PRADIP LOHAGUN
KALIMPONG
After
the Lepcha community of the Darjeeling hills got a development council,
the Tamangs and Bhutias have tabled demands for similar setups for
safeguarding and developing their respective communities. The
recently-formed Bharatiya Bhutia Association, claiming the Bhutias and
Lepchas as the original inhabitants of the Darjeeling hills, today
submitted an eight-point deputation to Kalimpong SDO Radhika Aiyer under
the stewardship of association president Dr. Dhendup Bhutia and
secretary Dr. Latshering Bhutia.
The Bhutias’ deputation states the
community has remained socially, linguistically and culturally deprived
even after 65 years of independence. Community leaders claimed they have
met state government officials several times demanding a development
board for the community.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the
state government for ignoring the Bhutias while creating the LDC for the
Lepchas. Speaking to media personnel today, Dhendup Bhutia said,
“Lepchas and Bhutias are the original inhabitants of the Darjeeling
hills. How can the Bhutias be left out while the Lepchas get their LDC?
There are more than 2 lakh Bhutias in Darjeeling and we have met the
prime minister and President with our demand. We have already talked
with CM Mamata Banerjee and North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb
and are awaiting their response.”
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