District Cong wants GJM to aim agitation at Centre

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PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

26 Aug 2013

Amid the ongoing statehood agitation in the hills and the attempts by the state government to suppress the movement, the Darjeeling District Congress has appealed to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders to focus on taking the statehood agenda directly to the centre.

District Congress secretary Dilip Pradhan, while addressing the media in Kalimpong today, said despite the constant pressure on them from the party high command, they have participated in the sessions of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee and are working proactively in the hope of achieving separate statehood.

“Why can’t we unite and demand statehood when all parties at the centre can voice their same stereotype statement of not allowing the division of Bengal?” asked Pradhan.

He said district Congress representatives have already met party officials at the Centre and apprised them of the problems prevailing in the Darjeeling hills. He claimed Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appealed to all hill-based parties and organisations to stand united in the statehood demand.

Commenting on the departure of some parties from the newly formed GJAC, Pradhan appealed to them to learn lessons from ongoing agitations in other regions of the country.  He said division among hill-based parties at a time when state-level parties are protesting together against the statehood demand is a shameful development.

Further, Pradhan said the district Congress appeals the GJAC to target the Centre in their future meetings while stressing on the necessity of a representative body at the national capital. He also appealed to all incumbent and former MPs, MLAs and intellectuals in the hills to take the agitation to the Centre.

The meeting was also addressed by GTA sabhsad CP Poudyel. He slammed the policy of the state government and its move to suppress the agitation.

 “The state government is trying to suppress the agitation on the basis of allegations that have no evidence with the ulterior motive to portray it as violent,” remarked Poudyel.

The meeting was also attended by GJM leaders Ramesh Allay, Norden Lama and Bijay Sundas, CPRM leader PB Ghatani and many people from town and its surrounding areas.

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आन्दोलनलाई दिल्लीमुखी बनाउ - हिल्स कंग्रेसको अपिल

कालेबुङ 26 अगष्ट :

छुट्टै राज्यको मांगमा हाल पहाड़मा उठिरहेको जन-आन्दोलनलाई राज्य सरकारले चारैतिरबाट दवाउने प्रयास गरिरहेको समय दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला कंग्रेसले आन्दोलनलाई दिल्ली केन्द्रीत गर्नु पर्ने आह्वान गरेको छ। जिल्ला कंग्रेसका सचिव दिलिप प्रधानले आज कालेबुङमा सम्पन्न भएको जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै उक्त मनाशय प्रकट गरेका हुन्। प्रदेश कंग्रेसको कटु आलोचनाहरु सहेर पनि हाल दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला कंग्रेसका प्रतिनिधिहरु गोर्खाल्याण्ड संयुक्त कार्वाही समितिमा रहेर छुट्टै राज्यको मुद्दा उठाईरहेका छन्। जिल्ला कंग्रेसले पहाड़को प्रमुख समस्यामाथि ध्यानदिने बताउँदै सचिव प्रधानले आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा राज्यका कंग्रेस नेताहरुको नै उल्टा आलोचना गरेका छन्। ‘बंगाल विभाजन हुँदैन भन्ने पक्षलिएर राज्यका सबै दल एक हुन सक्छ भने छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति हामी पहाड़का दलहरु किन एक हुन पाउँदैन’ तिनले राज्य कंग्रेस अनि भारतीय जनता पार्टीका नेताहरुलाई प्रश्न गरे। ‘हामीले बंगालका कंग्रेस नेताहरुको मुख हेरेर दलको झण्डा समातेका होइनौ’ तिनले भने ‘हाम्रो कुराकानी दिल्लीसंग भइसकेको छ’।  दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला कंग्रेसले शुरु देखिनै युनियन टेरिटेरीको मुद्दा उठाउँदै आइरहेको छ भने हालको आन्दोलनमा समावेश बनेर यस दलले छुट्टै राज्यको मुद्दालाई अघि राखेको छ। पहाड़ बन्द अवधि नै आफूहरुले दिल्ली भ्रमण गरि दलका शिर्ष नेताहरुलाई पहाड़को स्थिति बारे अवगत गराई सकेको पनि तिनले आजको जनसभा मार्फत जनसाधारणलाई अवगत गराएका छन्। एउटै मुद्दाको निम्ति पहाड़का दलहरु एक हुनु पर्ने कंग्रेस अध्यक्ष सोनिया गान्धीको भनाइ रहेको बताउँदै तिनले पहाड़का सबैदलहरुलगायत सामाजिक संघ-संस्थाहरुलाई पनि एक भएर आन्दोलनमा अघि बढ़नु पर्ने आह्वान गरेका छन्। हालैमा गठित गेर्खाल्याण्ड संयुक्त कार्वाही समितिबाट दलहरु बाहिरिएको कुराईलाई केन्द्र गर्दै तिनले अन्य समुद्य अनि आन्दोलनहरुबाट पहाड़ले एकताको शिक्षा लिनु पर्ने बताएका छन्। तृणमूलकोसाथमा प्रदेश कंग्रेस, सीपीएम अनि भाजपाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको विरोध गरिरहेको समय पहाड़का दलहरुमा अनेकता देखिनु लजास्पदक कुरा रहेको तिनको भनाइ छ। ‘के कारण गेर्खाल्याण्ड संयुक्त कार्वाही समितिबाट दलहरु बाहिरिन्दै छन्’ तिनले प्रश्न उठाएका छन्। अब उसो आन्दोलन दिल्लीमुखी हुनुपर्ने बताउँदै तिनले आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा संयुक्त कार्वाही समिति अघि कंग्रेसको पक्षबाट उक्त कुरा राख्ने बताएका छन्। पहाड़मा आन्दोलन भइरहेको समय एउटा टोली दिल्लीमा हुनु आवश्यक रहेको तिनको भनाइ छ। तिनले आजको जनसभाबाट पहाड़का अहिलेसम्मका संसद, विधायक अनि वुद्धीजीविहरुका एउटा टोलीले दिल्लीमुखी आन्दोलनलाई नेतृत्व गर्नुपर्ने सुझाव दिएका छन्।

जुलूश अनि धरणा कार्यक्रम पछि शहरमा सम्पन्न भएको आजको जनसभालाई जीटीए सभासद सीपी पौडयालले पनि सम्बोधन गरेका थिए। आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा तिनले बंगाल सरकारको दमननीतिको आलोचना गर्दै सरकारले आन्दोलनलाई हिंसात्मक बनाउन धेरै प्रकारको षड़यन्त्र गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए। ‘आधारहिन आरोपहरु लगाएर बंगाल सरकारले आन्दोलनलाई राष्ट्र विरोधी बनाउने प्रयास गरिरहेको छ’ तिनले भने। अब आन्दोलनलाई जनताले नै अधिबढ़ाउनु पर्ने तिनले अपिल गरेका छन्।

आजसम्पन्न भएको जुलूश अनि जनसभा कार्यक्रममा मोर्चा नेताहरु रमेश आले, नोर्देन लामा, विजय सुन्दास, क्रामाकपा नेता मोहन पौडयाल, कंग्रेस नेता पीबी घतानी आदि उपस्थित थिए। जुलूशमा कालेबुङका विभिन्न क्षेत्रहरुबाट आएका मोर्चा समर्थकहरुले भाग लिएका थिए। शहरमा क्रमिकरुपमा जनसभा अनि जुलूश कार्यक्रमहरु सम्पन्न भए तापनि यहाँका दोकान-पाट, शैक्षिक संस्थानहरु, यातायात सेवा लगायत अधिकांश सरकारी कार्यलयहरु भने आजसम्म पनि अचल रहेको छ।

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Invitation for talks with eye on LS polls: Harkabahadur Chettri

Report by: 

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

25 Aug 2013

The renewed agitation for statehood in the hills that has been on since the past one month does not seem to have move the central government much. But at the same time, it is ready to sit for talks with those demanding the new states of Karvi Anglong, Bodoland and Kamtapur, among others. In the backdrop of such a situation, the strategy for the Gorkhaland agitation must be prepared after considering several significant aspects.

The above observations were made today by GJM spokesperson and Kalimpong MLA Dr Harkabahadur Chettri while interacting with journalists in Kalimpong.

Chettri acknowledged the fact that Gorkhaland cannot be created overnight and said, “The movement has to be taken forward in a sustainable manner. The Gorkhaland demand is not an issue that can be solved with the stroke of a pen. We have to observe the political moves of the central and state governments and launch effective programmes.”

He revealed discussions on these lines have been going on in meetings under the aegis of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, but declined to elaborate further.

Notably, even as the central government has reportedly invited those demanding statehood elsewhere for talks, the GJM has been left out. Commenting on this, Chettri said, “The centre is thinking about 2014. Mamata is also doing the same. She is not opposing out agitation; in fact she is happy with things here. She is just looking for an opportunity to increase the number of her MPs by showing she has kept the Gorkhaland agitation under control with an iron hand. We are agitating for Gorkhaland here whereas the centre and the state are busy making calculations for next year’s polls. It is because of this selfish interest they have not bothered to invite us for talks.”

The GJM spokesperson remarked that according scant respect to the people’s aspirations in a democracy reveals the petipness of the ruling establishment. When the people are raising a constitutional demand, the government isn’t ready even for talks and this clearly exposes the true nature of the government, he said.

“Bengal is a champion in diplomacy,” said Chettri. “The Gorkhas have been victim to Bengal’s communal politics and hegemony till date, but this is not the case with other aspirants for statehood.”

Further, the Kalimpong MLA noted that most other statehood aspirants who have been invited for talks by the centre are Congress ruled. “Assam is PM Manmohan Singh’s parliamentary region, and the Congress has called them (the parties demanding separate states in Assam) for talks with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections,” claimed Chettri.

Addressing a public meeting later in the day, Chettri lashed out at the state government, saying it is almost impossible to believe that the government, which couldn’t provide funds to the GTA, would do so for the Lepcha Development Council.

“The CM’s visit to the hills is to create a division between the Gorkhas and Lepchas,” according to Chettri.

He also came down hard on those who used the NBSTC bus service, saying, “Many leaders and supporters are in jails, while elderly people, youths and even children are out on the streets demanding Gorkhaland. But a few selfish people are boarding the state government-provided buses, which is demoralising the agitators. Due to such selfish acts, we ourselves are providing the government a space to hit out at us. If there is even a little self-respect and pride in yourselves, let the buses go empty tomorrow onwards.”

The GJM spokesperson also appealed to the people to refrain from accepting rations that the government has announced for distribution across 17 outposts on Monday.

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GJM seeks proactive participation of youngsters in statehood movement

Darjeeling

25 Aug 2013

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has begun using every bit of arsenal at its disposal to thwart the state government that is breathing down its neck, attempting to crush the ongoing statehood agitation. Already, more than 800 party leaders and activists have been detained by the police since July 29.

In a fresh, GJM president Bimal Gurung today made a call to youngsters aged between 12 and 18 years to come forward and participate in the separate state agitation.

The development is not surprising given the fact that on earlier occasions too, the GJM has used school-going kids (under the party’s student forum) to voice its statehood demand.

Party leaders are tightlipped about the development, but sources said Gurung addressed a massive gathering comprising enthusiastic youngsters today at Malidhura ground near Patlebas, 6 km from Darjeeling town.

One of the sources said the GJM president asked the children to voice their demand for separation from Bengal by taking our rallies and holding public meetings from August 27 for five days.

“The youngsters must come out on to the streets now and demand statehood. You (adolescents) will now conduct rallies and public meetings from August 27 to 31,” the GJM chief told the gathering who had braved the afternoon downpour to hear their leader.

Gurung also urged the youngsters not to fear the police. “Don’t be afraid of the police or the central forces as they cannot lathicharge or arrest you,” he said amid cheers from the huge crowd that had come in trucks chanting “Jai Gorkha, Jai Gorkhaland”.

The source added Gurung is of the opinion that youngsters aged between 12 and 18 are fresh of mind as they do not carry the burden of thinking about jobs and the future.

“When you are in your twenties you tend to think about the future and job opportunities. But between 12 and 18, you are much more free which augurs well for our movement,” the source said citing the GJM chief.

Further, Gurung has reportedly asked tech-savvy students to propagate the Gorkhaland state demand through the Internet.

“Make use of social networking sites to take forward the statehood demand,” said Gurung, who himself uses a popular social networking site to send out messages and make announcements.

The Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha, the student wing of the party, has pledged to take forward the movement that is seeing a setback with the state government using its administrative machinery to scuttle the GJM’s agitation, while the Calcutta High Court has termed calling strikes illegal.

“In a democratic country everyone has the right to voice their demand. We will take to the streets as the statehood demand is also our aspiration for a better future. We will stage rallies and demonstrations in the entire hills for the five days,” said GJVM central committee member Rohit Vikram Sharma. The students will also submit a memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate against the state government’s atrocities and send its copies to the President, Chief Justice and the human rights commission chairman.

Meanwhile, the seventh day of the ongoing “people’s agitation” remained peaceful with the GJM and the CPRM holding a joint rally and meeting in Darjeeling. Shops and business establishments continued to remain closed.

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