Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 21:30 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026 16:00 [IST]
DARJEELING,: The Gorkha Bharatiya Janjati Mahasangh (GBJM)
on Tuesday said it plans to hold a rally on October 4 to send a message to the
Central government that the time has come to fulfil its promises on granting
tribal status to 11 Gorkha communities.
The Mahasangh, an umbrella body with representatives from the 11 hill
communities, has been spearheading the demand for tribal status for some time
now.
“We have been getting assurances from the government on tribal status
for the 11 Gorkha communities, but that has not happened. In order to remind
the government of this demand, we have decided to hold a rally on October 4 at
Darjeeling,” said GBJM general secretary Amit Thapa.
He appealed to all members of the 11 communities to take part in the
programme, especially the youth.
“This is a serious issue and our constitutional right. We have been
holding different programmes for this demand, but we are only getting
assurances from the government. We hope that through this rally, a message will
be sent to the government,” he said, adding that after the polls, the
government had promised to take steps on the demand.
According to Thapa, six months are almost over and through this rally
they want to send this message across.
He said the rally would start at around 10.30am from Darjeeling Railway
Station and end at Chowrasta. A meeting is also scheduled to take place there.
Thapa added that the GBJM had already submitted all the documents
related to the demand to the government and had made its stand clear. He said
the Home Minister and Prime Minister had already spoken about the issue;
however, with nothing having been done so far, they felt the need to raise it
once again.
Thapa said doubts had been rising among members that the issue may have
been sidelined owing to the present situation in the Hills.
Asked about future programmes regarding the demand, he said, “We will
see the feedback that we get after this programme and accordingly decide what
we should do ahead.”
The 11 communities seeking tribal status are Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar,
Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakka (Dewan) and Dhimal.
