Claiming to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the hilly regions of Darjeeling, the Lepcha community lamented that they had not been taken into confidence over the Gorkhaland issue. They also alleged that the government has neglected them over the years. Protesting this, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA), a body of the Lepchas, will start an indefinite hunger strike at College Street.
“We are not in favour of a separate statehood status for the Darjeeling Hills. We do not support the demand for Gorkhaland. We are the original inhabitants of Darjeeling district but the government is yet to take our views on this,” D.T. Lepcha, president, ILTA said. Mr Lepcha along with four other members of ILTA on Friday came to the Writers’ Buildings to meet the chief minister. However, they could not meet the chief minister and submitted their charter of demands to the chief minister’s office.
“Since 1947, we have sacrificed the most in terms of language, culture and the land which we belong to. Lepchas have been reduced from owners to vagrant sand have become minority in the Darjeeling Hills due to the government’s negligence. Seeking justice, we will sit on a dharna-cum hunger strike at Esplanade on Saturday and from Sunday onwards, we will start an indefinite hunger strike at College Square,” Mr Lepcha added.