Tamang breaks fast

Jalpaiguri, Nov. 8: The arrested GTA Sabha member Binay Tamang broke his fast in the Jalpaiguri District Hospital this evening after he had been informed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders about the “assurance” by the chief minister that he would be released soon.

Tamang, who is also the assistant secretary of the Morcha, had been arrested in August on various charges and put up in the Jalpaiguri Correctional Home. He launched an indefinite fast on October 30 demanding his release and the speedy disposal of cases.

Although he was admitted to the district hospital the next day, he refused to take food or medicines. On Sunday, the GTA member agreed to be administered saline in the intensive critical care unit and doctors were keeping a watch over his condition.

This afternoon, Morcha MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri, along with leaders R.P. Yaiba and P.T. Ola, met Tamang in the ICCU. After an hour-long meeting, Chhetri came out and announced that Tamang had broken the hunger strike.

“I reached here today straight from Calcutta. I had met the chief minister in Calcutta and apprised her of Binay Tamang’s health conditions. I also told the chief minister that 10 other arrested GTA members are behind bars now,” said Chhetri.

“We have mentioned to the chief minister that none of them have serious charges like murder against them and the state government should see that they are released. An assurance was given to us that these GTA members would be released in due course,” said the Kalimpong MLA.

He said Tamang had been informed about these developments. “After having a discussion for some time, he agreed to break his fast and took fruit juice at 5.45pm.”

With Tamang breaking his fast, officials of the district health administration have breathed a sigh of relief.

“We were deeply concerned about his health condition and have been consistently monitoring him,” said Jagannath Sarkar, the chief medical officer of health, Jalpaiguri. “Even though he has broken the fast, he will be under observation for at least 48 hours. We will gradually provide liquid food and solid diet to him. He is expected to recover in few days.”

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Region will go ‘green’ once again, says a healthy-looking Ghising

Siliguri

8 Nov 2013

Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghising today returned from Chennai after a medical checkup. He had been earlier admitted at a private nursing home in Siliguri as he was suffering from jaundice. The GNLF chief left for Chennai on October 30 for a thorough health checkup at the Apollo Hospital, especially for respiratory problems.

Hundreds of GNLF leaders and supporters from Kurseong sub-division and the plains had gathered in the afternoon at Bagdogra airport to welcome their leader and they chanted “Long live Subash Ghising” and “GNLF Zindabad”. 

Calming down the excited sea of supporters, a pleased-looking Ghising said his health has improved and he will return to Darjeeling after a week’s rest at his rented lodgings in Matigara. The GNLF chief gave clear indications of re-establishing his party in the hills while launching attacks at the GJM. Describing the GNLF as the only alternative in the hills, he asked workers present to accelerate the process of strengthening the party.

There has been a lot of talk about the GNLF chief’s impending return to the hills. Ghising himself has said on many occasions he would return to the hills at the right time. Now that he himself announced of his plans, GLNF supporters have become excited as well as impatient.

“The GJM will evaporate from the hills by December 15 and the hills and plains will once again become green as before,” claimed Ghising, hinting at plans of regaining mass support.

Kurseong sub-division GLNF convener Neema Lama said GJM chief Bimal Gurung has surrendered before the state government and has betrayed the people of Darjeeling. “All the promises he (Gurung) made were false ones. He has betrayed the hill people,” claimed Lama.

He asserted the GNLF has once again gained a significant support base in the hills and it will soon emerge as the most powerful party. Terming development issues as secondary, Lama said, “Development of Darjeeling is less important and the main issue is the settlement of the land of the Gorkhas.”

Daya Dewan, another GNLF leader from Kurseong, slammed the opposition for spreading rumours of Ghising being in coma and in critical condition in a bid to demoralise GNLF suooprters.

Mirik GNLF leader Ladup Ghising expressed happiness at Ghising’s return saying only the Sixth Schedule status can fulfill the aspirations of the hill people. He added the GNLF will work with all earnestness to ensure the Sixth Schedule Bill, which is pending in Parliament, gets passed soon.

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GJM yet to decide on 2014 LS polls Not to back Lama

KALIMPONG

8 Nov 2013

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today tried to brush aside questions about the party’s take on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections saying it has not yet to make a decision on the matter.  Gurung was in Kalimpong today to attend a court hearing on cases against him during the statehood movement.

When asked which party or person the GJM would support in the LS polls, he said, “We are not concerned about the Lok Sabha polls right now. We will make our election strategy later.”

However, Gurung clearly stated the GJM would not support Dr. Mahendra P Lama, who has announced his candidature as an independent candidate from Darjeeling. Questioning Lama’s political prowess, the GJM chief said his desire to become MP is a mere dream. “His (Lama) claim of achieving statehood soon after becoming MP is just a daydream. Why didn’t he speak about Gorkhaland while he was occupying high ranking posts?” asked Gurung.

Further revealing his dislike for the independent candidate, Gurung asked, “Where was he till now? The people know everything. It’s better not to support him.”

He also rubbished the GNLF’s claim of the Sixth Schedule bill pending in Parliament saying the GTA pact of July 18, 2011 has already nullified the supposed bill.

“Subash Ghising is currently in Siliguri. He can come to the hills if he is willing to continue his political life. We will invite him in that case,” said the GJM of his erstwhile mentor.

Gurung also expressed happiness with the formation of the Lepcha Development Council and recommended similar provisions for all the sub-communities in the hills. He stressed on not resuming the post of GTA chief executive even though the chief minister has requested him to. Sources said Gurung, who arrived here on Thursday, is busy discussing party matters with supporters in Kalimpong and will be addressing a public meeting here on November 17.

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Quake sensor for Darjeeling - Advanced seismograph to be installed in Richmond Hill to record vibrations

Siliguri, Nov. 7: An advanced seismograph with a range of 10,000km will be set up at Darjeeling’s Richmond Hill to record earthquakes.

Analysis of its data would help experts provide information about the maximum height of buildings that can be built in a quake-prone zone, gradient of terrain at which such structures should be built and material to be used.

A proposal to set up the advanced seismograph or accelograph in Darjeeling was sent to the Union ministry by S.K. Nath, a senior professor of geology and geophysics at IIT Kharagpur, as an extension of the project called Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment in Sikkim Himalayas.

“Eastern Himalayas comprising Sikkim and Darjeeling are prone to earthquakes. We have been working on a project to record vibrations of even very minor intensity in Sikkim for a statistical analysis of the past 15 years. We have set up 14 stations in Sikkim which are constantly recording vibrations. We will install a device at Richmond Hill in the next two months,” Nath told The Telegraph over the phone from Kharagpur today.

The equipment can record vibrations that measure more than three on the Richtar scale.

The Sikkim project was taken up in 1996 and 14 seismograph units have been set up in the state. After the inclusion of Darjeeling, the project would be called Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas.

Nath is the principal investigator of the project and D.G. Shrestha, the additional director of the Sikkim state council of science and technology, is the co-principal investigator.

“Darjeeling used to have a seismograph earlier. But it is not there for more than five years. Although no big quakes have originated from Darjeeling so far, the place was affected by quakes with epicentres in Sikkim,” Nath said.

The proposal to set up the device in Darjeeling was sent last year after a 6.9 quake hit Sikkim on September 18, 2011. Over 60 people were killed in the earthquake whose epicentre was in north Sikkim’s Mangan. The tremors were felt in neighbouring Darjeeling also.

The total cost of the project is Rs 1.52 crore and the device in Darjeeling would cost around Rs 50 lakh, Nath said.

The data recorded would be sent to IIT Kharagpur.

“We have predicted that Darjeeling and Sikkim can experience quakes of maximum 8.3 magnitude. We can provide information about height of buildings that can be built in an earthquake-prone zone, the gradient of the terrain at which such high rises should be built and construction material that can withstand damage,” said Nath.

Bengal has seismographs in Calcutta and Kharagpur.

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Question mark on Binay Tamang’s health condition

Jalpaiguri

7 Nov 2013

A lot of speculation is going on over the present health condition of Gorkha Territorial Administration member and GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang who is on an indefinite hunger strike in demand of bail. While district chief medical officer of health Jagannath Sarkar said Tamang is on medication, his family members claimed this is not evident judging his health condition.

The differences in claims have started puzzling people in the hills and they are wondering why the doctors are claiming Tamang is receiving medical attention when he has refused to accept it. The likelihood of Tamang remaining well even after staying without food for nine days is not at all possible and has become an issue of primary concern.

The GTA member started his indefinite hunger strike from October 30 at Jalpaiguri Central Jail following which his blood pressure fell reportedly due to dehydration and he had to be admitted to the Jalpaiguri District Hospital. Tamang was later shifted to the hospital’s ICU in critical condition.

The district administration and health department have repeatedly urged Tamang’s family members to persuade him to withdraw the hunger strike. Tamang’s wife Sanjana Tamang and GJM central committee assistant chairman RP Waiba have said the GJM leader has not accepted any medication.

Further, Tamang on Wednesday complained of heart and kidney related problems, but refused to quit his agitation, said Sanjana. She asked if Tamang was under medication, why would be health officials asking her and other family members to persuade Tamang to quit his strike.

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GTA adopts resolution to amend GTA Act

Darjeeling

7 Nov 2013

Executive members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration today held a meeting and adopted a resolution for 29 amendments to the existing GTA Act. Existing flaws will be pointed out and removed and subsequently sent to the state government for its approval.

After holding discussions for more than four hours at Lalkothi, the GTA headquarters, executive member Roshan Giri briefed media persons. He said, “The executive members held a meeting and adopted some resolutions. We have prioritised the need to amend the GTA Act because it has flaws that need to be corrected. We are doing this in accordance to the July 18, 2011 GTA agreement.”

Giri refused to divulge what the 29 amendments were, but said the issue of providing reservation to Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe members was one of them.

“On July 13, we adopted a resolution to provide reservation to the SC and ST communities for the GTA election, along with implementation of the 100-point roster while making appointments to the new council. We will be sending the amendments and also the resolutions that we passed today to the state government,” said Giri, who is also the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party general secretary.

He further said the resolutions adopted today would figure in the bipartite and tripartite talks expected to be held later this month. The GJM of late has been complaining the GTA is not functioning properly due to state government interference and that it has emerged a failure because of many flaws in the Act.

The day’s meeting was attended by 10 GTA executive members as the rest are serving jail sentences for their alleged complicity in the recent agitation. The members adopted resolutions focused at development.

“We have also passed a number of resolutions dealing with implementing of development works in the Darjeeling hills. Some of them include increasing the existing eight blocks to 18 for better functioning, regularising ad-hoc GTA workers and implementing the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the council,” informed Giri.

The GTA will also start work for providing electricity to rural areas of the hills under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana.

“The central government has sanctioned Rs198.99 crore for providing electricity to more than 50,000 households in the rural belts of the hills. A Gorkha welfare hostel and building will also be constructed at a cost of Rs29 crore in the Saket area of Delhi. We have lots of work that need urgent implementation,” said the GTA executive member.

Further, the GTA has plans to strengthen a 10km road from Phalut to Sandakphu near the Nepal border to enhance tourism. The vehicle toll tax plaza at Rohini in Kurseong will also be operational soon, while planning has begun for a tea and tourism festival in the month of January next year.http://echoofindia.com

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GNLF flags colour Lower Bong Busty green

KALIMPONG

7 Nov 2013

Chanting slogans in support of party supremo Subash Ghising, GNLF supporters today hoisted the green flag in several villages under Lower Bong-Dungra Gram Panchayat. After a long hibernation, the GNLF has again risen to announce its presence in the area. Slogans such as “Long live Subash Ghising”, “Long live GNLF” and “We want Sixth Schedule” were reverberating in the air while supporters put up GNLF flags alongside roads and rooftops.

Led by Bong Busty GNLF unit coordinator Kamal Bhattarai, supporters from Deurali, Terai Gaon, Gairi Gaon,Sadhudara and Ward No. 13 gathered before the statue of Devu Prasad Bhandari, who was martyred this day during the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation, and paid tributes to him. 

Talking to journalists later, Bhattarai said the GNLF has started holding political programmes in the hills according to the direction from the high command. Batting for the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling, he said, “The Sixth Schedule will not divide the people into sub-groups but will grant tribal status to all. This will be beneficial for us all.”

On being asked why the GNLF chief is silent even when his supporters have become active in the hills, Bhattarai said, “This is a party tactic and Ghising will soon climb the hills.”

The GNLF has been gearing up its political activities in the hills since the past month and talks of Ghising taking charge once again have been rising. Party leaders claim their chief will soon return to the hills to carry forward the Sixth Schedule status demand.

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UGRF to cultivate political consciousness among masses

KALIMPONG

7 Nov 2013

The United Gorkha Revolutionary Front, which has kept its political activities under leash after its armed movement for statehood fizzled out, has decided to launch a mission of cultivating political consciousness among the people.

Speaking to the media this afternoon, UGRF leader Rudra Acharya said the party will now concentrate on making the people politically aware. “As the people are the supreme force in a democracy, they should be politically conscious to protect their democratic rights. We want to bring about this awareness,” he said.

On queries as to why the UGRF has remained relatively inactive, Acharya said the party is functioning silently and the results would surface at the appropriate time. He added conspiracies prevail in hill politics at present and they pose potential threats to the UGRF.

Commenting on the political developments in the Darjeeling hills, the UGRF vice president said political parties are confusing the people by raising various issues and demands. He slammed them all saying, “People are confused by the current political scenario. Political parties are creating this confusion. The UGRF wants to eliminate all such confusions.”

Acharya further said leaders who were looked upon highly by the people have turned out to be hypocrites while claiming the UGRF is in the process of producing leaders from within the public.

Targeting GNLF chief Subash Ghising, he said, “There are talks about Ghising returning to the hills. The kids he addressed during 1986 have now become youths. People have witnessed his rule for 21 years and have understood he is not capable of providing proper leadership.”

Urging the GJM to launch progressive activities through the GTA, Acharya stated, “The GJM has reverted to the GTA chanting the slogans of development. If they are sincere towards developing the hills, let them construct a four storied complex at Hat Bazaar here,” adding such a structure with a parking lot would immensely benefit the people of Kalimpong.

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GJM’s Chettri meets Mamata over release of arrested leaders, sabhsads

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

7 Nov 2013

With relations between the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha sweetening up once more, the latter has begun asking for a number of pending demands to be fulfilled. GJM spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chettri today met with chief minister Mamata Banerjee to convey the decision taken by the three GJM MLAs of the hills to sit in the treasury bench of the legislative Assembly.

Interacting with the media later, Chettri said he also urged the CM to ensure GJM leaders and GTA sabhasads presently behind bars are released soon. He submitted a deputation on the issue during the meeting.

The GJM spokesperson and Kalimpong MLA said he told Banerjee that with many GTA sabhasads still under arrest, work at the GTA has come to a grinding halt. He also informed her that the arrested individuals have been slapped with fresh charges. Banerjee has assured of looking into the matter once a cabinet meeting is held and appealed to the GJM to maintain peace in the hills.

Chettri said 10 GTA sabhasads along with hundreds of GJM leaders are still behind bars. The GTA cannot function properly without the sabhasads, he added.

Further, the GJM leader said Banerjee has hinted on constructing a medical college in Kurseong, a degree college in Pedong and a number of educational institutions across the three sub-divisions of the Darjeeling hills.

The GJM spokesperson had earlier submitted a deputation to TMC general secretary Mukul Roy demanding the release of GJM leaders and sabhasads and was assured of necessary steps being taken. A team of GJM leaders also met the governor on Wednesday in Darjeeling demanding the immediate release of the leaders and sabhasads.

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Chamling off to Delhi with demands for Sikkim

BAGDOGRA

2 Nov 2013

The statehood agitation in Darjeeling since 1986 has caused Sikkim a massive loss of around Rs5,000 crore and we wonder who will compensate the amount, asks chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling to both the West Bengal and Union governments.

Chamling said so this afternoon at Bagdogra airport before flying off to New Delhi to meet central ministers for a number of demands raised by his government. He said Sikkim has always remained a victim to the statehood agitation in neighbouring Darjeeling as there is only one road connection - National Highway 31 – linking the state to the rest of the country and this road passes through the Darjeeling region.

“I have brought forth matter with the Bengal and Union governments several times but neither has listened to us,” said the chief minister. “Hum chote pradesh ke hone se shayad najar andaaj kiya hoga. Hume kitne baar sab ko namaskar kare? Darjeeling aur Bangal sarkar dono ke saath goodwill banana parta hai (This must be due to the fact we are from a small state. How many times do we need to implore before them? We need to maintain goodwill with both Darjeeling and the Bengal government).”

Chamling further said this time he will seek an appointment with home minister Sushil Kumar Sindhe and discuss the loss that Sikkim incurs due to the agitation in Darjeeling.

When asked about the recent developments in Darjeeling and the development funds announced by his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister said, “As I am just a neighbour, I can only send good wishes to both Darjeeling and Kolkata. Chief minister Banerjee is doing good work, I pray for the further development of West Bengal.”

When asked whether he intends to continue as the chief minister after the next election, Chamling replied, “It all depends upon the people of the state as to whether they want me to continue or not. The people are the ultimate decision makers, hence they have to decide and choose the ablest leader to rule the state wisely. Votes should not be cast in the name of religion and caste, but with the knowledge that an unsuitable leader will ruin the state.”

Promising that Sikkim will become one of the most developed states in the country over the next decade, Chamling noted there are 201 insurgent groups active in India of which more than 100 are in the North East states alone, but Sikkim does not have even one militant group.

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BGP rejects People’s Forum candidate proposal

KALIMPONG

2 Nov 2013

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh has rejected a proposal by the People’s Forum of nominating five candidates for the forthcoming general elections. Terming the proposal “meaningless”, BGP national president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan today said there is no scope for considering it as the BGP is an apolitical body.

“The proposal made by the People’s Forum is incorrect; this isn’t the way how candidates are selected. We cannot make any comments on the issue as the BGP is not an organisation set up to contest elections,” noted Pradhan.

On Friday, the People’s Forum had proposed five names to the BGP to be put forward for the Darjeeling LS seat under the Gorkhaland Task Force banner. It had named noted public orator Arun Acharya, GTF secretary Munish Tamang, well-known journalists Joel Rai and Swaraj Thapa and Forum president Gokul Sinha.

But the BGP straightaway rejected the proposal saying, “The Forum has no authority to propose poll candidates under the GTF banner.”

This comes in the wake of IGNOU pro vice-chancellor Mahendra P. Lama announcing his candidature for the 2014 LS polls as an independent candidate from Darjeeling. The People’s Forum had tried to suggest more candidate names to the Darjeeling LS seat, but the BGP has brought its efforts to naught.

Pradhan said, “Our unit committees have already expressed support to Mahendra P Lama. We are not at all interested in pondering over other options.”

He added the BGP is neither for putting forward its own candidate nor is it ready to support any political party’s candidate.

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