Darjeeling, April 15: The All-Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (Aagsu) has demanded that Gorkhas in Assam be accorded the Special Protective Class status, failing which a mass movement would be launched in the state.

Once the Special Protective Class status is conferred, the Gorkhas of Assam would be regarded as original residents of the sate differentiating them from their counterparts in Nepal. The status was applicable in Assam till 1965, after which it was abolished.

Other students’ unions — from Darjeeling, Nagaland, Mizoram and the Northeast — have also decided to support the Aagsu demand.

Around 30 lakh Gorkhas reside in Assam. If the government failed to safeguard the rights of the community in the state, the organisation would take up the issue during the coming elections, said Aagsu president Bhaskar Dahal.

The Assam Students’ Union has also decided to conduct a census to determine the Gorkha population in every district of the state after which they will demand the exact number of seats to be reserved for the community in the Assembly and Parliament.

“We will soon hold a convention at Kokrajhar on May 24, where the plan will be finalised,” said Dahal.

The All-India Gorkha Students’ Federation (AIGSF), a conglomeration of students’ unions of Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Darjeeling and Manipur has also demanded the abrogation of clauses VI and VII of the Indo-Nepal friendship treaty signed in 1950.

AIGSF president Roshan Giri said, these clauses allowed free movement between the countries resulting in a loss of Gorkhas identity.

“We are the original residents of this place but due to the 1950 treaty the rest of the country feels we have come from Nepal. This has caused widespread resentment among the Gorkhas and we will pursue our demands for amendment of the treaty”, said Giri.

The AIGSF said a visa-passport system should be introduced for movement between Nepal and India as this would help in maintaining the distinct identities of the citizens of both the countries.