Indian Gorkhas: S. S. Ahluwalia

सिलगढी । लोकसभा चुनाउको ठीक एक वर्षअघि विनय तामाङ केयरटेकर रहेको गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन (जीटीए)- लाई केन्द्र सरकारले प्रायः १३५ करोड़ रुपियाँको आर्थिक गुच्छ दिइरहेको कुरा दिल्लीबाट पत्राचार गरेर लालकोठी (जीटीए सदर कार्यालय)-लाई सूचित गरिएको छ।

केन्द्रको भाजपा सरकार, जसले यतिका दिनसम्म गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा प्रमुख विमल गुरुङको पक्षमा वकालती गर्दै आइरहेको थियो, -ले अचानक पहाड़को विकासको निम्ति १३४ करोड़ ९९ लाख रुपियाँको आर्थिक गुच्छ विनय तामाङ केयरटेकर रहेको जीटीएलाई दिइन लागेकोले राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूले थरीथरीका अड्कलबाजीहरू लगाउन थालेका छन्। विनय तामाङको नेतृत्वमा रहेको गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले केही दिनअघि मात्र भाजपाको नेतृत्वमा रहेको नेशनल डेमोक्रेटिक फ्रण्ट (एनडीए) छोडेको घोषणा गरेको थियो।

तर त्यसको लगत्तैपछि विमल गुरुङले मोर्चा अहिले पनि एनडीएको सहयोगी दल रहेको घोषणा गरे । प्रेस विज्ञप्ति जारी गरेर अनि अडियो र भिडियो क्लिप मार्फत पहाडका बासिन्दाहरूलाई सन्देश र शुभकामना दिनु बाहेक विमल गुरुङ अहिले पहाड़मा सार्वजनिक रूपले बाहिर निस्किन सकेका छैनन्। राज्य सरकारले यूएपीए लगायत आईपीसीका विविध धारामा मामिलाहरू दर्ता गरेकोले विमल गुरुङ सार्वजनिक हुनसाथै पक्रा पर्ने प्रबल सम्भावना छ।

यसैले तिनी अहिले भूमिगत रूपमा नै छन्। भूमिगत रहेर तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठनको पक्षमा वकालती गरिरहेको भए पनि पहाड़का मानिसहरूसँग तिनको सोझै अन्तरक्रिया हुन सकेको छैन। न ता तिनले जनसभा मार्फत पहाड़का मानिसहरूलाई सम्बोधन नै गर्न सकेका छन्। यस्तो स्थितिमा पहाड़का मानिसहरूको विमल गुरुङप्रतिको आस्था र विश्वासमा ह्रास आउन सक्ने सम्भावना राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको एउटा समूह व्यक्त गर्छन्।

अर्कोतिर राज्यको तृणमूल कंग्रेस सरकारले जीटीएका केयरटेकर बनाएका विनय तामाङले जीटीएका विभिन्न ठाउँको भ्रमण गर्दै छन्। भ्रमण मात्र नगरेर तिनले जीटीएका केयरटेकर नै भएर पहाड़मा शिलान्यासलगायत विकासका केही कार्यहरू शुरू गरेका छन्। यसै विकास कार्यहरू मार्फत विनय तामाङ पहाड़मा आफ्नो जनाधार बढाउन प्रयासरत छन्। विकास बाँडेर विनय तामाङले विमल गुरुङपन्थी मोर्चा नेता, कार्यकर्ता र समर्थकहरूको मन जित्ने प्रयास गरिरहेका छन्।

पहाड़का बहुसंख्यक जनता अहिले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठनको पक्षमा रहेको राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको एउटा समूहको दावी छ। तर गोर्खाल्याण्डका पक्षधर हुँदा हुँदै पनि पहाड़का केही नेता र जनता डरले, रहरले र करले विनय तामाङ नेतृत्वाधीन मोर्चालाई समर्थन गर्न बाध्य भइरहेका छन्। पहाड़को वर्तमान यस परिस्थितिबारे अगवत रहेको केन्द्रको भाजपा सरकारले एकातिर विमल | गुरुङलाई मर्न दिन्न भनेर अनि अर्कोतिर जीटीएलाई आर्थिक गुच्छ दिएर पहाड़का जनता र विनय तामाङको मन जित्ने प्रयास गरेको हुनसक्ने राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको अर्को एउटा समूह बताउँछन्।

स्रोत : हाम्रो प्रजाशक्ति

Has BJP fallen out of favour with Gorkhas in Darjeeling?

2:52 PM

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Writes: Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar [for LiveMint]

After enjoying its support for almost a decade, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have fallen out of favour with the Gorkha community in West Bengal’s Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency.

Following the visit of S.S. Ahluwalia, the BJP’s current member of Parliament (MP_ from Darjeeling, two key Gorkha parties said over the weekend that the party had failed the Gorkha community.

Ahluwalia, who is visiting his constituency for the first time since last year’s unrest over the demand for Gorkhaland, said on Saturday that he would protect fugitive Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung from “extra-judicial” persecution, pledging support for him and his movement. But the statement drew a sharp reaction from the GJM faction opposed to Gurung.

Binoy Tamang, the rebel GJM leader who is now in control of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, said it was “surprising” that Ahluwalia had committed to protect Gurung, a fugitive leader facing sedition charges, whereas he did nothing to fulfil the “long pending demands” of the community.

The BJP has “fooled” the Gorkhas twice to get elected to the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling—in 2009 and 2014—but has given nothing in return, Tamang said, ruling out any possibility of allying with the BJP in the next general election.

Echoing him, Niraj Zimba, spokesperson for Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), said that the BJP had not fulfilled its promises to the community, but didn’t immediately rule out the possibility of backing it going forward.

Tamang has worked for Ahluwalia ahead of the 2014 general election, Zimba said, adding that his stand has now changed because he is himself fighting for survival. Asked about future alliance, Zimba said the GNLF will back any national party that supports its demand for greater autonomy under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Since 1957, when the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency was created, the Gorkhas have almost always voted for a national party. For three consecutive terms till 2004, they even voted for the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In 2004, they elected a Congress candidate before allying with the BJP in the past two general elections.

Also, until now, the community has almost always been led by one dominant local party. But that is changing: amid shifting sands, the GNLF is staging a comeback following the division within the GJM. The GJM had a complete stranglehold on Darjeeling’s politics for a decade until the violent agitation last year split the party between Gurung and Tamang.

Following the 104-day strike, a lot of Gorkhas who had started to lean towards the Trinamool Congress joined GNLF, said key district officials, who asked not to be named.

A large number of GJM supporters too have quietly shifted allegiance to the GNLF, giving up on both Tamang and Gurung, they added.

“It is not immediately clear how the community will vote in the next general election, but there is no doubt that the BJP has to deliver something substantive during the current term to earn the trust of this constituency,” one of the officials said.

[Via: Live Mint, originally posted at: http://bit.ly/2FZdaXS]

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

11:45 AM

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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"

Time for Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the BJP to deliver Gorkhaland - JAP

9:45 AM

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Kalimpong, July 6: The youth wing of the Jan Andolan Party today said time had come for both the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the BJP to deliver Gorkhaland to the people of the hills with Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia joining the Union cabinet.

Amir Basnet, the secretary of the Jan Yuva Ekai, said the Morcha had helped the BJP win the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat both in 2009 and 2014 on the promise of getting a separate state for the Gorkhas.

Jan Andolan Party

Via Telegraph

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

7:40 PM

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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.

"GTA cannot be Dissolved" says Darjeeling MP S.S. Alhuwahila

9:20 AM

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MP to Voice Gorkhaland. Not to Defend GTA.

Writes Neeraj Zimba Tamang

The historic mandate bestowed by the people of Darjeeling Hills to Shri. S.S. Alhuwahila, MP BJP, is only for a Single Point Agenda of Gorkhaland. He is expected to deliver the wishes of his electorate, to be the advocate of the Gorkhaland cause and be its loudest VOICE in the highest political forum - the Indian Parliament.

So far, apart from speaking on a few developmental related issues in Parliament and fixing few courtesy appointments in the PMO and MHA for Bimal & Co. he has not been able to utter in the Indian Parliament, even a word "Gorkhaland" to the utter dismay and exasperation of the Indian Gorkhas who gave him such a thumping victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Now, our MP is advocating the cause and legitimacy of GTA over Gorkhaland and making loose statements like, "GTA cannot be Dissolved". This are words put to his mouth by Bimal & Co who all know very well that GTA is a unconstitutional body and be scrapped anytime. The case challanging the constitutional validity of GTA will come up for hearing soon in the Kolkata High Court under the directives of the Supreme Court. There is NO proviso in the GTA Agreement which says that GTA cannot be dissolved without the consent of the Center Government as GTA is a State Subject and the State Government can scrap it anytime.

"GTA cannot be Dissolved" says Darjeeling MP S.S. Alhuwahila

Why is GJM so serious and scared about the dissolution of GTA.? Wasn't it was Bimal Gurung who once said Bye Bye to GTA and resigned? After signing the GTA Agreement the GJM had told the public that it was just a temporary set up and their ultimate goal is Gorkhland and that it was just on an experimental basis they had consented to GTA while catogorically accepting the region to be an "integral part of the State of West Bengal" and rhetoricially "not dropping their demand of Gorkhaland". Then why is it so vehemently protecting and propagating the validity and legitimacy of GTA?

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia stands against Discrimination against Nepali Language

8:32 AM

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Darjeeling Once again we are most thankful to Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia who has stepped up to protect the Nepali language. Following report on social media (The Darjeeling Chronicle) MP wrote to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu reminding him that not putting up signs in Nepali language is a violation of the Language Policy of India as well as a discrimination against the Gorkha community.

Here is the full text of the letter that our MP wrote

To
Shri. Suresh Prabhu
Minister of Railway
Government of India

Re: Discrimination Against Nepali Language and the people of Darjeeling

Suresh ji
I want to draw your attention to the fact that the signboards that Indian Railways has put up in my Constituency – Darjeeling – has continued to violate the Language Policy of India since 2011.

The standard official language policy of the Government of India clearly specifies that, importance to be given to official State Language (only those which are also included in the VIIIth Schedule of Constitution)/regional/national languages, signboards of Railway stations in regional language, use of language on Railway Information Boards, naming of Railway stations in regional languages etc.”

Nepali was recognised initially in 1961 as an official language of West Bengal, and on 22/8/1992 as one of the Official Languages of India under the VIIIth Schedule of Indian Constitution as one of the 22 National Languages of India. Nepali is also the 1st official language for Darjeeling and Dooars region in West Bengal. DHR is still discriminated against and not featured in any of the sign boards put up by Indian Railways in Darjeeling. Not putting Nepali in these sign boards is not only a violation of the language policy of India, but also is disrespectful towards the Nepali language and also the Gorkhali community of my constituency. What is more hurtful to my constituents is the fact that Bengali which 99% of the population do not speak or read, is used as the 1st language.

On behalf of my constituents, I request you to kindly instruct the local administrative unit of Indian Railways to remove the signs that do not feature Nepali language and to put up signs in Nepali which is a Recognised regional language in Darjeeling and Dooars as well as one of the National Languages of India.

I look forward to your prompt action.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia
MP, Darjeeling.

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Writes to Railway Minister - Demands Signs to be Written in NEPALI

Rule 3A of the Bengal Official Language Act, 1961 also specifically states
3A. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3, with effect from such date-1 as the Slate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, the Nepali language may, in addition to the Bengali language be used for such— (a) rules, regulations and by-laws made by the State Government under the Constitution of India or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal, and (b) notifications or orders issued by the Slate Government under the Constitution of lndia or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal, as apply to the three hill subdivisions of the district of Darjeeling, namely, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong:

Provided that different dates may be appointed in respect of different matters referred to in clause (a) or (b). .

Explanation.—For the purposes of section 3 and this section the words "law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal" shall include any law made before or after the commencement of the Constitution of India by any legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India having power to make such a law.

Given this, we request the West Bengal government and all other administrative bodies to put up all the signs and instructions in NEPALI at the top.

Once again, we are grateful to our MP for stepping up to protect the dignity of Nepali language and Nepali speaking people... It is sad that none of our "intellectuals" and "sahityakkars" have so far bothered to highlight this issue.

Via The Darjeeling Chronicle

Nepali‬ Language Included in State Bank of India Recruitment Process

7:09 PM

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Thanks to the Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia efforts, Nepali and other minority languages of West Bengal - Hindi, Urdu, Santhali, Oriya and Punjabi have been included as an optional regional languages. The State bank has also extended the last day of application to the 28th of April so that people from our region get to fill out the forms.

This is also one of the reasons why we should not remain a part of West Bengal, for the Central government had no problem in paying heed to our request and respecting it, while West Bengal government is yet to include Nepali in WBCS.

Revised State Bank of India Recruitment

[Please note that the notification just came out, and online application portal is being updated to reflect the same... for now you can apply with Bengali and change the language option once the SBI updates their portal]
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After reports of Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment on social media, Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Writes to Finance Minister

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has taken strong note of non-inclusion of Nepali language option in State Bank of India recruitment and has written to the Finance Minister as well as the Chairperson of SBI demanding inclusion of Nepali language option, and extending the application deadline to allow for youths from Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to complete the application formalities.

MP Shri. Ahluwalia has also demanded that Nepali being a national language of India, should be offered as an optional language in all states of NE and rest of India where a large number of ethnically Nepali people reside.

Here is the text of his letter to the Finance Minister.

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley
Hon’ble Finance Minister
Government of India

Re: Exclusion of Nepali speaking candidates from SBI Recruitment

Dear Arun ji,
I want to draw your attention to the plight of the Gorkhali community in India, whose mother tongue is Nepali. Recently the SBI through the advertisement number CRPD/CR/2016-17/01 dated April 3, 2016 has sought applications for the post of Junior Associates (customer support and sales) for which there are close to 15000 vacancies that have opened up all over India, out of which around 2000 have opened up in the state of West Bengal.

When youths from my constituency logged online to apply for the post, they were taken aback to realize that the only linguistic option that they could chose for official language in the state of West Bengal was Bengali. Where as in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region majority of the people learn and speak Nepali and not Bengali.

Perhaps the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the 22 National Languages of India that have been duly recognized as such, under the VIIIth Scheduled of our Constitution since 1992. It also seems that the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the Official Languages of West Bengal along with Bengali and has been so since 1961.

In not allowing aspirants from Bengal to chose Nepali or any other official state languages – Hindi, Urdu etc, the State Bank of India has effectively disqualified those whose mother tongue is not Bengali, even before the recruitment process has begun.

I strongly feel that this is against the constitution guaranteed right of every national language being treated as equal, and also this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of my constituents to be able to chose their mother tongue, which is a recognized national language of India, as a linguistic option. I also feel that in not allowing the Gorkha aspirants to chose Nepali as a language option anywhere in India, the State Bank has turned them into a 2nd class citizen, whose language – even though recognized by our Constitution as one of the national languages – is actually not considered worthy of landing a job with a Government of India entity.

It is because of such instances of repeated discrimination, even by a Central government enterprise, the Gorkhas have been agitating for decades, asking for autonomy for themselves towards ensuring that they will not be discriminated against, on the basis of their language, ethnicity, or culture.

I therefore request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India and all other Central government entities to ensure that Nepali language and other languages that are actually recognized as Official Language of our state should be made optional during the application process in West Bengal. In addition, Nepali should also be made optional in all the North Eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi where Nepali speaking people reside in a large number.

Also, since this application process started from 5th of April, 2016 and is only going to last till the 25th of April, all the applicants from my constituency have not been able to fill up their forms so far, due to the linguistic barrier.

Given this, I request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India to extend the date by when the application can be filled in to 15th of May 2016, so that all those youths from my constituency who have been deprived from applying for these said posts are able to do so.

I look forward to a positive response from you at the earliest.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia
MP, Darjeeling

Included Nepali

Via TheDC

जापद्वारा आहलुवालीयाको बयानको खण्डन -- सांसदले जनतालाई ढाँट्ने कार्य गर्दैछ – अनमोल प्रसाद

1:45 PM

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कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 15 अप्रेल। जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले सार्बजनिक गरेको छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील केवल चुनावी जनसभामा जनतालाई देखाउनका निम्ति मात्र हो भनि सांसद एस.एस आहलुवालीयाले लगाएको आरोपलाई जापले खण्डन गरेको छ। जाप सर्वोच्च नीति निर्धारण समितिका सदस्य अनमोल प्रसादले एक पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गरेर आहलुवालीयको बयानलाई खण्डन गरेका छन्।

‘सांसद एस.एस आहलुवालीयाले जापले सार्बजनिक गरेको बील केवल जनतालाई देखाउनका निम्ति मात्र हो भनेछन्। उनले यसक्रममा उक्त बीलले जापले आफूलाई पठाउँछ भनेर ईमेलमा पर्खिरहेको तर कुनै पनि ईमेल आएन भनेका छन्। यो उनले जनतालाई ढाटेका हुन्। हामीले उनलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील ईमेलद्वारा पठाइसकेका छौँ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले पत्रकारहरूलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील ईमेलद्वारा सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई पठाएको प्रतिलिपी देखाउँदै ‘सांसदले ईमेल सायद हेरेनन् होला यसकारण उनले ईमेल प्राप्त भएन भनि भनेका हुन्’ भने। यसका साथै उनले उक्त गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील सांसद आहलुवालीया अनि गोजमुमो अध्यक्ष विमल गुरुङलाई कोरियरद्वारा पठाएको जानकारी गराए।

अनमोल प्रसाद

‘हामीले आज गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई दिनका निम्ति समय मागेका थियौँ तर उनले हामीलाई भेट्ने समय दिएनन। यसकारण हामीले उक्त बील सांसद आहलुवालीया अनि विमल गुरुङलाई कोरियरद्वारा पठाएका छौँ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले कुनै पनि बील राज्यको विधानसभामा पठाउनुपर्छ भनि आहलुवालीयाले दिएको भाषणप्रति कटाक्ष गर्दै कुनै पनि राज्य गठनको बीललाई राज्यको बिधानसभामा पठाउनुपर्ने आवश्यक्ता छैन भन्ने भारतीय संविधानको धारा 3 मा उल्लेख रहेको बताए।

‘बील पारित गर्नका निम्ति विधानसभामा पठाइन्दैन। पहिला यो लोकसभामा पारित गरिन्छ अनि मात्र राज्यको मनतव्य लिन बिधानसभामा पठाउने कार्य हुन्छ। यदि त्यसमा राज्यको विधानसभाले स्वीकार नगरेको खण्डमा पनि त्यसलाई लोकसभाले राज्यको मंतव्य नमानेर पारित गर्न सक्नेछ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले यसबारे पहिला लोकसभामा यसबारे कार्य अघि बढाउने कार्यको थालनी गर्नुपर्ने सुझाव उल्टै सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई दिएका छन्।

Gorkhaland bill should first passed by Mamata Banerjee - S.S. Ahluwalia

8:37 AM

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KALIMPONG 15 Apr 2016 Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia today said the bill for Gorkhaland should be first passed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet and send it to Delhi where the Centre would have no problems in passing it.

Addressing a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha election rally in Kalimpong’s motor stand area, the MP was responding to the suggestion made by the Jan Andolan Party from the same spot a few days ago that the GJM should place such a bill in Parliament.

GJM president Bimal Gurung too spoke on the same lines although the better part of his speech was directed at denouncing the JAP and the chief minister. He said this could probably be the last time that the Darjeeling hills will be sending MLAs to the Bengal Assembly because the next time would be for a state of Gorkhaland.

Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia

“Earlier, people used to ask me how a state could be formed by just three sub-divisions. As Mamata is supposedly creating a new district of Kalimpong, there will therefore, be two districts under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. But why should she create only two districts?” wondered Gurung, who is also the chief executive of the GTA.

Meanwhile, Ahluwalia said, “More districts should be formed out of Kurseong, Gorubathan, Salbari and so on. No one is against this as more districts should be formed for the sake of good governance. It is for good governance that Uttarakhand was created out of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand from Bihar. Similarly from Madhya Pradesh the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out. If small states are created, there will be good governance. If Mamata wants to do likewise by making new districts, she is welcome. It was the Vidhan Sabha that endorsed the creation of the GTA now Harka Bahadur Chhetri wants a bill for statehood and she should pass it. If she does so and forwards it to Delhi, the Centre will also pass it. Delhi will have no problem in passing such a bill.”

Picking up the thread, Gurung said, “The JAP president has a good relationship with the Bengal chief minister, so why does he not demand the bill be passed by the state? We are doing what is needed to be done at the Centre.” And growing in confidence by the sight of the huge gathering, the GJM president further said, “We will win 110 per cent and once victorious, we will address local issues such as of drinking water. We should all stop useless discussions as that will not benefit anyone and is a waste of time. The doors of the GTA are open and any one can come to us and table their problems.”

Turning back to the statehood issue, Gurung said the next elections could see people voting to send legislators to a Gorkhaland state assembly. “The words ‘Territorial’ and ‘Administration’ will be soon gone from the GTA and only the word Gorkhaland remain. Mamata insists Bengal will not be divided, but we are not asking for the division of Bengal; we are only asking for our rights,” he asserted.

Reacting to the statements made by Ahluwalia and Gurung, JAP Bureau member Anmole Prasad said, “It is not mandatory for the state to pass a bill in approval of the creation of a new state as such a bill is rather passed by the Lok Sabha and then sent to the state government for its views. All we are asking is that the process should be started.” He also alleged that most of the people who had come for the GJM public meeting today were not from Kalimpong.

(EOIC)

SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment

1:45 PM

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Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment - Writes to Finance Minister

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has taken strong note of non-inclusion of Nepali language option in State Bank of India recruitment and has written to the Finance Minister as well as the Chairperson of SBI demanding inclusion of Nepali language option, and extending the application deadline to allow for youths from Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to complete the application formalities.

MP Shri. Ahluwalia has also demanded that Nepali being a national language of India, should be offered as an optional language in all states of NE and rest of India where a large number of ethnically Nepali people reside.

Here is the text of his letter to the Finance Minister.

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley
Hon’ble Finance Minister
Government of India

Re: Exclusion of Nepali speaking candidates from SBI Recruitment

Dear Arun ji,
I want to draw your attention to the plight of the Gorkhali community in India, whose mother tongue is Nepali. Recently the SBI through the advertisement number CRPD/CR/2016-17/01 dated April 3, 2016 has sought applications for the post of Junior Associates (customer support and sales) for which there are close to 15000 vacancies that have opened up all over India, out of which around 2000 have opened up in the state of West Bengal.

When youths from my constituency logged online to apply for the post, they were taken aback to realize that the only linguistic option that they could chose for official language in the state of West Bengal was Bengali. Where as in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region majority of the people learn and speak Nepali and not Bengali.

Perhaps the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the 22 National Languages of India that have been duly recognized as such, under the VIIIth Scheduled of our Constitution since 1992. It also seems that the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the Official Languages of West Bengal along with Bengali and has been so since 1961.

In not allowing aspirants from Bengal to chose Nepali or any other official state languages – Hindi, Urdu etc, the State Bank of India has effectively disqualified those whose mother tongue is not Bengali, even before the recruitment process has begun.

I strongly feel that this is against the constitution guaranteed right of every national language being treated as equal, and also this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of my constituents to be able to chose their mother tongue, which is a recognized national language of India, as a linguistic option. I also feel that in not allowing the Gorkha aspirants to chose Nepali as a language option anywhere in India, the State Bank has turned them into a 2nd class citizen, whose language – even though recognized by our Constitution as one of the national languages – is actually not considered worthy of landing a job with a Government of India entity.

It is because of such instances of repeated discrimination, even by a Central government enterprise, the Gorkhas have been agitating for decades, asking for autonomy for themselves towards ensuring that they will not be discriminated against, on the basis of their language, ethnicity, or culture.

I therefore request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India and all other Central government entities to ensure that Nepali language and other languages that are actually recognized as Official Language of our state should be made optional during the application process in West Bengal. In addition, Nepali should also be made optional in all the North Eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi where Nepali speaking people reside in a large number.

Also, since this application process started from 5th of April, 2016 and is only going to last till the 25th of April, all the applicants from my constituency have not been able to fill up their forms so far, due to the linguistic barrier.

Given this, I request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India to extend the date by when the application can be filled in to 15th of May 2016, so that all those youths from my constituency who have been deprived from applying for these said posts are able to do so.

I look forward to a positive response from you at the earliest.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia
MP, Darjeeling

Via TheDC

Bengal not willing to attend GTA Tripartite Meeting - Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia

9:31 AM

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Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia today alleged that the state government did not want to attend a tripartite meeting on the GTA before the Assembly elections because it had failed to keep the promises in the accord for the hill autonomous body.

He added that the state wanted to stay away from such talks as it might have to face "uncomfortable questions".

"The state is not willing to attend any tripartite meeting on the GTA ahead of the Assembly polls. The only reason behind such reluctance is that it has failed to fulfil the promises made while signing the GTA agreement on July 18, 2011," the BJP MP said at a news conference in Matigara, on the outskirts of Siliguri, today.

Ahluwalia's comment comes at a time a tripartite meet, which was scheduled in New Delhi for tomorrow, has been postponed. The last round of talks was held on January 29, 2015, and since then, this is the third time that the tripartite is being deferred.

Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia

According to Ahluwalia, there are at least 30 commitments in the GTA agreement that have not been addressed by the state. "Nothing has been done by the state in the past four years. Now that the Assembly polls are round the corner, Trinamul, which is running the state government, is apprehensive that if these issues are raised during a tripartite meeting, the state representatives would have to face uncomfortable questions from the central government and those in the GTA," he said.

"It might pose a fresh problem for Trinamul, as leaders of the party often blow trumpets saying how much the state cares about the Darjeeling hills. To avert such a situation, the state is shying away from attending tripartite talks," he added.

Ahluwalia said: "There were some important promises , like establishing super-specialty hospitals in all hill subdivisions, a sainik school, a central university and development of the national highway. Although four years have passed since the agreement was signed, nothing has been done except creating the GTA. The state, instead of transferring the projects under central schemes to the GTA, is retaining them."

Yesterday, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president and the chief executive of the GTA, Bimal Gurung, had said they would highlight the "autocratic attitude" of the state at the proposed tripartite meet.

Today, Ahluwalia echoed him. "The state is not at all keen to develop the Darjeeling hills and is depriving the residents," he said.

Source: Telegraph

Tea Board of India to take 7 sick gardens from Duncan-Goenka - Gurung Thanks Nirmala Sitharaman and SS Ahluwalia

9:50 AM

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Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Bimal Gurung has applauded the efforts of Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia which has resulted in the Central government ordering the Tea Board of India to take over the 7 sick gardens from Duncan-Goenka conglomerate.

In an unprecedented and historic move the Central Government has asked the Tea Board to take over the management of the seven tea gardens owned by Duncan Industries in view of their deteriorating conditions.

This is the 1st time in the history of tea gardens that the Central government has directly interfered and used the rarely provisions of Chapter III-A of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953) - which allows the Central government to take over if "tea gardens are being managed in a manner "highly detrimental" to the tea industry and to public interest."

Tea Board of India to take 7 sick gardens from Duncan-Goenka

Minister Sitharaman attending workers meet with Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwali and GJM
Chief Bimal Gurung in Dooars on January, 2016

Mr. Gurung has stated that, "the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has for the past two years kept up the pressure on the Central Government to take decisive action to protect the rights of the workers, and we are thankful to Ms. Nirmala Sitharam and Mr. SS Ahluwalia who have understood the need for protecting the rights of the workers."

"The decision to take over a sick garden by the Central government has wide repercussions, as it sends a loud and clear message to the tea garden owners that you cannot take the workers and their welfare for granted anymore... every tea garden owner will now be compelled to think and rethink before deciding to abandon a garden" said a local activist working for tea garden worker's rights who is associated with Darjeeling and Dooars Tea Workers Relief Organization - DAWN

While applauding the Central Government, Mr. Bimal Gurung has decried the "double speak" on the part of the Trinmool Congress. In particular, Mr. Gurung highlighted the fact that three tea gardens owned and operated by Alchemist Group - Dhooteria, Miling and Peshok which belongs to Trinmool Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh has not paid its workers or provided ration for the past 8 months, and has demanded action against Alchemist group as well as KD Singh.

In his statement, Mr. Gurung has said, "while the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has giving assurances to tea garden workers on numerous occasions, she hasn't done one single thing that would benefit them... if she is serious about providing justice to the tea garden workers , she should take approrpiate action against her own Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh and ask him to resign on the basis on non-payment of wages to the workers in our hills.... Mr. KD Singh owes the hill workers around Rs 5.54 Crores"

Mr. Gurung has also highlighted the plight of workers in Panighatta and has demanded immediate action from both the state and the Central government to resolve the crisis that workers are facing

Via TheDC

Bimal Gurung to Pause ‪‎Gorkhaland‬ padayatra to visit Delhi on Rajnath Singh's invitation

10:37 AM

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Writes: Rajeev Ravidas

Kalimpong, Nov. 4: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today said he would go to Delhi for a "couple of days" to hold talks with the Centre at the request of Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

Gurung said he would pause his march for the Delhi trip and resume it after he returns. The Morcha chief is holding the padayatra over a host of demands.

Addressing a street corner meeting near here, Gurung said: "The home minister had called me at 9:05am yesterday and requested me come to Delhi for talks. I can't dishonour the request of the BJP government. I will go to Delhi for a couple of days over the next few days to listen to what it has to say."

Singh had called up Gurung yesterday and requested him to end the padayatra and come to Delhi for talks, sources said.

Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia said: "I will request Gurungji to come to Delhi after Diwali and hold talks."

Source: Telegraph

Bimal Gurung complain Centre about incapacitated functioning of the GTA

1:39 PM

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Gurung seeks Delhi role on GTA

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Sept. 18: Bimal Gurung today called on Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to complain about the "incapacitated functioning" of the GTA and sought the Centre's intervention to fulfill the commitments made in the GTA agreement.

The GTA chief executive said he had informed Singh about the state government's alleged meddling in the functioning of the hill body and non-transfer of departments among other things.

After the meeting, Gurung said in a press release: "....met Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble minister of home affairs and informed about the issue of incapacitated functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration which was deemed to be an autonomous administrative institution that was born out of a tripartite agreement..."

The Darjeeling MP, S.S. Ahluwalia, and Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma were also present during Gurung's meeting with Singh.

Bimal Gurung complain Centre about incapacitated functioning of the GTA

Bimal Gurung, Darjeeling MP, S.S. Ahluwalia, and Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma
met home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi

The Morcha chief said he had told the Union home minister that the hill body was not being allowed to function autonomously by the state and "functions and functionaries of the 40 departments and 59 subjects to be transferred haven't yet come under the active control of the GTA".

"Gurung said he had appealed to the Centre "to hold a meeting for fulfillment of commitments as mentioned" in the GTA agreement.

The GTA chief said the minister's response "has been positive".

Source Telegraph

Ahluwalia clarifies his speech on Gorkhaland issue on I-Day in Kalimpong

12:02 PM

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Writes Prashant Acharya

Darjeeling BJP MP S S Ahluwalia today called media to clarify his speech on Gorkhaland on Independence Day. BJP Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling S.S. Ahluwalia had lent his support for Gorkhaland in an address during an Independence Day event in Kalimpong.

S S Ahluwalia today called media to clarify his speech on Gorkhaland on Independence Day.

Ahluwalia said that the media twisted to different meaning of his speech and he did not mean the same. He once again read out his speech during the press meet and asked the media to listen properly, it read, "The Biharis say they are from Bihar, the Punjabis say they belong to Punjab, those who are Tamils say they belong to Tamil Nadu. When will the Gorkhas say that they belong to Gorkhaland? Their dreams should also come true,"

He said that his speech mean to clarify people that when will Gorkhas called themselves that they are from Gorkhaland.

Ahluwalia who was still seen confusion over the establishment of Gorkhaland also said, "BJP is with the aspirations of the Gorkhas and will fulfill their long demand and our party has also mentioned it in the manifesto."

BJP MP also said that he is soon going to start the process for making Hatigicha village as an Adarsh Gram which he has taken responsibility to obtain it just after swearing as MP.

"It was late due to lack of support from the state government and the administration showed less interest, said Ahluwalia.

Source: khabartaja24

GTA delegation met Tribal Affairs Minister for inclusion of 11 Gorkha communities in ST list

7:55 PM

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tribal news

GTA delegation led by Bimal Gurung and S.S Ahulwalia Hon'ble MP, Darjeeling along with GTA members Benoy Tamang, Anit Thapa, Satish Pokhrel and GJM Central Committee Member, Deven Sharma met Jual Oram, Hon'ble Minister of Tribal Affairs at Delhi for the immediate inclusion of 11 Gorkha communities from throughout India namely Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakhha (Dewan) and Dimal in the List of Schedule Tribes under the Government of India.

GTA delegation met Tribal Affairs Minister for inclusion of 11 Gorkha communities in ST list

GTA delegation met Tribal Affairs Minister for inclusion of 11 Gorkha communities across India in the ST list

Bimal Gurung in his social media page Bimal Gurung Official released the following statement .

"Shri Jual Oram gave a positive hearing and has called for meeting in September which will be held between Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Registrar General of India (RGI) and GTA to discuss the modalities for the inclusion of these 11 communities in the central list of Schedule Tribes. Shri S.S Ahulwalia and me will also be present in this meeting.

In the letter addressed to the Hon'ble Tribal Minister, I have asked that the 11 Gorkha communities living across India should be included in ST List of the Government of India.

A GTA delegation had earlier met the Hon'ble Minister on 12th August 2014 and again on 19th December 2014 with representatives from the 10 communities.

The demand of the inclusion of these communities in Schedule Tribe List was stated in the agreement of the Memorandum of Agreement of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration which was signed on 18th July, 2011 at Pintail Village,Sukna in the presence of Shri P. Chidambaram, the than Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Mamata Banerjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister, West Bengal and Shri Bima"

Darjeeling MP demands Inquiry Into Racist Remarks by ASI/SI in Gurgaon case

5:43 PM

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Darjeeling MP S.S Ahluwalia has written to Gurgaon Commissioner demanding Inquiry Into Racist Remarks made by some ASI/SI. Incidence that took place while Gorkha boys and girls were protesting against the brutal thrashing of the three Gorkha youths from their home town in Gurgaon.

Darjeeling MP S.S Ahluwalia

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has written to Gurgaon Commissioner of Police Mr. S Navdeep Singh Virk IPS, demanding action against the officer who passed racist comment against the female protesters today.

Here is the text of the letter sent to to Commissioner.

"Dear Virkji

In the morning Gorkha boys & girls went to DCP's Office for protesting that even though the 3 boys were greviously injured in the near-fatal & planned attack, the case against the perpetrators was not registered under the applicable Attempt to Murder section.After meeting the DCP & getting an assurance that Sec 307 will be included,the delegation was leaving.

In the meantime one of the ASI/SI starred officer used extremely filthy,sexist, abusive & racist remarks against the protesting Gorkha girls. This further infuriated the protestors and led them to sit on a dharna at the DCP office.Their protest is still on.Such inappropriate & filthy language is not acceptable to any citizen of India.

The protestors are now demanding suspension & arrest of the erring officer.To pacify & control the situation please intervene to give justice immediately and take action against the alleged officer.

SS Ahluwalia MP Darjeeling"

Following the request from Darjeeling MP, senior officers have swung into action and have instituted a fact finding team to investigate the racist remark made by the officer.

Source: The DC

Gorkha youths from Darjeeling brutally beaten up in Gurgaon Haryana.

6:55 PM

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