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

7:31 PM

•

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.

READ MORE

NRC Won't Hurt Gorkhas, Says PM Narendra Modi

11:31 AM

•

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

READ MORE

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

11:45 AM

•

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"

READ MORE

Centre to accord tribal status to the Gorkhas - Tribal Minister

5:45 PM

•

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

READ MORE

An Open Letter to Narendra Modi Sir From an Honest Assamese

11:29 AM

•

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.

             

READ MORE

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

7:40 PM

•

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.

READ MORE

Deligation led by Pawan Chamling met PM Narendra Modi

12:33 PM

•

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.

READ MORE

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

11:34 AM

•

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

READ MORE