Gorkhaland march reaches the streets of Kohima

Kohima, July 30 (EMN): The Gorkha community of Nagaland on Sunday joined the rest of Gorkhas across the world in organizing the ‘Global Gorkhaland Unity March’ which was held across five continents and in 150-plus cities, demanding a full-fledged state of Gorkhaland under the Indian union.
As many as 10,000 Gorkhas from Kohima, Tseminyu, Sechu Zubza, Peducha (Lalmati), Medziphema and adjacent villages under the banner of Nagaland Gorkha Association (NGA), took part in the rally.
The participants assembled at the Gorkha Public Panchayat complex, Chandmari, Kohima, where various speakers addressed the gathering. Later on they proceeded to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum in support of creation of Gorkhaland, which was addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through PB Acharya, the governor of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The memorandum signed on behalf of NGA by its president Nobin Pradhan and general secretary Prem Kumar Thapa stated that the demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas started long ago in 1907 by the Hillmen’s Association of Darjeeling who demanded a separate state from the British India Authority, so as to preserve the distinct identity of the Gorkhas. However, the demand was suppressed as the then authority felt the demand was against the basic interest of the Imperialism and colonial rule, the document stated.
It maintained that after Indian independence, the land of Gorkhas under Darjeeling district and Dooars along with its inhabitants was merged with the state of West Bengal without the consent and will of the ‘local diligence’.
Stating that the creation of a separate Gorkhaland under India is the desire and aspiration of the entire Gorkha community of India, the memorandum reiterated that, by fulfilling their desire, it will help establish the identity of the Gorkhas to give their whole for the country with pride, honour and dignity.
It also underlined that the semi-autonomous council, in the form of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which was formed in 1988, could hardly solve their existing problems.
The creation of additional empowered council by the name of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2011 also fell short of their demand as the mechanism developed by the West Bengal government totally failed due to non-fulfilment of certain provisions of GTA and unprecedented interference by the West Bengal government, it stated.
Despite the 70th year of India’s independence and the country having developed by leaps and bounds, the memo regretted that the plight of the Gorkhas remained unchanged and rather miserable.
“This is purely due to sheer negligence and step-motherly treatment of the state government. That is why Darjeeling and Kalimpong, once the education hub of entire country have been left behind to decay and has lost its pride of place,” the memorandum read.
It further maintained that the ethnic Gorkhas of Darjeeling are ill treated and living as second-class citizens in their own homeland, adding that ‘‘it is not possible for them to be ruled and governed under the same state administrative setup. They have been subjected to racial discriminations and marginalization thereby a great injustice have been meted to them from generation to generation.’’
In his solidarity message which was read out by Buddha Lama, secretary general of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Neingulo Krome said the “Global Gorkhaland Unity March” will go down as a historic event as it has literally brought all the Gorkhas together cutting across all barriers of countries and continents regardless of geographical boundaries for the first time in the 110 years of struggle and perseverance.
“Your history also tells us, that your passion to protect your identity, language, culture and your birthright have traversed various stages of a people’s movement starting with the Hillmen’s Association in the initial years, and has now come a very long way with many leaders and organizations.
“Your demands were also reasonable and do-able, starting with demands for Separate Administrative Unit that has now grown into a full statehood,” Krome said and expressed his hope that the Global Unity March for Gorkhaland will yield results.
Member of Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Joshua Newmai also regarded the day as a momentous occasion and further expressed his hope that the government of India will grant the desire of the Gorkhas.
“This struggle is real and this is a true people’s movement. It is our expectation that both India the West Bengal government will agree to disagree on most terms and would side with the genuine aspirations of the people in the Darjeeling hills, to resolve at the earliest the unfortunate state of affairs foisted by flawed moves or inaction of the past,” he said adding that to fulfil the demand of Gorkhaland is India’s priority.
The president of Angami Students’ Union, Visakuo Rino and chairman of Tsutuonuomia village council, Kohima village, Thepfuvilie Suohu also addressed the public rally and extended their solidarity to the Nagaland Gorkha Association.
Earlier, NGA general secretary Prem Kumar Thapa shared to the gathering about the objectives and motto of organizing the Global Gorkhaland Unity March, while RN Lama, former NGA president read the memorandum.