Shah: Centre considering to give ST status to 11 Gorkha sub-tribes

UNION HOME Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured the Gorkha community in Darjeeling hills that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre is committed to address their demands and is seriously considering including 11 Gorkha sub-tribes in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Shah, who was scheduled to hold a public meeting at the Gorkha Ground in Darjeeling's Lebong area, could not attend the programme due to the bad weather. However, the Union Minister, in an audio call to BJP’S Darjeeling candidate Raju Bista, addressed the gathering and said the Centre always gives priority to the aspirations of Gorkhas.

Shah said, "We are committed to address all issues concerning the region. We are also considering including 11 Gorkha sub-tribes in the Scheduled Tribe list. Modi ji has made a large number of plans to develop the north Bengal hills and the tourism sector here. The Centre has also launched several schemes for tea garden workers but the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government did not implement such schemes in Bengal."

Criticising the ruling TMC and the Left Front, Shah said the past governments had done nothing for hill district despite being in power for years. "They only ensured bloodshed in the hills. Only the BJP can bring peace in the hills. Like last time, show your support to our candidate Raju Bista and help Prime

Minister Narendra Modi become the PM again,” he added.

‘If Cong and allies win, there will be riots’

Shah charged the Congressled opposition with being soft on terror and indifferent towards the uplift of deprived castes, and alleged that their return to power could cause “riots, atrocities and poverty”. He was addressing an election rally in the Katihar of Bihar.

PTI Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Katihar on Sunday.