Morcha to organise public meetings from July 8

7:53 PM

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Mann Ghising

Darjeeling: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has lined up a series of public meetings in the hills from July 8, the decision coming in the wake of its arch rival GNLF discarding the state government-formed Hill Area Development Committee (HADC).

Mann Ghisingh, the president of the GNLF, had recently resigned from the post of the chairman of HADC and many had linked the move to an attempt by his party to reposition itself as a party working for the hill community.

Against this backdrop, the Morcha has announced a series of public meetings.

"We will hold a public meeting in Kurseong on July 8, followed by another meeting in Kalimpong the next day. A meeting will also be organised at Bijanbari (about 30km from Darjeeling) on July 11," said Suraj Sharma, the spokesman for the Morcha.

Asked about the reason to conduct the public meetings, Sharma said: "A political party has to organise public meetings and interact with the public. We want to tell the hill people about the development works the GTA has undertaken after we started administering the body," said Sharma.

Observers, however, believe that the Morcha has a two-fold strategy behind organising the public meeting. "Primarily, the Morcha wants to show that it is the largest political force in the hills and send a message that it definitely enjoys more support than the GNLF at the moment," said anobserver.

"At a secondary level, the party also wants to highlight the works that have been undertaken in the hills since taking control of the GTA in November last year," the observer added.

The Morcha meeting, which is being held after almost six months, is also a clear indication that it wants to leave no stone unturned to give any space to the GNLF.

Ghisingh's party has indicated that it plans to start afresh with the demand for Sixth Schedule and has also dissolved its central committee, branch committees of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and all its frontal organisations, except those of the tea trade union and ex-serviceman association.

"The meeting is definitely to increase its activity and ensure that they do not give any space to the GNLF," added a hill resident.

The Telegraph

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GNLF to resume 6th Schedule demand in Darjeeling

8:24 AM

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Sixth Schedule

Gorkha National Liberation Front President Mann Ghisingh on Sunday asked his party leaders and members not to get stuck on the Hill Area Development Committee (HADC), maintaining that they should now move forward for the demand of the Sixth Schedule. This was said by Ghisingh at his party office in Dr. Zakir Hussain road where the flag of the Gorkha Rashtriya Ex-Servicmen was unveiled.

“We have to take forward the demand of Sixth Schedule visibly, in the eyes of the people and not get stuck with the HADC. Some time ago, some people were disappointed with this committee due to our decision to participate in the HADC that has been formeed by the West Bengal government,  but the main issue of our party is the Sixth Schedule and it is necessary to go to rural areas to make people understand the importance of the Sixth Scheduled.  We must make the people understand it in whichever way it is possible; be it putting up posters or making them hear the speeches of my father (the late GNLF president Subash Ghisingh). We must make the people aware of this issue,” he said.

Subash Ghisingh while chairing the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council had realized that the council formed under an act of the West Bengal government did not enjoy sufficient powers and the real autonomy for the hill council could be achieved only if it was constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The GNLF president also spoke on the political relationship that the party had maintained with the state government adding that though they were were continuing with it the party also needed the mandate of the people.

“The party leaders should go to different villages and increase their contact with the people and convince them. The primary issue of our part is 6th schedule and our second issue is the development of the villages,” said Ghisingh.

He claimed that the last hope for the people in the hills, Terrai and the Dooars was the GNLF.

The GNLF will soon call a meeting to chalk out the future
programmes of the party to take forward these issues.

[Via: EOIC, file pic]

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GNLF seeks non-political person at GTA helm

8:14 PM

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Politics

Gorkha National Liberation Front president Mann Ghisingh on Thursday said he would soon write to the state government, demanding non-political person to be appointed as the head of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

The party said that the Hill body was being presently run in a “biased manner.” Mr Ghising was speaking during an event to mark the 38th foundation day of the party, which they call the ‘Gorkhaland Namikaran Diwas,’ at a community hall at Lumthang at Happy Valley here.
Mr Ghisingh was said that they would write to the Election Commission, seeking panchayat elections in the Hills, even if it is for a single tier.

“Until the problems of the Hills are solved and a permanent solution comes forward, a neutral person with no political affiliation should be at the GTA helm. We are hearing a lot of complaints that the GTA is running in a biased manner and is one-sided. If a neutral person is appointed, he/she would listen to all sides. If this is not done in the coming days, there could be unrest in the hills. The situation here has finally normalised and the same thing should not be repeated, so we want a government person to run the body. We will soon send a letter to the state regarding this,” Mr Ghisingh said.

On the panchayat elections, he said, “The panchayat elections are being held everywhere in Bengal, but not in the Hills. People living in the panchayat areas are facing a lot of problems. A three-tier panchayat election in the hills may not be possible now as the constitution has to be amended, but a single-tier panchayat was possible during the DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council), so they could do it now as well. We will write to the Election Commission, demanding for panchayat elections.”
Mr Ghisingh also commented on their present “good relationship” with the state government. “In chapter 1, we kept a good relationship with the state government and maintained diplomacy and did what we had to do, and now that chapter has ended, and there is no guarantee that chapter 2 will also be the same.

There could be a different strategy.” “We have to keep good relationships with the state government and move forward. But it should not be like, we sit when they ask us to, and stand up when they wish so. The GNLF is not like that, and till now, I have not bowed down my head for anyone. Even if my nature is that of a soft spoken person, I will only bow down my head for the one who has taught me to keep it high. I request leaders here not to threaten me, as we are not afraid, but just do not want this area to be disturbed,” he added.

[Via: Statesman News Service]

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Bhaichung Bhutia inaugurates sports development office for north Bengal, push for cricket

11:21 AM

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sports news

Baichung inaugurates sports development office for north Bengal

Writes Prashant Acharya for EOI
SILIGURI 4 Jul 2016 Former footballer Baichung Bhutia today inaugurated the office of the North Bengal Board for Development of Sports and Games (NBBDSG) at the Kanchenjunga Stadium for the all-round development of games and sports in the region.

"The board will work for the development of sports and games in the seven district of north Bengal. Besides promoting football and other games, the board is working hard to bring IPL cricket league to Siliguri. But as the existing size of the stadium is small, we are planning to develop the infrastructure with the support of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). I have already discussed the matter with CAB president Sourav Ganguly. The names of the board members have not been announced yet; hence work and necessary procedures will start after the formation of the board," he informed.

When he contested the state Assembly polls as a candidate from Siliguri, Baichung had said his main focus would be to develop sports and games in the region. He had said, "I will change the entire picture of Siliguri within a year and promote sports and games, especially football, by developing a number of training centres."

Bhaichung Bhutia

The decision to open an office was after an announcement by chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her recent visit in Siliguri. She had announced the names of Baichung as chairman, table tennis player Mantu Ghosh as vice-chairman and GNLF chief Mann Ghisingh as board member. However, Ghosh and Ghisingh were not present at the inaugural function.

On the other news article published on Telegraph, Bhaichung push for cricket - Bhaichung Bhutia, the chairman of North Bengal Board for Development of Sports and Games, today said he would speak to Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, on holding IPL matches at the Kanchenjungha Stadium here.

Bhutia, who inaugurated the sports board's office at the stadium today, also said he would try to bring Indian Super League football matches to the ground.

"I will talk to Sourav Ganguly so that we can get IPL cricket matches at Kanchenjungha stadium. We have a good stadium that can host big cricket and football matches," said Bhutia.

Sources said the former national soccer team captain had already spoken to the president of the CAB in this regard.

"Ganguly has suggested that the existing infrastructure of the stadium be upgraded as the size of the ground is not big enough to host IPL matches," said a source.

However, the All India Football Federation has already marked the stadium as one where only soccer matches could be hosted. 

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No official communication to GNLF on Mann Ghishing appointing on Mamata's committee

4:07 PM

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Politics

Writes Neeraj Zimba

There is no official communication till date to the GNLF Party and its President Shri.Mann Ghishing regarding the announcement of appointing our President as Vice-Chairman of the North Bengal Board for Development of Sports and Games by Ms.Mamata Banarjee on 29-06-2016 from Siliguri.

When any Official Communication will be received from the concerned then the GNLF Party will convey a Central Committee Meeting to look into the pro and corns of the issue and discuss political implications of such announcement made by the CM and a decision would be taken keeping in view the larger interest of the people of Darjeeling Hills and the sentiments and voices of the party cadres.

Mann Ghishing, the GNLF President believes that the "hand of friendship" or the goodwill gesture extended by the State Government is important for the all round development and progress of the Hill people and also for putting forward the various issues and demands of the GNLF but he, at the same time firmly believes that the "sentiment and wishes of the selfless caders" is of utmost importance and a priority above all.

For now it is just a wait and watch policy.

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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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The season of Hill leaders reaching out people

10:02 AM

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West Bengal

Darjeeling, Jan. 7: The season of reaching out to people has set in the hills with leaders of different political affiliations visiting various areas.

While Bimal Gurung started an interaction with people today, two of his principal adversaries, GNLF president Mann Ghisingh and Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri, have been intensively touring the region.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president, who had stopped his 60-odd days of padayatra in December following a purported appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today visited ward 29 of Darjeeling municipality. The visit, however, was not on foot like his previous foray. His interaction was to understand people's problems.

"I had visited areas in Kalimpong during my padayatra. I am now touring places which are near my GTA constituency (Tukvar). From today, I will visit all wards of Darjeeling municipality and other areas in town. I will also go to Kurseong and visit various places," said Gurung.

Ward 29 falls in the Singamari-Tukvar area. People living in the vicinity of Mount Hermon School complained to Gurung about lack of drinking water facilities, community hall and land rights.

Addressing the villagers, the GTA chief executive said: "Mount Hermon is a very important school in the hills. I am thinking of helping the school so that it can become better. I will also look into the issue of community hall. We are already working on a drinking water project for wards, 27, 28 and 29. We will build a road to connect the lower villages." He, however, said his renewed campaign was not for elections. "This visit of municipal wards and other areas has nothing to do with the elections. I am only trying to get a first-hand account of the problems people face."

While Gurung's campaign is expected to stretch for months, Mann Ghisingh is visiting different parts of the hills to campaign for the Sixth Schedule status for the region. He has visited various places in Mirik and Kurseong and is currently touring Sonada. Ghisingh will tour Kalimpong subdivision later.

Told about Ghisingh's campaign, the Morcha president today said: "I would only tell him that it is useless to campaign for the Sixth Schedule status as it has already been rejected. It would do good for the people if he campaigns for statehood."

Apart from Gurung and Ghisingh, Harka Bahadur Chhetri who is set to float a new political party this month is also campaigning across the hills. Chhetri today addressed a gathering at Rambi Bazaar, about 60km from Darjeeling. Tomorrow, he will be visiting Bijanbari where he is scheduled to address a public meeting.

On Sunday, the Kalimpong MLA will be in Mirik where he is likely to announce the date for the launch of his new party.

Minister's visit

Haider Aziz Safwi, the Bengal correctional administration minister, on Thursday visited the Darjeeling jail. He said plans were afoot to convert the Darjeeling correctional home and Presidency jail in Calcutta into model prisons.

"A model home would have better living facilities, medical and recreational facilities among other things," said Safwi. The minister will visit the correctional home in Kalimpong tomorrow. The Darjeeling jail currently has a capacity to accommodate 120 male and seven female inmates

Via Telegraph

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