MY GORKHALAND Headline Animator
Saturday, May 10, 2008
GORKHA JANMUKTI MORCHA ROCKS SILIGURI
More than 350000 people from the darjeeling hills, Duars and siliguri participated in the historic 7th May Public meeting at siliguri
End Asok-Bimal duel, says Trinamul
SILIGURI, May 9: The Trinamul Congress has demanded an end to the continuing verbal duel between the state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya and the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha chief Mr Bimal Gurung. “This verbosity has been vitiating the already emotionally charged atmosphere both in the Darjeeling Hills and the plains,” the party said.Mr Partha Chatterjee, the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and Trinamul Congress leader, said that when all the parties were expected to exercise restraint in view of the deteriorating condition in the Hills, Mr Bhattacharya and Mr Gurung were indulging in a ridiculous verbosity. “The state government, on one hand, is calling the GJMM for dialogue and Mr Asok Bhattacharya is, on the other hand, queering the pitch by calling the GJMM leaders anti-national terrorists. This must end,” Mr Chatterjee said. (The Statesman)
Six arrested for attack on GJMM
Statesman News Service SILIGURI, May 9: The police in Siliguri have arrested six youths in connection with the 2 May attack on Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha supporters at Hospital More in Siliguri. DYFI activists were allegedly involved in the incident. The arrests were made through the past three days. One of the six accused was arrested on 6 May, another four the very next day and the sixth accused was nabbed last night. “We could identify the six accused from the newspaper photographs and news channel footages. We hope to book a few more assailants very soon,” Mr Rajesh Yadav, ASP, Siliguri said. The ASP furter informed that the political affiliations of the arrested youths, if any, were being investigated. Though the police did not disclose the names of the arrested individuals, it was learnt that the youths were lifted from the slums of Bagrakote, Tikiapara, Matangini Colony. It may be mentioned that the GJMM in its Siliguri rally on 7 May, had issued a seven-day deadline for the arrest of the assailants of its supporters.
Soft on talks, tough on CM
Siliguri, May 9: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is open to the idea of a dialogue with the chief minister but will be happy if the Centre was involved in the process.
“We do not mind a one-to-one with him, although what we actually want is a tripartite meeting with the state and Central governments,” said Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha.
The Morcha leader, however, added that the chief minister expressing his desire to the media to sit with us alone was not enough. “He has to write to us officially.”
In Calcutta, Bhattacharjee confirmed that he has “got a letter from those presently agitating in the hills”.
“Let me first discuss it with my ministers and then I will talk about it. We don't want to make any distinction between the hills and the plains. We want peace to prevail in Darjeeling,” Bhattacharjee told journalists. Last week, he had told a private news channel that the people of the hills should come forward with their demands.
Alleging a communication gap within the government, Tamang said at the very beginning of the Morcha agitation, the party had sent communiqués to the state and central governments and also the chief minister with three demands.
The first two, the removal of Subash Ghisingh as caretaker administrator of the DGHC and the scrapping of the bill conferring Sixth Schedule status on the hills, were met. The third was the demand for Gorkhaland.
“Since then many things have happened in the hills and plains…Despite that, the chief minister recently said he was not aware of our demands,” he added.
In Kalimpong, the Morcha accused the CPM of giving a “criminal colour” to a “democratic movement”. Ridiculing the attempt to link party secretary Roshan Giri to explosives seized in Malaguri, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, a central committee member of the Morcha, said: “Had there been any truth in the allegation, they wouldn’t have waited so long to mention the names. Anybody can see through their tactics.” (The Telegraph)
“We do not mind a one-to-one with him, although what we actually want is a tripartite meeting with the state and Central governments,” said Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha.
The Morcha leader, however, added that the chief minister expressing his desire to the media to sit with us alone was not enough. “He has to write to us officially.”
In Calcutta, Bhattacharjee confirmed that he has “got a letter from those presently agitating in the hills”.
“Let me first discuss it with my ministers and then I will talk about it. We don't want to make any distinction between the hills and the plains. We want peace to prevail in Darjeeling,” Bhattacharjee told journalists. Last week, he had told a private news channel that the people of the hills should come forward with their demands.
Alleging a communication gap within the government, Tamang said at the very beginning of the Morcha agitation, the party had sent communiqués to the state and central governments and also the chief minister with three demands.
The first two, the removal of Subash Ghisingh as caretaker administrator of the DGHC and the scrapping of the bill conferring Sixth Schedule status on the hills, were met. The third was the demand for Gorkhaland.
“Since then many things have happened in the hills and plains…Despite that, the chief minister recently said he was not aware of our demands,” he added.
In Kalimpong, the Morcha accused the CPM of giving a “criminal colour” to a “democratic movement”. Ridiculing the attempt to link party secretary Roshan Giri to explosives seized in Malaguri, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, a central committee member of the Morcha, said: “Had there been any truth in the allegation, they wouldn’t have waited so long to mention the names. Anybody can see through their tactics.” (The Telegraph)
Arrest retort to deadline- Cops pick up six based on video footage, Morcha tags them scapegoats
Siliguri, May 9: Police have picked up six persons for their alleged involvement in the attacks on Gorkha Janmuki Morcha supporters here last week, but Bimal Gurung’s party has tagged the arrests an “eyewash”.
The police, however, refused to divulge the political affiliation of the arrested youths. “We arrested them on the basis of video footage and photographs of the incidents that we procured from various sources,” said Rahul Srivastava, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling.
Gurung, the Morcha president, had set a deadline of seven days for the Darjeeling district administration within which the accused — three CPM leaders were named in an FIR — were to be arrested failing which 10,000 party supporters would come down to Siliguri for a protest meet.
Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader and member of the CPM state committee, Mukul Sengupta, a councillor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Shankar Ghosh, the DYFI district secretary, were, according to the Morcha, behind the assaults that took place on May 2.
“Balaram Choudhury, Sanjoy Mondal, Shankar Routh, Kali Roy and Tapash Majumdar were arrested last night, while Samir Pal was picked up this morning. They were all identified for their involvement in the scuffle with the Morcha supporters,” another police officer said. “The arrested youths are residents of Lichubagan, Tikiapara, Subashpally and Matangini Colony.”
Morcha media and publicity secretary Binay Tamang said those arrested have been made scapegoats. “It is an eyewash. The real culprits have not been touched despite our pinpointing them in the FIRs. If no action is taken against the CPM leaders within the stipulated time, we will continue with our agitation plan.”
Morcha supporters had come down to Siliguri on May 1 and 2 for a hunger strike to demand permission to hold meetings here. Two hundred and seventy four of them courted arrest in batches on the first day by entering the court premises.
When they repeated the attempts on the second day, shouting anti-CPM slogans, it triggered mob violence and at least 10 Morcha supporters, including women, were beaten up. After the incident, the Morcha lodged complaints against Sarkar, Sengupta and Ghosh.
Ghosh has denied that the six arrested youths are party members. “We made inquiries and found that none of them are members of any of our units.” (The Telegraph)
The police, however, refused to divulge the political affiliation of the arrested youths. “We arrested them on the basis of video footage and photographs of the incidents that we procured from various sources,” said Rahul Srivastava, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling.
Gurung, the Morcha president, had set a deadline of seven days for the Darjeeling district administration within which the accused — three CPM leaders were named in an FIR — were to be arrested failing which 10,000 party supporters would come down to Siliguri for a protest meet.
Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader and member of the CPM state committee, Mukul Sengupta, a councillor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Shankar Ghosh, the DYFI district secretary, were, according to the Morcha, behind the assaults that took place on May 2.
“Balaram Choudhury, Sanjoy Mondal, Shankar Routh, Kali Roy and Tapash Majumdar were arrested last night, while Samir Pal was picked up this morning. They were all identified for their involvement in the scuffle with the Morcha supporters,” another police officer said. “The arrested youths are residents of Lichubagan, Tikiapara, Subashpally and Matangini Colony.”
Morcha media and publicity secretary Binay Tamang said those arrested have been made scapegoats. “It is an eyewash. The real culprits have not been touched despite our pinpointing them in the FIRs. If no action is taken against the CPM leaders within the stipulated time, we will continue with our agitation plan.”
Morcha supporters had come down to Siliguri on May 1 and 2 for a hunger strike to demand permission to hold meetings here. Two hundred and seventy four of them courted arrest in batches on the first day by entering the court premises.
When they repeated the attempts on the second day, shouting anti-CPM slogans, it triggered mob violence and at least 10 Morcha supporters, including women, were beaten up. After the incident, the Morcha lodged complaints against Sarkar, Sengupta and Ghosh.
Ghosh has denied that the six arrested youths are party members. “We made inquiries and found that none of them are members of any of our units.” (The Telegraph)
GNLF leader in line of fire
Siliguri, May 9: A GNLF leader was today kept confined to his house for over an hour for claiming that a number of Subash Ghisingh’s supporters had been requested to attend the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha rally at Indira Gandhi Maidan on Wednesday.
To protest against the claim, more than 100 Morcha supporters today demonstrated in front of Rajen Mukhia’s house at Panighata Bazaar near Naxalbari, around 40km from Siliguri. They also kept him confined for over an hour.
Mukhia had said yesterday: “The Morcha leaders here insisted on taking a large number of people to the meeting and requested us to tell our supporters to attend the rally. We in turn told many residents that they could go if they wanted to.” Today, he said “1,500 people from Panighata had attended the rally in 22 vehicles”.
Mukhia’s claim irked the Morcha and this morning when the GNLF leader was organising a rally at Panighatta Tea Estate, he was pelted with stones. “I was rescued by the police.”
Indra Kumar Pradhan, the convener of the Panighata-Naxalbari committee of the Morcha, said the situation returned to normal after Mukhia “apologised”. Mukhia said around 100 GNLF supporters had attended the rally. (The Telegraph)
To protest against the claim, more than 100 Morcha supporters today demonstrated in front of Rajen Mukhia’s house at Panighata Bazaar near Naxalbari, around 40km from Siliguri. They also kept him confined for over an hour.
Mukhia had said yesterday: “The Morcha leaders here insisted on taking a large number of people to the meeting and requested us to tell our supporters to attend the rally. We in turn told many residents that they could go if they wanted to.” Today, he said “1,500 people from Panighata had attended the rally in 22 vehicles”.
Mukhia’s claim irked the Morcha and this morning when the GNLF leader was organising a rally at Panighatta Tea Estate, he was pelted with stones. “I was rescued by the police.”
Indra Kumar Pradhan, the convener of the Panighata-Naxalbari committee of the Morcha, said the situation returned to normal after Mukhia “apologised”. Mukhia said around 100 GNLF supporters had attended the rally. (The Telegraph)
Friday, May 9, 2008
West Bengal minister flays Gurung
West Bengal minister Ashok Bhattacharya Thursday called Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung 'incompetent' after the latter vowed to work for a Darjeeling state come what may.Urban Development, Municipal and Hill Affairs Minister Bhattacharya criticised the way Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) president Gurung attacked him and the West Bengal government.'GJM is exploiting the emotions of the Gorkha community to achieve political power,' the minister told IANS. 'As for Bimal Gurung, he is an incompetent leader and knows nothing.'If he was really concerned about the welfare of the hill people, he would have tried to restore peace and harmony rather than provoking people,' Bhattacharya said.Addressing a GJM meeting at the Indira Gandhi Maidan in Siliguri Wednesday, Gurung thundered: 'We will throw out every hindrance that comes in our way to achieve a separate statehood for Darjeeling.'Ashok Bhattacharya has said he will not let us include Siliguri within Gorkhaland. But the GJM will not let go Siliguri at any cost.'If Bhattacharya turns nasty, we will throw him away as we earlier threw away Subhash Ghisingh from the post of Darjeeling hill council chairman,' Gurung said.Addressing over 100,000 people, Gurung also demanded the arrest by Saturday of three Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists who allegedly assaulted GJM supporters during a hunger strike in Darjeeling.'If the three - Jibitesh Sarkar, Mukul Sengupta and Shankar Ghosh - are not arrested by Saturday, GJM will call for an indefinite strike across the district,' Gurung said.GJM supporters want statehood for Darjeeling in north Bengal instead of a Sixth Schedule status that grants greater autonomy for the region.Gurung has been expelled from Subash Ghisingh's Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) for 'anti-party' activities.(Bombaynews.net)
Man on a mission
The youngest Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University is on a drive to reformulate the varsity’s syllabus and restructure administrative policies so that there will be no dearth of wherewithal in making the varsity chapter an international success, writes DB Rai Professor Mahendra P Lama, the vice chancellor of Sikkim University, is the first youngest VC of any Indian University. He was a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and now he is keen to reform Sikkim University so as to give it world-class repute. He wishes the university to work in terms of an institutional dynamism so that it would attract students from the northeast states as well as Nepal, Bangladesh and South West China.Referring to the vision of the chief minister Pawan Chamling and prime minister Manmohan Singh, Professor Lama said, the leaders have the vision to construct a supreme University in this region, so that there will be no dearth of wherewithal in making the varsity chapter an international success.Elaborating on this he said, “If a candidate will apply for his masters degree in history they would be taught a separate paper along with it that would include studies about the Himalayan features, the ethnicity of the surrounding areas like North East, Nepal and some parts of China. This would enhance their knowledge about this region and would help them appreciate this University.”Professor Lama revealed, “The University is going to function as world-class institute and it is also going to craft four policies. They are making the rules and regulations, academic plans and schedules, infrastructure and revamp of the colleges, which fall under the University.Under the university act, Professor Lama elaborated, “The University is an autonomous body and hence it has the power to decide its own norms. So we do not want to fail and lag behind in anyway.” For the academic programme he said that the university will introduce three categories, traditional, non-traditional and policy studies. Under non-traditional category, there will be study of climates, military science etc. Whereas in policy studies there will be study about border and glaciers of the Himalayan range and so on.Regarding the infrastructure, Professor Lama said that “we have a selected architectural team who are studying to give the design of the University whether the varsity would be in Sikkimese, Oriental or Western style”. The architectural team is also determining the mode of the building so as to make it earthquake-proof, energy-efficient, “disabled”-friendly, etc. Besides, the varsity building set up in a 300-acre spread at Yang-Yang (South Sikkim) will have almost every kind of facilitiy, like a super class football field, hospital, banking, railway and air ticket counters.The university is also planning to revamp the entire administration of the Colleges. As soon as the administration of the colleges come under the University form North Bengal University, they will have semester based examination system and there will be total six semesters for a complete degree course. This will make the students to catch up with their subjects, with a steady help from their Professors, he said.Unfolding the work culture of the University, Professor Lama said, “We would not be having any peons. Every individual officer and teacher will have to clean their own table and chairs by which way they would understand and appreciate the value of self servicing.” The time of the office would be from 9.30am to 5.30 pm. He said, “I am not here to do a government job but I feel like am on a missionary mode and we have shouldered to complete a mission by giving our dedication and hardwork.”We had our conversation for about half-an-hour at the new administrative office of the University. As soon as I finished my queries with a laptop, he went to his table to finish his job. On a missionary mode, indeed.(The Statesman)
Asok says CM open to talks
Statesman News Service SILIGURI, May 8: The state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya today said that chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya would soon invite the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leadership for a dialogue. “The state government is resolved to sort out the Darjeeling Hill political crisis through negotiation,” the minister said. However, the minister at the same time said that the CPI-M would demand immediate arrest of the GJMM general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri in connection with the recent seizure of suspected RDX from Mallaguri in Siliguri. “There is evidence that Mr Giri is involved in subversive activities in Siliguri,” Mr Asok Bhattacharya said.Reacting to the minister’s allegation Mr Giri said from Darjeeling that the allegations were baseless. He demanded the minister’s role in the seizure of the explosives instead.The minister said that though there is incontrovertible evidence of an intimate connection between the GJMM with several terrorist anti-national outfits like the KLO, Ulfa, and Boroland Tiger Force, the chief minister is eager to open dialogue with the Hill-based party. “We are for peace in the Darjeeling Hills to facilitate speedy development of the region. Yet, to make the proposed dialogue meaningful the GJMM leadership must eschew its hostile approach towards the state government,” Mr Bhattacharya added.Making specific charge against Mr Giri, Mr Bhattacharya said that the state had evidence in its possession confirming that Mr Giri was involved in transporting suspected RDX in Siliguri. “Mr Giri frequented the house in Mallaguri from where the suspected RDX was seized recently. A woman leader of the GJMM is also involved in subversive activities in the town. An FIR has been lodged against them at the Pradhan Nagar Police Station by some local people. Action is expected soon,” Mr Bhattacharya said.(The Statesman)
Row over use of ‘Pintail Village’ by Opp
Bappaditya PaulSILIGURI, May 8: A controversy has erupted over the use of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) tourist resort ‘Pintail Village’ in Siliguri by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha for political purpose.Waking up late to the arbitrary act, the DGHC caretaker administrator and the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, Mr Bihari Lal Meena today said that the administration would not allow the GJMM to use the tourist resort any further. “All senior officials in the civil administration were busy in maintaining law and order for the past few days. The GJMM started indiscriminate use of ‘Pintail Village’ to put up party cadres and also for holding Press conferences taking advantage of the situation. But now we have taken cognisance of the matter and would not allow the GJMM to use the resort any further,” Mr Meena said. The DGHC administrator further added that he would hold a meeting with the GJMM leadership on Monday in Darjeeling and would categorically convey the message to them. “I would also attend office at the DGHC headquarters Lal Kothi in Darjeeling from Monday to monitor the affairs properly,” Mr Meena said. The GJMM president Mr Bimal Gurung, however, said that the Pintail Village was a property of the Hill people and hence, they had every ‘right’ to use the resort. “Pintail Village is our property. It is the yield of the struggle of past 21-years and hence everyone from the Hills has the right to use the tourist resort,” Mr Gurung told media persons at the ‘Pintail Village’ today. The tourist resort ‘Pintail Village’ near Dagapur in Siliguri was a dream project of the former DGHC chairman, Mr Subash Ghisingh. The resort was built on a plot leased out by the state government to the DGHC as per provisions of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Agreement of 1988. The resort was inaugurated for tourist use on 12 November 2006. (The Statesman)
FIRs to fight Morcha deadline to cops
Siliguri, May 8: The CPM today dug up three FIRs lodged in the hills and plains against some Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders and urged police to act on them.
Observers said the move was in retaliation to the Morcha’s seven-day deadline to the police for arresting three CPM leaders in connection with the incidents on May 2 when supporters of the hill party were assaulted in Siliguri. The Morcha had set the deadline yesterday at its public meeting here.
“On April 9, a day after explosives were found in a house in Mallaguri, a resident of the area, Amal Khawas, lodged an FIR with the Pradhannagar police station. In it, Khawas said the owner of the house, Ganga Majhi, was an active Morcha worker and its leader Roshan Giri frequently visited the house,” said Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader of the CPM.
“Khawas also stated that the explosives were brought here by the Morcha members as part of a plot to eliminate local CPM leaders,” claimed Sarkar, who is one of the three CPM leaders whom the Morcha wants arrested.
A number of improvised explosive devices were found in three places in town after two of them went off on April 3, killing three alleged bomb-makers. Initial findings had pointed the finger at Bhutan Maoists.
Sarkar added that CPM supporters in Kurseong had also filed an FIR at the Sadar police station there on April 9, accusing Morcha leader Pradeep Pradhan of guiding an attack on the local office of the party. “A similar FIR was lodged against Morcha leaders in Kalimpong for the arson attack on our party office there. The police should act on all these complaints.”
Darjeeling police chief Rahul Srivastava confirmed that the police had received the FIRs. “We have started investigations, but no one has been arrested yet,” he said. (The Telegraph)
Sarkar said the Morcha was constantly breaking the law by stopping the district magistrate from going to Darjeeling, shutting down government offices and raising their own police force.
Observers said the move was in retaliation to the Morcha’s seven-day deadline to the police for arresting three CPM leaders in connection with the incidents on May 2 when supporters of the hill party were assaulted in Siliguri. The Morcha had set the deadline yesterday at its public meeting here.
“On April 9, a day after explosives were found in a house in Mallaguri, a resident of the area, Amal Khawas, lodged an FIR with the Pradhannagar police station. In it, Khawas said the owner of the house, Ganga Majhi, was an active Morcha worker and its leader Roshan Giri frequently visited the house,” said Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader of the CPM.
“Khawas also stated that the explosives were brought here by the Morcha members as part of a plot to eliminate local CPM leaders,” claimed Sarkar, who is one of the three CPM leaders whom the Morcha wants arrested.
A number of improvised explosive devices were found in three places in town after two of them went off on April 3, killing three alleged bomb-makers. Initial findings had pointed the finger at Bhutan Maoists.
Sarkar added that CPM supporters in Kurseong had also filed an FIR at the Sadar police station there on April 9, accusing Morcha leader Pradeep Pradhan of guiding an attack on the local office of the party. “A similar FIR was lodged against Morcha leaders in Kalimpong for the arson attack on our party office there. The police should act on all these complaints.”
Darjeeling police chief Rahul Srivastava confirmed that the police had received the FIRs. “We have started investigations, but no one has been arrested yet,” he said. (The Telegraph)
Sarkar said the Morcha was constantly breaking the law by stopping the district magistrate from going to Darjeeling, shutting down government offices and raising their own police force.
Gurung on hunt for backers
Siliguri, May 8: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants neighbouring Sikkim and Gorkhas across the country to back its demand for a separate state. Not only that, it is time the celebrities whom the Morcha had once cheered, reciprocated, party chief Bimal Gurung said.
“I will write to Pawan Chamling, the chief minister of Sikkim, who is also the president of the Sikkim Democratic Front, to support us,” said Gurung.
This is the first time since its formation that Gurung is going public about seeking Chamling’s support. This afternoon, while addressing journalists at Pintail Village, 4km from here, he said: “Through a letter to Chamling, we will appeal to all residents of Sikkim to extend their support to our cause,” Gurung said.
The Morcha leader will also appeal to Gorkhas living across the country to support him. “I will also approach celebrities like soccer star Bhaichung Bhutia and Indian Idol 3 Prasant Tamang. When they score a goal or win a competition, we celebrate. Now it is their turn to reciprocate,” he said.
The party will also ask all police personnel from the community to support the demand for a separate state.
Twenty-four hours after the Morcha meeting at Indira Gandhi Maidan where the CPM and its minister Asok Bahttacharya were verbally bashed up for more than 20 minutes, Gurung today came down upon them once more. Bhattacharya and his team have described the Morcha demand as ugro jatiyatabad (ultra nationalism) and accused them of not allowing other parties to hold political programmes in the hills.
“If they (CPM leaders) have the courage, let them come (to the hills) and hold programmes like the one we did here yesterday. It was peaceful and democratic,” said Gurung.
“If KLO, Bodoland Tiger Force and Bhutan Communist Party were present at the meeting, then what were the police doing?” the Morcha leader said in response to the minister’s charges that members of extremist groups were present at the meeting yesterday.
Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: “After seeing the success of our meeting in Siliguri, the minister has lost his senses.” (The Telegraph)
“I will write to Pawan Chamling, the chief minister of Sikkim, who is also the president of the Sikkim Democratic Front, to support us,” said Gurung.
This is the first time since its formation that Gurung is going public about seeking Chamling’s support. This afternoon, while addressing journalists at Pintail Village, 4km from here, he said: “Through a letter to Chamling, we will appeal to all residents of Sikkim to extend their support to our cause,” Gurung said.
The Morcha leader will also appeal to Gorkhas living across the country to support him. “I will also approach celebrities like soccer star Bhaichung Bhutia and Indian Idol 3 Prasant Tamang. When they score a goal or win a competition, we celebrate. Now it is their turn to reciprocate,” he said.
The party will also ask all police personnel from the community to support the demand for a separate state.
Twenty-four hours after the Morcha meeting at Indira Gandhi Maidan where the CPM and its minister Asok Bahttacharya were verbally bashed up for more than 20 minutes, Gurung today came down upon them once more. Bhattacharya and his team have described the Morcha demand as ugro jatiyatabad (ultra nationalism) and accused them of not allowing other parties to hold political programmes in the hills.
“If they (CPM leaders) have the courage, let them come (to the hills) and hold programmes like the one we did here yesterday. It was peaceful and democratic,” said Gurung.
“If KLO, Bodoland Tiger Force and Bhutan Communist Party were present at the meeting, then what were the police doing?” the Morcha leader said in response to the minister’s charges that members of extremist groups were present at the meeting yesterday.
Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: “After seeing the success of our meeting in Siliguri, the minister has lost his senses.” (The Telegraph)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
गरम हुआ गोरखालैंड
यह 13 अप्रैल 1986 की बात है, जब अलग गोरखालैंड की मांग करने वाले सुभाष घीसिंग ने कहा था- “ मेरी पहचान गोरखालैंड है.”
लेकिन आज 22 साल बाद जब गोरखालैंड की मांग अपने चरम पर है और इन दिनों दार्जिलिंग, कर्सियांग, मिरिक, जाटी और चामुर्ची तक ताबड़तोड़ रैली और विशाल प्रदर्शन हो रहे हैं तब सुभाष घीसिंग का कहीं अता-पता नहीं है.
कहां हैं सुभाष घीसिंग ?
गोरखालैंड के नये नायक विमल गुरुंग
गोरखालैंड आंदोलन के नए नायक गोजमुमो के विमल गुरुंग हैं, जिनके इशारे पर पहाड़ के इलाके में लाखों लोग उठ खड़े हुए हैं.
“ सुबास घिसिंग इधर में घिस गिया.”
इस वाक्य के साथ कालिंपोंग के एक बुजुर्ग ने जब अपनी पोपली हंसी बिखेरी तो आसपास खड़े लोग भी हंसे बिना नहीं रह सके.
दार्जिलिंग, डुवार्स, तराई और सिलीगुड़ी को मिलाकर अलग गोरखालैंड बनाने के मुद्दे पर अब सुभाष घीसिंग की यही पहचान है. घीसिंग को बाय-बायडुवार्स के वीरपाड़ा नेपाली हाईस्कूल में कोई 25 हजार लोग सुबह से इक्कठा हुए थे. लेकिन शाम को जब जनसभा खत्म हुई तो लगता नहीं था कि भीड़ के जोश में कहीं कोई कमी है. यह सुभाष घीसिंग की नहीं, गोजमुमो की सभा थी.
गोजमुमो यानी गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा. और अलग गोरखालैंड की मांग करने वाले नए नायक हैं विमल गुरुंग.
गोरखालैंड के अलग-अलग इलाके में लोगों ने इस नायक को पलकों पर बिठा कर रखा है. और गुरुंग ?
कभी बेहद आक्रमक नेता रहे गुरुंग बेहद विनम्रता के साथ कहते हैं- “सुभाष घीसिंग ने जनता के साथ धोखा किया. मैं अपने खून की आखरी बूंद तक लड़ूंगा. मैं मार्च 2010 तक अलग गोरखालैंड अलग करके दम लूंगा.”
1980 के आसपास गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट बनाकर भारतीय राजनीति में धमाका करने वाले सुभाष घीसिंग ने दार्जिलिंग और उसके आसपास के पहाड़ी इलाकों में एक ऐसी आग भर दी थी, जिसके बाद लगता ही नहीं था कि यह आग अलग गोरखालैंड के बिना बंद होगी.
कोई एक हजार से अधिक लोग गोरखालैंड की इस आग की भेंट चढ़ गए. इस हिंसक जनांदोलन के नेता सुभाष घीसिंग और उनके साथ के विशाल जन सैलाब ने अलग राज्य की मांग करने वाले देश के दूसरे नेताओं को भी आंदोलन की एक नई धारा दिखाई.
लेकिन 1988 में घीसिंग को मना लिया गया और फिर दार्जिलिंग गोरखा हिल काउंसिल बना कर उन्हें उसकी कमान सौंप दी गई. हालांकि घीसिंग के समर्थकों का एक बड़ा धड़ा मानता था कि काउंसिल के सहारे पृथक गोरखालैंड की मांग को खत्म करने की कोशिश की गई है. यही कारण है कि विमल गुरुंग जैसे समर्थक घीसिंग के खिलाफ उठ खड़े हुए. लेकिन यह विरोध असफल साबित हुआ.
दार्जिलिंग गोरखा हिल काउंसिल का राजपाट 20 साल तक चला और तब तक पृथक गोरखालैंड का मुद्दा राजनीतिक और जन संगठनों की ओर से लगभग हाशिए पर धकेल दिया गया.
कहते हैं, सत्ता और भ्रष्टाचार एक ही पतलून के दो पायंचे हैं और अगर ऐसा न हो तो भी सत्ता को काजल की कोठरी मानने से कौन इंकार करता है ? सुभाष घीसिंग भी इसी का शिकार हुए.
विमल गुरुंग कहते हैं- “ उन्होंने गोरखालैंड की मांग को भूला दिया और काउंसिल के भ्रष्टाचार में लिप्त हो गए.”
आप पहाड़ के किसी भी इलाके में चले जाएं, गोजमुमो के नारे और झंडे आपको हर कहीं मिल जाएंगे.
2005 में इस इलाके को छठवीं अनुसूचि में शामिल किए जाने पर अपनी मुहर लगाकर घीसिंग विवादों में घिर गए थे. दूसरी ओर विमल गुरुंग उनके खिलाफ बगावती झंडा लहराते पहाड़ में घुम ही रहे थे. कोई सात महीने पहले गुरुंग ने गोजमुमो बनाकर तो जैसे गोरखालैंड आंदोलन में भूचाल ला दिया.
हालत ये हुई कि इसी साल मार्च में जब काउंसिल का कार्यकाल खत्म होने को था और सुभाष घीसिंग ने काउंसिल की कमान छोड़ते हुए त्याग पत्र दिया तो कहा गया कि घीसिंग से यह त्यागपत्र जबरदस्ती गुरुंग समर्थकों ने दिलवाया है.माकपा का राग 'विदेशी'लेकिन गुरुंग की राह भी आसान नहीं है.
गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट के नेता सुभाष घीसिंग के समर्थक भी इस आंदोलन को एक बार फिर से अपने कब्जे में लेने की कोशिश में हैं. जिसके तहत गोरखालैंड के लिए बयानबाजी शुरु हो गई है. सुभाष घीसिंग की गोरामुमो के नेता तो विमल गुरुंग के आंदोलन को मुंगेरीलाल के सपने करार दिया है.
दूसरी ओर गुरुंग को राज्य सरकार के विरोध का भी सामना करना पड़ रहा है. नगर विकास मंत्री और माकपा नेता अशोक नारायण भट्टाचार्य तो सीधे-सीधे इस आंदोलन से जुड़े लोगों को “ विदेशी ” ठहरा रहे हैं.
हालत ये है कि सिलीगुड़ी में गोजमुमो की प्रस्तावित जनसभा के विरोध में माकपा आमने-सामने आ खड़ी हुई. 2 मई को तो माकपा कार्यकर्ताओं ने सिलीगुड़ी में जम कर आतंक मचाया और गोरखालैंड समर्थकों को जगह-जगह बेरहमी से मारा. इससे पहले 27 अप्रेल को गोजमुमो को सिलीगुड़ी में सभा करने की अनुमति ही नहीं मिली.
हालांकि गोजमुमो को दूसरे दलों का समर्थन भी मिल रहा है.
गोरखालैंड आंदोलन के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण इलाके सिलीगुड़ी से कोई 25 किलोमीटर दूर है नक्सलबाड़ी और सिलीगुड़ी-नक्सलबाड़ी के रास्ते में हाथीघिसा में रहते हैं, नक्सल आंदोलन के शुरुवाती नेताओं में से एक कानू सान्याल.
कानू कहते हैं- “ हम विमल गुरुंग के साथ हैं. अब गोरखालैंड बनाने का समय आ गया है. ”
गौरखालैंड बनाने का समय आ गया है
कानू सान्याल
भाकपा-माले के राष्ट्रीय सचिव कानू सान्याल तत्काल दूसरा राज्य पुनर्गठन आयोग गठित करने की मांग करते हुए कहते हैं कि गोरखालैंड में सिलीगुड़ी शामिल हो या न हो यह प्रशासन का मामला है.
तो क्या इस बार भी पृथक गोरखालैंड की मांग के लिए खून की नदियां बहेंगी ?
हजार से भी अधिक लोगों की बलि लेने वाले सुभाष घीसिंग के गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट के आंदोलन के साथी और अबके कट्टर विरोधी विमल गुरुंग कहते हैं- “ कंप्यूटर और इंटरनेट के जमाने में हम बंदूक या बम से नहीं, कलम से लड़ेंगे. यह जनतांत्रिक आंदोलन है.”
हो सकता है, गुरुंग सही कह रहे हों लेकिन गुरुंग के आंदोलन ने इस इलाके के खुशगवार मौसम में एक गरमाहट ला दी है. जाहिर है, इस पहाड़ी इलाके की गरमी से दिल्ली का तापमान भी बढ़ेगा और सबकी आंखें यहां दिल्ली पर ही लगी है.(Rawivar:http://www.raviwar.com/news/6_Tez_hua_gorkhaland_andolan_alokputul.shtml
लेकिन आज 22 साल बाद जब गोरखालैंड की मांग अपने चरम पर है और इन दिनों दार्जिलिंग, कर्सियांग, मिरिक, जाटी और चामुर्ची तक ताबड़तोड़ रैली और विशाल प्रदर्शन हो रहे हैं तब सुभाष घीसिंग का कहीं अता-पता नहीं है.
कहां हैं सुभाष घीसिंग ?
गोरखालैंड के नये नायक विमल गुरुंग
गोरखालैंड आंदोलन के नए नायक गोजमुमो के विमल गुरुंग हैं, जिनके इशारे पर पहाड़ के इलाके में लाखों लोग उठ खड़े हुए हैं.
“ सुबास घिसिंग इधर में घिस गिया.”
इस वाक्य के साथ कालिंपोंग के एक बुजुर्ग ने जब अपनी पोपली हंसी बिखेरी तो आसपास खड़े लोग भी हंसे बिना नहीं रह सके.
दार्जिलिंग, डुवार्स, तराई और सिलीगुड़ी को मिलाकर अलग गोरखालैंड बनाने के मुद्दे पर अब सुभाष घीसिंग की यही पहचान है. घीसिंग को बाय-बायडुवार्स के वीरपाड़ा नेपाली हाईस्कूल में कोई 25 हजार लोग सुबह से इक्कठा हुए थे. लेकिन शाम को जब जनसभा खत्म हुई तो लगता नहीं था कि भीड़ के जोश में कहीं कोई कमी है. यह सुभाष घीसिंग की नहीं, गोजमुमो की सभा थी.
गोजमुमो यानी गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा. और अलग गोरखालैंड की मांग करने वाले नए नायक हैं विमल गुरुंग.
गोरखालैंड के अलग-अलग इलाके में लोगों ने इस नायक को पलकों पर बिठा कर रखा है. और गुरुंग ?
कभी बेहद आक्रमक नेता रहे गुरुंग बेहद विनम्रता के साथ कहते हैं- “सुभाष घीसिंग ने जनता के साथ धोखा किया. मैं अपने खून की आखरी बूंद तक लड़ूंगा. मैं मार्च 2010 तक अलग गोरखालैंड अलग करके दम लूंगा.”
1980 के आसपास गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट बनाकर भारतीय राजनीति में धमाका करने वाले सुभाष घीसिंग ने दार्जिलिंग और उसके आसपास के पहाड़ी इलाकों में एक ऐसी आग भर दी थी, जिसके बाद लगता ही नहीं था कि यह आग अलग गोरखालैंड के बिना बंद होगी.
कोई एक हजार से अधिक लोग गोरखालैंड की इस आग की भेंट चढ़ गए. इस हिंसक जनांदोलन के नेता सुभाष घीसिंग और उनके साथ के विशाल जन सैलाब ने अलग राज्य की मांग करने वाले देश के दूसरे नेताओं को भी आंदोलन की एक नई धारा दिखाई.
लेकिन 1988 में घीसिंग को मना लिया गया और फिर दार्जिलिंग गोरखा हिल काउंसिल बना कर उन्हें उसकी कमान सौंप दी गई. हालांकि घीसिंग के समर्थकों का एक बड़ा धड़ा मानता था कि काउंसिल के सहारे पृथक गोरखालैंड की मांग को खत्म करने की कोशिश की गई है. यही कारण है कि विमल गुरुंग जैसे समर्थक घीसिंग के खिलाफ उठ खड़े हुए. लेकिन यह विरोध असफल साबित हुआ.
दार्जिलिंग गोरखा हिल काउंसिल का राजपाट 20 साल तक चला और तब तक पृथक गोरखालैंड का मुद्दा राजनीतिक और जन संगठनों की ओर से लगभग हाशिए पर धकेल दिया गया.
कहते हैं, सत्ता और भ्रष्टाचार एक ही पतलून के दो पायंचे हैं और अगर ऐसा न हो तो भी सत्ता को काजल की कोठरी मानने से कौन इंकार करता है ? सुभाष घीसिंग भी इसी का शिकार हुए.
विमल गुरुंग कहते हैं- “ उन्होंने गोरखालैंड की मांग को भूला दिया और काउंसिल के भ्रष्टाचार में लिप्त हो गए.”
आप पहाड़ के किसी भी इलाके में चले जाएं, गोजमुमो के नारे और झंडे आपको हर कहीं मिल जाएंगे.
2005 में इस इलाके को छठवीं अनुसूचि में शामिल किए जाने पर अपनी मुहर लगाकर घीसिंग विवादों में घिर गए थे. दूसरी ओर विमल गुरुंग उनके खिलाफ बगावती झंडा लहराते पहाड़ में घुम ही रहे थे. कोई सात महीने पहले गुरुंग ने गोजमुमो बनाकर तो जैसे गोरखालैंड आंदोलन में भूचाल ला दिया.
हालत ये हुई कि इसी साल मार्च में जब काउंसिल का कार्यकाल खत्म होने को था और सुभाष घीसिंग ने काउंसिल की कमान छोड़ते हुए त्याग पत्र दिया तो कहा गया कि घीसिंग से यह त्यागपत्र जबरदस्ती गुरुंग समर्थकों ने दिलवाया है.माकपा का राग 'विदेशी'लेकिन गुरुंग की राह भी आसान नहीं है.
गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट के नेता सुभाष घीसिंग के समर्थक भी इस आंदोलन को एक बार फिर से अपने कब्जे में लेने की कोशिश में हैं. जिसके तहत गोरखालैंड के लिए बयानबाजी शुरु हो गई है. सुभाष घीसिंग की गोरामुमो के नेता तो विमल गुरुंग के आंदोलन को मुंगेरीलाल के सपने करार दिया है.
दूसरी ओर गुरुंग को राज्य सरकार के विरोध का भी सामना करना पड़ रहा है. नगर विकास मंत्री और माकपा नेता अशोक नारायण भट्टाचार्य तो सीधे-सीधे इस आंदोलन से जुड़े लोगों को “ विदेशी ” ठहरा रहे हैं.
हालत ये है कि सिलीगुड़ी में गोजमुमो की प्रस्तावित जनसभा के विरोध में माकपा आमने-सामने आ खड़ी हुई. 2 मई को तो माकपा कार्यकर्ताओं ने सिलीगुड़ी में जम कर आतंक मचाया और गोरखालैंड समर्थकों को जगह-जगह बेरहमी से मारा. इससे पहले 27 अप्रेल को गोजमुमो को सिलीगुड़ी में सभा करने की अनुमति ही नहीं मिली.
हालांकि गोजमुमो को दूसरे दलों का समर्थन भी मिल रहा है.
गोरखालैंड आंदोलन के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण इलाके सिलीगुड़ी से कोई 25 किलोमीटर दूर है नक्सलबाड़ी और सिलीगुड़ी-नक्सलबाड़ी के रास्ते में हाथीघिसा में रहते हैं, नक्सल आंदोलन के शुरुवाती नेताओं में से एक कानू सान्याल.
कानू कहते हैं- “ हम विमल गुरुंग के साथ हैं. अब गोरखालैंड बनाने का समय आ गया है. ”
गौरखालैंड बनाने का समय आ गया है
कानू सान्याल
भाकपा-माले के राष्ट्रीय सचिव कानू सान्याल तत्काल दूसरा राज्य पुनर्गठन आयोग गठित करने की मांग करते हुए कहते हैं कि गोरखालैंड में सिलीगुड़ी शामिल हो या न हो यह प्रशासन का मामला है.
तो क्या इस बार भी पृथक गोरखालैंड की मांग के लिए खून की नदियां बहेंगी ?
हजार से भी अधिक लोगों की बलि लेने वाले सुभाष घीसिंग के गोरखा नेशनल लिबरेशन फ्रंट के आंदोलन के साथी और अबके कट्टर विरोधी विमल गुरुंग कहते हैं- “ कंप्यूटर और इंटरनेट के जमाने में हम बंदूक या बम से नहीं, कलम से लड़ेंगे. यह जनतांत्रिक आंदोलन है.”
हो सकता है, गुरुंग सही कह रहे हों लेकिन गुरुंग के आंदोलन ने इस इलाके के खुशगवार मौसम में एक गरमाहट ला दी है. जाहिर है, इस पहाड़ी इलाके की गरमी से दिल्ली का तापमान भी बढ़ेगा और सबकी आंखें यहां दिल्ली पर ही लगी है.(Rawivar:http://www.raviwar.com/news/6_Tez_hua_gorkhaland_andolan_alokputul.shtml
Morcha show of strength in Siliguri
Siliguri, May 7: The Darjeeling district CPM has accused the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders of delivering inflammatory speeches at their rally in Indira Gandhi Maidan, thereby violating the conditions laid down by the administration.
“They launched personal attacks against our leaders, especially Asok Bhattacharya,” said Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader and a member of the CPM state committee.
Police and the district administration had instructed the Morcha not to carry out personal attacks against opposition party leaders as one of the 19 conditions laid down for the meeting to be held in Siliguri. However, Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today spent around 20 minutes vilifying Bhattacharya, the Bengal urban development minister and Siliguri MLA.
“The administration had spelt this out to avoid any confrontation, either today or later. But look how they have violated the conditions. They have spoken in a fascist manner,” Sarkar said.
In fact, almost all the speakers, including Kamtapur Progressive Party president Atul Roy and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party leader Asutosh Barma, attacked Bhattacharya for the way in which he had handled the potential rift between the hills and the plains.
Siliguri Municipal Corporation member Mukul Sengupta, Sarkar and DYFI district secretary Shankar Ghosh were also mentioned by Gurung and Morcha leader Roshan Giri for being allegedly involved in the incidents on May 2 when a few supporters of the hill party were assaulted in Siliguri.
The Morcha has also named the trio in an FIR and demanded their arrest within seven days. Otherwise 10,000 supporters would descend on Siliguri for an agitation, the Morcha leaders warned.
Sengupta said such remarks were “inflammatory and an attempt to create trouble, which the people of Siliguri will not accept”. “Had the DYFI supporters not intervened that day, something worse would have happened. The youths rescued the victims and took them away from the spot,” Sengupta added. (The Telegraph)
“They launched personal attacks against our leaders, especially Asok Bhattacharya,” said Jibitesh Sarkar, a senior district leader and a member of the CPM state committee.
Police and the district administration had instructed the Morcha not to carry out personal attacks against opposition party leaders as one of the 19 conditions laid down for the meeting to be held in Siliguri. However, Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today spent around 20 minutes vilifying Bhattacharya, the Bengal urban development minister and Siliguri MLA.
“The administration had spelt this out to avoid any confrontation, either today or later. But look how they have violated the conditions. They have spoken in a fascist manner,” Sarkar said.
In fact, almost all the speakers, including Kamtapur Progressive Party president Atul Roy and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party leader Asutosh Barma, attacked Bhattacharya for the way in which he had handled the potential rift between the hills and the plains.
Siliguri Municipal Corporation member Mukul Sengupta, Sarkar and DYFI district secretary Shankar Ghosh were also mentioned by Gurung and Morcha leader Roshan Giri for being allegedly involved in the incidents on May 2 when a few supporters of the hill party were assaulted in Siliguri.
The Morcha has also named the trio in an FIR and demanded their arrest within seven days. Otherwise 10,000 supporters would descend on Siliguri for an agitation, the Morcha leaders warned.
Sengupta said such remarks were “inflammatory and an attempt to create trouble, which the people of Siliguri will not accept”. “Had the DYFI supporters not intervened that day, something worse would have happened. The youths rescued the victims and took them away from the spot,” Sengupta added. (The Telegraph)
Supporters beat traffic jams to attend meeting
Darjeeling/Kalimpong, May 7: The Siliguri jao (let’s go to Siliguri) campaign of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha could have led to chaos on the roads leading to the plains from the hills, but most people managed to beat the rush and reach the venue on time.
By the time the meeting began at Indira Gandhi Maidan, the ground was nearly full.
The Morcha had only four days to sort out the logistics after the administration gave it permission to hold a meeting in Siliguri on Saturday evening. The people in the hills, however, took it upon themselves to take care of all the arrangements.
“We collected whatever money we could from our village. While some gave Rs 50, others contributed around Rs 150 to hire vehicles. Most drivers only charged for the fuel,” said Amrish Sharma from Judge Bazar in Darjeeling.
Apprehending heavy traffic on NH55, many people left for Siliguri yesterday in the evening. “There was no way we could reach the venue on time even if we had started off at 6am today,” said Poonam Kumar Sharma, a lawyer from Darjeeling.
Others started from Darjeeling at 4 this morning although the rally was to start at 11am. Those who pushed off around 7am could not reach Siliguri on time. “It took us almost two hours to get to Darjeeling More from Pintail Village (a distance of about 2km),” said Sailendra Pradhan of Darjeeling.
People had branched off to different routes via Mungpoo, Rohini Road and Pankhabari, but faced massive traffic jams near the venue. Parking became a major problem and the 3,000 Morcha volunteers struggled to manage the vehicles.
Those who turned out at the meeting included a significant number of first-time participants at political events. Their decision to actively engage with politics appeared to be based on a combination of factors, starting from the non-violent character of the movement to the perceived denial of democratic rights by the CPM-led Bengal government and anger over the recent incidents of assault on ex- servicemen and women in Siliguri.
“Look, as in the mid-80s, the vast majority of the people in the hills are total converts to the cause of Gorkhaland. However, the difference between then and now is the political language of the current movement. Non-violence has struck a chord in our hearts,” said Neel Kamal Chhetri, a teacher from Kalimpong.
Chhetri and his friends had pooled in money to hire a vehicle to go to Siliguri. The group of five included Nasser Ahmed and Nilesh Khadka, both entrepreneurs, and Bikal Prasad and Sulab Pradhan, who work in offices. None of them had ever gone to a political meeting before.
“We are hurt. The incidents in Siliguri (lathicharge on the ex-servicemen’s rally on April 9 and assault on women later in the month) were particularly distasteful. Had such incidents happened in, say Delhi, the CPM’s goondagiri would have been exposed,” said Prasad. (The Telegraph)
By the time the meeting began at Indira Gandhi Maidan, the ground was nearly full.
The Morcha had only four days to sort out the logistics after the administration gave it permission to hold a meeting in Siliguri on Saturday evening. The people in the hills, however, took it upon themselves to take care of all the arrangements.
“We collected whatever money we could from our village. While some gave Rs 50, others contributed around Rs 150 to hire vehicles. Most drivers only charged for the fuel,” said Amrish Sharma from Judge Bazar in Darjeeling.
Apprehending heavy traffic on NH55, many people left for Siliguri yesterday in the evening. “There was no way we could reach the venue on time even if we had started off at 6am today,” said Poonam Kumar Sharma, a lawyer from Darjeeling.
Others started from Darjeeling at 4 this morning although the rally was to start at 11am. Those who pushed off around 7am could not reach Siliguri on time. “It took us almost two hours to get to Darjeeling More from Pintail Village (a distance of about 2km),” said Sailendra Pradhan of Darjeeling.
People had branched off to different routes via Mungpoo, Rohini Road and Pankhabari, but faced massive traffic jams near the venue. Parking became a major problem and the 3,000 Morcha volunteers struggled to manage the vehicles.
Those who turned out at the meeting included a significant number of first-time participants at political events. Their decision to actively engage with politics appeared to be based on a combination of factors, starting from the non-violent character of the movement to the perceived denial of democratic rights by the CPM-led Bengal government and anger over the recent incidents of assault on ex- servicemen and women in Siliguri.
“Look, as in the mid-80s, the vast majority of the people in the hills are total converts to the cause of Gorkhaland. However, the difference between then and now is the political language of the current movement. Non-violence has struck a chord in our hearts,” said Neel Kamal Chhetri, a teacher from Kalimpong.
Chhetri and his friends had pooled in money to hire a vehicle to go to Siliguri. The group of five included Nasser Ahmed and Nilesh Khadka, both entrepreneurs, and Bikal Prasad and Sulab Pradhan, who work in offices. None of them had ever gone to a political meeting before.
“We are hurt. The incidents in Siliguri (lathicharge on the ex-servicemen’s rally on April 9 and assault on women later in the month) were particularly distasteful. Had such incidents happened in, say Delhi, the CPM’s goondagiri would have been exposed,” said Prasad. (The Telegraph)
Morcha deadline for CPM arrests
Siliguri, May 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has set a deadline of seven days for the Darjeeling district administration to arrest three CPM leaders for spearheading alleged assaults on some of its supporters in different parts of the town last week.
Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, threatened to bring down 10,000 cadres from the hills for a protest meeting and call an indefinite strike across the district if the deadline is not met.
Addressing a rally at Indira Gandhi Maidan here this afternoon, Gurung said: “Based on reports, we have lodged complaints against Jibitesh Sarkar, Mukul Sengupta and Shankar Ghosh, all CPM leaders, for assaulting our supporters, including girls, while they were on their way to the subdivisional office for a hunger strike.”
The death of a 25-year-old while returning to the hills, the arrest of an inebriated supporter, a fire in a kitchen raised on the grounds and a daylong traffic congestion on the Darjeeling More-Bhaktinagar More stretch of NH31 marked the meeting.
Earlier in the day, the Darjeeling district administration, which included 1,000 police personnel, coupled with 5,000 volunteers of the Morcha had monitored the crowd of more than one lakh as they kept trickling into the town from around 10am. A batch of 1,500 Morcha volunteers had already arrived yesterday.
At the receiving end of Gurung’s speech were the CPM and the Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya.
Senior leaders like Ananda Pathak and S.P. Lepcha were also not spared in the more than 20 minutes of CPM-bashing. “It’s a shame that they are members of a political party whose cadres are beating up our boys and girls. They should not forget their identity,” he said.
About Bhattacharya, Gurung said: “He had said he would not let Siliguri be included in Gorkhaland. We now say that we will not leave an inch of Siliguri outside Gorkhaland. Ghisingh was a hindrance to a separate state. We threw him away like an ominous black cat on March 10. I warn Asok Bhattacharya that he should not do anything that will force us to remove him in a similar manner.”
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and leaders like Harka Bahadur Chhetri also spoke on Gurung’s lines and so did Kamtapur Progressive Party president Atul Roy and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party president Asutosh Barma.
Contacted in Calcutta, Bhattacharya said: “I hate to talk about politicians who are not competent and exploit the emotions of a community to achieve their ends. The way they have held the meeting and spoken today is comparable to the Nazis during World War II.”
In his speech, the Morcha president did not forget to thank the administration for the arrangements. “We had a number of preconceived notions (about the administration), but it was good to see that everything went off smoothly,” he said. “I thank the administration for making the necessary arrangements.”
Three police officials of the rank of inspector-general and two special inspector-generals had been assigned the responsibility of the arrangement.
“We had divided the force into two groups. While one batch was kept at the venue, the other was posted along the road to check indiscipline. Around one lakh people had assembled and about 5,000 vehicles had come today but thankfully no untoward incident was reported,” said K.L. Tamta, the inspector general of police (north Bengal).
There was a scare around 2.50pm, when a fire broke out in a makeshift kitchen. The volunteers were quick to douse the flames, which left one injured.
Binod Pradhan, a resident of Kalimpong, died when the truck in which he was travelling was hit by a boulder at Hatisurey, 25km from here. “The boulder fell from the hills above, injuring six in the vehicle,” said Uday Tamang, the officer in charge of Rambhi police outpost. “One succumbed to injuries on his way to the Kalimpong hospital.”
Two of the five injured have been admitted to a nursing home in Siliguri, while others were administered first aid at Rambhi block health centre and released.
A truck carrying supporters from Darjeeling had overturned near Salbari close to Sukna on NH55, injuring two.
Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, threatened to bring down 10,000 cadres from the hills for a protest meeting and call an indefinite strike across the district if the deadline is not met.
Addressing a rally at Indira Gandhi Maidan here this afternoon, Gurung said: “Based on reports, we have lodged complaints against Jibitesh Sarkar, Mukul Sengupta and Shankar Ghosh, all CPM leaders, for assaulting our supporters, including girls, while they were on their way to the subdivisional office for a hunger strike.”
The death of a 25-year-old while returning to the hills, the arrest of an inebriated supporter, a fire in a kitchen raised on the grounds and a daylong traffic congestion on the Darjeeling More-Bhaktinagar More stretch of NH31 marked the meeting.
Earlier in the day, the Darjeeling district administration, which included 1,000 police personnel, coupled with 5,000 volunteers of the Morcha had monitored the crowd of more than one lakh as they kept trickling into the town from around 10am. A batch of 1,500 Morcha volunteers had already arrived yesterday.
At the receiving end of Gurung’s speech were the CPM and the Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya.
Senior leaders like Ananda Pathak and S.P. Lepcha were also not spared in the more than 20 minutes of CPM-bashing. “It’s a shame that they are members of a political party whose cadres are beating up our boys and girls. They should not forget their identity,” he said.
About Bhattacharya, Gurung said: “He had said he would not let Siliguri be included in Gorkhaland. We now say that we will not leave an inch of Siliguri outside Gorkhaland. Ghisingh was a hindrance to a separate state. We threw him away like an ominous black cat on March 10. I warn Asok Bhattacharya that he should not do anything that will force us to remove him in a similar manner.”
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and leaders like Harka Bahadur Chhetri also spoke on Gurung’s lines and so did Kamtapur Progressive Party president Atul Roy and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party president Asutosh Barma.
Contacted in Calcutta, Bhattacharya said: “I hate to talk about politicians who are not competent and exploit the emotions of a community to achieve their ends. The way they have held the meeting and spoken today is comparable to the Nazis during World War II.”
In his speech, the Morcha president did not forget to thank the administration for the arrangements. “We had a number of preconceived notions (about the administration), but it was good to see that everything went off smoothly,” he said. “I thank the administration for making the necessary arrangements.”
Three police officials of the rank of inspector-general and two special inspector-generals had been assigned the responsibility of the arrangement.
“We had divided the force into two groups. While one batch was kept at the venue, the other was posted along the road to check indiscipline. Around one lakh people had assembled and about 5,000 vehicles had come today but thankfully no untoward incident was reported,” said K.L. Tamta, the inspector general of police (north Bengal).
There was a scare around 2.50pm, when a fire broke out in a makeshift kitchen. The volunteers were quick to douse the flames, which left one injured.
Binod Pradhan, a resident of Kalimpong, died when the truck in which he was travelling was hit by a boulder at Hatisurey, 25km from here. “The boulder fell from the hills above, injuring six in the vehicle,” said Uday Tamang, the officer in charge of Rambhi police outpost. “One succumbed to injuries on his way to the Kalimpong hospital.”
Two of the five injured have been admitted to a nursing home in Siliguri, while others were administered first aid at Rambhi block health centre and released.
A truck carrying supporters from Darjeeling had overturned near Salbari close to Sukna on NH55, injuring two.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
7TH MAY: GJMM'S PUBLIC MEETING STARTED AT 11.30
Five minutes (11.55 am) before I had a talk with one of my friends attending GJMM's public meeting at Indira Gandhi Maidan at Siliguri. He says, the turn over of the people has crossed 1.5 lakhs and is expected to reach 2 lakhs as the people from darjeeling are not able to reach here due to traffic jam at Ghoom. He said 70% of the participants are women. The participnats are from Duars, Kalimpong, Mirik, Kurseong.
Administration has laid down 9 point code for the meeting but some of the codes have been violated. Flags of the party (GJMM) has been used, slogans has been uttered, meeting started at 11.30 instead of 10 am.
Amra Bangala has called the 24 hour strike in Siliguri in against the Gorkhaland demand and my friend said that this has helped the GJMM to conduct the meeting in an easier way. First there is no traffic problem (no bus, tempo and rickshaws), Second, all the Nepali employees could attend the meeting without taking the leave, third, hotels being closed it is a gala time for the participants for they have brought the food themselves. Only problem is the heat.
At this moment the leaders from KPP is addressing the crowd.
As and when I get the news I will try to inform the esteemed readers.
CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON
FIFTH COLUMN - Sumanta Sen
The revival of the movement for a separate Gorkhaland has caused apprehensions that it would encourage further divisive tendencies in north Bengal. Already, forces demanding a separate Kamtapur and a Greater Cooch Behar have lent support to Bimal Gurung and his men, thus making it clear that they will create widespread disturbances. That is not all. Recent police raids in Siliguri unearthed the presence of Nepalis in the foothills of Bhutan. This shows that they are also in the fray, and are armed with weapons that they have presumably received from Ulfa.
This is what makes the current Gorkhaland agitation different from, and more dangerous than, the one in the Eighties. Then, despite his best efforts, Subash Ghisingh had not been able to extend his influence beyond the three hill subdivisions. This time, Gurung and his men have ensured that they have a support base in the plains as well.
The agitation during the Eighties was not peaceful either. At that time, the arms and the ammunition used to come clandestinely from Nepal. At present, that supply line has got disrupted. But this should not worry the agitators as long as Ulfa is active. The supporters of Greater Cooch Behar and Kamtapur have ensured that the arms reach the hills and the other sensitive spots in north Bengal. And across the border is Bangladesh, which is yet to show any interest in keeping away disruptive elements from eastern India. The Maitree Express is fine, but its run almost coincided with the disturbing disclosure from Dhaka that Ulfa boss, Paresh Baruah, had escaped.
Unjust demands
The developments in the hills and in the adjoining plains should make the supporters of secessionist movements pause and reflect. They should realize that a concerted move is on to disrupt the peace in this region, and that these demands are illogical. The Nepalese cannot claim that their homeland is in foreign hands. Similarly, the Rajbansis of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri have no case when they seek to argue, as some of their leaders do, that they are not a part of the Bengali family.
In fact, the dream of a Kamtapur kingdom had been conjured up by a section of the landed gentry that wanted a return to the good life, which it enjoyed when Cooch Behar was a native state. It should also be kept in mind that the Kamtapur kingdom had included parts of lower Assam, but the leaders of the movement are silent on this point. Perhaps they know that taking on two state governments would be a little too much.
What makes the situation in the north that much more dangerous is that in the south, the people of Jharkhand still feel that Purulia, Bankura, and parts of Midnapore belong to their state. They have clearly made common cause with the Maoists. All these forces have a common interest: create unrest and keep the government on its toes.
Unfortunately, any concern over these developments seems confined within the Writers’ Buildings only. Ordinary citizens do not have a role to play in this, but they seem to be unaware of the danger. Even the ruling party, for reasons of its own, seems hesitant to tackle these groups. The impression that is being created is that the unrest is the handiwork of a few unruly elements, and that it does not adequately reflect the ground realities.
Is this low-key approach deliberate, so that the people do not realize that the government has a hot potato in its hands? The argument that the government will be able to “win them over politically” does not sound very convincing. Also, the separatists are not just against the ruling party: their target, ultimately, is Bengal as a whole and its people. A more determined effort to counter such divisiveness is certainly the need of the hour. (The Telegraph)
The revival of the movement for a separate Gorkhaland has caused apprehensions that it would encourage further divisive tendencies in north Bengal. Already, forces demanding a separate Kamtapur and a Greater Cooch Behar have lent support to Bimal Gurung and his men, thus making it clear that they will create widespread disturbances. That is not all. Recent police raids in Siliguri unearthed the presence of Nepalis in the foothills of Bhutan. This shows that they are also in the fray, and are armed with weapons that they have presumably received from Ulfa.
This is what makes the current Gorkhaland agitation different from, and more dangerous than, the one in the Eighties. Then, despite his best efforts, Subash Ghisingh had not been able to extend his influence beyond the three hill subdivisions. This time, Gurung and his men have ensured that they have a support base in the plains as well.
The agitation during the Eighties was not peaceful either. At that time, the arms and the ammunition used to come clandestinely from Nepal. At present, that supply line has got disrupted. But this should not worry the agitators as long as Ulfa is active. The supporters of Greater Cooch Behar and Kamtapur have ensured that the arms reach the hills and the other sensitive spots in north Bengal. And across the border is Bangladesh, which is yet to show any interest in keeping away disruptive elements from eastern India. The Maitree Express is fine, but its run almost coincided with the disturbing disclosure from Dhaka that Ulfa boss, Paresh Baruah, had escaped.
Unjust demands
The developments in the hills and in the adjoining plains should make the supporters of secessionist movements pause and reflect. They should realize that a concerted move is on to disrupt the peace in this region, and that these demands are illogical. The Nepalese cannot claim that their homeland is in foreign hands. Similarly, the Rajbansis of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri have no case when they seek to argue, as some of their leaders do, that they are not a part of the Bengali family.
In fact, the dream of a Kamtapur kingdom had been conjured up by a section of the landed gentry that wanted a return to the good life, which it enjoyed when Cooch Behar was a native state. It should also be kept in mind that the Kamtapur kingdom had included parts of lower Assam, but the leaders of the movement are silent on this point. Perhaps they know that taking on two state governments would be a little too much.
What makes the situation in the north that much more dangerous is that in the south, the people of Jharkhand still feel that Purulia, Bankura, and parts of Midnapore belong to their state. They have clearly made common cause with the Maoists. All these forces have a common interest: create unrest and keep the government on its toes.
Unfortunately, any concern over these developments seems confined within the Writers’ Buildings only. Ordinary citizens do not have a role to play in this, but they seem to be unaware of the danger. Even the ruling party, for reasons of its own, seems hesitant to tackle these groups. The impression that is being created is that the unrest is the handiwork of a few unruly elements, and that it does not adequately reflect the ground realities.
Is this low-key approach deliberate, so that the people do not realize that the government has a hot potato in its hands? The argument that the government will be able to “win them over politically” does not sound very convincing. Also, the separatists are not just against the ruling party: their target, ultimately, is Bengal as a whole and its people. A more determined effort to counter such divisiveness is certainly the need of the hour. (The Telegraph)
Hills to empty out for plains meet Venue ready for water tankers, ambulances
Darjeeling/Siliguri, May 6: Schools have declared a holiday, tea garden labourers are willing to work on a Sunday instead and government employees in the hills have applied for casual leave: the number of people attending the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s rally in Siliguri tomorrow is expected to cross 2 lakh.
“The number will be something between 2.5 lakh and 3 lakh. We are still running short of vehicles,” said Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha.
Five parking lots have been earmarked around Indira Gandhi Maidan, the venue of the meeting, for the 10,000 vehicles that are expected to bring down the Morcha supporters from the hills. Hundreds of them have started descending on Siliguri since late this afternoon with almost 1,500 volunteers having reached Pintail Village, 4km from the town.
“Ex-servicemen will be briefing them on traffic management. Another 1,500 volunteers are expected to reach early tomorrow,” said Tamang. The Morcha has in recent times revived the demand for Gorkhaland and is spearheading the movement. Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, today faxed a memorandum on the statehood demand to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The chief minister had on Sunday told a private news channel in Calcutta that the people of Darjeeling should submit a memorandum, stating their exact demands.
“We will set up five booths, three of which will be at the Darjeeling More-end and two in the Bhaktinagar area to help people in case of any emergency,” said Tamang. The booths will be manned by the volunteers.
Four medical teams with will be stationed near the ground along with seven ambulances. “Nine tankers will supply drinking water to people at the venue,” said Tamang. Eleven speakers, including representatives of the Kamtapur Progressive Party and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party, will address the meeting.
Several schools in Salugara, Salbari and Dagapur — areas surrounding the venue — like those in the hills have declared a suspension of classes tomorrow. In the hills, there will be no one to take the classes as teachers, too, will attend the meeting. As for the plains, the authorities have not offered any explanation except that extra classes will be held on Saturday. However, sources at the institutions said the suspension was declared so that students do not face any harassment because of the rally.
Classes will not be held in St Joseph’s High School, Matigara, Don Bosco School Sevoke Road, Delhi Public School and Sister Margaret (Nivedita) School to name a few. Schools in the hills did not want to be named. (The Telegraph)
“The number will be something between 2.5 lakh and 3 lakh. We are still running short of vehicles,” said Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha.
Five parking lots have been earmarked around Indira Gandhi Maidan, the venue of the meeting, for the 10,000 vehicles that are expected to bring down the Morcha supporters from the hills. Hundreds of them have started descending on Siliguri since late this afternoon with almost 1,500 volunteers having reached Pintail Village, 4km from the town.
“Ex-servicemen will be briefing them on traffic management. Another 1,500 volunteers are expected to reach early tomorrow,” said Tamang. The Morcha has in recent times revived the demand for Gorkhaland and is spearheading the movement. Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, today faxed a memorandum on the statehood demand to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The chief minister had on Sunday told a private news channel in Calcutta that the people of Darjeeling should submit a memorandum, stating their exact demands.
“We will set up five booths, three of which will be at the Darjeeling More-end and two in the Bhaktinagar area to help people in case of any emergency,” said Tamang. The booths will be manned by the volunteers.
Four medical teams with will be stationed near the ground along with seven ambulances. “Nine tankers will supply drinking water to people at the venue,” said Tamang. Eleven speakers, including representatives of the Kamtapur Progressive Party and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party, will address the meeting.
Several schools in Salugara, Salbari and Dagapur — areas surrounding the venue — like those in the hills have declared a suspension of classes tomorrow. In the hills, there will be no one to take the classes as teachers, too, will attend the meeting. As for the plains, the authorities have not offered any explanation except that extra classes will be held on Saturday. However, sources at the institutions said the suspension was declared so that students do not face any harassment because of the rally.
Classes will not be held in St Joseph’s High School, Matigara, Don Bosco School Sevoke Road, Delhi Public School and Sister Margaret (Nivedita) School to name a few. Schools in the hills did not want to be named. (The Telegraph)
GJMM submits memorandum to CM for Gorkhaland
DARJEELING, May 6: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha today submitted a memorandum to chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya stating that only the separate state of Gorkhaland would fulfill the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling and adjoining areas of Dooars and Siliguri. The memorandum states that the people of the region have been deprived politically, socially and economically and only the separate state of Gorkhaland would bring them at par with the National mainstream.This comes as a follow-up to Mr Bhattacharya’s recent statement that the demands of the GJMM were not clear. Mr Bhattacharya also stated that he co-uld take no action on the issue on the basis of reports in the newspapers, thereby requesting the GJMM to submit a written memorandum to the state government and the Centre. The memorandum states: “Darjeeling and Dooars were never a part of West Bengal but were annexed to West Bengal by accidents of history.” GJMM has appealed the state government to consider the demand in a new perspective and to deliver justice immediately. (The Statesman)
900 cops for GJMM public meet
Statesman News Service SILIGURI, May 6: The Darjeeling district administration has called in additional police forces in view of the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha’s public meeting at the Indira Gandhi Maidan in Siliguri tomorrow. According to police sources, 900 of the extra forces, summoned from the adjoining sub-divisions, would be deployed in and around the venue adjacent to the National Highway (NH) 31. The rest would be kept on standby at the police reserve, Mallaguri in the town. While the GJMM spokesperson Mr Binoy Tamang said that they were expecting a gathering of about two and half lakh supporters at the Siliguri meeting tomorrow, the administration is assuming a gathering of nearly a lakh. According to the IGP (north Bengal), Mr KL Tamta, 12 IPS officers including the Jalpaiguri SP and 24 DSPs would be on duty at the meeting venue and elsewhere in Siliguri during the meeting hours tomorrow.There would be five assistance booths for guiding the crowd, which would be jointly manned by the police and the GJMM volunteers. As per the GJMM spokesperson, about 4,000 party volunteers including a sizeable number of Gorkha ex-servicemen would be assisting the police in maintaining the crowd. “Eleven speakers would address the gathering,” he said.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
DARJEELING DETOUR
A friend of mine sent me this article in my email, I tried to locate its source but could not get it. I am producing it as I have received.
Carving out a separate state of Gorkhaland would be to everyone's — except the parochial Bengali's benefit. Never mind the vociferous complaints from illegal migrants from Bangladesh who now pose as patriots and defenders of India 's territorial integrity - Jaideep Mazumdar Serene Hills Darjeeling presents a picture of tranquility; there's no way one can make out that the long-suffering people of the picturesque hills are involved in a desperate but totally non-violent agitation for a separate state. There are many tourists–as is usual at this time of the year–who've escaped to this cool 'Queen of Hill Stations' from the searing heat in the plains and hotels, curio shops, taxi operators, restaurateurs and stalls selling woolen garments are doing brisk business. The inflow of money is spawning smiles, but one can't really miss the sadness in the eyes of the hills people. Sadness caused by years of neglect, discrimination and step-motherly treatment they've been subjected to by those who rule over them from Writers' Building in Kolkata. This abject neglect of the Darjeeling hills is evident from the one moment one starts the climb up to the hills. The roads are a mess and it's evident they've seen no repair works for many years. People living in small hamlets by the roadside cook and wash with water flowing through small streams, many don't have electricity and the rate of unemployment is very high, much more than that of the rest of Bengal . But the smiles never leave the faces of the people; much like their small, neat cottages that present a happy picture with begonias and pansies in joyful blossom on the widow sills and balconies. Darjeeling town has been allowed to become a concrete jungle, with acute water shortage, unplanned constructions, potholed roads and a general air of official apathy that hangs heavy over the still-beautiful town, much like the mist and fog. Disastrous Reign The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland (within the framework of the Indian Constitution, a point that's missed or conveniently ignored by many) is nothing new. It first began in the 1980s and was led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front with the quixotic, but popular, Subhas Ghising at its helm. The GNLF, after a few years of spirited and, at times, violent agitation–which, to its immense credit, was totally non-communal and did not result in plains people residing in the hills being targeted even covertly–settled for regional autonomy and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was formed in 1988 with Ghising as its Chairman. Ghising (an impulsive, impractical and mercurial person with too many idiosyncrasies even at the best of times), lorded over the hills uninterruptedly for nearly two decades but failed his simple, down-to-earth and impressionable people. The Marxist government of Bengal found in Ghising a convenient tool to rule the hills by proxy and continue with its official policy of gross neglect, lack of concern and discrimination against the hill people. The rulers in Kolkata winked at the massive corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and wastage of funds by the DGHC under Ghising. It seemed the CPI(M) was happy that Ghising was doing exactly as it had always wanted: to take the hill people for a ride. But unforeseen developments saw a disgraceful end to Ghising's rule. It was because of Kolkata's acquiescence to, or suspected complicity with, Ghising's misrule that the people of the hills are once again demanding a separate state. Had Kolkata cared for the people of the hills, it would have removed Ghising a long time ago and ensured that the DGHC functions properly to meet their aspirations. Gandhian Protests A unique and glorious feature of the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, and of the current one as well, is that it was (and is) non-violent and non-sectarian. There were no attacks on people from the plains and, in fact, many became torch-bearers of the agitation. Like my friend Sandip Jain of Kalimpong, who headed the GNLF's youth wing in the turbulent 1980s and is now the Editor of Himalayan Times. Contrary to general belief in the plains, no non-Nepali was ever attacked or discriminated against in any manner during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation.. Even now, when the agitation is again gaining momentum, visitors from the rest of Bengal and the world are perhaps safer in Darjeeling , Kalimpong, Kurseong or any other corner of the hills than many other parts of the country, including Kolkata. Yes, during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, many non-Nepali speaking people who had been residing in the hills for many decades sold their properties and shifted, but they did so not because they were driven out. They shifted because they could not put up with the climate of unrest and uncertainty that the agitation brought. Today, many of them (and I know quite a few) regret having left the hills. They still look at Darjeeling , or Ghoom, or Kurseong (or wherever) their hometown and return every year to reconnect with their roots. Reprehensible Statement In light of all this, the statement made by urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharya (also the CPI-M strongman in North Bengal) asking tourists to keep away from the Darjeeling hills is reprehensible, to say the least. Bhattacharya said earlier this week it would not be safe for tourists to visit the Darjeeling Hills and suggested tourists from the plains could be targeted by the agitating masses in the hills. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Just two days before he made this mischievous and repulsive comment, I was in Darjeeling and found the people there to be their usual courteous, welcoming and helpful selves. If anything, they were more so and went out of their way to make me, and every other visitor there, feel at home. Not for a nanosecond did I feel unwelcome or unsafe. Bhattacharya's statement must be condemned, and treated with the utter contempt that it deserves. People ought to continue going to the hills to enjoy not only the salubrious clime and the breathtaking scenery, but also the unparalleled hospitality of the people of the hills. Darjeeling hills are, and I'm sure will continue to be, a treat for our eyes and also our souls. Bimal Gurung, the leader of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha that is spearheading the current agitation, has rightly countered Bhattacharya's statement by assuring that the Morcha will ensure the safety of each and every visitor to the hills. The minister, by making that vile statement, was only trying to cripple the tourist-dependant economy of the hills and turn the people of the hills against the GJM–if tourists stop going to the hills because of the agitation, Bhattacharya must have inferred, the people of the hills would turn against the Morcha. This alone shows the disconnect between the rulers in Kolkata and their subjects in the hills–the people of the hills would rather bear the temporary inconveniences of an agitation for a separate state that'll yield a lot of benefits to them than suffer any more neglect, apathy and discrimination. Justifiable Demand Apart from the step-motherly treatment that the hills have been subjected to all these decades, there is little that the people of the hills have in common with the rest of Bengal . Their language, culture, social norms, religious practices, ethos and temperament is totally different from the Bengali who rules over them. Bengal earns huge sums of money from the Darjeeling hills by way of tourism and tea. Very little of that is ploughed back to the hills for the benefit of its people. A separate Gorkhaland state would be much more viable, financially, than even Bengal . Seminal studies have been conducted, including a brilliant one by Dr Mahendra P.Lama, the Vice-Chancellor of the new Sikkim University , which prove beyond doubt that a state of Gorkhaland within the Indian Union would be a viable and revenue-surplus state. For decades, tea companies headquartered in Kolkata have been siphoning off their profits from the gardens and it is high time the tea companies ploughed back their profits into the economy of the hills. This can only happen when Gorkhaland is formed. Many hotels in Darjeeling are run by people in Kolkata and this yields little benefit to the people of the hills. Rulers and bureaucrats in Kolkata can never understand and appreciate the disposition of the hills people and dynamics of that region. Darjeeling hills cannot be governed in the same manner as, say, Dinajpur. Disinformation Campaign The CPI(M) has launched a scurrilous and vile disinformation campaign against the GJM and the ongoing Gorkhaland agitation. I got a taste of it while on my way back from Darjeeling the other day. I happened to have a chat with a resident of Siliguri (Asok Bhattacharya's fief) at that town's Bagdogra airport. He painted a dark picture of the Gorkhaland agitation and the agitators–they had migrated from Nepal , he said, over the past 150 years or so and will kill and maim to achieve a separate state that they'll ultimately merge with Nepal ! Bristling with anger, I asked the man when had he migrated to Siliguri from Bangladesh and if the Koch-Rajbongshis (who've also been agitating for a separate Kamtapur state) weren't the original inhabitants of the whole of North Bengal till hordes of people from Bangladesh–almost all illegal migrants–reduced them to a minority in their own land? He was taken aback and meekly mumbled later on that he had crossed over into India and settled down in Siliguri less than three decades ago. These illegal migrants from Bangladesh , settled comfortably in North Bengal (all over Bengal, in fact) under the patronage of the CPI(M), now pose as patriots and defenders of India 's territorial integrity. Such people would do well to remind themselves that Gorkhas (or Nepali-speaking people) have shed far more blood for India than most other communities, including Bengalis. The state police–the CPI(M)'s foot-soldiers, no more–should also remember this before brutally assaulting Nepali ex-servicemen, as they shamelessly did a few weeks back at Siliguri. Those ex-servicemen had done far more for India than the Bengal police can ever hope or aspire to do. Unfortunately, very few people in the plains, including Kolkata, display the courage to defend the democratic rights of the people of the hills. For weeks now, the state administration has been denying permission to the GJM to hold rallies in Siliguri. Overt and covert attempts are being made to crush their agitation. On Friday, GJM activists were beaten up mercilessly by DYFI and CPI(M) goons at Siliguri, perhaps also to provoke a backlash from the GJM that can lead to a divide between Gorkhas and non-Gorkhas. A couple of hours after this planned attack on GJM activists at Siliguri, I happened to be attending a press meet organized by human rights activists, intellectuals and artistes at the Kolkata Press Club and requested a prominent painter and a celebrated theatre personality who were on the dais to also condemn the state's attempts to deny the GJM its democratic right to protest by staging hunger-strikes, demonstrations and rallies peacefully. To my utter dismay, they declined to say anything on this and made an officious statement that my request would be "looked into". And these are the very people who so vociferously protest the CPI(M)-led government's throttling of voices of the people. Such double standards expose the vacuous character of these so-called intellectuals.The only silver lining on Friday was a rally taken out by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) in Siliguri condemning the attack on GJM cadres and supporting their right to stage peaceful protests. Garnering Support It is imperative for the GJM and its leaders to garner support from not just the hills, but civil society in Kolkata and Delhi , for their agitation. Thanks to the CPI(M)'s disinformation campaign, many view the Gorkhaland agitation with suspicion and see it as a separatist movement. The GJM leaders and prominent individuals from the hills ought to hold seminars and press conferences in Kolkata and allay apprehensions and fears and set the record straight–that carving out a separate state of Gorkhaland would be to everyone's (except the parochial Bengali's) benefit. Jaideep Mazumdar
Carving out a separate state of Gorkhaland would be to everyone's — except the parochial Bengali's benefit. Never mind the vociferous complaints from illegal migrants from Bangladesh who now pose as patriots and defenders of India 's territorial integrity - Jaideep Mazumdar Serene Hills Darjeeling presents a picture of tranquility; there's no way one can make out that the long-suffering people of the picturesque hills are involved in a desperate but totally non-violent agitation for a separate state. There are many tourists–as is usual at this time of the year–who've escaped to this cool 'Queen of Hill Stations' from the searing heat in the plains and hotels, curio shops, taxi operators, restaurateurs and stalls selling woolen garments are doing brisk business. The inflow of money is spawning smiles, but one can't really miss the sadness in the eyes of the hills people. Sadness caused by years of neglect, discrimination and step-motherly treatment they've been subjected to by those who rule over them from Writers' Building in Kolkata. This abject neglect of the Darjeeling hills is evident from the one moment one starts the climb up to the hills. The roads are a mess and it's evident they've seen no repair works for many years. People living in small hamlets by the roadside cook and wash with water flowing through small streams, many don't have electricity and the rate of unemployment is very high, much more than that of the rest of Bengal . But the smiles never leave the faces of the people; much like their small, neat cottages that present a happy picture with begonias and pansies in joyful blossom on the widow sills and balconies. Darjeeling town has been allowed to become a concrete jungle, with acute water shortage, unplanned constructions, potholed roads and a general air of official apathy that hangs heavy over the still-beautiful town, much like the mist and fog. Disastrous Reign The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland (within the framework of the Indian Constitution, a point that's missed or conveniently ignored by many) is nothing new. It first began in the 1980s and was led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front with the quixotic, but popular, Subhas Ghising at its helm. The GNLF, after a few years of spirited and, at times, violent agitation–which, to its immense credit, was totally non-communal and did not result in plains people residing in the hills being targeted even covertly–settled for regional autonomy and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was formed in 1988 with Ghising as its Chairman. Ghising (an impulsive, impractical and mercurial person with too many idiosyncrasies even at the best of times), lorded over the hills uninterruptedly for nearly two decades but failed his simple, down-to-earth and impressionable people. The Marxist government of Bengal found in Ghising a convenient tool to rule the hills by proxy and continue with its official policy of gross neglect, lack of concern and discrimination against the hill people. The rulers in Kolkata winked at the massive corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and wastage of funds by the DGHC under Ghising. It seemed the CPI(M) was happy that Ghising was doing exactly as it had always wanted: to take the hill people for a ride. But unforeseen developments saw a disgraceful end to Ghising's rule. It was because of Kolkata's acquiescence to, or suspected complicity with, Ghising's misrule that the people of the hills are once again demanding a separate state. Had Kolkata cared for the people of the hills, it would have removed Ghising a long time ago and ensured that the DGHC functions properly to meet their aspirations. Gandhian Protests A unique and glorious feature of the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, and of the current one as well, is that it was (and is) non-violent and non-sectarian. There were no attacks on people from the plains and, in fact, many became torch-bearers of the agitation. Like my friend Sandip Jain of Kalimpong, who headed the GNLF's youth wing in the turbulent 1980s and is now the Editor of Himalayan Times. Contrary to general belief in the plains, no non-Nepali was ever attacked or discriminated against in any manner during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation.. Even now, when the agitation is again gaining momentum, visitors from the rest of Bengal and the world are perhaps safer in Darjeeling , Kalimpong, Kurseong or any other corner of the hills than many other parts of the country, including Kolkata. Yes, during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, many non-Nepali speaking people who had been residing in the hills for many decades sold their properties and shifted, but they did so not because they were driven out. They shifted because they could not put up with the climate of unrest and uncertainty that the agitation brought. Today, many of them (and I know quite a few) regret having left the hills. They still look at Darjeeling , or Ghoom, or Kurseong (or wherever) their hometown and return every year to reconnect with their roots. Reprehensible Statement In light of all this, the statement made by urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharya (also the CPI-M strongman in North Bengal) asking tourists to keep away from the Darjeeling hills is reprehensible, to say the least. Bhattacharya said earlier this week it would not be safe for tourists to visit the Darjeeling Hills and suggested tourists from the plains could be targeted by the agitating masses in the hills. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Just two days before he made this mischievous and repulsive comment, I was in Darjeeling and found the people there to be their usual courteous, welcoming and helpful selves. If anything, they were more so and went out of their way to make me, and every other visitor there, feel at home. Not for a nanosecond did I feel unwelcome or unsafe. Bhattacharya's statement must be condemned, and treated with the utter contempt that it deserves. People ought to continue going to the hills to enjoy not only the salubrious clime and the breathtaking scenery, but also the unparalleled hospitality of the people of the hills. Darjeeling hills are, and I'm sure will continue to be, a treat for our eyes and also our souls. Bimal Gurung, the leader of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha that is spearheading the current agitation, has rightly countered Bhattacharya's statement by assuring that the Morcha will ensure the safety of each and every visitor to the hills. The minister, by making that vile statement, was only trying to cripple the tourist-dependant economy of the hills and turn the people of the hills against the GJM–if tourists stop going to the hills because of the agitation, Bhattacharya must have inferred, the people of the hills would turn against the Morcha. This alone shows the disconnect between the rulers in Kolkata and their subjects in the hills–the people of the hills would rather bear the temporary inconveniences of an agitation for a separate state that'll yield a lot of benefits to them than suffer any more neglect, apathy and discrimination. Justifiable Demand Apart from the step-motherly treatment that the hills have been subjected to all these decades, there is little that the people of the hills have in common with the rest of Bengal . Their language, culture, social norms, religious practices, ethos and temperament is totally different from the Bengali who rules over them. Bengal earns huge sums of money from the Darjeeling hills by way of tourism and tea. Very little of that is ploughed back to the hills for the benefit of its people. A separate Gorkhaland state would be much more viable, financially, than even Bengal . Seminal studies have been conducted, including a brilliant one by Dr Mahendra P.Lama, the Vice-Chancellor of the new Sikkim University , which prove beyond doubt that a state of Gorkhaland within the Indian Union would be a viable and revenue-surplus state. For decades, tea companies headquartered in Kolkata have been siphoning off their profits from the gardens and it is high time the tea companies ploughed back their profits into the economy of the hills. This can only happen when Gorkhaland is formed. Many hotels in Darjeeling are run by people in Kolkata and this yields little benefit to the people of the hills. Rulers and bureaucrats in Kolkata can never understand and appreciate the disposition of the hills people and dynamics of that region. Darjeeling hills cannot be governed in the same manner as, say, Dinajpur. Disinformation Campaign The CPI(M) has launched a scurrilous and vile disinformation campaign against the GJM and the ongoing Gorkhaland agitation. I got a taste of it while on my way back from Darjeeling the other day. I happened to have a chat with a resident of Siliguri (Asok Bhattacharya's fief) at that town's Bagdogra airport. He painted a dark picture of the Gorkhaland agitation and the agitators–they had migrated from Nepal , he said, over the past 150 years or so and will kill and maim to achieve a separate state that they'll ultimately merge with Nepal ! Bristling with anger, I asked the man when had he migrated to Siliguri from Bangladesh and if the Koch-Rajbongshis (who've also been agitating for a separate Kamtapur state) weren't the original inhabitants of the whole of North Bengal till hordes of people from Bangladesh–almost all illegal migrants–reduced them to a minority in their own land? He was taken aback and meekly mumbled later on that he had crossed over into India and settled down in Siliguri less than three decades ago. These illegal migrants from Bangladesh , settled comfortably in North Bengal (all over Bengal, in fact) under the patronage of the CPI(M), now pose as patriots and defenders of India 's territorial integrity. Such people would do well to remind themselves that Gorkhas (or Nepali-speaking people) have shed far more blood for India than most other communities, including Bengalis. The state police–the CPI(M)'s foot-soldiers, no more–should also remember this before brutally assaulting Nepali ex-servicemen, as they shamelessly did a few weeks back at Siliguri. Those ex-servicemen had done far more for India than the Bengal police can ever hope or aspire to do. Unfortunately, very few people in the plains, including Kolkata, display the courage to defend the democratic rights of the people of the hills. For weeks now, the state administration has been denying permission to the GJM to hold rallies in Siliguri. Overt and covert attempts are being made to crush their agitation. On Friday, GJM activists were beaten up mercilessly by DYFI and CPI(M) goons at Siliguri, perhaps also to provoke a backlash from the GJM that can lead to a divide between Gorkhas and non-Gorkhas. A couple of hours after this planned attack on GJM activists at Siliguri, I happened to be attending a press meet organized by human rights activists, intellectuals and artistes at the Kolkata Press Club and requested a prominent painter and a celebrated theatre personality who were on the dais to also condemn the state's attempts to deny the GJM its democratic right to protest by staging hunger-strikes, demonstrations and rallies peacefully. To my utter dismay, they declined to say anything on this and made an officious statement that my request would be "looked into". And these are the very people who so vociferously protest the CPI(M)-led government's throttling of voices of the people. Such double standards expose the vacuous character of these so-called intellectuals.The only silver lining on Friday was a rally taken out by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) in Siliguri condemning the attack on GJM cadres and supporting their right to stage peaceful protests. Garnering Support It is imperative for the GJM and its leaders to garner support from not just the hills, but civil society in Kolkata and Delhi , for their agitation. Thanks to the CPI(M)'s disinformation campaign, many view the Gorkhaland agitation with suspicion and see it as a separatist movement. The GJM leaders and prominent individuals from the hills ought to hold seminars and press conferences in Kolkata and allay apprehensions and fears and set the record straight–that carving out a separate state of Gorkhaland would be to everyone's (except the parochial Bengali's) benefit. Jaideep Mazumdar
Monday, May 5, 2008
Priya blames govt for ‘immature handling’ of Darjeeling situation
KOLKATA, May 4: The Union information and broadcasting minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today squarely blamed the state government for its ‘immature and improper’ handling of the situation in Darjeeling. He also questioned the wisdom of the state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya's advice to tourists not to visit the hills in view of the escalating tension there. “The situation in Darjeeling is very sensitive. The state government's handling of the situation was very improper and immature,” Mr Das Munshi told reporters. “No tourists complained about harassment by the agitating Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha activists. The people of Darjeeling are very hospitable to tourists and tourism is their bread and butter. “The untimely advice by the state minister suggesting tourists not to visit Darjeeling will not only tarnish the state's image, but also have an impact on the overall tourism prospect of the country,” he said.The minister said that the state government has made a mistake by not intervening when agitators prevented Mr Subhas Ghising, who was the caretaker administrator of DGHC, from entering the hills. He also said the state government had failed to read the situation of the hills when a tripartite memorandum of agreement was signed by the Union home ministry, the state government and the then chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) Mr Ghising on the proposed constitutional amendment to bring DGHC under the Sixth Schedule. However, Mr Das Munshi said the Centre would extend support to the chief minister so that impasse could be resolved amicably. “Delhi cannot move an inch without taking the state government into confidence to resolve this sensitive issue,'' he said.The state government, Mr Das Munshi charged, had failed to read the situation of the hills when a tripartite memorandum of agreement was signed by the Union home ministry, the state government and the then chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) Mr Subhas Ghising on the proposed constitutional amendment to bring DGHC under the Sixth Schedule. “I had taken all possible measures and was ready to pass the Bill with two-thirds majority in the Parliament,” Mr Das Munshi said. “But the day before the Bill was to be placed in the House I received a message that it may be referred to the Standing Committee so that other views could be heard,"the Union minister said. (The Statesman)
Gorkhaland: Bimal Gurung turns into Frankenstein
Sujit Roy, 05 May 2008, Monday
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, Bimal Gurung has now turned into a Frankenstein. The person who was brought into lime light to oust DGHC chairman Subhas Ghising from power has now become the most dangerous person for the state government.
THE FRESH separatist movement in Darjeeling under the leadership of Bimal Gurung, seems to be the replay of Mary Shelly’s science fiction Frankenstein. In the world famous fiction, the creator of the monster regretted later for his unbelievable creation. In the recent development, the creator of the new danger is West Bengal government, which has earned fame in doing mistakes and later regretting it.
In the late 80’s, the call for a separate state, Gorkhaland was given by Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subhas Ghising, a Nepali poet and writer who used to sell his poems to the tourists in the mall. The movement earned energy and turned into a militant one as the state government did not pay proper attention and cared less at its initiation.
Ghising became a hero overnight. After years of bloody movement the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was formed and Ghising refrained himself from the demand of a separate state. However, he became the chairman of the autonomous council and behaved like the ‘chief minister of Darjeeling.’
State government wanted to oust him so that the hills can come under direct control of the state government and politically under the red flag. They created Gorkha Liberation Organisation, under the leadership of Chhatre Subba in oppose to the GNLF. The Kalimpong based Subba had also claimed a separate state and was finally put into jail on the charge of attempting on the life of Subhas Ghising.
Now it is the turn of Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, who claims a separate statehood for the greater Darjeeling district and that too by democratic movement. Bimal Gurung, like Chhatre Subba was a close aide of Ghising and came into limelight during Gorkhaland movement as a member of the action squad. The Mastan Bahini, as the action squad was called, had been led by Bimal Gurung in some pockets of the hill station. Not much educated but a very daring and dashing young man, Gurung terrorized the areas like Bijonbari where Communist Party of India {CPI(M)} had its control.
After the formation of DGHC, the situation took a new turn and people forgot Bimal Gurung. He came up again when Prashant Tamang, the first singer from Darjeeling came out to be the prospective winner in the Indian Idol contest. Gurung with his team paid total attention to collect votes in favour of Tamang. His target was to come back to the people of the hills and develop his public relations campaign against Ghising.
The state government and the CPI(M) took the chance and came into contact with him to launch a campaign against Ghising. Bimal raised slogan for ousting Ghising from the chair of DGHC immediately after Prashant Tamang won the Indian Idol title. Bimal never raised the slogan of a separate state before but initiated an all out effort for a separate Gorkhaland as soon as Ghising resigned.
A statement of State Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who hails from Darjeeling district, that Ghising was a far better choice than Bimal Gurung, clearly indicates that their choice is wrong and they did not perceive that Bimal Gurung would turn into Frankenstein. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said recently that he is perplexed and confused to understand what does Bimal Gurung want. This also clears the assumption that the state government was unaware of his secret plan. This reminds us of the ample examples of mistakes made by the state government and later regretting the same .
The situation in the hills is becoming tense day by day and absence of normalcy obstructs the tourists to enter Darjeeling at the peak season. Even Jyoti Basu has cautioned the tourists, not to visit Darjeeling now. During Ghising’s movement only the hills were disturbed. Now the plains in the district like Duars and Siliguri are also disturbed. The economy of the district is getting worst every day. The CPI(M) is loosing its power in the areas where it regained. The whole lot of the population has no other choice but to say yes to the man of the movement, which is democratic outwardly but under the shade of violence. They are very clear of their demand – separate Gorkhaland and nothing else.
Now the state has to decide how it tackles the situation because they have created the Frankenstein and none else. (Merinews)
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, Bimal Gurung has now turned into a Frankenstein. The person who was brought into lime light to oust DGHC chairman Subhas Ghising from power has now become the most dangerous person for the state government.
THE FRESH separatist movement in Darjeeling under the leadership of Bimal Gurung, seems to be the replay of Mary Shelly’s science fiction Frankenstein. In the world famous fiction, the creator of the monster regretted later for his unbelievable creation. In the recent development, the creator of the new danger is West Bengal government, which has earned fame in doing mistakes and later regretting it.
In the late 80’s, the call for a separate state, Gorkhaland was given by Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subhas Ghising, a Nepali poet and writer who used to sell his poems to the tourists in the mall. The movement earned energy and turned into a militant one as the state government did not pay proper attention and cared less at its initiation.
Ghising became a hero overnight. After years of bloody movement the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was formed and Ghising refrained himself from the demand of a separate state. However, he became the chairman of the autonomous council and behaved like the ‘chief minister of Darjeeling.’
State government wanted to oust him so that the hills can come under direct control of the state government and politically under the red flag. They created Gorkha Liberation Organisation, under the leadership of Chhatre Subba in oppose to the GNLF. The Kalimpong based Subba had also claimed a separate state and was finally put into jail on the charge of attempting on the life of Subhas Ghising.
Now it is the turn of Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, who claims a separate statehood for the greater Darjeeling district and that too by democratic movement. Bimal Gurung, like Chhatre Subba was a close aide of Ghising and came into limelight during Gorkhaland movement as a member of the action squad. The Mastan Bahini, as the action squad was called, had been led by Bimal Gurung in some pockets of the hill station. Not much educated but a very daring and dashing young man, Gurung terrorized the areas like Bijonbari where Communist Party of India {CPI(M)} had its control.
After the formation of DGHC, the situation took a new turn and people forgot Bimal Gurung. He came up again when Prashant Tamang, the first singer from Darjeeling came out to be the prospective winner in the Indian Idol contest. Gurung with his team paid total attention to collect votes in favour of Tamang. His target was to come back to the people of the hills and develop his public relations campaign against Ghising.
The state government and the CPI(M) took the chance and came into contact with him to launch a campaign against Ghising. Bimal raised slogan for ousting Ghising from the chair of DGHC immediately after Prashant Tamang won the Indian Idol title. Bimal never raised the slogan of a separate state before but initiated an all out effort for a separate Gorkhaland as soon as Ghising resigned.
A statement of State Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who hails from Darjeeling district, that Ghising was a far better choice than Bimal Gurung, clearly indicates that their choice is wrong and they did not perceive that Bimal Gurung would turn into Frankenstein. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said recently that he is perplexed and confused to understand what does Bimal Gurung want. This also clears the assumption that the state government was unaware of his secret plan. This reminds us of the ample examples of mistakes made by the state government and later regretting the same .
The situation in the hills is becoming tense day by day and absence of normalcy obstructs the tourists to enter Darjeeling at the peak season. Even Jyoti Basu has cautioned the tourists, not to visit Darjeeling now. During Ghising’s movement only the hills were disturbed. Now the plains in the district like Duars and Siliguri are also disturbed. The economy of the district is getting worst every day. The CPI(M) is loosing its power in the areas where it regained. The whole lot of the population has no other choice but to say yes to the man of the movement, which is democratic outwardly but under the shade of violence. They are very clear of their demand – separate Gorkhaland and nothing else.
Now the state has to decide how it tackles the situation because they have created the Frankenstein and none else. (Merinews)
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