Rally in Darjeeling against foreigner slur on Sikkim’s Nepali community

DARJEELING,: Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) took out a protest rally in Darjeeling today against the “foreigner” tag on Sikkim’s Nepali community made in a Supreme Court judgement.

Apart from BGP members, the rally was also participated by ex-servicemen, representatives from different social organizations, and Hamro Party (HP) leaders including party president Ajoy Edwards.

Speaking about the rally, BGP Zone-2 president Akash Lama said, “Through this rally, we want to ask the government to interfere in this matter. Time and again, we are branded as foreigners and we must prove that we belong to this country. We have our organization in 22 States and we will be holding programmes in these States in coming days. If needed, we can also take legal action.”

The BGP is also planning to submit a memorandum to administrative heads in different places.

The rally started from the Motor Stand and ended at Chowrasta with slogans like “Sikkim do not be afraid, Darjeeling Hills is with you” heard.

Edwards said, “We have taken part in this programme not as a party member but as a Gorkha and a Nepali speaking person. We want to tell the people of Sikkim not to be afraid as you have always supported us including during the agitation in the mid-eighties. They have always provided their help during our dire times. The hurtful statement made in the Supreme Court judgement has hurt us very badly, be it Nepali people here or in different parts of the country.”