#Darjeeling MP Raju Bista Demands Re-inclusion of 11 Gorkha sub-tribes as ST without any further delay.

Office of Raju Bista

Press Release

Today, I spoke on the  have requested the Union Government to expedite the process of granting Schedule Tribe status to the 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakha (Dewan) and Dhimal without causing any further delay. 

Speaking in support of the Constitution Scheduled Tribes Order Second Amendment Bill of 2022, I highlighted how under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji, the Tribal Community across India is finally getting the support and justice that had been long denied to them. It is a matter of great pride that our nation today has the first Tribal Female president H.E Draupadi Murmu ji. I highlighted how under PM Modi ji, our government has increased the Scheduled Tribe Component of Tribal Sub-plan (TSP) by 350% from Rs 24504.45 crores in 2013-14 to Rs 87,584 crores in 2022-23. I also applauded the celebration of our Tribal communities in the form of 'Janjati Gaurav Diwas' initiated by PM Modi ji on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda ji.

I informed the Parliament how the Indian Gorkha community, which was compositely recognized as the “Hill Tribes” till Independence. However, after Independence the “Hill Tribes” status of the Gorkha community was taken away without any consultation with the community members. This has caused them to be harassed and kept deprived of their rights. They are treated as 'citizens of Nepal' instead of Indian citizens and have to face humiliation in our own country. 

I highlighted how the WB Government had gladly accepted the land and resources of our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars when our region was merged with West Bengal in 1954, but had refused to accept the people who live there, and how the Gorkhas were continued to be discriminated against in the state. I highlighted how the TMC Govt was conspiring to continue denying the Gorkhas their rights, and seeking to cause a demographic change in the border region, by settling in Rohingyas and other illegal immigrants in the critical "Chicken Neck" region of our country.

I therefore requested the Government of India to help end this 'identity crisis' and reduce national security threat faced by our country, by re-including the 11 left-out Gorkhas sub-tribes as Scheduled Tribes at the earlies.  

I informed the Parliament, that the Gorkha community has patiently waited for justice for a long time, and doing so will not only help in correcting a historical wrong, but it will also permit the Gorkha people to preserve our unique cultural and traditional heritage. Most importantly, this will help provide the Gorkhas with Constitutional protection.

While there has been a considerable delay in the completion of granting ST status for Gorkhas, but I am confident that the Government of India will expedite the process and give the Gorkha community the long awaited justice.

*Raju Bista*

*Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and* 

*National Spokesperson, BJP*