Darjeeling: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday assured that the Modi government will give tribal status to the left out Gorkha communities after the 2024 general elections.
Rijiju was addressing the election campaign meeting of Darjeeling BJP candidate Raju Bista at Monteviot Ground in Kurseong.
He said, “I have come here for Raju Bista with the guarantee of Narendra Modi. Gorkhas have many issues, but I think the most important is the issue of identity and self-respect, with which one should not compromise,” Rijiju said.
He said, “A lot of work has been done for this within the ambit of the Constitution, but due to Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, there are many obstacles in it.” However, it is only Narendra Modi who will be able to give the Gorkha community their self-respect and dignity,” he said.
He also underlined how it was the NDA government of late Atal Bihar Vajpayee that had granted Scheduled Tribe status to the Limbu and Tamang communities. He further said, ‘During my tenure in the Law Ministry, we have prepared all legal documents in support of the 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes Rai, Gurung, Khas, Newar, Yakha (Dewan), Mangar, Jogi, Sunwar. To re-include Bhujel, Thami and Dhimal as Scheduled Tribes as said by Home Minister Amit Shah, our government is completing the process and it will be done after the government is formed.
The BJP leader assured that after the elections he will represent any issue of the Gorkhas in the Union Cabinet after discussions with various political leaders here.
“I want to tell the people of Darjeeling hill region, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars that both your demands will be fulfilled. PM Modi has guaranteed a solution under the Constitution of India. If anyone is honest towards the Gorkha community it is BJP and it is PM Modi. I stand here to tell you, I am your voice in the Union Cabinet, whenever your issue comes, I am there to speak for you. I have come to give you this guarantee on behalf of PM Modi.
He alleged that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee does not follow any rules and regulations and only believes in corruption and violence.
“The West Bengal government was misusing all the central funds. The funds being allocated by the Center to West Bengal were more than enough to take care of the problems of the people, but TMC is misusing these funds.
Rijiju claimed that the Indian National Congress will not get even 40 seats in this general election. He said, the country is with Narendra Modi who will become the Prime Minister for the third time with a record mandate.
