Hill parties unite to seek Bijanbari Subdivision

11:34 AM

•

Politics

DARJEELING 21 Jun 2016 Various political and apolitical bodies of the hills have come together on one platform - the Bijanbari Sub-Division Demand Committee - to demand for the creation of a Bijanbari sub-division. They submitted a memorandum today to the Darjeeling district administration in the regard.

The committee members comprise representatives from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Trinamool Congress, Jan Andolan Party, CPM and the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist and merchant associations and social organisations of the area.

After submitting their memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate, L.M. Lama, the convener of the newly formed committee, said, “With 23 gram panchayats, Bijanbari is a huge block and one of the largest blocks in the state. We welcome the concept of a Mirik sub-division, but in spite of its potential to be upgraded to a sub-division, we feel that Bijanbari has been overlooked by the state government. We want Bijanbari to be trifurcated into three blocks with two sub-divisions.”

Hill political parties unite to seek Bijanbari Subdivision

The sub-division demand committee that was formed on June 19 has proposed that Bijanbari, comprising the areas of Rimbick-Lodhoma, Bijanbari-Pulbazar and Darjeeling, be trifurcated into three development blocks. It also wants the Rimbick-Lodhoma and Bijanbari-Pulbazaar development blocks to be created into two separate sub-divisions.

“It is the question of the people’s wish and their necessities. Our committee comprises representation from various political parties and we want to take forward the demand to its positive conclusion in one voice,” said the BSDC convener, who is also a GJM central committee leader of Bijanbari.

The GJM, although opposed to the state government’s move to form development boards, has given its consent for the creation of new districts and sub-divisions. Similar demands have started cropping up and have also started gaining momentum, following the state government’s recent decision to form a separate Kalimpong district and a Mirik sub-division, the latter presently being one of the blocks under Kurseong sub-division.

Topographically, Bijanbari block under Darjeeling sub-division measures 415.69 sq km and is one of the eight blocks of the district. It has a total population of 1,26,747 spread over 23 GPs. It has 94 khasmal, revenue villages, tea gardens and forest mouzas. Income sources include paddy, tea, maize, potato, ginger and cardamom cultivation.

Lama said the district magistrate responded positively and assured the committee of starting the process of creating new blocks soon. “The DM assured us he would look into the demand of division of blocks and start the process as the matter is under his purview. And regarding the demand for sub-divisions, he has promised to communicate with the state government, which is the final authority,” the DSDC convener said.

The committee has also proposed that the Rimbick-Lodhoma, Bijanbari-Pulbazaar and Darjeeling development blocks be formed with five, eight and 10 gram panchayats, respectively.

(EOIC)

READ MORE

Gorkhaland: A performance Audit

6:07 PM

•

West Bengal

Writes: N N Ojha

The demand for Gorkhaland as a political and administrative entity separate from the province of Bengal (now state of West Bengal) has the formidable distinction of being the oldest surviving statehood demand within the Indian Union. Equally redoubtable is its distinction of having enjoyed and also continuing to enjoy absolutely unconditional support from not just majority but totality of the masses in the region.

In the normal course such prolonged, uninterrupted survival of a movement, its intensity and the absolute mass support would be infallible catalysts for its sure success. In the case of Gorkhaland however ironically success has remained elusive for over a century notwithstanding the presence of all these prerequisites.

It is this paradox of elusive success anyhow that a performance audit of the stakeholders including the protagonists and the opponents of the movement is seriously called for. After all a performance audit is complete only if it assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the protagonists as well as antagonists.

Gorkhaland Map

First, the protagonists, the levels of their performance and a fiercely objective assessment to see if there are some Trojan horses and fifth columnists who taking advantage of the inborn simplicity of the Gorkha might be engaged in covertly subverting or weakening the movement even while overtly pretending to be its supporters. This is important, as hidden adversaries could be far more dangerous than open enemies.

Topping the list of diehard, unflinching supporters of Gorkhaland obviously would be the common men and women, the masses inhabiting the region irrespective of caste, color, creed or religion. The Hindus, Muslims, Christians, tribals, non-tribals, Marwaris, Biharis, Bengalis for whom the region has been home for generations are all without exception the staunchest supporters of state hood for Gorkhaland; their commitment absolutely unconditional right since 1907 when we have the first recorded evidence of the demand. It is indeed heartening that repeated efforts by the powers that be to divide the masses along communal or ethnic lines with lures of development boards or job quotas haven’t ever succeeded beyond a negligible degree.

Such absolute mass support is unique to Gorkhaland as in most others cases in which statehood has been granted till recently there were sizeable sections of population within the affected regions who were not supportive of the proposals and who accepted the divisions helplessly as a fiat accompli. In the case of Telangana, Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand there have been sections of th population who never supported the idea of bifurcation and who even today fondly recall ‘the good old days’ when their respective states happened to be united.

On the contrary in the case of Gorkhaland you won’t come across a single soul who would wish that the region should continue to be a part of west Bengal. The only exception perhaps could be some self-serving turncoats acting under the lure of mundane temptations from powerful vested interests operating probably at the behest of Kolkata centric ruling dispensation. The number of such fifth columnists mercifully is so small that one could count them on ones fingertips.

How do we assess the performance level of the masses; optimal, average or poor? Just look at the movement of the 1980s under the stewardship of the Late Subhash Ghising, the subsequent phase from 2007 to 2011 under the firebrand Bimal Gurung or the most recent spell of July – August 2013 under the combined might of the GJAC. Each time the response of the masses has been selfless and overwhelming. They sat on dhrnas, took out long marches, suffered long spells of strikes faced physical torture and mental humiliation at the hands of the police and paramilitary forces and above all sacrificed their lives in thousands without any expectation in return except for statehood. Even today the masses are ready to respond with full force to any call from a leadership that could command their trust and confidence. The level of performance of this segment of the stakeholders is thus optimal, extraordinary and highly commendable.

Let us now go into the modus operandi and performance level of the political parties and leaders of the region as they come next in the list of stakeholders. While dealing with political parties we have to focus only on the hill based parties as the mainstream parties of west Bengal like TMC or CPM have been and shall continue to be openly against creation of Gorkhaland out of concern for their own survival back home. The national parties e.g. the Indian National Congress (INC) or BJP shall at best be indifferent fence sitters as the (Gorkhaland) issue hardly affects their political fortunes. After all our political worth is just one seat in the Lok Sabha. (Remember Ms Rough & Tough exhorting the BJP during the 2014 general elections not to break up Bengal for ‘just one seat’).

The hostility of west Bengal’s political parties and indifference of the national parties need not dampen our spirits as we are more than compensated by the unanimous support the movement receives from almost every hill based party barring the one that refuses to disengage from a senseless and futile propaganda that the region’s larger interest lies not in statehood but in being a ‘Sixth Schedule area’ within the state of west Bengal. We may however ignore this party’s activities, as these have been repeatedly rejected by the masses. (In two earlier write ups in this column I had given detailed analysis of their stand. ‘The Sixth Schedule Cacophony’ [details http://bit.ly/1Hgh7Sb] and ‘A Full & Final Settlement?’ [Details: http://bit.ly/1HYztKY)

In so far as the other hill based political outfits are concerned they are all agreed on the goal i.e. Gorkhaland even though they might differ in the approach to achieve the goal. The spectacular show of unity displayed by all the parties during the agitation of July – August 2013 when all of them came under the collective banner of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) however goes to prove that their differences aren’t insurmountable. It is however regrettable that the show of unity proved woefully short lived. In a nutshell the level of performance of the political parties and leaders of the region is barely satisfactory and in the absence of unity they may not be able to deliver.

Can we expect success in spite of undiluted hostility of the mainstream political parties of west Bengal and unconcern of the national parties? I am optimistic for at least two or three reasons. First the unconditional and undying mass support; second near unanimity among all he hill based political outfits and third, the compulsions of political morality on the part of BJP to react favorably to the demand because of the support it got from us in the last parliamentary election and a commitment made by BJP’s most powerful leader Narendra Modi during his campaign speeches.

Can we hazard any guess as to the likely time frame for success? My own guess for whatever it is worth is that till the west Bengal assembly elections due in May 2016 the BJP shall remain non committal as any public perception of conceding to the demand may cost them votes in the plains of west Bengal. Post 2016 however I do hope things to move favorably. How fast they move might depend largely on how unitedly and intensely we make the demand audible in New Delhi through memorandums, delegations and if need be the more common methods of protests such as dharnas and hunger strikes. Such activities shall be unavoidable to enable the BJP to argue across Bengal that the demand simply couldn’t be ignored any longer as otherwise the situation could get volatile and go out of control.

What happens if we miss the bus during the present BJP led government’s entire term of 5 years? Well we simply can’t afford to miss. Nor can the government afford to give us the miss going by the likely consequences that might follow such an eventuality. If Gorkhaland is denied, we end up as losers but the government too doesn’t emerge as a winner. What the government loses is the trust and good will of the Gorkha. Besides the BJP leading the government in Delhi loses its moral face for not honoring a solemn commitment made by its highest leader Narendra Modi to the people during his election campaign.

The people in the region are already disenchanted with the all the previous governments since independence and any further dillydallying could quickly turn their disenchantment into alienation. Leadership of the movement might pass into the hands of hardliners and its Gandhian character diluted beyond recognition. On the contrary if Gorkhaland is granted we emerge as winners and the government itself also emerges as the winner of the trust and everlasting gratitude of people in an important geostrategic region.

Given an option won’t a sensible government choose a win-win option over a loose-loose one? And no one can deny that the BJP led NDA government in Delhi is for sure a sensible government.

[We welcome back Mr. OJHA... Who just recovered from a heart surgery. He writes exclusively for DT and his column The Expositor can be read here: http://darjeelingtimes.com/category/columns/the-expositor-n-n-ojha/]

READ MORE

CPRM announced Assembly election candidates from three hill constituencies

9:56 AM

•

Politics

Darjeeling 20 Mar 2016 The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist today announced the names of its candidates from the three hill constituencies for the Assembly election. The CPRM, which was formed in 1996 by disgruntled CPM leaders of the Darjeeling hills, has never contested Assembly elections. The party had earlier short listed two names from each hill constituency.

CPRM president RB Rai, the former Rajya and Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling, announced the candidates’ names after a meeting of the party’s central committee. CPRM spokesperson Govind Chhetri will contest from Darjeeling, Arun Ghatani, general secretary of the Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front (DRYF), will stand from Kurseong, while CPRM central committee member Kishore Pradhan has been fielded from Kalimpong. Until now, the CPRM had not fielded its own candidates for the state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, partnering with or supporting candidates of other parties including that of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

While announcing the names, the CPRM president said, “Our primary agenda is a Gorkhaland state as also development and parcha-patta (land rights) of tea garden workers. However, it appears that none of the political parties have taken up this agenda in earnest, which is why we have decided to field our own candidates.”

When asked whether the party had kept the option open for an alliance despite fielding its own candidates, Rai said, “Any alliance will depend on the other parties accepting our agenda, otherwise we will go on our own.”

The CPRM came into being after most CPM leaders of the hills dissociated themselves from the parent body saying it was against the statehood demand. The party has continued to give priority to the statehood demand since then.

“The issue of our identity is of primary concern. We may or may not achieve a separate state, but we will continue to work towards achieving it under all circumstances,” Rai said.

On whether there was any plan for an alliance with the Democratic Front – the conglomeration of four political parties including the CPRM - Rai said it was an altogether separate matter. “The Front was formed with the twin objectives of a speedy trial of the Madan Tamang murder case and restoration of democracy in the hills. The issue of elections was not discussed even though some Front leaders had wanted to field consensual candidates,” he said.

The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), the All India Gorkha League (AIGL), and the Darjeeling Sikkim Ekikaran Manch (DSEM) - the other three constituents of the DF - are yet to announce their decision on the upcoming Assembly election.

(EOIC)

READ MORE

Mamata Banerjee attacked CPM for supporting Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

9:25 AM

•

Trinamool Congress

Writes Avijit Sinha

Ghoshpukur (Phansidewa), March 14: Mamata Banerjee today attacked Darjeeling district CPM leaders for their unilateral announcement of support for the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in three hill Assembly seats.

Speaking at a Trinamul meeting here, Mamata said: "The CPM would always cry hoarse ahead of elections and say they would give blood and even life but not Gorkhaland. Now, they are expressing support. What does this mean? This simply means they are playing the divide and rule tactics again and inciting those who want to severe the Darjeeling hills from Bengal."

" Ohey Gurung Bhai, Siliguri Eso, Tomay Chara Amar Jeta Nai... (Dear brother Gurung, please come in Siliguri. I cannot win without you)," Mamata said, scoffing at Asok Bhattacharya, the CPM candidate for Siliguri. "They are speaking over the phone with Morcha leaders and asking for support in the plains, knowing well that the Morcha has an alliance with the BJP."

"The BJP and the Congress have also used the Gorkhaland issue time and again. Ahead of every election, these parties have, along with the CPM, asked for votes. This time, it will not work," she added.

The crowd at Mamata's meeting in Ghoshpukur on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo 

On Saturday, Darjeeling district Left Front leaders had said they would support the Morcha to ensure Trinamul's defeat in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

In the course of her speech, the Trinamul supremo said alliance among the Congress, CPM and the BJP would not be able to score in the upcoming elections. "The CPM, Congress and the BJP have come together and indulged in dirty politics. They do not have a proper political issue to speak of. They raise baseless allegations and consistently try to slander us," Mamata said.

"These parties do not have ethics and can sell themselves. Trinamul is a party of Ma-Mati-Manush and will never sell itself. They cannot stop us by resorting to such tactics. The CPM was in power for 34 years but did not do anything for the state. Same holds true for the Congress and the BJP which were in power at the Centre for many years. Leaders of these parties make lengthy statements ahead of the elections and never work for people," she added.

Mamata also touched upon the Centre's takeover of seven tea estates of the Duncans Goenka Group. "The central government led by the BJP acquired seven tea estates of the Duncans. We want to ask them why they are not paying salaries, wages and dues to the workers if they have acquired the tea gardens. Workers of these gardens should be paid by the Centre."

Later today, Mamata attended a 3km procession organised by Trinamul in Siliguri to mark Nandigram Diwas.

Telegraph

READ MORE

Jan Andolan Party hopes for land rights talk with State

6:33 PM

•

Parza Patta Demand Committee (PPDC)

JAP hopes for land rights talk

Vivek Chhetri
Darjeeling, Feb. 24: The Jan Andolan Party today said it was hopeful that the state will start a dialogue with the leaders on granting land rights to tea garden and cinchona plantation residents before the model code of conduct is in place.

Yesterday, JAP leaders had met Arup Biswas, the state sports and youth affairs minister, in Siliguri.

Amar Lama, bureau member, JAP, today told The Telegraph: "We are very hopeful that the state government will initiate a dialogue... very soon. We are hopeful that it will happen before the model code of conduct is enforced."

More than 70 per cent of the nearly 8.75 lakh people in the region reside in tea gardens and cinchona plantations.

The Parcha Patta Demand Committee, a frontal organisation of JAP, had launched an indefinite protest here on February 17 demanding a dialogue with the state on the issue.

Today, JAP president Harka Bahadur Chhetri who visited the dharna venue said: "We will definitely contest the Assembly polls. On December 15, 2015, I had raised the land rights issue in the Assembly. We have discussed it with Arup Biswas and he will apprise the chief minister in detail. I am leaving for Calcutta today... In the Assembly, if I get an opportunity, I will discuss the matter with the chief minister."

He said: "We need to draw the state's attention from the grassroot and show the demand has support of people."

The ABGL, GNLF and CPM leaders have supported JAP by leaving comments on a register at the dharna venue.


Telegraph

READ MORE

Netas fight for control as Hills crisis deepens

8:11 PM

•

Trinamool Congress

Writes Nirmalya Banerjee 

 Jan 31, 2016 Kalimpong/Darjeeling: Even as political bosses race to wrest control of the Hills, economic problems and social tension deepen in the region. While the tea industry, the main source of economic in Darjeeling and Kurseong subdivisions, is in the doldrums, tourism is also uncertain because of political troubles. In Kalimpong, agriculture, the mainstay of the economy east of the Teesta, is also failing.

In spite of all the crises, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration refuses to take remedial steps, blaming the government of "non-cooperation" while the ruling Trinamool is hell bent on gaining a foothold in the Hills before the assembly polls. The GJM, on its part, seems to be wedded to the emotional appeal of Gorkhaland, a slogan to fall back upon in times of difficulty.

 Harka Bahadur Chettri, Bimal Gurung, Dr. Mahendra P Lama and Mamata Banerjee

"The GTA did not pay heed to vital issues," said senior CPM leader of Kalimpong Tara Sundas. "Goonda-tax from hydel projects is rampant. Land is barren now. Agriculture holdings are small. Farming did not get due support from the government. There is neither incentive nor subsidy from the GTA or the previous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council." The presence of two masters-the state government and the GTA-seems to complicate matters further. The CM's backing of Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who walked out of the GJM, has added to the political tension.

Cinchona plantation in Kalimpong, which is over 100 years old and employs nearly 8,000 people, including officers, is no longer profitable because of competition from Singapore, says Sundas. The state does not seem to make any effort to market the cinchona products any more. Kalimpong, once a thriving centre of commerce, has witnessed a decline in business since the closure of the border trade with Tibet after 1961. Once education hub, Kalimpong now has to look for students at his schools, Sundas says.

The other problem area is the tea industry. Once over 100 gardens dotted the Hills but now, the number has shrunk to 87. Nearly 21,000 hectares of tea plantation in Darjeeling employs about 55,000 permanent workers, besides 15,000 contract labourers during the plucking season. Tea industry representatives think the Plantation Labour Act is archaic and needs to be amended as garden owners find it difficult to bear the burden of facilities, such as free ration, electricity and medical benefits. "The crisis in the tea industry is going to affect Darjeeling badly," says academic and former Sikkim University vice-chancellor Mahendra P Lama, who suggested that a fresh approach should be made to develop Darjeeling and Dooars as part of the Centre's 'Look East Policy' through Northeast.

In its effort to empower the different communities in north Bengal and offer them financial aid, the state has set up a series of development boards for Lepchas, Tamangs, Sherpas, Bhutias and Mangars. In fact chief minister Mamata Banerjee's move seems to have struck a cord with the people, with Lyangsong Tamsang, chairman of Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board, pointing out that the Tribal Welfare Department of the state government, pucca structures, with toilets, electricity, drinking water and furniture, were set up for over 60 night schools for Lepchas in Darjeeling with the help of an annual grant of Rs 35 crore. Nearly 3,000 pucca residential houses have also been built, besides steps being taken to protect the community's language and culture. But GJM leaders see the development boards as a move to divide the communities and weaken the GTA. A senior Nepali Sahitya Sammelan members claimed the distribution of aids triggered fights and heart-burn and feared, it might lead to social tension.

TNN 

READ MORE

GJM ready for alliance "Sole Aim is To Defeat Trinmool" - Bimal Gurung

10:30 AM

•

Trinamool Congress

Bimal Gurung today said the sole aim of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the coming Assembly polls was the defeat of Trinamul and the hill party was ready to forge an alliance with the CPM or the Congress for the purpose.

Talking to journalists at Dagapur, near Siliguri, yesterday afternoon, the Morcha president said: " Trinamul ko jaise bhi ho harana hai (Trinamul has to be defeated anyhow)."

Gurung went on: "We had supported Trinamul in the 2011 Assembly polls and given a reply to the erstwhile (Left Front) government through the ballot after it had fired bullets at us. It seems the time has come again to give a befitting reply to the chief minister and Trinamul, who are indulging in the politics of division. We are in the process of devising a strategy to ensure Trinamul's defeat and will field candidates in the maximum possible Assembly seats across north Bengal. We are against the divisive politics and will soon organise a public meeting in Siliguri, in which people from different communities will participate in large numbers."

GJM ready for alliance "Sole Aim is To Defeat Trinmool" - Bimal Gurung

This is the second time in the past 24 hours that the Morcha chief has spoken in an aggressive manner against Trinamul. Yesterday, he had challenged Mamata to contest from any of the three Assembly seats in the hills.

Asked if the Morcha would ally with anti-Trinamul parties, Gurung did not rule out the possibility.

"There might be an alliance with the Congress or the CPM, but we will never tie up with Trinamul. The chief minister is doing politics in a dangerous manner in the hills by forming boards for different communities. She has never taken any such decision with regard to the plains where several minority communities live in. This shows she is resorting to divisive politics only in the hills. We will no longer let such politics work in the hills and will take all possible efforts to defeat her party in the Assembly elections," said the Morcha chief.

Gurung, a Morcha source said, would launch the election campaign highlighting peace and amity.

"He visited the Terai today and will tour the Dooars to kick-off our election campaign. The idea is to explain how the hills are suffering because of Trinamul's politics," the source said.

However, CPM state secretary, Surjya Kanta Mishra, however, said the Morcha would have to snap ties with the BJP to form an alliance with the Left.

Told about Gurung's comment on an anti-Trinamul alliance, Surjya Kanta Mishra said in Siliguri: "They (Morcha) will have to snap its ties with the BJP and then, it can join hands with us. We cannot induct anybody who has ties with the BJP into our fold. Like we want Trinamul to be removed from power in the state, we want the BJP to be dislodged from the Centre."

Later in the evening, Morcha sources said the Terai committee of the party had been reshuffled and Shankar Adhikary was made the new president and Babu Lama the general secretary.

Source - Telegraph‎

READ MORE

"Democratic Front" Leaders Meet Governor to Demand Bimal Gurung Arrest

9:47 AM

•

Politics

 Vivek Chhetri

The Democratic Front, an alliance of five anti-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha parties, yesterday demanded the arrest of Bimal Gurung in the Madan Tamang murder case and requested the governor to ask the state to "use its wisdom" regarding providing security and a red beacon to the GTA chief executive.

Democratic Front Leaders Meet Governor to Demand Bimal Gurung Arrest

A seven-member delegation of the front led by convenor Pratap Khati met governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Raj Bhavan here this morning.

According to Khati, they told the governor that the CBI should not wait for the court's order. "Why should Bimal Gurung be treated differently? Because he is the chief of the GTA? He should be treated as any other murder accused as his name figures in the chargesheet. He should be arrested immediately and the CBI should not wait for the court's direction. There is a possibility of him influencing witnesses," Khati said . "We want the state to use its wisdom on the issue of providing security cover and a vehicle fitted with a red beacon to Bimal Gurung."

Tamang's wife Bharati was also part of the delegation.

Gurung, who has been named in the CBI chargesheet as an accused in the Madan Tamang murder case, enjoys a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. He is entitled to a police convoy and allowed to have a red beacon on his official car.

The CID and the CBI have named 54 people in their chargesheets. Of them, 23 were named in the CBI chargesheet in Calcutta on Friday. The list included almost all the top rung leaders of the Morcha.

Khati, the general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League of which Madan Tamang was the chief said: "We fear that few of the witnesses might have been bought over."

On Monday, the city sessions court of Calcutta had directed the CBI not to proceed against any of the accused. The investigating officer has been asked to appear on June 6.

The Raj Bhavan has not issued any statement regarding today's meeting.

Tamang was hacked to death in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010.

Today, the Democratic Front, which was formed yesterday by the ABGL, GNLF, CPRM, CPM and Sikkim-Darjeeling Ekikaran Manch, submitted a memorandum to the governor regarding the matter.

"The murderers, starting with the top echelon of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, have now been identified and arraigned by the investigation that culminated with the submission of the supplementary chargesheet by the CBI to the concerned court. However, we regret to note that the state has permitted them to roam around with impunity after their indictment and even today, we are yet to see a single warrant issued for their arrest," the memorandum reads.

Khati said after the meeting: "The governor gave us a patient hearing and said the memorandum would be forwarded to the home ministry."

The front also demanded that the Morcha should not be allowed to hold public meetings and rallies, "until the disposal of the trial for the murder" as it feared that the leadership would issue threats in public.

Source: : Telegraph

READ MORE

DYFI threatens hunger strike over Vacant Posts in the Hill

7:18 AM

•

Jobs News

The CPM-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India on Thursday threatened to start a hunger strike demanding the state government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to fill up vacant posts in various departments.

DYFI threatens hunger strike over
Vacant Posts in the Hill
Pic via: Himalaya Darpan

Speaking to reporters in Darjeeling, DYFI district president Rajesh Kadaria said, “Hundreds of posts are lying vacant in several departments of the state government and the GTA. But nothing has been done to fill them up, leaving many youths of the hills unemployed.” He warned of calling a hunger strike if no concrete measures were taken to address the DYFI’s demand within a month.

“We will sit on hunger strike outside Lalkothi, the GTA headquarters. We will wait for a month to see what the state government and the GTA do and plan our action accordingly,” said the DYFI leader. He also did not mince any words to denounce Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as not being sincere towards the people of the hills. “The chief minister says Darjeeling is her heart whenever she visits the hills. However, even after more than three years at the helm, she has failed to address the burning issue of recruiting candidates to vacant posts,” said Kadaria. According to him, more than 30,000 posts are up for grabs in various departments of the state government and the GTA. “I got the details from an RTI I had filed some time ago. Anyone can cross check my claim,” he said.

At present, vacant posts in primary and higher secondary schools alone stand at 3,800, said Kadaria. Similarly, the health department has 1,800 vacant spots, land and land reform 439, panchayat 560, while BDO and SDO offices have 246 and 192, respectively. Further, the district magistrate office (groups C and D) has 124 unoccupied posts, the forest department 364 while the three municipalities in the hills have more than 600 vacancies. The information and cultural affairs department of the state government currently has 74 posts vacant, the food and supply department 271, while hospitals in the hills face a shortage of doctors of at least 200, said the DYFI leader.

Kadaria also blamed the GTA for not taking proactive steps to address the issue. “The GTA is meant to address issues concerning the hills. But it has neither gone into action nor pressurise the state government into filling up the vacancies,” he said, adding the situation at present is the same as it was during the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council era.

Source: Eoi

READ MORE

Bhupendra (Pradip) Pradhan out on bail

6:54 PM

•

TMC

GTA Sabha chairman Bhupendra (Pradip) Pradhan, out on bail now after being arrested on March 3 in Siliguri for reportedly trying to sell fake antique coins to a businessman, on Tuesday accused the police of framing him under political influence.

Bhupendra (Pradip) Pradhan

Pradhan and 10 others were arrested on the basis of a complaint

lodged with the Pradhannagar police station by Rabi Kirtanya, a businessman from Jalpaiguri. Pradhan and seven others were released on bail on Monday, while the remaining three others are in five days police remand. After meeting GJM president Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling today, Pradhan said, “My name is not mentioned in the FIR and the police do not have evidence of any wrongdoing by me. I don’t even

know the buyer. My arrest was politically motivated and I have been

made a scapegoat.” According to the GTA chairman, he had gone to Siliguri to arrange for train tickets for party supporters participating in the ongoing nine-day dharna in Delhi for a separate state. “I had reached Darjeeling More when I met a couple of Morcha student cadres. We started discussing about employment prospects and as the conversation dragged on, we decided to sit somewhere and continue and chose a nearby hotel, a place I had never been to before. As we were talking, a police team entered and arrested me on the charge of selling fake antique items,” alleged Pradhan.

Further, he said the hill TMC could have a hand in the arrest to defame him and the GJM. “I was with the CPM for 19 years and am now with the GJM. I was a contractor of repute with no history of illegal activities. Some hill TMC leaders have made derogatory statements against me after the arrest incident. I challenge them to provide proof of any wrongdoing by me,” Pradhan said. The eight people including Pradhan who are out on bail will have to appear before the additional chief judicial magistrate court in Siliguri on March 23 for the next hearing.

Source:EOI

READ MORE

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

10:14 AM

•

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

READ MORE

Kalimpong CPM deputation on alleging illegal sale of leased land

1:23 PM

•

West Bengal

The Kalimpong CPM today submitted a deputation to Sub-divisional land revenue and land reform head Ijra G Namchu alleging illegal sale of leased land. CPM Kalimpong unit secretary Tara Sundas alleged the leased lands are being illegally sold by the department by producing fake documents and without the knowledge of the owners. He said, as per the 1932 state manual of Land Revenue Department, Government of West Bengal, the permission to change the name of the owner of the leased land should be given by the District Collector. Citing an example, Sundas said, "The land revenue and land reform office in Kalimpong changed the name under the leased land provided to Tempo Denshepa in Thanadara and has allotted it to 12 other people."

He said the information about the particular issue along with other similar cases have been included in the deputation letter. The CPM leader also informed many such leased lands are facing legal issues and are in court, but despite the legalities the department is providing documents and other papers related to such lands. He suggested legal action against people involved in selling leased lands with fake documents. Meanwhile, department head Ijra G Namchu rubbished the allegation, but said the department will look into the issue.

Source: EOI

READ MORE

Is Darjeeling to Bengal what Varanasi is turning out to be for India?

7:02 PM

•

West Bengal

Is Darjeeling to Bengal what Varanasi is turning out to be for India? In many senses, yes. It is the microcosm of some of the big fights we will witness when the largest democracy in the world goes to vote, but also representative of the larger issues that the state is facing. 

Darjeeling in Bengal 

While the Trinamool Congress has floated football player and a local hero for Darjeeling, Baichung Bhutia, following a trend of nominating celebrities in several constituencies, the BJP has floated its vice-president SS Ahluwalia here after its 2009 winner Jaswant Singh wanted to contest from his home state Rajasthan. Saman Pathak, son of well-known leader Ananda Pathak, is the CPI(M) candidate from Darjeeling, a man known for his clean image.   

Apart from them are the two local parties, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). The GJM, formed in 2007 by Bimal Gurung who has led the fight for a separate Gorkhaland singlehandedly after he fell out with GNLF’s Subhash Ghising, had won the three assembly seats of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in the 2011 Assembly elections and turned Darjeeling into a safe seat for BJP by supporting Singh in 2009. This time, GJM has once again decided to support the BJP, who in turn have promised to support the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland if it comes to power at the Centre.

The final twist in the story arrived when the GNLF’s Subhash Ghising re-entered Darjeeling this week, after a forced exile of five years. All set to begin his second innings in politics, his first statement on reaching Darjeeling was, “I am the original Subhash Ghising. And this time I will stay.” It is not difficult to see Trinamool Congress’ support in bringing him back as an attempt to foil the coalition between Gurung and BJP. Ghising aims at incorporating North Bengal under the Sixth Schedule to give the area autonomy of rule and does not aim for a separate state anymore. This suits the current state government as well as the CPI(M), whose current Darjeeling district secretary Jibesh Sarkar has given out an open invitation for support from GNLF. 

Ghising is not making his stand clear as yet, though he will be happy to find support in the two major state parties if he has to frame a formidable “other” to Gurung’s GJM. 
Darjeeling has never been an easy part of West Bengal. A senior editor in a newspaper once mentioned that Darjeeling never faced what the revolt in Lalgarh faced in terms of state repression due to its strategic geographical position (the connection to North East) and the role of the Gorkhas in the Indian army.

But the demand for Gorkhaland has also been moulded over time. After coming to power in 2011, Mamata Banerjee signed a memorandum for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and tried to shift the discourse from state autonomy to peace and development. Though unable to reopen the Dheklapara tea garden, the government brought in free cooked food to the workers and free healthcare provisions. Mamata also envisions Kalimpong as a tourist destination as big as Darjeeling. 

With the BJP coming out in support of a separate Gorkha state, Mamata Banerjee has warned that West Bengal will not turn out to be the next Andhra Pradesh. Nevertheless, she has realised that the elections are significant to make a point to the GJM who has now found an ally in its call for separate statehood. Hence, by allowing Ghising to come back, Mamata is trying to ensure that Darjeeling will not be a comfortable “safe” seat for BJP.   

However, it remains to be seen what the people of Darjeeling will vote for. Peace, development, star power, an old leader who they once saw as a champion of their rights, or will the battle between more autonomy and a separate state figure most prominent.
Keywords: Darjeeling, Jaswant Singh, SS Ahluwalia, West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress,  Baichung Bhutia , Gorkhaland, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Gorkha National Liberation Front, Bimal Gurung, Subhash Ghissing, Saman Pathak 

Rajanya Bose
Source: dnaindia

READ MORE

CPM highlights Mamata's 'double role' with GJM

1:49 PM

•

Siliguri

The Darjeeling district CPI-M has started campaigning against the Trinamul Congress by highlighting the ‘double role chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been playing with the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’ (GJMM) and why she was silent when the GJMM supported BJP's Jaswant Singh in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2009.

CPM highlights Mamata's 'double role' with GJM

"Jaswant Singh, who was elected with the support of the GJMM from Darjeeling in 2009, was the supporter of Gorkhaland. But the Trinamul Congress did not comment on the subject in any news paper from 2009 to 2011," the CPI-M says in a booklet titled 'Condition of Trinamul's Switzerland.'

"Not only that, the Trinamul Congress prompted the GJMM to continue with its movement and this was clear when it made an electoral alliance with the GJMM in the last Assembly elections," the booklet says.

The CPI-M leadership also points out to why Miss Banerjee came down heavily on GJMM chief Bimal Gurung on the issue during her recent election campaigning in north Bengal.

"Had the GJMM extended support to the Trinamul, Mamata Banerjee would have not come down heavily on the party at Gorubathan yesterday. Since the GJMM decided to stand by their decision, she started criticising it, fearing a loss in the Darjeeling LS seat," former state urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya said today.

In the booklet, the CPI-M mentions the number of railway projects that were taken up when Miss Banerjee was railway minister, and the present position of those projects in north Bengal, including Darjeeling Hills and Siliguri.

A comparative study on the Trinamul Congress' manifesto in 2009 was published in the form of questions and answers, where the CPI-M was critical on the non-implementation of some proposals.

The CPI-M even criticised the Cabinet meeting at Uttarkanya, the north Bengal secretariat, and the decisions taken there on various issues, including employment in the North Bengal State Transport Corporation and settlement of encroachers in Jaigaon.

The corruption in the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority and the role of the state government in tea plantations have also been highlighted in the booklet.

Source: thestatesman

READ MORE

Nepali language should get linguistic minority status - Saman Pathak

9:29 AM

•

Sixth Schedule

Kurseong - To adequately address the identity issue of the Nepali speaking people, especially that of the Gorkha community, the Nepali language should be given the linguistic minority status, former Rajya Sabha MP and CPM candidate from Darjeeling Saman Pathak said during a party programme today at Gorkha Jan Pustakalay in Kurseong.

CPM Darjeeling LS constituency candidate Saman Pathak
speaking during a party meeting in Kurseong on Sunday.

According to Pathak neither separate Gorkhaland state nor can the sixth schedule and any autonomous body resolve the identity crisis of the Gorkha population in the country.

He also lambasted the BJP party and the Congress for allegedly playing with the sentiments of the hill people to get their votes in the forthcoming general election.

He said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which has decided to Support BJP in the Lok Sabha poll, must understand that the BJP is a pro-Hindu communal party and it never respects the ideology secularism.

Taking a dig at the Congress party the CPM leader said, “Everyone in country now comprehend the fact that how corrupt the Congress party is as well as its government.”  He also slammed the party over the issue of price hike of the essential commodities during its rule.

Attacking the state ruling party Trinamool Congress, he said TMC is a party which is applying the noxious divide and rule policy in the hills to secure its seats.

Appealing the people of the Hills to vote for CPM, Pathak said the party wants a permanent political solution in Darjeeling hills through Amendment 244 of the Sixth Schedule status to Darjeeling hills. He also said that the party has been demanding North-East status to Darjeeling hills. 

Source:EOI

READ MORE

Kalimpong - 35 GJM workers joined the CPM

10:58 AM

•

Politics

Around 35 workers of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha from Kalimpong subdivision joined the CPM here today, saying the hill party had become corrupt.

Led by Morcha leader Rohit Biswarkarma, the 30-odd youths walked into Anil Biswas Bhawan, the Darjeeling district CPM office. They joined the CPM in the presence of the party’s district secretary Jibesh Sarkar, former minister Asok Bhattacharya and Saman Pathak, the CPM candidate for the Darjeeling Parliament seat.

“We are disillusioned with the Morcha which has become a party of corruption now. Also, we sincerely feel that a permanent solution to the hill problem cannot be found by local and regional parties like the Morcha or Trinamul, which are opportunist,” said Biswakarma.

In the past two-three years, it was Morcha workers who have mostly switched to the Trinamul. Today’s switch was the first time when Morcha workers joined the CPM.

The new entrants into the CPM said Trinamul candidate for Darjeeling, Bhaichung Bhutia, might not solve basic problems faced by the people.

“All of us have joined CPM as we don’t think Bhaichung Bhutia can address our basic problems. We don’t think he can realise the problems faced by us like collecting drinking water from hilly streams because of the absence of water supply. It is only the CPM, which has the grassroots support, can address such issues,” said a Morcha worker.

Another Morcha worker said: “In the name of development, the Trinamul government has created a rift within different hill communities.”

Source:Telegraph

READ MORE

Ashok Bhattacharya to campaign in Mirik

10:22 AM

•

Politics

Mirik - CPM veteran Ashok Bhattacharya is soon expected to campaign in Mirik for party candidate Saman Pathak. The former urban development minister said his government had established a college, court, fire station and municipality in the region. He expressed hope about the people of Mirik voting for the CPM candidate and ensuring his victory.

Ashok Bhattacharya to campaign in Mirik

Meantime, sources from within the Trinamool Congress have said Bhaichung Bhutia may set foot in Mirik any time soon for campaigning. Bhutia today visited Pokhraybong, Nagari and Dhajey under Sukhepokhari and appealed to the people to vote for him.

Source:EOI

READ MORE

CPM backs Sixth Schedule for Darjeeling Lok Sabha campaign

9:01 AM

•

Sixth Schedule

The CPM has decided to campaign for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat by promising to give more teeth to the Sixth Schedule, the first draft of which was made when the party was at the helm of affairs in the state.

The CPM’s move to make the draft more powerful is being seen as a way to gain support of the GNLF to win the Darjeeling seat. The party’s hill manifesto says it will demand a powerful Sixth Schedule than what was proposed in 2005.

Pathak in Darjeeling on Friday. 

“We have always respected emotions of hill communities but our stand on statehood is different. We have always supported greater autonomy and we want the Sixth Schedule status to be conferred on the GTA area through an amendment to Article 244,” CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya said here today.

The party claimed its Sixth Schedule was more powerful than the draft supported by GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.

Saman Pathak, the CPM candidate from Darjeeling, said: “Apart from home and judiciary, we want all the subjects to be transferred to the body under the Sixth Schedule. We also want the new body to have a separate governor.”

Ghisingh’s Sixth Schedule plan, perceived as a replication of the tribal administration in the Northeast, did not have any such features.

“We want the panchayat system to be revived, a separate planning commission for Sixth Schedule area with a nomination from the Sixth Schedule body to the national planning commission and the national integration commission,” said Pathak.

These provisions were not reflected in the first draft.

“We want a body with no interference from the state,” said Bhattacharya.

The Sixth Schedule Bill agreed to by the GNLF, Centre and state in 2005 could not be passed in the Lok Sabha. The bill lapsed when the Lok Sabha term ended in 2009.

Observers said the CPM’s move was aimed at gaining GNLF support. Asked about GNLF support, Bhattacharya said: “We want all political and social bodies to support us. We don’t believe in divide and rule policies.”

Source:Telegraph

READ MORE

Development in the hills and plains without dividing Bengal - CPM

10:32 AM

•

West Bengal

Siliguri, March 9: The CPM today said the party would moot an “alternative proposal” for the development of the hills and the plains without dividing Bengal and canvass for its candidate in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat with the new plan.

Asok Bhattacharya cpm

Asok Bhattacharya, a former CPM minister and the convenor of the Darjeeling district Left Front, said the “proposal” would work out better than the GTA Sabha and the party would approach all outfits based in the Darjeeling hills for their support.

“We (CPM) are going to contest the coming parliament election in Darjeeling with an alternative proposal, which will be disclosed on March 12 after the party’s district committee meeting. We will approach all hill-based political parties, including the (Gorkha Janmukti) Morcha and the GNLF, with a request for their backing for the proposal,” Bhattacharya told journalists at Anil Biswas Bhavan, the district office of the CPM in Siliguri.

Although the former minister didn’t disclose the exact nature of the proposal, he said it would ensure the development of Darjeeling district as a whole. “The proposal is aimed at the development of Darjeeling district by keeping the hills and plains united with some concrete steps. The proposal will be better than the existing GTA Sabha for development and won’t need the division of the state,” said Bhattacharya.

The Left Front has already launched its campaign for CPM candidate for Darjeeling, Saman Pathak.

Bhattacharya said footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, the Trinamul Congress nominee for Darjeeling, had agreed to the contest without understanding the politics of the constituency.

“We have nothing against him (Bhutia) as we still consider him as an iconic footballer of the country and personally, I have good relations with him. I want to say this is a contest of principle. He is contesting without having any knowledge of the politics of the region. The Darjeeling seat is very important by its nature as there are so many issues like regional autonomy, ethnic identity and maintaining unity between the plains and the hills,” said Bhattacharya.

Observers said the biggest challenge for the Left would be to ensure that Bhutia was not targeted personally in the campaign because of his popularity.

READ MORE

CPM speeds up speed poll campaign in hills

10:02 AM

•

political news

Immediately after the announcement of the poll dates, the CPM has changed gear to speed up campaigning in the hills. The party today held a meeting at Nandalal Gaon that was attended by representatives from seven tea gardens of the area.  DYFI district president Ramesh Kaderia was also present in the meeting.

 CPM speeds up speed poll campaign in hills

Formulating plans to win as many votes as possible for candidate Saman Pathak, the members chose Kismat Tamang as the convener of the election committee. They also slammed the TMC government for doing nothing for the region apart from announcing fake development schemes. The government has totally ignored the sectors of education, healthcare, employment and industries in this part of the state, they added.

The leaders also claimed the CPM has done a lot for the development of Darjeeling, especially for tea garden workers when it was in power.

Source:EOI

READ MORE