Raju Bista reminds Narendra Modi of Permanent Political Solution and other issue of the region

7:31 PM

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Raju Bista

JUST IN: MP RAJU BISTA MEETS WITH PM MODI TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES OF THE REGION

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista today met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various issues concerning Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars.

Here is the full press release from the Office of MP:

Today, I met Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to discuss various issues concerning Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars. I thanked him for his continued guidance and unflinching support he has extended to me over the years.

I informed him about the immense love and trust people of our region, and North Bengal have towards his leadership, and told him how the people of Darjeeling LS Constituency had elected a BJP Member of Parliament for the 3rd consecutive time. I told him about how people in Bengal need BJP to get rid of TMC and their oppressive regime in the 2021 elections.

Among other things, we discussed my learnings and observations about the region and the challenges I have faced as the Member of Parliament representing one of the most prestigious seats in Eastern India.

I informed Modi ji about the sensitive Chicken Neck region and the significance of Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars from our national security perspective. I also informed him about the discrimination people here have had to face over the decades, and the absolute lack of development in the region. I apprised him about the potential of our region to become one of the most peaceful and prosperous in the nation.

In order to ensure long term peace and ushering in prosperity in the region, I have requested his intervention with regards to arriving at Permanent Political Solution as committed to in our 2019 Sankalp Patra. I also reminded him about the pending ST issue of 11 left-out Gorkha tribes and requested him to help expedite the process.

Given that majority of our people are dependent on Tea and Cinchona plantations for their livelihood, I appraised him about the rapidly declining tea industry and the need to rejuvenate the entire industry. I also requested him to ensure the protection of forest dwellers, and the culture, traditions, lifestyle, and language of indigenous communities from our region.

I informed Modi ji how Siliguri acts as a gateway to North East India and South East Asia and drew his attention to the immense potential of Siliguri to emerge as the hub of international trade, tourism and commerce. I informed Modi ji how decades of neglect have left the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Chopra and rest of North Bengal deprived of basic infrastructure and amenities; and requested for his help to transform our region.

Modi ji acknowledged the importance of peace prevailing in the Chicken Neck region and told me that the Government is equally concerned about resolving the issues of the region. On his advice, I will be taking up these issues with Hon’ble Home Minister Amit Shah ji soon.

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NRC Won't Hurt Gorkhas, Says PM Narendra Modi

11:31 AM

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Siliguri

SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL: Insisting that he won't spare infiltrators, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured justice for refugees from neighbouring countries and said the Gorkha community in north Bengal won't be hurt by a National Register of Citizens (NRC).

"The way Modi has acted against Maoists and terrorists, similarly Modi is not going to spare infiltrators. On the other hand, this chowkidar would do justice to refugees who are victims of a historic blunder by the Congress," he said, in an obvious reference to the partition of the country in 1947.

PM Modi said he had been told that rumours were being spread about NRC in the Darjeeling Hills.




"I want to assure all Gorkha brothers and sisters from this stage that none of you will be inconvenienced because of the NRC," he said.

Three days back, the BJP had accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of spreading misinformation regarding the impact of the NRC on the Gorkha community in the Darjeeling Hills.
"The Trinamool is running a false campaign in north Bengal through some local leaders. They are telling people that if NRC is implemented in Bengal, the Gorkhas living in the hills will have to leave the state," BJP national Secretary Rahul Sinha had said.

Without naming the Binoy Tamang led pro-Trinamool faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, PM Modi said he was warming all those "who are on the payroll of the Trinamool and spreading terror" that their days were over.

"The moment the BJP comes to power, those harassing innocent people will have to answer the law."
PM Modi said the alliance of "criminals and infiltrators" won't be able to continue for long in West Bengal and urged people to vote in the Lok Sabha elections fearlessly.

"I would like to urge BJP office bearers also to hold your ground. We are with you."


Via ndtv

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Darjeeling MP SS Alhuwalia Writes to PM Modi against Mamata's repressive and arbitrary order

11:45 AM

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West Bengal

BREAKING: Darjeeling MP SS Alhuwalia Writes to PM Modi;  Seeks immediate intervention to end the "draconian emergency-like measures undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government"

Taking strong exception to the filing of FIRs against Sahita Academy Award winners and heads of reputed schools in the hills by the police, Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has written to PM Narendra Modi asking for his "immediate intervention to ensure that people of Darjeeling as well as North Bengal are saved from the draconian emergency-like measures undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government." 

Here is the text of the letter released to the Press by his office...

"Respected Modi ji,

I am writing this letter to you in great anguish and in great urgency from Oslo, as I feel that your intervention is immediately needed to ensure that people of Darjeeling as well as North Bengal are saved from the draconian emergency-like measures undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government to stifle the voices of dissent being raised in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars against her repressive and arbitrary order q.

On 16th of May, 2017 West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee announced that Bengal would adopt a three-language policy and that Bengali language will be made compulsory in schools. Miss Mamata Banerjee had posted on her Facebook profile that “If the student chooses Bengali, Hindi, English, Urdu, Gurmukhi, Nepali, Alchiki as a first language, he/she may opt for two other languages of their choice. One of the three languages would have to be Bengali. The two other choices are completely dependent on what the student chooses.”

In the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars most students opt for Nepali/Hindi as their first language and English as the second language and those inclined to learn more languages opt for Hindi/Nepali as their third language. Students who want to learn Bengali are allowed to do so with no hindrance whatsoever and every year almost all the schools across the hills have students who complete their education with Bengali as their second language. However, making Bengali compulsory would mean that these students would not have any choice on which language they want to learn and their right to choose - a fundamental right under our constitution - is taken away from them.

Imposition of Bengali language even as a third BUT compulsory language will mean they have to forgo learning either English ( a language necessary for employment opportunities), Hindi (Our National Language, one that binds all people of this Nation together, as well as being a language for opportunities throughout India) or their respective mother tongues ( the language that binds people, especially those from the minorities, with their identity, history and culture, and without which, they are put on the path of losing their link with their heritage) , sacrificing it in favour of the Bengali language.

Following this, the linguistic minority communities within Bengal started to voice in their dissent and questioned the intent of such a move. Among the linguistic minority communities who live in Bengal, the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars is home to one of the most linguistically diverse regions in India. Among three major non-Bengali communities who live in these regions, Nepali, which is one of the recognized National Languages of India under the VIIIth schedule of our Constitution, is the lingua franca of the Gorkha community; Kamtapuri is the mother tongue for Rajbanshi community; and, the Adivasi community in my region speak Hindi, Kurukh, Sadri, Santhali, Nepali, and other languages/dialects.

On the 30th of May, 2016 the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is a valued alliance partner of National Democratic Alliance, held a “Samiksha Sabha” to discuss the implications of compulsory imposition of Bengali language. This meeting was attended by eminent personalities from the Nepali academia, including Shahitya Academy Award winners Shri Jiwan Namdung and Shri Prem Pradhan, representatives of top schools in the hills, like St Paul's School, St Joseph's School (North Point), St. Roberts School, Vidhya Vikash Academy, among others, along with Shri Bimal Gurung, President of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Chief of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. The meeting concluded with these eminent personalities opposing the compulsory imposition of Bengali language among the linguistic minority communities, and they agreed to register their protest by calling for a two day voluntary closure of educational institutions (on 1st and 2nd of June) in the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.

The bandh, I have been informed has been completely voluntary, peaceful, and thus successful today.

In retaliation, the Darjeeling District Administration at the behest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has, however, filed an FIR against all the eminent people who had attended the meeting on May 30th. The FIR registered by the Inspector-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, Darjeeling, Shri Saumyajit Roy, alleges these good people of “conspiring against the state.”, and carries the corresponding. relevant sections of the IPC.

My constituents fear that filing FIRs against these eminent personalities is just the beginning of an oppressive, authoritarian, despotic, and tyrannical regime unleashed by the Bengal government through the district administration to stifle the voices of concern and love for one’s mother tongue.

Sir, given all of the above, I humbly request you to kindly intervene and help to ensure that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of our nation, which are guaranteed to people from every part of West Bengal, along with the rest of the nation, are not trampled upon by Mamata Banerjee led government in West Bengal.

I urge you to help my constituents in raising their voice against such draconian and dictatorial measures adopted by the Bengal government by extending your solidarity and support to them.

I look forward to your kind support and earliest intervention.

Thanking You,
With Warm Regards,
SS Ahluwalia"

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Centre to accord tribal status to the Gorkhas - Tribal Minister

5:45 PM

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West Bengal

The Centre is eager to accord tribal status to the 11 Gorkha communities, but some technical problems are holding it back for now, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said in Kalimpong on Sunday. “The central government is pursuing the demand for tribal status for 11 Gorkha communities with all sincerity. But, we have to follow the established norms and procedures to get over some technical problems,” Oram told reporters in this hill town.

“All the 11 Gorkha communities seeking tribal status are living in almost all states of the country. For that, the tribal department needs to take inputs from the states concerned and consult other departments involved. That is why the issue is pending,” he said.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister said the West Bengal and Sikkim governments had already issued recommendation for these communities. (Source: File Photo)

“I want all Gorkhas to know that the Prime Minister has already promised that the status will be accorded, so there is no room for doubt. People should not worry unnecessarily,” the minister said. To a question, he said the West Bengal and Sikkim governments had already issued recommendation for these communities.

Via indianexpress

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An Open Letter to Narendra Modi Sir From an Honest Assamese

11:29 AM

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Open Letter

Writes LEENA HAZARIKA

I have always been a proud civilian of India, but, I am overwhelmingly humiliated to see all the agony some other natives of Assam are going through every year. This is something which I have been thinking from quite some time now. I needed to ask you as to how much do you bother about Assam? We all appreciate the incessant debates about the central government overlooking us and our essentials, but, does the unfortunate people really sense any modifications through these discussions between government and other authorities or are they just regarded as mere tools to another misleading melodrama of yours? Don’t you think it is high time we act more than we discuss about the ongoing complications? We, the deprived people of Assam, don’t worry about your bill and budgets, because, we seldom get time to protect ourselves from the flood which ruins our crops, land and home. We fear about our future, our children starving and the constant horror of death. We panic for our life.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority report, the current flood has destroyed around 1.37 lakh hectare of crops this year making over 1.27 lakh people homeless across 19 districts. More than 10 people died till date. We are not even counting the past years yet. Areas like Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Kaziranga, Dhemaji, etc are facing the major breaches of the river Brahmaputra. You, sir talking about digital India, what modern technology do you think, is preferable to save us from the calamity every year? Does this 1.27 lakh people seem nothing to you? We don’t need your statistics as to how much fund are you sending to help us. We want you to come and see as to how much of those funds are being actually used for us.
Let’s, for a second ignore the human beings, but, what about the natural resources and wildlife in Kaziranga?  We people have shelters to run away from but what about those animals who die every year due to our negligence and lack of protection. Does providing wildlife rehabilitation and reservation centres are enough to protect them?

Assam Flood

Sir, for you, it might not be a natural calamity but for the poor farmers, who goes hungry day and night to get their annual crops, it surely is a natural disaster. For the children who cannot visit their school for education, it is a natural calamity. For the families who lost their loved ones, it is a natural calamity. For the animals who can’t voice their pain, it is a natural calamity. For the family who loses their whole future in just one day, it is a natural calamity. For the people who see their own houses being taken away by flood, it is a natural calamity.

It is easier for us, who are fortunate enough to live a prosperous life, to comment that flood happens all the time. But, those people are going through much more than that. We understand, it is wrong to comment as to why Chennai, Mumbai, etc. gets help and media coverage as all human beings are equal in the eye of law. But, Article 21 of the Indian constitution gives right to life for everyone including the poor inhabitants of Assam too. So, why don’t you prove to us this time that your Government doesn’t neglect us as we feel so. If, that’s too much we are asking for then you are failing us as the representative of the people.

             

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Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia sworn in as cabinet minister as PM Modi reshuffles

7:40 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

5th July 2016: SS Ahluwalia, MP from Darjeeling has been inducted into the Union Cabinet as the Minister of State. This is the first instance where by Darjeeling MP is included in the Cabinet since Independence. S S Ahluwalia, on Wednesday, sworn in as minister at Rashtrapati Bhawan, as PM Modi reshuffles and expands cabinet.

A member of the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling, Ahluwalia was previously a Member of Parliament representing Bihar and Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha in 1986-1992, 1992-1998, 2000–2006, and 2006-2012. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha till 2012 when he lost his seat from Jharkhand.

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia and GJM chief Bimal Gurung
 with PM Narendra Modi

GJM supremo Bimal Gurung on his FB page wrote the following.
हाम्रो संसदीय क्षेत्रका माननीय सांसद श्रीमान एस.एस. आहलुवालियाजीलाई क्याबिनेटमा राज्यमन्त्री (मिनिस्टर अफ स्टेट) को भार प्रदान गरिएकोमा समग्र दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ अनि डुवर्सक्षेत्रवासीको तर्फबाट हर्ष प्रकट गर्दै माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री श्रीमान नरेन्द्र मोदीजीलाई अन्तर्ह्रदयबाटै आभार व्यक्त गर्न चाहन्छु।

स्वतन्त्र भारतको इतिहासमा दार्जीलिङका सांसदले युनियन क्याबिनेटमा स्थान पाएको यो पहिलोचोटि हो अनि उक्त पहलले भाजपा सरकारको दार्जीलिङ अनि डुवर्सक्षेत्रका मानिसहरूको निम्ति सम्मान अनि आदर भाव झल्किन्छ। माननीय सांसद एस.एस. आहलुवालियाजीले आफ्नो संसदीय क्षेत्रको निम्ति जुन दक्षता अनि इमान्दारिताको साथ कार्य गरिरहेका छन् राष्ट्र निर्माणको दिशामा पनि सोही दक्षता अनि इमान्दारिताको साथ योगदान प्रदान गर्नेछन् भन्ने हामीलाई पूर्ण विश्वास छ।
माननीय सांसद श्रीमान आहलुवालियाजीले युनियन क्याबिनेटमा प्रवेश गर्नु भनेको दार्जालिङको निम्तिमात्रै होइन तर समग्र उत्तर बंगालले उच्चस्तरको नीति निर्धारण गर्ने महत्वपूर्ण स्थानमा प्रतिनिधित्व पाउनु हो । वहाँको उक्त उपलब्धिले हाम्रो क्षेत्रलाई अझ द्रुतगतिमा प्रगतितिर अग्रसर गराउने यथेष्टै सम्भावनाहरू बड़ेर गएको छ।

माननीय सांसद श्रीमान आहलुवालियाजीलाई पनि म उक्त महत अनि प्रशसंनीय उपलब्धिको निम्ति बधाई अनि शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्दछु। माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री श्रीमान नरेन्द्र मोदीजीले दार्जीलिङ संसदीय क्षेत्रका मानिसहरूको निम्ति जुन प्रकारको इमान्दारिता अनि प्रेमभाव दर्शाउनुभएको छ यसले लामो समयदेखि थाँतीमा रहेको हाम्रो सपना पनि एकदिन अवश्यै साकार हुनेछन्।

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji for appointing our Member of Parliament Shri. SS Ahluwalia as the Minister of State in his cabinet.

This is for the 1st time since independence that any MP from Darjeeling has been inducted into the Union Cabinet, and reflects the respect and inclusion that BJP government has accorded to the people living in Darjeeling and Dooars region. We are confident that our MP will serve the nation with same diligence and sincerity, with which he has served our constituency.

It is important to note that with Ahluwalia ji joining the Union Cabinet, not only Darjeeling but then entire North Bengal region will find representation at the highest policy making body in the land, who can push for transforming our region for the better.

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling, I congratulate Shri. SS Ahluwalia ji, with the appointment of Ahluwalia ji to the Cabinet, PM Narendra Modi has shown his commitment towards the people of Darjeeling, and we look forward to the day when all our long pending demands will be finally fulfilled.

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Deligation led by Pawan Chamling met PM Narendra Modi

12:33 PM

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Sikkim

New Delhi 16th June 2016: Deligation led by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling met Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi today at New Delhi and submitted memorandums demanding seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang in Sikkim Legislative Assembly, allowing Karmapa to Sikkim and tribal status for 11 left out communities of Sikkim.

Sikkim delegates led by Chief Minister who met PM in New Delhi have sought Rs 43,589 Cr (Forty Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty Nine Crore) special package for development.

Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling met Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi

This is the second time the duo have met this year PM Narendra Modi was invited to inaugurates Sikkim Organic Festival January 2016.

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TMC, GJM war over ST status demand - All you need to know

11:34 AM

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tribal news

Darjeeling 3 Jun 2016 Fresh from their victories in the just concluded state Assembly election, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the hill Trinamool Congress has embarked on a war of words over the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 11 communities of the hills.

The hill TMC organised a victory celebration and a public meeting in Darjeeling where its leaders accused the GJM of hoodwinking the people over the issue by claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi had endorsed its demand. Sardha Subba, the Darjeeling TMC candidate for the Assembly election and the hill Trinamool Mahila Congress president, said that according to a Press Information Bureau report released on Thursday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Modi on May 25 approved of the introduction of two Bills relating to the issue of granting tribal status to various communities in five states. According to the PBI report, the Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to the amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order of 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Hill communities  seeking  ST status - a file photo

“The GJM claims the matter has been taken up by the PM himself and it is in the implementation stages. But the PBI report clearly shows that even though five states and a Union territory are mentioned, the demand from Darjeeling has been left out. This shows the GJM is playing with the sentiments of the people and fooling them for political interests,” said Subba today in the public meeting. The Prime Minister, campaigning in May for north Bengal BJP candidates in Siliguri, said the process of granting tribal status to the 11 communities had already been initiated and that a committee already been formed to look into the matter. The GJM wants the 11 communities to be brought under the ST list.

The communities from the hills are Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami and Yakha Dewan, and the Dhimal from the Dooars. Meanwhile, the GJM disagreed saying the Union Cabinet’s approval to place two Bills for the five states as reported by the PBI and its demand were in different stages. “She (Subba) is not aware of this. Committees were formed in 2013 for the five states and the UT, and based on the recommendations of those states, relevant Bills have been placed before the Cabinet. However, in our case, a committee was formed only this year, hence it did not find mention,” countered Binay Tamang, the GJM assistant secretary.

All the same, he expressed happiness that the Cabinet had approved the introduction of two Bills for amendment, saying this would set a precedent. “When the Bills get amended, they will become the basis to facilitate the Centre to take up our case,” Tamang said. The GJM leader furnished an order issued on April 2 by deputy secretary of the Union tribal ministry Roopak Chaudhuri to the chief secretaries of all states, excluding Haryana and Punjab. The order states the tribal ministry has decided to constitute a committee headed by Ashok Pai, joint secretary, Union ministry of tribal affairs, to examine and recommend granting of ST status to 11 communities living in Sikkim and other Gorkha dominated states and areas.

As per the order, the committee will have to consult with the Sikkim government and the states with significant Gorkha populations and submit its report to the tribal affairs ministry within three months.


Via EOI

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GJM & BJP bluffing on Scheduled Tribe and land rights issues alleges TMC

9:03 AM

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Trinamool Congress

On May 25, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for introduction of two bills in Parliament to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in five states - Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura - and identification of new communities in the Union Territory of Puducherry but there was not a mention of a single community from the hills.

Writes Vivek Chhetri 

Darjeeling, June 2: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today brought out a rally to press for the inclusion of 11 communities in the Scheduled Tribe list but Trinamul quickly alleged that the Morcha, along with the BJP, was playing with the sentiments of hill people.

The prompt response of Trinamul suggests the tribal-status issue, along with granting of land rights for tea garden and cinchona plantations inhabitants, is likely to take centre stage for some time now.

The rally, organised by the Yuva Morcha, started from the Darjeeling Motor Stand and culminated at a street corner meeting at Chowrasta in Darjeeling today.

Priyabardhan Rai, the Yuva Morcha general secretary, said: "We demand that the 11 communities must be granted tribal status as early as possible. We are planning to hold similar rallies in other parts of the hills soon."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung during the
BJP election campaign rally at Birpara on April 7, 2016 in Dooar

But within two hours of the rally, Sharda Subba Rai, who was the Darjeeling Trinamul candidate in the recently concluded Assembly election and a senior party leader, called a news conference and slammed the Morcha and the BJP.

"On May 25, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for introduction of two bills in Parliament to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in five states - Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura - and identification of new communities in the Union Territory of Puducherry," Sharda Subba said.

Two communities from Assam, five from Chattisgarh, two from Jharkhand, two from Tamil Nadu and one each from Tripura and Puducherry have been identified, the Trinamul leader said.

"The Morcha is an ally of the BJP but there was not a mention of a single community from the hills. This clearly proves that both the Morcha and the BJP are not sincere about the demand and are only using it as an election plan as municipal polls are due this year and GTA elections next year," Sharda Subba said.

"While the people are being asked to come out to participate in rallies, serious work is not being done by the leaders of both the parties," she said.

On April 2, when the model code of conduct was already in place in Bengal, the ministry of tribal affairs had issued an order constituting a committee to examine and recommend on the demand of granting tribal status to various Gorkha communities "living in Sikkim and other Gorkha dominated states and areas."

Roopak Chaudhuri, deputy secretary, Union ministry for tribal affairs, in the order had stated: "It has been decided to constitute a committee headed by Shri Ashok Pal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, to examine and recommend regarding granting of Scheduled Tribe Status to eleven communities, namely Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha (Dewan) and Dhimal living in Sikkim and other Gorkha-dominated states and areas."

The committee is to submit its recommendation on the matter to the ministry of tribal affairs within three months.

D.K. Pradhan, convener of the Morcha's Study Forum, said: "She has got confused with the two developments. She needs to understand the issue properly and we appeal that an issue of this importance should not be politicised. We will issue a detailed reaction after going through her statement tomorrow."


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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GJM youth wing to push for Scheduled Tribe status demand

10:16 AM

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tribal news

Darjeeling 29 May 2016 The youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today said it will hold a mass rally on June 2 to push for the demand of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 11 communities of the hills and the plains of Siliguri.

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) rally will start from the Motor Stand area from eleven in the morning and end at Chowrastha 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.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) - A File Photo 

“The PM 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 Sanjeev Lama, the GJYM general secretary, 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 Amrit Yonzon, the youth front’s spokesperson.

(EOIC)

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Signature campaign for 11 gorkha communities demanding tribal status

7:27 AM

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tribal news

Darjeeling 9 May 2016 The Bharatiya Gorkha Janjati Sangarsha Mahasangh, an umbrella organisation of 11 hill communities demanding tribal status, today announced it would organise a signature campaign in various parts of the country to garner support and to create pressure on the Centre.

The BGJSM’s demand is for according tribal status to the Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami and Yakha (Dewan) communities from the hills and the Dhimals from the plains of Siliguri. The organisation, which is affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, asserted that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bagdogra and Birpara on April 7 to campaign for the state Assembly election, he had said the process for granting tribal status to the 11 communities had started.

Signature campaign for 11 gorkha communities demanding tribal status

Through the planned signature campaign, the Mahasangh wants not only to thank the prime minister for his assurance, but also to urge him to take concrete steps in facilitating the early grant of tribal status.

The GJM had initiated the demand for issuing granting tribal status to those communities that had been left out. Presently, the Bhutia, Sherpa, Yolmo, Lepcha and Tamang communities come under the tribal category. GJM leaders have also placed the demand in several bipartite and tripartite meetings as the matter also figures in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement.

BGJSM president Kanchan Gurung said, “The signature campaign has actually started already from May 7 beginning from Lebong and the next day it was held in Mirik. We conducted the campaign today along Hill Cart Road in Darjeeling town. We are getting a good response from the people.”

The BGJSM maintained that the signature campaign was being undertaken solely after the announcement by the prime minister and refused to comment on a recent government circular that stated a committee has been formed to look into the demand. On April 2 this year, the Union tribal affairs ministry issued an order stating it had decided to constitute a committee which would be headed by Ashok Pal, joint secretary to the tribal affairs ministry, for examining and making recommendations on the issue of granting tribal status to the 11 communities in question.

“We do not want to comment on the formation of the committee as it is official work requiring due process. All we have to say is that no matter what, we should get tribal status. And we feel that through the signature campaign we want to tell the prime minister to grant it as soon as possible,” said Gurung, adding the list of signatures garnered would be sent to the prime minister on a regular basis.

The BGJSM also said that after the Assembly election results on May 19, they would hold a meeting with GJM chief Bimal Gurung to plan future programmes. They will also try to meet central ministers and the prime minister too if possible, to pursue the much sought-after demand.


(EOIC)

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GJM to complaint against development boards to Election Commission

11:28 AM

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TMC

Morcha mulls moving EC against development boards

It’s election time and things have started heating up in the hills. For one, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the community development boards formed by the state government for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri yesterday said the chairmen of the Sherpa, Bhutia, Tamang, Mangar, Khambu Rai and Limbu community development boards held an indoor meeting on Friday in Darjeeling where they decided to support the Trinamool despite holding offices of profit.

On Friday, representatives and members of the six associations under the radar held a meeting to decide ways to pursue measures for safeguarding and promoting their tradition, culture and language. The contentious issue of which party to support in the election was also discussed in the meeting and the associations unanimously decided to extend support to that political party (read TMC) that had helped the communities.

However, all the six chairmen had clarified the meeting was not convened by the development boards but by the associations and that they had not forced any member to vote for the TMC or any other political party.

“We will approach the ECI and lodge complaints against the six development boards for violating the model code of conduct. How can officials of development boards that function under the state government speak for a party? These officials receive salary and vehicles and other perks from the state government,” Giri said following the public meeting held by the GJM this afternoon in support of the party’s candidate from Darjeeling.

Nonetheless, the GJM general secretary was quick to add that the development boards would not affect his party’s prospects on April 17, the day of voting. “We are more concerned about polling being fair and clean even though we are confident of winning handsomely even if the development boards support the TMC,” he said.

GJM president Bimal Gurung also echoed Giri saying the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC would taste defeat, in spite of the state government showering money worth crores to the boards ahead of the election. “She has spent crores on the development boards just to garner votes. But one must remember that when it comes to issues pertaining to identity, statehood and aspirations, the hills will always remain united even if more doles are offered,” he said.

“The state government may try to tear us apart by creating divisions. But we will keep on mending the damage until we achieve statehood,” thundered Gurung to loud applause from the crowd gathered at the Motor Stand area of town.

According to the GJM chief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise during his April 7 speech in Siliguri that the 11 communities of the hills would be granted tribal status was a stepping stone towards achieving statehood. “Modi-ji himself told me that day that the 11 communities would be granted tribal status. I would like to remind you that he once said the dreams of the Gorkha people were his dreams too. We must remember that things are achieved one at a time,” said Gurung, adding he has invited the prime minister to Darjeeling.

Darjeeling GJM candidate Amar Singh Rai trained his guns on the TMC-JAP-GNLF ‘jote’ (alliance) saying it was temporary and that its intentions were ill. “JAP says development is its priority, the GNLF wants Sixth Schedule status and the TMC is anti-Gorkhaland. The alliance is an unholy nexus against our statehood aspiration and will be scattered when they taste defeat,” he said.

Meanwhile, the other GJM leaders who spoke at the campaign meeting appeared more interested in denouncing JAP president Harka Bahadur Chhetri than rallying for the party candidate.


Via: EOIC,

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Things Gorkhas need to know about Narendra Modi's election rally in North Bengal

9:26 AM

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Sikkim

Here are the four things that Gorkhas need to know about P.M.  Narendra Modi's recent election rally in North Bengal for campaigning BJP candidates for Assembly Election 2016 in Bengal.

1.PM Modi Reasserts Commitment Towards Gorkhas - Credits MP SS Ahluwalia For Pushing for It
Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again touted the process of including 11 Gorkha communities into ST as his government's commitment towards the Gorkhas.
Speaking at Siliguri, he said, "for years the demand for inclusion into ST was pending... But Ahluwalia ji continued to push for it and he told me, I have promised our Gorkha friends we have to make it happen... and that is what made this possible... the process has started in earnest...."

2.PM Modi Contrasts Development in Sikkim vs Darjeeling - Chides Bengal Govt
Coming down heavily on Mamata government for not taking care of the Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region, PM Modi yesterday said, "look at your next door neighbor Sikkim... today they are the 1st Organic State in India... where as look at this region.. its has everything similar... other than the fact that the Govt in Sikkim cares for its people, where as Bengal doesn't."

3.Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia Reminds PM Why We Need a Central University
Taking advantage of the presence of PM Narendra Modi in Siliguri, yesterday Darjeeling MP reminded him of some of the main issues confronting our region. Most important among them was the formation of a Central University in Darjeeling Hills.

4.PM Modi All Praises for ‪Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia
Speaking at the public rally yesterday, PM Narendra Modi was all praises for Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia. Modi remarked that "your MP works very hard for his constituents and has even woken me up at midnight to address pressing issues concerning Darjeeling region... with such an MP... even I feel delighted to work harder."
PM Modi also credited MP Ahluwalia for pushing forward the issue of ST status for 11 Gorkha communities.

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Narendra Modi confirms that process to grant ST status to Gorkhas has begun.

6:43 PM

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Video

Narendra Modi at Madrihat Bengal confirms that process to grant St status to 11 Gorkha Communities has began.

“Many promised that they will include the Gorkhas among the SC and ST category. But none delivered. Your MP has started the exercise,” - Modi

Speaking at Madarihat in the North Bengal Dooars tea belt, Modi started his speech in Bengali, drawing on tea to connect with his audience. “You produce tea here. I also sold tea in my childhood. I want your blessings as I want to solve your problems.”

In quite a few tea gardens in the Dooars region, more than 100 workers had died of conditions related to severe malnourishment in the past few months. Given the ailing condition of several tea gardens, the Centre in January authorised the Tea Board of India to take over seven gardens belonging to the G P Goenka group – Birpara, Garganda, Lankapara, Tulsipara, Huntapara, Dhumchipara, Demdima with a total of 17,555 workers. The move followed more than one visit of union minister Nirmala Seetharaman who came to check on the situation in the gardens.

Watch the Video
“We ordered takeover of the tea gardens. But Mamata Banerjee together with the owners went to the court and obtained a stay... But I will not stop. I will not allow welfare of the tea workers to stop,” Modi said, as he accused the state government of apathy and alleged no welfare officers were willing to listen to the plight of the distressed tea workers.

“The Left took the state on the path of ruin in 34 years. Didi is pushing Bengal forward in the same direction,” he added.

Also focusing on Gorkhas, Modi said, “Many promised that they will include the Gorkhas among the SC and ST category. But none delivered. Your MP has started the exercise,” referring to S S Ahluwalia who won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 with support from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a BJP ally.


Via: Hindustan Times

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BJP takes positive step to grant Tribal status to hill communities - claims Roshan Giri

11:43 AM

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Roshan Giri

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, March 11: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that the Union ministry of tribal affairs had requested the registrar general of India to "examine the proposal" of granting tribal status to 11 communities from the hills and the plains following the hill party's repeated appeals.

Morcha's claim is being seen as a move to woo the hill communities before the Assembly polls. Sources said the Morcha seemed to be preparing ground to make the ST tag issue one of its main poll planks.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri today said: "Following the Morcha's repeated appeals to grant tribal status to 11 communities (10 in the hills and one in the plains),the BJP-led government has taken a positive step."

The comments came after an RTI reply had been given to Vikram Rai, a member of the Morcha's RTI cell. Rai had wanted to know the status of the demand.

Dhiraj Chandra Ray, research officer and Central Public Information Officer, Union ministry of tribal affairs, in his reply dated March 7, 2016, had said: "... The proposal of Government of West Bengal for inclusion of 'Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami and Yakha (Dewan) and Dhimal community of Darjeeling district in the list of Scheduled Tribes of West Bengal has already been sent to the Registrar General of India (RGI) to furnish their view/comments on the proposal in the year 2014. Again the Ministry of Tribal Affairs vide letter dated 9.2.2016 requested the RGI to examine the proposal and sent their comments/views. However, comments/views of RGI is awaited."

The chief of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) Bimal Gurung and Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia met Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram at the Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi on 19 December

Today Giri said the proposal sent by the state before the Lok Sabha polls had been rejected by the tribal affairs department under the UPA. "After the election, the state did not act on it. But after the NDA came into power, we repeatedly raised the issue not only with tribal minister Jual Oram but also with home minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said Giri.

In June 2014, Babul Roy, a senior research officer and CPIO# of the office of the registrar general of India, while replying to an RTI filed by a resident of Darjeeling, had stated: "... The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has withdrawn these proposals. At the moment, these are not pending in this office."

Although the 2014 RTI reply did not mention the reason for the withdrawal, it said the main criteria for determining ST status were "social and economic backwardness along with tribal characteristics".

Today, Giri said: "We are confident that the demand will be fulfiled. We appeal to the hill people to keep faith in the Morcha and the BJP."

The 10 hill communities make up more than 55 per cent of the region's population.

Telegraph

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Indian Gorkha Maj. Deep Pradhan Felicitated by Narendra Modi

7:50 AM

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Narendra Modi

Gorkha‬ Pride: Maj. Deep Pradhan Felicitated by PMO India Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated Major. Deep Pradhan of VI Garhwal Rifles (GR) for developing an Android-based mobile application which can be helpful for the armed forces in navigation and locating the enemy position at the time of war.

Incidentally, Pradhan who is an expert in computer programming was bestowed with a certificate of excellence on the occasion of Army day on January 15 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One of the significant achievement of Pradhan is that his application can be used without the facility of Global Positioning System (GPS).

Major Pradhan is a third general army officer whose family lives in Hathibarkala area of Dehradun. An elated Colonel D K Pradhan (Rtd) who is father of young Major, said that Deep developed an affinity for computer since his childhood and kept it till date.

Source TheDC

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NAMO - orchid named after Narendra Modi in Sikkim

7:27 AM

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Sikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling named a new orchid variety, Cymbidium Namo, in honour of Prime Minister Modi, on Monday.

Pawan Kumar Chamling of the Sikkim Democratic Front, who has been Sikkim Chief Minister since 1994, is the state’s most popular leader ever. 

Modi, who visited Sikkim on Monday, unveiled three new Orchid varieties developed in Sikkimat a flower show. 

He named the first two after his personal heroes – Sardar Patel and Deendayal Upadhyaya. They wll be known from now on as Cymbidium Sardar and Lycaste Deendayal.

Pawan Kumar Chamling named the third flower Cymbidium Namo.

Cymbidium or boat orchid comprises of 52 evergreen species. They bloom during the winter, and each plant can have up to fifteen or more flowers. 

The genus offers a wide rang of colours including white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, and red.

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P.M Modi in Sikkim to declare first Organic state of India

12:12 PM

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Sikkim

Farmers are looking forward to the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will touch down at the army helipad in Libing near here tomorrow afternoon to announce Sikkim as the first state in India to adopt organic farming.

Modi will go straight to Ridge Park in Gangtok where he will inaugurate the three-day Sikkim organic festival.

"At the Ridge Park, he would interact with flower farmers who would display cymbidium orchids. The 23 flower growers deploy organic methods for the farming," said a government official.

From there, he would step into the nearby Guards Ground where seasonal flowers such as gerbera, chrysanthemum, lily and roses are put up for display.

The farmers said they were excited by the visit of the Prime Minister.

"I wanted to offer flowers to the Prime Minister but we have been told that we cannot do so because of security reasons. I am excited to see Narendra Modi. I have seen him on television many times," said a woman farmer, Nirmala Thapa, from Kadamtan village in East Sikkim.

After the visit to Guards Ground, Modi will go to Chintan Bhavan where he will declare Sikkim as India's first organic state.

He is scheduled to name two new hybrid orchids of Sikkim at the programme.

On January 19, Modi will leave around 8.30am for Saramsa garden, 12km from Gangtok, where he is slated to talk to 55 organic farmers and see the vegetables put up by them.

Source: Telegraph

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Let us not become Dashrath Manjhi time and again!

9:18 AM

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Subash Ghishing

Writes Deep Pradhan

Two events of significance took place in the past few days:

1. Narendra Modi asked Bimal Gurung to halt all agitation on Gorkhaland and Bimal gladly obliged.

2. Rahul Sinha, West Bengal state BJP president, came to Darjeeling and said in public meeting that the BJP will not allow the creation of Gorkhaland.

Dashrath Manjhi, the "Mountain Man", had taken upon himself to carve out a road from a rocky mountain so that his poor village of Gehlaur (in Bihar) could get access to the neighbouring, resourceful village of Wazirganj in quicker time. In the recently released biopic of Manjhi, there is a sequence where the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visits the village of Gehlaur and addresses a public meeting. Manjhi puts forth his humble request to Indira - a road for Gehlaur. Indira remains mum. She hands him one of her garlands, gets a photo-op with him and leaves. After that? Manjhi's village, like our beautiful land, endures corruption. But there is no progress, and no sign of the road. Working on his own, with a hammer and a chisel, Manjhi takes ~22 years (1960–1982) to complete the road.

We are seeing the same Manjhi story being repeated time and again in the Gorkhaland movement. We are not very clear what Rajiv Gandhi promised Subhash Ghisingh, but for 20 years, the hills endured the worst form of political, economic and developmental limbo in the DGHC.

Then came the turn of BJP to "stand" for Gorkhaland. We have already sent two BJP MPs from Darjeeling to the Lok Sabha, and all we are getting is half-hearted assurances and negative statements. The BJP leaders at the most remain "mum" on Gorkhaland, just like what Indira did to Manjhi. The Gorkhaland mass movement will reach 30 years in 2016.

How many more Manjhi story are we going to repeat?

[Shared by: Deep Pradhan on Twitter]

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