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| Bimal Gurung at Kalimpong |
तिनले राजमार्गमा मूढ़ा लड़ाउने, ढुङ्गामूढ़ा हुने खबर सुनेर यसको निरीक्षण गर्न पैदल यात्रा गरेको जनाए।
तिनले भने, मोर्चाको आन्दोलन गणतान्त्रिक हो। बन्दको अवधी राजमार्गमा कुनै पनि अप्रिय घटना हुनुहुँदैन। यसकारण म सम्पूर्ण जनतालाई आह्वान गर्छु कि राजमार्गमा शान्ति बनिरहोस्। बङ्गाल सरकारले अशान्ति गर्न विभिन्न षड़यन्त्र गरिरहेको छ। राजमार्गमा ढुङ्गामूढ़ा गर्ने काम मोर्चाको आन्दोलन बिगार्न बङ्गाल सरकारले गरेको षड़यन्त्र हो।
तिनले टिस्टाका आफ्ना समर्थकहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै अझ भने, सिक्किमलाई पूर्ण छुट छ। राजमार्गलाई पूर्णरूपले छुट छ। राजमार्गमा कोही पनि उत्तेजित नहोइदिने,यहॉंबाट कुनै पनि विवाद नहोस्। दङ्गाफसाद नहोस्।तिनले यसैबेला महत्वपूर्ण तर अस्पष्ट कुरा पनि समर्थकहरूलाई भने। तिनले भने, दिल्लीमा राम्रो काम हुँदैछ। केही दिनमा नै त्यसको फल पाइनेछ। केही दिनमा नै राम्रो कुरा अघि आउनेछ। राम्रो लक्षण देखापरेको छ। यसकारण बन्द गणतान्त्रिकरूपले होस्। सबैले पार्टीको गान्धीवादलाई भुल्नु हुँदैन। तिनले दिल्लीबाट राम्रो लक्षण पाएको कुरा गरेपनि त्यो राम्रो लक्षण के हो स्पष्ट छैन।
तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा नै गरेको हुनुपर्ने अनुमान गरिएको छ।किन भने आज तिनले पत्रकारहरूसित अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणबारे कुरै गर्न मानेनन्। तिनलाई प्राधिकरणबारे प्रश्न गर्दा भने, अब अन्तरिमको कुरा आउँदैन। अब जहॉंसम्म जानुको निम्ति हामी आएका हौं त्यहॉंसम्म जानेछौं। तिनले मोर्चाले प्राधिकरणको मुद्दालाई तिलाञ्जली दिएको अनि अब गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति मात्र कटिबद्ध हुने संकेत दिएका छन्। तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति नै मोर्चाले तीनचरणको कार्यक्रम गरेको अनि जनताले सफल बनाएकोमा आभार प्रकट गरेका छन्।
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| 3rd Day of 96 hr strike- Main Road, Kalimpong |
यता मोर्चाले डाकेको 12 देखि 15 जनवरीसम्मको बन्दपछि दिएको दुइदिनको छुट अथवा 16-17 जनवरीकोे दिन बङ्ला भाषा बचाउ समितिले सिलगढ़ीमा बन्द डाकेको सन्दर्भमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने,हामी पनि बन्दमा यो छुट राख्ने छैनौं। बन्द कन्टिन्यू हुनसक्छ।तिनले मोर्चाले बीचबीचमा दिएको छुट अब नदिने आशय प्रकट गरेका छन्। अब मोर्चाको बन्द 27 दिन नै हुने छॉंट देखापरेको छ।
बन्दको असरबारे तिनलाई प्रश्न गर्दा सरकारलाई असर परिरहेको जनाउँदै भने, सरकारले बन्दलाई विथोल्न चहानु नै बन्दको असर सरकारमा छ भनेर स्पष्ट हुनु हो। तिनले पैदल यात्रा आफ्नै नेताहरूलाई पाठ सिकाउन पनि गरेको बताउँदै भने,जनतालाई बन्दमा असुविधा भइरहेको बेला नेताहरूले आराम गर्नु हुँदैन। म बन्दभरि पैदल यात्रा गरेर बन्दको जायजा लिनेछु। तिनले राजमार्गको पूर्ण जायजा पनि लिए भने कालेबुङमा पनि तिनले निरीक्षण गरे। तिनी आज कालेबुङमा नै बस्नेछन्।
बन्दको असरबारे तिनलाई प्रश्न गर्दा सरकारलाई असर परिरहेको जनाउँदै भने, सरकारले बन्दलाई विथोल्न चहानु नै बन्दको असर सरकारमा छ भनेर स्पष्ट हुनु हो। तिनले पैदल यात्रा आफ्नै नेताहरूलाई पाठ सिकाउन पनि गरेको बताउँदै भने,जनतालाई बन्दमा असुविधा भइरहेको बेला नेताहरूले आराम गर्नु हुँदैन। म बन्दभरि पैदल यात्रा गरेर बन्दको जायजा लिनेछु। तिनले राजमार्गको पूर्ण जायजा पनि लिए भने कालेबुङमा पनि तिनले निरीक्षण गरे। तिनी आज कालेबुङमा नै बस्नेछन्।
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| Convoy of vehicles in NH 31A near Malli |
मोर्चा प्रवक्ता डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले सरकारलाई अहिले नै असर नगरेपनि विस्तारै असर गर्ने बताए। तिनले भने, हाम्रो काम हो कार्यक्रम गर्नु। सरकारलाई असर परेर नै छोड्छ। यो बन्दद्वारा मोर्चासित जनता छ भनेर केन्द्रलाई बुझाउनु अथवा केन्द्रले मोर्चामा मान्छे छैन भन्नेहरूलाई मूल्याङ्कन गर्नु केन्द्रसित उपयुक्त समय रहेको छ। राजमार्गमा सीआरपीएफ हुले पनि मोर्चालई कुनै असर नपर्ने पनि तिनले भने। डुवर्समा आविपले मोर्चाको बन्दको विरोध नगरेर परिपक्व राजनैतिक आचरण देखाएकोमा आभार पनि तिनले प्रकट गरे। बन्दमा केही घटनाहरू देखापरे पनि पुलिसले साह्रै अत्यचार भने नगरेको तिनले जनाए।
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| Vehicles at Chitrey NH 31A |
Mukesh Sharma, KalimNews: GJM President Bimal Gurung arrived Kalimpong on foot this evening from Takdah. On his way at Teesta along with his supporter he was warmly welcomed by the GJM supporters.
Addressing the party members he said that after hearing the news of disturbance in National Highway 31A I have come to visit and meet the people over here. He said, National highway is open and we should understand the problem of our neighbouring state.He assured that within a few days positive good news will reach us from Delhi so in this juncture we have to control ourself. He appealed to his cadres to calm,down.
Speaking to the reporters he said that if on 16th and 17th BOBBC observes a two days strike then the first phase of strike scheduled to be over on 15th will continue without any break. He added that the incidents of disturbance in the national highway is the conspiracy of the state government to disturb our agitation.At Kalimpong he said that GJM will never ever rest until the demand for a separate state of gorkhaland is achieved.and Morcha will continue to follow the democratic movement to achieve its goal. Morcha spokesperson Dr. H.B.Chettri compared the journey of GJM Chief Bimal Gurung with the Dandhi March.6 vehicles vandalised by miscreants.
Prashant Bajgain, Haalkhabar.com, Rangpo, January 14: Six Sikkim vehicles were vandalized by miscreants between Lohapool, West Bengal and Rangpo region today at the third day of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) strike at neighboring hill Darjeeling.
Sources informed that today morning at around 4 am, three vegetable loaded truck bearing registration no SK 03/3649, SK 03/3009 and SK 03/4923 along with one private van SK 01/P/4797 was attacked and destroyed at Gailkhola area of West Bengal.
More two vehicles were damaged at other places of highway region falling under Darjeeling hill region.
It is to be mentioned that the north Bengal IG, Ranvir Singh on Thursday has assured to provide proper security arrangements for the Sikkim vehicles plying at NH 31 A highway in all strike days. As because the GJM has already announced the exemption in strike at NH 31 A some months back, no action have been made against such frequent incidents with no political party or organization has taken up the responsibility of it till date.
Further, it is known that the West Bengal police even fired blank at the highway area whereas no official statement has been made from the police part till now. Even, the much assured deploy of CRPF at NH 31 A was not made today.
In other hand, the Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) has increased its service with 30 buses were engaged between Siliguri and Sikkim o Friday carrying almost 1000 passengers.
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| A wind shield smashed vehicle: Pic-Voice of Sikkim |
Voice of Sikkim, Rangpo, January 14: With an outmost anticipation from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that the lifeline of Sikkim which connects with nation will not be affected during the bandh was told in clear tone by GJM president Bimal Gurung. The bandh was observed from 12 January wherein a traffic was almost nil along the highway NH31A due to the fear that some incident might happen, several passengers and main line taxi vehicles feared plying along the influential region between Siliguri and Gangtok.
On the second day the State Transport Department, Sikkim Nationalized Transport Corporation SNT of Govt of Sikkim made a necessary arrangement to ferry a bus service where nearly 20 above transport buses with an escort from police personnel were initiated. Intervening same night at around 6:30 PM of second day a bizarre incident of two buses being vandalised by unknown miscreant at influential region between Melli and Rangpo at isolated place Kirney which slapped the state authority and people’s belief. Today at around 4:30 am in early morning three utility trucks of Sikkim carrying a essential food commodities were yet again attacked between Rambi and Tista by some unknown miscreant.
The West Bengal Administration and Police Authority too have badly felt about the attack, though the Inspector General North Bengal circle Mr Ranvir Singh had assured a safety along the highway connecting through this belt.
Even though the situation is continuing to rise brewing more troubles for the hostages and passengers, the word of GJM to exempt Sikkim from the bandh seems derailed. A report of blank firing was learnt in some places but no any appropriate information could be extracted over the incident of critical firing. Earlier today in the morning IG Singh had announced to deploy CRPF Jawans for patrolling the highway for keeping strict vigil but not a single face of CRPF were seen on any of the locations along the highway NH31a. Whereas, SNT has increased its capacity now ferrying 1000 passengers in a day between Siliguri to Gangtok.
Counter pill bitter, Morcha wants ban - Cop chief plea to plains on bandh |
| Nari Morcha members have lunch provided by the party during a picketing break in Darjeeling town on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
TT, Jan. 14: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will write to the Centre to ban the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee for trying to impose an “economic blockade” on the hills.
At the same time, inspector-general of police (north Bengal) Ranvir Kumar said he had asked the ASP of Siliguri to talk to the Bhasha Committee so that it withdrew the 48 hours’ strike it has called from January 16.
The Siliguri-based Bhasha Banchao Committee has announced a two-day general strike as an “economic blockade” on January 16 and 17, the days when the Morcha relaxes its ongoing 27-day general strike.
Morcha chief Bimal Gurung said in Kalimpong: “In light of the strike called in Siliguri, we may continue with our bandh.” The hint was that there might be no relief on January 16 and 17.
The purpose of the two-day strike in the plains of Darjeeling district and Jalpaiguri, the Bhasha Committee leaders had said, was to choke supplies to the hills when people come down to replenish their larders.
But IG Kumar today told journalists here: “We want the organisation concerned to withdraw the strike. The ASP of Siliguri has been asked to persuade them to withdraw the bandh. The strike would largely affect movement of food grains and medicines to the hills and thus withdrawal is essential. We also want to make it clear that if the bandh supporters forcibly try to implement the strike, police would take stern action.”
Asked why similar steps were not being taken against the Morcha which has resorted to a 96-hour strike in the hills from January 12, the IG said: “It is not our concern to discourage people from observing a strike. We intervene only when the bandh supporters resort to coercion.”
A delegation of the Darjeeling district Left Front submitted a memorandum today to the IG, demanding strict action against Morcha supporters who they said were attacking members of other outfits in the hills.
At Writers’ Buildings, additional director-general of police (law and order) S.K. Purakayastha said Delhi has been requested to send six companies of central forces. Of them, one company will be consist of women. “At present state armed forces are there. We have asked for central forces,” he said.
In Darjeeling, for the first time, cases have been registered against nearly 100 Morcha supporters for staging a gherao in front of the Darjeeling police station yesterday evening.
All of them, protesting arrests in the Dooars, have been booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 342 (wrongful confinement), 186 (obstructing public servant from discharging duties) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Cases have been also filed against Morcha leaders Dawa Lama, Ishamani Pakhrin, Anita Chhetri, Puspa Chhetri, Doma Bhutia, Anita Lakhandri and 36 others for staging a blockade at Chowk Bazar. Thirty others were also booked under Section 8 (B) of the National Highway Act, 1956 for blocking the road at Darjeeling Motor Stand.
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri, while alleging that the Bhasha Committee was posturing as an apolitical organisation when it was actually not, said: “We will write to the Centre seeking a ban on the organisation, which is trying to impose an economic blockade on the hills.
“The CPM and especially Asok Bhattacharya (the MLA from Siliguri) is using fringe organisations like the Bhasha Banchao Committee for political gains.”
The Trinamul Congress, too, alleged that the CPM was using the Bhasha Committee to jeopardise a public meeting it had called on January 16.
“We have convened a public meeting on the Sabuj Sangha grounds and the CPM, in a planned manner, has used the Bhasha Committee to call a strike on that day to jeopardise our meeting,” said Gautam Deb, the Darjeeling district Trinamul Congress president. “We will, however, go ahead with the meeting even during the strike.”
The Morcha leadership said the state should act immediately before the situation spiralled out of control.
“The Bhasha Committee is trying to create a rift between two communities which could lead to chaos and tension in the region,” said Giri.
“Gorkhaland is an aspiration of the Gorkha community but the Morcha never tried to communalise the issue. We have never aroused feelings against any particular community — our fight is with the government. The Siliguri- based committee on the other hand is trying to play with fire.”
Giri said the hill people were ready to face any situation. “As and when the situation arises we will take necessary steps. We will not go hungry,” he said.
The Morcha also added that it would not back off from the agitation.
Bhasha Committee president Mukunda Majumdar said there was no question of withdrawing the strike. “Let police restore normality in the hills first and dissuade the Morcha from undemocratic acts, instead of persuading us.”
Driver hit by strike supporters
TT, Siliguri, Jan. 14: Suspected bandh supporters hit a driver on the head with a sharp weapon at Dudhia last night when he reached there with his vehicle. Two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha members were arrested in this connection.
Police said Kamal Subba, a resident of Dudhia, was stopped by bandh supporters when he entered the locality, 30km from here, around 9pm. “There was an altercation during which he was hit on the head with a patang, leading to a grievous injury,” said Darjeeling police chief D.P. Singh. “He was rushed to a nursing home and then shifted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. A complaint had been filed at Mirik police station.” Sources at the NBMCH said his family members shifted him from there this morning.
“Four Morcha supporters and Binay Tamang (assistant secretary of the Morcha) have been accused in the complaint. This morning, two persons carrying similar weapons, were sighted near the site of the attack and were arrested. We are verifying the alleged involvement of the other person named in the complaint.” The police chief did not divulge the name of the complainant.
Kamal, the police said, was bringing a car from Bunkulung, 15km from Dudhia, late in the evening. “He was hoping to enter Dudhia at night without being stopped by the bandh supporters,” a police source said.
Senior Morcha leaders said they were not aware of the incident. “We have no clue about any such incident and in fact, I am hearing it from you for the first time,” Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the media and publicity secretary of Morcha, told The Telegraph this afternoon.
“The strike is peaceful and we need to check out whether any such incident has happened in Dudhia.”
ABGL charge
The ABGL today accused the Morcha of not discussing statehood in the 11 rounds of the tripartite talks held with the state and the Centre.
Dawa Sherpa, the ABGL working president, said in Siliguri: “We had been to Delhi to meet some political leaders and bureaucrats. We discovered from documents available with the central government that the Morcha has till date kept the discussions limited to autonomous authority…No discussion has ever taken place on statehood.”
Dooars Utsav starts today
KalimNews: 10 days 7th Duars Festival will be inaugurated by Arunov Basumazumdar, VC of NBU today in Alipurduar Parade ground amidst controversy.
GJM leaders slam 48-hr economic blockade call
TNN, DARJEELING: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Friday condemned the Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee's (BOBBBC) proposed 48-hour economic blockade to coincide with the former's two-day relaxation in the ongoing strike on January 16 and 17.
Speaking to the media in Darjeeling, GJM secretary Roshan Giri alleged a conspiracy of the CPM-led government and Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya to create tension and communal disharmony between the hill and plain communities. "The BOBBBC is nothing but a fringe outfit of the state government and patronised by Bhattacharya to create tension in the region. We condemn the outfit's economic blockade as we are currently engaged in a democratic movement," he said. The GJM asserted that the ongoing bandh in the hills would continue even as it provided a 24-hour relaxation in the Dooars.
BOBBBC has called the two-day strike in the plains to stop movement of foodgrains and essentials to the hills to counter GJM's 27-day bandh. "We are not bothered by what BOBBBC announces as they do not have much of a sway. But the so-called economic blockade is undemocratic," said Giri. Earlier, too, non-political outfits have opposed GJM's activities. "We will be writing to the Union and state government about the plain outfit's proposed undemocratic announcement," said Giri.
In Kalimpong, GJM chief Bimal Gurung, hinted that the party could do a rethink on whether to provide relaxations at all. This, after the BOBBBC announced their strike. In fact, the committee warned that they would call strikes during all relaxations.
GJM's 27-day, phase-wise bandh entered its third day without any untoward incident. Police have started cases against picketers and demonstrators.
Gurung walks 60km for road-open plea
Dooars Utsav starts today
KalimNews: 10 days 7th Duars Festival will be inaugurated by Arunov Basumazumdar, VC of NBU today in Alipurduar Parade ground amidst controversy.
GJM leaders slam 48-hr economic blockade call
TNN, DARJEELING: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Friday condemned the Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee's (BOBBBC) proposed 48-hour economic blockade to coincide with the former's two-day relaxation in the ongoing strike on January 16 and 17.
Speaking to the media in Darjeeling, GJM secretary Roshan Giri alleged a conspiracy of the CPM-led government and Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya to create tension and communal disharmony between the hill and plain communities. "The BOBBBC is nothing but a fringe outfit of the state government and patronised by Bhattacharya to create tension in the region. We condemn the outfit's economic blockade as we are currently engaged in a democratic movement," he said. The GJM asserted that the ongoing bandh in the hills would continue even as it provided a 24-hour relaxation in the Dooars.
BOBBBC has called the two-day strike in the plains to stop movement of foodgrains and essentials to the hills to counter GJM's 27-day bandh. "We are not bothered by what BOBBBC announces as they do not have much of a sway. But the so-called economic blockade is undemocratic," said Giri. Earlier, too, non-political outfits have opposed GJM's activities. "We will be writing to the Union and state government about the plain outfit's proposed undemocratic announcement," said Giri.
In Kalimpong, GJM chief Bimal Gurung, hinted that the party could do a rethink on whether to provide relaxations at all. This, after the BOBBBC announced their strike. In fact, the committee warned that they would call strikes during all relaxations.
GJM's 27-day, phase-wise bandh entered its third day without any untoward incident. Police have started cases against picketers and demonstrators.
Gurung walks 60km for road-open plea
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| Bimal Gurung (centre) on the way to Teesta Bazaar. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha |
Vivek Chhetri, Rajeev Ravidas, TT, Jan. 14:Bimal Gurung has walked more than 60km in two days to reach Kalimpong from Darjeeling and appealed to the people along NH31A to keep the highway open during the ongoing strike.
The highway, the only road link between Sikkim and rest of the country, is frequently blocked during strikes in the Darjeeling hills. Traffic was disrupted on NH31A on the first day of the ongoing shutdown also
>Gurung’s decision to walk till Kalimpong surprised even those who had been accompanying him. He started from his residence at Patlabas, about 6km from Darjeeling, yesterday afternoon only to visit the Morcha’s town committee office.
When Gurung reached Darjeeling, many thought that he would at the most walk till Jorebunglow, 10km away, but the party chief soon turned towards 3rd Mile and headed to Takdah, 28km from Darjeeling.
Gurung had started from Darjeeling around 3.30pm yesterday. Around 40 people were with the Morcha chief and many are reportedly suffering from severe leg cramps. Gurung, however, seemed to be fine.
The Morcha chief’s decision to walk is largely because of the party’s directive that no leader should unnecessarily use vehicles during the strike.
Having stayed overnight at Tinchuley, Gurung started the 24km walk from Tinchuley to Teesta Bazaar to hit the highway this morning. While walking a 3km stretch along NH31A, he appealed to the residents not to block the highway.
“We are strictly enforcing this strike but since we have kept NH31A out of the bandh’s purview, we appeal to all not to stop vehicles to and from Sikkim. We have to keep our movement democratic and we must also understand that a lot of people are trying to block the highway to discredit our party,” Gurung told Morcha supporters.
From Teesta Bazaar, Gurung trudged uphill for 14km to reach Kalimpong around 5pm today.
In Kalimpong, he said: “Let us not talk about interim set-up just now. We will set out to achieve what we had originally planned,” hinting that Gorkhaland was now the priority.
The highway, the only road link between Sikkim and rest of the country, is frequently blocked during strikes in the Darjeeling hills. Traffic was disrupted on NH31A on the first day of the ongoing shutdown also
>Gurung’s decision to walk till Kalimpong surprised even those who had been accompanying him. He started from his residence at Patlabas, about 6km from Darjeeling, yesterday afternoon only to visit the Morcha’s town committee office.
When Gurung reached Darjeeling, many thought that he would at the most walk till Jorebunglow, 10km away, but the party chief soon turned towards 3rd Mile and headed to Takdah, 28km from Darjeeling.
Gurung had started from Darjeeling around 3.30pm yesterday. Around 40 people were with the Morcha chief and many are reportedly suffering from severe leg cramps. Gurung, however, seemed to be fine.
The Morcha chief’s decision to walk is largely because of the party’s directive that no leader should unnecessarily use vehicles during the strike.
Having stayed overnight at Tinchuley, Gurung started the 24km walk from Tinchuley to Teesta Bazaar to hit the highway this morning. While walking a 3km stretch along NH31A, he appealed to the residents not to block the highway.
“We are strictly enforcing this strike but since we have kept NH31A out of the bandh’s purview, we appeal to all not to stop vehicles to and from Sikkim. We have to keep our movement democratic and we must also understand that a lot of people are trying to block the highway to discredit our party,” Gurung told Morcha supporters.
From Teesta Bazaar, Gurung trudged uphill for 14km to reach Kalimpong around 5pm today.
In Kalimpong, he said: “Let us not talk about interim set-up just now. We will set out to achieve what we had originally planned,” hinting that Gorkhaland was now the priority.
Baton and shut classes to stop fury
 |
| Police deployed at Jalpaiguri Anandachandra College on Friday. (Biplab Basak) |
TT, Jalpaiguri/Islampur, Jan. 14: Two groups owing allegiance to the SFI and Chhatra Parishad today clashed at a college in Jalpaiguri leaving 15 injured, the same day when teachers of an Islampur institution refused to take classes citing student violence.
In Islampur College, alleged SFI members had ransacked the principal’s office and the teachers’ room yesterday, demanding that four class representatives who had not cleared their Part II exams be promoted.
The alleged SFI supporters had entered the principal’s room and demanded that the four students and others who had failed in the BA, BSc and BCom exams be cleared by the Gour Banga University to which Islampur College is affiliated. They also heckled temporary college in-charge Sujit Pal before smashing almirahs and throwing chairs and tables.
“This kind of violence is of great concern and the teachers are feeling insecure after the student fury on campus. We have written to the subdivisional officer, the chairperson of the college governing body to ensure our security. Till then we will not take classes,” said Anita Sharma Chowdhury, the secretary of the college teachers’ council today. She said there were 17 permanent and 16 part-time teachers in Islampur College.
At Jalpaiguri Anandachandra College, 15 persons were reported injured in the clash. Five of them, seriously injured, have been admitted to the district hospital in Jalpaiguri town.
Police allegedly lathicharged to disperse the warring groups. The SFI blocked the Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road from 2pm to 6pm to protest the alleged attack by Chhatra Parishad members and the baton charge.
But Biswajit Singha, the assistant secretary of the Chhatra Parishad-led union, said the non-teaching staff of the college had taken a partisan role during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the student election on January 21. The last date for filing nomination was on January 12.
TT, Islampur: Cash and ornaments worth Rs 1 lakh was looted from a jewellery shop in the municipal market here on Thursday evening. Five criminals entered the shop and held the lone employee at gunpoint before fleeing with the money and ornaments, said police.
Rail death
TT, Jaigaon: Bimal Burman, a Group IV employee at Madarihat railway station, was run over by a
train when he was inspecting the track on Friday.
BEYOND TELANGANA- The Indian republic is young enough to try out more states
In Islampur College, alleged SFI members had ransacked the principal’s office and the teachers’ room yesterday, demanding that four class representatives who had not cleared their Part II exams be promoted.
The alleged SFI supporters had entered the principal’s room and demanded that the four students and others who had failed in the BA, BSc and BCom exams be cleared by the Gour Banga University to which Islampur College is affiliated. They also heckled temporary college in-charge Sujit Pal before smashing almirahs and throwing chairs and tables.
“This kind of violence is of great concern and the teachers are feeling insecure after the student fury on campus. We have written to the subdivisional officer, the chairperson of the college governing body to ensure our security. Till then we will not take classes,” said Anita Sharma Chowdhury, the secretary of the college teachers’ council today. She said there were 17 permanent and 16 part-time teachers in Islampur College.
At Jalpaiguri Anandachandra College, 15 persons were reported injured in the clash. Five of them, seriously injured, have been admitted to the district hospital in Jalpaiguri town.
Police allegedly lathicharged to disperse the warring groups. The SFI blocked the Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road from 2pm to 6pm to protest the alleged attack by Chhatra Parishad members and the baton charge.
But Biswajit Singha, the assistant secretary of the Chhatra Parishad-led union, said the non-teaching staff of the college had taken a partisan role during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the student election on January 21. The last date for filing nomination was on January 12.
“We went to the principal this morning to protest against it. But the non-teaching employees and the SFI supporters jointly attacked us,” Singha said.
College principal Subhas Chandra said leaders of both the warring groups would be invited to peace meetings. The inspector in charge of Jalpaiguri police station Birendra Kumar Singh denied there was a lathicharge. “You can at best say that lathi-wielding policemen chased away the warring groups. No arrests were, however, made,” said the IC.
College principal Subhas Chandra said leaders of both the warring groups would be invited to peace meetings. The inspector in charge of Jalpaiguri police station Birendra Kumar Singh denied there was a lathicharge. “You can at best say that lathi-wielding policemen chased away the warring groups. No arrests were, however, made,” said the IC.
Bison kills villager
TT, Alipurduar, Jan. 14: One person died after he was gored by a bison at Suripara village close to Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary on Friday morning.
Foresters said the animal had come out of the forest around 7am and entered the village. Rajib Munda was sitting around a bonfire when the bison lunged at him. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar.
Jewellery lootTT, Islampur: Cash and ornaments worth Rs 1 lakh was looted from a jewellery shop in the municipal market here on Thursday evening. Five criminals entered the shop and held the lone employee at gunpoint before fleeing with the money and ornaments, said police.
Rail death
TT, Jaigaon: Bimal Burman, a Group IV employee at Madarihat railway station, was run over by a
train when he was inspecting the track on Friday.
BEYOND TELANGANA- The Indian republic is young enough to try out more states
RAMACHANDRA GUHA, TT, 15 January
The United States of America has less than half as many citizens as the republic of India, yet almost twice as many states. The map of that country has been drawn and redrawn very many times in the course of its history. On January 1, 1800, for example, the US had only 16 states; fifty years later, the number had jumped to 30. When the 19th century ended there were 45 states in the union. Oklahoma was added in 1907, while Arizona and New Mexico were incorporated in 1912. Hawaii and Alaska came on board as late as 1959.
To be sure, while some of these states were carved out of existing ones, most were added on as the American colonists expanded their reach and influence to the west and south of the continent. On the other hand, the republic of India is constituted out of territory left behind by the British. After the integration of the princely states was completed in 1948, no new land has been acquired by the Indian Union. Still, the American example is not entirely irrelevant, for it shows that large nations take shape over long periods of time. It may only be after a century or more after a nation’s founding that its political geography settles into a stable equilibrium, with its internal divisions and subdivisions finally and firmly established.
When India became independent in 1947, it inherited the provincial divisions of the raj, these a product of accident rather than of historical or social logic. At once, a clamour began to create states based on linguistic communities. The Telugu speakers of the Madras Presidency wanted an Andhra Pradesh. The Marathi speakers of the Bombay Presidency demanded a Maharashtra. The Punjabi, Malayalam and Kannada speakers likewise mounted campaigns for states incorporating their particular interests.
The Congress leadership, represented by Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel, was initially opposed to linguistic states. Having just witnessed the division of India on the basis of religion, it now feared a further balkanization on the basis of language. However, the demands grew so insistent that the government finally constituted a states reorganization commission. The commission had three members: a jurist, S. Fazal Ali (who also served as chairman), a historian, K.M. Panikkar, and a social worker, H.N. Kunzru.
The report of the SRC, made public in 1955, recommended that the four major linguistic communities of southern India get states of their own. A consolidated state of Marathi speakers was not granted, principally because the Parsi and Gujarati capitalists of Mumbai were fearful of its consequences. However, this led to a resurgence of the samyukta (united) Maharashtra demand, which acquired such widespread popular support that in 1960 two separate states of Gujarat and Maharashtra were constituted, with Bombay being awarded to the latter.
The SRC did not concede the demand of Punjabi speakers either, because it was led by the Sikhs, and the Congress leadership feared that it might be the precursor of an independent Sikh homeland. But when the Sikhs fought so valiantly for India in the 1965 war with Pakistan, the longstanding demand for a ‘Punjabi suba’ was finally conceded, with the areas dominated by non-Sikhs being separated to constitute the new states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Viewed retrospectively, the fears of Nehru and Patel appear to have been misplaced. With the partial exception of Punjab in a particular decade (the 1980s), the new states based on language have not been a threat to national unity. To the contrary, they have consolidated this unity. Whereas Pakistan split into two because the Punjabi and Urdu speakers of the west oppressed the Bengali speakers of the east, and Sri Lanka underwent a 30-year civil war because the Sinhala majority sought to make the minority Tamils second-class citizens, the republic of India has, by creating clearly demarcated territories and autonomous provincial governments, allowed its major linguistic communities the space and place to nourish and renew themselves.
In the context of the challenges of the 1950s and 1960s, the creation of linguistic states was an effective solution. But must it be a permanent one? Do not now the new challenges of inclusive development and good governance call for a further redrawing of the map of the republic? That is the question raised by the movement for a Telangana state, a Vidarbha state, a Gorkhaland state, a Bundelkhand state (and some others). Those who articulate these demands do so on the grounds that they represent populations whose livelihood needs and cultural aspirations are denied dignified expression in the excessively large states in which they now find themselves.
Before the general elections of 2004, the Congress, then out of power, forged an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. It made one particular promise and one general promise; support for the creation of a Telangana state, and the formation of a new states reorganization commission. After it unexpectedly came to power, the Congress reneged on both promises: the first because it was opposed by the powerful Andhra chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy; the second because it was opposed by the communist parties, whose support was crucial to the new government’s survival, and who vetoed a new SRC because the Bengali comrades did not want to give encouragement to the movement for a state of Gorkhaland.< The constraints of realpolitik compelled the Congress to abandon promises made in 2004. Five years later, it came to power without requiring the support of the Left. Surely it was now time to constitute a new SRC with three or more credible members? That it failed to do so was the product of apathy, inertia, indolence, complacency, in a word, status quoism. The consequence was a resurgence of the Telangana movement. The Central government, buying time, set up a commission under B.N. Srikrishna. The report, recently tabled, basically favours the retention of a united Andhra, and is sure to lead to a fresh and costly wave of strikes, bandhs, fasts, and hartals.
The experience of the past few decades suggests that smaller states are, on the whole, conducive to good (or at least less dreadful) governance. After a unified state of Punjab split into three parts, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the now truncated, Sikh dominated Punjab have all witnessed steady economic growth. The hill states of Uttarakhand and Meghalaya are better off for having left the low-lying large states of which they were previously part, namely Uttar Pradesh and Assam. I do not believe that, for all their difficulties, the residents of Chhattisgarh are nostalgic for the days when it was part of Madhya Pradesh. True, Jharkhand does not appear to have significantly benefited from separation from Bihar, but its major problems — Maoism, the mining mafia, political corruption and so on — predate its creation as a state of the Union.
The commission that I am calling for — and which both reason and emotion mandate —would consider each case for a new state — Telangana, Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, et al — on its merits. Regions that have a cultural, ecological or historical coherence, and are adversely affected by their current status as part of a larger unit, could be granted statehood; for the examples of successful smaller states alluded to above suggest that they may more meaningfully respond to the social and economic needs of the people.
As a political experiment the Indian republic is young, and still finding its equilibrium. A bold government, a government that both understands the nature of the Indian experiment and cares for the future of India, would now constitute a new states reorganization commission. That government is not, alas, this government, which is damaged by a spate of corruption scandals, and headed by a prime minister who is cautious at the best of times. The unrest and discontent will therefore continue in Telangana, and beyond.
To be sure, while some of these states were carved out of existing ones, most were added on as the American colonists expanded their reach and influence to the west and south of the continent. On the other hand, the republic of India is constituted out of territory left behind by the British. After the integration of the princely states was completed in 1948, no new land has been acquired by the Indian Union. Still, the American example is not entirely irrelevant, for it shows that large nations take shape over long periods of time. It may only be after a century or more after a nation’s founding that its political geography settles into a stable equilibrium, with its internal divisions and subdivisions finally and firmly established.
When India became independent in 1947, it inherited the provincial divisions of the raj, these a product of accident rather than of historical or social logic. At once, a clamour began to create states based on linguistic communities. The Telugu speakers of the Madras Presidency wanted an Andhra Pradesh. The Marathi speakers of the Bombay Presidency demanded a Maharashtra. The Punjabi, Malayalam and Kannada speakers likewise mounted campaigns for states incorporating their particular interests.
The Congress leadership, represented by Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel, was initially opposed to linguistic states. Having just witnessed the division of India on the basis of religion, it now feared a further balkanization on the basis of language. However, the demands grew so insistent that the government finally constituted a states reorganization commission. The commission had three members: a jurist, S. Fazal Ali (who also served as chairman), a historian, K.M. Panikkar, and a social worker, H.N. Kunzru.
The report of the SRC, made public in 1955, recommended that the four major linguistic communities of southern India get states of their own. A consolidated state of Marathi speakers was not granted, principally because the Parsi and Gujarati capitalists of Mumbai were fearful of its consequences. However, this led to a resurgence of the samyukta (united) Maharashtra demand, which acquired such widespread popular support that in 1960 two separate states of Gujarat and Maharashtra were constituted, with Bombay being awarded to the latter.
The SRC did not concede the demand of Punjabi speakers either, because it was led by the Sikhs, and the Congress leadership feared that it might be the precursor of an independent Sikh homeland. But when the Sikhs fought so valiantly for India in the 1965 war with Pakistan, the longstanding demand for a ‘Punjabi suba’ was finally conceded, with the areas dominated by non-Sikhs being separated to constitute the new states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Viewed retrospectively, the fears of Nehru and Patel appear to have been misplaced. With the partial exception of Punjab in a particular decade (the 1980s), the new states based on language have not been a threat to national unity. To the contrary, they have consolidated this unity. Whereas Pakistan split into two because the Punjabi and Urdu speakers of the west oppressed the Bengali speakers of the east, and Sri Lanka underwent a 30-year civil war because the Sinhala majority sought to make the minority Tamils second-class citizens, the republic of India has, by creating clearly demarcated territories and autonomous provincial governments, allowed its major linguistic communities the space and place to nourish and renew themselves.
In the context of the challenges of the 1950s and 1960s, the creation of linguistic states was an effective solution. But must it be a permanent one? Do not now the new challenges of inclusive development and good governance call for a further redrawing of the map of the republic? That is the question raised by the movement for a Telangana state, a Vidarbha state, a Gorkhaland state, a Bundelkhand state (and some others). Those who articulate these demands do so on the grounds that they represent populations whose livelihood needs and cultural aspirations are denied dignified expression in the excessively large states in which they now find themselves.
Before the general elections of 2004, the Congress, then out of power, forged an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. It made one particular promise and one general promise; support for the creation of a Telangana state, and the formation of a new states reorganization commission. After it unexpectedly came to power, the Congress reneged on both promises: the first because it was opposed by the powerful Andhra chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy; the second because it was opposed by the communist parties, whose support was crucial to the new government’s survival, and who vetoed a new SRC because the Bengali comrades did not want to give encouragement to the movement for a state of Gorkhaland.< The constraints of realpolitik compelled the Congress to abandon promises made in 2004. Five years later, it came to power without requiring the support of the Left. Surely it was now time to constitute a new SRC with three or more credible members? That it failed to do so was the product of apathy, inertia, indolence, complacency, in a word, status quoism. The consequence was a resurgence of the Telangana movement. The Central government, buying time, set up a commission under B.N. Srikrishna. The report, recently tabled, basically favours the retention of a united Andhra, and is sure to lead to a fresh and costly wave of strikes, bandhs, fasts, and hartals.
The experience of the past few decades suggests that smaller states are, on the whole, conducive to good (or at least less dreadful) governance. After a unified state of Punjab split into three parts, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the now truncated, Sikh dominated Punjab have all witnessed steady economic growth. The hill states of Uttarakhand and Meghalaya are better off for having left the low-lying large states of which they were previously part, namely Uttar Pradesh and Assam. I do not believe that, for all their difficulties, the residents of Chhattisgarh are nostalgic for the days when it was part of Madhya Pradesh. True, Jharkhand does not appear to have significantly benefited from separation from Bihar, but its major problems — Maoism, the mining mafia, political corruption and so on — predate its creation as a state of the Union.
The commission that I am calling for — and which both reason and emotion mandate —would consider each case for a new state — Telangana, Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, et al — on its merits. Regions that have a cultural, ecological or historical coherence, and are adversely affected by their current status as part of a larger unit, could be granted statehood; for the examples of successful smaller states alluded to above suggest that they may more meaningfully respond to the social and economic needs of the people.
As a political experiment the Indian republic is young, and still finding its equilibrium. A bold government, a government that both understands the nature of the Indian experiment and cares for the future of India, would now constitute a new states reorganization commission. That government is not, alas, this government, which is damaged by a spate of corruption scandals, and headed by a prime minister who is cautious at the best of times. The unrest and discontent will therefore continue in Telangana, and beyond.
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