Tamang blames immigration policy for infiltration

Statesman News Service DARJEELING, May 15: The All India Gorkha League president Mr Madan Tamang today blamed the immigration policy of India for the infiltration of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which has reduced the Gorkhas to an insignificant minority. “This is the strategy of the CPI-M-led Left Front government to increase their vote bank in north Bengal by sneaking in Bangladeshi migrants and providing them with ration cards and voter cards,” Mr Tamang said.Speaking on the occasion of the 65th raising day of the party, the AIGL leader accused the Bengal government of bringing a “demographic change” in north Bengal. “We can challenge the policy in the court. It is necessary to set a cut-off layer to curb the random infiltration,” he said. Condemning the label of “communal” on the Gorkhaland demand, Mr Tamang stressed that Gorkhali is a “way of life” rather than a community. “Gorkha transcends all caste, creed and religion. Everybody residing in the Darjeeling Hills is a Gorkha irrespective of community,” he said adding that the fight of the Gorkhas is not against the Bengali community but against the Bengal government.The AIGL leadership also cautioned that the Centre and the state government are trying to re-introduce the Sixth Schedule Bill, which everybody thinks has been scrapped. “The UPA and Left Front government are looking for the right opportunity to implement the bill. They will rename the DGHC as Gorkhaland Autonomous Council which equates to nothing,” he alleged. The AIGL will fight tooth and nail to prevent such a development and will accept nothing less than statehood, he added. Tamang warns GJMMThe All India Gorkha League president, Mr Madan Tamang today cautioned the GJMM of its friendship with the Kamptapur Progressive Party (KPO) alleging that the KPO president Mr Atul Roy had submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry in 2005 stating that the Gorkhas were “not Indians”. “The GJMM should learn to differentiate between enemies and friends. Under such circumstances I can only advise them to sever ties with their allies,” said Mr Tamang.The memorandum addressed to home minister Mr Shivraj Patil in 2005 opposes the conference of the Sixth Schedule status on the Gorkhas. “The memorandum clearly states that the Gorkhas were brought by the British to work as labourers in the tea plantations of Darjeeling,” said Mr Tamang. The development comes at a time when the GJMM has formed an alliance with the pro-Kamtapuris - the Progressive and the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party for their respective demands of Kamtapur/Greater Cooch Behar and Gorkhaland. Following their joint campaigns the parties had also organised joint meetings at Dinhata, Cooch Behar and Siliguri. Countering Mr Tamang's statement, Mr Atul Roy said that the memorandum sent by his organisation was based on the White Paper issued by the West Bengal government during the Gorkhaland agitation, which terms the Gorkhas as non-Indians. “I totally support the demand of the Gorkhas of Indian origin for separate state,” he said alleging that Mr Tamang was trying to break their alliance with the GJMM.However, the GJMM leadership claimed that it was not aware of any such memorandum forwarded by the KPO. “We do not know of any memorandum submitted by the KPO,” responded Mr Roshan Giri, general secretary of the GJMM to Mr Tamang’s statement.

Gorkhaland, Party and the People

The movement which strted with a small spark of Indian Idol has reached to a place of no come back. It looks very encouraging after reading todays news material in Himalaya Darpan. The intellengentia is coming together, Ashok Bhattacharjee is soft at the moment as he says it is not his personal stand against the Gorkhaland but of the Party which is obvious AND every body knows it. But what about the CPM cadres and party men in the hills? Recently a friend (Amos) of mine from siliguri was sharing with me an incident that happened in Milan Chowk CPM meeting with Nepali partymen prior to Siliguri Public meeting. Ashok Bhattacharjee was the honorable guest in that meeting. At the time of vote of thanks the person praised CPM, Ashok Bhattacharjee and at last he said," What ever it is we the people of Hills, siliguri and Duars should come together and fight for the Gorkhaland, at any cost we want Gorkhaland. every body applause but Ashok Bhattacharjee left the meeting further talking with the people. What it shows is that irrespective of party affiliation everybody wants Gorkhaland to happen. Trinamul leadership also has spoken today of talking over the issue after the panchayat election.

But the fact remains that the people in the hills should be more cautious about themselves. The hills have the history of Ghisingh administration. Everybody says that Ghisingh was dictator and he ruled over everything. But my question is who allowed this to happen? It is the people. When people do not show social responsibility and are not accountable to what they are doing the state will certainly take the opportunity to overrule the masses and this is exactly Ghisingh and his cottaire did. Now it is the time for the people to think and rationalize their status as far as political affiliation is concerned. Yes it is true that in the hills GJMM is trying thewir level best to woo the masses to their side so that afterwards they can be the ruler and this is their right to do so. again looking back at the history people should never allow this to happen: One party show, it will again be the same Ghisingh syndrome in the hills. Let people remain in their own party affiliation or change if they like but not under threat or boycott. But it is vitally important that irrspedctive of the party affiliation all parties and people should come together and sing the same song.

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Nepali Gorkhas may soon not be a part of the Indian Army (Lead, Superseding earlier story)

By Ritu SharmaNew Delhi, May 12 (IANS)India’s first field marshal, S.H.F.J. Manekshaw, preferred calling himself Sam ‘Bahadur’ as a sign of respect for the brave Gorkha soldiers, most of whom came from Nepal. However, a call by Nepal Maoist chief Prachanda not to allow them to join the Indian army could impact on traditional military ties between the two countries. “If anyone says he is not afraid of anything, either he is lying or he is a Gorkha,” Manekshaw once said.
However, Prachanda, who is poised to head the government in the Himalayan nation, told reporters April 25 that Nepali Gorkhas should not be allowed to join Indian defence forces.
There are two types of Gorkhas in the Indian Army - those hailing from India (who have migrated from Nepal long ago), and the others from Nepal. Under a tripartite agreement signed between India, Nepal and Britain in 1947, Gorkhas from Nepal were allowed to work in the British and Indian armies. Currently, nearly 40,000 Nepali Gorkhas are employed in the Indian Army.
“Nepali Gorkhas have been part of the Indian Army for a very long time. If they are stopped from joining the army then the association between the armies and also the countries will be affected,” former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ved Prakash Malik told IANS.
“Besides the large number of Nepali Gorkha soldiers, we also have a large number of pensioners in the country. The pensioners are looked after by us only. We have opened hospitals and other facilities at Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal,” Malik added. In some villages in eastern Nepal, about half of the families have one or more pensioners from the Indian Army.
India and Nepal share such a close relationship that the Indian Army chief is honorary chief of the Nepali Army traditionally and vice-versa.
“It is not just a question of strength but also our proximity and tradition,” said Malik.
Besides impacting the age-old ties between the two nations, Prachanda’s demand, if acceded to, can lead to anarchy in Nepal due to large-scale unemployment, say military experts here.
“The Indian Army and the British Army - which also has a Gorkha regiment - are a major source of employment for Nepali youth. There can be unrest in the Himalayan kingdom, leading to a big problem,” Major General (retd) Afsar Karim told IANS.
Prachanda’s call has put the Gorkhas in a moral dilemma - of choosing a life in their country or one that will ensure livelihood and sustenance.
“The Nepali Gorkha soldiers send a lot of money back home, contributing in a big way to the Nepali economy,” an army official said.
However, experts do not see any major operational problem for the Indian Army if the Nepali Gorkahs are forbidden from joining.
“If Prachanda’s demand ever materialises, the Indian Army would not be affected operationally as the army has reduced considerably the number of Gorkhas,” Karim added.
The first battalion of the Gorkha regiment was raised during British rule in 1815. The Gorkhas have served the Indian Army with valour since then.
Gorkhas have played a crucial role in India’s three wars with Pakistan (1947-48, 1965 and 1971) and during the India-China conflict in 1962. A Gorkha battalion served with distinction as part of the Indian Army contingent in the United Nations Operations in the Congo (now Zaire) in the 1960s.
(Ritu Sharma is a correspondent with IANS. She can be contacted at ritu.s@ians.in) (Thaindian News)

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Cong leader still demands all-party meeting on the Hill situation

Statesman News ServiceSILIGURI, May 12: The Congress leader Mr Somen Mitra slammed the state government for the Darjeeling Hills bungling. “The problem, being more than a mere political problem requires a more sensible handling and the state has been bungling it for years in a most irresponsible manner,” Mr Mitra said. He further criticised the CPI-M for reducing the ongoing state panchayat election to a farce with the help of the state administration. He came to Siliguri today in connection with panchayat poll campaigning in north Bengal. Mr Mitra said the Congress is still demanding an all-party meeting on the Hill situation. “A solution may evolve in the course of analytical discussions among all the political parties of the state. But the chief minister is reluctant to convene it. We cannot understand which way the state government's mind is working,” he said.“The chief minister seems to be blindly toeing the line being chalked out by the state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya. And the problem is Mr Bhattacharya seems to have lost touch with the Hill's ground reality. The initial inflexibility on the part of the state regarding the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha rally in Siliguri clearly indicates that the government is resolved to handle the sensitive issue with mere state force,” Mr Mitra alleged.This apart, the Congress leader also castigated the CPI-M for reducing the on-going panchayat election in the state to a veritable farce with the active assistance of the state administration. “The party has been browbeating the courageous administrators into submission. This has been amply proved recently in the case of strife-torn Nandigram,” Mr Mitra said.

All parties oppose Darjeeling-Sikkim merger

Statesman News ServiceGANGTOK, May 12: Almost all the major political parties of Sikkim boycotted the merger of Sikkim and Darjeeling but pledged to give moral support for the fight for Gorkhaland.Opposition party Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP), State Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), and ruling Sikkim Democratic Party has boycotted the merger. “No doubt we have the same culture, tradition and language but we don't have the same political scenario here, like Darjeeling” said Mr Tara Shresta, general secretary SHRP. “We are emotionally bound to Darjeeling so we will always support their good cause and they are fighting for Gorkha's identity but we are fighting against corruption and for the welfare of Sikkim,” he added. State BJP president echoed his words but he refused to comment claiming it is entirely Darjeeling's matter so speaking on behalf of them would be incorrect. "Unless we don't discuss the matter in the Centre and get permission from high commands we are not allowed to talk,” said Mr HR Pradhan. “But as per my knowledge our colleagues in Darjeeling are demanding a separate state instead of a Darjeeling-Sikkim merger,” he added. When contacted Dr GS Yonzon president of BJP Darjeeling unit, said: "Other political parties are demanding Darjeeling-Sikkim merger just to be free from Bengal but our first priority is for statehood instead of merger. This is our movement for our identity so either this way or the other way we just want to be free from Bengal”. Historically, Darjeeling belonged to Nepal in the eighteenth century and then belonged to Sikkim in the nineteenth century. British political officer for Sikkim and Tibet Sir Claude White, Sikkim's King Tashi Namgyal and Bengal officer of that time had gifted Darjeeling to British to set up a sanatorium centre due to its suitable climate and hospital for tuberculosis patients. When asked why they don’t claim to be a part of Nepal, Dr Yonzon said, Darjeeling belonged to Nepal earlier but then it belonged to Sikkim. On the other hand, Mr R Moktan from Kalimpong, Mr DK Bomzon from Kurseong and Mr Ashok Chong from Sikkim are spearheading the move for a Darjeeling-Sikkim merger. They had a meeting in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim for a merger through Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) recently. They demanded a Greater Sikkim where Jalpaiguri, Dooars and Mechi in Nepal would be included as a part in the new Sikkim. But Mr BB Gooroong advisor to the chief minister of Sikkim disagreed with them. “That was the history when Darjeeling belonged to Sikkim and now it has gone to the dustbin of history. Now if we claim Pakistan as part of India at this age will they agree? It is not possible for Sikkim to merge with Darjeeling,” said Mr Gooroong. “We have already merged with India in 1975 and became the twenty-second state of the country so again we don't want to be sub-merged,” he added. He slammed Mr Chong as to why he gave such provocative comments on behalf of Sikkimese people. “Whatever comment from the Sikkim side must come from the chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling because he is the people's mandate,” he said. But he also maintained that he will always have sentiments for Darjeeling people as they are emotionally attached. His wife is from Kalimpong and many others exchange their marital affairs with Darjeeling and Kalim-pong. “We always want to see Darjeeling go ahead and we like them to do well and are always ready to help in their cause like we did it for Prashant Tamang and Prakriti Giri (both were stars of TV reality show),” said Mr Gooroong. When asked if he supported Gorkhaland, he said: "Yes, we want Gorkhas to have their own identity and we are always ready to give them moral support".

DGHC to probe 20-yr-old projects

VIVEK CHHETRI
Darjeeling, May 12: The DGHC has decided to probe into various financial irregularities allegedly committed during the 20-year tenure of hill council under Subash Ghisingh.
The decision was taken after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today submitted a list of 15 schemes, which they alleged were executed or implemented without conforming to rules, to B.L. Meena, the administrator of the council, at the latter’s office at Lal Khoti
“The council had a cell to facilitate fast and easy payment to contractors who were awarded the projects. No cash book or payment register was maintained to record these transactions,” said D.K. Pradhan, the central committee member of the Morcha. He, along with the party’s general secretary, Roshan Giri, had met Meena today.
The Morcha also demanded a thorough inquiry into the construction of a 5km road between Rambi Bazar and Tarzam busty, for which Rs 55 lakh was spent.
The leaders also told the administrator that proper payments were not made to the beneficiaries of the Swarna Jayanti Rojgar Yojna. “Under this scheme, a worker was to be paid 60 per cent of his wage in cash, while the rest in kind by giving them food grain. However, there is no record of any food grain being distributed to the labourers,” said Pradhan.
The probe will also cover the Rs 13-lakh Rambi water project undertaken during 2004-05, the Rs 7-lakh Suntaley water project and the Rs 20-crore Gorkha Rangamanch Bhawan project.
“For some projects (mid-day meal scheme, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, functioning of Emergency Construction Cell and Swarna Jayanti), an audit team will come to Darjeeling on May 19 for inspection,” said Meena. He added that the audit of some projects would be over within a month.
The administrator said he would write to the Bengal government to send two superintendent engineers to investigate other projects. According to him, it would take a lot of time to probe into the projects executed over 20 years. Meena added that work at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhawan has already been stopped.
The Morcha also discussed with Meena the regularisation of 8,000 contract workers of the DGHC. “Meena said he would take up the matter with the government,” said Giri.(The Telegraph)

Bhutan Maoists infiltrating State

By Sanjoy Ray GUWAHATI, May 11 – Conceding that the infiltration of the Bhutan Maoists along the porous Assam-Bhutan border is on in an unprecedented manner, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has expressed concern over the possibility of the ISI and the insurgent groups active in the North East, including the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), cashing in on the Maoist infiltration to further their nefarious designs. Highly-placed sources in the SSB, which is entrusted with the job of manning the Indo-Bhutan border, told The Assam Tribune that the SSB, following some confirmed intelligence inputs about increasing Bhutan Maoists’ presence along the Assam-Bhutan border, has intensified vigil along the border.“According to our intelligence report, hundreds of suspected Bhutan Maoists have crossed the Assam border in the last few months and most of them have mingled with the local population of the border areas which are mostly dominated by the Indian Nepali population,” the sources revealed.“The trend of Bhutan Maoists’ infiltration seemed to have picked up, especially after the elections in Bhutan,” the sources opined. “On one hand, where there are possibilities of the ISI using the Maoists’ infiltration into Assam as a tool to dilute the relationship between Indian and Bhutan, and on the other hand the banned ULFA and other NE-based insurgent groups, according to our reports, are trying to use the Maoists’ presence in carrying out for subversive activities in the State,” the sources said, adding that the recent instance where two Bhutani Maoists’ were arrested in Nalbari district, has indicated that the Maoists are taking interest in Assam and have entered in the Indian domain via Assam border. Moreover, as the ULFA is facing the heat of a continued crackdown by the security forces, there are substantial chances of the banned outfit taking the help of the Maoists in adding teeth to its dwindling force. The Indo-Bhutan border, it may be mentioned, comprises a stretch of 699 km covering four States including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim.The sources further informed that the SSB, in a special move, is monitoring the activities of several hundred suspected Maoists, who are trying to settle along the Assam-Bhutan border.“We have kept them under surveillance and necessary action would be taken once their identity is proven,” the sources reiterated, adding that the process of identification is on.“At this moment, the scenario is not very sensitive but in the long run this might take an alarming turn,” the sources pointed out.“We have informed the civil administration about the matter and accordingly steps are being initiated,” the sources stated.(The Assam Tribune)

GJMM charges tourism asst director of sexual impropriety

Statesman News Service DARJEELING, May 9: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) has levelled charges of sexual impropriety against Mr Amar Singh, assistant director, Tourism Department of the DGHC. Allegedly Mr Singh asked for sexual favours from a woman of Gorubathan in exchange of her appointment in the tourism department. “We have substantial evidence against Mr Singh to corroborate our allegation,” said Mr Binay Tamang, Press and publicity chief of the GJMM. The incident came to light when the woman came forward and lodged a complaint with the GJMM. According to Mr Tamang, the woman claimed that Mr Singh had asked her over the phone to stay with him at a hotel in Siliguri, in return for which he would give her the appointment letter. The recorded telephone conversation between Mr Singh and the woman forms the basis of the complaint. “The telephone conversation proves the immoral intentions of Mr Singh,” Mr Tamang said. He added that the incident had brought to the fore similar cases of sexual advances made by accused. Mr Singh has been given a deadline till 12 May to vacate the post by the GJMM. The party has also sent a letter requesting DGHC caretaker Mr BL Meena to take stern action against him. “Several charges have been levelled against Mr Singh. He was on a deputation but has been sent back to the state department of tourism. He is not attending office already,” Mr Meena confirmed. However, Mr Singh refused to comment on the issue stating that he could give no statement without the permission of the principal secretary of the department. “On account of being a government official I cannot say anything now,” he said.

Morcha blow to Agsu

Darjeeling, May 11: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has dissolved the Gorkha Janmukti Agsu, an affiliate association whose office-bearers are unaware of the decision.
“Agsu (All Gorkha Students’ Union) should stop using ‘Gorkha Janmukti’ as part of its nomenclature and can revert back to its earlier status. Bimal Gurung has said the Gorkha Janmukti Agsu has been dissolved because our party, too, has a students’ wing,” said Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha.
The decision has come as a surprise to many as Gurung’s party seemed to have accepted Agsu as its affiliate. The Morcha president had not only flagged off the organisation’s march from Darjeeling to the Sankosh on April 13, but had also reached the spot a fortnight later to meet the marchers.
Agsu, which was formed in 1994, was essentially a brainchild of Roshan Giri, the current general secretary of the Morcha. After Giri joined the Morcha on October 7 last year, the students’ body elected Ravi Shanker as its president.
Shanker said he was unaware of Gurung’s decision. “The Morcha leaders had asked us to change the nomenclature. If such a decision has been taken we will soon sit for a meeting to chart our future course of action”, said Shanker.
GNLF resignations
Members of the GNLF in Mirik have resigned from the party and have decided to dissolve the branch committee, reports our Kurseong correspondent.
“All frontal organisations and units in every ward of the Mirik Municipality have also been dissolved. We have already sent the resignations to Subash Ghisingh (the GNLF chief),” said L.B. Rai the president of the GNLF in Mirik and chairman of the municipality. (The Telegraph)

Gorkhaland: News from Himalaya Darpan

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