Jan Andolan Party thanks Mamata Banerjee for Kalimpong District nod

2:12 PM

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Politics

Writes Mukesh Sharma 

Kalimpong,31st May Jan Andolan Party thanks the State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has instructed the process of formation of the five districts in West Bengal to be expedited.

The Party which started the movement of Kalimpong District through the banner of Kalimpong District Demand Committee before the formation of party has hail the CM for taking the issue.

JAP President Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri have told that on 23rd May he met the CM and congratulated her on her victory and requested to expedite the process of Kalimpong District. He said She have ordered her Chief and Home secretaries to expedited the process.

He said our party raised the issue  but when she announced the Formation of Kalimpong District she took my name but after our party lost in election the decision can been seen as that she does not want Morcha to take credit of Kalimpong District in coming days .

JAP Press Conference

The decision for the formation was passed by the State Cabinet in December 2015.

Meanwhile JAP party secretary Nayan Pradhan addressing a press meet at the party office today that this is our victory despite our loss , we and people of Kalimpong thanks her.

Amir Basnet JAP youth leader said the dream seen by Kalimpong mass and the work done by JAP party to fulfill the dreams will now turn reality . He added that “we don’t believe in giving assurance but we deliver’.

Via Kalimpong News Express

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Harka Bahadur Chhetri's supporters call for corruption free Darjeeling hills

2:42 PM

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Politics

Writes Rajeev Ravidas

Kalimpong, Jan. 20: Supporters of Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri have appealed to the people to come forward without fear and rid the Darjeeling hills of corruption.

In an appeal titled "Urgent call for action" on the social media and pamphlets today, Chhetri's supporters under the banner of the Kalimpong District Demand Committee said: "Our dream is a corruption-free Darjeeling hills. Until we get rid of corruption and wipe out this tradition of taking commission from the administrative set-up, our marginalised and poor people will never see a new dawn. Therefore, in this fight for change, it is the people who have to step out and take action.... We urge you to come forward boldly with pride and without any fear."

Harka Bahadur Chhetri

The statement makes no mention of Gorkhaland.

Chhetri is due to announce the launch of the new party at the Mela Ground here on January 27. The Kalimpong MLA, who quit the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in mid-September, has been touring the hills, particularly the Kalimpong subdivision, extensively, soliciting support of the people in the lead up to the launch of the new party.

The pamphlet said the new party would have leaders capable of raising the voices of the people on the right platforms.

Source Telegraph

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Kalimpong District declared by Mamata Banerjee, Mirik to become subdivision

7:32 PM

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West Bengal

Addressing the media at the state secretariat following a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Darjeeling district in north Bengal will be bifurcated and a new district Kalimpong - now a sub-division - will be carved out of it.

" Banerjee also said Mirik block in Darjeeling district will be upgraded into a subdivision, while Jhalda and Manbazar blocks in Purulia district will also become subdivisions."

It will take us at least six months to a year to create the new districts. We will have to get necessary court orders, infrastructure needs to be built as also funds have to be arranged. We will try to get them as soon as possible, she said.

Bimal Gurung the GTA chief congratulated the people of Kalimpong and Mirik today. He said, "Congratulations to the people of Kalimpong and Mirik. GJM was the first party to raise these demands. This is big milestone to Gorkhaland."

The Kalimpong District Demand Committee, headed by Chhetri, said it would continue with its indefinite dharna in Kalimpong to fulfil other demands which were in the domain of the GTA administered by the Morcha.

Sources said initially, it had been decided that a proposal to set up Kalimpong district would be placed in the cabinet today, but the formalities could not be completed. "So the chief minister announced it. The matter will be tabled in the cabinet later," a source said.

Mamata said it would take some time to set up new districts. According to officials, a year or so would be required to complete the process as all new district proposals had to be vetted by the Calcutta High Court.

Earlier, the chief minister had said Sunderbans and Basirhat districts would be set up by dividing North 24 Parganas. She had also said Burdwan (Industrial) district would be carved out of Burdwan district. It was also announced that West Midnapore would be divided to create new Jhargram district.

Speaking over the phone from Calcutta, Harka Bahadur Chhetri said: "This is an achievement for the people of Kalimpong. I am happy and grateful to chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the announcement. It will take from six months to a year for Kalimpong to formally function as a district."

After the district announcement, the Kalimpong MLA has the edge over the Morcha which was also espousing the cause of late. Although the Morcha had formally raised the demand much earlier, it was Harka who pursued the matter vigorously. Mamata's statement that the new hill district was being announced following Harka's demand is an indication that she didn't want anyone else to take credit.

However, the Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: "We welcome the government's decision to create the Kalimpong district and Mirik subdivision. These were our demands."

The district committee, said the upgrade of Kalimpong subdivision to a district was only a small achievement and it would continue with the ongoing indefinite dharna till the GTA addressed other demands like jobs, roads, water supply and electricity.

Yusuf Simmick, the co-ordinator of the committee, told reporters at the end of public celebrations following the district announcement that the dharna would continue as other demands were to be fulfilled by the GTA. "We are grateful to the state government for acceding to the demand for Kalimpong district. However, we are yet to get any assurance from the GTA on our other demands. Till that happens, the dharna will continue."

The other demands include inclusion of 396 mouzas from the Dooars and Terai in the GTA, more job opportunities for youths and land rights for workers of cinchona and tea plantations and forest dwellers.

Earlier, supporters of both the committee and the Morcha celebrated the chief minister's announcement.

The jubilant activists of the committee burst crackers and took out a procession through Damber Chowk, 10 Mile, RC Mintri Road and Ongden Road. The rally culminated in a public meeting attended by about 400 people at Thanadara. The rallyists cried slogans like "Kalimpong district zindabad" and "Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri zindabad" as shopkeepers along the main business areas of Main Road and DS Gurung half-shut their shutters as a mark of support to the district creation.

Not much later, about 200 Morcha supporters assembled at Damber Chowk, less than 150m from Thanadara, and burst crackers, hailing the formation of the district.

Source: nerve and Telegraph

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Kalimpong district demand committee accuse GJM of fomenting chaos

8:19 AM

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Kalimpong District Formation Committee

The Kalimpong District Demand Committee, which started an indefinite dharna from Monday for a separate Kalimpong district, today alleged supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha were trying to intimidate the agitators. In its complaint lodged at the Kalimpong police station, the KDDC has claimed some miscreants on Monday bursts firecrackers near the spot where the agitators were staging the dharna.

The intention was to create chaos, according to the agitators. Kalimpong MLA HarkaBahadurChhetri, who is leading the committee, said the GJM was trying to hijack the district issue and using terror to take credit for it.

When asked to specify his reasons, Chhetri said, “They (GJM) have failed to deliver in all these years. Be it the matter of regularisation of teachers and council workers or other issues, the GJM has not done anything.” He added, “Within three months, we have managed to pursue with the state government the creation of a Kalimpong district. The GJM is afraid of losing the people’s support. This is why they are trying to hijack the issue and creating disturbances.”

The police complaint of the KDDC only mentions political miscreants and does not point to the GJM. But Chhetri accused the ruling party of having a hand behind the bursting of firecrackers on Monday. “It is obvious that it was the handiwork of the GJM. It was expected of them and the district administration too was caught off guard,” he said over phone from Kolkata yesterday.

The dharna, with a 13-point charter of demands, is being staged near Trikone Park in the heart of Kalimpong town, and today, it gained momentum as more than 60 people joined. Besides a separate district, the KDDC’s demands include jobs, water, panchayat elections and an end to corruption. Darjeeling SP Amit Javalgi said security cover near the dharna spot has been heightened and an inquiry initiated.

“We received a complaint about some people bursting firecrackers near the place where the dharna is in progress. We did recover some firecrackers but the issue is not a very serious one. We have provided adequate security and also started an inquiry into the matter,” he said.

When reminded about the GJM president’s written statement that celebrations would be organised after the state cabinet gives its approval for a new Kalimpong district on December 18, the MLA said, “The GJM is trying to take credit for what it has not done. On December 18, the proposal for Kalimpong district will be placed before the state cabinet. Only after that will the process start. Let the GJM create a Kurseong district or a Mirik sub-division within three months. I will then admit I was wrong and give all credit to them,” he asserted.

Along with Kalimpong, the GJM has also demanded that Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik, with adjoining areas of the Terai, be converted in to districts.

Kumar Chamling, the GJM Kalimpong branch secretary, said Chhetri’s allegations were fabricated. “A Kalimpong district will be good for all of us as we too want the same. We have strict orders from the party headquarters not to create any disturbances over the issue,” he said, when asked to comment.

Source: ECOI

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GJM asks Harka to demand Gorkhaland , hold Dharna at Nabanna

8:01 AM

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Roshan Giri

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today dared Harka Bahadur Chhetri and supporters of the District Demand Committee to hold a dharna at Nabanna, saying the demands he and the panel were raising could not be fulfilled by the GTA because of interference by the state government in its functioning.

The Morcha has also asked the committee to include formation of Gorkhaland in the 13-point charter of demands in the dharna.

The committee, whose chief co-ordinator is Kalimpong MLA Chhetri, had started an indefinite dharna in Kalimpong yesterday with 13 demands, including the upgrade of Kalimpong subdivision to a district.

The committee filed a police complaint today, saying there was an explosion near the venue of the dharna. The police said there was no blast and some people might have burst firecrackers.

The committee also seeks resolution to the issue of electricity dues incurred during the Morcha's statehood agitation, repair of roads, three-tier panchayat elections in the hills, solution to unemployment problem, land rights to tea garden and cinchona plantation workers, regulated market in Kalimpong, rights to workers of unorganised sectors and upgrade of Kalimpong hospital. The other demands are disclosure of GTA plan for overall development of Kalimpong, inclusion of 396 plains mouzas in the GTA and regularisation of the jobs of casual staff at the GTA.

In a statement issued today, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: "Had the state not interfered in the working of the GTA and had all promises made by chief minister Mamata Banerjee been fulfilled, the issues raised by the district committee would have easily been resolved by the GTA. Even Harka had in the past admitted the state's interference in the GTA's functioning. Instead of holding a dharna in Kalimpong, Chhetri and the District Demand Committee should hold a dharna against the state government at Nabanna, Calcutta."

Chhetri also said: "At the moment, Harka shares a very good rapport with the chief minister. If he is a true Gorkha, he should also include the demand of Gorkhaland in his list of demands and stage a dharna at Nabanna."

Observers believe Chhetri would find it hard to raise the Gorkhaland demand with Mamata who is tooth and nail against the division of Bengal.

Source: Telegraph

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‪Kalimpong‬ District Demand Committee Starts indefinite Dharna

8:14 AM

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Politics

Writes: Rajeev Ravidas

The Kalimpong District Demand Committee headed by MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri launched an indefinite dharna yesterday with a 13-point demand charter.

The agitation comes at a time Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung is attempting to hijack the district demand issue.

Today, around 70 people assembled near Trikone Park in town as Amir Chhetri, a member of the committee's youth wing, released a 13-point charter demanding jobs, roads and water supply among others. "We would appeal to all those affected to come forward and lend their voices," he said.

Asked if the dharna was in response to Gurung's attempt to hijack the district cause and take credit, Sandip Rai, another youth wing member, said: "Along with Kalimpong, the Morcha had also demanded more districts, like Kurseong and Terai-Mirik. If the state was paying heed to the Morcha, it would have surely considered the party's demand for other districts as well. We know following whose demand the process has been initiated."

Kalimpong MLA Chhetri took up the district issue with the state after he quit the Morcha in September. Earlier this month, sources in Nabanna had said a proposal to create Kalimpong district would be put forward at a state cabinet meeting on December 18.

Yesterday, Gurung had said in a written statement: "On December 18, soon after the state cabinet approves the formation of a Kalimpong district, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will organise celebration rallies throughout Kalimpong.

There has been no assurance, however, that a decision would be taken that day.

The committee has also demanded land rights for cinchona and tea workers and forest dwellers, job regularisation and panchayat polls among others. Three demands, however, are targeted to hurt the Morcha. "The party, which issued a diktat asking people not to pay electricity bills during (statehood) agitation is silent ... No one knows what happened about the inclusion of 398 mouzas from the Dooars... What plans does GTA have for development of Kalimpong?...," asked a committee member .

The Morcha had asked hill people not to pay power bills between April 2008 and July 2011. Residents, however, are getting bills with the dues.

Kumar Chamling, the Morcha's Kalimpong branch secretary, said: "I have not gone through the details. But we were the first to raise the district demand. When the district is formed, we will celebrate."

Source: Telegraph

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Harka Bahadur Protests Against Tea Gardens Strike on communal basis

10:03 AM

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strike news

Harka Bahadur Protests Against Strike for Tea Gardens - Tries to Communalize Yesterday's Strike ‬

In a not so shocking move, former GJM leader and current favorite of the Bengal government, Kalimpong MLA Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri has decried the 12 hour strike called by the Tea Garden Workers.

Speaking against the strike, Dr. Harka Bahadur stated, "the strike will only harm the hills and won't affect Kolkata at all... they have to please Kolkata and shouldn't trouble the hill people."

Speaking to the Press, Dr. Chettri stated that "Kalimpong District Formation Committee is against the strike, as it won't effect Bengal in any way.."

What we honestly found really disgusting was the fact that Dr. Harka tried to communalize the strike, he stated "The Lepcha and Bhutia community have started to celebrate Loosung-Namsung festival, and those calling for strike has caused harassment to these communities." 

Perhaps Dr. Harka forgets that there are people from Lepcha and Bhutia communities too who are starving to death in the tea gardens.

Politics is one thing Dr. Harka, playing with communal fire quiet another.

Via TheDC

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