GJM councillor allegedly refused to issue residential certificates to GNWO cadre

12:16 PM

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Politics

A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) councillor of Darjeeling municipality has been accused of refusing to issue residential certificates to GNLF supporters and misbehaving with them.

Gorkha National Women’s Organisation (GNWO) president Manjila Tamang on Wednesday accused ward number 11 commissioner Tilak Chhetri of misbehaving and intimidating some GNWO members who had approached him for his recommendation on their residential certificates.

“On Tuesday, some of our members from ward 11 had gone to the municipality to get a recommendation from Chhetri for their residential certificates. But he refused to comply and instead threatened them with dire consequences. We condemn this discrimination and will not remain quiet until we get justice,” said Tamang.

Darjeeling municipality logo

However, Tilak Chhetri, the councillor of ward 11, denied the charge and said the GNLF supporters had come to his office yesterday with an intention to create disturbance.

When asked why he refused to recommend the four women, Chhetri said, “I do not differentiate residents of my ward on the basis of their political alliance. I have done a lot of work earlier for GNLF supporters. But yesterday’s incident was totally different and my refusal was the fallout,” he said, adding that he too has lodged a complaint against the GNWO members with the police.

Five female GNLF sympathisers lodged a general diary with Darjeeling Sadar police station yesterday against Chhetri. One of the GNLF supporters, Sangita Thami, said: “Our councillor refused to issue us residential certificates when we went to his office yesterday and asked us to go the GNLF office. He and his boys threatened us and even tried to manhandle us.”

The residential certificate is issued to a person by the councillor of the respective ward and is an important document to prove domicile status.

Chhetri filed a counter general diary at Darjeeling Sadar police station against Sangita and the others yesterday. “More than 10 women had come to me to get residential certificates. But only four or five of them were from my ward. I refused to issue them certificates because their behaviour was provocative. They also used foul language,”

Police officials at the sadar station confirmed of receiving complaints from both the GNWO and Chhetri and assured of looking into it in detail.

Source: Telegraph and EOI

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GNLF claims they are still strong in the main stream hill politics

11:23 AM

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Politics

A woman leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) Pemu Chettri has claimed many supporters of opposition camps in the hills are switching over to her party, which confirms the GNLF has far from dissuaded itself from active politics.

GNLF leader from Kurseong, Pemu Chhetri.

Pemu Chhetri on Tuesday told reporters said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership has been claiming the GNLF and its supporters have completely disappeared from the hills since 2007 after the formation of the Morcha and hence, the erstwhile ruling party has paled into insignificance.

While dismissing the claims by both the GJM and the TMC before the media of several GNLF supporters joining her camp, she said this only helps to prove the GNLF is still a force to reckon with. “Their claims only go on to prove the GNLF still has plenty of supporters because if there weren’t any, how could the two parties claim about GNLF supporters joining their ranks,” asked Chhetri.

The GJM and TMC must understand clearly the numerical strength of the GNLF. If the numbers were insignificant, there is no point in the rivals trumpeting their ‘achievement, she reasoned. Hence, the rhetoric of the rivals itself acknowledges that the GNLF enjoys considerable support from the masses and will definitely continue doing so.

She denounced some GNLF leaders who have recently quit and joined the GJM and the TMC. Switching of loyalties implies such people are not true to their beliefs and commitments, but are traders, always on the lookout for opportunities that can give them the most of profits. Chhetri warned party supporters of such ‘traders’ who pack up and leave as soon as they smell a better chance of hitting a lucrative means to further their selfish interests.

She also remarked that the GJM leadership, which has been demanding a Gorkhaland state and tribal status for the entire Gorkha community including other development works and facilities, knows very well they are all the brainchild of GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh who had the foresight to envision them a long time ago.

It may be mentioned that Pemu Chettri had contested in the last legislative assembly election from Kurseong constituency as a GNLF candidate.

Source: EOI

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GNLF demands restoration of DGHC until Sixth Schedule

9:47 AM

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Sixth Schedule

The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has demanded the restoration of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) until the Sixth Schedule is implemented in the hills. The GNLF, putting forth the demand to the central and state government today, conducted an awareness campaign in Kalimpong by distributing handouts. The party’s women wing, Gorkha National Women’s Organisation, had taken the initiative and distributed the handouts to people across the town as part of the campaign.

GNWO members distributing the handouts
 in Kalimpong on Wednesday.

The Kalimpong GNWO leaders including Sangay Lamu Sherpa and Mary Shakuntala Rai along with other members were part of the campaign. The leaders said the awareness campaign was part of the party’s political activity to demand the implementation of the Sixth Schedule and restoration of DGHC. “Apart from distributing handouts, the party will also conduct poster campaigns and peaceful rallies in the town,” said GNWO Kalimpong unit president, Sangay Lamu Sherpa.

The GNLF handout has portrayed the DGHC as an organisation with "real constitutional autonomous power' with high potential, stating the council should be returned back to the hills honorably without any delay.

Source: EOI

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GNLF likely to announce its strategy for LS election on April 2

10:27 AM

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Subash Ghising

The Gorkha National Liberation (GNLF) Front is likely to announce its strategy for general election 2014 after the party’s central committee meets on April 2.

Gorkha National Liberation (GNLF) flag

Kurseong GNLF unit spokesperson Daya Dewan said party chief Subash Ghisingh will hold the central committee meeting at his residence in Darjeeling on April 2.

"The leaders will discuss the party's strategy for the elections and also deliberate in length the political role it will play," he added.

Further, Dewan said the GNLF has been conducting meetings in different places across the hills. Keeping with the trend, the party’s women wing, GNWO, conducted a meeting in Kurseong today. The meeting was attended by a large number of GNWO members from different areas under Kurseong sub-division, he added.

 “The GNWO’s meeting emphasised on the importance of the Sixth Schedule status and its implementation in the Darjeeling hills as it is the stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of a separate state,” stated Dewan.

Stressing further on the importance of the Sixth Schedule, he said it is the only way to protect the hills and the identity of its residents.

Source : EOI

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GNLF forms GNWO unit in Algarah

6:30 PM

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Gorkha National Women Organisation

Kalimpong : While national and regional parties are engrossed in the arithmetic of the upcoming general election in Darjeeling, the Gorkha National Liberation Front seems practically unmoved. It is instead occupied in expanding and strengthening the party and reforming sister units as it goes about regrouping after a long period of remaining dormant.

GNWO ko gathan Batasia Koiree, ward no 2, Ghoom Jorebunglow Darjeeling

A day ago, the GNLF re-formed its sister organisation, the VPC, in Sangse, while it formed a women’s wing (GNWO) unit committee today in Algarah. The new body has 52 executive members and was formed under the chairmanship of AS Ramtel in the presence of Kalimpong GNLF president Maurice Kalikotay, assistant secretary Anil Lopchan, Dipankar Lama, KP Paudyal and Lopsang Lama, among others. Mani Lamu Bhutia was elected president of the GNWO unit while Bevy Subba was chosen its secretary.

Kalikotay said the only substantial solution to the problems of the hills will be ensured by securing the Sixth Schedule status. He pledged renewed commitment to the party’s agenda noting the political situation in the hills has changed now.


By-PRADIP LOHAGUN
Source : EOI

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Mirik GNWO conducts meeting

1:22 AM

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mirik live news

Mirik unit of (GNWO) GNLF’s women wing, Gorkha National Women Organisation, today conducted a meeting here. GNWO Mirik unit leader Suchitra Rai presided over the meeting in the presence of unit president Anuradha Rai.

GNWO meeting in Mirik on Monday.

The GNWO leaders stressed that with the arrival of GNLF chief Subhash Ghising in the Hills, the party has got a new lease of life and now the people can hope for real development. The leaders also said the party will rewrite the history of the Hills and urged all the members to work harder for the party.

The meeting was addressed by various GNWO leaders, including Kalpana Rai, Premsang Rai and Sasita Tamang among others.  The unit decided to aggressively campaign for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, which according to the women leaders is the best way forward for the hills.

Anuradha Rai said the development in entire Darjeeling Hills, including Dooars and Tarai, can only be brought around by the implementation of Sixth Schedule proposed by the GNLF. She also claimed that only the candidate supported by GNLF will be successful in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

Source:EOI

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Kurseong GNWO to initiate social and public-interest issues

10:53 AM

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political news

KURSEONG - Apart from political activities, the Gorkha National Women Organisation (GNWO), the women’s wing of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, has decided to initiate various social and public-interest related issues.

Gorkha National Women Organisation (GNWO)

A GNWO team today visited the Kurseong sub-divisional hospital and met its superintendent R Mondal to demand immediate recruitment and deployment of doctors and other technical assistants at the hospital.

Talking to reporters, GNWO Kurseong unit spokesperson Ratna Pradhan said, “It is really unfortunate that Kurseong hospital is suffering from myriad problems. The concerned authorities have failed to resolve the problems by not filling up the vacant posts for doctors and technicians.”

She further said the GNWO has highlighted other problems at the Kurseong hospital too, including insufficient supply of medicines, diet and poor hygiene conditions.

 “The SDMO has assured us adequate steps are on to resolve the problems and the issues raised by the GNWO will be forwarded to the health department,” Pradhan added.

Asserting that hospitals in the hills had adequate medical facilities and staff members during the tenure of the GNLF, she expressed concern over the present situation where patients are referred to hospitals in Siliguri and other places where they have to face undue harassment. (

Source:EOIC

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GNLF starts second phase of the sixth schedule demand, Subash Ghisingh silent

9:28 AM

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Subash Ghising

Even though Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghisingh is choosing to keep silent on the present political scenario of the Hills, the party unit leaders have decided to embark on creating awareness about the importance of implementation of the Sixth Schedule.

 Subash Ghisingh

GNLF leaders have said that the party has started the second phase of the sixth schedule demand which now has been kept in the back burner by the central government. "We have decided to go ahead and start the second round of the sixth schedule demand for the Hills, after a gap of eight years," said Tshering Dahl, chief convener of the Gorkha National Women's Organization (GNWO) today on the side line of a meeting at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan hall in Darjeeling.

In 2004, Ghisingh had demanded putting the Darjeeling Hills under the sixth schedule and a memorandum of understanding was also signed with the central government. In December 2005 a bill for the sixth schedule was also placed in the parliament. However, stiff opposition by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party with support of the BJP managed to get the bill scrapped.

The sixth schedule was rejected by the people and which was also a major factor for the downfall of the GNLF in the Hills. With GJM, taking over the reign of the Hills and issue along with the GNLF activities in the Hills have remained dormant.

The GNWO plans to hold more such programs in different parts of the Hills region but nave not fixed any dates yet. The GNWO maintained Ghisingh would come to the hills at the right moment. (EOIC)Even though Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghisingh is choosing to keep silent on the present political scenario of the Hills, the party unit leaders have decided to embark on creating awareness about the importance of implementation of the Sixth Schedule.

GNLF leaders have said that the party has started the second phase of the sixth schedule demand which now has been kept in the back burner by the central government. "We have decided to go ahead and start the second round of the sixth schedule demand for the Hills, after a gap of eight years," said Tshering Dahl, chief convener of the Gorkha National Women's Organization (GNWO) today on the side line of a meeting at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan hall in Darjeeling.

In 2004, Ghisingh had demanded putting the Darjeeling Hills under the sixth schedule and a memorandum of understanding was also signed with the central government. In December 2005 a bill for the sixth schedule was also placed in the parliament. However, stiff opposition by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party with support of the BJP managed to get the bill scrapped.

The sixth schedule was rejected by the people and which was also a major factor for the downfall of the GNLF in the Hills. With GJM, taking over the reign of the Hills and issue along with the GNLF activities in the Hills have remained dormant.

The GNWO plans to hold more such programs in different parts of the Hills region but nave not fixed any dates yet. The GNWO maintained Ghisingh would come to the hills at the right moment. 

Source:EOIC

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