Headlines, KalimNews:
UGFC renamed as NGFC in its meeting at Kalchini.
CPRM proposes Chhatre Subba from Kalimpong, Bharati Tamang from Darjeeling, and Saran Dewan from Kurseong as candidates of joint ABGL and CPRM parties.
Gorkhas should declare themselves as Congress votebanks now
खुड्किलो हुँदै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न चहाने गोरामुमो -गोजमुमो अनि सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न चहाने विपक्षबीच लड़ाईं
UGFC renamed as NGFC in its meeting at Kalchini.
CPRM proposes Chhatre Subba from Kalimpong, Bharati Tamang from Darjeeling, and Saran Dewan from Kurseong as candidates of joint ABGL and CPRM parties.
Gorkhas should declare themselves as Congress votebanks now
KalimNews : C.K. Shrestha, Convenor of newly formed National Gorkha Forum for Congress (NGFC) has appealed the Nepali speaking Gorkhas of Assam and West Bengal to cast their prestigious votes in favour of Congress party this time onwards. Shrestha,& said today at Kalchini Dooars that the Gorkhas are always casting their votes for Congress party but unlike other minority communities they are not counted as votebanks due to which the Gorkha community is politically deprived.
He disclosed that the name of the proposed United Gorkha Forum for Congress has been renamed as the National Gorkha Forum for Congress in the meeting of the forum held today in Kalchini in presence of Congress leaders of North-East states and Darjeeling, Kalimpong etc. The prominent figures present in the meeting were Dilip Pradhan, Hill Congress Youth President, Darjeeling, Bisnhu Chhetri, Kalimpong, Krishna Bhujel, L.D.Sharma from North-East region and Tilak Sharma from Dooars. le-style-spaarial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">In the meeting it resolved to change the nomenclature of the Forum from “United Gorkha Forum for Congress” to “National Gorkha Forum for Congress”, considering its national character and also the area of operation.
He disclosed that the name of the proposed United Gorkha Forum for Congress has been renamed as the National Gorkha Forum for Congress in the meeting of the forum held today in Kalchini in presence of Congress leaders of North-East states and Darjeeling, Kalimpong etc. The prominent figures present in the meeting were Dilip Pradhan, Hill Congress Youth President, Darjeeling, Bisnhu Chhetri, Kalimpong, Krishna Bhujel, L.D.Sharma from North-East region and Tilak Sharma from Dooars. le-style-spaarial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
Everybody in the meeting shared their views regarding the political significance of choosing a mainstream national party and sincerely supporting it through thick and thin. Members were also of the opinion that Congress was the only party which can safeguard the interest of linguistic minority community like Gorkhas. The meeting was of the opinion that election was the best way to demonstrate democratically the loyalty and commitment towards the party of your choice.
It also resolved that the NGFC will wholeheartedly support the Congress party and alliance candidates, unconditionally, in the forthcoming Assam and West Bengal assembly elections. The modalities of the support will be decided in consultation with the Congress leaders at the respective state and district levels.
The North-East Chapter of the NGFC has the vision of spreading the feeling of nationalism throughout the North-East region by strengthening the Congress party organizationally. The NGFC also believes that for all the ethnic communities of the North-East region, like Gorkhas, Congress is the natural political party. The meeting also took serious note of the formation of the “North East Democratic Front” and after a thorough discussion on the subject decided to form a “North-East Congress Front” as soon as the ensuing elections are over.
With a view to activate and accelerate the pace of growth of the Congress organization in the North-East and also to counter the political move of the recently formed “North-East Democratic Front”, an anti-Congress front, the meeting unanimously resolved to make a move towards forming a “North-East Congress Front” in consultation with all the Congress leaders of the North-East.
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, 27 मार्च,कालेबुङ:दार्जीलिङ र खरसाङमा गोरामुमो समर्थकहरूको उपस्थितिले के बताउँछ? यो प्रश्न सबैले गरिरहेका छन्। गोरामुमो समर्थकहरू जो अहिले खुल्लमखुल्लासित सड़कमा उत्रिए, उनीहरू अहिलेसम्म कहॉं र कोसित थिए? यो प्रश्न पनि उठिरहेको छ। कालेबुङमा मात्र गोरामुमो समर्थकहरू सड़कमा निस्किएनन् तर यसको अर्थ कालेबुङमा गोरामुमोको समर्थक छैन भन्ने कुरामा अब विश्वास गर्न सकिन्न। यसपालीको चुनाउमा गोरामुमोले कति प्रतिशत मत आफ्नो पक्षमा तान्ने हो, चुनाउको निम्ति तयार पारिएका समिति र दलहरूले अनुमान लगाउन थालिसकेका छन्।
सबैभन्दा ठूलो दल मोर्चालाई मानिन्छ अनि मोर्चापछि क्रामाकपालाई। अब क्रामाकपापछि गोरामुमोलाई मानिने हो कि? सबैभन्दा ठूलो दल भएकोले नै मोर्चाले चुनाउमा कुनै पनि दलको सहमति नलिइ एक्लै लड्ने निर्णय गरेको छ। अन्य दललाई मोर्चाले सर्लदलीय शक्तिको निम्ति औपचारिकता मात्र पुरा गर्दै आफ्नै स्वार्थमा लागेकोले विपक्षका दलहरू जति एक हुनुपर्ने परिस्थिति निर्माण गरेको छ। यता गोरामुमोले गरेको शक्ति प्रदर्शनले राजनैतिक खेमामा जति झट्का दियो त्यति नै झट्का विपक्षले भारती तामङ, छत्रे सुब्बा अनि शरण देवानलाई प्रत्यासी बनाउने कुराले पनि दिएको छ। दलहरूलाई जनता विनाको भन्न नसकिने कुराको प्रमाण गोरामुमोले देखाइसकेको छ। सुबास घिसिङ पहाड़ चढ़े गोरामुमोको समर्थकहरूको भीड़मा बढ़ोत्तरी हुनसक्ने स्पष्ट छ।
यता मोर्चाले सर्वदलीय बैठक गरेर पनि दलहरूसिको सुझावलाई पत्तो नदिइ आफ्नै दुनो सोझ्याएकोले लड़ाई मोर्चा भर्सेस विपक्ष हुने परिस्थिति तयार पारेको छ। यता गोरामुमो, कंग्रेस पनि छ, जसको चुनावी इतिहासमा मतहरूको गरिष्टताको लामो सूची छ। यता गोरामुमो पनि खुड्किलो हुँदै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न चहान्छ अनि गोजमुमो पनि। घिसिङले पहिलेबाट नै सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न नसक्ने भनेर नै दागोपाप थापे। त्यसपछि छैटौं अनुसूचीको पालो थियो। यसको प्रचार प्रसारको कमी अनि केन्द्र र राज्यको कुटनीतिको कारण गोरामुमो पहाड़मा छैटौं अनुसूचीलाई लिएर राजनैतिकरूपले असफल बनेको ठानिएको थियो। किन भने मोर्चा छैटौं अनुसूचीको विरूद्ध गोर्खाल्याण्डको बल हातमा लिएर मैदानमा आयो। अहिले मोर्चापनि स्टेप वाइज गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने भएपछि गोरामुमोका समर्थकहरू जो गोरामुमोसित थिए उनीहरू पुरानो दलमा नै फर्किन प्रेरित बनेको राजनैतिक समीक्षकहरूको अनुमान छ।
गोजमुमोलाई प्राधिकरणको चलखेल गर्ने दल भन्ने आरोप लागेपनि यो कुरा अलिक स्पष्ट छैन। सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुन नसक्ने कुरामा गोरामुमो र गोजमुमोमा समानता देखापरेको छ। यसकारण मोर्चाले अहिलेसम्म आलोचनाहरूको सामना गर्न परिरहेको छ। यसपल्ट प्रथमचोटी चुनाउमा उत्रिएको मोर्चाले गोरामुमो अनि विपक्षी दलहरूको रणनीतिको सामना गर्न परिरहेको छ। पहाड़का जनताको मतमा विभाजनको परिस्थिति देखापरेको छ। यस्तोमा सहमतिपूर्ण निर्णयले मात्र मुद्दा विरोधीहरूलाई हराइन सकिन्छ। यता राष्ट्रिय दलहरू जोसित गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा छैन उसित सहमति र कुराकानीमा आउनसक्ने सम्भावना पनि छ। लीगले मदन तामङको हत्याकाण्डसित संलग्नहरूलाई दण्ड दिइनुपर्ने विषयलाई जनतामा अपीलकोरूपमा राख्न सक्ने सम्भावना छ।
भारती तामङ उम्मेद्वारकोरूपमा खड़ा भएकोले मोर्चामा ठूलै चुनौति अघि आएको छ। यता 9 वर्ष बङ्गालको षड़यन्त्रमा परेर जेलमा बस्नुपरेका गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका खॉंटी नेता छत्रे सुब्बा र शरण देवानलाई पनि क्रामाकपाले चुनावी मैदानमा उतार्ने भएको छ। गोरामुमो, गोजमुमो अनि विपक्षबीच हुने चुनावी लड़ाईंले कुन दलको वर्चस्व कस्तो छ भन्ने कुरा जनातामा तय गर्ने छ। यसो भएको खण्डमा पहाड़मा कुनै पनि एउटा दलको सर्वेसर्वा र चलखेल सधैँको निम्ति बन्द भएर जानेछ। सबै दलसित आ-आफ्नो मुद्दा रहेको भए पनि यसपल्ट पहाड़का जनताले आफ्नै बुद्धिको प्रयोग गर्नुपर्ने देखिएको छ। कताबाट मुद्दाले उचित न्याय पाउनसक्छ, यसको समीक्षा गर्न जनता अहिले देखिनै लागिपर्नुपर्ने परिस्थिति निर्माण भएको छ।
गोरामुमो भर्सेस गोजमुमो? शुरू भयो शक्तिप्रदर्शनको खेल
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, 27 मार्च,कालेबुङ: केन्द्रमा छुट्टैराज्यको परिस्थिति छैन, यसकारण खुड्किलो हुँदै मूल मुद्दाको दाबीको निम्ति परिस्थिति निर्माण गर्नुपर्छ। दागोपापले जनताको आकांक्षा पूरा गर्दैन, यसैले छैटौं अनुसूचीको दाबी गरिएको हो-गोरामुमो प्रमुख सुबास घिसिङले यसो भनेपछि गोरामुमोको मुद्दा दागोपापबाट छैटौं अनुसूचीमा उक्लियो। संसदमा बील पुगेको भएपनि छैटौं अनुसूचीलाई लिएर बङ्गालको खेल गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति हानीकारक देखिएपछि यसको विरोधको स्वर उठ्यो। फलस्वरूप यो मुद्दा थॉंतीमा नै रहेको छ(गोजमुमोले तर डस्टबीनमा पुगिसकेको दाबी गरिसकेको छ।)। गोर्खालीग र क्रामाकपा यसको मूल विरोधी बन्यो।
क्रामाकपाले छैटौं अनुसूचीको निम्ति बीसवटा बलिया अधिकार र सुरक्षाको सवाल खड़ा गर्दै दाउपेच गरेको थियो। विरोधको स्वर तीब्र भयो अनि यसैबीच गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको दाबी गर्दै गोरामुमोसित विद्रोह गरेर आफ्नो जग बसाल्ने कार्य गर्यो। छैटौं अनुसूची जनताको माग नरहेको र केवल गोर्खाल्याण्ड मात्र जनताको आकांक्षा रहेकोले जनतामा गोर्खाल्याण्ड पक्कापक्कीरूपले ल्याउने वाचा राख्दै जनसमर्थन गोजमुमोले आफ्नो हातमा लियो। अहिले आएर गोजमुमोले पनि भन्दैछ, गोर्खाल्याण्ड एकैपल्टमा ल्याउनेहरू धुर्त हुन्। सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न सकिँदैन। यसकारण स्टेप बाई स्टेप चड्नुपर्छ। यहीं आईपुगेर गोरामुमो र गोजमुमोको कार्यसोंचले मेल खायो। घिसिङले पनि सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड नहुने देखेर नै छैटौं अनुसूचीको दाबी गरेका थिए।
मोर्चाले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड सोझै नहुने भन्दै प्राधिकरणको वकालत गरिरहेको छ। मोर्चाले प्राधिकरणको वकालत गर्न थालेपछि अनि गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङको हत्या र हत्याको डोरी मोर्चासित जोड़िएपछि मोर्चाबाट जनताको विश्वास कमजोर हुन थाल्यो। घिसिङले पनि कुनै पनि मुद्दाको निम्ति दलीय सहमति लिएन अनि विमलले पनि। घिसिङले बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग लिएन तर विमलले लियो। राजनैतिक चेतनाको निम्ति तुलना गर्दा विमल र घिसिङमा आकास पातालको फरक देखापर्छ। घिसिङ बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग नलिएर बिग्रियो अनि विमलले बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग लिएर बिग्रियो-अहिले यस्तो दृष्टिले तुलना गर्न थालिएको छ। मोर्चाले विपक्षलाई साथीकोरूपमा लिएन अनि मोर्चाको आलोचक वा विपक्ष अन्य सबै दल रहेको छ। विपक्षको शक्तिलाई अनदेखा गर्न मिल्दैन तर मोर्चाले अन्य दलको औचित्यलाई सधैँ ललकार्दै आएको छ।
दोस्रो ठूलो दल क्रामाकपाले मई दिवसको दिन आफ्ना समर्थकहरूको भीड़ देखाइसकेको छ। गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङले आफ्नो मृत्युपछि मात्र आफ्ना शुभचिन्तकहरूको आभाष सबैलाई दिलाए। कुन दलसित कति समर्थक छन्, अहिलेसम्म यसको आंकड़ा छैन। जसको आंकड़ा केवल चुनाउले मात्र देखाउँछ। मोर्चाले निमिट्यान्नै भइसकेको दाबी गरेको गोरामुमोको समर्थक कति छन्, यो विधानसभा चुनाउले देखाउने स्पष्ट छ। हिजो गोरामुमोका समर्थकहरूले खरसाङ र दार्जीलिङमा आफ्नो अस्तित्वको नमुना देखायो। यो देखेर निश्चय नै अन्य दलहरू हतप्रभ छन्। गोजमुमोसित पनि त्यस्तै समर्थकहरू रहेको जनसभाहरूले देखाइसकेको छ। कुन दलमा कति समर्थखहरू छन्, त्यो यही चुनाउले तय गर्नेछ।
सबै दलको मूल मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्ड नै हो तर कुनै पनि दल एक हुन सक्दैन। विधानसभा चुनाउमा आफ्नै प्रत्यासीहरू सबै दलले आ-आफ्नो नै दिइरहेका छन्, यसले पनि ती दलहरू मुद्दाप्रति भन्दा पनि दलीय स्वार्थप्रति इमान्दार रहेको स्पष्ट छ। गोरामुमो र गोजमुमो रहल दलहरूले आफ्ना प्रत्यासीहरू नदिएर साझा सम्मतिपूर्ण प्रत्यासी दिने छनक छ। यदि यसो भएको खण्डमा उनीहरूको मुद्दाप्रतिको इमान्दारिता पनि स्पष्ट हुनेछ। आजसम्मको राजनैतिक दृष्यले युद्ध गोरामुमो र गोजमुमोबीच नै हुने स्पष्ट छ। ठीक विपरित बाटोतिर हिँड़ेको देखिए पनि दलीय नीति र कार्यशैलीमा समानता देखापर्ने यी दलहरूबीच पर्ने जनताले नै दलको मुद्दामा जनमत तयार गर्ने देखिएको छ। दुइगुटबीचको लडाई र स्वार्थलाई जनतामा ठीकसित राख्न सके मात्र विपक्षले आफ्नो राजनैतिक कार्यकौशल कायम गर्न सक्ला नत्र विपक्षको अस्तित्वमा पनि यसप्रकारको लड़ाईंले गहिरो चोट पार्न सक्ने देखिन्छ। विधानसभा चुनाउले दलहरूमा शक्ति प्रदर्शनको निम्ति गतिलै अवसर प्रदान गरेको छ। यसमा कुन दल खरो उत्रेला, उसैको हातमा दार्जीलिङको राजनीतिको कमान पर्ने स्पष्ट छ।
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 27: A clear picture of the electoral battle in the hills has not emerged yet with the CPRM and the ABGL still unable to thrash out their candidates for the three Assembly seats in the region.
गोरामुमो भर्सेस गोजमुमो? शुरू भयो शक्तिप्रदर्शनको खेल
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, 27 मार्च,कालेबुङ: केन्द्रमा छुट्टैराज्यको परिस्थिति छैन, यसकारण खुड्किलो हुँदै मूल मुद्दाको दाबीको निम्ति परिस्थिति निर्माण गर्नुपर्छ। दागोपापले जनताको आकांक्षा पूरा गर्दैन, यसैले छैटौं अनुसूचीको दाबी गरिएको हो-गोरामुमो प्रमुख सुबास घिसिङले यसो भनेपछि गोरामुमोको मुद्दा दागोपापबाट छैटौं अनुसूचीमा उक्लियो। संसदमा बील पुगेको भएपनि छैटौं अनुसूचीलाई लिएर बङ्गालको खेल गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति हानीकारक देखिएपछि यसको विरोधको स्वर उठ्यो। फलस्वरूप यो मुद्दा थॉंतीमा नै रहेको छ(गोजमुमोले तर डस्टबीनमा पुगिसकेको दाबी गरिसकेको छ।)। गोर्खालीग र क्रामाकपा यसको मूल विरोधी बन्यो।
क्रामाकपाले छैटौं अनुसूचीको निम्ति बीसवटा बलिया अधिकार र सुरक्षाको सवाल खड़ा गर्दै दाउपेच गरेको थियो। विरोधको स्वर तीब्र भयो अनि यसैबीच गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको दाबी गर्दै गोरामुमोसित विद्रोह गरेर आफ्नो जग बसाल्ने कार्य गर्यो। छैटौं अनुसूची जनताको माग नरहेको र केवल गोर्खाल्याण्ड मात्र जनताको आकांक्षा रहेकोले जनतामा गोर्खाल्याण्ड पक्कापक्कीरूपले ल्याउने वाचा राख्दै जनसमर्थन गोजमुमोले आफ्नो हातमा लियो। अहिले आएर गोजमुमोले पनि भन्दैछ, गोर्खाल्याण्ड एकैपल्टमा ल्याउनेहरू धुर्त हुन्। सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न सकिँदैन। यसकारण स्टेप बाई स्टेप चड्नुपर्छ। यहीं आईपुगेर गोरामुमो र गोजमुमोको कार्यसोंचले मेल खायो। घिसिङले पनि सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड नहुने देखेर नै छैटौं अनुसूचीको दाबी गरेका थिए।
मोर्चाले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड सोझै नहुने भन्दै प्राधिकरणको वकालत गरिरहेको छ। मोर्चाले प्राधिकरणको वकालत गर्न थालेपछि अनि गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङको हत्या र हत्याको डोरी मोर्चासित जोड़िएपछि मोर्चाबाट जनताको विश्वास कमजोर हुन थाल्यो। घिसिङले पनि कुनै पनि मुद्दाको निम्ति दलीय सहमति लिएन अनि विमलले पनि। घिसिङले बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग लिएन तर विमलले लियो। राजनैतिक चेतनाको निम्ति तुलना गर्दा विमल र घिसिङमा आकास पातालको फरक देखापर्छ। घिसिङ बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग नलिएर बिग्रियो अनि विमलले बुद्धिजीवीहरूको सहयोग लिएर बिग्रियो-अहिले यस्तो दृष्टिले तुलना गर्न थालिएको छ। मोर्चाले विपक्षलाई साथीकोरूपमा लिएन अनि मोर्चाको आलोचक वा विपक्ष अन्य सबै दल रहेको छ। विपक्षको शक्तिलाई अनदेखा गर्न मिल्दैन तर मोर्चाले अन्य दलको औचित्यलाई सधैँ ललकार्दै आएको छ।
दोस्रो ठूलो दल क्रामाकपाले मई दिवसको दिन आफ्ना समर्थकहरूको भीड़ देखाइसकेको छ। गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङले आफ्नो मृत्युपछि मात्र आफ्ना शुभचिन्तकहरूको आभाष सबैलाई दिलाए। कुन दलसित कति समर्थक छन्, अहिलेसम्म यसको आंकड़ा छैन। जसको आंकड़ा केवल चुनाउले मात्र देखाउँछ। मोर्चाले निमिट्यान्नै भइसकेको दाबी गरेको गोरामुमोको समर्थक कति छन्, यो विधानसभा चुनाउले देखाउने स्पष्ट छ। हिजो गोरामुमोका समर्थकहरूले खरसाङ र दार्जीलिङमा आफ्नो अस्तित्वको नमुना देखायो। यो देखेर निश्चय नै अन्य दलहरू हतप्रभ छन्। गोजमुमोसित पनि त्यस्तै समर्थकहरू रहेको जनसभाहरूले देखाइसकेको छ। कुन दलमा कति समर्थखहरू छन्, त्यो यही चुनाउले तय गर्नेछ।
सबै दलको मूल मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्ड नै हो तर कुनै पनि दल एक हुन सक्दैन। विधानसभा चुनाउमा आफ्नै प्रत्यासीहरू सबै दलले आ-आफ्नो नै दिइरहेका छन्, यसले पनि ती दलहरू मुद्दाप्रति भन्दा पनि दलीय स्वार्थप्रति इमान्दार रहेको स्पष्ट छ। गोरामुमो र गोजमुमो रहल दलहरूले आफ्ना प्रत्यासीहरू नदिएर साझा सम्मतिपूर्ण प्रत्यासी दिने छनक छ। यदि यसो भएको खण्डमा उनीहरूको मुद्दाप्रतिको इमान्दारिता पनि स्पष्ट हुनेछ। आजसम्मको राजनैतिक दृष्यले युद्ध गोरामुमो र गोजमुमोबीच नै हुने स्पष्ट छ। ठीक विपरित बाटोतिर हिँड़ेको देखिए पनि दलीय नीति र कार्यशैलीमा समानता देखापर्ने यी दलहरूबीच पर्ने जनताले नै दलको मुद्दामा जनमत तयार गर्ने देखिएको छ। दुइगुटबीचको लडाई र स्वार्थलाई जनतामा ठीकसित राख्न सके मात्र विपक्षले आफ्नो राजनैतिक कार्यकौशल कायम गर्न सक्ला नत्र विपक्षको अस्तित्वमा पनि यसप्रकारको लड़ाईंले गहिरो चोट पार्न सक्ने देखिन्छ। विधानसभा चुनाउले दलहरूमा शक्ति प्रदर्शनको निम्ति गतिलै अवसर प्रदान गरेको छ। यसमा कुन दल खरो उत्रेला, उसैको हातमा दार्जीलिङको राजनीतिको कमान पर्ने स्पष्ट छ।
Hill poll picture unclear- CPRM and ABGL undecided on candidates
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| A GNLF rally in Darjeeling on Saturday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has already dropped the idea of consensus candidates for Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and has decided to go it alone.
The CPRM is now working with the ABGL to jointly field candidates in the three seats. However, even before the talks between the two parties were concluded, the CPRM had made public its choice of candidates. This has raised questions on the ability of the CPRM and the ABGL to decide on the consensus candidates.
“We would like to field Bharati Tamang, widow of late Madan Tamang, in Darjeeling. We are pitching for the candidature of Chhatray Subba and Saran Dewan in Kalimpong and Kurseong respectively,” said R.B. Rai, the president of the CPRM.
Rai said Bharati, the working president of the ABGL, should be made the candidate to honour the sacrifice made by Madan Tamang for the restoration of peace and democracy in the hills. Madan was hacked to death allegedly by Morcha supporters in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010.
However, the names of Chhatray Subba and Saran Dewan, both of whom are currently lodged in the Jalpaiguri correctional home for allegedly plotting the assassination bid on GNLF president Subash Ghisingh, on February 10, 2001, has surprised many. The duo have been in jail since 2001 and the trial has not yet been completed.
“They are the true soldiers of Gorkhaland issue and this is why they have been lodged in jail for the past 10 years,” said Rai. The CPRM, however, said if no “consensus” could be evolved at its meeting with the ABGL tomorrow, the party would announce its own candidates.
“If there is a problem in accepting our proposal, we will field L.M. Lama in Darjeeling, B.M. Rai in Kurseong and J.B. Rai in Kalimpong,” said Rai.
The CPRM, the second largest party in the hills after the Morcha, had attended a meeting of political parties to discuss the possibility of fielding consensus candidates in the three constituencies. The Morcha which had called the meeting later changed the plan and named the candidates for the three seats.
Observers believe the CPRM-ABGL combine, considered to be the main Opposition forum in the hills, is now under pressure following the GNLF’s show of strength.
“If the ABGL-CPRM combine does not fare well in the elections, they will have much to lose. Perhaps, this is the reason why the parties want to be doubly sure of their candidates before finalising the names,” said an observer.
The GNLF brought out a rally of around 800 supporters in Mirik today. Arjun Rai, the party’s co-ordinator in Mirik, said: “Even without the presence of our leader Subash Ghisingh in the hills, many people turned up for the rally today. Once our leader climbs up, we will paint the hills in green (colour of the party’s flag).”
Supporters of the GNLF had marched through the streets of Kurseong and Darjeeling yesterday. For the first time in three years, around 3,000 GNLF supporters brought out a rally in Kurseong when its candidate Pemu Chhetri went to file her nomination. Even in Darjeeling, around 100 GNLF supporters brought out a rally after Bhim Subba filed his nomination.
“With the GNLF showing that it still has supporters in the hills, the CPRM and the ABGL need to prove that they are also a political force to reckon with,” said the observer.
Wage parleys split tea body
TT,Darjeeling, March 27:Cracks appeared in the apex body of tea producers’ associations in India with the Darjeeling Tea Association holding separate talks with trade unions in the hills today on the revision of garden workers’ wages.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had demanded an increase in the daily wage from Rs 67 to Rs150-Rs154. Following this, the Consultative Committee of Plantation Association, the combination of all tea producers’ bodies in India, had started negotiations with the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, an affiliate of the Morcha.
However, the DTA felt that the association has not furthered their interests. “The CCPA is an apex body which looks into the interest of tea gardens throughout the country. Darjeeling to them represents only one per cent and since they have not been able to achieve a breakthrough, the DTA, which represents the majority of the gardens in the hills, decided to start its own negotiations,” said a source.
According to sources in the DTA, the CCPA is more inclined towards solving the wage hike issue with the plain-centric gardens where the CITU and National Plantation Workers’ Union affiliated to the Congress have a majority.
The three-year wage agreement for the gardens in Darjeeling, Dooars and the Terai will end on March 31. However, with the Morcha imposing an embargo on the dispatch of the first flush, the DTA wants an early settlement.
“Following our call for an intervention from the state government, the labour department has called a meeting of all operating tea gardens in Bengal on March 29 in Siliguri. The issue of wage hike must be solved with all the unions from the entire tea producing belt,” said the source.
The Morcha affiliated union, however, said since the bonus negotiations for the Darjeeling and the Dooars gardens were held separately, wage negotiations, too, should be held that way. “After all one cannot compare the price of Darjeeling tea with that of Dooars tea. This has to be reflected in the wage hike,” Suraj Subba, the general secretary of the Morcha affiliated union had earlier said.
Today’s meeting, however, did not yield much. “The meeting was held in a conducive atmosphere and the second round will commence tomorrow,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, secretary of the DTA.
The association had invited all operating gardens from the hills. However, the GNLF and the CPM affiliated unions did not turn up for the talks.
Sikkim plea for tax exemption
TT, Gangtok, March 27: The Sikkim Assembly passed a resolution yesterday, asking the Union government to provide income tax exemption to those residents who had not been provided with the Sikkim Subject certificates also.
The certificates had been issued to the people of the state by the erstwhile monarchy making them bonafide residents of Sikkim.
However, there are many who have been left out from the exemption granted by the Centre in 2008 because their names did not feature in the list. “These are the left out categories of people who could not secure the inclusion of their names in the erstwhile Sikkim Subject Register,” said chief minister Pawan Chamling.
It is necessary to exempt them also from the payment of tax, he added.
Trinamul rift makes Deb contest tougher
TT, Siliguri, March 27:Gautam Deb, the most visible face of the Trinamul Congress in north Bengal, might find it tough to sail through in his contest from the Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly seat because of differences between him and senior leaders in the party.
The Darjeeling district Trinamul president is, however, confident of a comfortable win in his fight against Dilip Singh of the CPM.
The constituency comprises 14 Siliguri Municipal Corporation wards and four adjoining panchayats — Dabgram I and II and Fulbari I and II. The concentration of voters is higher in the Siliguri wards, six of which are being held by either Trinamul or the Congress. The CPM has four councillors.
“This must have been a positive factor for Deb in the elections. But Trinamul’s all six councillors are more or less against Deb. Clashes are common between those who support and oppose Deb in Wards 31, 32, 33 and 34, all of which have Trinamul councillors. The situation sometimes reached such a pass that police had to intervene to scatter the warring groups,” said a Trinamul insider.
Of the 14 wards, three are with the Congress. Chaitali Sensharma, the Trinamul councillor of Ward 31, had resigned from her post because of serious differences with Deb.
“In two other wards held by us, the councillors are Ranjan Silsharma and Dulal Dutta and they had together maintained a lead of more than 5,000 votes in the last civic polls. That the duo are keeping a distance from Deb is known to even the state leadership,” said the Trinamul leader.
All is not well for Deb in the panchayats either. The Congress-Trinamul alliance is in control of the two of four panchayats. The CPM and the BJP have one panchayat each. In terms of the number of panchayat members, Trinamul is third in the position.
“Sikha Chatterjee, the upa-pradhan of Dabgram-II, is yet to take part in Deb’s campaign. Krishna Pal, the secretary-general of the party in Darjeeling district, is a force to reckon with in the Siliguri wards. He is also keeping away from the campaign,” said the Trinamul source. “Unless Deb manages to consolidate the support of all the aggrieved leaders, the contest would be tough for him.”
Pal and Silsharma, however, said they would definitely work to see that the seat was wrested by Trinamul. “It is not the candidate but the symbol that matters to us. We will participate in the campaign and try our best to get a favourable mandate,” said one of them.
There are also civic issues which will work against Deb. Trinamul which had contested the Siliguri municipal polls in 2009 as an ally of the Congress had refused to join the civic board.
“The people had voted us to power. But we did not join the board and could not take care of our wards. The dismal performance on our part to improve civic services might be highlighted by the rivals in the campaigns. People are resented and we need to pacify them,” said a Trinamul councillor. “Besides, Deb will also have to confront the ‘outsider’ tag attached to him.”
Dilip Singh is a resident of the constituency.
Observers said the anti-incumbency factor and the likely support from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would finally help Deb win the polls.
“The positive factor is that like in the Rajganj by-poll held in November 2009, it seems that Morcha supporters will vote for him. There is a wave against the Left Front’s 34 years’ rule and more people will vote for Trinamul. Finally, the visit of Mamata Banerjee to Siliguri before the voting will create a positive atmosphere for Deb,” said an observer.
Deb exuded. “We are campaigning for a state-wide change and the people will give us the mandate to rule Bengal. The response from the voters has been overwhelming. All local leaders and supporters are with us and there is no question of any difference or dispute. Our aim is to consolidate the existing vote bank of the alliance and further increase it,” he said.
Wage parleys split tea body
TT,Darjeeling, March 27:Cracks appeared in the apex body of tea producers’ associations in India with the Darjeeling Tea Association holding separate talks with trade unions in the hills today on the revision of garden workers’ wages.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had demanded an increase in the daily wage from Rs 67 to Rs150-Rs154. Following this, the Consultative Committee of Plantation Association, the combination of all tea producers’ bodies in India, had started negotiations with the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, an affiliate of the Morcha.
However, the DTA felt that the association has not furthered their interests. “The CCPA is an apex body which looks into the interest of tea gardens throughout the country. Darjeeling to them represents only one per cent and since they have not been able to achieve a breakthrough, the DTA, which represents the majority of the gardens in the hills, decided to start its own negotiations,” said a source.
According to sources in the DTA, the CCPA is more inclined towards solving the wage hike issue with the plain-centric gardens where the CITU and National Plantation Workers’ Union affiliated to the Congress have a majority.
The three-year wage agreement for the gardens in Darjeeling, Dooars and the Terai will end on March 31. However, with the Morcha imposing an embargo on the dispatch of the first flush, the DTA wants an early settlement.
“Following our call for an intervention from the state government, the labour department has called a meeting of all operating tea gardens in Bengal on March 29 in Siliguri. The issue of wage hike must be solved with all the unions from the entire tea producing belt,” said the source.
The Morcha affiliated union, however, said since the bonus negotiations for the Darjeeling and the Dooars gardens were held separately, wage negotiations, too, should be held that way. “After all one cannot compare the price of Darjeeling tea with that of Dooars tea. This has to be reflected in the wage hike,” Suraj Subba, the general secretary of the Morcha affiliated union had earlier said.
Today’s meeting, however, did not yield much. “The meeting was held in a conducive atmosphere and the second round will commence tomorrow,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, secretary of the DTA.
The association had invited all operating gardens from the hills. However, the GNLF and the CPM affiliated unions did not turn up for the talks.
Sikkim plea for tax exemption
TT, Gangtok, March 27: The Sikkim Assembly passed a resolution yesterday, asking the Union government to provide income tax exemption to those residents who had not been provided with the Sikkim Subject certificates also.
The certificates had been issued to the people of the state by the erstwhile monarchy making them bonafide residents of Sikkim.
However, there are many who have been left out from the exemption granted by the Centre in 2008 because their names did not feature in the list. “These are the left out categories of people who could not secure the inclusion of their names in the erstwhile Sikkim Subject Register,” said chief minister Pawan Chamling.
It is necessary to exempt them also from the payment of tax, he added.
Trinamul rift makes Deb contest tougher
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| Gautam Deb (left) with Shankar Malakar in Siliguri on Sunday. (Kundan Yolmo) |
The Darjeeling district Trinamul president is, however, confident of a comfortable win in his fight against Dilip Singh of the CPM.
The constituency comprises 14 Siliguri Municipal Corporation wards and four adjoining panchayats — Dabgram I and II and Fulbari I and II. The concentration of voters is higher in the Siliguri wards, six of which are being held by either Trinamul or the Congress. The CPM has four councillors.
“This must have been a positive factor for Deb in the elections. But Trinamul’s all six councillors are more or less against Deb. Clashes are common between those who support and oppose Deb in Wards 31, 32, 33 and 34, all of which have Trinamul councillors. The situation sometimes reached such a pass that police had to intervene to scatter the warring groups,” said a Trinamul insider.
Of the 14 wards, three are with the Congress. Chaitali Sensharma, the Trinamul councillor of Ward 31, had resigned from her post because of serious differences with Deb.
“In two other wards held by us, the councillors are Ranjan Silsharma and Dulal Dutta and they had together maintained a lead of more than 5,000 votes in the last civic polls. That the duo are keeping a distance from Deb is known to even the state leadership,” said the Trinamul leader.
All is not well for Deb in the panchayats either. The Congress-Trinamul alliance is in control of the two of four panchayats. The CPM and the BJP have one panchayat each. In terms of the number of panchayat members, Trinamul is third in the position.
“Sikha Chatterjee, the upa-pradhan of Dabgram-II, is yet to take part in Deb’s campaign. Krishna Pal, the secretary-general of the party in Darjeeling district, is a force to reckon with in the Siliguri wards. He is also keeping away from the campaign,” said the Trinamul source. “Unless Deb manages to consolidate the support of all the aggrieved leaders, the contest would be tough for him.”
Pal and Silsharma, however, said they would definitely work to see that the seat was wrested by Trinamul. “It is not the candidate but the symbol that matters to us. We will participate in the campaign and try our best to get a favourable mandate,” said one of them.
There are also civic issues which will work against Deb. Trinamul which had contested the Siliguri municipal polls in 2009 as an ally of the Congress had refused to join the civic board.
“The people had voted us to power. But we did not join the board and could not take care of our wards. The dismal performance on our part to improve civic services might be highlighted by the rivals in the campaigns. People are resented and we need to pacify them,” said a Trinamul councillor. “Besides, Deb will also have to confront the ‘outsider’ tag attached to him.”
Dilip Singh is a resident of the constituency.
Observers said the anti-incumbency factor and the likely support from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would finally help Deb win the polls.
“The positive factor is that like in the Rajganj by-poll held in November 2009, it seems that Morcha supporters will vote for him. There is a wave against the Left Front’s 34 years’ rule and more people will vote for Trinamul. Finally, the visit of Mamata Banerjee to Siliguri before the voting will create a positive atmosphere for Deb,” said an observer.
Deb exuded. “We are campaigning for a state-wide change and the people will give us the mandate to rule Bengal. The response from the voters has been overwhelming. All local leaders and supporters are with us and there is no question of any difference or dispute. Our aim is to consolidate the existing vote bank of the alliance and further increase it,” he said.
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