Now GNLF to demand Gorkhaland statehood

8:16 AM

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Politics

Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) will now move from demanding 6th Scheduled to Gorkhaland statehood. This decision was taken at a high level meeting of GNLF central committee members.

Mann Ghising addressing a GNLF rally

According to sources GNLF was forced to re-raise the Gorkhaland demand after the Central and the state government failed to live upto their promise of inducting the GTA [earlier DGHC] region into Schedule VI area of the Indian constitution.

The meeting was chaired by Mann Ghising the son of Late. Subash Ghising and was attended by all the high ranking members of GNLF.

Source: TheDC

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Mohan Ghisingh officially took charge as the president of GNLF

8:46 AM

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Subash Ghising

Mohan Ghisingh, the younger son of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) founder Subash Ghisingh who died on January 29, on Monday took formal charge of office as the new party president by issuing his first press statement thanking everyone for extending their support in this hour of bereavement.

Mohan Ghisingh youngest son of Gorkha National
Liberation Front (GNLF) founder Subash Ghisingh 

Mann, who is erroneously called ‘Mohan’, was anointed the party president on January 30, the day after his father expired, by the GNLF central committee. However, he chose not to speak about his elevation saying it would be decided later, and this was announced today through a written statement issued to the media in Darjeeling.

The GNLF chief’s first statement, written in the party’s official letter-head, thanked supporters, people and business establishments for observing spontaneous bandhs on two days (January 31 and February 1) as a mark of respect for his father. The statement in Nepali also thanked regional and national parties for showing respect to his father by sending their representatives including Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling who personally went to Ghisingh’s house on Sunday morning to pay his last respects.

The new GNLF president’s first public statement is in stark contrast to the

zeal and enthusiasm shown by party supporters in Darjeeling who gave a political undertone to Ghisingh’s funeral procession. They chanted: “Sixth Schedule lai saath deu…GTA lai laat deu” (Support Sixth Schedule and

kick out GTA). “Pahar ko bhagya bigarnu paudaina…hamilai jhattai DGHC pharkai deu” (no one can ruin the future of the hills…reinstate the DGHC immediately). The slogans hardly concealed the fact that they were meant for the ruling Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which runs the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

However, senior GNLF leaders brushed aside any speculation that their new president had no political ambitions. “He (Mann) is yet to get over the loss of his father. Besides, the family is in mourning and special religious rituals will continue for some more days. Once the mourning period is over, we are sure he will be motivated politically,” said a senior GNLF leader from Darjeeling not wanting to be named.

The GNLF’s key demand is to revive the defunct Darjeeling Gorkha Hill

Council as it has constitutional guarantee until the Sixth Schedule status is granted to the Darjeeling hills. In 2001, Ghisingh had demanded the Centre to grant Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills. And in December 2005, a Memorandum of Settlement was signed between the state and central governments and the GNLF.

The Sixth Schedule bill was placed in Parliament in November 2007

by then Union home minister Shivraj Patil. However, it had to be referred to

the parliamentary standing committee after the GJM opposed the bill and started an agitation. The bill was eventually shelved in February 2008.

Source:EOI

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Subash Ghising's youngest Son Mohan Ghising to Lead GNLF

9:11 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

The youngest child of Subash Ghisingh, Mohan, was today named the party chief by the GNLF.

Mohan Ghisingh in Kurseong. (Suman Tamang)

"A meeting of our central committee was held in Siliguri this morning. There were 17 members present and they have unanimously selected Mohan Ghisingh as the new president of the GNLF. He will succeed his father, who was our party chief since the formation of the party in 1980," said Mahendra Chhetri, the general secretary of the GNLF, in front of the Bagdogra airport this afternoon.

Mohan, who is in his thirties, has been Ghisingh's constant companion for several years, but has never betrayed any interest to join politics.

When Mohan emerged from the airport, with his father's body, and was asked about being named the party chief, he said: "I am not in a position to comment on the issue. I will speak to party leaders and will act accordingly."

Chhetri said the party would continue with Ghisingh's demand of Sixth Schedule status for the hills.

Source: Telegraph

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