Darjeeling, April 25: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has said it will hold rallies in Siliguri anytime between April 28 and 30, despite the Bengal government making it clear that no permission would be granted for such a programme.
The Morcha has, however, scrapped its earlier plan of a public meeting at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri on Sunday.
Today’s announcement comes a day after party president Bimal Gurung had said in Birpara that the Morcha would stick to its April 27 programme in Baghajatin Park. Observers said the change in stand has been done to keep an avenue for talks open with home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti.
“We will be meeting the home secretary in Siliguri tomorrow. We will ask him for permission to hold a rally, which if denied, we will go ahead and hold anytime between Monday and Wednesday,” said Roshan Giri, the Morcha secretary, over the phone from Kalchini where Gurung held his last rally in the Dooars today.
On Wednesday, chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb had said Siliguri was too tense for a rally. Sources in the Writers’ Buildings said the home secretary, too, has made it clear that permission would not be granted.
In another development, all government offices that have been closed for almost 15 days in the Darjeeling hills will be allowed to remain open from April 28 to May 5. The relaxation has been granted keeping in mind “pending work, important in nature” and to allow government employees get their salaries, said Giri.
Government offices usually need a week’s time to prepare the salary statement of employees and get them sanctioned from higher authorities. Tourists planning a joy ride on the toy train could be lucky if they visit Darjeeling during this time.
In Kalchini, Gurung said all vehicles from the Hills, Siliguri and the Dooars should sport new number plates with “GL” (for Gorkhaland) on them from July 7 onwards.
“Vehicles from Darjeeling should have GL-A, while B, C, D and E will be used by those vehicles from Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and the Dooars respectively,” said Giri.
The announcement is one among the many Morcha projects, which are difficult to implement. Gurung had earlier said 10,001 people would march on foot from Darjeeling to Calcutta from May 7. After a rethink, the party is now mulling taking its rallyists by vehicles.
Residents in Darjeeling are sceptical about the Morcha’s plan to change the registration plates of vehicles, largely because no insurance can be claimed if ever there is a change of number. This is apart from the fact that the vehicle owners might be arrested because the number plates will be considered fakes. (The Telegraph)
MY GORKHALAND Headline Animator
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Forum minus party affiliation
Siliguri, April 23: A cross-section of citizens here has formed Jana Jagaran, an apolitical forum, to protest against the demand to include Siliguri in Gorkhaland. The demand was made by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other associations in the hills.
“Considering the tension in brewing in Siliguri and Darjeeling district after the movement launched by the Morcha and some other organisations, we felt it imperative to form the forum,” said Ashoke Kumar Hore, the joint secretary. “It opposes the demand and seeks intervention of the state and Centre.”
The forum, with writer Haren Ghosh as the president, has critic Ashru Kumar Sikdar, physician K.C. Mitra, Siliguri College principal Moloy Karanjai, bar association president Arun Kumar Sarkar, former army captain J.K. Sengupta in the advisory committee.
“We feel that every resident of Siliguri is against the irrational and unjustified demand,” said Swarup Bhattacharjee, another joint secretary.
Political parties are taking different stance on inclusion of Siliguri in Gorkhaland. Certain compulsions are also deterring citizens to join a political platform even if they think on the similar lines, Hore said. “So we thought of forming the forum where any citizen can join, irrespective of his political affiliation.”
The forum plans to launch a campaign across Siliguri and in the suburbs. “We will approach clubs, NGOs, trade bodies and associations representing different communities, seeking their support,” he added. (The Telegraph)
“Considering the tension in brewing in Siliguri and Darjeeling district after the movement launched by the Morcha and some other organisations, we felt it imperative to form the forum,” said Ashoke Kumar Hore, the joint secretary. “It opposes the demand and seeks intervention of the state and Centre.”
The forum, with writer Haren Ghosh as the president, has critic Ashru Kumar Sikdar, physician K.C. Mitra, Siliguri College principal Moloy Karanjai, bar association president Arun Kumar Sarkar, former army captain J.K. Sengupta in the advisory committee.
“We feel that every resident of Siliguri is against the irrational and unjustified demand,” said Swarup Bhattacharjee, another joint secretary.
Political parties are taking different stance on inclusion of Siliguri in Gorkhaland. Certain compulsions are also deterring citizens to join a political platform even if they think on the similar lines, Hore said. “So we thought of forming the forum where any citizen can join, irrespective of his political affiliation.”
The forum plans to launch a campaign across Siliguri and in the suburbs. “We will approach clubs, NGOs, trade bodies and associations representing different communities, seeking their support,” he added. (The Telegraph)
Siliguri too tense for rally
Calcutta, April 23: The chief secretary of Bengal, Amit Kiran Deb, today told a visiting delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that the situation in Siliguri was “tense” and that it would not be proper for the government to allow them to hold a meeting there on April 27.
“On September 28 last year, there was large-scale violence in Siliguri and the army had to be deployed. Since then, things have not been in the right shape in Siliguri. That is why I told the Morcha that it would be difficult for the government to grant permission for the April 27 meeting,” said Deb after a meeting with the Morcha leaders at Writers’ Buildings today.
“Even then, I will have a talk with the final authority (read the chief minister) and then inform the Morcha tomorrow or the day after as to whether permission can be given.”
Rumours of hooliganism by supporters of Indian Idol 3 winner Prashant Tamang had led to street riots in Siliguri, police firing, army intervention and an indefinite curfew in September last year.
There’s no problem if the Morcha changes the venue to Birpara or Jalpaiguri, Deb added.
The Morcha leaders have also told the chief secretary that they want to hold a meeting in Calcutta on May 8 and 9.
“I told them that IPL matches would be held at that time and requested them to consider whether the date can be changed. But we don’t have a problem with their meeting in Calcutta,” said Deb
The party, which has revived the Gorkhaland demand in the hills, has voiced its dissatisfaction with the one-man inquiry commission of environment secretary M.L. Meena. The commission is probing allegations of police high-handedness during a rally of ex-servicemen in Siliguri on April 9. The Morcha wants a CBI inquiry or a probe by a retired judge.
Deb said he has asked the Morcha to wait for the inquiry report before voicing its demands.
Urban development and municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya said the Morcha is creating “anarchy” in Siliguri and so there was no reason why they should be allowed to organise a meeting there.
Reacting to Bhattacharya’s allegations, the Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said it was the CPM, which had launched an attack on the ex-servicemen’s rally. “Our people have suffered for long. The people of Bengal have realised our suffering. The government must wake up to it now.” (The Telegraph)
“On September 28 last year, there was large-scale violence in Siliguri and the army had to be deployed. Since then, things have not been in the right shape in Siliguri. That is why I told the Morcha that it would be difficult for the government to grant permission for the April 27 meeting,” said Deb after a meeting with the Morcha leaders at Writers’ Buildings today.
“Even then, I will have a talk with the final authority (read the chief minister) and then inform the Morcha tomorrow or the day after as to whether permission can be given.”
Rumours of hooliganism by supporters of Indian Idol 3 winner Prashant Tamang had led to street riots in Siliguri, police firing, army intervention and an indefinite curfew in September last year.
There’s no problem if the Morcha changes the venue to Birpara or Jalpaiguri, Deb added.
The Morcha leaders have also told the chief secretary that they want to hold a meeting in Calcutta on May 8 and 9.
“I told them that IPL matches would be held at that time and requested them to consider whether the date can be changed. But we don’t have a problem with their meeting in Calcutta,” said Deb
The party, which has revived the Gorkhaland demand in the hills, has voiced its dissatisfaction with the one-man inquiry commission of environment secretary M.L. Meena. The commission is probing allegations of police high-handedness during a rally of ex-servicemen in Siliguri on April 9. The Morcha wants a CBI inquiry or a probe by a retired judge.
Deb said he has asked the Morcha to wait for the inquiry report before voicing its demands.
Urban development and municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya said the Morcha is creating “anarchy” in Siliguri and so there was no reason why they should be allowed to organise a meeting there.
Reacting to Bhattacharya’s allegations, the Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said it was the CPM, which had launched an attack on the ex-servicemen’s rally. “Our people have suffered for long. The people of Bengal have realised our suffering. The government must wake up to it now.” (The Telegraph)
Hill strike halts Toy train
ANURADHA SHARMA
A group of foreign tourists alight from the Deccan Odyssey. Their ride on the toy train was cut short because of the Morcha strike. A Telegraph picture
Siliguri, April 23: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s ongoing strike in state and central government offices in the hills has pulled the chain on the toy train, causing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) to lose Rs 30,000 a day.
The political party claims that “tourist facilities” have been kept outside the shutdown’s ambit, but the DHR, a Unesco world heritage site and arguably one of the biggest tourist attractions in the hills, has not got the relief. Apart from the eight-hour ride up the hills from New Jalpaiguri, even the short trips between Darjeeling and Ghoom have been cancelled.
DHR director Subrata Nath said his request to Morcha leaders to allow the toy train to run was turned down.
“They (the Morcha leaders) said they would allow only the Darjeeling-Ghoom joyride to run, but under a condition,” the DHR director said. “They asked us to operate the service without opening our stations and offices. They must understand that it is not possible to run a train that way. The tickets have to be issued, the locomotives need to be serviced and a lot of back-room work has to be done.”
The railway official added that in emergency, the trains have to be taken to the Tindharia workshop, but that too has been shut down by the Morcha.
“We are losing out on about Rs 30,000 daily,” Nath said. “This is the peak season, a time when our trains are fully booked with the daily earnings sometimes shooting up to Rs 40,000. But for the past 10 days, we have had to withdraw all our services.”
The Morcha strike began in the Darjeeling hills on April 14.
Nath added that a couple of chartered-rides have had to be cancelled already. “And given the uncertain situation in the hills, we are not accepting any bookings for this month either.”
The Morcha leaders stood their ground.
“We allowed them to operate the Darjeeling-Ghoom joyride by keeping one office open,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said. “They said they could not operate that way. But we cannot relent because it is not possible to allow them to keep all their offices and stations open when all other government offices are closed. We cannot make an exception for the railways.”
Visitors to the region are the worst sufferers. As Raj Basu, the president of the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators’ Association and a member of the DHR India Support Group, said: “Only tourists would like to spend eight hours on a train journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling, when it takes only three hours by road.”
The DHR director said the New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling-New Jalpaiguri diesel service has seen a jump of 15 per cent in 2007-08 compared to the previous year. “In fact, our overall earnings from the DHR was gradually increasing, a clear fall-out of the toy train’s growing popularity, but the strike has brought it all to a grinding halt,” Nath added.
A group of foreigners, who are touring India on the luxurious train the Deccan Odyssey, today had to be content with an 8km “joyride” on the toy train between New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri junction. Their original booking was for the Tindharia-Darjeeling (55km) stretch.
“Since the railways have a flat charter rate for all stretches regardless of the distance, this alternative does not work well for tourists,” said a tour operator. The rate varies from Rs 20,000-30,000 depending upon the kind of coaches one chooses and whether one approaches the railways directly or through a tour operator.
“The toy train is not just about business,” Vivek Baid, a member of the DHR Support Group said. “It is our heritage and is very close to the hearts of the people. All of us must be careful that we do not do anything that will harm the symbol of our tradition, heritage and pride.”
The Morcha begged to differ. “Our agitation is not having any adverse effect on tourism,” Giri said. “Tourists are coming in huge numbers and we are extending all cooperation to them.” (The Telegraph)
A group of foreign tourists alight from the Deccan Odyssey. Their ride on the toy train was cut short because of the Morcha strike. A Telegraph picture
Siliguri, April 23: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s ongoing strike in state and central government offices in the hills has pulled the chain on the toy train, causing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) to lose Rs 30,000 a day.
The political party claims that “tourist facilities” have been kept outside the shutdown’s ambit, but the DHR, a Unesco world heritage site and arguably one of the biggest tourist attractions in the hills, has not got the relief. Apart from the eight-hour ride up the hills from New Jalpaiguri, even the short trips between Darjeeling and Ghoom have been cancelled.
DHR director Subrata Nath said his request to Morcha leaders to allow the toy train to run was turned down.
“They (the Morcha leaders) said they would allow only the Darjeeling-Ghoom joyride to run, but under a condition,” the DHR director said. “They asked us to operate the service without opening our stations and offices. They must understand that it is not possible to run a train that way. The tickets have to be issued, the locomotives need to be serviced and a lot of back-room work has to be done.”
The railway official added that in emergency, the trains have to be taken to the Tindharia workshop, but that too has been shut down by the Morcha.
“We are losing out on about Rs 30,000 daily,” Nath said. “This is the peak season, a time when our trains are fully booked with the daily earnings sometimes shooting up to Rs 40,000. But for the past 10 days, we have had to withdraw all our services.”
The Morcha strike began in the Darjeeling hills on April 14.
Nath added that a couple of chartered-rides have had to be cancelled already. “And given the uncertain situation in the hills, we are not accepting any bookings for this month either.”
The Morcha leaders stood their ground.
“We allowed them to operate the Darjeeling-Ghoom joyride by keeping one office open,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said. “They said they could not operate that way. But we cannot relent because it is not possible to allow them to keep all their offices and stations open when all other government offices are closed. We cannot make an exception for the railways.”
Visitors to the region are the worst sufferers. As Raj Basu, the president of the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators’ Association and a member of the DHR India Support Group, said: “Only tourists would like to spend eight hours on a train journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling, when it takes only three hours by road.”
The DHR director said the New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling-New Jalpaiguri diesel service has seen a jump of 15 per cent in 2007-08 compared to the previous year. “In fact, our overall earnings from the DHR was gradually increasing, a clear fall-out of the toy train’s growing popularity, but the strike has brought it all to a grinding halt,” Nath added.
A group of foreigners, who are touring India on the luxurious train the Deccan Odyssey, today had to be content with an 8km “joyride” on the toy train between New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri junction. Their original booking was for the Tindharia-Darjeeling (55km) stretch.
“Since the railways have a flat charter rate for all stretches regardless of the distance, this alternative does not work well for tourists,” said a tour operator. The rate varies from Rs 20,000-30,000 depending upon the kind of coaches one chooses and whether one approaches the railways directly or through a tour operator.
“The toy train is not just about business,” Vivek Baid, a member of the DHR Support Group said. “It is our heritage and is very close to the hearts of the people. All of us must be careful that we do not do anything that will harm the symbol of our tradition, heritage and pride.”
The Morcha begged to differ. “Our agitation is not having any adverse effect on tourism,” Giri said. “Tourists are coming in huge numbers and we are extending all cooperation to them.” (The Telegraph)
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