which wants a separate state,” said Tamang.