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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