NEW DELHI/ PATNA: While Gorkhas living in Assam are demanding scheduled tribe status, an enterprising Nepali association in Patna has been aligning with the VHP-BJP combine in the hope of placing a demand for some job reservations for people of Nepali origin in case the BJP comes to power in the state.

Indian Gorkhas resident in the Assam for over three generations have demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community and creation of an autonomous council, comprising Gorkha-inhabited areas.

The demands were placed before Union minister for development of north eastern region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh when a delegation of ‘Asom Gorkha Sammelan’ called on him to submit some of the long-pending grievances of the community.

The minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and said he would personally follow up the issues falling within the purview of his ministry and in case of other issues, he will take up with the departments and ministries concerned. Singh said the Gorkha community has served the nation through thick and thin and their sacrifices are an example for others to follow.

In recent times, the recruitment of Gorkha youth in the country’s defence forces has declined.

They demanded that the Gorkha community certificate issued by the ‘Asom Gorkha Sammelan’ be honoured for the purpose of employment or recruitment in defence forces.

The other demands included setting up of a Gorkha cultural and simplification of the process for inclusion of members of the community in the NRC.

While the Indian Gorkhas are a fighting tribe, the Nepali Association in Patna is mainly composed of Nepali immigrants of the ‘higher’ castes who crossed over to Bihar for employment, and have stayed in India for several years. They trace their home to villages in Nepal, but their offspring have been born and brought up in India.

A curious case indeed.

  Assam, Bihar, Gorkha, Nepali immigrants