GJM unhappy with GTA Bill circulated in assembly...GJMM leaders to review GTA Bill...32 tea plantation TUs to attend tripartite talks...Madan Tamang murder: CBI files supplementary chargesheet

GJM unhappy with GTA Bill circulated in assembly

TNN, Aug 30, 2011: KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday circulated in the assembly the bill paving the way for formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in Darjeeling with the intention of passing it on September 2, but Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) appears to be unhappy with it and wants amendments in it.

Titled The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill 2011, it is slated for discussion in the assembly on Friday. One and a half hours were allotted for discussion by the business advisory committee. which met after circulation of the bill among members.

But, senior GJM member Harka Bahadur Chhetri told TOI after a quick reading of the bill that there were many "grey areas" and it would be difficult for GJM to accept it without some changes.

"A number of government controls have been introduced through the backdoor," he said. "Where is the element of autonomy in it?"

Chhetri made it clear that GJM was not in a hurry to get the bill passed in the assembly in any form. " Our responsibility is high.

It is our duty to ensure that the aspirations of the people of the hills are fulfilled through the GTA," said Chettri. He mentioned that GJM leaders would scrutinize the provisions of the bill before suggesting changes.

However, that GJM leaders would now have to scrutinize the provisions of the bill before suggesting to the government the necessary changes. changes neccesary.

Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee however discounted the possibility of GJM seeking amendments to the bill. Though GJM would like to discuss with the government the provisions of the bill and where changes were necessary, he pointed out that there was not enough time as the discussion was slated in the assembly at the end of the wek. "In that case, we may move our amendments to the bill during the discussion." He hinted that in case of disagreement GJM could prefer more discussions over its provisions before its adoption. Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee discounted the possibility of GJM seeking any amendment to the bill and said the plan was to pass it in its present form.

Chief government whip Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said there was little scope for GJM moving amendments on its own, without a prior discussion with the government. GJM should discuss their points with the government in the intervening three days. If the amendments were acceptable, the government could move them on its own during discussion or accept those moved by GJM members. Though new bills were customarily sent to the assembly standing committee, there was no plan to do so for the GTA bill as it would delay its passage till the next winter session, September 2 being the last day of the current session.

The bill appears to have been drawn based on the tripartite agreement signed on July 18, leaving scope for transfer of additional areas from Siliguri, Terai and Dooars to GTA, listing 57 departments to be brought under GTA and allowing some powers to levy taxes and tolls. It seeks to transfer the tauzi department to GTA, but not reserve forests, seeks to set up a regional transport authority for GTA, but says GTA will not undertake registration of any vehicle nor levy fees on vehicles already registered by any other authority. It lays down in detail the ground rules for the GTA election, and also empowers the government to remove an elected member from office under some situations.

The state government had earlier drawn up the GTA Bill and sent it to the Centre for scrutiny. Delhi has now cleared it. But the delay involved in the process had irked GJM leader Bimal Gurung who had commented that the government should expedite the process of formation of GTA. Meanwhile, the high power committee for transfer of additional areas to GTA will have its first meeting on Tuesday.

GJMM leaders to review GTA Bill

SNS, Kolkata:Senior GJMM leaders, including the general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, will leave for Kolkata tomorrow to review the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill. “The copies of the Bill have been circulated among the Assembly members today. The GJMM general secretary will leave for Kolkata tomorrow. He will discuss the nitty gritty of the Bill with the state government officials before it is placed in the House on 2 September,” informed the Kalimpong MLA and the party media secretary, Dr Harkha Bahadur Chettri, over phone from Kolkata today.

Earlier, the GJMM leadership was skeptic as to whether the Bill would be tabled in the state Assembly during the monsoon session. A few days back, the GJMM president, Mr Bimal Gurung threatened to revive the Gorkhaland demand unless the Bill was tabled in the House in course of the current session. Mr Giri today looked contended with the copies of the Bills having been distributed among the MLAs. “We would, however, go through the contents of the Bill thoroughly before it is placed in the house. My party is happy that the state government has taken initiatives on the matter,” he said.

Dr Chettri stated that the Business Advisory Committee had held a meeting after the bill was distributed among the members of the Assembly. “It was decided that one and a half hour would be allotted for discussion on the GTA Bill on 2 September,” he said. 
32 tea plantation TUs to attend tripartite talks

SNS, SILIGURI, 29 AUG: More than 32-trade unions associated with tea plantations in the Terai-Dooars today decided to take part in the tripartite talks, which is scheduled to be held in Kolkata on 4 September.

The trade union leaders, who had boycotted yesterday's tripartite talks, held a convention in Siliguri today and they decided to join the tripartite talks demanding wage hike, bonus and variable dearness allowance for tea workers.

The trade union leaders also threatened to go on a strike after Durga Puja if the state fails not settle the wage-hike issue immediately.

In order to resolve the ongoing stalemate in tea plantations demanding a fresh wage agreement for tea workers, the state labour department convened next tripartite talks on 4 September when yesterday's tripartite talks were inclusive owing to the absence of major trade union leaders, who have been operating in the tea plantations in this region.

A total of 26 trade union leaders boycotted yesterday's talks. Only a few trade union leaders, backed by the Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha and Trinamul Congress, were present. The Darjeeling district Intuc president, Mr Alok Chakrborty, attended the meeting yesterday and explained the reasons behind the boycott.

Addressing the convention, the trade union leaders today criticised the state government's role and described its sudden decision to call tripartite talks on 28 August a “dirty game”.

They also claimed the state government was encouraging a group, working here for “vested” interests in connivance with a section of planters to dismantle tea workers’ unity.

A section of planters have been able to break tea workers’ unity in the Hills and now they are trying to implement their plan in the Terai and the Dooars with the help of a few trade unions.

The leaders also criticised the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee's decision to curb the strike, a part of workers’ movement, and adopted resolution that the tea workers would go on strike if situation demands.

The convenor, Defence Committee for Plantation Workers’ Rights, Mr Samir Roy said: “ The state government would have to look into the plight of tea workers and settled a fresh wage agreement including introduction of variable dearness allowance (VDA). If the state government fails to resolve tea workers’ problem we would go on more vigorous movement after Durga Puja festival.”

The convenor, Co-ordination Committee of Tea Plantation Workers, Mr Chitta Dey said: “ Convention today demanded more bonus and ex gratia for tea plantation workers than the rate of last accounting year. The planters would have to pay bonus at least three weeks before the Durga Puja. The planters would have to take decision on it within first week of September.”

According to the trade union leaders, tea plantation workers would stage demonstration and take out rally demanding wage hike, bonus and VDA on 2 September in all tea plantations and serve deputation to their respective employers.

On the other hand, trade unions jointly organise demonstration and convention and would serve deputations to the respective planters’ associations, administrative officials including assistant labour commissioner, the sub divisional officer and district magistrate in their respective areas.

The trade unions have also planned to meet labour commissioner and the chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee at the last stage of their movement.
Madan Tamang murder: CBI files supplementary chargesheet
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, August 29, 2011:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths filed an additional charge sheet in the Madan Tamang murder case implicating Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJVM- youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) Spokesperson Dipen Maley. All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang was
overseeing preparations for a public meeting on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside in Darjeeling, West Bengal, when he was hacked to death allegedly by a mob at around 9.20 am.
In the supplementary charge sheet filed against Dipen Maley in the Darjeeling court on Saturday certain new names including Asha Gurung- wife of GJM President Bimal Gurung; Pemba Tshering Ola - former Chairman Darjeeling Municipality, Sandhya Gurung, Sushma Rai, Dinesh Theeng appear in different statements. However they are not charged in this charge sheet.
The CBI had arrested Maley on May 25, 2011, from his residence in Pokhriabong, 30 km fromDarjeeling town in connection with the All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang assassination case. On May 26 he had been produced at the CJM court and was sentenced 10 days of police remand. The CBI had taken him to Kolkata for interrogation.
CBI earlier had claimed that during Maley's remand, they had managed to unearth incriminating evidences against him. The CBI further claimed that among the previous arrests in this case three persons had reflected Maley's name and one amongst the three had confessed to Maley's involvement in front of Magistrate under Section 164 CrPC (confession before a Magistrate.) 2 cell phones and 4 SIM cards had been seized from Maley which according to the CBI had shed light into the investigation.
Maley has been charged under Sections 302 (murder,) 506 (criminal intimidation,) 120B (criminal conspiracy,) 147 (rioting,) 148 (rioting with deadly weapon,) 149 (unlawful assembly) and Additional Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.) of the Indian Penal Code.
Initially the case had been handed over to the CID. On August 30, 2010 the CID had filed a charge sheet naming 30 persons and 61 witnesses. They had however kept the provision for filing supplementary charge sheets in future.
Eight persons had been arrested. However prime accused Nickol Tamang had disappeared mysteriously from Pintal Village near Siliguri where he was being held by the CID on August 21, 2010, for interrogation after being arrested.
Pema Tamang, wife of prime accused Nickol Tamang had moved a Habeas Corpus in the Calcutta high court demanding that the whereabouts of her husband be traced. On the direction of the Calcutta high court the CBI on January 20, 2011 had taken up the Madan Tamang murder case and the Nickol Tamang disappearance case.
In a hearing at the Calcutta high court on July 22, 2011 the CBI claimed that Nickol Tamang is alive and has been spotted in Nepal. The Calcutta high court has ordered the CBI to produce Tamang in court within the next 6 months (from July 22.) The CBI has already issued Interpol red corner notice requesting information on 47 year old Nickol Tamang.