Claim of heavy influx from Nepal into Darjeeling adjoining Indian land using Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty as immunity has come under limelight once again when Gorkha Janamukti Morcha( GJM), an organization representing mainly Nepali speaking people have set Darjeeling under deep political turmoil with its demand of separate statehood.   "Separate Gorkhaland movement is a demand of self governance of Indian Nepali speaking community. But how many members of the movement activists and supporting mob are Indian citizens? Why Government is reluctant in ascertaining that and hit the problem at its root cause?" asked Dr. D P Kar, President of a major social activists group Janachetana. The organization has taken the matter to Kolkata High court under lights of Indo-Nepal treaty 1950.

According to Dr. Kar, under article VI and VII of Indo-Nepal treaty 1950, Gorkhas from Nepal get certain civic rights in India but, not Citizenship. The Extra Ordinary Gazette notification of GOI Part 1, Section-1, Date 23rd August 1988, No. 26011/6/88-IC.I clarifies that Gorkhas, either born or resident of India for 5 years before 26.01.1950 (Commencement of Indian Constitution) only, shall be a citizens of India. Interestingly, as per census, "Darjeeling district had nearly 775% population growth between 1951 to 2001 against 184.19% national average for the period. This proves influx of huge number of non-Indian treaty beneficiaries. But almost everyone of them was put into Indian voter list giving an unnatural growth of over 9.5 lakh voters in Darjeeling parliamentary constituency area during 1955-99," said Dr. Kar. As a matter of fact, at no entry point at open Indo-Nepal border, official identity of anyone coming into India is neither checked nor kept into record.

"Naturally, lion's share of the populace asking for separate state or self reliance are not at all legally Indian citizens," he added.   Following Janachetna's petition, Kolkata High court took the matter into cognizance and directed authorities including state, center and election commission to respond. But, "Even before end of the entire proceeding, Government preferred signing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act, conducting GTA election or forming the GTA body. But as we apprehended, these could not at all solve the problem," said Dr. Kar.   "Hence, along with strict measure to maintain law and order, a comprehensive program has to be taken up to solve the identity crisis of Nepali speaking people who are truly Indian Citizens," demanded Dr. Kar.   However, while leaders in TMC camp remained silent on the issue, left front constituents accepted the logic of Janachetna.

1. Lt. General Shakti Gurung, Serving, G.O.C Recruitment, Dehradun
2. Lt. General GS Rawat, 5th Gorkha Rifles, Retd, Nainital
3. Lt.General RS Pradhan, Para Regiment, Serving, Dehradun
4. Major General OS Bhandari, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Dharamshala.¹
5. Major General MS Karki, Engineers, Dehradun, retd
6. Major General Basant Singh, AVSM, YSM, 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, Retd 31 Jan 2004, Dehradun
7. Major General NS Rana, Vishist Sena Medal, Sappers, retd. Dharamshala
8. Major General PCS Khati, Serving 1 GR, Vir Chakra 
9. Major General Umesh Kumar Gurung , YSM Infantry / Headquarters  I.G  Assam Rifles (SOUTH)

Footnotes 1. [ Approved for promotion as Lt General but died in an air crash]

Pictures of Some Notable Gorkha Generals In Indian Army

Major General OS Bhandari

Lt. General GS Rawat

Lt. General Shakti Gurung

Major General Basant Singh

Lt Gen RS Pradhan

Lieutenant General Gajendra Singh Rawat, PVSM, AVSM was born in a village of Deoltha, Pithoragarh Dist. Kumaon hills on 17th December 1926. He is the first General Officer from the Kumaon Dist. He comes from a family which has rendered conspicuous service to the army for over 130 years. Hid great grand father and grand father served in the 3rd Gorkhas as junior Commissioned Officers and his father Brigadier N.S. Rawat retired after 32 years of meretious service. His younger brother, Commander M.S. Rawat (Indian Navy), was the winner of the President's gold medal from the joint services wing in 1952. His younger brother also served as captain in the Garhwal Rifles in the 1965 war with Pakistan: He has been educated at the Sherwood College and St. Joseph's College at Nainital and finally when doing his B.Sc from the Allahabad University, he got selected for a Direct Commission in the Indian Army in 1946. He was commissioned on 21st December 1947 from the second post-war regular course, into the Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) and was amongst the first lit of officers to be posted into the Gorkhas. He took part in the J&K operations in 1948 with the Battalion in the Zojila operations and in the capture of Kargil. He attended the Defence Service staff College course - Wellington in 1957-58. He was an instructor at the Infantry School Mhow form 1959-62. He raised and commended a Scouts Battalion in the Up Tibet Border (Mountainous region) from April 1964 to October 1966. From 1966-69, he was an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College from April 1969 to May 1971 he commanded an Infantry Brigade in the plains sector. 

He was the Brigadier General (Staff) in Headquarters Corps (having formations deployed in mountainous and high altitude regions) from 1971 to 1972 from where he was posted again as Brigadier General Staff to the newly raised Corps. Headquarters. Then he took over as a General officer Commanding, an Infantry Division from January 1974 to July 1974 and was rushed to a Mountain Division in Nagaland and Manipur (Jungle/ Mountainous area) where the previous General Officer Commanding was wounded and had to be evacuated. It was during his tenure that peace was ushered in those areas, thus bringing to an end two decades of strife. From that assignment he was posted as commandant, Indian Military Academy - Dehra Dun in October 1976. He was the first Commandant of the Indian Military Academy who was commissioned from the first post war batch commissioned in Independent India in 1947. He was the General Officer Commanding Delhi area from February 1979 to June 1979. On promotion as Lieutenant General he was appointed as the Military Secretary at Army Headquarters. In September 1981, he took over a Corps in the northern sector of Jammu and Kashmir. In recognition of his services during the 1972 war, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1972 and for his services in Nagaland and Manipur the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1976. He took over as Colonel of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Ladakh Scouts in December 1974. He retired as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on the 31st December 1984. He married in 1955 and has three children, two sons and a daughter.