AIGL seeks justice on Madan Tamang murder case on his 5th death anniversary

8:32 AM

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madan tamang

The All India Gorkha League (AIGL) observed the fifth death anniversary of its slain leader Madan Tamang on Thursday in Darjeeling at the very spot where he was hacked to death in broad daylight on May 21, 2010.

Bharati Tamang - Pic via Himalayadarpan.

Party leaders in their speeches rued the lack of apathy shown by the West Bengal government and the investigating agency in speeding the process to provide justice even after five years since the murder had taken place.

“We have failed to get justice even after five years. Is this how the law works in our country? If so than it is really sad,” said Laxman Pradhan, the AIGL vice president. The party adopted a resolution
to demand for judicial inquiry into their leader’s murder. “We will seek support of likeminded political parties of the hills first and then demand judicial inquiry into our leader’s murder,” he said.
Tamang, the AIGL president was hacked to death in the morning of May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside area of the town while overseeing preparation for a public meeting on that fateful day. The AIGL leader’s murder case was initially handled by the CID; however, it was taken over by the CBI but the investigation has failed to yield much result.

Bharati Tamang, the slain leader’s wife in 2012 had filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning the slow investigation by the CBI and had demanded for a special investigation team into her husband’s murder. “Impartial investigation has not been done by the agencies presently handling the case. We want nothing but the truth to come to light and those involved brought to justice,” Pradhan said.

The CID had named 30 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters and leaders in their charge-sheet. Prime accused Nicole Tamang, a GJM central committee leader, was arrested in August 2010 but mysteriously managed to abscond from Pintail Village, a government guest house near Siliguri, while being interrogated.

All others named in the charge sheet are presently out in bail apart from Nicole and Dinesh Subba who are absconding and a third person Sangey Yolmo who is in hospital. Dil Kumar Rai also named in the charge sheet was murdered at Goradura on the way to Singla tea estate, on December 28, 2011.
Representatives from the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxisrt (CPRM), the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the Congress were also present, to pay their homage to the slain AIGL leader.

Source: EOI

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AIGL 72nd foundation day observed, pitches for Gorkhaland

10:20 AM

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Politics

The AIGL (All India Gorkha League), which chose to remain in oblivion for more than three years following the assassination of its president in 2010, on Friday observed the party’s foundation day by holding a public meeting in Darjeeling. Madan Tamang, the party’s former president, was murdered in broad daylight on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside area of Darjeeling allegedly by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters while he was overseeing preparations for a public meeting. The AIGL remained largely inactive after the murder of Tamang  although it observed the foundation day in the party office. Friday’s public meeting was the first in more than three years and commemorated the party’s 72nd foundation day.

People light up candles to pay homage before a portrait of Madan Tamang, President of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) at Titanic Park in Gangtok. He was hacked to death in Darjeeling. A PTI file photo.

The AIGL was formed in May 15, 1943. Taking the opportunity, most speakers drew flak on the GJM accusing it of selling off the statehood demand. “The GJM has betrayed and compromised on the statehood demand. If the 29th state in the form of Telangana can be created, why not a Gorkhaland state? This shows the insincerity of the GJM,” said AIGL general secretary Pratap Khati. He also said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was not what the Gorkha people wanted and that it should be scrapped to pave way for a separate state. “If the present dispensation (GJM) and its leaders are sincere, they should denounce the GTA and take to the streets to make the Gorkhas’ dream into reality,” said Khati. Terming Tamang’s murder as sacrifice for the greater cause of a Gorkhaland state, the AIGL general secretary said the people should respect and support the AIGL in taking forward the statehood demand. “Our president laid down his life for a separate state. He never compromised unlike the GJM and the GNLF. We will never let go of the demand for a separate state,” he said.

AIGL vice president Laxman Pradhan echoed similar sentiments and said the statehood demand had got suppressed by the acceptance of the GTA that does not come with any constitutional guarantee. “Only a separate state is the ultimate dream of the hill people. The GTA, which is a temporary entity, is an obstacle in the path of achieving a separate state,” he said. Pradhan also pointed to the failure of the BJP MPs from Darjeeling in taking up the statehood demand. “Neither Jaswant Singh earlier nor SS Ahluwalia now has spoken for or taken up the statehood demand in Parliament. Their intention was just to become MPs and whatever they promised is only eyewash,” alleged the AIGL vice president.

The GJM is the political ally of the BJP. In the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP successfully fielded its candidates from Darjeeling constituency and the GJM extended its support in exchange for a pledge by the saffron front of taking up the statehood demand.

Source: EOI

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Friends and ‘foes’ gather, GJMM stays aloof

11:04 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

While even ‘enemies’ reached Bagdogra Airport to pay their last respects to the “uncrowned king of the Hills,” no important leader from the present dispensation in the Hills, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), was seen around here.

People line up to pay their last respect to Shri. Subash Ghising

However, GJMM chief and chief of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Bimal Gurung today announced that all offices under the GTA will remain closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the once strongman of Darjeeling, Subhas Ghisingh, who died in New Delhi yesterday. Mr Gurung was also once a close aide to Mr Ghisingh, the founder of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).

“I have not seen any Morcha leader here, but this is their problem,” said the founder of the Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) Mahendra P Lama.

However, former Rajya Sabha MP Saman Pathak came here to pay the departed leader his last respects. Mr Pathak refused to recall his past memories during the Gorkhaland agitation in the Darjeeling Hills under the leadership of the GNLF chief. The house of former Darjeeling MP, the late Ananda Pathak, (father of Saman Pathak) was set on fire and his family members were taken hostage during the Gorkhaland agitation in the mid-80s.

Former MLA from Kalimpong Santa Chhetri, who was once close to Mr Ghisingh, also reached the airport to pay her last respect to the late Ghisingh. Ms Chhetri had to leave the Hills during the GJMM rise, and she finally left the GNLF and joined the Trinamul Congress.

“My leader Mr Ghisingh was the only leader who raised the Hill issues and made the demand for a separate state of Grokhaland international. I failed to control my emotions after hearing of his sad demise. I have come here like hundreds of other people to pay him my last respect,” said Ms Chhetri.

Rajen Mukhia, who was with Subash Ghisingh when he fought the GJMM, also left the GNLF and joined the All India Gorkha League (AIGL) as he felt that his mentor decided to go slow against GJMM chief Bimal Gurung.

Mr Mukhia, who joined the Trinamul Congress, was one of the leaders at the airport paying homage to the departed Hill leader.

Source: thestatesman

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CPM, ABGL and GNLF have virtually vanished from the hills - Bimal Gurung

10:14 AM

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Politics

Hitting out hard at the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung on Thursday said its era is long over and the handful of supporters still clinging on in hope must realise this fact at the earliest.

Bimal Gurung

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the GTA’s three-day Krishi Mela at Damphe Thar in Dudhay, Gurung said hill parties such as the CPM, ABGL and GNLF have now virtually vanished from the public stage. “All political parties enjoy their prime time and they should learn to deal with this fact,” he said.

The GTA chief added, “A day will also come when the people of the Darjeeling hills will turn towards a new political party by sidelining the GJM, but at present the mandate is with us.”

According to Gurung, there will only be chaos and mayhem if a political party tries to flex its muscles despite being well aware that its heydays are over. “Our rivals tried to coax GJM supporters into joining their fold and a number of them did leave us temporarily, but now they are all returning back,” claimed the GJM chief.

Putting in a word of praise for ally BJP, he said, “During the Kargil War, many Gorkha soldiers were martyred, but no leader from Kolkata or Delhi visited their families as a mark of respect. Only the BJP respects the contribution of the Gorkhas to the nation.”


Gurung cautioned the people not to view the Krishi Mela as an entertainment event, but as one being held to promote new farming techniques. “Once this mela is over, Dudhay will soon find a place in the tourism map of Darjeeling,” he concluded.

Source: EOI

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Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation may take a political form

1:31 PM

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Politics

Hills are curious to know whether the apolitical (DDUDF) Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation will take a political form. DDUDF founder Dr. Mahendra P Lama contested the LS elections as an independent candidate and received full support of the CPRM, AIGL and BGP.

(DDUDF) Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation Logo

Lama, whose primary agenda is to achieve statehood, was criticised the most by the GJM during campaigning. Now, the poll results, due on May 16, will decide Lama’s future move, which could also mean a change in the structure of the DDUDF. It remains to be seen how Lama tackles his supporters and the organisation. Further, it is more difficult to forecast the DDUDF’s future prospects if Lama were to lose.

It may be recalled that during an election campaign meeting here, DDUDF spokesperson P Arjun had said the DDUDF will transform into a political party and will pursue the statehood movement after the polls.

On being asked for his comments on this, Mirik block DDUDF convener Tilak Rai said internal discussions are going on while hinting an announcement could come after the poll results are out. Clarifying that the DDUDF could likely take the shape of a political outfit, Rai said it will struggle for statehood with the support of the people.

Stressing that the foundation will fight tooth and nail against corruption, he said be it will press for transparency in development projects with both the GTA and the state government.

Rai said, “Even if the TMC or the BJP emerge victorious from Darjeeling, we will ensure proper work is done by the MP. Let the BJP or the Congress or even a Third Front come to power at the Centre, we will keep our struggle for a separate state of Gorkhaland alive as also the inclusion of the region in the North East Council.”

He also said the DDUDF will demand implementation of all central government schemes in the region.

The DDUDF convener also voiced strong resentment towards the recent rape incident in Manipur. He said the foundation stands by the Gorkhas of not only Manipur, but of all the northeastern states. Rai said the DDUDF has already dispatched letters to concerned authorities demanding a judicial probe into the matter. He thanked people for voting for Lama, while appealing to them to remain prepared for a new movement.

Source:EOI

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Kalimpong - DDUDF election committee formed

10:48 AM

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Mahendra P. Lama

The Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) and its associates, namely the CPRM, BGP, GRNM and AIGL, today formed a sub-division level election committee at a meeting held at the Shyamadevi Bhavan.

DDUDF apex committee members at a
meeting in Kalimpong

Speaking to journalists later, DDUDF apex committee chairman and BGP president Enos Das Pradhan said Sonam Tshering has been elected as the convener of the sub-divisional election committee along with seven other members, including the CPRM’s Mohan Paudayal, BGP’s PK Pradhan, AIGL’s Pratap Khati and GRNM’s Dawa Pakhrin.

Pradhan said more election committees will be formed at the municipal and block levels to campaign for independent candidate Dr. Mahendra P Lama at the grassroots. The meeting as resolved to hold an interactive programme at the town hall here on March 31 where various community and religious organisations including representatives from educational institutes, civil society and students will also be invited. Further, the election committee will host a public meeting at Mela Ground on April 12 and several other functions will also be held in various places, informed Pradhan.

He also urged the GNLF to support Lama saying, “Ghisingh is the one who ignited the dream of statehood among us. It may be via the Sixth Schedule, but his ultimate goal is a Gorkhaland state. Dr Lama is in a mission to fulfill the dream he ignited. Ghisingh must support Lama at this crucial juncture.”

Taking a dig at the GJM and the BJP, Pradhan called them “fake pro-Gorkhaland” forces, adding no basis remains for believing their claims. He said, “People such as Ahluwalia are fake pro-Gorkhaland forces. They talk one thing in the parliamentary constituency and in another way in their manifestos. The BJP has not mentioned Gorkhaland anywhere in its election manifesto.”

He also condemned Mamata Banerjee for her speech in Gorubathan saying it was full of “threats”. Pradhan asserted Banerjee’s speech not only intended to “threaten a specific political party”, but was an “aggression on the self-esteem of the Gorkha community” as a whole.

Source: EOI

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Mahendra P Lama filed his nomination, closed doors for tie-up with BJP-GJM

10:59 AM

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Mahendra P. Lama

Noted academician and president of the newly floated Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation, Mahendra P Lama, filed his nomination today as an Independent candidate, closing all doors for a tie-up with the BJP-GJM in Lok Sabha election 2014.

Mahendra P Lama on his way to file
 his nomination as an Independent candidate

As has been seen in the last couple of days, Lama too arrived with a large entourage of supporters to file his nomination at the district magistrate office in Darjeeling.

Speaking after submitting his papers, the DDUDF president said, "I am delighted to file my nomination on behalf of the hills people. I am sure victory will be ours.”

Leaders and supporters of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist and the All India Gorkha League, who have decided to support Lama's candidature, also participated in the silent rally taken out by the DDUDF.

The GJM had initially snubbed Lama's appeal for support citing that the latter had announced his candidature without making any communication. A few days ago, however, GJM president Bimal Gurung appealed to Lama to forget differences for the greater cause (of a separate state) and extend support to BJP candidate Ahluwalia, through a post on a social network page, but this was rebuffed by the DDUDF president as expected.

Asked to lay out his election campaign strategies, Lama pointed out the need of the hour was to bring about a change in people's perceptions.

"Foremost in our six point agenda is the creation of a separate state by including the Darjeeling and Dooars regions. I have found that people are deeply frustrated and confused with the present state of affairs. But I want to tell them to forget all the past and concentrate on a new future," the DDUDF backed independent candidate said.

Besides a separate state, other issues in DDUDF's election manifesto include placing Darjeeling in the North East Council, ushering in a Panchayati Raj, re-opening of all international borders for trade activity, boosting of the local economy, implementing the minimum wage act in tea gardens and bringing the best educational institutions to develop the future of the youths.

Other Independent candidates who filed their nominations today were Nima Lama of the Gorkha Rasthriya Congress, which advocates the merger of Darjeeling with Sikkim, Niranjan Saha of Aamra Bangali, a Siliguri-based anti-statehood outfit, and Arun Kumar Agarwal.

BJP-GJM candidate SS Ahluwalia, meanwhile, already campaigning in the hills, today met the Lepcha community under the All India Lepcha Association banner in Darjeeling. The Lepchas have been demanding a Primitive Tribe status since 1997 along with other issues pertaining to the welfare and development of their community.

Source:EOI

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All India Gorkha League (AIGL) memorandum on Gorkhaland to President and Prime minister

2:53 PM

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Politics

All India Gorkha League Party has sent a memorandum to the honorable President and Prime minister of the country to create a separate state of Gorkhaland. Party general secretary Pratap Khati has sent the memo congratulating UPA Govt move for full filling the long cherish demand and aspiration of Telangana at the same time the party has shown disappointment with the step motherly treatment given by the government on the Gorkha people despite their sincere and honest contribution for rebuilding India specially in the field of its internal and external security.

All India Gorkha League general secretary Pratap Khati 

The party has further mention that the Govt .is aware of the fact that the Gorkha populace of west Bengal has no similarities in the language ,life style ,geography history with Bengal but still we are compelled to live and follow their language and culture .our common populace cannot communicate with the government as the Gorkha people do not follow their Bengali language .

Due to the problem faced by the people of this region the party has requested the government to pass the bill of a separate state of Gorkhaland within the union of India at early date so the Gorkhas could feel that they are equally treated as the rest of Indian.

The memorandum has been sent to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Home minister Shusil kumar Shinde , Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi too.

Meanwhile a different memorandum has been sent to Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj , BJP President Rajnath Singh saying It is pertinent to state that the people of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency had voted to Sri Jaswant Singh,the BJP candidate who had promised to give deliver Gorkhaland state but promised made by BJP and Sri Jaswant Singh was just an eyewash to get vote from the region. All India Gorkha League once again humbly requests to your good office to fulfill the promises made before the people of Darjeeling by creating of Gorkhaland State within the Union of India at the early date so that we could feel that we Gorkhas are treated equally as the rest of the Indians.

Source : kalimpongnewsexpress

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