गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाद्वारा प्रेस विज्ञप्ति

5:59 PM

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Press Release

जनताले रिजेक्ट कसलाई गरेको छ त्यो बिषयमा सबै भन्दा
राम्ररी ज्ञान र अनुभव बिनय तामाङ्ग अनि उहाँको टोलीलाई छ।

मुख्य अतिथिको मञ्चबाट आफ्नो सम्बोधन राख्ने क्रममा जनताबाट भाषण बन्द गर भन्ने जोडतोडको प्रतिक्रिया आउनु पो होइन र रिजेक्ट?

सामाजिक सञ्जालतिर दिन रातै जनताले आक्रोश व्यक्त गर्दै गाली गरेको पो होइन र रिजेक्ट?

बिनय दाजु तपाईं स्वयं दिल्ली भ्रमण ममता बन्दोपाध्यको  साथमा जानुभएको समय केन्द्रीय मंत्रीहरूको ढोका ढोका घुम्नु हुँदा कुनै एकजना मन्त्री महोदय सम्मलाई भेट गर्नु नपाउनु भएको सत्य कुरा होइन र रिजेक्ट?

केन्द्र सरकार अनि तपाईंको अन्नदाता राज्य सरकारलाई पनि थाहा छ तपाई जनता रिजेक्ट गरीसकेको नेता हो भनेर। हुन पनि तपाईं बसेको दुइवटै स्थान जनताबाट चुनिएको नभएर सरकारले मनोनीत गरेको सत्यतालाई कसैले नकार्न सक्तैनन्।
बिनय दाजु गाडी घोडा तिर यात्रा गर्दा यात्रुहरूले कस्तो बिचार पोख्छन् एकाअर्का माझ त्यो चालक दाजुभाइहरू संग सोध्नु होला।

जनताले गोजमुमोको नेतृत्ववर्ग लाई होइन तृणमुल मोर्चाको संरक्षकहरूलाई रिजेक्ट गरीसकेको छन्। हो अहिले मुख खोलेर बिनय गुटको विरूद्धमा बोल्न सकेका छैनन् जनता कारण मुख खोल्यो कि थुनुवा पर्ने त्रास जनतामा छाएको छ जसको ज्वलन्त उदाहरण हालै पक्रा परेको कृष्ण बस्नेत (अन्तिम) घटनाले उजागर गरेको छ। सामाजिक सञ्जालमा बंगाल सरकार अनि बिनय अनितको कालो नीतिको बिरोधमा आफ्नो बिचार पोख्दा मात्रमा कृष्ण बस्नेत दाजुले जेलको हावा खानु परिरहेको छ जबकि देशको संविधानको अनुच्छेद १९(१)क ( अभिव्यक्तिको आजादी) ले भारतको हरेक नागरिकलाई आफ्नो अभिव्यक्ति पोख्याउने राजनैतिक अधिकार दिएको छ। तर पहाडमा तथाकथित नेताहरूले दिनहुँ जप्न नभुल्ने शान्ति र गणतन्त्र अचम्मकै छ।

तर दाजु बिनयलाई  सित्तैमा एउटा सुझाव, दाजु पहाडको इतिहास राम्ररी घोत्लिएर सोच्नुहोला, जसले पनि पहाडको माटो संग गद्दारी गरेको छ उसको पतन निश्चित भएको छ कारण हाम्रो पहाडको शिरमा एकापट्टी  महाकाल बाबा आसिन हुनुहुन्छ भने अर्को तर्फ माता सिञ्चेल विराजमान हुनुहुन्छ साथै हाम्रो पहाडको हरेक स्थानहरूमा पवित्र चर्च, गुम्बा मस्जिद अनि देव देवताहरूको स्थान अवस्थीत छ। भनौं भने हाम्रो पहाड पवित्र  तिर्थस्थल नै हो जहाँ हरेक पाइलामा मन्दिर,चर्च,गुम्बा भेटिन्छ। यसैले दाजु पहाडको पवित्र भूमि संग तपाईहरूले गरेको गद्दारीपनको हिसाब इश्वर स्वयंले गर्नुहुनेछ।

अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुङ्ग ज्युको नेतृत्वमा दिल्लीमा भइरहेको सकारात्मक पहलहरू कसै व्यक्ति बिशेषको स्वार्थको निम्ति होइन दाजु यो त सर्वभारतिय स्तरमा समग्र गोर्खा जातिको उत्थानको निम्ति गरिएको सर्वश्रेष्ठ कार्य हो।

यो तपाईंको तृणमुल मोर्चाले आगामी लोकसभा चुनावलाई हेरेर घोषणा गरेको नाटकीय  बौधिक आन्दोलन होइन बिनय दाजु। जनताको आकांक्षा र हित संग जोडिएको उन्मुक्तिको अभियान हो र नै केन्द्र सरकारले पनि सुन्दैछ हाम्रो कुरा। तपाईंको ममता सरकारलाई पनि राम्ररी ज्ञात भएको कुरा हो तपाईंहरुलाई पनि ज्ञात भएको कुरा हो अनि केन्द्र सरकारलाई पनि राम्रोसँग ज्ञात भएको कुरा हो, अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुङ्ग ज्यु अनि वहाँको अनुयायीहरु हामी हरहालतमा हाम्रो शताब्दी नाघी सकेको पवित्र मांग "गोर्खाल्याण्ड" बाहेक अन्य कुरामा पटक्कै सम्झौता गर्नेवाला छैनौं भन्ने कुरा।

तपाईंहरूको बिषयमा त के मुख खोलिरहनु जबकि सर्वसाधारण सम्मलाई तपाईंहरूको नाटक बारेमा "क देखि ज्ञ" सम्म थाहा छ।

थाहा छ जनतालाई भोलिको दिनमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको बिघ्न बाधा बिनय तामाङ्ग र अनित थापाको टोली, हाम्रो जनताले गोर्खाल्याण्डको रेफरेण्डम स्वरूप पठाएको विधायाक अमर सिंह राई(दार्जीलिङ्ग) रोहित शर्मा (खरसाङ्) राज्य सरकारद्वारा मनोनित लोकसभा सांसद शान्ता छेत्री, जात जातको बोर्ड अनि तपाईंको सेनामेनाहरू हो भन्ने कुरा।
 तपाइहरूको नयाँ सोंच र नयाँ बिचार जनताले देखिसकेको छ अब जनता मुक्ति चाहान्छ त्यस्तो दमनकारी नयाँ सोंच र नयाँ बिचार संग। किनभने गणतन्त्र देशमा आफ्नैहरूको दमनमा जीउनु एउटा दास भएर जीउनु सरह हो जहाँ न त स्वेच्छाले बस्न पाईन्छ न त बोल्न नै पाईन्छ।

एक्काइसौँ शताब्दीमा दुनियाँ मंगल ग्रहमा घर बसाउने तरखरमा छ भने हामी चै अझसम्म दासत्वको जुनी जीउन बाध्य छौं। यि सब तपाईहरू जस्तो स्वार्थीहरूको कारणले गर्दा हो जसलाई स्वतन्त्रताको स्वाद थाहा नै छैन।

अन्तमा बिनय दाजु अनि वहाँका सेनामेनाहरूलाई एउटा कुरा स्पष्ट बुझाउनु चाहान्छु, आत्तिनु पर्दैन तपाईंहरू कारण तपाइहरूले जस्तो आफ्नै हरूको घर जलाउने लुटपाट गर्ने अनि जनसाधारणलाई पुलिसको आडमा ह्याकुला मिचाई गर्ने घृणित कार्य हामी गर्न चाहँदैनौ।

कारण हत्या हिंसाको राजनितिले कुनैपनि जाति, समाज र राष्ट्रको भलो हुन सक्तैन। एकाइसौं शताब्दी सम्म पिरोलिएर, हेपिएर, चेप्टिएर आफ्नो आकार गुमाइसकेका हाम्रो जातिको उत्थान गर्नु हो भने, अनि विकासको हजार फड्को नाघि सकेको अन्य जातिको हाराहारीमा हाम्रो भावी सन्तानलाई उभ्याउनु हो भने हामीले हाम्रो स्वयंको जीवनलाई अनि व्यक्तिगत इच्छा आकांक्षाहरूलाई टाढा राखेर जनहितमा आफुलाई समर्पीत गर्नु पर्छ। हामी काटमार लुटपाटको राजनीति गरेर हाम्रो जातिलाई अझै तल धकेल्न चाहँदैनौ। यसैले यसरी अत्तालिएर नानाथरी फलाक्नु उचित हुँदैन।

गोरखा सञ्जिव लामा
सह सचिव
गोजयुमो केन्द्रिय समिति। ।

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Bimal Gurung's message on Independence Day

12:21 PM

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Press Release

Bimal Gurung have released a press statement on the occasion on 72nd Independence Day. 

Following is the press release :-

On behalf of all the Gorkhas spread across our nation, I (Bimal Gurung) wish you all a very Happy Independence Day.

The commemoration of Independence Day is a very personal experience for all the Indian Gorkha families, as every family has sacrificed a member to uphold the freedom and independence of our nation.

Bimal Gurung 

From the very first Gorkha Freedom Martyr Subedar Niranjan Chhetri of Manipur to INA Major Durga Malla of Dehradun. From organizing labourers in the coal mines of Bihar as Helen Lepcha to blowing up British Tanks in Burma as INA Janbaz Dal Martyrs Sabitri Thapa and Indreni Thapa. From giving music to Indian National Anthem as INA Capt Ram Singh Thakuri of Himachal to helping draft the constitution of our great nation as Adv. Ari Bahadur Gurung of Darjeeling and thousands others like them, the glorious Gorkha contributions to the Freedom Movement of India is what inspires the present day Gorkhas to carry on, with the same sense of patriotism and sense of duty towards our nation.

Each day thousands of Gorkha men and women put their life at risk to protect our nation from inimical forces, and they do so with the same pride and joy, with which our ancestors had fought to secure the freedom of our nation from the colonialists.

Today as we celebrate the Independence Day, I request you to take a moment to thank all those brave men and women who are serving as soldiers in the army, navy, airforce, paramilitary forces and police, and their families whose sacrifices make it possible for us to remain independent.

While we are today celebrating the 72nd Independence Day, I want to draw the attention of our nation towards the plight of minority Gorkhas, Adivasis, and Rajbanshis in North Bengal. Today, all our fundamental rights have been curtailed and all the provisions of our constitution that guarantees us to have a say in our nation has been snatched away by the West Bengal government. While the nation is celebrating our Independence Day thousands of Gorkhaland supporters are being hounded, arrested, and threatened for demanding what is guaranteed under Article 3 of our constitution - a new state.

Freedom is an essence for which our ancestors sacrificed their everything, and today that very freedom is being denied to our people. I therefore appeal to every citizen of our nation, to pledge to stand with us in our struggle for justice, equality, and freedom from tyrany, oppression and discrimination that we are facing in West Bengal.

On behalf of the Gorkhas, I once again wish you all a very Happy Independence Day.

Jai Hind, Jai Gorkhaland

Bimal Gurung
President, Central Committe
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

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6th August a day when Gorkhaland was defeated in 2017

8:11 PM

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Press Release

Press Release

We fought a leaderless battle. 6th August is day when Gorkhaland was defeated in 2017.

This exact day, the aspiration of thousands washed off, when the so called brave leader of Gorkhas, Bimal Gurung ran for his life making mockery out of the sacrifices given by the martyrs. He chose his personal wellbeing over the cause of gorkhas and absconded when Darjeeling Police raided Gurung’s strong hold in the midst of the agitation last year.

Bimal Gurung 

It’s to be noted that, last year, during the end of July, that there were more number of people on the streets than police in the hills. The police was on the back foot as they didn’t want to aggravate the boiling situation after the death of nearly 12 people then. The police was seen locked in their confined areas as there were massive protests rallies and an ongoing indefinite hunger strike in the hills.

That was the time when Bimal Gurung should have come out in the public and showed his appearance as the agitation was seen to be going nowhere and the fact of ‘no leader on the ground’ too could not be ignored.

The speeches in the Bazar were given by GJM local town leaders along with some CPRM and GNLF leaders. In this given situation, the role of Binoy Tamang has to be appreciated. Even Maan Ghisingh was seen leading GNLF rallies and Binoy Tamang made an attempt to meet the sitting in for a hunger strike in chowrasta. There was a desperate attempt by GJM leadership begging Bimal Gurung to come to out and address the public but all went for vain as Bimal Gurung was reluctant to come out and he claimed to say that there would ‘be law and order’ situation.

Bimal Gurung, right from the start failed to come out. The Darjeeling police had even given him a chance to attend the 13th June, all party meeting in Gymkhana which he denied saying the police could not be trusted.

However, it was like any other typical monsoon day on 6th August, last year, the town was foggy and gloomy, while the ongoing strike had entered its 53rd day. And just after the everyday rally, the people were returning home, there was sudden buzz about how police were gathered to go down to Patlebas for a raid.

This was the first raid in Patlebas after June.

I would like to describe here about the situation in Patlebas, in July.
It was guarded by more than 1000 boys with patang (long sharp weapon) in military uniform with black masks. These boys were seen checking cars of the visitors who had come to visit Bimal Gurung. The people who visited Gurung then were being frisked at every 1 KM starting from St Micheal’s School. There were numerous camps of such masked people from Singmari to Patlebas.

The town was tensed as the police slowly approached Singmari. The people feared that these armed masked men would attack the police and the situation in the hills would deteriorate once again, but on contrary, these masked men were seeing fleeing for their lives while the police slowly approached down. Many of them fractured their hands and legs while jumping from tea gardens as Darjeeling Police marched down.

The so called “Gorkhaland ko Lagi Pran Dinchu” boys ran for their lives leaving their camps.

The news of the police raid quickly reached Bimal Gurung who had his camp in Singla. Instead of tackling with the police and facing them, Gurung crossed the border and entered Sikkim for his safety. Once Bimal Gurung was on the run, there was no leadership in the hills where Binoy and Anit were forced to take the leadership in their hands.

This was day when Police got the pulse of the coward leader and from that day the police never took a ‘U’ turn on him.


But, the million dollar questions which arise here is,

‘Is Bimal Gurung the real leader of billion Gorkhas? If you still nod your heads in agreement, then why would such leader leave the agitation directionless and abscond? Should we consider the fugitive one, our leader?

Satish Pokhrel
Vice President
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Central Committee

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति

हामीले नेतृत्वविहीन युद्ध लड़्यौ। 6 अगस्त गोर्खाल्याण्ड हारेको एउटा दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण दिन।

6 अगस्त गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दाको हार भएको दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण दिन हो किनभने 2017 मा ठीक यही दिन गोर्खाहरूको आँटी अनि इमान्दार मानिएको नेता विमल गुरूङले पातलेबासमा पुलिसले छापामारी गर्दा आफ्नो ज्यान बचाउन गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनलाई समेत अधकल्चोमा छोड़ेर सुइँकुच्चा ठोकी भागेका थिए।

सबैलाई अवगत भएकै कुरा हो, गतवर्ष जुलाईको अन्तमा गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रेमी जनता हजारौं संख्यामा आफ्नो ज्यानको पर्वाह नगरी सड़कमा निस्किएका थिए। पुलिसबलभन्दा धेर संख्यामा गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रेमी जनता गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग गर्दै सड़कमा उत्रिएको थियो। फलस्वरूप दार्जीलिङ पहाड़मा कुनै प्रकारको हिँसा नहोस् भनेर पुलिस बलसमेत ब्याकफुटमा जानु परेको थियो। किनभने योभन्दा अघि नै हिँसा भएको कारणले गर्दा 12 जना गोर्खाहरू शहीद बनिसकेको थियो। पुलिसहरू आ-आफ्नो इलाकामा नै तैनाथ रहनु परेको थियो भने दार्जीलिङ पहाड़मा हजारौंको संख्यामा मानिसहरू सड़कमा उर्लेर विरोध रयाली, जुलुस गरिरहेको थियो भने आमरन अनशनसमेत चलिरहेको थियो।

यस्तो स्थितिमा विमल गुरूङ एक आँटी अनि इमान्दार नेता भएको भए आफ्नो समर्थक आन्दोलनकारीहरूको बीचमा आएर आन्दोलनकारीहरूलाई मनोबल प्रदान गर्नुपर्ने थियो अनि आन्दोलनलाई अझ प्रभावशाली बनाएर अघि लानुपर्नेथियो। तर हजारौं समर्थकहरूको घेराबन्दी रहँदा-रहँदै पनि विमल गुरूङ कहिल्यै आन्दोलनकारीहरूको मनोबल बड़ाउन मैदानमा आएनन्। आन्दोलनकारीहरूको मनोबल बड़ाउन बजारका क्षेत्रीय नेता अनि क्रामाकपाका केही नेताहरूमात्रै भाषणहरू दिने गरेतापनि आन्दोलनको 105 दिन नै विमल गुरूङ आफ्नो ज्यान बचाउन लुकेर बसे। शहीदलाई श्रद्धाञ्जलि चड़ाउनसमेत उनलाई मैदानमा आउने आँट भएन। इमान्दार अनि आँटी मानिएको नेता विमल गुरूङलाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि शहीदको वलिदानको भन्दा धेर मूल्य आफ्नो प्राणको रहयो।

यस्तो विकट स्थितिमा पनि भाषण दिने बजारका ती क्षेत्रीय नेतृत्त्व अनि क्रामाकपाका नेतृत्त्वहरू बरू विमल गुरूङभन्दा इमान्दार अनि साहसी देखियो। यसबाहेक अति सम्वेदनशील स्थितिमा पनि आफ्ना समर्थकहरूसित रयालीमा आउने गोरामुमो अध्यक्ष अनि आफू पक्रा पर्ने तथा ज्यान जाने डरलाई समेत पन्साएर चौरास्तामा अनशनकारीहरूसित भेट्न पुग्ने अनि दार्जीलिङ शहरका कतिपय विरोधमूलक कार्यक्रमहरूमा जनताबीच पुगेर मनोबल पड़ाउने विनय तामाङ विमल गुरूङभन्दा कैयौं गुणा साहसी अनि इमान्दार रहेको बुझियो। कानून व्यवस्था ठीक नभएको तथा आफ्नो ज्यानको खतरा रहेको कायरपूर्ण बयान दिँदै विमल गुरूङ आन्दोलनकालभरि केही भागिरहे। आन्दोलनको शुरूआतदेखि नै विमल गुरूङ भागिरहे यहाँसम्म कि 13 जूनमा जीमखानामा आयोजित अल पार्टी मीटिङमा सहभागी बन्न पुलिसले अनुमति दिँदा पनि पुलिस प्रशासनको विश्वास नरहेको उल्लेख गर्दै पक्रा पर्ने डरले उनी उक्त मीटिङमा पनि सामेल भएनन्।

गतवर्ष 6 अगस्तको दिन गोर्खल्याण्ड आन्दोलन सल्केको 53 दिन भएको थियो। सोहीमा  दिन पातलेबासमा पुलिसले छापामारी अभियान चलाएको थियो। जून महीनापछि पातलेबासमा गरिएको यो पहिलो छापामारी थियो। जुलाई महीनासम्म पातलेबाँसमा फौजी पोशाक लगाएर  मुखमा कालो पट्टी बाँधेका लगभग 1000 केटाहरू पाताङ (धारिलो हतियार) लिएर विमल गुरूङको निगरानीमा बस्दथ्यो। ती युवाहरूले विमल गुरूङलाई भेट्न आउने सबैको गाड़ी अनि शरीर निरीक्षण गर्थे। विमल गुरूङलाई भेट्न जानेहरूलाई पातलेबासदेखि लगभग एक किमी माथि स्थित सेन्ट माइकल स्कूलदेखि नै निरीक्षण अनि निगरानी गर्थे। सिङमारीदेखि पातलेबाससम्म यस्तै मास्क लगाउने केटाहरूको धेरै ठाउँमा  बस्ने गर्थे। 

पुलिसले छापामारी गर्दा ती केटाहरू अनि पुलिसमाझ हिस्रक भिड़न्त हुनसक्ने तथा दार्जीलिङ पहाड़को स्थिति भयावह भएर जाने मानिसहरूले चिन्ता व्यक्त गरिरहेका थिए। तर जब पुलिसले पातलेबासमा छापामारी गरियो गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति प्राण दिन्छु भन्ने ती युवकहरू पनि आफ्नो ज्यान बचाउन चम्पट कसे। यतिमात्र होइन जब पुलिस छापामारीको खबर सिङ्लामा क्याम्प लगाएर बसेको विमल गुरूङले सुने उनी अडिग भएर बस्नुको साटो आफ्नो सुरक्षाको निम्ति तत्कालै सिक्किम सीमा नाघेर चम्पट कसे। एकातिर गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति ज्यान समेत दिएर जनताले उनलाई सहयोग गरिरहेका थिए भने विमल गुरूङ पक्रा पर्ने डरले सिक्किमतिर भागेका थिए। विमल गुरूङ भागेपछि गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन दिशाहीन बन्ने अवस्थामा बाध्यतावश विनय तामाङ अनि अनित थापाले आन्दोलनको नेतृत्त्व सम्हालेका थिए। उनीहरूमाथि पनि विमल गुरूङजत्तिकै खतरा भएतापनि उनीहरूले दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ छोड़ेनन् आन्दोलनको मैदान छोड़ेर भागेनन्। परिस्थितिलाई डटेर सामना गरे। आँटी अनि इमान्दार नेतृत्त्व विमल गुरूङ हुन् कि विनय तामाङ र अनित थापा हुन् भन्ने यसैले पनि स्पष्ट पार्छ।
6 अगस्त अर्थात् आजको दिन विमल गुरूङ आन्दोलनको मैदान छोड़ेर सिक्किम भागेपछि नै आन्दोलनमा पुलिस प्रशासनको दबाउ बड़्दै गएको हो। किनभने जनताले आँटी र इमान्दार भनेर विश्वास गरेको नेता विमल गुरूङ नै डरछेरूवा भएर भागेपछि पुलिसले विमल गुरूङको नाड़ी छामे।
सबैभन्दा ठूलो अनि महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्न के रहेको छ भने विमल गुरूङले शहीदहरूको वलिदान अनि जनताको भावनालाई कदर गर्दै नभागी डटेर परिस्थितिको सामना गरेको भए के उनको सुरक्षा आन्दोलनमा खटिएका हजारौं गोर्खाहरूले गर्ने थिएन?  अथवा गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति उनी पक्रा नै परेको भएतापनि जनताको मन- मस्तिष्कमा उनको प्रभाव अझ बड़ेर उनी क्रान्तिकारी कहलाइने थियो र गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रेमी जनता अझ समर्पित भएर आन्दोलनमा उत्रिने थिए र सम्भवतः गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन निरन्तर रहिरहने थियो।
तर मुखलेमात्रै बाघ हुँ भन्ने विमल गुरूङ आफैले डरछेरूवा मानसिकता देखाएर गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन भताभुङ्ग बनाए भने सरकारलाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन दबाउने प्रशस्त मार्गहरू पनि बनाइदिए। डेड़ करोड़ गोर्खाहरूको प्रतिनिधिले पक्रा पर्ने डरले डेड़ करोड़ गोर्खाहरूको सपना अनि बलिदानलाई लत्याएर भागेको आजको दिन गोर्खाहरूको भाग्यमा ग्रहण लागेको दिन हो। वीर गोर्खाहरूको इतिहाँसमा आजको दिन विमल गुरूङको कायरपनाको बदनाम इतिहाँस कोरिएको छ।

सतीश पोखरेल
उपाध्यक्ष
गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा,केन्द्रिय समिति|

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Bimal Gurung's Press Release on NRC list Assam

12:58 PM

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Press Release

Press release from President Shri Bimal Gurung:

“I extend my solidarity and support to all those genuine citizens of India whose name have been left out of the NRC list, and request the central government to take handle their cases with utmost care, and also request the Govt of Assam and the Central Govt to consider all genuine cases of those who have been living in Assam prior to 25th of March, 1971. 

We are also struggling for our identity here, and are very worried at the situation developing due to NRC in Assam. We fear that this could lead to the marginalization of the indigenous Gorkha-Kamtapuri and Adivasis of North Bengal, and we want to ensure that no such unfortunate situation in allowed to develop. We won’t allow the indigenous Gorkha, Adivasi, Kamtapuri, Meche and other indigenous communities to suffer injustice. If actions are taken to undermine the locals Bimal Gurung won’t stay silent.

Bimal Gurung 

I have been made aware of the fact that state government is secretly measuring land in our hills, if this is being done to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been removed from Assam, then it creates a national security threat.

Darjeeling Terai and Dooars help connect mainland India to the north east states, this Chicken Neck region is therefore highly sensitive in entire South Asia, and there are possibilities of anti-National, anti-India forces fomenting trouble in this region. In such a situation, if conspiracy is hatched to settle illegal immigrants who have been removed from another state to our lands with which we share a very long border, this will put to grave risk the national security of our country. I will not permit any political entity from the state to jeopardize our national security.

No one should dream of undermining the indigenous population of north Bengal by hoping to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been kicked out to Assam. If they attempt anything like this, then all the Rajbanshis, Kamtapuris, Adivasis, Meche and Gorkhas from Dooars and all the Gorkhas from the hills will speak with one voice against this.

I once again request, the central government to consider the cases of genuine citizens of India with utmost care, and sympathy.

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प्रेस विज्ञप्ति - ४ अगस्त २०१८

आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको विवादमा प्रभावित बनेका त्यहाँका पीडित साँचो नागरिकहरू सन्दर्भमा मेरो समवेदना राख्दै उनीहरूको समस्यालाई गहनतासँग लिनुपर्ने म केन्द्र सरकारलाई अपील गर्दछु|
२५ मार्च १९७१ भन्दा अघि आसाम पसेकाहरूको उजुरीलाई आसामको राज्य सरकार अनि केन्द्र सरकारले पुनः गम्भीर रूपमा हेरोस् भन्ने मेरो अनुरोध छ| हाम्रो छातीमा पीडितहरूप्रति समवेदना छ|

हामी पनि यता आफ्नो परिचयको लडाई लडिरहेको अवस्थामा आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको समस्याको कारणले गोर्खा-कामतापुरी-आदिवासीको बाहुल्यता भएको उत्तर बङ्गालको क्षेत्रमा यहाँका रैथानेहरू अल्पसंख्यक बन्न नपरोस्, त्यस्तो कुनै कार्य नहोस् त्यो सुनिस्चित गर्न चाहन्छौं|
हामी दार्जीलिङ-कालेबुंग पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सका रैथाने गोर्खा, कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे आदिलाई अन्याय हुनदिनेछैनौं| यस्तो अवस्था आएको खण्डमा विमल गुरुङ चुपचाप बस्नेछैन| अहिले पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सको विभिन्न स्थानमा राज्य सरकारले गोप्य रूपमा जमीन नापी गरेको सुन्दैछु| यदि आसामबाट निकालिएको अनि बंगलादेशबाट छिरेकोहरूलाई स्थापित गराउने षडयन्त्रमा जमीन नापीएको हो भने त्यसले देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षालाई खतरा उत्पन्न गर्छ|

दार्जीलिंग तराईको भूमिले मात्र भारत देशलाई आफ्नो पूर्वोत्तर राज्यसँग जोडेर राखेको छ| देशलाई पूर्वोत्तरसँग जोड्ने यो चिकन नेक क्षेत्र दक्षिण एसिया कै निम्ति अति नै संवेदनशील क्षेत्र भएकोले यहाँ राष्ट्रको विरुद्धमा अन्तराष्ट्रिय चलखेल हुनसक्ने आशंका जहिले पनि छ| यस्तो संवेदनशील क्षेत्रमा अर्थात् यसको छेउछाउमा यहि देशको एउटा राज्यमा उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर राख्नु भनेको देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्नु हो|

विमल गुरुङले यसरी राज्यको कुनैपनि राजनैतिक शक्तिलाई राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्न दिंदैन| आसामबाट उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर उत्तर बंगालको उहिलेदेखि बसेको रैथानेहरूलाई अल्पसंख्यक बनाउने सपना कसैले नदेखेको राम्रो हो| यस्तो भएको खण्डमा डुवर्सका समस्त राजवंशी कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे, गोर्खा लगायत पहाडका गोर्खाहरूले राष्ट्रहीतमा एकै स्वरमा विरोध जनाउनेछन्|
यसको साथै आसाममा अहिले पीडित बनेकाहरू सन्दर्भमा केन्द्र सरकारले मानवीय अनि सठीक पहल गर्नुपर्नेछ भनि म आग्रह गर्दछु|

विमल गुरुङ
अध्यक्ष, गोजमुमो,
केन्द्रिय कार्यालय, दार्जीलिङ
भारत|

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Bimal Gurung's press release on 'Manipur People Act Bill 2018'

7:03 PM

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Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

The Government of Manipur passed the 'Manipur People Act Bill 2018' during the monsoon session of the state Assembly last week. The Bill paves the way for the implementation of Inner Line Permit in the state. A similar bill passed by the state assembly in 2015 had caused violent protest from the tribal people in the Hills District, leading to the death of 8 protestors in Churachandpur District and a political stalemate lasting for almost a year.

Bimal Gurung file photo

While the Government avoided the mistakes of the past this time by initiating due consultation with the Hills Area Committee and taking the tribal people into confidence, the Bill has brought a sense of panic and insecurity amongst the non-indigenous minority citizens of the state. While there are very few protests reported in the media, the deep sense of fear prevailing amongst the people has prevented them from coming out strongly in protest of the Bill.

The following are some major point of concerns raised by the public:
- The Manipur People Act Bill passed by the State Assembly is not very different from the previous 'Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015' which was termed 'anti-tribal' by the Hill tribes of the state. The only change in the new bill is the inclusion of 'Scheduled Tribes' in the definition of 'Manipur People' and adding a provision that any interest to acquire land or property must get the consent of the Hill Area Committee.
- The cut-off year of 1951 is based on a non-existent 'National Register of Citizens' allegedly published in the year 1951. However, an RTI response has revealed that the Manipur government and directorate of census operations do not have records of the National Register of Citizens, 1951.
- The revised bill does not address the Central Government's earlier objection that it violates the Article 19 of the constitution. Article 14 (4) & (5) is a fundamental right which grants each and every citizen of India 'the freedom to migrate and settle in any parts of India.'

The definition of “Indian” as laid down by the constitution does not seem to apply in this Bill, which requires that all 'non-native, non-ST/SC Indians' should prove that they are descendants of people who were living in the state before 1951. Even if the Government had any census record of that time, there is serious doubt that the directory would include every single citizen living in the remote parts, given the accessibility challenges and lack of awareness and education during the time.

While the primary objective of the Bill is to protect the interest of the indigenous people of the state, there is no detailed provision that discusses how the native people rights will be protected through the law. Instead, it focuses more on the need to issue permits, and provisions of a Registration Authority to manage the permit issue and identification of unregistered non-locals. On hindsight, the bill looks more intended towards targeting those who are regarded as “non locals” residing in Manipur, rather than to actually restrict illegal migrations.

Every member of the public understands that the demand for implementation of an ILP-like system is the need of the hour in the wake of huge illegal immigration to the entire North East region. However, it is equally important that the Government instills a sense of security and concern for the people who are most affected by the Bill.

I therefore request the Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Hon. Home Minister Rajnath Singh ji, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh ji to kindly take necessary steps to protect the rights of all Indian citizens. I am most hopeful that the Government of Manipur will deliver justice and ensure that everyone living in the state feels protected and safe at all times.

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Gurung congratulats Pawan Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India

9:06 PM

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Press Release

Bimal Gurung's Press Release congratulating Shri. Pawan Kr. Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India.

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling-Terai-Duar region, and the Gorkha community living across India and the world, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shri. Pawan Kr. Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India.

The life of Shri. Pawan Kumar Chamling is an inspiration for all of us to follow. There was a time when he was forced to live outside Sikkim following threats to his life, but he never gave up on the land of his forefathers, and its people. Instead he struggled to restore democracy and rule of law in Sikkim. It is his never give up attitude, perseverance, and dedication towards Sikkim that has today resulted in him becoming one of the most enduring and popular Chief Ministers of our nation.

Through his actions, he has inspired generations of youths not only in Sikkim but also all over India to dream big and have the courage and the conviction to make those dreams come true. Sikkim today leads on numerous fronts - from becoming the first state to achieve 100% sanitation goals, to becoming the first and only organic state in India. All of these achievements have been made possible, because of his inspirational leadership.

His unflinching support to the people of Darjeeling during all our hardships has earned him love and respect from all sections of our society. His government's support to Gorkhaland statehood has given hope to all our people, and his constant reiteration of fraternity and brotherhood between Darjeeling and Sikkim is what inspires us to realize, we will never be alone

Once again, I congratulate Shri. Pawan Kr Chamling ji, and thank him for being an inspiration that everyone in India can look up to.

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Bimal Gurung on suspicious movement of Rohingyas in the region

12:51 PM

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Press Release

PRESS RELEASE:-

The Darjeeling, Terai and Duars touches three international boundaries - Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Tibet (China) is also located right above our region. Given which the significance and importance of this highly sensitive and strategic border area, that connects the Indian mainland to the rest of North East India, cannot be overstated.

Of late, I have been hearing ground reports from our cadres about suspicious movements of new people in our region, many of whom reportedly do not even speak Hindi, and they fear that these people are Rohingyas who are now being gradually pushed into our region with the intention of diluting the existing Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbonshi and Indian Bengali population. It seems like sinister plans are afoot to further marginalize the original inhabitants of these land, and render us homeless.

It has been widely acknowledged that Rohingyas pose a national security threat, and it seems like certain political elements are allowing them to settle here for one and only reason - 'vote-bank' politics. Despite the central intelligence agencies having repeatedly raised the national security risk posed by Rohingyas, some political outfits are allowing politics of votes to supersede national interests.

I am hopeful that the Honourable Prime Minister and Union Home Minister will kindly take cognizance of the situation developing in our region, and do the needful to put an end to these sinister designs.

I request everyone living in our region to kindly remain vigilante and report all such suspicious settlements that may be coming up near you.

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9th April, 2008 Black Day when democracy was crushed by West Bengal - Bimal Gurung

2:54 PM

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West Bengal

गणतन्त्रको हनन र कालो दिन।

९ अप्रैल २००८ को दिन आफ्नो बास भूमि गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यको मांग गर्दै गणतान्त्रिक एवं शान्ति पूर्ण जुलूसमा सहभागी हुदा दार्जीलिङ मोडमा बंगाल पुलिसले बर्बरता अनि अमानवीय ढंगमा भूतपूर्व सैनिकहरू माथी लठ्ठी चार्ज गरेर रक्ताम्मे बनाएर बंगालको प्रशासनले आत्यचारको सब हद पार गरेको त्यो कालो दिन यस संसारमा सूर्य-जून रहञ्जेल गोरखा संसारले भुल्ने छैन अनु यस कालो दिनको हामी अन्तर्आत्माबाट बिरोध गर्दछौं।

जसले हिन्दूस्तान देशको रक्षाको खातिर आफ्नो बैश जवानी देशको सिमानालाई दिए अनि कति सैनिकहरूले देशकै लागी शहीद भए तर त्यही जातिको देशमा संवैधानिक पहिचान र चिन्ह्रारीको मांग गर्दा बंगालले लठ्ठी चार्ज गरेर भारत माताको रक्षा गर्ने सब सैनिकहरूको अपमान गरेको छ।

बंगालमा खाटी बंगाली अनि हामीसबै जातिको सुरक्षा छैन रौन्गिया र बंगलादेशीहरुको मात्र सुरक्षा छ यसैले आज मलाई खानेले तपाईहरुको पालो पर्खिरहेको छ । सचेत,सजग,जागरूक हुने अपील,अनुरोध गर्दछु।

अन्तमा पूवसैनिकहरु दनु भएको त्याग,बलिदान खेरो जान दिने छुइन ढिलो छिट्टो हाम्रो गोर्खाल्याण्ड अवश्य हुनेछ।

जय गोरखा। जय भारत।
बिमल गुरुङ,
अध्यक्ष, गोजमुमो, भारत।

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Black Day when democracy was crushed by West Bengal

On 9th April, 2008 ex-servicemen who had been marching peacefully in support of our right to have a state of our own - Gorkhaland, were brutalized by the West Bengal police at Darjeeling More. The inhuman treatment and humiliation meted out to our ex-servicemen by West Bengal government and it police will not be forgotten by Gorkhas living across the world. We condemn the brutality meted out then, and also the brutality unleashed now.

These same soldiers who risked their lives to protect our motherland, many of whom have been martyred protecting her sovereignty, were humiliated in the streets of Siliguri. They were brutally beaten up, their medals bloodied by the West Bengal police for demanding our constitutional right to have a state of our own. In dishonouring the Gorkha soldiers, West Bengal police insulted all the soldiers who have served our mother land.  

In Bengal, us Gorkhas, the ghoti Bengalis, and all the indigenous communities are not safe. Only Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshis are. The same tiger that seeks to devour me today, will be waiting to make you its prey tomorrow.  Therefore, I request everyone to remain mindful, alert and conscious.

Once again, I assure you all that the sacrifices made by our ex-servicemen won't go in vain, it may take us time, but Gorkhaland will be formed.

Jai Gorkha, Jai Bharat
Bimal Gurung
President, Central Committee
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

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Bimal Gurung faction GJM Press release on quitting Alliance with BJP

11:42 PM

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Press Release

Bimal Gurung faction has released a press release denying Binay Tamang's  recent statement, claiming to be from GJM, that  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has quit the NDA with BJP.

Here is the Press release:

A statement released by Binoy Tamang, the West Bengal government appointed GTA Chairman of the Board of Administrators, that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has quit the National Democratic Alliance is ludicrous, and does not reflect the official GJM stand.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been a constituent of the NDA since 2009, and we will continue to remain an integral part of the NDA.

I request all our party members to forewarn the people, and let the public and media be aware that any statement made by Binay Tamang, claiming to be from GJM, should not be given any credence. He is a West Bengal government employee, and does not represent the people of Darjeeling, nor the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

He may, if he so desires, release statements on behalf of the government he is serving - West Bengal, or the party he is serving - TMC, but he has no business whatsoever issuing statements on behalf of GJM, from which we have removed him on September 1, 2017 itself.

Bimal Gurung
President, Central Committee
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

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गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा प्रेस विज्ञप्ति

9:16 PM

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Trinamool Congress

गोरखा राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा (गोरामुमो) अनि जन आन्दोलन पार्टी(जाप)-का अध्यक्षहरू अब तृणमूल कंग्रेसका नेताहरूको अधीनमा परेका छन् जसले गत विधानसभा चुनाउ पनि जित्न सकेका थिएनन्। यो पहाड़वासीको निम्ति ठूलो अपमान हो अनि समतल केन्द्रित राजनैतिक दलहरूले पहाड़का राजनैतिक दलहरूको कहिल्यै सम्मान गर्दैनन् भन्ने उदाहरण पनि हो।

तृणमूल कंग्रेसका दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला अध्यक्षले कसरी अध्यक्ष या उपाध्यक्षको कुनै पनि पद पाएनन् अनि कसरी गोरामुमो अनि जापका अध्यक्षहरूले उक्त पदहरू पाए? यसले प्रत्यक्षरूपमै जाप अनि गोरामुमो तृणमूल कंग्रेसकै खेमाकाहरू हुन् भन्ने प्रमाणित गर्छ। हिल तृणमूलभन्दा पनि जाप अनि गोरामुमो तृणमूल कंग्रेसको निम्ति धेरै महत्वपूर्ण रहेको सत्य पनि यसले स्पष्ट पार्छ।

पहाड़का समग्र जनता यी दुई दल जाप अनि गोरामुमोदेखि टाँड़ा बस्नुपर्छ। उनीहरू गोरखाल्याण्ड बेच्ने दल हो अनि गोरखाल्याण्ड बेचेकोमा राज्य सरकारले उनीहरूलाई पुरस्कृत गरेका हुन्।

गोरामुमो अनि जापले गोजमुमोलाई भ्रष्टाचारको जुन आरोप लगाइरहेका छन् त्यो पूर्णरूपले निराधार रहेको छ। जबकि उनीहरूले नै गोरखाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई नवान्नमा बिक्री गरेका छन् जो पहाड़को इतिहासमा सबैभन्दा ठूलो भ्रष्टाचार हो अनि यसप्रकारको भ्रष्टाचार पहाड़वासीले कहिल्यै देखेका थिएनन् अनि सोचेका पनि थिएनन्। उनीहरूलाई जनभावना अनि जातीय अस्मिता र स्वाभिमानको कुनै सरोकार छैन, यसैले गोरखाल्याण्डको मुद्दा बेचेर राज्य सरकारबाट पाएको पुरस्कारले उनीहरू गदगद भइरहेका छन्, त्यसैको पुरस्कारको रूपमा राज्य सरकारले उनीहरूलाई पद प्रदान गरेको हो।

गोरामुमो अनि जापले जनताको सपनामाथि घात गरेपछि अब गोरखाहरूको स्वाभिमान अनि जातीय अस्मिताको निम्ति निरन्तर संघर्ष गरिरहने एकमात्र इमान्दार दल गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चामात्रै रहेको प्रमाणित गरिदिएको छ। किनभने गोरखाल्याण्डको निम्ति प्राणको बाजीसमेत लगाउने अब गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङमात्रै रहेको प्रमाणित भयो।

श्री रोशन गिरी,
महासचिव,
गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा।

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‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim Decries CM Pawan Chamling's Statement - Press Release

11:15 AM

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Sikkim

23rd May 2016 Gorkha Apex Committee vehemently refutes the statement of Chief Minister of Sikkim where he have said that Gorkhas are the people who had come to serve in army and later settled in different parts of the country and the Sikkimese Nepali are not similar to Gorkha”.

Such unfortunate statement has immensely hurt the sentiments of the majority Gorkha people residing in Sikkim and all over India. He has completely forgotten the history, contribution and sacrifices done by Grokhas in nation building. By such statement he have tried to play with the future of 1.5 crores gorkhas in India and have reflected his anti-gorkha stand by this misdeed.
A person is known as ‘Nepali’ who has the citizenship of Nepal and the people residing in Nepal are also Gorkha as community who has similar custom, language and belief as that of the Gorkhas in India. The inability to understand such a simple fact by our leadership has forced the majority Sikkimese Gorkha to live their life in utter injustice and suppression and have always been termed as immigrants in their own land.

‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim

To end the misconception of Nationality and Community the Government of India had issued a notification on 23rd August 1988 explaining that the word “Nepali” means a citizen of Nepal and word “Gorkha” means a community. Further, in order to clarify the matter we had sought an answer from the Government of India asking whether the notification of 1988 applies to the people of Sikkim. The Home Ministry has replied that the notification applies to all the Gorkhas of Sikkim and India. The Gorkha Apex Committee have thus submitted the copy of notification, the copy of RTI reply and the copy of “Gorkha” certificate issued by the Government of Sikkim to all the District Collectors. District Collectors in turn have sought the clarification on this matter from the Government and at present the same is under consideration at the office of the Chairman, Law Comission, Government of Sikkim. Therefore, rather than showing attitude of a dictator the Chief Minister should take immediate decision on the matter to end the misconception looming in Sikkimese Society.

The person who promised the majority Sikkimese people to put an end to the stigma of “immigrants” to reach the power corridor in 1994 has now completely made them vulnerable and insecure. He have failed to stand for the majority community when the attempts were made to erase the history of majority people, he could not speak a single word when AOSS filed a case in the Supreme Court of India terming the majority as immigrants, he ignored when few organisations in West Bengal openly declared the Gorkhas as foreigners, he was again a mute spectator when a person filed a writ petition in the Rajya Sabha to declare the majority people of Sikkim as Immigrants. Further, Chief Minister of Sikkim becomes Gorkha automatically after crossing Rangpo and becomes Nepali after entering Sikkim. Therefore, Sikkim needs the answer on what basis is he calling himself as Gorkha outside Sikkim and Nepali inside Sikkim?

Moreover, Pawan Chamling had protested the demand of Nepali Seat reservation brought in by the opposition party in the State Assembly terming the demand of “Nepali” seat reservation as anti-national and now he is batting on term Nepali to gain his vested political interest.
However, the majority people of Sikkim have now understood the difference between Nationality and Community and will not be bewildered. The majority community will give a befitting reply to the leaders who are trying to malign their identity and existence.

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Gorkha Students, JNU condemn racist assaults on Students from Sikkim in ITFT Chandigarh

5:29 PM

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Sikkim

Condemn Brutal Racist assaults on Students from Sikkim for protesting against racist slurs

The students from Sikkim were brutally beaten with rods, bricks and hockey sticks by some students and hooligans from Himachal Pradesh in full public view. This is the second time that students from Sikkim studying at Institute of Technology and Future Trends (ITFT) had to face such brutal assaults. When students from Sikkim resisted continuous racial slurs passed against them, they were assaulted by students of Himachal Pradesh.

According to the representative of Sikkim Student’s Welfare Association of Chandigarh (SSWAC), when 30-40 Sikkimese students were returning back after college at around 5:10pm-5:20pm on 15th December, a huge number of miscreants stopped their bus at Khuda Ali Sher Bus stand and started pelting stones, bricks without any consideration for human lives.  The miscreants then used rods and sharp weapons to lash out on the students inflicting deep injuries. Almost all the students were severely injured and were later taken to hospital. Fearing for their lives several students were forced to flee the scene and are yet to be traced. The violent attack on Wednesday directed towards the students of Sikkim by students belonging to Himachal Pradesh (HP) could have been averted, provided the college authorities and the police could have taken prompt actions and dealt with the matter seriously during the first incident. It was confirmed by the police that racial remarks passed by the students from HP were the prime cause that led to the first clash on December 8 2015, a precursor to the current incident. The police have nabbed 10 students — Ajay Kumar, Sunny Thakur, Manu Thakur, Vishal, Anil, Rohit, Pardeep, Vijay, Sandeep and Gurjant — for rioting and wrongful restraint, and sent them to judicial custody. But more are yet to be arrested and are still at large.

Some  Pics from the incident

This is not a new event that has taken place against students from the Northeast. The students of Sikkim have been harassed in all possible ways and local thugs have made it a point to fuel the fire even more. Only a few days back a video came to lime light, circulated via social media which portrayed merciless beating of students of Sikkim at the hands of some students from HP with the help of local goons. Following the first incident the SSWAC representative had even made an appeal in written naming some of the perpetrator to the head of the ITFT institute. However the head who has to look after the well being of all students irrespective of any social denominations scornfully directed the complainant to take the fight outside the premise of the institute. No prompt actions were taken against the students as such which emboldened them to stage the recent attack. The security and safety of Sikkim students studying at such prestigious institute as ITFT is once again compromised and open for the taking.

We condemn this continues harassment and dehumanisation on basis of race in strongest possible words and appeal to all progressive democratic forces to raise their voice against such incidents. We extend our solidarity with students of Sikkim. We demand that government should immediately come out of denial mode and enact anti-racial law to punish the perpetrators of such hate crime without any delay. We believe only the unity among the all oppressed and uncompromising fight can eradicate this social affliction.

Gorkha Students, JNU

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Gorkha Students JNU against Starvation Deaths in Hills, Terai and Dooars

1:45 PM

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Press Release

What Lies Behind the Romance of Two Leaves and One Bud: Exploitation and Starvation Deaths!

What every Exquisite Cup of Tea Fails to Narrate is the plight and agony of those workers who have been heavily exploited and marginalized for generations. Beyond the romanticised notions of the beautiful hills and tea estates, the “the two leaves and a bud”, and the “cheerful faces of its people”, what remains Invisible is the Ugly Truth of Sub-Human Wages and Living Conditions, Denial of Basic Rights of Workers, 

More than a Thousand Starvation Deaths and Seething Anger.

Once again the Hills, Terai and Dooars of Gorkhaland are gripped in seething angst when it is forced to witness the misery of its own people in the form of hunger and starvation deaths.  It is outrageous to see the workers of a multi-million industry (tea plantation) dying a slow and painful death due to hunger and starvation. Most deaths are occurring in tea gardens that are owned by the largest corporate houses of Britain and India. Only recently, from April, 2015 till date, 30 workers died due to chronic hunger and starvation in this region. Every tea garden you would visit in free India echoes the cries of those labourers who have been bonded and forced to work at paltry wages. Among many such are the tea gardens of Darjeeling and Dooars whose scenic beauty and unparalleled flavour of tea have gained world reputation, whereas the state of the livelihoods of workers (especially tea-garden labourers) suffering perennial misery and insecurity remain unheard and ignored. The region has remained in grip of the predatory claws of imperialism and colonization which has obscenely exploited its resources, both natural and human in the worst forms. It would be erroneous to estimate the scale of this open loot by factoring in only monetary losses in the form of wages and incomes. In fact, the ramifications of the denial of the same has spilled out to cause starvation (in many cases amounting to death), malnourishment of children, denial of proper education, health care, sanitation and housing, erosion of self-confidence, forced migration for work, sex slavery and human trafficking in the most hazardous industries. Workers have witnessed rampant flouting of labour laws which has made a brazen mockery of their rights. According to law, each tea garden worker must receive, apart from their daily wages, provident fund payments, bonuses, pension (for retired workers), ration, umbrellas and aprons for working, firewood for cooking, housing, electricity, water, medical care and education facilities. The last time the workers got ration in Dhumchipara was in 2011. In Dhumchipara Tea estate in Dooars, a poor woman having two children has been reduced almost to a skeleton due to starvation. These children who have been becoming immobile due to chronic hunger and poor health require at least 750 ml of blood which their family cannot afford. Doctors say, “They may not live long”. Such cases of starvation induced illnesses and death in the tea-gardens of Darjeeling and Dooars are too numerous to quote here.  The irony of this situation is lies in the presence of stark poverty, chronic hunger and exploitation along-side the colossal profits these tea-gardens generate for the owners and the State.  According to an estimate by the Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce, tea industry in the hills generates an average of Rs. 450 crores revenue annually, equal to that of the tourism industry in the region. Absence of workers’ rights, non-payment of minimum wages and benefits is not specific to the tea-industry alone but is rather a persistent feature of work in the highly segment labour-market in India. However, it is pertinent to highlight here the starkly Regional Aspects of Discrimination that lies so strongly visible in the tea industry. The minimum wage paid to unskilled tea labour in Kerala is Rs.301 , in Assam it is Rs.158.54, in neighbouring Sikkim it is Rs. 200 while the same in Darjeeling comes to a meagre Rs.112 . Even the minimum wage paid in West Bengal for MGNREGA is around Rs. 130-151 and for agricultural laborer is Rs. 206 per day. The tea workers in North Bengal are thus made to work for wages which is far below the minimum in any form of work. It is very shrewd on the part of the owners to claim low wages are due to low price being earned from the sales of tea leaves produced from these gardens. If this be the case then why the wages of workers remains same in those tea gardens which fetches the highest price in the world tea market( for instance Rs. 1.1 lakhs per kg of tea is produced by Makaibari tea garden but wages remain still at Rs.112).

Gorkha Students JNU  poster against Starvation Deaths in Hills, Terai and Dooars

In the last decade more than 1400 tea workers have died due to acute malnutrition and starvation. As recent as January 2013, 95 workers of the locked out Dheklapara Tea Estate in Dooars sent a letter to the Chief Minister of West-Bengal seeking her “order” to kill themselves because they were suffering from acute starvation. The tea workers therefore are forced to languish till they die of hunger and malnutrition. Studies show that 70% of the people of the closed tea gardens suffer from chronic energy deficiency III stage. In the gardens affected by starvation death, it was found that workers and their families have Body Mass Index (BMI) identical to those populations affected by severe famine.
 As the tentacles of exploitative markets are always spreading in search of cheap labour; men, women and children in these regions are facing increasing vulnerability to Human Traffickers.  A report of a joint study by UNICEF, Save the Children and Burdwan University (in 2010) estimates 3,500 minors alone were trafficked from 12 gardens of Dooars only. It’s certain that the total number of people forced into sex trade will be much higher when we add up those from Darjeeling Hills and the Terai region.  The Supreme Court’s order dated 06.08.10 categorically directs the Government of India to carry out its statutory duty under Tea Act 1953. The Act mandates the Central Government to take over the management/control of the tea undertakings/units (under section 16 B/D/E) and take steps thereafter to ensure that the interests of the workers are well protected and dues are all paid in time. Sadly the constitutional duty to uphold the ruling of the highest court of the country has not been carried out neither by the Central Government nor by the State Government. Contrary to this the government has even started to privatise a handful of tea gardens which was operated under its supervision.

Beyond some symbolic gestures and tokenism, the larger political establishment has shown apathy and indifference of the highest order in this issue. Labour minister Malay Ghatak denied allegations that there had been deaths from malnutrition and lack of treatment in closed tea gardens and asserted that the government was trying its best to provide relief. If narratives of political establishment are to be believed then it seems that the workers have voluntarily starved themselves to death.

The historic victory (forcing management to increase wages and bonus) by tea estate workers mostly led by women in Munnar, Kerala has shown that only the uncompromising collective struggle can break the status quo and force the tea management/owner  to bow to their demands.

The students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University (DU), Hyderabad Central University (HCU), Vishva Bharati University (VBU) have expressed their solidarity with the movement of workers and expressed outrage over the horrendous exploitation of workers by big corporate houses. As the workers and trade unions are collectively protesting (from 27th November, 2015), we believe this solidarity statement will strengthen their resolve to fight for their right and also help us bridge the gap between students and workers movements. When Oppressors are always united and consolidated, it is a historic responsibility on our shoulders to unite and fight for a just and egalitarian society!

Gorkha Students, JNU

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Tribal status for Gorkhas of Sikkim and Darjeeling - Kiran Rijiju

9:41 AM

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tribal news

GAC thanks Central leadership on Gorkha tribal status demand

The Gorkha Apex Committee (GAC) has welcomed the statements of Union minister of State for Home Affairs Kiran Rijiju given to media assuring tribal status to Gorkha community within December.

Rijiju had reportedly told media in New Delhi that the tribal status demand of several communities in Northeast including Gorkha community are with the Prime Minister’s Office for consideration within December.

“The Union minister of State for Home Affairs in his statement has clearly said that the tribal status is not just for the Gorkhas of Sikkim and Darjeeling but for the entire Gorkha community residing across India. From his statement it is clear that the majority people of Sikkim are Gorkhas,” said GAC chief convener Passang Sherpa in a press conference today here at Press Club of Sikkim.

Gorkha Apex Committee (GAC) press release page 1

Gorkha Apex Committee (GAC) press release page 2

Sherpa said the continuous representations made by the GAC on tribal status demand have been fruitful.

“We extend our gratitude to the Central leadership for their fore sightedness which has helped clarify the looming misconception in the State of Sikkim as Gorkhas have been a misnomer as Nepali here. Such assurance of tribal status to Gorkha community has provided us an opportunity to correct our historical mistake regarding community and citizenship. The GAC shall reach out to every nook and corner to sensitize the common people of Sikkim on the same. We hope that the leaders of Sikkim will refrain themselves from misleading the people of Sikkim from now on,” said the GAC members.

Source - nelive.in

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'From the Mountain to the Ocean- Run with Roshni’ book released in Guwahati and Gangtok

3:32 PM

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Run with Roshni

Nanda Kirati Dewan

Empowering the Gorkhas and Enlightening others about the Gorkhas  is the mission of ‘Run with Roshni . ‘From the Mountain to the Ocean-Run with Roshni’ released in Guwahati and Gangtok.

Guwahati 15th  Oct 2015:  The book ‘From the Mountain to the Ocean-Run with Roshni’was released on Saturday at Gauhati Press Club, Guwahati by Anshu Jamsenpa, first mother in the world and only Indian woman who scaled the Mount Everest thrice and Ms. Pomi Baruah, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister, Govt. of Assam in a book release and interactive session organized by Gorkha Youth of Guwahati (GYG) and Mantraa Media & Events and powered by North East Today – NE India’s leading news magazine. Avas Foundation and Run with Roshni Founadtion supported the initiative and organizations viz All Assam Gorkha Students Union; Guwahati City Committee, All Manipur Gorkha Students’ Union (AMGSU), Guwahati City Unit, students of various colleges of Guwahati city including the Cotton College and Guwahati University and others accorded her welcome and felicitations. Dr. Saumen Bharatiya, Director of Vicky Publishers and President of Byatikram MASDO , Meghraj Timsina, Chairman of Mantraa Group of Companies , Mr. Raja Publisher and Editor of Raijor Batori and Bidhan Dasgupta publisher of Shailo Prabaho, Convenor of GYG Resham Parajuli, President of Guwahati City AAGSU Santosh Powdel, Raj Newar publicity secretary of AAGSU too were present as guests.  Members of North East Kirat Rai Sanskritik Sansthan, Greater Guwahati Gorkhali Mahila Samity, Gauhati Press Club, various Journalists associations and youths across the North Eastern states were present in the book release function.

Anshu Jamsenpa (L) Mountaineer who climed Mount Everest thrice and Pomi Baruah (R) OSD to CM, Govt. of Assam relaesing Roshni rai's book at Gauhati Press Club on saturday.

Roshni Rai, Indian Gorkha International Ultra Marathon Runner and founder of Run with Roshni which is very extensive and ambitious venture, spreading awareness about “Indian Gorkhas” and its age old identity crisis said that the book ‘From the Mountain to the Ocean-Run with Roshni’ is story of a patriot community who not only laid down lives for the nation but contributed in the nation building process demanding their Indian identity in India and statehood since a century now.

An enthusiast Gorkha actvist Kamal Pradhan recieves autographed book from the author Roshni Rai.

On Sunday Roshni Rai also addressed the students of Gauhati University at an interactive session in the Romailo-Bhetghat organized by Greater Guwahati Gorkhali Students Family at Phanidhar Dutta Hall at GU Administrative Campus on Sunday. The motivational speaker was invited as Special Guest of Honour for an interactive session and released the ‘LOHIT PUTRA’ – the mouthpiece of GGGSF. The Chief of the Gorkha Development Council (GDC), Govt. of Assam Shri. Lok Nath Upadhyay, Vice President of Assam Gorkha Sammelan Shri. Krishna Bhujel, Dr. Khagen Sharma, Associate Professor Deptt. Of MIL, Gauhati University, Prof Hem Chandra Gautam and others called on Roshni Rai while in Guwahati and assured to support  Run with Roshni Foundation

Members of Cotton College Gorkha Students Union felicitated Roshni Rai .

Addressing thousands of students at Guwahati University Roshni said, ‘Each of us must have a mission of Encouraging the Gorkhas and enlightening the non-Gorkhas’ as you all will be influential and important individual of resource of the community tomorrow. Recalling an incident about racial discrimination She said,’Like you all in 2004 I  had found new life in Mumbai while I went to study LLM in Mumbai University , yet I felt a tug in my heart as I yearned to feel the mountain air and watch the mist move seductively through the undulating hills of Pedong, Kalimpong sub division of Gorkha dominated Darjeeling district of proposed Gorkhaland. I was rudely shaken from my reverie when I heard taunts from the local boys “Oiy...Chinky...Minky...” “ Oiy.....Chicken Chili” “ Oiy...Oiy..Kancheee..” “Oieeee Nepali..” In a fit of rage I strode over to the group and said “I am from Darjeeling, India and yes proud to be a Gorkhali, and an Indian”

Roshni rai is accorded felicitation with a traditional Assamese headgear Jhapi and Phoolam Gamoocha- a scraf by Officer on Special Duty to CM Govt. of Assam Pomi Baruah in Guwahati.

Replying to a question on Gorkhas of Assam and Gorkhaland an advocate by profession Roshni Rai said ‘Darjeeling is the heart of the Gorkhas but Assam is the face of Gorkhas of the Nation and Gorkhaland is not about Darjeeling alone, it is the aspiration of 10.5 millions Gorkhas of this country out of which more than 30 lakhs I am told are in Assam.’ The Gorkha Gaurav Awardee instituted by Gorkhaland Terrritorial Administration added that her mission is to empowering the  Gorkhas and enlightening others about the Gorkhas .

Gorkha Youth of Guwahati with Roshni Rai and Anshu Jamsenpa after the interaction session and book release .

I have chosen Sports that is Marathon as medium to air my voice towards racial discrimination which common for all Mongolian orientation faces from the North East in mainland India and I feel by and large I have been quite successful. I am delighted to be here in this beautiful and holy city of Guwahati and thank the organizers Gorkha Youth of Guwahati and Avas  Foundation for their support and Mantraa Group of Companies for arranging my book release function and sponsors for their wholesome support. I must acknowledge team Mantraa Media & Events headed by Nanda Kirati Dewan for his constant support in my initiatives making this a happen in  Guwahati.

Anshu Jamsenpa, the only Indian woman mountaineer who climbed the Mt. Everest thrice lauded Roshni’s efforts in documenting her thoughts and vision striving hard to achieve her mission. Pomi Barauh OSD to CM, Govt. of Assam appreciated the mission undertaken under Run with Roshni Foundation to train Indian underprivileged youths for Olympic Marathon medals. She assured Roshini of all possible support at her capacities to support the cause undertaken. Dr. Bharatiya the director of Vicky Publishers proposed to translate the book in Bengali and publish it from Assam for Bengali readers across the country so they also understand the quest of Indian Gorkhas for statehood and that Gorkhaland is not separation from Bengal but identity aspiration Gorkha people in India.
In Gangtok the book was released by P.J.Lama,National Table Tennis Player ,Sikkim State Veteran T.T. Association at Rachna Books. and the author herself at Rachna Books followed by an interaction.

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