Showing posts with label Gorkhas of Assam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gorkhas of Assam. Show all posts

Assam Gorkha Sammelan demands ST status to Gorkhas of Assam meet HM and TAM

8:35 PM
Writes Nanda Kirati Dewan 

A delegation of Assam Gorkha Sammelan (AGS) led by its President and Tezpur MP Shri  R.P. Sarma met union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Parliament house today and submitted a memorandum demanding ST status to 11 Gorkha Communities of Assam and inclusion of a member from Gorkha community in the high power committee formed by the Home Ministry of India for implementation of clause 6 (six) of Assam Accord .
Assam Gorkha Sammelan demands ST status to Gorkhas of Assam meet HM and TAM.

Yesterday, the same delegation met union tribal affair minister Jual Oram at his residence and submitted a memorandum demanding ST status to the eleven Gorkha communities of Assam. They also reminded Mr. Oram about the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had quoted that “Gorkhas’ dream is my dream”. “He has already started the process of granting ST status to the thirteen Gorkha Communities of India,” they said.

Both the ministers assured the delegation that the Govt. Of India is very serious about granting ST status to the thirteen Gorkha communities of India. The delegation comprised of working president Krishna Bhujel and central office bearers Bikash Subedy, Dahal Sanjiv and Kharga Rawat.

Release of Mosti Maya Limbu from Jorhat Detension Camp

7:30 AM
Writes Nanda Kirati Dewan

Release of Mosti Maya Limbu (38) mother two 13 year old daughter and 7 year old son from Jorhat Detension Camp was a silent battle we have been fighting for last 11 months. My AAGSU colleague Vice President Prem Newar and BhaGoP Member from Golaghat Shri. Bhakta Limbu also president of VDP, Padumpathar efforts in this case that yeilded result. I salute their Gorkhalism spirit.

President of Assam Pradesh Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Advocate of Gauhati High Court services were sought at Jorhat and we could Free 23 Gorkha D' Voters from charges of being Foreigner in August last year after Mosti Maya Limbu was declared foreigner by the Foreigner Tribunal, Jorhat. This was a victory we couldnot celebrate as our own Cheli was languishing in Detention Camp for being a Gorkha's daughter born in India in 1981 to a parents who had voted in 1970 from Sarupathar constituency.

This particular case was handed over Upadhyay after another very senior advocate (name withheld) and his associate who was introduced to the victim's family through a relative failed to deliver justice. After pursuing the case for several months before the Honourable High Court, we finally could free Mosti Maya Limbu a day before 70th Republic Day.

I thank Nityananda Upadhyaya Sir for his community services and his legal knowledge and flow of informations that made it happen. A round of appluass to our colleagues in BhaGoP who are ready to file addendum petition in Hon'ble Supreme Court for its permanent solution so that no Gorkhas are marked D Voter and tried at Foreigners Tribunals. We await to see a petition to be filed by Assam Govt in Hon'ble High Court in this respect as we take our next step.

The Jorhat FT has more than 150 cases registered against Gorkhas and the numbers are increasing while whole of Assam it is estimated to be more than 2000. There are examples where higher courts have overturned FT's judgenents and declared victims as INDIANs.

The Gorkhas reposes its faith on World's largest democracy and its Judiciary to deliver Justice to the sons of the soil. We humbly appeal Election Commission of India to look into it constitutionally.

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Official shall legally fight cases of D' Voters and those Pending at Foreigners Tribunal (PFT)s as and when brought to our notice.

Nanda Kirati Dewan
National Secretary (Youth Affairs), BhaGoP

Do not Panic over NRC list says Assam Finance Minister

9:09 PM
Assam Finance Minister Himant Biswas Sarma Requests People Not to Panic - "Even names of indigenous Assamese are not there in the list, names of Gorkhas are not in the list, but this is not final"

In an interview to India Today, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed people not to panic over the draft NRC.

Do not Panic over NRC list says  Assam Finance Minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma

When asked about TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's accusation that "this is just a pretence to remove Muslim names from the list", he said, "No ones names have been removed, we are merely following Supreme Court Orders, even the names of indigenous Assamese are not there in the list, names of Gorkhas are not in the list, names of Hindi speaking people are not in the list, names of Marwaris are not on the list, names of Assames Hindus and Muslims are not on the list, it doesn't mean they are foreigner or they are outsiders... Supreme Court is going to develop a Special Operating Procedure and people will be given an opportunity to claim their stake... they will be heard three times, only then a final list will be prepared."


आज तक (@aajtak) Tweeted: NRC के ड्राफ्ट पर सियासी घमासान के बीच TMC नेताओं के एक दल को सिलचर एयरपोर्ट पर हिरासत में ले लिया गया है. देखिए, क्या कहना है इस पर BJP नेता और असम के स्वास्थ्य मंत्री @himantabiswa का. #ReporterDiary @manogyaloiwal अन्य वीडियो : https://t.co/JMFFiLsoXl https://t.co/ehzxPLpUvF https://twitter.com/aajtak/status/1025071065394032643?s=17

Bimal Gurung's Press Release on NRC list Assam

12:58 PM
Press release from President Shri Bimal Gurung:

“I extend my solidarity and support to all those genuine citizens of India whose name have been left out of the NRC list, and request the central government to take handle their cases with utmost care, and also request the Govt of Assam and the Central Govt to consider all genuine cases of those who have been living in Assam prior to 25th of March, 1971. 

We are also struggling for our identity here, and are very worried at the situation developing due to NRC in Assam. We fear that this could lead to the marginalization of the indigenous Gorkha-Kamtapuri and Adivasis of North Bengal, and we want to ensure that no such unfortunate situation in allowed to develop. We won’t allow the indigenous Gorkha, Adivasi, Kamtapuri, Meche and other indigenous communities to suffer injustice. If actions are taken to undermine the locals Bimal Gurung won’t stay silent.
Bimal Gurung
Bimal Gurung 

I have been made aware of the fact that state government is secretly measuring land in our hills, if this is being done to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been removed from Assam, then it creates a national security threat.

Darjeeling Terai and Dooars help connect mainland India to the north east states, this Chicken Neck region is therefore highly sensitive in entire South Asia, and there are possibilities of anti-National, anti-India forces fomenting trouble in this region. In such a situation, if conspiracy is hatched to settle illegal immigrants who have been removed from another state to our lands with which we share a very long border, this will put to grave risk the national security of our country. I will not permit any political entity from the state to jeopardize our national security.

No one should dream of undermining the indigenous population of north Bengal by hoping to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been kicked out to Assam. If they attempt anything like this, then all the Rajbanshis, Kamtapuris, Adivasis, Meche and Gorkhas from Dooars and all the Gorkhas from the hills will speak with one voice against this.

I once again request, the central government to consider the cases of genuine citizens of India with utmost care, and sympathy.

_---------------------------------------------

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति - ४ अगस्त २०१८

आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको विवादमा प्रभावित बनेका त्यहाँका पीडित साँचो नागरिकहरू सन्दर्भमा मेरो समवेदना राख्दै उनीहरूको समस्यालाई गहनतासँग लिनुपर्ने म केन्द्र सरकारलाई अपील गर्दछु|
२५ मार्च १९७१ भन्दा अघि आसाम पसेकाहरूको उजुरीलाई आसामको राज्य सरकार अनि केन्द्र सरकारले पुनः गम्भीर रूपमा हेरोस् भन्ने मेरो अनुरोध छ| हाम्रो छातीमा पीडितहरूप्रति समवेदना छ|

हामी पनि यता आफ्नो परिचयको लडाई लडिरहेको अवस्थामा आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको समस्याको कारणले गोर्खा-कामतापुरी-आदिवासीको बाहुल्यता भएको उत्तर बङ्गालको क्षेत्रमा यहाँका रैथानेहरू अल्पसंख्यक बन्न नपरोस्, त्यस्तो कुनै कार्य नहोस् त्यो सुनिस्चित गर्न चाहन्छौं|
हामी दार्जीलिङ-कालेबुंग पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सका रैथाने गोर्खा, कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे आदिलाई अन्याय हुनदिनेछैनौं| यस्तो अवस्था आएको खण्डमा विमल गुरुङ चुपचाप बस्नेछैन| अहिले पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सको विभिन्न स्थानमा राज्य सरकारले गोप्य रूपमा जमीन नापी गरेको सुन्दैछु| यदि आसामबाट निकालिएको अनि बंगलादेशबाट छिरेकोहरूलाई स्थापित गराउने षडयन्त्रमा जमीन नापीएको हो भने त्यसले देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षालाई खतरा उत्पन्न गर्छ|

दार्जीलिंग तराईको भूमिले मात्र भारत देशलाई आफ्नो पूर्वोत्तर राज्यसँग जोडेर राखेको छ| देशलाई पूर्वोत्तरसँग जोड्ने यो चिकन नेक क्षेत्र दक्षिण एसिया कै निम्ति अति नै संवेदनशील क्षेत्र भएकोले यहाँ राष्ट्रको विरुद्धमा अन्तराष्ट्रिय चलखेल हुनसक्ने आशंका जहिले पनि छ| यस्तो संवेदनशील क्षेत्रमा अर्थात् यसको छेउछाउमा यहि देशको एउटा राज्यमा उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर राख्नु भनेको देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्नु हो|

विमल गुरुङले यसरी राज्यको कुनैपनि राजनैतिक शक्तिलाई राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्न दिंदैन| आसामबाट उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर उत्तर बंगालको उहिलेदेखि बसेको रैथानेहरूलाई अल्पसंख्यक बनाउने सपना कसैले नदेखेको राम्रो हो| यस्तो भएको खण्डमा डुवर्सका समस्त राजवंशी कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे, गोर्खा लगायत पहाडका गोर्खाहरूले राष्ट्रहीतमा एकै स्वरमा विरोध जनाउनेछन्|
यसको साथै आसाममा अहिले पीडित बनेकाहरू सन्दर्भमा केन्द्र सरकारले मानवीय अनि सठीक पहल गर्नुपर्नेछ भनि म आग्रह गर्दछु|

विमल गुरुङ
अध्यक्ष, गोजमुमो,
केन्द्रिय कार्यालय, दार्जीलिङ
भारत|

Gorkhas in India are Indian citizens or legal migrants, says Nepal

8:34 PM

Writes Geeta Mohan

One of the major fallout of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) list in Assam would be on Gorkhas in India. According to reports, an estimated one lakh Gorkhas have been kept out of the draft that was published on July 30 that could be a cause for major consternation between the government and the Gorkha community.
The question that arises out of this is what would the status of the Gorkhas in India be. Nepals Embassy in India believes that this is not a bilateral matter at all and that Gorkhas living in different parts of the country are all Indian citizens.
File Photo
Speaking to India Today, Hari Odari, spokesperson in the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi said, As far as we are concerned, Gorkhas in Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and other parts of India are Indian citizens or legal migrants. This issue has never been a part of our bilateral relations or conversations.
This list which according to Indian government officials is not the final list has raised concerns among the Gorkha community of Assam. Data collected from the districts imply about 1 lakh of our people are missing from the NRC, the highest being in Baksa district followed by Sonitpur and Golaghat. They should never have been excluded because the March 24, 1971 cut-off does not apply to the Gorkhas, Prem Tamang, president of the All Assam Gorkha Students Union, told India Today
Sources in the Nepalese government in Kathmandu told India Today, This is Indias internal matter, its domestic matter. We dont interfere in that. They will resolve it themselves.
The difference between illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepalese coming into India is the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950.
Article 7 of the Treaty states, The Governments of India and Nepal agree to grant, on reciprocal basis, to the nationals of one country in the territories o the other the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature.
Professor Mahendra P. Lama, from Jawaharlal Nehru University, says, For the Nepalese migrants under 1950 Treaty, they might not be citizens but they are legal migrants. No Nepalese migrant can be ousted or declared illegal anywhere in India under the Indo-Nepal treaty.
The problem with this clause is that if Nepalese people are allowed equal rights without being citizens then how does one differentiate them from those who acquired Indian citizenship by right of being descendants of soldiers recruited by the Indian Army.
It is a very clear case. Those who are Indian Gorkhas cant be deprived of Indian citizenship because of lack of documents because the processes in the past and municipality structures were not organised. The question of not giving them citizenship does not arise, says Professor Lama.
Interestingly, the Assam agitation of the 70s and 80s was a popular movement launched against outsiders included not only illegal immigrants from Bangladesh but also Gorkhas and other outsiders such as the Santhal tribe in India going in and settling in the state of Assam.
The agitation ended in August of 1985 following the Assam Accord which gave a cut-off date of March 24, 1971. People with documents establishing their stay in Assam up to the midnight of that date are eligible for inclusion in the NRC.
India Today

Exclusion in NRC "not fair" - Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee

7:46 AM
Guwahati: The Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee, which has been demanding "original in habitants" status for the Gorkhas living in Assam, said exclusion of many names of the community from the final draft of the NRC is "not fair".

The committee's chairman, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, on Thursday said: "Many Gorkha people have been excluded from the final draft of the NRC. There are many anomalies. However, the exact number of excluded people is not confirmed yet. So, we will have to carry out a survey across the state."
Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee
Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee file photo

Alleging huge anomalies in the NRC update process, Chhetri said: "Exclusion of many Gorkhas in the NRC final draft even after submission of proper documents has proved that there were large anomalies in the whole process. So we will move the state government after carrying out the survey."

More Chhetri said: "Many Gor-khas, who have been living in this land for decades, have been excluded from the final draft. They are now frustrated. The government said there is nothing to worry about. That means inclusion or exclusion of names in the draft NRC has no value. The anomalies will not be tolerated."

Chhetri alleged partiality in the NRC update process. According to him, in Assam there are around 30 lakh Gorkhas and among them possibly 10 to 20 per cent have been excluded from the final draft.

Earlier, the committee had said Gorkhas in Assam had no links with Nepal and considering them as "immigrants" would be an injustice.

According to the committee, Nepalis and Gorkhas are different communities, but the Assam government deprived Gorkhas from getting the "indigenous" tag

Via Telegraph

NRC could threaten national security and start communal violence - Binay Tamang

12:52 PM
"NRC political game of BJP - could threaten national security and start communal violence in the country" - says Binay Tamang

GJM (BT) faction chief and the current GTA Board of Administrators Chairman Binay Tamang on Wednesday said that he would extend legal support to Assam’s Gorkha community if they were displaced following implementation of NRC.

He claimed, "of the 40 lakh people in Assam whose names have not appeared in NRC, nearly 1 lakh are Gorkhas."

“The NRC draft is not final. People whose names are not on the list can submit fresh applications. But even after that, if those whose names have been struck off do not get enlisted, then our party will extend all support,” said Binay Tamang.

He further added “NRC is a political game of BJP, which could threaten national security and start communal violence in the country. We abhor such political games”.

He alleged that BJP would also implement NRC in Bengal to displace not only Gorkhas but other minority communities in the state in order to make political gains.

[With inputs from Times News Network, file pic]

Via TheD

Close to 100,000 Gorkha Names Left Out of Assam NRC

7:56 AM
Writes: Rahul Karmakar

The complete draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on July 30 has made the Gorkhas of Assam feel they are paying the price for India’s treaty with Nepal almost seven decades ago.

While the focus of the NRC has been on the exclusion of Bengali Muslims and Hindus — two communities often suspected to be illegal migrants — an estimated 100,000 of some 2.5 million Gorkhas in Assam have not found their names in the updated draft.
Close to 100,000 Gorkha Names Left Out of Assam NRC

This has come as a rude shock to the Gorkhas, most of whom are descendants of soldiers recruited by the Assam Rifles that was born as Cachar Levy in 1835. A few trace their origin to Ratikanta Upadhyaya, a follower of medieval Assamese saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, who had a couple of Vaishnav monasteries built in Jorhat and Nagaon in the 16th century.

“Data collected from the districts imply about 1 lakh of our people are missing from the NRC, the highest being in Baksa district followed by Sonitpur and Golaghat. They should never have been excluded because the March 24, 1971 cut-off does not apply to the Gorkhas,” Prem Tamang, president of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, told The Hindu.

The 1951 NRC has been updated on the basis of the cut-off date prescribed by the Assam Accord of 1985 for detection, detention and deportation foreigners, specifically from Bangladesh. This means migrants who have documents establishing their stay in Assam up to the midnight of March 24, 1971, are eligible for inclusion in the NRC.

Mr. Tamang referred to the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship that ensures free movement of Indian and Nepalese people into each other’s territory, own property, participate in trade and commerce and enjoy other privileges.

[Via: The Hindu]
 
Copyright © Indian Gorkhas. Designed by Darjeeling Web Solutions