Kolkata, Feb 26 (IANS): The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Wednesday urged the central government to expedite the process of granting the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to all Gorkha communities hailing from Darjeeling hills of West Bengal.

"I am happy that the state cabinet has recommended 10 Gorkha communities for the approval of ST status. I would now appeal to the central government to expedite this issue and grant them ST status as soon as possible," GJM leader Bimal Gurung said on his official Facebook page.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to North Bengal in January, assured that she would urge the central government to include various indigenous communities from the region in the Scheduled Tribes list of the constitution.

During the day, a GJM delegation led by party general secretary Roshan Giri met union Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh and raised the issues of granting ST status to all Gorkha communities, recruitment of Gorkha youths in paramilitary forces and creation of a central university in the region.