GJM youth front to spread awareness about Gorkhaland statehood demand

8:52 AM

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Politics

Darjeeling 10 Aug 2016 After the central committee of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha rendered clarifications on its party president’s recent statement calling for an armed struggle, its youth front today  said a rally will be held on Thursday to spread awareness about the statehood demand.

Talking to reporters, Anil Rasaily, the Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) president from Tukvar constituency, said, “People are talking about the issue of Gorkhaland demand being diluted and forgotten. But we the youth want to send a message through tomorrow’s rally that the issue is still burning within us and that we will continue to strive towards achieving our dream."

Speaking at a meeting in Darjeeling last Sunday, GJM president Bimal Gurung reminded the gathering of the 1986 agitation and said the youths should talk about “khukuri” and arms. The GJM leadership  however, clarified the very next day that the party president’s statement was misconstrued. On Monday, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri and assistant secretary Binay Tamang said in a press meet that the party believed in “boudhik” (intellectual) agitation in pursuing the statehood demand.

The statement was reiterated today by the GJYM. “Our struggle for a separate state will be an intellectual one. We want the youths to be aware of this fact and work accordingly towards our goal,” said Rasaily. Tilak Chhetri, the GJM town committee president, said youth activists were one-track when it came to the statehood demand. “We (youths) will remain sincere towards the statehood demand come what may. Lots of things have happened and are happening in the hills at present. But we never gave our consent to any kind of arrangements,” he said in reference to the party accepting the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to end four years of agitation and the recent activities of other political parties.

In fact, the youth leader appealed to all political parties of the hills to support the GJM in achieving a separate state. “Why only judge and speak against us? If the political parties here are really sincere, they should join hands for the statehood demand,” Chhetri said, adding the youth front would continue to organise political activities in the future for the statehood demand.

Tomorrow’s rally will start from Tukvar, encompass the constituencies of Tukvar, Pandam-Phoobshering, Lebong-Badamtam and Sadar I and II, and culminate at Chowk Bazar in the heart of town  where a street meeting will be held. Youths from the town will join the rally in the Motor Stand area. 

(EOIC)

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Youths should talk about Agitation like the 86 agitation - BImal Gurung

8:31 AM

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Subash Ghisingh

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

At a public meeting of the Gorkha Yuva Morcha, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s youth wing, in his constituency of Vah-Tukvar, Gurung said: “I had told the youths I should not speak here because if I am to speak or chair (the meeting), your voices would be held back.”

He said: “The youths should speak their hearts out, the youths should talk about dignity, about the land, the land wanting blood. The youth brigade should talk about an agitation like the ’86 agitation, They should talk about lifting guns and wielding khukuris. This is what I had told them.”

Observers said Gurung wanted to draw the Centre’s attention with his speech. At one point in his 45-minutes speech, Gurung said: “I have told the Centre that we have extended all support and it is your duty to show us by doing karma (good deeds).” The Morcha chief’s anger at the state government’s supposed interference in hill affairs was clear.

Bimal Gurung in his constituency Tukvar

Gurung told the youths, about 1,000 were in attendance, that playing madals and chabrungs (musical instruments) would not lead to any “struggle”.

In the rest of his speech, Gurung repeatedly mentioned the state government’s alleged “discriminatory” attitude towards the hills.

“Everyone is bullying us, looking down upon us,” Gurung said. “We should live a life of dignity and not that of a coward. One should even be ready to give one’s life,” he said.

The 1986 statehood agitation Gurung was referring to had gone on for around 28 months. It was led by Subash Ghisingh, then Gurung’s leader, but later his rival.

Around 1,200 people had lost their lives during the statehood movement.

“The Bengal government is dividing our community. The black policy of the Bengal government towards the hills is creating such a situation that there could even be a division between husband and wife if they come from different communities. One should not give up one’s dignity for a toilet, a one-room house,” Gurung said, criticising chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to make hill bodies for various hill communities.

The state government has announced development boards for 10 communities and among the major initiatives taken up by the boards, one is to construct toilets and houses for people of the respective communities.

Gurung said: “This (meeting) could be a turning point.”

The Morcha chief said he was increasingly feeling that the GTA cannot function. “There has just been too much interference in the working of the GTA. What is the use of a body that cannot even recruit a peon in the hills. Perhaps you will one day find me in a jungle. You must love me even then because I will be there for the cause of Gorkhaland,” he said.

The hill leader reminded the youths that nothing came without struggle. “One does not achieve anything without a struggle and struggle is not about playing madal and chabrung (musical instruments),” he said.

[Via: Telegraph]

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GJM rally for Scheduled Tribe status to 11 communities in ‪Mirik‬

11:20 PM

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schedule tribe

Writes - YOWAN GURUNG

The youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today called a mass rally to push for the demand of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 11 communities of the Darjeeling hills and the plains of Siliguri.The rally was called upon by Mirik Subdivision GJYM President Yogesh Golay and other party cadres.

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) rally started from the Bypess more from eleven in the morning and ended at Receipt Centre Krishnanagar and everyone has been asked to support the demand. The GJM has been demanding tribal status for 10 communities from the hills and one from the Dooars area. The communities from the hills are Bhujel,Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakha (Dewan) and the plains community is the Dhimal.

The Morcha got a boost to its demand after Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed it during an election campaign for party candidates in the north Bengal region recently. Earlier this year a committee was also formed by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to examine and make recommendations.

Rally for Scheduled Tribe status to 11 communities in ‪Mirik‬

“The PM, Narendra Modi, has given a positive response to our demand. A committee has also been formed by the central government. It must be remembered that we are demanding for ST status and therefore, we must take proactive steps to pursue the issue,” said Arun Sigchi, Soureni Sabhasad, today.

The state government too had recommended the inclusion of the 10 hill communities under the tribal status category. At present, the Bhutia, Sherpa, Yolmo, Lepcha and Tamang come under the Scheduled Tribe status. The Bharatiya Gorkha Janjati Sangarsha Mahasangh (BGJSM), an umbrella organisation of the communities demanding tribal status, too has been pursuing the issue with the central government. After the Centre’s initial nod to look into the issue, the Mahasangh has started a mass signature campaign to garner support and make people aware of the demand.

“We Gorkhas have faulted on many occasions with our various demands because of disunity. But the time has come to work together and take forward this demand to its end,” said Arun Ghising, the Thurbu Duptin Samasty Sabhasad .The speakers during the programme were GTA Sabhasads Arun Sigchi,Arun Ghising, Phubu Rai,Mirik Municipality Chairperson Mala Subba,Ladup Ghising and Sunil Ragubangshi in host.


Via VOM

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha plans motorcycle rally for Gorkhaland

10:50 PM

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Siliguri

Darjeeling 25 Feb 2016 The youth front of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said it plans to organise a motorcycle rally from Darjeeling to Siliguri in the first week of March to rekindle the demand for Gorkhaland among the general public of the hills, especially the youths.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha general secretary Amrit Yonzon said a series of programmes will be held following the bike rally. “We have lined up a series of programmes in the month of March starting with a bike rally from Darjeeling to Siliguri to garner popular support for the demand of Gorkhaland. We intend to focus more on the youths and raise awareness among them,” he said. “More than 100 bikes will participate in the rally, the date for which will be announced subsequently. We also plan to hold street corner meetings along the way downhill in places such as Sonada,Kurseong and Sukna.”

According to Yonzon, the point where the bike rally is to end in Siliguri will be decided upon by the administration and the GJYM is awaiting confirmation on this. “A few days after the rally, we intend to hold a three-day public workshop on the statehood issue under the stewardship of our party leaders. We also plan to hold public meetings across the hills focusing on the youths,” informed Yonzon further.

GJM Bike Rally 2010

The GJYM is also mulling on reshuffling its central committee in order to strengthen the organisation and increase member numbers from the Terai and Dooars regions to take the total to 50 or thereabouts. According to the youth front leader, “Of late, we have been noticing the lacklustre attitude among the youths in terms of the statehood demand. Hence, we want them to start participating actively in party programmes and meetings. Political observers in the hills believe the GJM leadership may have directed the party’

EOI

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Stone Thrown at GNLF Mann Ghishing's convoy, 1 Arrested

9:59 PM

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Mann Ghisingh

A stone was allegedly thrown on the convoy of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) president Mann Ghisingh in Kurseong town as he returned from a public meeting in Garidhura in the plains on Monday. The GNLF has filed an FIR at the Kurseong police station in this regard, while the police said they have already arrested the accused.

Talking to reporters, GNLF Kurseong branch president Daya Dewan said that they held a rally and a meeting at Garidhura on Monday and that they were returning from there in the evening when one person hurled a stone on the convoy and hit the vehicle of Mann Ghisingh. “The person also used foul languages. However, as CRPF personnel had been deployed there, the person was immediately arrested,” Dewan said.

According to him, the arrested person belonged to the youth wing of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) and a resident of Giddhapahar in Kurseong. Sources said he was drunk. Kurseong Police IC Sukumar Ghosh said that as police personnel had already been deployed near the Kurseong Motar stand, the situation did not get out of hand.

Ghosh said that a case has been filed against the accused, Neeraj Khawas. Notably,campaigning for the demand for the sixth schedule status of the Indian constitution for Darjeeling Hills, the GNLF has been organising rallies and meetings at different places in and around Kurseong. Party general secretary Mahendra Chettri said that after Kurseong, they will organise such programmes at different places in Darjeeling and Kalimpong subdivisions.

Source : SNS

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Yuva Morcha Torch Rally

7:10 AM

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Kalimpong

The youth wing of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) on Thursday organised a 'mashal' (torch) rally from the railway station to Chowkbazar here for the second time this month in protest against the alleged "divide and rule policy" of the state government in the Darjeeling hills.

"The rally is not only against the divide and rule policy that is being employed by the state government to weaken our demand for Gorkhaland, but the rally is also for the cause of Gorkhaland. The rally is also a clarion call for the Gorkhas to unite," said Trilok Chettri, a leader of the GJMM's youth wing. While talking about re-launching the Gorkhaland agitation at a public meeting in Kalimpong, GJMM and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief, Bimal Gurung had announced that rallies for the cause of Gorkhaland will be conducted in the Darjeeling hills every Thursday.

Following his direction, a mashal rally was also organised in different areas across the Darjeeling hills on 8 October. The mashal rallies, which are supposed to be conducted serially every Thursday, will not be conducted during the festivals. "We will not be conducting the rallies during the festival. Our rallies will be resumed after the festival," Chettri said.

Thursday's rally saw the participation of representatives of members from various frontal organizations of the GJM

Source: SNS, Pic: TheDC

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Bimal Gurung announced fresh Gorkhaland agitation without strike

11:29 AM

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Tourism

Statehood cry without shutdown - No strikes in Darjeeling, says Gurung, and welcomes Puja tourists.
Writes Rajeev Ravidas

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung today announced a fresh round of agitation for Gorkhaland but promised there would be no strikes so that tourists could visit the hills in the Pujas.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the Yuva Morcha, the party's youth wing, at the Mela Ground here, Gurung said: " I am always for Gorkhaland. I will take out a padayatra from Kalimpong to Darjeeling from October 2."

The Morcha president has more than once said the agitation would be democratic in nature.

"We will stay away from strikes during this agitation. We will fight in Delhi, not in Bengal. Tourists are welcome (to the hills)," he said.

Gurung said the Morcha would also extend hundred per cent support to the programme announced by the Yuva Morcha.

Bimal Gurung in Kalimpong announced fresh Gorkhaland agitation without strike

Speaking earlier at the meeting, Yuva Morcha secretary Priyavardhan Rai had announced three programmes, awareness campaign on Gorkhaland in every corner of the hills from October 8 to 15, torch rally between 5pm and 7pm on every Thursday from October 8 and writing graffiti in support of the separate state in different parts of the hills from tomorrow.

Gurung said the party would also organise protests meetings in Delhi during the winter session of Parliament in November and December. "Sixty-seventy thousand people from the hills will converge in Delhi during the winter session of Parliament in November-December. The Nari Morcha will hold protest for five days and the student wing will protest for three days in Delhi. The Yuva Morcha will also participate in the meetings," he said.

Gurung, however, cautioned the state government against disrupting the peaceful agitation. "If Mamata Banerjee creates obstacles, people will take to the streets," he warned.

Observers said the Morcha was keeping away from strikes so that it does not to antagonise the people, including tourism stakeholders, in view of the ensuing tourism season and school examinations. The hills have two tourist seasons: from March to May and from October to November. The academic session of schools in the hills is from February-March to November-December.

"The Morcha cannot afford to antagonise the people at a time questions are being murmured about the party's hold in the hills. The tourism season is very crucial for the economy of the hills, and the Morcha will not earn any friends if it takes to disruptive agitation during that period. November is also the time when schools begin their annual examinations, and large community of parents and students will not take kindly to strife at that time," said an observer.

A prominent hotelier in Darjeeling welcomed the Morcha's decision to keep away from strike. "Bookings for the season are yet to pick up perhaps because of apprehension of an agitation. Today's announcement should put to rest all such fears, and I expect the bookings to go up now," said the hotelier, who wished not to be named.

The last time the Morcha had organised the statehood movement was in 2013. Soon after the UPA had given green light for the creation of Telangana, the Morcha announced the agitation that stretched from the July-end to September, affecting the tourism season that year.

Gurung seemed to be pleased with today's turnout of about 10,000 to 12,000 people at the meeting, which was billed as the Morcha's show of strength in the wake of resignations of senior leaders Harka Bahadur Chhetri and Trilok Dewan from the party recently. , who is the chief executive of the GTA, ruled out resigning as the chief executive of the GTA. "Trinamul is hoping that I will quit so that it could take over the GTA. Why should I please them and quit. Am I a fool?" he asked.

He also lashed out at the chief minister, accusing her of dividing the hill communities in an effort to defeat the demand for Gorkhaland. "Gorkhaland will happen during her lifetime," he said to thunderous applause of the crowd.

Gurung also took a swipe at Chhetri without naming him, saying it was better to have truck with a layman than intellectuals.

"I wanted the man to teach me coma and full stop, but the man has disappeared. I don't know where," he said.

Earlier speakers at the meeting were more vocal than Gurung in lambasting Chhetri.

Source Telegraph

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Fighting with state for Gorkhaland was a "mistake" - Bimal Gurung

9:26 AM

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West Bengal

Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Aug. 20: Bimal Gurung today, 23rd Nepali Bhasha Diwas, said fighting with the state government over the Gorkhaland demand was a "mistake" as a separate state can be achieved only through the Centre.

Bimal Gurung at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan on Thursday. Picture by Suman Tamang

While addressing a programme organised by the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha to celebrate Bhasa Divas, Gurung said: "We were fighting with the Bengal government and this was a mistake because even if Bengal wants, it cannot give Gorkhaland. Statehood can be given only by the Centre and I am 110 per cent confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will live up to his words."

At a public meeting in Siliguri on April 10, Modi had said; "The dream of the Gorkhas is my dream."

Gurung also spoke about the need to maintain peace in the hills. "There must be peace in the hills. Our party, since its inception (in 2007), has always talked about the need for peace. There was lot of bloodshed in Nagaland, but ultimately, they had to come to the negotiating table," he said.

During the last phase of agitation in 2013, nearly 1,000 Morcha supporters were arrested, including senior leaders.

"Right now, tourists are coming to Darjeeling hills. Funds are also flowing to the GTA. The GTA is a test of our administrative ability and very soon, we will be administering a state," Gurung said at the Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan.

The Morcha chief, who had famously said that Gorkhaland would be created by March 10, 2010, today said: "... we have not lost hope and we will not do anything that will go against our community."

Gurung said he will meet Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling in Gangtok tomorrow and not on August 23. Sources said Chamling is scheduled to leave for Delhi tomorrow.

Gurung will meet Chamling to drum up support for the inclusion of 10 Gorkha communities in the ST list.

Morcha aid
Gurung, the chief executive of GTA, today handed over cheques of Rs 2 lakh to each of the next of kin of the 34 people who died in the June landslides. The GTA has decided to give additional help of Rs 50,000 each to Vivek Rai, a Class VI student from Kalimpong, and Selushna Thapa, a first-year student from Mirik, who lost their parents in the landslides.

Source: Telegraph

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GJM Yuva leader held in connection to Assam arms haul case

2:21 PM

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gorkhas in Assam

Darjeeling police today arrested Priyabardan Rai, a general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM), at a time police are looking for Sanjay Thulung, the outfit's vice-president, for his alleged links in an Assam arms haul case.

Priyabardan Rai GJM Yuva leader held in connection to Assam arms haul case

Asked if Rai too was arrested in connection with the arms haul, Akhilesh Chaturvedi, Darjeeling police superintendent, said: "No, it is with regard to old pending cases."

He gave no details on which old cases Rai was arrested.

Many Morcha leaders have cases pending against them but the police's decision to pick up Rai from the Badamtam area near Darjeeling town this evening, especially when another senior Yuva Morcha leader is untraceable, has raised eyebrows in the hills.

When his reaction was sought on the arrest, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: "I am attending a function. I have not heard of any arrests."

Party assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai said: "I have no comments."

On November 8, darjeeling resident Umesh Kami and Ganesh Chhetri from Assam were arrested after a search of their Tata Safari yielded an M16 rifle, two Beretta pistols, three .32 bore pistols, 300 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 80 rounds of ammunition of AK-series rifles, 198 rounds of M16 ammunition and 60 rounds of .32 ammunition.

The two were held in Chirang district in lower Assam.

On November 21, the Darjeeling police chief had said that a lot of names of political leaders were emerging in the arms haul case. "During interrogation (of the two accused arrested), a lot of names have come up. We are verifying the facts," Chaturvedi had said.

Asked if the names were that of political leaders, Chaturvedi had said: "Yes, of course."

Chhetri had reportedly told the police in Assam that he was carrying the arms for a political leader in Darjeeling.

Source: Telegraph

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GJM under scanner after arms seizure along Assam-Bengal border

11:19 PM

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Harka Bahadur Chettri

An investigation into the chance seizure of a huge cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition from Assam-Bengal border reveals the alleged complicity of a section of the ruling Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders and cadres in Darjeeling who might have tried to smuggle in the consignment from Dimapur.

Arms seized in Assam : File Photo

Sanjay Rai Thulung, a Gorkha Territorial Administraton (GTA) Sabhasad ( Elected representative) from Takdah-Glenburn was found absconding when police raided his house and the investigators are conducting raids at several other hideout in search of Thulung.
Meanwhile, the investigators revealed that Umesh Karmi, who was arrested with the consignment of arms used to work as the driver of GJM president Bimal Gurung for a long time. A couple of years ago, he left his job and started working as a transporter in the Assam-Bengal region. However, Karmi has always been believed as an associate of some senior GJM leaders and had been in touch with them. Police is interrogating Umesh.
Police arrested two men – Umesh Karmi (29), a resident of Lankapara in Jalpaiguri and Ganesh Chhetri (53), a resident of Baksha district of Assam on Saturday. The two were allegedly carrying the consignment in a Tata Safari with West Bengal registration. A team from West Bengal police has already reached Assam and interrogated the duo, while Darjeeling district police is likely to plead for the custody of Karmi and Chhetri.
According to a police report submitted to the state home department, the arrested persons during interrogation revealed that they have been asked to carry the consignments of arms to Darjeeling. It could be gathered that some sections of local leaders in Darjeeling was trying to build an armed group that was named as ‘Gorkha Liberation Army’. The report also mentioned that the ruling GJM has split within and at present there are two prominent groups with one trying to prepare for a fresh armed struggle in future.
The Intelligence reports particularly indicated at the Youth wing of the GJM – known as the Gorkha Yuva Morcha – a large number of whom were disillusioned with the present GJM leadership and they thought that the present leaders have allegedly “compromised” on the separate statehood issue by accepting the GTA. The Yuva Morcha leaders have talked about a fresh movement for Gorkhaland and Thulung was said to be an important functionary of the Gorkha Yuva Morcha.
The report further says that the arms which were handed over to a courier company in Dimapur in Nagaland are of Chinese make. Police yesterday detained wife of Sanjay Thulung in the police station and interrogated her for several hours in the police station. She was later released from the police station. Thulung belongs to a family working in Glenburn tea estate. The report mentioned Thulung as an ex-member of Gorkhaland Police (GLP), a force raised by Bimal Gurung during the Gorkhaland movement in 2008. Thulung was made the vice president of the Gorkha Youth Morcha, GJM sources said.
While GJM leaders including Benoy Tamang, vice president of GJM and Roshan Giri, GJM
general secretary could not be reached, GJM MLA and senior leader of the party, Harka Bahadur Chhetri termed Thulung as a ‘decent and qualified’ person. “We are surprised to hear his name in this connection. There can be a conspiracy and his name could have been planted to malign GJM. We want a proper investigation to take place in this case and the truth to come out.”

Source: Madhuparna Das | Kolkata for indianexpress

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Yuva Morcha Demands "Lifetime Jail" for Binny Sharma TMC leader

1:13 PM

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TMC

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ( GJYM) Mirik block committee has demanded the immediate arrest of Hill TMC leader Binny Sharma and lifetime jail term for him.

Yuva Morcha Demands "Lifetime Jail" for Binny Sharma

Speaking to the reporters Yuva Morcha Sub-Divisional President Yogesh Golay and Block President Ram Chandra Rai said, "Binny Sharma should not be allowed to use his influence to hush up this matter... we demand swift investigation into the matter by an independent agency so that justice is not denied to the 16 year old."

The further said, "While the Prime Minister of India is currently in USA helping India to regain our lost glory and self-respect, the TMC in Bengal is doing exactly the opposite and have brought shame to the whole nation."

Binny Sharma has called this incidence an "act of vengeance by his detractors within TMC and has said he will write to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on this matter."

[Pic and report: Bishan Rai for TheDC]

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ready for Gorkhaland Movement

12:48 PM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) today conducted a massive public meeting in Mirik, where its leaders stressed the youths of the Hills were always ready and will always be ready for the Gorkhaland Movement. The GJYM central committee president Sanjay Thulung said, “Gorkhaland is not something that can be achieved overnight. There is a constant need of keeping the agitation alive, patience and perseverance.” He said the youths will have to be ready for a peaceful agitation against the government to realise the long standing dream of a separate state.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ready for Gorkhaland Movement

On youth who have left the GJM for other parties, Thulung urged them not to run behind people with vested interest and to keep away from small benefits, which many not be enough in the long run. “The youths should be united for the common cause of Gorkhaland instead of losing everything by running behind parties that are completely against the cause,” he stressed.

Slamming the ruling TMC, Thulung said the party is only interested in power and the people who join it are only interested in filling their pockets in the name of development. “Trinamool congress never wanted welfare of Gorkhas and will never do that in future,” he stated. The GJYM president further said the morcha youths will continue to work in the fields of Gorkha literature, language, music, art and education in the days to come.

Conducted by GJYM leader Sunil Bhandari and presided over by Yogesh Golay, the meeting today was also addressed by area youth leaders including Prakash Gurung and Sidhant Gurung along with Parashmani Chettri from Terai unit and Balkrishna Thapa from Kalimpong unit. The meeting was also attended by top GJM leaders including Sabhasads Phurbi Rai and Sunil Pradhan, along with Arun Ghisingh, Champa Bibhar, Kajim Tshering, Kalpana Tamang, Dawa Lepcha and many other GJM central committee members.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha massive public meeting in Mirik for Gorkhaland

12:40 PM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) has decided to hold a massive public meeting in Mirik on September 7, where more than 30,000 youths from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Siliguri and other places are expected to attend. Speaking to reporters at the ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Mirik Press Club here, the GJYM central committee general secretary Priyavardhan Rai, spokesperson Prakash Gurung and vice-president Sanjay Thulung said the public meeting will focus on youth related issues.

The GJYM leaders speaking to reporters at
Mirik Press Club on Tuesday.

Rai informed the yuva morcha will also conduct a blood-donation camp as part of its strategy to draw attention of the state government towards the pathetic condition of NH-55 and NH-31. The blood donation camps will be conducted at strategic points along the two highways. Reiterating the GJYM’s stand on the GTA, the youth leader said it neither supports nor opposes it.  “Our sole aim is the formation of Gorkhaland and our entire focus will be on achieving it,” Rai added.

He further said the GJYM believes and is positive that the NDA government would fulfill the dreams of Gorkhas across the country. “The next five years are the most crucial phase in the history of the struggle for Gorkhaland,” he stressed. Meanwhile, Sanjay Thulung emphasises the Nepali language will be made as one of the key factors during the course of the Gorkhaland movement and each and every youths in the Hills will play a huge role in it.

Source: EOI

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Separate state Gorkhaland main objective of GJYM Mirik

12:11 PM

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mirik

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) Mirik committee president Yogesh Golay reiterated that the main objective of the Morcha youths is to fulfill the demand for the separate state of Gorkhaland. Speaking to reporters here today, Golay said the yuva morcha has always worked for the development of the hill, but it nether supports the GTA nor opposes it. “Our paramount objective is the formation of Gorkhaland and nothing else,” he stressed.

The GJYM Mirik unit president Yogesh Golay.

“The way Nepali language was recognised constitutionally 22 years ago, the same way Gorkhaland will also be formed,” Golay claimed. He said the youth strength needed to form a separate state is available in the hills in good numbers. “Now it is time all the youths across the hill unite together to fight for the common cause,” he added.

The GJYM leader informed the Mirik unit will conduct a massive general meeting in Mirik during the first week of September to galvanise the youths of the region for the statehood movement. “We have a BJP-led central government which supports the cause and an MP from the same party to represent us. Everything is set. This is an extremely important phase in our struggle for statehood and we should make good use of the opportunity,” Golay explained.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha rally and public meeting for Gorkhaland in Kurseong

10:37 AM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, Kurseong unit, on Sundayorganized a massive rally and public meeting in Kurseong, with the youth leaders emphasising on the formation of Gorkhaland. The GJYM has been in the forefront of the statehood agitation since the advent of the party in the hills, but Sunday’s rally, held soon after the return of a high-level Gorkha Janmukti Morcha from Delhi, has a special significance.

The rally organised by GJYM in Kurseong on Sunday.

A large number of GJYM members and party supporters from in and around Kurseong sub division area participated in the meeting. Besides them, the senior youth leadership and representatives from different places of Darjeeling hills also attended the meeting.

Before the meeting, a rally was organized by the GJYM demanding Gorkhaland. They covered the entire town before culmination at Monteviot ground, where the public meeting was held.

The GJYM central committee leader Prakash Gurung claimed that since the formation of the GJM and its youth wing, they have been keeping the Gorkhaland demand alive across the hills. “We never even thought about dropping the statehood movement, instead we have made major inroads in the last few years,” he added.

Gurung further added the party chief Bimal Gurung is completely devoted to fulfil the aspiration and dream of the Gorkha Community residing across the country. He said every party members and supporters should contribute and follow each and every decision made by the party president as loyal soldiers. “Whether it is an issue of peace or an issue of war, we must honour the directive of the party leadership,” Gurung stressed.

While urging for peaceful agitation, the GJYM leader asked everyone to understand that there are different modes of agitation and that violence is not the only option. “Therefore, we should never be aggressive, but should let others know the Gorkhas are equally daring not only in the field of war but in intellect as well,” Gurung observed.

Prakash Gurung further said the party has been conducting minor activities in terms of the statehood movement since the last major agitation in 2013, but the time has come for a major movement and everyone should be ready to participate. “The new movement planned by the GJM focuses on a peaceful impact that will not only make people realise the importance of the demand, but also will feel it,” he added.

The GJYM’s senior leader from Kurseong, Suraj Pradhan said the first step towards a powerful agitation is to be disciplined. “If we are not disciplined we will not be able to achieve statehood even after 200 years,” he added. Notably, some senior GJM leadership from the GTA were also present in today’s meeting.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, youth wing, to hold public meeting for Gorkhaland

12:04 PM

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gorkhaland

The youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha) will host a public meeting in Kurseong Sunday in demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha

GJM youth wing senior leader and Kurseong Municipality chairperson Samirdip Blon said a massive public meeting will be held at Monteviot ground to press for the demand of a Gorkhaland state.

He added since the formation of the GJM and its sister organisations, the party has remained resolute in its demand for a separate state. The GJM has never dropped the statehood demand but id still fighting for it, according to Blon.

He added GJM president Bimal Gurung is likely to attend Sunday’s public meeting.

Kurseong town has been bedecked with party flags and banners to mark the occasion.

Source: EOI

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Gorkhaland in the next four and half years - Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha

10:17 AM

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mirik live news

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha today held a press conference in Mirik, exuding confidence on the BJP-led central government to help the formation of Gorkhaland in the next four and half years. The press conference was conducted by GJYM central committee president Sanjay Thulung in the presence of secretary Amriut Yonzon and central committee member and GTA Sabhasad Prakash Gurung. 

GJYM leaders at the press conference in Mirik on Friday.

The leaders said the next few years will be important for the youths from the hills and all should unite together for the cause. They said the formation of Gorkhaland will be a great boon for the development of the hills as well as the thousands of unemployed youths. The GJYM will also form a committee to take the demand for Gorkhaland ahead. Meanwhile, the youth leaders also informe.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha anti-Mamata campaign posters in town

9:54 AM

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Politics

Darjeeling, July 24: The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha today plastered posters against chief minister Mamata Banerjee here, days after Bimal Gurung met the chief minister in an indication of an improvement in their relations.

Yuva Morcha Posters Against Mamata Banerjee

The central committee of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha officially distanced itself from the youth wing’s anti-Mamata campaign.

Sources in the Morcha said the parent organisation was officially dissociating itself from the youth wing’s activities as a strategy of trying to keep a working relation with the state government and creating enough noises in Darjeeling at the same time to attract the Centre’s attention.

The posters written in Nepali were found at Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling. One of the posters read: “We will not accept the suppressive administration of the chief minister who claims that the hills are smiling after tormenting the hill people.”

Another poster protested the “politicisation of the administration by the Trinamul Congress government”. There was also a poster that questioned the state administration’s alleged dual roles of arresting “innocent” people in the hills and letting Trinamul cadres involved in spreading terror in the rest of Bengal go scot-free.

Prakash Gurung, the GTA Sabha member of Rimbik-Lodhama and spokesman for the Yuva Morcha, said: “This is the beginning of our renewed programme for Gorkhaland. Our party was formed with a single point agenda, which is the creation of Gorkhaland and we will continue to work to achieve our dream. The BJP is in favour of creating smaller states and we cannot let go of this opportunity.”

He said the Yuva Morcha would organise a public meeting in Kalimpong on August 2 and was planning to hold dharnas and rallies in New Delhi when Parliament’s winter session starts in December.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said he was not aware of the Yuva Morcha’s posters. “I am not aware of the posters. This is not the Morcha’s central committee’s programme,” he said.

Sources in the Yuva Morcha said its leaders had met GTA Sabha chief executive Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling recently, but it was a closed-door meeting, so details about it were not available.

Told about the July 18 meeting between Gurung and Mamata in Darjeeling, Yuva Morcha spokesman Prakash Gurung said: “The meeting was between the heads of two administrative set-ups. The party is clear that our ultimate goal is Gorkhaland.”

On another front, there was no withdrawal of nine companies of CRPF from the hills today as claimed by Trinamul.

Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said he had not received any communication on the issue.

Source: VIVEK CHHETRI Telegraph

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha five-point deputation to electricity department

11:15 AM

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Kalimpong Live News

Representatives of the Kalimpong unit of the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha under the stewardship of communication secretary Bal Krishna Thapa today submitted a five-point deputation to the electricity department. The GJYM’s deputation to regional manager Somnath Roy seeks addressing the problems being faced by consumers given excessive bills.

The ever Growing Kalimpong Town

The GJVM also demanded replacement of the existing 66 KV power station by a 132 KV station. “Usage of electronic gadgets has increased rapidly within a short span of time. This contributes to an increase electricity usage. Looking at the future need for electricity, the existing power station will not be enough. The government should install a 132 KV power station to meet the increase in demand,” asserted the GJVM communication secretary.

The GJVM also wants the electricity department to install 33 KV power stations at the Lava-Lolegaon, Gorubathan, Jaldhaka and Pedong-Algara regions to meet increased demand. Further, they want bill collecting offices set up in all the three blocks for the ease of consumers who otherwise need to travel long distances to make payments. The department should also make amendments to the existing meter reading and bill circulation processes, asserted Thapa.

Meanwhile, Roy said the department has already discussed with higher authorities the need tp establish several 132 KV power stations in the region. He said the department will soon make the move once land is identified. Roy also said the department has already taken initiatives to enhance the meter reading and bill circulation processes in town and will soon look into rural areas.

Source:EOI

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