Morcha meets Governor

Darjeeling, May 19: The governor has requested the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to “continue to participate in the talks with the Centre and the state government”, a late evening plea that came hours after the party met him at the Raj Bhavan here.

Governor M.K. Naryanan has also “expressed his deep concern over the suspension of normal activities in Darjeeling”, the statement released by his office read. “He also requested the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha …to see that peace and tranquillity in the hills is not disturbed in the interest of the people.”

The Morcha, which accused the state government of being “insincere” about inking the interim set-up deal for the hills during the meeting with the governor today, said it was not possible to react immediately.

“We cannot react (to the governor’s statement) immediately,” said party general secretary Roshan Giri, who had led the 21-member delegation to the Raj Bhavan.

The earlier incumbent of the governor’s office, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, had on the eve of vacating his office, asked the Morcha to give up its agitation and instead find a solution through talks. Out of “respect” for Gandhi, the Morcha had lifted a four-day strike in the hills in December last year.

Asked if the party would respond to the current governor’s plea this time, Giri had the same reply: “We cannot react immediately.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the Morcha said in a statement: “Although the GJM (Morcha) was sincere in settling the issue regarding an interim arrangement till December 31, 2011, our party also desired that the issue, regarding territory of the proposed interim arrangement should also be settled simultaneously with devolution of more legislative, financial and executive power.”

The Morcha said since the state and the Centre refused to discuss the territory on May 11, the party no longer believed in the interim arrangement.

Bengal home secretary Samar Ghosh had told the Morcha delegation during the May 11 meeting that he did not “have the mandate” to discuss territory, and only legislative and executive powers for the proposed interim set-up could be discussed.

The Morcha has been demanding that the proposed interim set-up for the hills should include Siliguri and parts of Gorkha-dominated Dooars and the Terai, besides the three subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The government wants the set-up to be limited to the hills.

“In the light of the above facts, it has been felt by the GJM that the interim arrangement will not fulfil the aspiration of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars,” today’s Morcha memorandum reads.

“We have told the governor that unless Gorkhaland is created no arrangement can fulfil the aspiration of the hill people. The interim arrangement without territory cannot be accepted by us and we have appealed to the governor to take up the issue of Gorkhaland with both the state and the Centre,” said Giri after the meeting with the governor.

According to Giri, the governor told the delegation that the interim arrangement should be considered a “stepping stone”.

“The governor told us that the interim arrangement would be a stepping stone and that one should not expect all issues to be solved in just two or three meeting or even six or seven meetings,” said Giri.

Letter to PM

Morcha chief Bimal Gurung has faxed letters to the Prime Minister and the home minister, seeking central intervention in providing security to Nepali-speaking people on the Assam-Meghalaya border, said the outfit’s assistant secretary Binay Tamang.

Stolen vehicle seized

TT, Siliguri, May 19: Ratan Chouhan, a resident of Manipur, was arrested by Naxalbari police with a stolen car at Nandalaljote, about 25km from here, this evening.

Gaurav Sharma, the additional superintendent of police, Siliguri, said Chouhan was suspected to be a member of an inter-state vehicle lifting gang and he had stolen the car from Delhi. The police have to know from Chouhan about other persons associated with him and are trying to locate them.
Land protest

TT, Siliguri: Residents of Ward 46 here submitted a memorandum to the Siliguri subdivisional officer, demanding the immediate distribution of land rights to the under-privileged people in the area. Mukul Sengupta, a local leader of the CPM, threatened a movement if necessary steps were not taken in seven days.

Martyrs’ Day

TT, Siliguri: Members of the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee and the New Young Bengal organised a programme at Bidhan Road here on Wednesday to commemorate the Bangla Bhasha Martyrs’ Day. Educationists, social workers and senior citizens attended the function.

KalimNews:Bundh called on 20th by Mal Mahakuma Action Committee a Mal Bazar Byawasayi Samity is withdrawn.

Several supporters of AVAVP were arrested on charges of ransacking of vehicles and disrupting the traffic on the last day of the 3 days strike in Dooars.

Father Edgar Peter Burns was cremated at Darjeeling . Photo shows The funeral procession of Father Edgar Peter Burns on its way from Hayden Hall to St Joseph’s School (North Point) chapel in Darjeeling on Wednesday. The Morcha had cancelled its rallies in town on Wednesday to pay homage to the Canadian Jesuit who was known for his social work. Picture by Suman Tamang, TT.