Asom Gorkha Sammelan led Gorkha Body meets CM Sonowal, demands solution to D voters, Cabinet berth

Sentinel
GUWAHATI : A team of the Asom Gorkha Sammelan (AGS) led MP RP Sharma met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on May 31 and raised a slew of demands – seeking solution to the problem of ‘D’ voters belonging to the Gorkha community, appointment of an Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) member from the community, allotment of land pattas to landless Gorkhas residing in the State and induction of a member from the community in the Council of Ministers in the State. In one of the memorandums submitted to Sonowal, the delegation said: “It’s our duty to inform you that the Gorkhas don’t come under the purview of the Foreigners Act not do they come under the Passport Act, and as such we can’t be termed foreigners and no Foreigners Tribunal can take up any case against any member of our community. This fact has been decided by the Gauhati High Court. We humbly request you to solve, in sync with the Vision Document of the BJP, the problem of ‘D’ voter tag attached to thousands of Gorkhas in the State.”

In another memorandum, the delegation urged the Chief Minister to include a member of the Gorkha community in his Council of Ministers, besides nomination of two members from the community as chairmen of boards and corporations such as Assam Textile Corporation, Purabi (Dairy Development Board) etc. The delegation further said that the Gorkha community with a population of 26 lakh in Assam had all along been representing the State Council of Ministers since 1978, barring the two AGP terms. In another memorandum, the delegation requested the Chief Minister to ensure the representation of the Gorkha community in the APSC by appointing a suitable person as a member. It said that a member from the community had all along been adoring the APSC in the past.

In yet another memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the delegation said:”There are lakhs of Gorkhas from Sadiya to Silchar and Dhemaji to Dhubri, including Sixth Schedule areas, who’re landless and penury driven.  We request your good office to kindly order allotment/settlement of land to landless members of the community.” After the meeting MP Sharma said: “The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing and assured us of considering the issues.”