Gorkhas of Assam are not foreigners – Assam CM Himanta Biswas Sarma

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Gorkhas of Assam are not foreigners but are an inseparable population of the greater demography of the state. He further added that Gorkhas were never and will never be regarded as outsiders. He was alluding to the Assam government’s cabinet decision to withdraw all D Voters cases from Foreigner Tribunals across the state.

According to the 2011 population census, 5.96 lakh Gorkhas were enumerated in the state. Attending the 27th Triennial Kendriya Adhiveshan of Assam Gorkha Sammelan held at Nikashi in Baksa district, Sarma said the state government is all committed to working towards socio-economic, academic, and literary uplift of the community.

Praising the efforts of the Assam Gorkha Sammelan on issues ranging from raising the socio-economic status to the restoration of self-pride among members of the community, the chief minister lauded the organisation for its never-ending endeavour and enthusiasm to work for overall development of the Gorkha community for the past eight decades. “My message to the people of Assam is that if you read the history of Gorkhas in Assam, you will not consider them as foreigners, but as an inseparable unit of the greater demography of Assam,” Sarma said.

He added that Assam and Nepal have been sharing brotherly relations since times immemorial owing to geographical proximity which led to the movement of Gorkhas from the Himalayan country to various parts of India, including Assam in pre-historic period. Sarma, recalling the prominent roles of the members of the Gorkha community played in India’s freedom struggle, the neo-Vaishnavite movement against sectarianism, and the ‘madhyam andolan’ (movement for recognition of Assamese as the medium of instruction in universities), among others, said the community is a symbol of valour not only in India but also at the international stage.

Himanta Sarma also announced Rs 25 crore aimed at the welfare of the Gorkhas. He said, ‘The State government has a well-laid-out plan to further empower the Gorkha Development Council for all-round development of the people belonging to the Gorkha community. This apart, the government will also take steps to introduce science or commerce stream at the Nikashi-based Gyanpeeth Graduate College for overall improvement of the educational scenario of the Gorkha youths.”