घिसिङलाई खेद्न पर्दैन तिनी आफै चम्पट कस्नेछन्-विमल गुरूङ : लेप्चा भाषामा पढाउन मोर्चाद्वारा 10 जना शिक्षक नियुक्त लेप्चा, शेर्पा, तिब्बतीहरूलाई डा.छेत्रीले गोर्खा सर्टिफिकेट दिने
अनमोल, अमरको सम्झना - 21 देखि भातृसङ्गठनहरूको कार्यक्रम
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। घिसिङलाई कसैले केही नभन्नु, केही नगर्नु। तिनलाई कसैले खेद्न पर्दैन। तिनी आफै चम्पट कस्नेछन्। घिसिङ आफैले भोट त सकोस्, चम्पट कस्छु भन्दैछन्- विमल गुरूङले कालेबुङको मेलाटारमा सम्पन्न गोजमुमोको पहिलो चुनावी जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै यसो भनेका छन्।
मिरिकमा यस्तै जनसभाबाट घिसिङको घरमा चार लाख जनता थुपार्ने तिनले कुरा गरेर चुनाउ आचार संहिताको उलङ्घन गरेको आरोप लागेको थियो। तिनले आज पनि घिसिङलाई इङ्गित गर्दै भने, म चुनाउ आचार संहिताको इज्जत गर्छु। घिसिङलाई हामीले खेद्नै पर्दैन। तिनी आफै चम्पट कस्नेछन्। अहिले पो माकपा सरकारले तिनलाई जेड क्याटागोरीको सुरक्षा दिएर पहाड़ हुलेको छ।
मिरिकमा यस्तै जनसभाबाट घिसिङको घरमा चार लाख जनता थुपार्ने तिनले कुरा गरेर चुनाउ आचार संहिताको उलङ्घन गरेको आरोप लागेको थियो। तिनले आज पनि घिसिङलाई इङ्गित गर्दै भने, म चुनाउ आचार संहिताको इज्जत गर्छु। घिसिङलाई हामीले खेद्नै पर्दैन। तिनी आफै चम्पट कस्नेछन्। अहिले पो माकपा सरकारले तिनलाई जेड क्याटागोरीको सुरक्षा दिएर पहाड़ हुलेको छ। यसपाली नयॉं सरकार आउँछ। सयप्रतिशत माकपाको जरा उखेलिनेछ। म किटान गर्छु, माकपाको 32 वर्षे शाषनको अन्त हुनेछ। माकपा सरकार ढलेपछि घिसिङको जेड क्याटागोरीको सुरक्षा रहन्छ र? यसकारण कसैले घिसिङलाई केही नभन्नु। तिनी आफै जानेछन्।
तिनले बङ्गाल सरकारको दुइमुखे नीतिको निन्दा गर्दै घिसिङलाई जेड क्याटागोरीको सुरक्षा दिएको तर आफ्नो भने सुरक्षा गार्ड हटाएको बताउँदै भने, हामीमाथि मुद्दा छ भनेर गार्ड हटायो। तर घिसिङमाथि मुद्दा छैन? तिनले 12 सय मान्छे मारेका छन्। नेताहरू मारेका छन्। मैले को मारेको छु, बताओस् त? 200 जना सुरक्षा दिएर घिसिङलाई पहाड़मा अशान्ति मच्चाउन पठाएपनि चुनाउपछि हामीले केही नगरी घिसिङ पहाड़बाट हटेर जानेछन्। तिनले यद्धपि भने, 21 अप्रेलदेखि भूतपूर्व सैनिक मोर्चा, विद्यार्थी मोर्चा अनि जीएलपीले सिब्सुकाण्डमा सीबीआई जॉंच हुनुपर्छ भन्ने मागमा आन्दोलन गर्नेछन्। त्यसबेला जनता घिसिङको घरमा गयो भने म जान्दिन। सिब्सुमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति मेरा छोरा छोरी मरेका छन् उनीहरूको निम्ति पनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति म लड्नेछु।
अब प्राधिकरण डस्टबीनमा गयो। एकबेला थियो, यस्तो परिस्थिति आयो तर अब परिस्थिति छैन। अब तर्क गर्न हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीलाई सदन पठाइरहेका छौं। तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डबारे सहमति जुटाउने कार्य गर्नेछन्। तिनको कॉंधमा धेरैवटा दायित्वहरू छोड़ेको छु। जिताएर पठाउने म र जनताको काम हो, गएर काम गर्ने जिम्मा छेत्रीको हो। तिनले लेप्चा समुदायले भोट बहिष्कारको घोषणापछि लेप्चाहरूको संगठनका प्रमुखसित कुराकानी गरेर यस्तो निर्णय भूलकुरा हुनसक्ने बताइदिएको जनाउँदै भने, लेप्चाहरूको माग साह्रै ठूलो होइनन्। मैले जेएसटीओसित कुराकानी गरिसकेको छु। 
लेप्चा, शेर्पा, तिब्बती समुदायलाई विधायक भएपछि डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले गोर्खा सर्टिफिकेट दिनेछन्। त्रिलोक देवान र रोहित शर्माले दिनेछन्। सुर्ता गर्नुपर्दैन। हण्डरेटपर्सेन्ट, गोर्खा सर्टिफिकेट पाउनेछन्। हिजो पो मोर्चाको म्याण्डेट थिएन अब त हुनेछ। यसकारण लेप्चाहरूले सुर्ता गर्नुपर्दैन। तिनले लेप्चाहरूको लिपि विद्यालयहरूमा पढ़ाइनुपर्ने माग सम्बन्धी पनि मोर्चाले काम गरिसकेको बताउँदै भने, जेएसटीओसित बसेर लेप्चा लिपि पढ़ाइनुपर्ने बारे कुराकानी भइसकेको छ।
अब लेप्चा बहुल क्षेत्रका प्राथमिक विद्यालयहरूमा लेप्चा भाषा पढ़ाउनको निम्ति मोर्चाले 10 जना शिक्षकलाई नियुक्त गर्नेछ। उनीहरूलाई दुइहजार वेतन दिइनेछ। जबसम्म सरकारले पक्कापक्कीरूपमा लेप्चा भाषा पढ़ाउने शिक्षक नियुक्ति गर्दैन तबसम्म मोर्चाले नै शिक्षकहरूलाई वेतन प्रदान गर्नेछ। लेप्चा समुदायले विमल गुरूङसित कुरा राखे, विमलले काम पनि गर्न थाले। तर मैले भोट फकाउन यो गरेको होइन। पानी,बिजुली,बाटो बनाइदिन्छु भन्नेहरूले अहिलेसम्म काम गरेनन्। म त्यस्तो होइन। भनेपछि काम गर्ने मान्छे हो। काम गरेको हुँ।
तिनले पहाड़मा गणतन्त्रको निम्ति चुनाउ लड्नेहरूलाई पनि कटाक्ष गर्दै भने, पहाड़मा 21 वर्षे कालो शासनको अन्त गर्दै 2007 देखि नै गणतन्त्र आइसकेको छ। गणतन्त्र सिङ्गुर, लालगढ अनि नन्दीग्राममा खोज्नु जाऊ। जनसभालाई अध्यक्षता एलबी परियारले गरेका थिए भने तिनी लगायत रोशन गिरी अनि डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले पनि सम्बोधन गरेका थिए। फोटो: मुकेश शर्मा, सामतेन काबो
मोर्चाद्वारा अप्रेलमा चामलिङलाई भव्य सम्वर्धना जनाइनेपवन चामलिङको संरक्षण गर्ने हाम्रो दायित्व हो-विमल गुरूङ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनमा इतिहास कायम गरेका छन्। चामलिङले यस्तो काम गरेका छन् जो 104 वर्षे यो आन्दोलनको इतिहासमा अघि कहिल्यै कसैले गरेका थिएनन्। तिनले आफ्नो विधानसभामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको प्रस्ताव ल्याएर हामीलाई ठूलो गुण लगाएका छन्। अब त्यसको कदर हामीले गर्नुपर्छ-कालेबुङको मेलाग्राउण्डमा सम्पन्न चुनावी जनसभा अवधी गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले आज यसो भने। गुरूङले कालेबुङमा पहिलो चुनावी जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गरिरहेका थिए अनि तिनी मोर्चाका उपलब्धीहरूबारे जनतालाई अवगत गराइरहेका थिए।
तिनले सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङले लगाएको गुण अहिलेसम्मका सबै उपलब्धीहरू मध्ये मोर्चाको निम्ति सर्वोत्तम रहेको बताउँदै चामलिङलाई बारम्बार आभार प्रकट गरिरहेका थिए। तिनले भने, टिस्टारङ्गीत त्रिवेणीमा मिल्न सक्छ भने हामी किन मिल्न सक्दैनौं। यस अघिका नेताहरूले चामलिङलाई बरबोटे रकगार्डनमा आउँदा खेदाएका थिए। घिसिङ सोंच्थे कि तिनी नै गोर्खाहरूका सबैभन्दा ठूला नेता हुन्। तिनले पवन चामलिङलाई चिन्न सकेनन्। तर मुख्यमन्त्री मुख्यमन्त्री नै हुन्, उनको दॉंजो गर्न सकिँदैन। इज्जत गर्न सक्नुपर्छ। चामलिङले विधानसभामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको प्रस्ताव ल्याएर यति ठूलो कार्य गरे कि यस्तो कसैले गर्न सकेका थिएनन्। अब सिक्किमलाई देखाएर नर्थइष्टका सातवटा राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्रीहरूलाई पनि सिक्किममा जस्तै गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति प्रस्ताव ल्याइदिने अनुरोध गर्नेछौं। 
तिनले अझ भने, चुनाउ सकिएपछि 18 अप्रेलदेखि उता कुनै एक दिन कालेबुङको यही मेलाग्राउण्डमा तिनको गुणको कदर गर्न यस्तो सम्बर्धना गरिनेछ, जस्तो अघि कहिल्यै भएन। तिनलाई अहिलेसम्म कसैले दिन नसकेको सम्मान दिनेछौं। यसको निम्ति सबै अहिलेदेखि नै तयारीमा बस्नुपर्छ। तिनले चामलिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको प्रस्ताव ल्याउँदा बङ्गाल र केन्द्रबाट धेरै चाप सहनुपरेको कुरा उल्लेख गर्दै गोजमुमोको निम्ति सबै सहिदिएकाले चामलिङलाई बँचाएर राख्नुपर्ने बताए। तिनले भने, चामलिङको गुण जन्मजन्म तिर्न नसकौंला, तर तिनी समग्र गोर्खाहरूका असल उदाहरण हुन्। उनी जस्ता व्यक्तिलाई बँचाएर राख्नुपर्छ।तिनको संरक्षणको दायित्व हाम्रो पनि हो। गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति तिनले यस्ता ऐतिहासिक डोकुमेन्ट बनाइदिएका छन्, त्यसलाई लिएर हामी आन्दोलनमा सजिलै अघि बढ्नसक्छौं। चामलिङले सिक्किममा रहेका दार्जीलिङका मतदाताहरूलाई मत खसाल्न सुविधा उपलब्ध गर्दै दुइदिनको छुट्टि दिएकोमा पनि आभार प्रकट गरे। चामलिङलाई हामीले अझ धेरै सहयोग मागेका छौं। तिनले सिब्सुकाण्डको भर्त्सना गर्दै यसकाण्डमा सीबीआई जॉंच हुनुपर्ने सम्बन्धमा पनि बोलिदिने अपील गरेका छौं। तिनी अवश्य नै बोल्ने छन्। तिनले लेख्नुपर्ने ठाउँमा लेखिदिनुपर्छ, बोल्नुपर्ने ठाउँमा बोलिदिनुपर्छ भनेका छौं-गुरूङले जनसम्बोधनमा अझ भने।
कालेबुङमा 9 कम्पनी सीमाबल तैनाथ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। विधानसभा चुनाउ 2011 लाई कालेबुङ समष्टीमा शान्तिपूर्ण सम्पन्न गर्न प्रशासनिक व्यवस्थालाई कठोर बनाईएको छ। अघिबाट नै कालेबुङमा एक कम्पनी अर्ध सैनिक बललाई तैनाथ गरिएको छ भने आज 9 कम्पनी सीमाबल कालेबुङको निम्ति झिकाइएको छ। कालेबुङ थाना सूत्रले जनाए अनुसार कालेबुङमा चुनावी वातावरण शान्तिमय राख्न नै सीमा बललाई तैनाथ गरिएको हो। 9 कम्पनी सीमाबल मध्ये दुइ कम्पनीलाई राजमार्गको निम्ति तैनाथ गरिएको छ भने अन्य 7 कम्पनीलाई नगरका विभिन्न ठाउँमा तैनाथ गरिएको छ। लाभा, अलगढ़ा, रेगुलेटिङ मार्केट, हिलटप अनि जोरधारामा यी कम्पनीहरूलाई आजदेखि नै राखिएको छ भने यहीबाट नै समष्टीभरि स्थिति नियन्त्रण गर्न जवानहरूलाई तैनाथ गरिनेछ।
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। विधानसभा चुनाउ 2011 लाई कालेबुङ समष्टीमा शान्तिपूर्ण सम्पन्न गर्न प्रशासनिक व्यवस्थालाई कठोर बनाईएको छ। अघिबाट नै कालेबुङमा एक कम्पनी अर्ध सैनिक बललाई तैनाथ गरिएको छ भने आज 9 कम्पनी सीमाबल कालेबुङको निम्ति झिकाइएको छ। कालेबुङ थाना सूत्रले जनाए अनुसार कालेबुङमा चुनावी वातावरण शान्तिमय राख्न नै सीमा बललाई तैनाथ गरिएको हो। 9 कम्पनी सीमाबल मध्ये दुइ कम्पनीलाई राजमार्गको निम्ति तैनाथ गरिएको छ भने अन्य 7 कम्पनीलाई नगरका विभिन्न ठाउँमा तैनाथ गरिएको छ। लाभा, अलगढ़ा, रेगुलेटिङ मार्केट, हिलटप अनि जोरधारामा यी कम्पनीहरूलाई आजदेखि नै राखिएको छ भने यहीबाट नै समष्टीभरि स्थिति नियन्त्रण गर्न जवानहरूलाई तैनाथ गरिनेछ।
जन्म थलोमा बल्झिए गुमानसिंह चामलिङ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। युवा कवि विशाल राई टिस्टे जीवनवृत्त पठन गर्दै भनिरहेका थिए, उनी टिस्टाको माटोले जन्माएका ज्याला साहित्यकार हुन्। जन्मथलोमा यसरी पहिलोपल्ट हामी उनी अनि उनका कृतिहरूसित नै साहित्यिक योगदानको सम्झना गरिरहेका छौं अनि अब गरिरहनेछौं। टिस्टेले साहित्यकार गुमानसिंह चामलिङको कुरा गरिरहेका थिए। टिस्टाको फूलबारी साहित्य समितिले बुधबार 69 वर्षपछि चामलिङको जन्मोत्सव मनाइरहेको थियो। गुमानसिहं चामलिङलाई जन्मथलोले सम्झिरहेको थियो।
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 अप्रेल। युवा कवि विशाल राई टिस्टे जीवनवृत्त पठन गर्दै भनिरहेका थिए, उनी टिस्टाको माटोले जन्माएका ज्याला साहित्यकार हुन्। जन्मथलोमा यसरी पहिलोपल्ट हामी उनी अनि उनका कृतिहरूसित नै साहित्यिक योगदानको सम्झना गरिरहेका छौं अनि अब गरिरहनेछौं। टिस्टेले साहित्यकार गुमानसिंह चामलिङको कुरा गरिरहेका थिए। टिस्टाको फूलबारी साहित्य समितिले बुधबार 69 वर्षपछि चामलिङको जन्मोत्सव मनाइरहेको थियो। गुमानसिहं चामलिङलाई जन्मथलोले सम्झिरहेको थियो।
तिनी 13 अप्रेल 1942 मा टिस्टामा जन्मिएका थिए भने तिनले 1978 मा मौलो कृतिको निम्ति साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार प्राप्त गरेका थिए। साहित्यकारहरूको उपस्थिति कम्ति नै रहेपनि त्यसदिन उपस्थित गाउँलेहरू अनि वरिपरिका विद्यार्थीहरूले चामलिङको तस्बीरमा फूलमला चड़ाउँदै भनिरहेका थिए, चामलिङ साहित्यले टिस्टालाई गमिमामय बनाएको छ। टिस्टाको सार्वजनिक भवनमा कार्यक्रमका अध्यक्ष प्रेम प्रधानले भने, प्रतीभाहरूको सम्मान गर्नु कलाकारितालाई उकास्नु हो। केही वर्षअघि गठित फूलबारी साहित्यिक समिति गठन गरेर दोभान नामक पत्रिका प्रकाशित गरिसकेका यस क्षेत्रका साहित्यकारहरूमा उत्साह भरिएको थियो। टिस्टा ब्रीज उच्च विद्यालय, त्रिवेणी नर्सरी स्कूल अनि माउण्ट स्टार एकाडेमीका विद्यार्थीहरूले कविता पाठ र चित्र बनाउ प्रतियोगितामा आफ्नो योगदान दिएर कार्यक्रम सफल बनाइरहेका थिए।
यसैबीच मङ्माया वासिन्दा अनि 60को दशकदेखि कलम चलाइरहेका साहित्यकार कृबु बुढ़ाथोकी संयमीलाई समितिले तिनको साहित्यिक योगदानको कदर गर्दै सम्बर्धना जनाइरहेको थियो। विशाल राईले भनिरहेका थिए, चामलिङ बितेर गए, तिनको सही मूल्याङ्कन अझसम्म हुन सकेको छैन। हामीसित यस्ता साहित्यकारहरू छन्, जसको योगदान जिउँदोमा नै गरिनुपर्छ। यसै कारण कृष्ण बुढ़ाथोकीलाई सम्बर्धना जनाइरहेका छौं। बुढ़ाथोकी संस्मरणकार अनि बाल साहित्यकार हुन्। बुढ़ाथोकीसित कवयित्री शान्ति सहारा राइले पनि उपस्थिति दिएकी थिइन्। दिलीप गोर्खा राईले कविता पठन गरे भने मनोज वोगटी, प्रकाश हाङ्खिमको पनि उपस्थिति थियो। मुख्य अतिथि केबी प्रधानले टिस्टामा प्रतीभाहरूको खोज हुनुपर्ने अनि प्रतीभाहरूलाई सहीमार्ग प्रदान गर्नुपर्ने बताइरहेका थिए। विशाल राई टिस्टेले भने, यो पहिलो प्रयास हो। अर्को वर्षदेखि हामी गुमानसिंह चामलिङ स्मृति पुरस्कार पनि शुरू गर्नेछौं। कलाको सबै क्षेत्रका प्रतीभाहरूलाई यो पुरस्कारले सम्मानित गरिनेछ।
Ghisingh threat stays but with a tweak - He will leave with CPM, says Gurung
But about today’s threat the district magistrate said: “I cannot comment on the basis of what the media tells me. But if we receive any complaints, we will definitely act on it.”
Ghisingh threat stays but with a tweak - He will leave with CPM, says Gurung
Rajiv ravidas, TT, Kalimpong, April 13: Bimal Gurung today said GNLF president Subash Ghisingh would leave the hills after the polling day on April 18 but of his own volition, the veiled threat coming even after a police complaint against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief for a similar remark three days ago.
“After April 18, Ghisingh will go on his own …. The CPM will also go (lose power in the state),” Gurung said at a rally in support of the Morcha candidate for Kalimpong, suggesting that the return of the GNLF president, a mentor-turned-foe, to the hills had been facilitated by the state government.
The Morcha chief in fact pointed out that Ghisingh was staying in the hills under the protection of hundreds of policemen, a suggestion that the state machinery facilitated his return from the three-year exile. The GNLF chief and a host of top rung leaders of the party were forced to flee the hills after a shot fired allegedly from the house of a GNLF branch committee president killed a Morcha supporter in Darjeeling.
Mirik police have already started a suo motu case against Gurung after he said at a meeting on Sunday that Ghisingh’s “visa to the hills” would expire on April 18.
While issuing the threat, the Morcha president had said lakhs of people would converge on the GNLF president’s home in Darjeeling if he did not leave the hills, a hint that he might be driven out.
Today, in almost a repeat of the earlier threat, Gurung said he could do very little if members of the Morcha’s frontal organisations converged in front of Ghisingh residence if the once exiled leader prolonged his stay.
“After April 21, members of our students wing and ex-servicemen’s union will begin their next phase of agitation demanding CBI inquiry into the Sibchu police firing. I can’t help if they land up instead in front of Ghisingh’s residence,” he said.
Rival parties, including the GNLF, ABGL and the CPM, had demanded action against Gurung for issuing the threat in Mirik. They had also drawn the attention of the Election Commission to the matter.
“The administration has taken up the issue suo motu. Police have also started going through the video recordings of the speech (in Mirik),” Darjeeling district magistrate Mohan Gandhi had earlier said. Contrary to Gurung’s claim that he was not within the purview of the model code of conduct, district magistrate Gandhi said all parties and their frontal organisations and leaders were under the ambit of the poll code.
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| Subash Ghisingh |
But all this does not seem to have perturbed the Morcha president at all as he again tore into the GNLF leader, accusing him of betraying the cause of Gorkhaland.
“Now he is saying he never asked for Gorkhaland. Why did 1,200 people sacrifice their life (during the Ghisingh-led agitation in the mid-eighties)? I will send all the 1,200 families to him. He sold them for Rs 800,” thundered Gurung, referring to the compensation paid to the next of kin of the victims. In sharp contrast to his tirade against Ghisingh, Gurung was all praise for Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling for getting the resolution in favour of Gorkhaland passed in the state’s Assembly.
“We will never be able to repay the debt we all owe to Chamling…After the elections, we will gather in lakhs in this very ground and give him a grand reception that no leader in the 64 years after independence has ever received,” he said.
Urging the people to vote in favour of his party candidates — Harka Bahadur Chhetri in Kalimpong, Trilok Dewan in Darjeeling and Rohit Sharma in Kurseong — the Morcha president said the first task they will take up is getting the jobs of the 6,000-odd DGHC casual employees regularised.
“This is the responsibility I am entrusting upon the three,” he said. He also said all the three candidates would be called back if they do not work in favour of the people in the Assembly.
“Harka Bahadur Chhetri should not sit smugly,” he said in jest, looking at the shyly smiling party spokesperson who was also seated on the dais, as the 6000-odd gathering roared in laughter.
Gurung also drew another round of laughter accompanied with thunderous round of claps when he, referring to Trinamul Congress president Mamata Banerjee’s promise to turn the hills into another Switzerland, said: “Mamata did want to give us Switzerland. We don’t want Switzerland or the Netherlands. We want a separate state, not separate country… But if you (Mamata) give us country, we will accept.”
Gurung also drew another round of laughter accompanied with thunderous round of claps when he, referring to Trinamul Congress president Mamata Banerjee’s promise to turn the hills into another Switzerland, said: “Mamata did want to give us Switzerland. We don’t want Switzerland or the Netherlands. We want a separate state, not separate country… But if you (Mamata) give us country, we will accept.”
‘Voluntary’ lock on Takdah valley - 40 schools closed
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| Morcha supporters at the meeting at Runglee-Rangliot in Darjeeling on Wednesday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Vivek Chhetri, Darjeeling, April 13:Six tea gardens were shut, 40 schools did not conduct classes and taxis refused to ferry passengers as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha went on a campaigning spree in the Takdah-Teesta valley, claiming that the region had shut down voluntarily to attend the party’s two back-to-back rallies.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s candidate for Kurseong, Rohit Sharma, today addressed two public meetings at Soreng and Runglee-Rungliot tea gardens in the Takdah-Teesta valley area, 45km from Darjeeling town, to seek votes in his favour.
And to purportedly attend these two meetings, the six tea gardens in the area — Teesta Valley, Ranglee-Rungliot, Geille, Namring, Jinglam and Pubong — were shut for the day. The valley area has a voter strength of around 22,000.
No classes were held in 20 private schools, two government-aided high schools, one junior high school and the 20-odd primary schools.
Narbu G. Lama, the convener of the Morcha’s Takdah-Teesta Valley area, said: “The labourers who are all Morcha supporters wanted to voluntarily attend the meetings and the management had no choice but to give a holiday. Even teachers of private institutions wanted to attend the meeting and I guess the private schools also declared a holiday today. As far as the government schools are concerned, I heard that these institutions were closed because of a local festival, Chaitya Daishain.”
A teacher in Darjeeling confirmed that schools across the district were closed because of Chaitya Daishain, a “sectional holiday” (meant for particular communities). However, all private schools were open in Darjeeling town.
Lama stressed that his party had not forced shut any of the gardens. “When there are no labourers turning out for work the management has no alternative but to declare a holiday,” he said.
Tea garden officials, on condition of anonymity, said there was a verbal appeal from the Morcha to allow the labourers to attend the meeting. “In the past, too, there had been instances when we had been asked to keep the gardens shut because of meetings. In such situations, we do not deduct the wages but adjust the day’s absence by keeping the garden open on a scheduled holiday, sometimes even on Sundays,” an official said.
Cong-moots-new-Hills-status
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, April 13: The district Congress leadership in Darjeeling on Tuesday proposed Union Territory (UT) status for the Hills, which could lend a new dimension to the battle for Gorkhaland. The proposal contradicts the claims of Congress leader and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee that an autonomous council would be the only long-term solution to the Gorkha crisis. The Hills Congress, however, sought to sidestep the issue. "I have not heard anything from the AICC on the matter and hence would not comment," said BK Jha, the Congress election observer for West Bengal, to the Hills.
"Since the road to Gorkhaland is longwinding and complicated, Union Territory status could be a lot easier. Darjeeling district Congress has already adopted a resolution on the same and we have also held talks with our central leadership on the issue," Darjeeling district Congress president KB Chettri said on the sidelines of Jha's visit.
However, not to be left alone from the Gorkhaland bandwagon, Jha said, "Congress has always been sympathetic to the Gorkha cause. From Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, our party has always tried hard to solve the Gorkha crisis. Even Rajivji had talked of union territory status for Darjeeling."
However, he did not have a specific reply to whether the Congress supports the demand for a separate state. "Our party is for the people. We respect the sentiments of the local populace and are keen to work for him," said Jha.
National parties are aware that the Gorkhaland issue can guarantee an inroad into Hills politics and not have not fought shy of exploiting the issue for political benefits over time. Even the BJP, in its poll manifesto during the last parliamentary elections had pledged to "sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas." He exuded confidence on the harvest of the alliance between the Congress and Trinamool in the Hills.
GNLF unperturbed after Morcha threat
ENS, Apr 14 2011, Kolkata:The hills have become tense as GNLF leaders and supporters began preparing to defend Subhash Ghising in the wake of Bimal Gurung’s threat of driving the GNLF chief out of Darjeeling.
According to a senior police official, GNLF supporters were encouraged after Ghising came back to Darjeeling. “According to the information we have, both groups have mobilised goons in reserve. Several meetings were held at GJM offices, during which plans were made to oust Ghising again from Darjeeling. Confrontation resulting in bloodshed is likely after polls in the hills,” the official said.
After Ghising held a meeting in Mirik on April 9, GJM chief Gurung held a meeting at the same venue the next day. There he declared that lakhs of people would drive out Ghising after the elections. However, GNLF leaders and supporters seemed adamant. Prakash Dahal, GNLF candidate in Kurseong, said, “We are lucky to have Ghising back in the hills. In 2008, we were chased out of our place forcibly. Our chief instructed us against any sort of confrontation. But this time, he has told us that he will not leave the hills under any circumstances. We will protect him till the end of our life.”
No cakewalk for GJM candidates in Darjeeling hills
PTI, Amidst the shrill demands for a separate state of Gorkhaland, the three constituencies in the Darjeeling Hills go to polls in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on April 18 with three hill parties vying for space.
Even though the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has the dominant presence in the three seats of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, the presence of central forces and strict vigil by election observers has meant a level playing field for the other parties that have fielded candidates.
With the GNLF and the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) also campaigning in full force, it may not be a cakewalk for the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which is fighting the elections for the first time, poll watchers said.
“We have our own candidates in the hills and we are supporting opposition candidates in the Dooars Terai region as our goal is a change and defeating the Left Front,” GJM leader Roshan Giri told PTI here.
“We want the Left Front to go and there is no condition attached to our support for the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance,” Mr. Giri said, adding the issue of formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland was not involved.
While ABGL also demands the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, but with the rider that development of the hills is foremost and the statehood can come in time, GNLF supremo Subash Ghising is all for a Sixth Schedule status for the hills.
While CPI(M) has put up candidates in Darjeeling and Kurseong, its Front partner CPI is contesting from Kalimpong.
The Congress has also put up candidates in all the three constituencies, but not much is seen of these parties in campaign for these seats.
Mr. Ghising, one-time mentor of Bimal Gurung, has entered the hills after three years of exile imposed by Mr. Gurung and his followers for allegedly betraying the interest of the hills people by wanting the Sixth Schedule status instead of statehood.
Several processions of GNLF have been seen in the hills at Ghoom, which boasts of the highest railway station in the world, and other places and Mr. Ghising has also held an impressive rally at Mirik, a tourist destination about 40 kms from Darjeeling town.
This has apparently perturbed the GJM leadership with Mr. Gurung holding a rally at the same place a couple of days later where he reportedly said the visa issued to Mr. Ghising by the Election Commission would expire on April 18, the date of the elections in the hills, and that he must quit the hills by then.
The ABGL, the oldest political party in the Hills, has demanded punishment to those involved in the murder of its leader Madan Tamang by alleged GJM activists led by Nicole Tamang, as also restoration of law and order and development in the Hills.
“CBI ko nyay dilana parega,” ABGL assistant general secretary Lakshman Pradhan said, adding it was an issue that the hills people would not forget and give their answer at the hustings.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the perpetrators of the crime should be punished, but said it was not an issue in the elections.
“Law is taking its own course. Whoever has murdered Mr. Tamang should be punished. He was murdered in broad daylight. It is not acceptable to the people of the Hills,” Mr. Giri said.
“But the issue will not have much impact in the elections, because the real issue is the creation of Gorkhaland and for that people will vote for us,” he said.
GJM has put up T K Dewan at Darjeeling seat, while heavyweight party leader Dr Harka Bahadur Chetri is contesting from Kalimpong and Dr Rohit Sharma from Kurseong.
ABGL general secretary Bharati Tamang, widow of Madan Tamang, is contesting from Darjeeling seat.
Several top Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee are campaigning in the plains areas of Darjeeling, but they have kept clear of the Hills and have left it to the Hills parties to slug it out in the polls though the opposition alliance and also the ruling Left Front have put up candidates.
Though the present scenario is tilted in favour of the GJM, it is to be seen whether the results in the three seats in the Hills springs any surprise and reflect what the people there really want.
Flyover to link Sikkim & Bengal
Amalendu Kundu, TNN, Apr 14, GANGTOK: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is considering the construction of a 1-km flyover from Rangpo Mining to the Rangpo border at Mansoong, that connects West Bengal, at a cost of Rs100 crore.
Major landslides are a common occurrence on the 100-km National Highway 31 A that links Siliguri with Gangtok. Restoration of traffic takes two to 10 days.
The BRO technician has earmarked 75 spots, 28 of which lie on on Sikkim`s 40 km stretch. The remaining 47 spots lie on the West Bengal`s 60-km stretch from Sevoke Coronation Bridge to Ranipool, near Gangtok. A superintendent of BRO 764 Task force commandant based at Kalimpong, Manav Prasad, has informed.
The BRO is also constructing another flyover and one-km tunnel from Kumrek to Mining ground at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Another 200-mt tunnel will also replace the existing tunnel at Chisopani ahead of Singtam at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
Referring to the incomplete repairing and double-lane road extending work, Prasad has laid the onus on Darjeeling bandhs called in January and February. Moreover, they are yet to receive clearance from the departments concerned in Sevoke to Teesta, where some stretches passed through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Baikuntapur forest.
Prasad adds, "We hope to complete the restoration works of main thoroughfare of only connecting roads with mainline via Siliguri by May. Over 500 labourers have been equipped with seven large excavators and other machines for road widening and landslide spots mitigation."
Rabindra museum damaged
TT, Siliguri, April 13: A portion of the Rabindra Museum at Mungpoo, near Kalimpong, was damaged when a tree fell on the building during a storm this afternoon.
Officials of the government’s cinchona plantation that looks after the museum said a nearly 50-feet-high tree damaged the roof of three rooms. “The tree hit the portion of the museum that has the library and partially damaged the chimney of a room. Luckily the main portion that contains the artefact of Gurudev were spared. We have sent officials to assess the damage,” said G.C. Subba, the director of the cinchona plantation. He added that books were being shifted from the library to a place where they would not get damaged by rainwater.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s candidate for Kurseong, Rohit Sharma, today addressed two public meetings at Soreng and Runglee-Rungliot tea gardens in the Takdah-Teesta valley area, 45km from Darjeeling town, to seek votes in his favour.
And to purportedly attend these two meetings, the six tea gardens in the area — Teesta Valley, Ranglee-Rungliot, Geille, Namring, Jinglam and Pubong — were shut for the day. The valley area has a voter strength of around 22,000.
No classes were held in 20 private schools, two government-aided high schools, one junior high school and the 20-odd primary schools.
Narbu G. Lama, the convener of the Morcha’s Takdah-Teesta Valley area, said: “The labourers who are all Morcha supporters wanted to voluntarily attend the meetings and the management had no choice but to give a holiday. Even teachers of private institutions wanted to attend the meeting and I guess the private schools also declared a holiday today. As far as the government schools are concerned, I heard that these institutions were closed because of a local festival, Chaitya Daishain.”
A teacher in Darjeeling confirmed that schools across the district were closed because of Chaitya Daishain, a “sectional holiday” (meant for particular communities). However, all private schools were open in Darjeeling town.
Lama stressed that his party had not forced shut any of the gardens. “When there are no labourers turning out for work the management has no alternative but to declare a holiday,” he said.
Tea garden officials, on condition of anonymity, said there was a verbal appeal from the Morcha to allow the labourers to attend the meeting. “In the past, too, there had been instances when we had been asked to keep the gardens shut because of meetings. In such situations, we do not deduct the wages but adjust the day’s absence by keeping the garden open on a scheduled holiday, sometimes even on Sundays,” an official said.
Cong-moots-new-Hills-status
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, April 13: The district Congress leadership in Darjeeling on Tuesday proposed Union Territory (UT) status for the Hills, which could lend a new dimension to the battle for Gorkhaland. The proposal contradicts the claims of Congress leader and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee that an autonomous council would be the only long-term solution to the Gorkha crisis. The Hills Congress, however, sought to sidestep the issue. "I have not heard anything from the AICC on the matter and hence would not comment," said BK Jha, the Congress election observer for West Bengal, to the Hills.
"Since the road to Gorkhaland is longwinding and complicated, Union Territory status could be a lot easier. Darjeeling district Congress has already adopted a resolution on the same and we have also held talks with our central leadership on the issue," Darjeeling district Congress president KB Chettri said on the sidelines of Jha's visit.
However, not to be left alone from the Gorkhaland bandwagon, Jha said, "Congress has always been sympathetic to the Gorkha cause. From Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, our party has always tried hard to solve the Gorkha crisis. Even Rajivji had talked of union territory status for Darjeeling."
However, he did not have a specific reply to whether the Congress supports the demand for a separate state. "Our party is for the people. We respect the sentiments of the local populace and are keen to work for him," said Jha.
National parties are aware that the Gorkhaland issue can guarantee an inroad into Hills politics and not have not fought shy of exploiting the issue for political benefits over time. Even the BJP, in its poll manifesto during the last parliamentary elections had pledged to "sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas." He exuded confidence on the harvest of the alliance between the Congress and Trinamool in the Hills.
GNLF unperturbed after Morcha threat
ENS, Apr 14 2011, Kolkata:The hills have become tense as GNLF leaders and supporters began preparing to defend Subhash Ghising in the wake of Bimal Gurung’s threat of driving the GNLF chief out of Darjeeling.
According to a senior police official, GNLF supporters were encouraged after Ghising came back to Darjeeling. “According to the information we have, both groups have mobilised goons in reserve. Several meetings were held at GJM offices, during which plans were made to oust Ghising again from Darjeeling. Confrontation resulting in bloodshed is likely after polls in the hills,” the official said.
After Ghising held a meeting in Mirik on April 9, GJM chief Gurung held a meeting at the same venue the next day. There he declared that lakhs of people would drive out Ghising after the elections. However, GNLF leaders and supporters seemed adamant. Prakash Dahal, GNLF candidate in Kurseong, said, “We are lucky to have Ghising back in the hills. In 2008, we were chased out of our place forcibly. Our chief instructed us against any sort of confrontation. But this time, he has told us that he will not leave the hills under any circumstances. We will protect him till the end of our life.”
No cakewalk for GJM candidates in Darjeeling hills
PTI, Amidst the shrill demands for a separate state of Gorkhaland, the three constituencies in the Darjeeling Hills go to polls in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on April 18 with three hill parties vying for space.
Even though the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has the dominant presence in the three seats of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, the presence of central forces and strict vigil by election observers has meant a level playing field for the other parties that have fielded candidates.
With the GNLF and the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) also campaigning in full force, it may not be a cakewalk for the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which is fighting the elections for the first time, poll watchers said.
“We have our own candidates in the hills and we are supporting opposition candidates in the Dooars Terai region as our goal is a change and defeating the Left Front,” GJM leader Roshan Giri told PTI here.
“We want the Left Front to go and there is no condition attached to our support for the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance,” Mr. Giri said, adding the issue of formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland was not involved.
While ABGL also demands the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, but with the rider that development of the hills is foremost and the statehood can come in time, GNLF supremo Subash Ghising is all for a Sixth Schedule status for the hills.
While CPI(M) has put up candidates in Darjeeling and Kurseong, its Front partner CPI is contesting from Kalimpong.
The Congress has also put up candidates in all the three constituencies, but not much is seen of these parties in campaign for these seats.
Mr. Ghising, one-time mentor of Bimal Gurung, has entered the hills after three years of exile imposed by Mr. Gurung and his followers for allegedly betraying the interest of the hills people by wanting the Sixth Schedule status instead of statehood.
Several processions of GNLF have been seen in the hills at Ghoom, which boasts of the highest railway station in the world, and other places and Mr. Ghising has also held an impressive rally at Mirik, a tourist destination about 40 kms from Darjeeling town.
This has apparently perturbed the GJM leadership with Mr. Gurung holding a rally at the same place a couple of days later where he reportedly said the visa issued to Mr. Ghising by the Election Commission would expire on April 18, the date of the elections in the hills, and that he must quit the hills by then.
The ABGL, the oldest political party in the Hills, has demanded punishment to those involved in the murder of its leader Madan Tamang by alleged GJM activists led by Nicole Tamang, as also restoration of law and order and development in the Hills.
“CBI ko nyay dilana parega,” ABGL assistant general secretary Lakshman Pradhan said, adding it was an issue that the hills people would not forget and give their answer at the hustings.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the perpetrators of the crime should be punished, but said it was not an issue in the elections.
“Law is taking its own course. Whoever has murdered Mr. Tamang should be punished. He was murdered in broad daylight. It is not acceptable to the people of the Hills,” Mr. Giri said.
“But the issue will not have much impact in the elections, because the real issue is the creation of Gorkhaland and for that people will vote for us,” he said.
GJM has put up T K Dewan at Darjeeling seat, while heavyweight party leader Dr Harka Bahadur Chetri is contesting from Kalimpong and Dr Rohit Sharma from Kurseong.
ABGL general secretary Bharati Tamang, widow of Madan Tamang, is contesting from Darjeeling seat.
Several top Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee are campaigning in the plains areas of Darjeeling, but they have kept clear of the Hills and have left it to the Hills parties to slug it out in the polls though the opposition alliance and also the ruling Left Front have put up candidates.
Though the present scenario is tilted in favour of the GJM, it is to be seen whether the results in the three seats in the Hills springs any surprise and reflect what the people there really want.
Flyover to link Sikkim & Bengal
Amalendu Kundu, TNN, Apr 14, GANGTOK: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is considering the construction of a 1-km flyover from Rangpo Mining to the Rangpo border at Mansoong, that connects West Bengal, at a cost of Rs100 crore.
Major landslides are a common occurrence on the 100-km National Highway 31 A that links Siliguri with Gangtok. Restoration of traffic takes two to 10 days.
The BRO technician has earmarked 75 spots, 28 of which lie on on Sikkim`s 40 km stretch. The remaining 47 spots lie on the West Bengal`s 60-km stretch from Sevoke Coronation Bridge to Ranipool, near Gangtok. A superintendent of BRO 764 Task force commandant based at Kalimpong, Manav Prasad, has informed.
The BRO is also constructing another flyover and one-km tunnel from Kumrek to Mining ground at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Another 200-mt tunnel will also replace the existing tunnel at Chisopani ahead of Singtam at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
Referring to the incomplete repairing and double-lane road extending work, Prasad has laid the onus on Darjeeling bandhs called in January and February. Moreover, they are yet to receive clearance from the departments concerned in Sevoke to Teesta, where some stretches passed through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Baikuntapur forest.
Prasad adds, "We hope to complete the restoration works of main thoroughfare of only connecting roads with mainline via Siliguri by May. Over 500 labourers have been equipped with seven large excavators and other machines for road widening and landslide spots mitigation."
Rabindra museum damaged
TT, Siliguri, April 13: A portion of the Rabindra Museum at Mungpoo, near Kalimpong, was damaged when a tree fell on the building during a storm this afternoon.
Officials of the government’s cinchona plantation that looks after the museum said a nearly 50-feet-high tree damaged the roof of three rooms. “The tree hit the portion of the museum that has the library and partially damaged the chimney of a room. Luckily the main portion that contains the artefact of Gurudev were spared. We have sent officials to assess the damage,” said G.C. Subba, the director of the cinchona plantation. He added that books were being shifted from the library to a place where they would not get damaged by rainwater.
Body found
TT, Siliguri: The body of Md Lutfar, 24, a resident of Phansidewa, 8km from here, was found near his house beside NH31 on Wednesday night. Additional superintendent of police Gaurav Sharma said the body had marks of bullet injuries.
Land protest
TT, Siliguri: Members of the CPIML (New Democracy) organised a rally here on Wednesday to protest the encroachment on tribal land in Darjeeling district. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the subdivisional office
and threatened a movement if the administration failed to take necessary steps.
TT, Siliguri: The body of Md Lutfar, 24, a resident of Phansidewa, 8km from here, was found near his house beside NH31 on Wednesday night. Additional superintendent of police Gaurav Sharma said the body had marks of bullet injuries.
Land protest
TT, Siliguri: Members of the CPIML (New Democracy) organised a rally here on Wednesday to protest the encroachment on tribal land in Darjeeling district. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the subdivisional office
and threatened a movement if the administration failed to take necessary steps.
Clash injuries
TT, Islampur: Four persons were injured when two groups clashed over the possession of a plot of land at Agdimtikhanti on Tuesday night. Police said the injured were taken to the Islampur subdivisional hospital and released after first aid.
Blood plea
TT, Siliguri: The Siliguri Voluntary Blood Donors’ Forum has appealed to NGOs, religious organisations, clubs and societies here to organise blood donation camps to meet the shortage of the life saving fluid at the district hospital, the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and local blood banks. Pijush Kanti Roy, secretary of the forum, said the stock of blood in north Bengal is poor and needs immediate replenishment.
TT, Islampur: Four persons were injured when two groups clashed over the possession of a plot of land at Agdimtikhanti on Tuesday night. Police said the injured were taken to the Islampur subdivisional hospital and released after first aid.
Blood plea
TT, Siliguri: The Siliguri Voluntary Blood Donors’ Forum has appealed to NGOs, religious organisations, clubs and societies here to organise blood donation camps to meet the shortage of the life saving fluid at the district hospital, the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and local blood banks. Pijush Kanti Roy, secretary of the forum, said the stock of blood in north Bengal is poor and needs immediate replenishment.
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