Sabyasachi Badhopadhyay, IE: Even as the tripartite talks among the state, Centre and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in New Delhi is scheduled for Tuesday, the state government seems to have finalised its offer for the Morcha.
“We can part with some moujas in the Terai region, which have a strong gorkha population. We can also give the Gorkhaland Regional Authority more powers to elevate it to a position similar to the Bodo Council in Assam,” an official of the state home department told The Indian Express, adding that legislative powers may be given to the Authority on more subjects, except Home (police).
On this, Roshan Giri, who will lead the five-member GJM team in the Delhi meet, said: “We have not yet deviated from our demands for Siliguri, Dooars and Terai region. But, let us see what happens.”
The meeting is expected to prepare the ground for the political-level talks scheduled on May 25 in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Vidyarthi Jana Morcha today started a relay hunger strike in Siliguri and Terai region. All government offices, except banks and post offices, remained closed following a diktat issued by the Vidyarthi Morcha. This strike comes even as the Morcha has called for a bandh on May 15 and May 16.
General (retd) Vijay Madan, interlocutor in the talks between the state and the Morcha who will also be present during Delhi talks, met Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen and Home Secretary Samar Ghosh on Monday.
“There will definitely be a solution, but these bandhs will only vitiate the atmosphere for talks,” said Madan, who also met Governor M K Narayanan to apprise him of the situation. Clouds on talks
TT, Bureau, May 10: The fate of the next round of political-level talks on Darjeeling may be delayed with sources in the Union home ministry blaming the uncertainty on the volatile situation in the hills, where government offices remained shut today after a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announcement.
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| The shut office of the Darjeeling district magistrate on Monday. (Suman Tamang) |
Delhi has also described the Morcha as one with an “obstinate attitude”.
The “obstinate” reference was to the Morcha pressure tactics — which includes fasts and a two-day strike on May 15 and 16 besides ban on government vehicles and indefinite shutdown of government offices — before the political talks scheduled at the end of this month, probably on May 24.
Senior home ministry officials said they were concerned over the volatile situation in the hills, referring to the clashes between supporters of the Morcha and the GNLF in Kalimpong on Saturday. The violence had injured five persons.
“Negotiations mean give and take, and the parties involved reach a middle ground. They (the Morcha) need to understand that this will be a slow process and we have our own compulsions,” said a senior official.
He added that the Centre understood Morcha’s anxiety that other Gorkha outfits might challenge the party if it compromised on the inclusion of the Terai and the Dooars in the interim set-up.
The Morcha has been demanding that the entire Darjeeling hills, along with the Nepali dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai be included in the interim set-up for the hills. The territory will later form the separate state of Gorkhaland that it is agitating for.
State home secretary Samar Ghosh who left for Delhi today to attend tomorrow’s talks refused to answer any questions on the territorial jurisdiction of the interim set-up. “The two main issues there are development and tourism,” was all that Ghosh said.
To put pressure on the Centre and the state before the talks, the Morcha had declared the shutdown of all government offices in the hills from today. Morcha chief Bimal Gurung had also announced the ban on the plying of government vehicles in the hills at a rally in Sukna in Saturday.
In Darjeeling today, activities at the district court were affected with most of the undertrials being provided with new dates. Also, the office which issues permits to foreigners visiting Sikkim from Darjeeling remain closed, causing inconvenience to tourists many of whom had planned to cancel their trip and move to the Himalayan state. But police cars were on the road.
Tourists who had hope to enjoy a joy ride on the toy train from Darjeeling to Ghoom or the daily New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling ride returned disappointed.
“We had wanted to take a ride on the toy train but learned about the strike only on arrival at the station,” said Abhinav Sharma, a tourist from Mumbai who reached Siliguri yesterday and had wanted to go to Darjeeling by the toy train. “It is sad because we had heard so much of the charming uphill ride in the heritage train and wanted to experience it.”
Cloud of delay on hill political talks
TT, May 10: The return of disquiet to Darjeeling has cast a cloud over the next round of political talks scheduled for later this month, Union home ministry officials indicated on a day most government offices shut down in the hills.
The indefinite shutdown, the prelude to a weekend two-day strike to put pressure on the Centre and the state, also covers the toy train.
The concern over the fate of the political talks came on the eve of official-level discussions in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The home ministry officials suggested that the next round of political talks could be delayed if the situation remained volatile in the hills. The officials were worried by reports of clashes between the cadres of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on Saturday.
The political talks are tentatively scheduled for May 24, possibly in Darjeeling. Sources in Delhi blamed the confusion over the dates on the “infighting among various Gorkha groups”.
The first round of political-level talks had taken place in New Delhi on March 18, capping five rounds of official-level tripartite talks among the Morcha, the Bengal government and the Centre.
The Morcha has been demanding that the entire Darjeeling hills, along with the Nepali-dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai be included in an interim set-up to administer the hills.
The Centre and the state, however, want its reach to be limited to the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
The sources in Delhi said they were unhappy with the “obstinate attitude” of the Morcha leadership on territory.
“Negotiations mean give and take. They (the Morcha) need to understand that this will be a slow process and we have our own compulsions,” an official said.
Central and state government offices in the Darjeeling hills, except exempted ones, shut down today following an announcement by the Morcha on Saturday.
Closed SDO office in Kalimpong with no govt. vehicles parked in front of the office - on the first day of the GJM sponsored strike Photo: Samten
Movement of vehicle to Sikkim would be hit during the strike as the GJM has not yet declared that it would exempt Sikkim bound vehicles plying on the NH 31A out of the purview of the two-day strike, the operators said.
Many transporters here said that they would not ply their vehicles on the NH 31A during the two-day strike called by the GJM.
The GJM has called for a two-day strike in the Darjeeling Hills on May 15 and 16 demanding inclusion of the Doars and Siliguri in the proposed Hill Council.
“Though the situation is still normal it might take a turn for the worse any time with the GJMM having threatened two-day shutdown from 15 May. So we cannot take risks,” the tourists said.
For the first time since the Gorkhaland movement swept the hills in the 1980's, political violence rocked Lava last night involving the GJMM and GNLF activists.
Though the police described it as a minor skirmish, the locals said that a vehicle owned by former DGHC councillor, Mr Dawa Pakhrin's brother was torched at the Maidan area during the clash.
The inspector-in-charge, Algarah police station visited the spot this morning, informed an official at the police station, Mr RB Thapa.
“The situation is under control and no arrest has been made so far,” he added.
“The GJMM has threatened a two-day shutdown from 15 May. We have no problem with the locals. They are as hospitable as ever. But, we would have problems getting down to the plains if an emergency arises. We cannot rule out such an eventuality given the volatility in the hill situation,” said a tourist visiting Lava.
The situation is the same in Darjeeling too. “It is in a flux and any time it might take a serious turn with political antagonism amongst the rival camps mounting.
“The two-day bandh might be extended if the proposed tripartite dialogue fails to satisfy the preponderant hill party. It is wise now to get down,” said Mr Rahul Dutta, a tourist from Kolkata.
‘GJMM strike would hit vehicle movement’
The two-day strike called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on 15 and 16 May in the Darjeeling Hills would hit vehicle movement to Sikkim as a portion of NH-31A, the lifeline of Sikkim is in the Darjeeling district, transport operators here said today.
Movement of vehicle to Sikkim would be hit during the strike as the GJM has not yet declared that it would exempt Sikkim bound vehicles plying on the NH 31A out of the purview of the two-day strike, the operators said.
Many transporters here said that they would not ply their vehicles on the NH 31A during the two-day strike called by the GJM.
The GJM has called for a two-day strike in the Darjeeling Hills on May 15 and 16 demanding inclusion of the Doars and Siliguri in the proposed Hill Council.
Press farternity of Kalimpong has felt insecure after the saturday's incident when reporters were threatened. Kalimpong Press Club has decided to protest the encroachment on the Press freedom unitedly with other Press groups. It is meeting with other groups for a joint resolution and programme.
Meanwhile R Moktan and his team of Sikkim National Front amalgamated in BJP.I n a programme he was also appointed Working President of District Committee.SNF Secretary Salim Tamang was also appointed Secretary of District Committee declared Dawa Sherpa Secretary of State Committee BJP in Darjeeling.
Tourists desert Hills fearing political turmoil
SNS & PTI, SILIGURI/GANGTOK, 10 MAY: Apprehending fresh trouble in the Darjeeling Hills in the wake of the renewed bout of the GJMM-sponsored political movement, the tourists have started leaving the hill stations. “Though the situation is still normal it might take a turn for the worse any time with the GJMM having threatened two-day shutdown from 15 May. So we cannot take risks,” the tourists said.
For the first time since the Gorkhaland movement swept the hills in the 1980's, political violence rocked Lava last night involving the GJMM and GNLF activists.
Though the police described it as a minor skirmish, the locals said that a vehicle owned by former DGHC councillor, Mr Dawa Pakhrin's brother was torched at the Maidan area during the clash.
The inspector-in-charge, Algarah police station visited the spot this morning, informed an official at the police station, Mr RB Thapa.
“The situation is under control and no arrest has been made so far,” he added.
“The GJMM has threatened a two-day shutdown from 15 May. We have no problem with the locals. They are as hospitable as ever. But, we would have problems getting down to the plains if an emergency arises. We cannot rule out such an eventuality given the volatility in the hill situation,” said a tourist visiting Lava.
The situation is the same in Darjeeling too. “It is in a flux and any time it might take a serious turn with political antagonism amongst the rival camps mounting.
“The two-day bandh might be extended if the proposed tripartite dialogue fails to satisfy the preponderant hill party. It is wise now to get down,” said Mr Rahul Dutta, a tourist from Kolkata.
‘GJMM strike would hit vehicle movement’
The two-day strike called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on 15 and 16 May in the Darjeeling Hills would hit vehicle movement to Sikkim as a portion of NH-31A, the lifeline of Sikkim is in the Darjeeling district, transport operators here said today.
Movement of vehicle to Sikkim would be hit during the strike as the GJM has not yet declared that it would exempt Sikkim bound vehicles plying on the NH 31A out of the purview of the two-day strike, the operators said.
Many transporters here said that they would not ply their vehicles on the NH 31A during the two-day strike called by the GJM.
The GJM has called for a two-day strike in the Darjeeling Hills on May 15 and 16 demanding inclusion of the Doars and Siliguri in the proposed Hill Council.
KalimNews: Incidents of more arson and attack is being received from different ends. In Kalimpong a godown of Maurice Kalikotay was torched today. Kalikotay is in Siliguri since his residencial building was torched in 2008. An attempt to torch a house in Gorubathan was foiled after the intervention of the local people. Several people in Lava and Kalimpong have been attacked are now in hospitals undergoing treatment. GJYM supporters are chasing GNLF supporters and persons involved in postering of 9th May's incident. It is said many youths have been caught and are being interrogated and punished in some GLP camps. Most of the GNLF cadres have fled from their house since saturday.
General people have accused GNLF of spoiling the improving peaceful situation of hills. They have equally condemned the attack on GNLF supporters which according to them is no less than Jungle Raj and dictatorial attitude. GJMM senior leaders who are of the school of Gandhian thought are feeling insecure in the hands of the GJYM (youth wing). According to the GJYM it is due to the seniors' inf ight for chair and egoistic nature anti GJMM forces have dared to oppose them in broad day light. And now it is the duty of the GJYM to protect the honour of GJMM by challenging the disturbing forces.
Police is seen just doing their duty by giving their presence but ignoring the situation and not taking any action.
Meanwhile Bimal Gurung and Amar Lama will be in Kalimpong to solve a resentment within JSTO a teachers' organisation of GJMM. Press farternity of Kalimpong has felt insecure after the saturday's incident when reporters were threatened. Kalimpong Press Club has decided to protest the encroachment on the Press freedom unitedly with other Press groups. It is meeting with other groups for a joint resolution and programme.
Meanwhile R Moktan and his team of Sikkim National Front amalgamated in BJP.I n a programme he was also appointed Working President of District Committee.SNF Secretary Salim Tamang was also appointed Secretary of District Committee declared Dawa Sherpa Secretary of State Committee BJP in Darjeeling.
Fast for plains in set-up
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| The Morcha’s relay hunger strike at Panchnoi near Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo |
TT, Siliguri, May 10: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s student and woman wings launched relay hunger strikes in the plains today as part of the pressure tactics ahead of talks at political and bureaucratic levels this month.
In the Dooars, seven persons each representing the Vidyarthi Morcha and the Nari Morcha are fasting at Bagrakote, Birpara and Kalchini. Similar fast is going on at Panchnoi in the Terai also.
“Members of the Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha and the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha began relay hunger strikes this morning. They are demanding the inclusion of the Terai and the Dooars in the territory to be marked for the interim arrangement at the next round of political-level tripartite talks to be held at the end of May,” said Samuel Gurung, a central committee member of the Morcha.
The agitation had been announced by Morcha chief Bimal Gurung at a meeting in Sukna, 10km from Siliguri, on Saturday. “Seven members each of the Vidyarthi Morcha and the Nari Morcha will take part in the hunger-strikes. Each group will be on fast for 24 hours and the agitation will continue for 15 days,” Gurung had said.
As the hills and the plains are once again on the boil, tour operators in Siliguri said they would have to bear the brunt of the tension.
“While the Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Banchao Committee has called a statewide strike on May 14, the Morcha will enforce a shutdown on May 15 and 16,” said a tour operator. “We are keeping our fingers crossed as the Morcha leadership has made it clear that they will not take any responsibility of NH31A that connects Sikkim with the rest of India.”
Gurung had said the Morcha would not block NH31A during the two-day bandh in deference to a Supreme Court order. “However, we will not take any responsibility to ensure free traffic on the highway,” he had added in the same breath.
Some months back, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and the Bengal government to ensure that NH31A remained free of blockades. The order was issued on a petition filed by a Sikkim resident who complained about the troubles the people of the Himalayan state had to face because of the frequent protest on the highway by the Morcha.
State urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya questioned the Morcha’s attitude at a time when the talks on the interim set-up were progressing. “The agitation by the Morcha when talks are in progress shows the party’s un-cooperative attitude. We perceive that such activities will disrupt life and might lead to tension and affect the scheduled talks.”
Fly & glide over frozen Chhangu- Rally power in red bastion
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| Sikkim tourism minister Bhim Dhungel (first from left) after laying the foundation of the ropeway project in Chhangu lake on May 7. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
Bijoy Gurung, TT, Gangtok, May 10: In a year from now, Chhangu lake will have gondolas flying over its frozen waters.
The gondolas will be stringed to a mono-cable detachable ropeway system, making Chhangu at 12,600ft in East Sikkim a more appealing tourist destination.
According to officials of the Chhangu lake ropeway project which is estimated to be around Rs 6.5 crore, 12 gondolas with six passengers per cabin are designed to glide from the base terminal near the lake across 900m to the right side hilltop at 14,400 feet. The hilltop, overlooking the 1.08km-long lake, provides a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and glimpses of the Tibetan plateau on a clear day.
The lake has an average footfall of around 3,000 tourists a day.
Journey by foot from the lake up to the hillock is 2km but once the ropeway is made operational, a tourist can reach the top in the cable car in five minutes, project director D. Mukherjee said.
The second terminal will be placed atop the hill, and according to the designers, 400 people can be transported from the base terminal to the hilltop in an hour in the initial years. The transport capacity can be enhanced to 800 passengers an hour later.
Accepting the challenge of working in a high-altitude area, Mukherjee said: “The raw material and the special jacketing for tensioning system for the ropeway will be specially designed for sub-zero weather condition.”
While laying the foundation stone of the project at the lake on May 7, Sikkim tourism minister Bhim Dhungel said once commissioned, the ropeway would be a new attraction for the tourists.
“Chhangu lake has always been one of the most important tourist destinations along with Nathu-la and Baba Mandir in East district. The ropeway that will provide an aerial view of the lake will be an added attraction to the tourists,” said Dhungel. He assured the project officials all support from the state government for timely completion of the ropeway.
The ropeway project is being constructed by the Calcutta-headquartered Conveyor and Ropeway on a BOOT (build, operate, own and transfer) basis and is scheduled to be completed by June 2011.
The company will operate the ropeway for 20 years from the date of commissioning of the project and will pay a royalty to the Sikkim government. It has already done 40 such projects in the country, besides currently operating eight passenger ropeway systems.
Travel Agents Association of Sikkim president Paljor Lachungpa has welcomed the project. “The ropeway system will be another attraction to the hundreds of tourists visiting the holy trinity — Chhangu lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la,” he said.
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