Trinamul to speak for Sikkim in Parliament

Gangtok, Nov. 1: Sikkim Trinamul Congress president P.T. Lucksum today said party MPs from Bengal would raise the issues affecting the Himalayan state in Parliament.

The Sikkim unit of Trinamul was formed in September.

“We met Trinamul general secretary Mukul Roy and north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb in Darjeeling recently. They told us that all issues related to Sikkim would be taken up by Trinamul MPs in Parliament. The party MPs can raise matters related to our state with the President also,” Lucksum told journalists here.

Asked what issues would be taken up by the Trinamul MPs in Parliament, Lucksum said: “We are discussing the issues to be raised in Parliament and they will be made public in the days to come. We will be putting forward the matters before the MPs soon.”

Sikkim has two MPs, one in Lok Sabha and another in Rajya Sabha, and neither is from Trinamul.

The state general secretary of Trinamul, Tshering Lepcha, said the party would contest the next Assembly and Parliament elections from Sikkim.

“New faces will be fielded for the elections in all the constituencies of Sikkim. We will soon make our agenda for the polls public,” he added.

Sikkim has 32 Assembly seats.

“A party delegation will be calling on the governor after Diwali and then we will hold public meetings. We will be inviting leaders, including Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, to our public meetings,” Lepcha said.

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Morcha trio fail to meet Tamang

Nov. 1: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation was today denied permission twice to call on arrested GTA Sabha member Binay Tamang in the Jalpaiguri district hospital.

First, health officials disallowed three Morcha leaders from meeting Tamang around 11 in the morning, citing the patient’s deteriorating condition.

Later in the evening, the Morcha leaders went to the hospital armed with the permission of the additional district magistrate. But this time, the police personnel on duty outside Tamang’s room said the visit couldn’t be allowed without the district police chief’s leave as the patient was under their custody.

Tamang, arrested on various charges and put up in Jalpaiguri correctional home in August, had launched an indefinite fast on Wednesday to protest his imprisonment and demand the speedy disposal of cases in courts. He was admitted to the district hospital yesterday because of low blood pressure.

However, Tamang continued to refuse food and water and even saline injection,in the hospital and was taken to the Intensive Critical Care Unit (ICCU) yesterday afternoon.

Around 11am today, Morcha vice-president R.P. Yaiba and central committee members Saran Dewan and Binod Prakash Sharma reached the hospital and sought permission to call on Tamang. They had a letter written by the Kurseong MLA of the Morcha, who wanted the hospital authorities to let the trio inside the ICCU.

“We were, however, informed by the hospital superintendent that the chief medical officer of health, Jalpaiguri, had rejected our plea on the pretext of Binay Tamang’s precarious health conditions. We consider it as a unilateral decision on the part of the health officials as the patient concerned is our leader and we do have a right to visit him and check out his condition. We have serious doubts regarding the kind of treatment Binay Tamang is getting in the ICCU,” said Yaiba.

The Morcha delegates said they had come to visit Tamang on the instruction of party president Bimal Gurung.

Yaiba wanted to know why Tamang had been taken from the district hospital yesterday evening for admission to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri and then brought back midway.

“The ambulance carrying Tamang to the medical college was stopped mid-way and was brought back to the district hospital. Then, he was admitted to the ICCU. Why did the health officials take him out then? These are serious issues and we want answers from the administration. The health authorities are simply harassing him in the name of treatment,” said Yaiba.

“Since he (Tamang) had spent three days without food and water, his blood pressure has gone down. Also, his body has become dehydrated and all metabolic activities have stopped. As the patient is not ready to drink water or take saline injection, his heath has become worse.We have formed a medical board to observe his health and take appropriate steps,” said Sarkar.

Asked about the aborted move by the hospital authorities to shift Tamang to the NBMCH, Sarkar said: “The patient was taken out for his admission to the NBMCH because of some miscommunication. Whatever treatment he needs can be provided in the district hospital.”

From the district hospital, the Morcha trio went to the Jalpaiguri jail, where they met other party leaders Kalyan Dewan and Ashok Lama.

Dewan, a GTA executive member and Lama, a central committee member of the Morcha, had been arrested and put behind bars for their alleged involvement in incidents of arson, damage to public property and similar cases.

Around 6 in the evening, Yaiba, Dewan and Sharma met the additional district magistrate, seeking permission to meet Tamang.

Still, the trio couldn’t meet him.

“We went to the hospital and informed the authorities that we had the permission to see Tamang. We had also come to know that the hospital superintendent was supposed to accompany us to the ICCU. However, the on-duty policemen at the ICCU told us that unless we obtain permission from the superintendent of police of Jalpaiguri, they would not let us in. We felt disappointed and left the hospital without looking for the police’s permission,” said the Morcha vice-president.

The three left the hospital around 7pm.

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Votes apart, I need your hearts and minds: Mahendra Lama

KALIMPONG

1 Nov 2013

Noted academician Dr. Mahendra P Lama, who has announced of contesting in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate, was today in Monsong for a meeting arranged by his fan club.

On a self-campaign mission, Lama stressed he wants not just people’s votes, but also their hearts and minds. “You may be thinking I have come here to ask for votes. Yes, that’s true, but I don’t want just that. I want your hearts and mind too,” he said, adding, “I am not a political leader, I just want to work as your representative.”

Championing the issues of all-around development of the hills and the formation of a separate state as his election agenda, Lama said the right arguments have to be placed at the right places and at the right moments if a new state is to be achieved. He lamented the failure of all the agitations for statehood till now.

It may be mentioned that Lama has declined on forming a political party. The IGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor said it is necessary to first take the statehood demand to Parliament. 

“Parliament is the apex place where laws and policies are formed,” he said. “But unfortunately, we have not been able to witness our demand being raised in that august house.”

The academician also criticised the state government for keeping Darjeeling away from development. “It is only after 67 years of independence that the state government is talking about developing the hills.” He said a separate state means vesting of both political power and development schemes in the hands of the people here and also the development of international trade as the Darjeeling hills share boundaries with four nations.

Further, Lama slammed regional political parties for failing to understand the meaning of development. “Development does not merely mean construction of roads, tunnels and culverts. The place needs a perennial source of income,” he remarked.

Asserting unemployment in the hills has multiplied over the past 30 years, he claimed nearly 80,000 to 1 lakh new employment opportunities can be generated within six months if a separate state comes into being.

Speaking on the current political scenario in the Darjeeling hills, Lama denounced incidents of political violence describing them as counteractive. He also alleged leaders lack strategy and are leading the movement as a “political business”. He urged everyone to engage in healthy political criticisms and debate and to come together to build up a progressive political environment. The academician noted it is important to make the residents of the Terai and Dooars more aware of the essence and benefits a separate state. According to Lama, “A separate state will be incomplete without the Terai-Dooars and Siliguri.”

He went on to say that the state government must initiate the development of an area as a whole instead of forming development boards for selected communities as doing so means nothing but creating division among the hill people. Lama said the Kolkata should form development boards for all communities of the hills simultaneously if it is serious about development of the tribal communities. He also demanded the transfer of the Darjeeling Tea Auction Centre to the Dooars from Kolkata.

The Darjeeling Terai-Dooars United Development Foundation will soon be launched officially to continue with the poll campaigning, announced Lama. He also appealed to all to attend his public meeting in Sukna on November 9.

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ACTIVIST ARREST ISSUE,GJM mulls meeting Narayanan

Darjeeling

1 Nov 2013

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership is reportedly planning to meet Governor MK Narayanan who is currently on an 18-day visit to the Darjeeling hills. The leaders intend to seek his intervention in getting arrested party leaders and activists released.

Sources from within the GJM said the arrest and judicial custody of the leaders is a matter of grave concern and needs to be addressed at the earliest.

“Now that relations between the GJM and state government have warmed up again, party supporters are getting frustrated seeing no sign of the release of their leaders and ‘sabhasads’ and this could take a bad turn for the future of the party,” said one of the GJM sources.

More the 2,000 GJM activists including senior leaders and 12 sabhasads have been arrested since July 29, when a fresh round of agitation for statehood was launched by the Morcha.

GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai revealed about plans of some party representatives to meet the governor during his stay in Darjeeling.

“We will definitely try and meet the governor as per his convenience. However, as we are all busy with party activities including taking stock of the contentious issue of the release of our leaders and supporters, we hope to sit down soon after ‘Tihar’ (Diwali) and request for some time with the governor,” he said.

GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang, who is also a GTA executive member, has launched an indefinite hunger strike since Wednesday at the Jalpaiguri correctional home demanding bail as he alleges false charges have been framed against him.

Tamang’s health condition has deteriorated and he is presently hospitalised.

Tamang was elected on September 27 to head the GTA as the chief executive’s post was lying vacant since Bimal Gurung’s resignation on July 30. But as Tamang’s bail plea got rejected, the GJM was hard-pressed to appoint GTA deputy chief executive Col (Retd) Ramesh Allay to the post on a temporary basis.

Narayanan today inaugurated a community hall in Mim Tea estate under Sukhaypokhari block is in Darjeeling since October 27 and is expected to remain till November 14.

The governor’ visit to Darjeeling coincides with Diwali and President Pranab Mukherjee’s proposed visit here on November 10. District administration sources said Narayanan will receive the President when the latter arrives to attend a programme at a reputed English school in Darjeeling.

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BGP to launch youth wing soon

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

1 Nov 2013

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh has begun campaigns to connect youths to the organisation. It held an interactive programme today with likeminded youths here at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammellan Hall in the presence of BGP National president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan and Kalimpong unit secretary Pravakar Dewan, among others.

The event, which was attended by a large number of youths, also discussed about the formation of a BGP youth wing and this was welcomed unanimously.

Stating that the youth wing will be formed after detailed discussions are completed, Dewan said, “We are glad to see many youths are willing to work with the BGP. Their participation will add energy to the organisation. We will go ahead with launching the youth wing soon after discussing it in detail.” He added the youths will be able to contribute significantly to the Gorkha rally in Delhi in December.

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Morcha, Trinamul in rice row - Civic chairman says GTA Trinamul nominee came uninvited

Darjeeling, Oct. 31: A rice distribution event for the poor became a venue of political tussle today when Morcha civic councillors objected to the presence of a Trinamul-nominated GTA Sabha member.

The event was organised by the state food and supplies department and the Darjeeling municipality, which is dominated by the Morcha, and saw in Milan Dukpa’s presence a Trinamul tactic to interfere in government events.

The row has happened when Trinamul is trying to fill a political void as the Morcha has no tough opposition in the region. The party launched its GTA employees’ union recently and some Morcha members have switched to the state’s ruling party in some hill pockets.

None of this has gone down well with the Morcha. The hill party-dominated GTA has made peace with the state government for now but today’s row reflects the tension in the Morcha because of Trinamul’s forays.

Dukpa, who left the municipality building after Morcha councillors protested today, said he had been invited by the district controller of food and supplies department.

A Morcha councillor alleged that Trinamul was trying to politicise a government programme. “Such politicisation of government programmes is not acceptable to us. Not only Dukpa, but his supporters also came to the event. They said they would send us to jail.”

Dukpa said he had no intention of politicising the event.

The distribution is an annual event organised to commemorate World Food Day that is on October 16.

The event wasn’t held on October 16 this year as it was the day of Id.

Dukpa walked into the distribution ceremony soon after municipal chairman Amar Singh Rai inaugurated the event and left.

“I, along with vice-chairman (Suk Bahadur Biswakarma), distributed rice to a few beneficiaries and then, we left for a meeting. In the middle of the meeting, we were informed that Milan Dukpa had come to the event without informing the municipality and started distributing rice,” Rai said. “We went to the conference hall of the municipality and stopped the distribution. We protest this unwanted interference by Trinamul,” he said.

Dukpa said: “I had yesterday gone down to Siliguri to meet the district controller of the food and supplies department to raise certain issues regarding distribution of kerosene in the hills. It was then that the controller invited me to the programme.

B.N. Sarkar, the district food controller, denied inviting Dukpa to the event.

Dukpa said: “When I reached the municipality, the officials asked me to distribute rice. I distributed rice to about 12-13 beneficiaries after which councillors protested my presence.”

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अभिव्यक्तिको खतरा उठाउँदै सड़कमा कविहरू

कालेबुङ, 30 अक्टोबर।
‘बन्दुकले कसलाई मार्छ?
मान्छे कि मानवता?’
मङ्पूका पट्ठो कवि आशिशदीप राईले सोधेको यो प्रश्‍न थाना अघिल्तिर उभिएका स्रोताहरूतिर फर्खिएको थियो, स्रोताहरू भने कवितिर। तर कविता भने घरि बन्दुक हातमा बोकेर थाना प्राङ्गनमा उभिएका जवानहरूतिर फर्किरहेको थियो घरि त्यही बन्दुकदेखि डराउने निर्दोष स्रोताहरूतिर। कालेबुङका युवा कविहरूले कालेबुङ थाना अगिल्तिर नै ‘हस्तक्षेप जमातको सडक अवतरण’ भन्दै ‘सडकमा कविता’ आयोजना गरेका थिए। जहाँ उभिएर युवा कवि आशिषले कवितामा भने,
‘आफ्नै हातले संविधान लेखेपछि
देशबाटै किनारा लागेको म अरिबहादुर।’
अरिबहादुरको विम्बमा कवि स्वयं मात्र उभिएका थिएनन्, तिनी झैँ देशबाट नै किनारा परेका स्रोताहरू पनि उभिएका थिए। देशमा आफूहरूको जुन पहिचानको सङ्कट छ, यसैलाई केन्द्रिय मुद्दा बनाएर लेखिएका कविताहरूले त्रिकोण पार्क भएर हिँडिरहेका जोकोहीलाई पनि एकछिन समातेर सडकमा नै उभाएको थियो। ‘उठाउनै पर्छ सारा अभिव्यक्तिका खतरा, तोड्ने पर्छ मठ र गड सब’ भन्दै कवि मुक्तिबोधको कविताको शक्तिशाली हरफलाई केन्द्रिय स्वर बनाएका हस्तक्षेपी कविहरूको सिर्जनशिल हस्तक्षेप नै उल्टोधारमा बगिरहेको समयमाथि थियो। ‘अब कविता कोठादेखि सडक ओर्लेको छ,’ सञ्चालक अनिल तेलैजाले थालनीमा भने, ‘आज तपाईँहरूले थाहा पाउनुहुनेछ, कोठाबाट बाहिर आएका ती कविताहरू तपाईँकै सन्तान हुन्।’ तिनको चर्को उठानलाई साथ दिँदै सञ्चालक प्रज्ज्वल छेत्रीले उद्बोधनीमा थपे, ‘कविता विचार र कलाको विशिष्ट सम्प्रेषण हो, जसलाई कविहरू अब सडकमा हिँडाउन चाहान्छन्। किन भने यी कविता र स्रोताहरूको जीवन एउटै समयले हुर्काएको।’ कविहरूले कवितामार्फत राजनैतिक विसङ्गतिमाथि विमति प्रकट गरे। सरकार, सत्ताशक्ति र राजनैतिक विचलनले आफ्ना समयलाई जुन विचार दिइरहेको छ, त्यो विचारशिलहरूको निम्ति स्वस्थ नरहेको कविहरूले कविताद्वारा घोषणा गरे। राजनैतिक सङ्किर्णताको कारण चलिरहेको समसामयिक विचारप्रवाहले बौद्धिक, सचेत र स्वस्थ समाजको निर्माण नगर्ने बरू यथास्थितिवादी राजनैतिक चलखेलले उल्टै आम नागरिकलाई विचारशिल बन्नमा बाधा पुर्‍याएको भन्दै सर्जकहरू उप्रान्त थुनिएको विचारलाई सडकमा ल्याउन अगिाएको बताए। उनीहरूले आफ्नो कविताद्वारा सांस्कृतिक विचलन, सामाजिक विचलन र बौद्धिक विचलनमाथि सोझै हस्तक्षेप गरेका थिए। पहिलोपल्ट कालेबुङमा सर्जकहरूले अनुर्वर समयको प्रतिवादमा सडकमा आएका हुन्। युवा कवि मनोज वोगटीले आम नागरिकको जीवन जटिलतालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै भने,
‘यो समय जो छ
चौकीमा बसेपछि सङ्कटकालको घोषणा गर्छ
अनि मेरै छाला च्यातेर होर्डिङ बनाउँछ र टाङ्ग आँगनमा
पढिनु पनि खतरा छ
नपढ्नु पनि खतरा छ।’
एकथान कविता बोकेर उभिएका वोगटीले बौद्धिकरूपले दरिद्र राजनीतिमाथि व्यङ्गय कस्दै भने,‘ राजनीतिले निकालेको जिब्रो त ठ्याक्कै कोब्राको जस्तो/जनताको निधारमा दुईवटा दुलो हुनेगरी ठुङ्ग यार/ एउटा दुलोबाट गणतन्त्रले खुन छाद्छ/ अर्को दुलोबाट समयले पिसाब पेर्छ।’ युवा कवि प्रदीप लोहागुणले निकान्तै समसामयिक कविता सुनाउँदै सहिदको सपनाको व्यापार गर्नैहरूमाथि औँली उठाए। तिनले कार्यक्रमलाई कविहरूको सिर्जनात्मक अराजकताको सुरुवात बताउँदै अपील गरे, ‘साथी हो! अराजक हुने समय आयो।/मैले भन्न खोजेको अराजकता/ झण्डाको भरमा डण्ठा देखाउने होइन/ सत्ताको तापमा दम्भ देखाउने होइन/ रुपिँयाको बलमा कौमार्य लुट्ने होइन/ पाखुराको नापमा व्यापारीलाई हेप्ने होइन/ बरू यी तमाम/ कुकृत्यहरूको विरोधमा/
प्रतिवादको अराजकता/ विचारको अराजकता/कलाको अराजकता’ कालेबुङका युवा कवि जमातको प्रयासमा आयोजित यो कार्यक्रमलाई कृषक कल्याण सङ्गठनले सहप्रायोजना गरेको थियो। कार्यक्रममा मङ्पुका पुष्कर सिङर, कालेबुङका याम तामाङ, विशाल राई टिस्टे, डीके वाइबा, छेवाङ योञ्जन, मनोज राई, धिरेन सङ्घर्ष, सन्दिप कुलुङ, शिवु छेत्री, मदना ओझा, गेबु लेप्चा आदिले वजनदार कविता सुनाए। केटीभीको सहयोगले कालेबुङको त्रिकोण पार्कमा आयोजिक यो सडक कविता कार्यक्रमको मिडिया पार्टनर एकता टीभी कालेबुङ रहेको थियो।

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Budding poets at public place draws ample attraction

Kalimpong, Oct 30:
Away from the regular speech from political icons everyday, the general people of this hamlet town found anew set of orators at Tricone Park giving in a full house audience to find deep grievances on political situation, social issues and many more through poems penned by budding poets of the sub-division. Reciting poems on public places is not generally the facade of the hills and with budding poets taking the cue on Wednesday attracting full house audience showed the people’s frustration listening to the same speech on politics everyday. This correspondent who witnessed the programme totally saw that even people who did keep low interest on poems stopped for a brief period to hear the poets recite their piece one after other. Budding poets like D.K. Waiba, Pradeep Lohagun, Chewang Yonzone, Manoj Rai,Yam Tamang, Dhiren Sangarsh, Sandeep Khulung, Sibu Chettri, Madna Lepcha and Gebu Lepcha were some of the poets who recited the poems. “It is something different that we are witnessing in decades. Everyone knows that the hills have been witnessing the political activities everyday. In reality the people do not want always to hear political speech. The recitation of poems reflecting current political situation and social traumas was awesome on this very day,” said a listener during the prgramme. Many political however also lined up to the hear the pieces including Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, the National president of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and R. Moktan .(kalimpongnewsexpress.blogspot.in/)

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GNLF loses office in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Oct. 28: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), which had on Saturday opened its first office in Darjeeling after five years, lost the address today after the lease holder of the building removed the party’s festoons.

GNLF leaders could not be contacted for comment. Lease holder Basant Rai’s family said the building was a low-cost hotel run by Rai. They claimed that Rai was under the impression that the people who had taken one of the rooms on rent wanted to run a business from there. He was upset when he came to know the room would be the GNLF’s office.

The GNLF has tried to recoup in the hills, which has brought it in the cross hairs of the Morcha. Nothing so far links the Morcha to the ousting of the GNLF from its office, the party’s first in Darjeeling town after Subash Ghisingh was driven out of the hills in 2008.

On Saturday, GNLF leaders had inaugurated the office in room number 307 of the hotel building in Judge Bazar.

GNLF supporters pasted party banners and put up a photograph of party president Ghisingh.

Manjit Subba, the chief convener of the GNLF’s Darjeeling branch committee who had inaugurated the office, said the opening of the party office was a precursor to the revival of the party’s activities in Darjeeling.

“From this office, we will oversee the functioning of our party activities right from Jorebunglow to Tukvar and Lebong areas,” Subba said.

“We are also planning to hold a public meeting at Dhooteriya (about 25km from Darjeeling) and soon our party president Subash Ghisingh would be coming to Darjeeling,” he said.

However, early this morning, family members of Rai and hotel staff removed the GNLF festoons and put beds in the hotel room.

Rai himself declined to speak but a member of his family said: “A group of people used to hold meetings in one of the rooms. They said they wanted to plans of a poultry business. We had rented out the place for Rs 250.”

The relative said: “We, however, came to know that the party (GNLF) had opened an office. We had absolutely no knowledge that the office would be set up here. This is why we immediately put in our beds so that we can run the hotel.”

Asked if Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters had pressured them to shut the office, Rai’s relative said: “We are apolitical businessmen and we are not involved in party activities.”

Sources said the Morcha leadership was unhappy with the opening of the office at the hotel and the businessman did not want to get involved in any controversy.

GNLF leaders were not seen on the hotel’s premises.

Of late, the party, whose leader Ghisingh’s writ ran in the hills, has started stirring back to life. It has held public meetings in Kurseong.

The Morcha has become wary of rival forces in the hills such as the GNLF and Trinamul, which is trying to occupy a vacuum Darjeeling where there is no credible Opposition party to take on the Morcha.

After the GNLF, Trinamul has started its activities in Kurseong from where most of the senior Morcha leaders have been arrested.

Morcha sources said Gurung today left for Kurseong to oversee party activities.

“Bimal Gurung will be staying in Kurseong sub-division for some days. This is largely because rival parties have started activities in the area as most of the Morcha leaders from the sub-division are behind bars,” said a Morcha leader.

Tamang threat

Morcha leader Binay Tamang, who was elected the GTA chief executive but is in jail, said he would start an indefinite hunger strike on October 30 at the Jalpaiguri correctional home which would go on till all the Morcha leaders and the 170-odd party activists are released.

“I will start an indefinite hunger strike at the correctional home from October 30. Even though the correctional home authorities have not given permission to start the hunger strike, I will not have any food from October 30 until all our supporters are released,” Tamang, who was brought to Darjeeling court today, said.

Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor, said the court of the chief judicial magistrate today denied bail to nine people who allegedly torched the house of a TMC supporter at Glenburn on Saturday night.

“Their bail application has been rejected and they will be produced on November 8,” said Prasad.

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AIGL leader Khati condemns GJM for failing in every aspect

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

28 Oct 2013

All India Gorkha League general secretary Pratap Khati today accused the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership of failing in every aspect of its statehood agitation.

According to Khati, he now sees the possibility of the formation of an alliance comprising both political and non-political groups for the statehood cause. He also urged all political and apolitical parties in the hills to carefully analyse the present political situation and formulate strategies accordingly.

Commenting on December’s Delhi-based programme of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, the AIGL leader said, “The BGP is taking new initiatives but it had allied with the GJM earlier and were following that party blindly. We do not think the BGP’s plans will be successful.”

Khati went to accuse the GJM leadership of creating unnecessary problems for the general public with the recent agitation that has ultimately been scuppered. He also rejected any possibility of the AIGL’s alliance with the BGP-led Gorkhaland Task Force even as he urged one and all to keep faith in the dream of a Gorkhaland state.

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Kalimpong court gives bail to school principal

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

28 Oct 2013

The Kalimpong SJM court today granted bail to Prakash Pradhan, the principal of a renowned school here in Kalimpong, who had been accused of offering refuge to some members of the GJM-affiliated Vidhyarthi Morcha. Pradhan’s bail was approved after he deposited the amount levied as penalty.

A case had been lodged at the Kalimpong police station against Pradhan accusing him of giving refuge to the GJM’s student wing’s members who had arrived in Kalimpong on foot some weeks ago from Darjeeling. The police had filed Case No. 243/13 against Pradhan and charged him under Sections 143/186/336 of the IPC. The case is due for hearing next on November 11, court sources have informed.

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शहरमा गोराक-को पोष्टर, एकिकरणको मुद्दा

कालेबुङ 27 अक्टोबर

सिक्किम दार्जीलिङ एकिकरणको मुद्दा अघि ल्याउँदै आज गोर्खा राष्ट्रीय कंग्रेसले(गोराक) कालेबुङ शहरको विभिन्न स्थानहरुमा व्यापक पोष्टरीङहरु गरेको छ।

शहरमा आज देखा परेको उक्त दलको पोष्टरहरुमा पार्टीले बंगालले सन् 1986मा जारी गरेको श्वेत पत्रमा दार्जीलिङ अनि डुवर्सका भुभागहरु सिक्किम र भुटानको हो भन्ने प्रमाण भएको दावी गर्दै एकिकरणको मांग गरेको छ। गोर्खा राष्ट्रीय कंग्रेसले(गोराक)  पोष्टरहरुमा दार्जीलिङ-डुवर्स बंगालको नभएर सिक्किमको रहेको अनि यी क्षेत्रहरुमा वसोवास गर्ने नेपाली, भुटिया, लेप्चा समुदायहरुको एउटा मात्र मांग सिक्किम-दार्जीलिङ एकिकरण रहेको कुरा उल्लेख गरेको छ। एकिकरणको मुद्दा उठाएर सरकारलाई चुनौती दिनको साथ-साथै पार्टीले पोष्टरहरुमार्फत क्षेत्रीय दलहरुको पनि आलोचना गरेको छ। छुट्टै राज्यको मांगलाई भुलेर तृणमूलमा प्रवेश गर्नेहरुलाई यस दलले तारो बनाएको छ। ‘हिजसम्म आफ्नै राज्य हुनुपर्छ भन्नेहरु आज विभाजन हुँदैन भन्ने दलमा जाँदैछन्?’ भन्ने प्रश्न गोराकले आज जारी गरेको पोष्टरमा उल्लेख गरेको छ। मोर्चा प्रति प्रश्न उठाउँदै गोराकले सहुलियतको राजनीति बन्द गर्नु पर्ने आह्वान गरेको छ। गोराकले यहाँको थाना डाँड़ा, मेन रोड, डम्बरचोरलगायत शहरको विभिन्न स्थानहरुमा पोष्टरीङ गरेको छ।

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Gurung adheres to CM’s no-strike line Statehood demand ‘when needed’

Darjeeling, Oct. 27: Bimal Gurung today said he would continue to raise the demand for a separate state “as and when needed” but there would be no strikes.

“I will continue to raise the Gorkhaland demand as and when needed as I have come forward for Gorkhaland and we will never drop the demand. The agitation would be peaceful, without strikes, as I do not believe in the politics of violence,” the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief said.

Today’s meeting, a show of strength by the Morcha, was held three days after the October 24 Mamata Banerjee political meeting, the first by her after she became the chief minister.

Gurung drew a parallel with Telangana. The hill agitation started in July-end after the Congress agreed to carving Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh.

“If Telangana can be formed without the consent of the (Andhra Pradesh) state Assembly then I also have the right to raise the issue and bring it to the notice of the Centre,” Gurung told the nearly 15,000-strong presence at the Darjeeling Motor Stand.

“I have already told a section of my leaders to run the GTA for development. For me, being the chief of the GTA is not as important as agitating for Gorkhaland,” he added.

Some Morcha supporters at the meeting were seen waving placards saying they wanted Gurung to be the chief executive of the hill body again. Gurung had resigned from the post on July 30.

The party chief said a three-day dharna would be organised in Delhi from December 20.

Gurung accused Mamata of trying to divide the hill community. “Whenever Mamata Banerjee comes to Darjeeling, there is unrest in the area. This is because she does not come with a development package but with a package to divide the hill community,” he said referring to her decision to form the Lepcha Development Board.

“Let the state government create boards for other communities like Tamangs, Rais, Limbus, Chhetris, Bahuns and Bhutias and for all the possible communities residing in the hills. On one hand, she (Mamata) talks of the need to make the GTA functional and on the other hand, she wants to form different boards,” he said.

The Morcha has decided to hold a public meeting in Kalimpong on November 9 followed by a dharna in Delhi on December 20, 21, 22. “Everyone talks of a Delhi-centric movement and this time, we will go to Delhi with thousands of people not just from the Darjeeling hills but also from the rest of India,” Gurung said.

He criticised the local Trinamul leaders and urged Mamata Banerjee to conduct “a political class” for them.

“Look at the people who have joined the party (Trinamul). Some are woodcutters who came from Nepal and others are liars. Mamata Banerjee should conduct a political class for them,” the Morcha chief said.

Roshan Giri, general secretary of the Morcha, said the Subordinate Selection Board, School Service Commission and College Service Commission would be revived.

“Through the selection board we can recruit people to Groups B, C and D. At the moment, there are 4,800 vacancies in these three groups,” he said.

Terming the GNLF as a wasted political entity Giri said those joining Trinamul should understand that the party would never give Gorkhaland to the hill people.

House burnt down

Binny Sharma, spokesperson for Trinamul (hills), today said some Morcha supporters allegedly burnt down the house of Trinamul supporter Rajik Sundas in Glenburn tea garden, 25km from Darjeeling.

“His house was torched around 12.30am by Morcha supporters. We have lodged an FIR against 29 Morcha activists,” Sharma said.

Police sources said they had started an investigation and raids were being conducted to arrest the culprits.

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Trinamul steps up tempo

Siliguri, Oct. 27: The Trinamul Congress has decided to increase organisational activities in the Darjeeling hills by forming committees at different levels and a cultural wing .

The party will also send a delegation to New Delhi to seek a special financial package from the Centre for the hills. Trinamul’s move to cement its organisational strength in the hills has come on the heels of the first political meeting attended by Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling on Thursday.

The decisions on the increased organisational activities was taken at a meeting attended by Trinamul general secretary Mukul Roy, minister Gautam Deb and a number of party leaders from the hills at Sukna yesterday.

“We are not going to stop our activities in the hills after the meeting attended by the chief minister last week. The party will hold more meetings in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong shortly and form committees from the booth to the block level. Trinamul will also create a separate wing to organise cultural events through which the party can communicate well with people,” said Binny Sharma, the spokesperson of Trinamul’s hill unit.

He said the date for the Trinamul delegation’s Delhi visit would be finalised after Diwali. “Trinamul MPs will also sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to demand the central package for the hills,” said Sharma.

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पहाड़मा तृणमूल अनि मोर्चाबीच तनाउ जारी

कालेबुङ, 26 अक्टोबर(प्रदीप) राज्यको तृणमूल सरकार र जीटीएको सत्तासिन दल मोर्चाबीच मिलेर काम गर्ने सहमति बनिए पनि दुवै दलको तृणमूल स्तरका नेतृत्व र कार्यकर्ताहरुबीच तनाउ जारी रहेको छ। मोर्चाको विद्यार्थी संगठनसँग आबद्ध रहेको कालेबुङ कलेज स्टुडेण्ट युनियनले आज यहाँका केही तृणमूल नेता र कार्यकर्ताहरूविरुद्ध कालेबुङ थानामा प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको घटनाले तनाउ देखा परेको हो। कालेबुङ कलेज परिसरमा परीक्षा चलिरहेको अवधीमा तृणमूल कार्यकर्ताहरूले नाराबाजी गरेको आरोप लगाउँदै विद्यार्थी मोर्चासमर्थित कालेबुङ कलेज स्टुडेंट युनियनले आज अपरान्ह कालेबुङ थानामा हिल तृणमूलका केही नेताहरूसहित एकसय

कार्यकर्ताहरूविरुद्ध  थाना प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको थियो। कलेजमा स्नाकोत्तर पहिलो सत्रको परिक्षा सञ्चालन भईरहेको समयमा अचानक तृणमूल कार्यकर्ताहरु वाहनमा आएर प्रदर्शन गरेको भन्दै कलेज छात्र संगठनले प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको हो। कलेजमा यसरी तृणमूल कार्यकर्ताहरु पुगेर नाराबाजी गर्दै प्रदर्शन गर्न थालेपछि स्थिति तनावपूर्ण हुने सम्भावना समेत बडॆको थियो। घटनाबारे थाह पाए पछि पुलिसबल कालेबुङ कलेजमा पुगेको थाह लागेको छ। यसरी अचानक परिक्षाको समयमा तृणमूल कार्यकर्ताहरु कलेज परिसरमा प्रदर्शन गर्न थालेपछि गोजमुमो समर्थित छात्र संगठन रहेको कलेजको छात्र संगठनले उनीहरुलाई प्रवेश गेटमा रोकेको थियो।उक्त घटनालाई केन्द्र गरेर कलेज छात्र संगठनले तृणमूल नेता प्रविण रहपाल, ननिता गौतम, छेवाङ भोटिया, महेन्द्र गजमेर, समिर खवास आदिको नाउँमा प्र्राथमिकी दर्ता गरिएको छ। कालेबुङ पुलिसले उक्त प्राथमिकी स्वीकार गरेको थाना सुत्रले बताएको छ। यता यस बिषयमा बोल्दै कलेज छात्र संगठनका महासचिव रोशन छेत्रीले तृणमूल कङ्ग्रेसका कार्यकर्ताहरुले परिक्षा चलिरहेको समय कलेजमा आएर आतङक सृजना गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए। “कलेजमा परिक्षा चलिरहेको छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा सुरक्षा व्यावस्था समेत ठिक गरिएको छैन। परिक्षार्थीहरुको सुरक्षा बिषयमा प्रशासनले ध्यान दिनु आवश्यक छ। यदि आगमी दिनमा परिक्षा चलिरहेको समय कुनै घटना भए सम्पूर्ण तृणमूल नेताहरु जिम्मेवार हुनेछ” तिनले भने। यस घटनालाई केन्द्र गरी विद्यार्थी मोर्चाले प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको थाहा पाएपछि तृणमूलले पनि मोर्चा अनि विद्यार्थी मोर्चा नेताहरूविरुद्ध काउण्टर प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेको छ। हिल तृणमूलका सचिव प्रबीण रहपालले मोर्चा नेताहरूविरुद्ध पनि काउण्टर प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरिएको पुष्टि गरेका छन। तिनले मोर्चाद्वारा प्राथमिकीमा उल्लेख गरिएका तृणमूल नेताहरू आज सिलगढीमा सम्पन्न दलको बैठकमा भाग लिन गएको जनाउँदै आरोपको खण्डन गरेका छन।

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