GNLF cadres condemn Kalikotey’s arrest

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

15 Nov 2013

The Kalimpong unit of the Gorkha National Liberation Front today condemned the arrest of convener Maurice Kalikotey, terming it illegal and undemocratic. Party cadres in a memorandum submitted to SDO Rahika Aiyer alleged the arrest to be a violation of human rights and appealed for the immediate release of Kalikotey.

“The administration has given freedom to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Trinamool Congress to install party flags in town. But why is it stopping us from doing so?” questioned GNLF leaders.

Kalikotey was presented before the Kalimpong ACJM court today but denied bail due to the nature of charges against him. The court sent him to 14 days judicial custody. The Kalimpong police have booked him under Section 384 of the IPC.

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गोरामुमो नेता मौरिस कालीकोटे पक्राउ

कालेबुङ, 14 नोभेम्बर (प्रदीप)ः अहिलेसम्म मोर्चा नेता र कार्यकर्ताहरूविरुद्ध मात्र प्रयोग भइरहेको राज्य सरकारको कार्वाहीको हतियार अब गोरामुमो नेताहरूमाथि पनि उठ्न शुरु भएको छ। राज्यको तृणमूल सरकार र मोर्चाबीचको सम्बन्धमा सुधार आएपछि अब मोर्चाविरोधी दलका नेताहरू सरकारको तारोमा पर्न थालेका छन। यही क्रममा आज गोरामुमोको कालेबुङ शाखाका संयोजक मौरिस कालीकोटेलाई कालेबुङ पुलिसले आफ्नो  नियञ्त्रणमा लिएको छ। आज अपरान्ह इष्टमेन रोडस्थित आवासबाट तिनलाई पुलिसले पक्राउ गरेको थियो।

कालेबुङका अतिरिक्त पुलिस अधिक्षक डा के कन्ननले यी गोरमुमो नेताको पक्राउको पुष्टि गरेका छन। कालेबुङका बिभिन्न क्षेत्रहरूमा गोरामुमो कार्यकर्ताहरूको संगठित चहलपहल र झण्डा लगाउने क्रियाकलापहरूमा जोडेर कालीकोटेलाई पक्राउ गरिएको छ। विशेष गरी गत 11 नोभेम्बरक दिन अलगडा क्षेत्रमा गोरामुमो कार्यकर्ताहरूले प्रशासनिक अनुमति नलिई जुलुसको आयोजना गर्नका साथै झण्डा लगाउने काम गरेर वातावरन तनाउपूर्ण बनाएको भन्दै पुलिसले एउटा सुमोटो केस दर्ता गरेको थियो। यसै मामिलामा तिनलाई आज पक्राउ गरिएको थानासूत्रले जनाएको छ। तिनलाई आज कालेबुङ थानामै राखिएको छ। आज अपरान्ह पक्राउ गरिएको भए पनि तिनलाई आज कालेबुङ कोर्टमा चलान गरिएन। भोलि तिनलाई चलान गरिने जानकारी पाइएको छ। तिनीविरुद्ध भारतीय दण्ड संहिताको धारा 143/186 अनि 506अन्तर्गत मुद्दा दर्ता गरिएको छ। घटनाको सूचना पाएपछि दलका वरिष्ठ नेता सीके कुमाईसहित केही कार्यकर्ताहरू साँझ तिनलाई भेट्न थाना पुगेका थिए। मोर्चाको उदय भएपछि लामो समयसम्म सिलगढीमा आश्रय लिएर बसेका मौरिस कालीकोटे केही दिन अघि मात्र कालेबुङ भित्रिएका हुन।

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कालेबुङ, 14 नोभेम्बर (प्रदीप)ः मोर्चाको शीर्ष नेतृत्वले राज्यको तृणमूल सरकारसँग सुसम्बन्ध बनाएर काम गर्ने प्रयास गरिरहेको भए पनि संगठनको तल्लो स्तरमा भने वर्चस्वको लडाइँ जारी रहेको छ। सांगठनिक सुदृढिकरणमा लागेको मोर्चा र सांगठनिक विस्तारमा लागेको हिल तृणमूलबीच अहिले आरोप प्रत्यारोपको घटना बढेको छ। पेदोङ क्षेत्रमा मोर्चाका सभासद दावा लेप्चाले केही कार्यकर्ताहरूको साथमा तृणमूलको झण्डा निकालेको अनि पार्टीकर्मीहरूलाई कुटपिट गरेको  हिल टीएमसी नेता छेवाङ भोटियाले आरोप लगाएका छन भने यता मोर्चाका सभासद दावा लेप्चाले आरोपको खण्डन गर्दै उल्टै हिल तृणमूल नेताहरूले पुलिस प्रशासनको आडमा क्षेत्रमा संत्रास फैलाउने काम गरिरहेको आरोप लगाएका छन। हिल तृणमूलको कालेबुङ महकुमाका अध्यक्ष छेवाङ भोटियाले दलको झण्डा निकालेर फ्याक्ने कार्यमा क्षेत्रिय सभासद दावा लेप्चाको संलग्नता रहेको सोझो आरोप लगाउँदै क्षेत्रका एकजना तृणमूल कर्मी सागर गुरूङ अनि तिनका 11 बर्षीय छोरा जेसोन गुरूङलाई समेत कूटपिट गरी घाइते पारेको दाबी गरेका छन। क्षेत्रिय सभासद दावा लेप्चाको नेतृत्वमा पेदोङको 20 माइल क्षेत्रमा लगाइएको दस हजार मुल्य बराबरको पार्टीको झण्डा निकालेर फ्याक्ने काम भएको भोटियाको आरोप छ। बुधबार राती मोर्चा कार्यकर्ताहरू आएर दलको झण्डा निकालेर फ्याँकि दिएको अनि नजिकको दोकान गएका पार्टीकर्मी सागर गुरूङ अनि तिनका छोरालाई कुटेर घाइते पारेको तिनको भनाइ छ। ती दुवैलाई घाइते अवस्थामा कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालमा भर्ना गरिएको तिनले बताएका छन।  यस सम्बन्धमा सभासद दावा लेप्चालगायत मोर्चा नेताहरू फ्रान्सिस देवान, विनोद प्रधान, अनिल खवास, सुपेन्द्र प्रधानसहित कूल 15 जना विरुद्ध कालेबुङ थानामा प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको जानकारी पनि भोटियाले दिएका छन। मोर्चाले गणताञ्त्रिक परिवेश दुषित पार्न खोजीरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै भोटियाले भने, “मोर्चाले अशान्ति गर्ने कोसिस गरिरहेको छ। बिमल गुरूङ जब जब पनि कालेबुङ आउछन, यहाँ अशान्ति र तनाउ हुने गरेको छ। मोर्चाले झण्डा निकाल्ने राजनीति बन्द गर्नुपर्छ। गणतञ्त्रमा सबैले आफ्नो चाहनाअनुरुप राजनीति गर्न पाउनुपर्छ। हिल टीएमसी अरिङ्गलको गोला हो, मोर्चाले यसमा हात हाल्नु हुँदैन, यसले चिल्न सक्छ” आज पनि हिल तृणमूलले पेदोङ क्षेत्रमा दलको झण्डा लगाउने काम गरेको तिनले जनाएका छन। क्षेत्रका सर्वसाधारणले स्वेच्छाले दलको झण्डा लगाएको तिनको दाबी छ।

अर्कोतिर, पेदोङ समष्टीका मोर्चा सभासद दावा लेप्चाले हिल तृणमूलको आरोपको खण्डन गरेका छन। तिनले सो राती 20 माइल भएर पेदोङ फर्किरहेको अवस्थामा हिल तृणमूलको कार्यकर्ताहरूको समूहले गाडी रोकेर आफ्ना एक युवा कार्यकर्तासँग हातापाइ गरेको उल्टै आरोप लगाएका छन। क्षेत्रका तृणमूलकर्मीहरूले आफै दलको झण्डा निकाल्ने त च्यात्ने काम गरेर मोर्चालाई बदनाम गर्ने चेष्टा गरिरहेको सभासद लेप्चाको भनाइ छ। “पुलिस प्रशासनको आडमा तृणमूल नेताहरूले यहाँको परिवेश बिगार्ने काम गरिरहेका छन। हामीलाई यस्ता निराधार घटनाहरूमा फसाएर पुलिसले पक्राउ गरोस भन्ने उनीहरूको उद्देश्य हो” दावा लेप्चालेर भने। तिनले यस सम्बन्धमा मोर्चाले पनि हिल तृणमूल नेताहरू छेवाङ भोटिया, सागर गुरूङ , फिरोज प्रधान आदि विरुद्ध कालेबुङ थानामा काउण्टर एफआइआर दर्ता गरेको बताएका छन।

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बाल दिवसमा संस्थाहरु सड़कमा

कालेबुङ 14 नोभेम्बर

‘बाल मित्र सप्ताह’ पालन गरिरहेको यहाँको चाइल्डलाइन अनि बाल सुरक्षा अभियानले आज राष्ट्रीय बाल दिवसको अवसरमा उच्च अधिकारीहरुसंग भेट गरेको छ।

नानीहरुको सुरक्षा अनि अधिकारको हितमा काम गरिरहेको उक्त दुवै संस्थाहरुले आज महकुमा अधिकारी के राधीका अइयर अनि कालेबुङ थाना प्रभारी अचिन्ता गुप्तसंग भेट गरि बाल सुरक्षाको नारा लिएर आफूहरुले तयार पारेको फेष्टुनहरु सर्वजनिक गरेको छ। आज बिहान चाइल्डलाइन अनि बीएसएका प्रतिनिधिहरु एलिसा गुरुङ, तेज कुमार थापा, शिला गीरि, रोमा राई आदिको नेतृत्वमा बीएसए बाल उद्वार केन्द्रका नानीहरुले महकुमा अधिकारी के अइयरसंग भेट गरि अधिकारीको कार्यलय परिसरमा बाल सुरक्षा अनि अधिकारको मांगमा जारी गरिएको फेष्टुनहरु टासेका छन्। यसै अवधि संस्थाका प्रतिनिधि अनि नानीहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै अधिकारीले बाल सुरक्षाको निम्ति प्रशासनिक सह्योग प्रदान गर्ने आशवसन दिइन्। आम जनताले पनि बाल सुरक्षाको निम्ति सह्योग पुऱ्याउनु पर्ने तिनले अपिल गरिन्। यता उक्त टोलीले नै यहाँको थाना प्रभारीसंग भेट गरि थाना परिसरमा पनि संस्थाले जारी गरेको फेष्टुन, पोष्टर अनि पर्चाहरु टासेको छ। महकुमा अघिकारी कार्यलय अनि थाना परिसरमा फेष्टुन अनि पोष्टरहरु टासने कार्य पछि अभियानका प्रतिनिधिहरु अनि नानीहरुले शहरको विभिन्न स्थानहरुमा पोष्टरहरु टाँस्दै पर्चाहरु वितरण गरे। यता पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै चाइल्डलाइनका संयोजक एलिसा गुरुङले प्रशासनिक सह्योगको कारण आजसम्म आफूहरुले धेरैको संख्यामा बाल मजदूरबाट नानीहरु उद्वार गरिसकेको जनाइन्। बेपता भएका नानी अनि विभिन्न समस्याहरुमा फसिरहेका नानीहरुलाई सह्योग अनि उद्वार तिनले तिनले 1098 नम्बरमा सम्पर्क गरिदिने अनुरोध गरेकी छन्।

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कालेबुङ 14 नोभेम्बर

तकदाह खण्डविकास अन्तगर्त तकलिङ ग्राम-पञ्चायतमा रहेको तकलिङ निम्न उच्च पाठशालाले आज राष्ट्रीय बाल दिवस भव्यसाथ पालन गऱ्यो। पाठशालाका प्रध्यपक देवेन छेत्रीको अध्यक्षमा सम्पन्न भएको बास दिवस समारोहमा भुतपूर्व प्रध्यपक एनटी लेप्चा प्रमुख अतिथि रहेका थिए।

पाठशालाका शिक्षक दावा छिरिङ योञ्जनले कार्यक्रममा पण्डीत जवहारलाल नेहरु अनि बाल दिवसको महत्व बारे बार्ता पेस गरेका थिए। यसै कार्यक्रमको अवसरमा आज क्षेत्रका विभिन्न पाठशालाहरुका विद्यार्थीहरुमाझ हाजिरी-जवाब प्रतियोगीता पनि सम्पन्न भयो। प्रतियोगीतामा सेन्ट स्टेफन स्कूल, गान्धी संम्राक स्कूल, बड़ामंगवा प्राथमिक पाठशाला अनि सोरेङ माध्यमिक शिक्षा केन्द्रका विद्यार्थीहरुले भाग लिएका थिए। उक्त कार्यक्रममा क्षेत्रमा विभिन्न पाठशालाहरुका शिक्षक-शिक्षिका, विद्यार्थी लगायत अविभावकहरु पनि सरिक बनेका थिए। समारोहमा विद्यार्थीहरुले रोचक संस्कृतीक कार्यक्रमहरु पनि प्रस्तुत गरेको शिक्षक दावा छिरिङ योञ्जनले जनाएका छन्।

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कालेबुङ, 14 नोभेम्बर।

 यहाँको जुब्ली प्राथकि पाठशालाले आज बाल दिवसको अवसरा चौथो वार्षिक खेलकुद प्रतियोगिताको आयोजना गर्‍यो।

विद्यालयका चारवटा हाउसहरूाझ सम्पन्न प्रतियोगिता प्रथाकि तहका विद्यार्थीहरूले विविध प्रतियोगितामा अंशग्रहण गरेका थिए। खेलकुद समारोहामा जुब्ली उच्चतर माध्यकि विद्यालयका शिक्षक प्रभारी जेबी राई प्रुख अतिथिको रुपामा उपस्थित थिए भने विशिष्ट अतितिहरूमा जुल्बी प्राथकि पाठशालाका पूर्व प्रधान-अध्यापक डीके दाहाल अनि जिल्ला स्कूलवोर्डका अध्यक्ष एसबी गोले उपस्थित थिए। यस अवसरमा समूह क, ख अनि ग का छात्रा-छात्रमाझ विविध खेलकुद प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। भाले जुधाई, टर्नाउट रेस, एकसय  मिटरको सोझो दौड, हिसाब प्रतियोगिता, स्याक रेस, स्किप रेस, बेलुन फुटाउने जस्ता खेलहरू आकर्षक थियो। यस प्रतियोगितामा थिम्स् हाउस्, आजोन हाउस, गङ्गा अनि नायल हाउसलाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दै विद्यार्थीहरूले सहभागिता जनाएका थिए। यस खेलकूद सारोहमा क्षेत्रका विभिन्न प्राथमिक पाठशालाका प्रुखहरूको पनि विशेष उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।

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GTA talks in Calcutta next week Morcha readies demands

Dajeeling, Nov. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will seek 29 amendments to the GTA Act for proper functioning of the autonomous hill body during talks with the state and later central officials in Calcutta next week.

The meeting between the Morcha and the Bengal government will be held on November 20, and the tripartite talks involving the party, the state and the Centre are scheduled for the next day.

It is not clear yet who will represent the Centre at the talks.

“I have just received a letter which states that the bipartite and tripartite meetings will be held in Calcutta on November 20 and 21, respectively. The meetings have been called to review the problems that are being faced by the GTA Sabha,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha and also an executive member of the GTA Sabha.

Sources said during both the meetings, the Morcha leadership would raise the demand to bring 29 amendments to the GTA Act.

“The amendments are necessary for the proper functioning of the GTA Sabha. Primary among the amendments is reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the GTA elections as well as quota for the two sections in jobs.

Members of Scheduled Castes comprise 33.72 per cent of the population in the Darjeeling hills. The Scheduled Tribes form 9.32 per cent of the population.

Giri told a public meeting at Bijanbari, 35km from here, today that issues such as granting of ST status to all hill communities (except SCs), inclusion of the GTA in the North East Council, establishment of a central university and transfer of reserved forest to the GTA would be discussed at the bipartite and tripartite talks.

The Morcha leader also said the review of cases registered against party activists during the Gorkhaland agitation from 2007 to 2011, as agreed upon in the GTA memorandum of agreement, would also be raised at the Calcutta meetings.

“We are working on a strategy to strengthen the GTA so that it will help achieve a separate state of Gorkhaland,” said Giri. He stressed that the Morcha had not dropped the demand of Gorkhaland, as laid down in the GTA MoA.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had promised the Morcha during her visit to the hills in October that the state government would hold bipartite and tripartite talks in November. Her visit helped improve the relationship between the state and the Morcha.

That there is a thaw in the relations between the GTA and the state could be gauged from the fact that the Darjeeling district administration met the representatives of the hill body to discuss the creation of 10 new blocks in the GTA area.

At the moment, there are three blocks each in Darjeeling and Kalimpong subdivisions and two in Kurseong subdivision.

GNLF 6 arrested

Six GNLF workers were arrested in Darjeeling on Wednesday for allegedly breaching peace and tranquillity and forcefully selling CDs containing party chief Subash Ghisingh’s speeches. They were arrested while planting GNLF flags in town. The GNLF said the arrests had been made on false complaints filed by Morcha workers.

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मोर्चा नेतृत्व अनि कार्यकर्ताहरु चाँडै जलमुक्त हुनेछन् - बिनय तामाङ

कालेबुङ, 12 नोभेम्बर (छेवाङ)
आन्दोलन अवधि पक्रा परेका जीटीएका तीन जना सभासदहरुले आज एउटा मुद्दामा अन्तरिम जमानत पाएका छन्। हाल बन्दी जीवन बिताइ रहेका मोर्चा सभासदहरु बिनय तामाङ, कल्याण देवान अनि निमा तामाङलाई आज गोरूबथानमा तृणमूल नेता केएन सुब्बाको घर जलाइएको मुद्दालिएर कालेबुङ कोर्टमा प्रस्तुत गरियो। यस मामिलामा तीनैजना सभासदहरुलाई पाँच हजार रुपियाँको जरिमाना तिर्न लगाएर न्यायलयले अन्तरिम जमानतमा छोड़ेको छ।

यद्यपि अन्य मुद्दाहरुको कारण तीनैजना सभासदहरु जेलमुक्त हुन भने सकेनन्। उक्त मामिलाबाट सभासद चन्द्र योञ्जन, मोर्चा नेतृ कल्पना हुरुङ अनि मनोज तामाङलो अघिबाटै जमानत पाइसकेका छन्। आज कालेबुङ कोर्टमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको बन्दी सभासदहरु विनय तामाङ, कल्याण देवाङ अनि निमा तामाङ विरुद्ध मुद्दा नम्बर 136/13को धारा 143/447/436/427/120बी 34 आइपीसी अन्तर्गत मुद्दा दर्ता गरेको छ। तीनजनै मोर्चा सभासदहरुलाई कालेबुङ कोर्टमा प्रस्तुत गरिएपछि पुन जलपाइगढी संशोधनगृह  पठाइएको छ। रिहाइको मांग गर्दै 10 दिनसम्म आमरण अनशनमा बसेका सभासद बिनय तामाङले पत्रकारहरूसित कुराकानी गर्दै चाँडै आफूहरूको रिहाइ प्रक्रिया अघि बढ्ने आशा व्यक्त गरे। मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीलाई दिएको आश्‍वासनको आधारमा मोर्चाका बन्दी नेतृत्व अनि कार्यकर्ताहरु चाँडै जलमुक्त हुनसक्ने तिनको भनाइ छ। मुख्यमन्त्रीको आश्‍वासनको आधारमा नै आफूले अनशन फिर्ता लिएको तिनले बताए। यद्यपि, यो न्याययिक मामिला रहेकोले आफूले यसलाई सम्मान जनाउने मत प्रकट गरेका छन्। यसै अवधि पत्रकारहरुसंगको कुराकानीमा विनय तामाङले मोर्चाको धरातल भत्किन नसक्ने प्रतिवद्धता जाहेर गरे। पाहाडमा मौकावादीहरू धेर रहे पनि मोर्चा मजबुद स्थितिमा रहेको उनले दावी गरेका छन्। अर्कोतिर, सभासद् निमा तामाङ्ले पाहाडमा शान्ति श्रृंखाला कायम राख्नु पर्ने अपिल गरेका छन्।

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Brush with President at science show - Sikkim boy’s tension before Pranab pat

Gangtok, Nov. 11: Naren Kumar Chettri could not believe his luck. The country’s President was slowly walking towards his stall.

Naren, a Class XII student, had made a model to show generation of electricity through electromagnetic waves. He was one of nearly 200 students from across the country participating in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Science, Mathematics and Environment Exhibition.

The President had opened the 40th edition of the exhibition this morning and now he was near Naren’s stall.

“I started having palpitations when the President approached my desk and asked me about my model. I was nervous but I stood smartly in front of him and slowly explained my project of converting electromagnetic force into electrical energy,” Naren, who reads in the Mangan Government Senior Secondary school in north Sikkim, said.

President Mukherjee must have been impressed with the display. Naren later said that Mukherjee told him: “Sikkim students are very clever, innovative and creative. Congratulations and all the best.”

The exhibition, the first time in the mountainous state of Sikkim, has been organised by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) at Saramsa garden, around 10km from Gangtok.

The winners of state-level science exhibitions from across the country were given the opportunity to display their models at the national-level science show here.

The President reached Sikkim yesterday afternoon. Today, he was accompanied by Shashi Tharoor, the Union minister of state for human resource development, Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling and governor Sriniwas Patil.

Naren was not the only Sikkim student lucky to meet the President today. Divyashree Rai, a Class XI student of Namchi Government Girls’ School in south Sikkim, had made a model on waste management that was displayed at the exhibition.

“The President smiled at me and asked me to explain my project. My project is on garbage (waste) management. He was impressed with my presentation and blessed me saying ‘keep it up’,” the 17-year-old said.

Her exhibit had won the first prize in the state-level science exhibition in Sikkim.

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Brake failure causes accident in Peshok, passengers injured

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

11 Nov 2013

A Mahindra Bolero with registration number WB 76 4696 yesterday met with an accident near Peshok Tea Garden View Point after its brakes failed. The vehicle was ferrying passengers from Darjeeling to Kalimpong.

Five passengers have been severely injured while the remaining people have received minor injuries. Saran Tamang (47), a resident of Dhotre Tea Garden, is in serious condition. Those severely injured include driver Karmat Ghimiray, Algarah resident Tenzing Bhutia, Saruna Tamang of Bong Busty and Sharmila Chettri of Chotamangwa.

The injured are being treated at the Kalimpong sub-divisional hospital. Hospital sources said Subham Rai of Bijanbari, Tshering Thendup of Pedong, Nisha Subba of Rinkingpong Road, Gita Tamang of Dhotre Tea Garden, Uday Tamang of Bong Busty and Priyanka Bhutia of Algarah received minor injuries.

According to Uday Tamang, the brake failure occurred around 2:30pm following which the driver rammed the Bolero into the wall to avert a major tragedy.

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Stove blast in Kalimpong injures 3 severely

KALIMPONG

11 Nov 2013

Three people of a family were on Sunday night seriously injured after a cooking stove burst at Dev Gram of the Teesta area. Ram Bahadur Subba (55), his wife Sukmit Lepcha (38) and daughter Monika Subba (2) were immediately rushed to the Kalimpong sub-divisional hospital by area residents.

According to Ram Bahadur, a carpenter by profession, he was just back from work in the evening and his wife was cooking vegetables when the stove burst. He said he does not have money enough to pay for the hospital bills and has appealed for him to the general public.

Hospital sources said Ram Bahadur has received 10 per cent burns and his wife 15 per cent, while Monika has 28 per cent burn injuries. However, their house has not suffered any damage from the explosion.

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भागोपका राष्ट्रीय महासचिव प्रभाकर देवानले राजीनामा दिए

कालेबुङ, 10 नोभेम्बर (प्रदीप)ः भागोपका राष्ट्रीय महासचिव प्रभाकर देवानले आफ्नो पदबाट राजीनामा दिएको जानकारी पाइएको छ।

तिनले आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत व्यस्तालाई कारण देखाएर महासचिवको पदत्याग गरेको भागोप सूत्रले जनाएको छ। यद्यपि दुवै पक्षबाट यस कुराको आधिकारिक पुष्टि भने हुन सकेको छैन। यसबारे प्रतिक्रिया लिन देवानसँग सम्पर्क गर्दा फोनकल ग्रहन गरेनन भने यता भागोप अध्यक्ष डा एनोसदास प्रधानले यस घटनालाई केवल हल्ला मात्र बताएका छन। यद्यपि, भागोपसूत्रले बताएअनुसार देवानको राजिनामा पत्र हात पारे पनि भागोपले अहिले नै यसलाई स्वीकार गरेको छैन। यसबारे सङ्गठनको राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी समितिमा छलफल गरेर निर्णय लिइनेछ।

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Mahendra P Lama delivers maiden speech under DDUDF banner

Siliguri

9 Nov 2013

Academician Dr. Mahendra P Lama was today in Sukna to deliver his maiden public speech under the Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation banner.

He said, “I want to go to Parliament for seven reasons and the chief among them is with the demand of a separate state for the people of Darjeeling and the Dooars.”

Held under the stewardship of army veteran Col (Retd) BK Rai, the public meeting was attended by Gorkha Rashtriya Nirman Morcha chief Dawa Pakhrin, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan and All India Gorkha League general secretary Pratap Khati, among others. A huge crowd had gathered to hear the leaders speak and Lama handed out the DDUDF flag to them.

“I do not want change, I want transformation in people,” said Lama. “All communities living in the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars such as Bengalis, Biharis, Marwaris, Nepalis, Bhutias, Lepchas and others can take advantage of a new state. A person belonging to any community can be the chief minister of this state. This will only happen if we unite and come under the DDUDF banner. As everybody wants a separate state for his or her own reasons, a new state will be for the benefit of all communities.”

He said his decision to contest in the general election as an independent candidate from Darjeeling is to create a path for the creation of a separate state. Once elected to Parliament, he would pursue seven major issues related to the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars, asserted the academician.

Further, Lama said he wants educational institutions, both national and international, to be established in the region. “I would like to invite the maximum number of foreign investors to the region. Darjeeling is surrounded by four international borders. Fair international trade can be practiced here. NGOs and INGOs could be linked up with several ministries of India and foreign governments. This will help educated youths to earn livelihood as well as engage in social work. We don’t want gifts from the government, we want our rights,” he noted.

Lama cited examples of other hilly states in the country that are exempted from Income Tax and expressed his desire to make Darjeeling a tax free region.

The BGP president noted that after a long and unproductive agitation, the people of the hills have found the right person to lead them. “Dr. Lama has come like light after darkness for the future of the Gorkhas,” asserted Pradhan. He said the BGP had joined the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee under the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s leadership for statehood, but the agitation proved futile. He also appealed to the people to participate in the mass gatherings in Delhi in the month of December.

Meanwhile, GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin used the occasion to announce his party’s decision to support Lama in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, with AIGL general secretary speaking on the same lines. Khati said any opposition to Lama would mean going against the demand for separate statehood.

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Bimal Gurung camping in Kalimpong to maintain support base

KALIMPONG

9 Nov 2013

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung, who arrived in Kalimpong on Thursday to attend some court cases against him, has put up camp here to strengthen the party that has been struggling to maintain support base. Gurung was present at Chibo Tasiding Constituency No. 33 today to oversee party activities.

A meeting was held at Lechi Ground under Ward 20 to check the exodus of GJM supporters into the Trinamool Congress and GNLF. Though Gurung was present in the meeting chaired by local GJM leader Jog Chamling, he did not address the gathering. Instead the GJM chief kept himself busy interacting with party workers and listening to their problems.

GJM leader and GTA Sabhasad Samuel Gurung launched attacks on Mamata Bannerjee and the hill TMC. “Mamata Bannerjee is living in a dream. She will come to know about the real situation of the hills once she wakes up.” He added, “Hill TMC leaders are currently basking in the evening sun; this warmth is not going to last for long.”

He alleged the TMC was conspiring against the GJM by obstructing the functioning of the GTA. Upholding the GJM’s reasons of reverting to the GTA, Samuel said had the Morcha not done so, the TMC would have been running the council.

The GJM leader claimed the party has not dropped the Gorkhaland agenda as the GTA pact has not scrapped the statehood demand and the Morcha will always trouble the Mamata government.

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GJVM foundation day on Nov 15

KALIMPONG

9 Nov 2013

Kalimpong was once again fluttering with the green and yellow flags of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today. They were hoisted across town by Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha cadres prior to their foundation day on November 15. GJVM sub-divisional committee president Dipen Thapa said the programme will be attended by the GJM brass such as Harka Bahadur Chettri, Swaraj Thapa, Sikkim University student representatives and others. The GJVM leadership also plans to conduct workshops on the occasion.

Thapa added there is a possibility of GJM chief Bimal Gurung attending the event. He also used the occasion to appeal to everyone to keep the town area clean as Kalimpong is increasingly becoming dirty.

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