Sukna (WB), Jul 18 (PTI) The tripartite agreement for formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is just a ''small step'' and the ultimate aim is a separate state of Gorkhaland, a top leader of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said today. The chief of the Gorkha Mahila Morcha, the women''s wing of the GJM, Asha Gurung, said she was happy at the inclusion of the word ''Gorkhaland'' in the GTA agreement, but the ultimate aim is to achieve a state of Gorkhaland. "We are happy at the stand taken by (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee. The previous Left Front government did not allow the inclusion of the name Gorkhaland,''" Gurung, wife of GJM chief Bimal Gurung, said. She said those in Dooars and Terai agitating against inclusion of those areas under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration comprised only 15 per cent of the population in those areas. "They are being enticed by the CPI-M (into the agitation)," she said.
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Showing posts with label gorkhaland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gorkhaland. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
GTA treaty small step, ultimate aim Gorkhaland: Asha Gurung
Sukna (WB), Jul 18 (PTI) The tripartite agreement for formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is just a ''small step'' and the ultimate aim is a separate state of Gorkhaland, a top leader of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said today. The chief of the Gorkha Mahila Morcha, the women''s wing of the GJM, Asha Gurung, said she was happy at the inclusion of the word ''Gorkhaland'' in the GTA agreement, but the ultimate aim is to achieve a state of Gorkhaland. "We are happy at the stand taken by (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee. The previous Left Front government did not allow the inclusion of the name Gorkhaland,''" Gurung, wife of GJM chief Bimal Gurung, said. She said those in Dooars and Terai agitating against inclusion of those areas under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration comprised only 15 per cent of the population in those areas. "They are being enticed by the CPI-M (into the agitation)," she said.New Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Gets 600 Crore Package
Sukna (West Bengal), July 18 (IANS) A tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hills was signed Monday between the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the West Bengal and central governments.
At the core of the pact is the formation of a new autonomous elected Hill Council Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), which is armed with more powers as compared to its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.
Thousands of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters gathered at the Pintal Village, near Sukna, to witness and celebrate the signing of the tripartite agreement for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration today. Clad in traditional attire, the supporters, including women, gathered under the tents erected on the sprawling ground near the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council bungalow amidst heavy security.
Activists of the GJM women's wing, Gorkha Nari Morcha, took to the stage, dancing and singing to celebrate the occasion. Many of the supporters were heard shouting slogans like, 'Mamata Banerjee zindabad,' and 'Bimal Gurung zindabad,' while shouts of 'we want Gorkhaland,' 'we want a separate state,' were also heard.
"This is a turning point in our movement and not a permanent settlement. This is only a temporary settlement to address the basic problem. The separate state issue must not be a closed chapter," P Arjun, a member of the GJM think tank 16-member Study Forum, told Media.
At the core of the pact is the formation of a new autonomous elected Hill Council Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), which is armed with more powers as compared to its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.
Thousands of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters gathered at the Pintal Village, near Sukna, to witness and celebrate the signing of the tripartite agreement for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration today. Clad in traditional attire, the supporters, including women, gathered under the tents erected on the sprawling ground near the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council bungalow amidst heavy security.
Activists of the GJM women's wing, Gorkha Nari Morcha, took to the stage, dancing and singing to celebrate the occasion. Many of the supporters were heard shouting slogans like, 'Mamata Banerjee zindabad,' and 'Bimal Gurung zindabad,' while shouts of 'we want Gorkhaland,' 'we want a separate state,' were also heard.
"This is a turning point in our movement and not a permanent settlement. This is only a temporary settlement to address the basic problem. The separate state issue must not be a closed chapter," P Arjun, a member of the GJM think tank 16-member Study Forum, told Media.
The signing of historic Gorkhaland pact today
CPRM spokesman Gobinda Chhetri said the Morcha had betrayed the cause of Gorkhaland on whose promise it had fought the last Assembly election and won. Plains-based organisations Amra Bangali, Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetana have called a 48-hour north Bengal bandh to protest against the treaty.
The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, which opposes inclusion of areas of Dooars and Terai regions in the GTA, has given the moral support to the bandh, its Terai unit president Nicodene Minj said. ABAVP secretary Birsa Tirkey said, "We are not against the tripartite agreement, but against inclusion of areas of Dooars and Terai in the GTA.'
On saturday, CPI-M leader Surya Kanta Mishra had complained that opposition parties had not been consulted prior to signing of the agreement.
Mishra, who is also the Opposition leader in the Assembly, said the proposed name of the new hill council 'Gorkhaland Territorial Administration' was misleading and confusing and was bound to create disunity in the Darjeeling hills.
West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was given a warm welcome by the hills people who lined the road of his journey from Bagdogra to Sukna. She got down from her vehicle and talked to them and discussed their problems. She also visited the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary near Siliguri.
Monday, May 17, 2010
CRPF personnel posted on Sikkim 31-A National Highway
Traffic resumes on Sikkim highway
Gangtok,May 16: Two companies of CRPF were re-deployed today on NH31A even as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha tried to enforce its 48-hour bandh for the second day today.
The comeback of the paramilitary force follows yesterday’s violence in which 10 Sikkim-bound vehicles were damaged by alleged Morcha supporters on the highway, the Himalayan state’s only road link to the rest of the country. The shutdown is part of the Morcha tactics to pile pressure on the government to include the Terai and some parts of the Dooars in the proposed interim set-up for the hills.
This morning, two of the three companies of CRPF moved into two camps — at Reang on NH31A and at Pintail Village in Siliguri — vacated only about 20 days back. Later, they hit the road on patrol duty.
K.L. Tamta, the inspector-general of police, north Bengal, said: “Two companies have been deployed in Kalimpong and Rambhi and another one is posted at Pintail Village off NH55. They have been requisitioned to maintain law and order along the highway.”
Sikkim governor Balmiki Prasad Singh who was speaking at the 35th State Day celebration at Chintan Bhavan in Gangtok said the “frequent trouble in the neighbouring region” often hindered movement of passengers and goods along NH31A for days together.
The comeback of the paramilitary force follows yesterday’s violence in which 10 Sikkim-bound vehicles were damaged by alleged Morcha supporters on the highway, the Himalayan state’s only road link to the rest of the country. The shutdown is part of the Morcha tactics to pile pressure on the government to include the Terai and some parts of the Dooars in the proposed interim set-up for the hills.
Traffic between the two states resumed today with the help of Bengal police who escorted the vehicles along the national highway amid sporadic attempts to stall vehicular movement.At 1.30pm today, a Sikkim government vehicle from Siliguri was stopped and its windscreen and windows smashed at Sukhapool, 4km from Rangpo, the gateway to the Himalayan state.
Earlier around noon, an army convoy bound for Gantgtok, had a narrow escape when a large tree came crashing down on the highway at Tarkhola. Police said there was evidence that the base of the tree had been hacked at with axes. The crown of the tree blocked the highway till it was cleared 30 minutes later.
Gangtok police said the first batch of vehicles along with 10 Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) buses were allowed to proceed to Siliguri from Rangpo with police escort at 10am. Two Bengal police vehicles with armed men in khaki led and brought in the rear of the convoy.
Till 4pm, a total of 214 vehicles had left Rangpo (for Siliguri) and 175 vehicles had entered Sikkim, the police posted at the border town said.
The SNT plied eight extra buses with police escort to clear stranded passengers in Siliguri. “We ply six buses to Gangtok daily and the first one departs at 7.30am. Yesterday only two buses could leave because of the trouble on NH31A,” said Tulsi Prasad Sharma, the SNT traffic inspector said. “Today, 14 buses left under police escort.”
A long queue of more than 600 passengers had been waiting at the SNT terminus in Siliguri from 4am, but only only half of them could be issued tickets. With the Darjeeling tour with its toy train ride foiled, Diane from Estonia and Amy and Cecilia from Hungary were determined to travel to Sikkim. “No vehicles were plying yesterday and we came here very early in the morning and got our tickets after standing in queue for three-and-a-half hours,” said Diane.
This morning, two of the three companies of CRPF moved into two camps — at Reang on NH31A and at Pintail Village in Siliguri — vacated only about 20 days back. Later, they hit the road on patrol duty.
K.L. Tamta, the inspector-general of police, north Bengal, said: “Two companies have been deployed in Kalimpong and Rambhi and another one is posted at Pintail Village off NH55. They have been requisitioned to maintain law and order along the highway.”
Sikkim governor Balmiki Prasad Singh who was speaking at the 35th State Day celebration at Chintan Bhavan in Gangtok said the “frequent trouble in the neighbouring region” often hindered movement of passengers and goods along NH31A for days together.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Gorkhaland Memorandum to Mamta Banerjee
Gangtok,October 30: The BGP Unit of Sikkim led by its President Dr.Kamal Gurung yesterday presented a memorandum for Gorkhaland to Union Railway Minister and President,Trinamool Congress Ms. Mamta banerjee in Tourist Lodge at Rangpo. Ms. Banerjee was at Rangpo to lay oundation stone of Sikkim Rail Link along with Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari.Saturday, October 17, 2009
Gorkhaland Memorandum to Gujrat CM Narendra Modi
Gujrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi receiving Memorandum for Gorkhaland from its Sikkim activists.
Friday, August 14, 2009
DGHC dead, now state: Morcha
Gurung’s party not worried about interim arrangement
Darjeeling, Aug. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that either statehood or Union Territory status would have to be conferred on the Darjeeling hills, now that a decision has been taken to drop the Sixth Schedule bill and scrap the DGHC.
The consensus to repeal the DGHC Act and abandon the bill which would have given the hills a special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution have put an end to the possibility of an autonomous body, the Morcha believes.
“This means that the only option is either a Union Territory or a state status,” said Anmole Prasad at a media conference at the Gymkhana Club here today. Prasad was the spokesperson for the 12-member delegation that came back today after attending the tripartite talks in Delhi on Tuesday. The state and central governments were the other two participants in the talks.
The Morcha said it was not bothered about the interim arrangement. “We are not too worried about the set-up as it is necessary to fill the administrative vacuum once the DGHC goes. However, we will ensure that the 7,000 temporary workers do not lose out. They will be protected,” Prasad said. “Whatever agreement was reached at the August 11 meeting, the demand for statehood has not been diluted.”
Fearing an uncertain future after it became clear that the DGHC would be dissolved soon, the contractual workers yesterday under the banner of the Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan reasserted their demand for permanent jobs.
The delegation alleged that the two representatives of the Bengal government, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and home secretary Ardhendu Sen had tried to “tarnish” the Morcha image before the Union home secretary, G.K Pillai. “They brought up the issue of Gorkhaland Personnel cracking down on liquor, drug and timber smugglers as well as stopping traffic to Sikkim along NH31A. But we could convince the central government representatives that we, as citizens, had every right to clamp down on illegal activities and the blockade of the highway was a compulsion not a deliberate act.”
The party has also welcomed the appointment of an interlocutor. “As the interval between the tripartite talks is more than four to six months (the second round was held in December), the appointment of an interlocutor was necessary. Through him negotiations could be speeded up.” However, the Morcha leadership conceded that the statehood demand would have to be met only through talks at the political level and through consensus in Parliament, hinting that the fourth round of talks on December 21 here would also be held at the secretary- level.
After arriving here from Bagdogra around 5.30pm, the delegation met Morcha president Bimal Gurung for about an hour. Gurung did not attend the media conference.
Morcha leader Amar Lama said the central committee would meet on August 17.
Darjeeling, Aug. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that either statehood or Union Territory status would have to be conferred on the Darjeeling hills, now that a decision has been taken to drop the Sixth Schedule bill and scrap the DGHC.
The consensus to repeal the DGHC Act and abandon the bill which would have given the hills a special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution have put an end to the possibility of an autonomous body, the Morcha believes.
“This means that the only option is either a Union Territory or a state status,” said Anmole Prasad at a media conference at the Gymkhana Club here today. Prasad was the spokesperson for the 12-member delegation that came back today after attending the tripartite talks in Delhi on Tuesday. The state and central governments were the other two participants in the talks.
The Morcha said it was not bothered about the interim arrangement. “We are not too worried about the set-up as it is necessary to fill the administrative vacuum once the DGHC goes. However, we will ensure that the 7,000 temporary workers do not lose out. They will be protected,” Prasad said. “Whatever agreement was reached at the August 11 meeting, the demand for statehood has not been diluted.”
Fearing an uncertain future after it became clear that the DGHC would be dissolved soon, the contractual workers yesterday under the banner of the Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan reasserted their demand for permanent jobs.
The delegation alleged that the two representatives of the Bengal government, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and home secretary Ardhendu Sen had tried to “tarnish” the Morcha image before the Union home secretary, G.K Pillai. “They brought up the issue of Gorkhaland Personnel cracking down on liquor, drug and timber smugglers as well as stopping traffic to Sikkim along NH31A. But we could convince the central government representatives that we, as citizens, had every right to clamp down on illegal activities and the blockade of the highway was a compulsion not a deliberate act.”
The party has also welcomed the appointment of an interlocutor. “As the interval between the tripartite talks is more than four to six months (the second round was held in December), the appointment of an interlocutor was necessary. Through him negotiations could be speeded up.” However, the Morcha leadership conceded that the statehood demand would have to be met only through talks at the political level and through consensus in Parliament, hinting that the fourth round of talks on December 21 here would also be held at the secretary- level.
After arriving here from Bagdogra around 5.30pm, the delegation met Morcha president Bimal Gurung for about an hour. Gurung did not attend the media conference.
Morcha leader Amar Lama said the central committee would meet on August 17.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Next tripartite talks at Darjeeling on December 21
DGHC Act, 1988 to be repealed
Alternate framework mooted for Darjeeling Hills
DARJEELING, August 11: The Centre, the West Bengal government and representatives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), at their tripartite talks held at New Delhi today, agreed in principle to do away with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and set up an alternative framework.
“It was agreed in principle to the repeal of the DGHC Act, 1988. The repeal of the Act would be processed as soon as an alternative administrative framework is finalised through mutual consultations and agreement,” said a Union Home Ministry statement.
“The government announced the appointment of an interlocutor to carry forward the discussions held during the third round of tripartite talks and both the state government and the GJM welcomed the same,”, a Ministry official was quoted by national media.
The DGHC was formed in 1988 through an agreement between the Central and State governments and the GNLF.
The talks were held between Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, the West Bengal delegation led by Chief Secretary A K Chakrabarty and the GJM delegation by Anmole Prasad.
“The GJM assured that a peaceful and conducive atmosphere would be maintained and all the parties agreed to work in a spirit of constructive cooperation to carry the talks forward,” said the official was quoted by national media.
The next tripartite meeting would be held on December 21 this year at Darjeeling.
As an interim measure and to restore the democratic process, it was decided that elections would be held to the panchayat samitis, the gram panchayats and the municipalities in the Darjeeling hills. It was also decided that an unutilized sum of Rs 700 million that was part of the central assistance would be put to use.
The last tripartite meeting between the three sides took place on December 29 last year where it was decided to take forward the talks after the Lok Sabha polls.
Expressing full satisfaction over the talks, the GJM has said that upcoming December 21 tripartite meeting at Darjeeling should be held on political basis.
Addressing a press meet here in Darjeeling, the GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said that next tripartite talks is scheduled on December 21 at Darjeeling demanding that it should be held on a political level.
Mr. Giri informed that today’s tripartite talks focused on Gorkhaland deliberations. He added that both Centre and West Bengal government have agreed not to raise the Sixth Schedule issue and a Central team will be soon sent to Darjeeling to understand the Gorkhaland movement in a meaningful manner.
Replying to a question, Mr. Giri said that Gorkhaland should directly be formed after repeal of DGHC Act of 1988.
To another question regarding the future of thousands of adhoc employees of DGHC after the repeal of the 1988 Act, Mr. Giri said all the adhoc employees should be regularized.
“From now on, IG North Bengal KL Tamta will not interfere on any issue in the three subdivisions of Darjeeling hills. This has been admitted by the State chief secretary”, said Mr. Giri.
Meanwhile in Darjeeling hills, a human chain was formed by GJM supporters today morning to show solidarity to Gorkhaland movement even as tripartite talks in New Delhi were taking place.
The unforgettable human chain originated from Lebong stamping as memorable chapter in the Gorkhaland movement so far. At various places along the roads in the hills, hundreds of people lined up along the road joining hands expressing unity to the perennial Gorkhaland demand.
The human chain was also formed from Rangpo along NH 31A which stretched up to Coronation Bridge. Another human chain started from Sunakosh river in Dooars.
The human chain message was observed for one hour starting from 11.19 am to 12.19 pm
Hills human chain extend hands for Gorkhaland
Giri in DarjeelingDarjeeling, Aug. 11: Jas Bahadur Rai today started a chain from Gorkha Stadium in Lebong that snaked its way down, shutting Darjeeling on its way, bringing traffic to a halt and drawing hundreds of people out of their homes to hold each other’s hands for Gorkhaland.
Rai, a 72-year-old from Middle Harsingh — a village of the Lebong catchment area, 7km from here, was the first man in the chain.
“Gorkhaland has to be a reality one day or the other. This is the time to show our unity and tell the government about our demand. I have been taking part in all the rallies in favour of Gorkhaland and am proud to start this chain,” said Rai.
A few metres away stood Anjana Lama Sherpa (40), the first woman in the chain. Most of the participants were dressed in the traditional attires — women in chowbandi choli and men in daura sural even though there was no such directive from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which had organised the human chain. In fact, Morcha president Bimal Gurung, who came to inspect the human chain at Singamari, was dressed in casuals. But general secretary Roshan Giri was in traditional attires along with other central committee members.
Gurung did not take part in the chain but Giri did for the whole hour after it started at 11.19am. During the time, the town remained shut and no vehicles plied.
In areas where there are no settlements (example Tenzing Rock and Chitray in Darjeeling), schoolchildren filled up the gap. Almost every school and college had sent their students to participate in the chain. A double chain had to be formed in Darjeeling town because of the number of people who had turned up.
However, the chain was non-existent from Panchanoi to Siliguri, a 1km stretch which police did not allow the Morcha to cover. The area is part of the plains where there is a strong anti-Morcha sentiment.
Thanking the hill for the response, Roshan Giri said: “This is a historic human chain. A similar chain was also formed along NH31A from Rangpo (on the Sikkim border) till Sevoke.” He, however, was quick to blame the state government for trying to crush a democratic movement. “Our supporters were not allowed to go beyond Panchanoi (river) by the police. This was a peaceful programme yet the police acted on the directive of the government which wants to crush our movement,” said Giri
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Gorkha tripartite talks conclude on cordial note
New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): The third round of tripartite talks between the Central Government, the West Bengal Government and the representatives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was held here today.
The talks were held in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, according to official sources.
The Central team was led by Union Home Secretary G.K.Pillai, the West Bengal Government delegation by their Chief Secretary A.K.Chakrabarty and the GJM delegation by Anmole Prasad. It was agreed that the proposal for establishment of a Hill Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution would be dropped.
It was agreed, in principle, to the repeal of the DGHC Act, 1988. The repeal of the Act would be processed as soon as an alternative administrative setup/framework is finalized through mutual consultations and agreement.
The Government of India announced the appointment of an Interlocutor to carry forward the discussions held during the third round of tripartite talks and both the State Government and the GJM welcomed the same.
The GJM assured that a peaceful and conducive atmosphere would be maintained and all the parties agreed to work in a spirit of constructive cooperation to carry the talks forward.
The Central Government would also send a team to Darjeeling to review the development works in the District.
The Government of India and the Government of West Bengal proposed that as an interim measure and to restore the democratic process, the elections to the Panchayat Samitis, Gram Panchayats as well as Municipalities be allowed to be held.
The GJM stated that they would consult and revert back to the State Government.
It was informed by the Government of West Bengal that unutilized portions of the CRF and special Central assistance amounting to Rs.70 crores was lying unutilized.
It was agreed that a team of State Government officials would be sent to Darjeeling to discuss the utilization of these funds. It was agreed that the next tripartite meeting would be held on December 21, 2009 at Darjeeling.
The last tripartite meeting between the three sides took place on December 29 last year where it was decided to take forward the talks after the Lok Sabha polls. Since late 2007, the demand for a separate state has been started more intensely by the Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung.
This movement has vowed to create a separate state by 2010. He has called for a more non-violent form of protest by refusing to pay state taxes to the government including electricity and phone bills.
Activities for support of Gorkhaland has also been seen in areas outside Gorkhaland. The mainstream parties of Sikkim have openly supported the Gorkhaland movement and pledged solidarity.
(ANI)
The talks were held in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, according to official sources.
The Central team was led by Union Home Secretary G.K.Pillai, the West Bengal Government delegation by their Chief Secretary A.K.Chakrabarty and the GJM delegation by Anmole Prasad. It was agreed that the proposal for establishment of a Hill Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution would be dropped.
It was agreed, in principle, to the repeal of the DGHC Act, 1988. The repeal of the Act would be processed as soon as an alternative administrative setup/framework is finalized through mutual consultations and agreement.
The Government of India announced the appointment of an Interlocutor to carry forward the discussions held during the third round of tripartite talks and both the State Government and the GJM welcomed the same.
The GJM assured that a peaceful and conducive atmosphere would be maintained and all the parties agreed to work in a spirit of constructive cooperation to carry the talks forward.
The Central Government would also send a team to Darjeeling to review the development works in the District.
The Government of India and the Government of West Bengal proposed that as an interim measure and to restore the democratic process, the elections to the Panchayat Samitis, Gram Panchayats as well as Municipalities be allowed to be held.
The GJM stated that they would consult and revert back to the State Government.
It was informed by the Government of West Bengal that unutilized portions of the CRF and special Central assistance amounting to Rs.70 crores was lying unutilized.
It was agreed that a team of State Government officials would be sent to Darjeeling to discuss the utilization of these funds. It was agreed that the next tripartite meeting would be held on December 21, 2009 at Darjeeling.
The last tripartite meeting between the three sides took place on December 29 last year where it was decided to take forward the talks after the Lok Sabha polls. Since late 2007, the demand for a separate state has been started more intensely by the Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung.
This movement has vowed to create a separate state by 2010. He has called for a more non-violent form of protest by refusing to pay state taxes to the government including electricity and phone bills.
Activities for support of Gorkhaland has also been seen in areas outside Gorkhaland. The mainstream parties of Sikkim have openly supported the Gorkhaland movement and pledged solidarity.
(ANI)
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha plan for Delhi Talks
Amar Lama, the leader of the Delhi delegationDarjeeling, Aug. 10: A 12-member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation today held a two-and-a-half-hour brainstorming session in New Delhi to fine-tune the strategy to be adopted tomorrow at the third round of tripartite meeting.
This time, the Morcha has decided to counter the government’s “why Gorkhaland” with a “why not”. Instead of speaking on statehood, the hill party will filed the question why not Gorkhaland.
“We had held a meeting with Jaswant Singh recently and we are fully prepared for the talks starting at 10.30am tomorrow,” said Amar Lama, a central committee member and leader of the delegation.
In Darjeeling, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the party would not speak on or discuss any issue other than Gorkhaland. “The team has been briefed by Bimal Gurung to speak only on the demand of Gorkhaland. The state government has also agreed to discuss the issue,” said Giri.
The strategy had been finalised by the Morcha’s Study Forum after a three-day deliberation in Deolo, Kalimpong.
In the hills, the All-Transport Joint Action Committee has asked taxi drivers to park their vehicles at 10.30am for two hours to help form a human chain from Lebong to Siliguri tomorrow.
“Since the roads are narrow at various points along NH55 and at various railway intersections, we appeal to the taxi drivers to park their vehicles at the respective motor stands,” said Sanjeev Tamang, the secretary of the committee. The committee is an umbrella organisation of taxi syndicates affiliated to the Morcha.
The party has asked the hill people to form the human chain along the highway for an hour from 11.19am to express solidarity with the demand on Gorkhaland.
Although there was no explanation as to why 11.19am was chosen, many of the Morcha programmes usually stick to that timing.
Another human chain is also likely to be formed from Kalimpong to Siliguri along NH31A during the same time. The highway is the arterial link between Sikkim and the rest of the country.
The Janmukti Sishu Siksha Karmasuchi Sahayak/Sahayika Sangathan, a Morcha frontal body of non-formal teachers, appealed to all Sishu Siksha Kendra and Madhyamik Siksha Kendra staff to take part in the human chain.
The association has asked its members from Darjeeling to assemble at the Ghum railway station at 9am tomorrow. “Our members from Mirik and Kurseong are requested to gather at the Kurseong motor stand while those from Kalimpong should assemble at Damber Chowk around the same time,” said Sushila Alay, a member of the association.
The Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan has already asked its members residing near the highways to take a day off and participate in the rally.
Apart from the human chain, the town committee of the Morcha has decided to organise all-faith meetings from tomorrow at Chowrastha.
“The prayer meeting from 9am to 6pm every day will continue till August 17 with a break on August 15. The meeting is being organised for Gorkhaland and also for a successful tripartite meeting,” said Dinesh Gurung, the Morcha convener. The party is expected to announce a new agitation programme.
On Sunday, the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha’s Darjeeling town committee also organised a prayer at the Mahakal temple here for a “successful” meeting.
This time, the Morcha has decided to counter the government’s “why Gorkhaland” with a “why not”. Instead of speaking on statehood, the hill party will filed the question why not Gorkhaland.
“We had held a meeting with Jaswant Singh recently and we are fully prepared for the talks starting at 10.30am tomorrow,” said Amar Lama, a central committee member and leader of the delegation.
In Darjeeling, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the party would not speak on or discuss any issue other than Gorkhaland. “The team has been briefed by Bimal Gurung to speak only on the demand of Gorkhaland. The state government has also agreed to discuss the issue,” said Giri.
The strategy had been finalised by the Morcha’s Study Forum after a three-day deliberation in Deolo, Kalimpong.
In the hills, the All-Transport Joint Action Committee has asked taxi drivers to park their vehicles at 10.30am for two hours to help form a human chain from Lebong to Siliguri tomorrow.
“Since the roads are narrow at various points along NH55 and at various railway intersections, we appeal to the taxi drivers to park their vehicles at the respective motor stands,” said Sanjeev Tamang, the secretary of the committee. The committee is an umbrella organisation of taxi syndicates affiliated to the Morcha.
The party has asked the hill people to form the human chain along the highway for an hour from 11.19am to express solidarity with the demand on Gorkhaland.
Although there was no explanation as to why 11.19am was chosen, many of the Morcha programmes usually stick to that timing.
Another human chain is also likely to be formed from Kalimpong to Siliguri along NH31A during the same time. The highway is the arterial link between Sikkim and the rest of the country.
The Janmukti Sishu Siksha Karmasuchi Sahayak/Sahayika Sangathan, a Morcha frontal body of non-formal teachers, appealed to all Sishu Siksha Kendra and Madhyamik Siksha Kendra staff to take part in the human chain.
The association has asked its members from Darjeeling to assemble at the Ghum railway station at 9am tomorrow. “Our members from Mirik and Kurseong are requested to gather at the Kurseong motor stand while those from Kalimpong should assemble at Damber Chowk around the same time,” said Sushila Alay, a member of the association.
The Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan has already asked its members residing near the highways to take a day off and participate in the rally.
Apart from the human chain, the town committee of the Morcha has decided to organise all-faith meetings from tomorrow at Chowrastha.
“The prayer meeting from 9am to 6pm every day will continue till August 17 with a break on August 15. The meeting is being organised for Gorkhaland and also for a successful tripartite meeting,” said Dinesh Gurung, the Morcha convener. The party is expected to announce a new agitation programme.
On Sunday, the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha’s Darjeeling town committee also organised a prayer at the Mahakal temple here for a “successful” meeting.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
GJMM team heads for tripartite dialogue in New Delhi on 11 August
Darjeeling, 7 AUG.A four-member delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha left for Delhi today to attend the third round of tripartite talks scheduled for August 11.
Amar Lama, Jyoti Rai, Rohit Sharma and Neelkama Chhetri are the four who reached Delhi today. The Morcha will be represented by a 12-member delegation at the meeting convened by the central government. The third party to take part in the talks will be the state government.
The media and publicity secretary of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, Mr Harka Bahadur Chettri today said that they might take up the controversial salary disbursement issue of the Darjeeling hill municipalities at the tripartite dialogue slated in New Delhi on 11 August.
“We would make it clear in course of the talks that the decision to disburse salary to the hill-based civic body employees by the chairmen of the now- dissolved municipalities is a step taken in the interest of the people. We were apprehensive that the salary disbursement process would have been held up until elections were held to the civic bodies,” he said.
The GJMM leader further said that the people of the hills were with them on the issue. “We value this more than any state law. And our stand is clear that as we are leading a non- cooperation movement we do not regard state law as sacrosanct,” he said.
Slamming the state government for making a mountain out of a molehill over the issue, Mr Chettri said that the state had kept the CPI-M sponsored men at the helms of the Kalimpong Municipality for years during the earlier phase of the GNLF movement.
“This aside, it kept the Ghising dispensation in power at the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council by way of extending terms for nearly two years. Given these precedents, it has no right to join issue with my party concerning the salary disbursement matter. We would not accept double standards,” the GJMM leader affirmed.
Rejecting the GJMM criticism, the state urban development and municipal affairs minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya today said that the salary disbursement on the part of the dissolved civic body chairmen was illegal and the state government has sent letters to the former civic body chairmen spelling out the state's stand on the matter. “We have also written a letter to the Darjeeling district magistrate asking him to take appropriate action against those involved in the illegal acts,” he said
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha patrol stays off highway to Sikkim
Kalimpong, Aug. 5: The Gorkhaland Personnel was today conspicuous by its absence along the 32-kilometre stretch from here to Rangpo on the Sikkim border where 24 hours ago they had stopped cars on NH31A to search for liquor and drugs.
The Telegraph toured the route from 11am to 4pm, but did not come across any GLP patrols today. The local people and the police at Melli and Rangpo said there were no pickets in the area at all.
Yesterday, K.L. Tamta, the inspector-general of police, north Bengal, had said action would be taken against the GLP if its members stopped cars along the highway. He had said the GLP was not authorised to conduct searches on private vehicles and the uniformed youths of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would be booked for obstructing roads, wrongful confinement and extortion.
Kipa Tshering Bhutia, the leader of a GLP patrol at Third Mile, when contacted over his cellphone said he and his team were at their base camp in an undisclosed location. “We were told not to come out today, that is all I can say,” Bhutia said.
Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the Morcha spokesperson, said only the chief of the GLP, Colonel (retired) Ramesh Allay would be able to say about the cell’s activities. Repeated attempts to contact the GLP’s in-charge proved to be futile.
However, Morcha sources said a decision had been taken to not go in for any confrontation with the police on NH31A. But Morcha leaders claimed that the GLP was checking the smaller roads that connect the Darjeeling hills to Sikkim.
“The smuggling of liquor usually takes place through the smaller roads and trails that connect the Kalimpong subdivision to Sikkim and the GLP is very much present there. About Rs 50 lakh worth of Sikkim-bottled liquor is smuggled into the hills every day, though I cannot say how much quantity was seized today,” said a Morcha central committee member.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
SNT driver was caught with ganja: GJM
GLP will not disturb cordial relations between Sikkim and Darjeeling: Dr. HB Chettri
GANGTOK, August 1: Reiterating the traditional ties between Sikkim and Darjeeling, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today denied of any high handiness approach and allegations of ‘extortion’ or ‘physical assaults’ by its frontal organization, Gorkhaland Police (GLP) on ‘innocent’ commuters travelling along the National Highway 31A from Siliguri to Sikkim.
“The GLP members are highly disciplined and have been merely tasked to remove the menace of drugs along the Highway. The GLP will not trouble any innocent persons and will not disturb the cordial relationships or create problems between Sikkim and Darjeeling. We are acting with restraint”, the GJM publicity secretary, Dr. Hara Bahadur Chettri said.
Regarding the allegations levelled by a SNT driver who had accused GLP youth of ‘assault’ and ‘looting’ at 10th Mile in Rangpo side of West Bengal along the NH 31A, the GJM publicity secretary shifted the blame on the driver himself.
“The particular driver was highly intoxicated and moreover, the GLP have recovered some marijuana (ganja) from him. The GLP boys landed a couple of dandas on him and told him that he will be handed over to Sikkim police. To this, the driver pleaded that he will lose his job and also that he was family man”, said Dr. Chettri. He informed that the GLP boys did some beating and let the driver go. The GLP had also informed the recovery of ganja to the Rangpo Sikkim police and gave them the number of the vehicle, he added.
“The seized ganja has been confiscated and still with us”, Dr. Chettri.
“The driver had also given a false name to the GLP which we found from the Sikkim Rangpo police and it is obvious that he had tried to mislead us as he was doing something wrong,” said Dr. Chettri.
While claiming the other incidents along the highway as complained were blown out of proportion, the GJM publicity secretary reminded that the GLP is doing great service to the Sikkimese people by stopping contraband substances meant for delivery in Sikkim. We were greatly appreciated when the GLP recovered drugs recently along the highway meant to be delivered in Sikkim, said Dr. Chettri.
At the same time, the GJM publicity secretary admitted that GLP boys could have overdone things although the GLP members are very much disciplined. There might be some elements as it will be anywhere, he said adding the amount of beating was not required and proper procedures should have been taken.
“We have briefed the GLP deployed in the NH 31 A to adopt procedures”, said Dr. Chettri assuring that innocent commuters along the highway will not be troubled while the drug smugglers will be handed over to the police
GANGTOK, August 1: Reiterating the traditional ties between Sikkim and Darjeeling, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today denied of any high handiness approach and allegations of ‘extortion’ or ‘physical assaults’ by its frontal organization, Gorkhaland Police (GLP) on ‘innocent’ commuters travelling along the National Highway 31A from Siliguri to Sikkim.
“The GLP members are highly disciplined and have been merely tasked to remove the menace of drugs along the Highway. The GLP will not trouble any innocent persons and will not disturb the cordial relationships or create problems between Sikkim and Darjeeling. We are acting with restraint”, the GJM publicity secretary, Dr. Hara Bahadur Chettri said.
Regarding the allegations levelled by a SNT driver who had accused GLP youth of ‘assault’ and ‘looting’ at 10th Mile in Rangpo side of West Bengal along the NH 31A, the GJM publicity secretary shifted the blame on the driver himself.
“The particular driver was highly intoxicated and moreover, the GLP have recovered some marijuana (ganja) from him. The GLP boys landed a couple of dandas on him and told him that he will be handed over to Sikkim police. To this, the driver pleaded that he will lose his job and also that he was family man”, said Dr. Chettri. He informed that the GLP boys did some beating and let the driver go. The GLP had also informed the recovery of ganja to the Rangpo Sikkim police and gave them the number of the vehicle, he added.
“The seized ganja has been confiscated and still with us”, Dr. Chettri.
“The driver had also given a false name to the GLP which we found from the Sikkim Rangpo police and it is obvious that he had tried to mislead us as he was doing something wrong,” said Dr. Chettri.
While claiming the other incidents along the highway as complained were blown out of proportion, the GJM publicity secretary reminded that the GLP is doing great service to the Sikkimese people by stopping contraband substances meant for delivery in Sikkim. We were greatly appreciated when the GLP recovered drugs recently along the highway meant to be delivered in Sikkim, said Dr. Chettri.
At the same time, the GJM publicity secretary admitted that GLP boys could have overdone things although the GLP members are very much disciplined. There might be some elements as it will be anywhere, he said adding the amount of beating was not required and proper procedures should have been taken.
“We have briefed the GLP deployed in the NH 31 A to adopt procedures”, said Dr. Chettri assuring that innocent commuters along the highway will not be troubled while the drug smugglers will be handed over to the police
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