Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 05:
The All India Gorkha Students' Federation (AIGSF), Darjeeling has vehemently condemned the brutal killing of Maina Tamang, an elected Panchayat member of Prasai Gram Panchayat in Manipur by suspected Kuki militants recently.
Meanwhile, the AIGSF in an emergency meeting held at its office premises in Guwahati on November 4 and 5 decided to launch a series of agitation demanding the formation of Gorkhaland, a separate State under the framework of the Indian Constitution, taking Darjeeling Hill areas, Siliguri Terai and the Dooars.
It also demanded the scraping of the Article VI and VII of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950 while urging the Centre to make a clear-cut demarcation between the Indian Gorkhas and the Nepalese of Nepal, as the Gorkhas of India cannot be treated on the basis of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty.
Passport and Visa system between Nepal and India should be introduced, it stated.
It demanded granting of 'Special Protected Class' status with Constitutional recognition providing political and socio-economic rights to the Gorkhas of North Eastern States.
It has also demanded seat reservation for the Gorkhas of India in higher and technical education, vocational and commercial education and job reservation by the UPSC and the Public Service Commissions of various States.