Gorkhaland Resolution at an appropriate time - Narendra Modi

7:00 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

Day II, GORKHALAND AGITATION: Bimal Gurung CALLS OFF AGITATION after assurance from PM Narendra Modi

Writes Dinesh Sharma

Bimal Gurung, the Chief Executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and national President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has called off the massive agitation and peaceful rally planned for tomorrow (December 19th 2015). A delegation of Bimal Gurung, Darjeeling MP Shri SS Ahluwalia, and other GTA functionaries took place yesterday with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

As reported, PM Narendra Modi has given his assurance on safeguarding the interest of the Gorkhas and a resolution of the Gorkhaland demand at an appropriate time. Bimal Gurung while addressing the 6000 plus crowd said that “The prime minister has given his assurance on protecting the interest of the Gorkhas and the demand for Gorkhaland.” During the discussion the Prime Minister assured that a committee will soon be formed to study the problems and issues of the GTA region and the ST status for the Gorkhas spread across India.

SS Ahluwalia ( DARJEELING MP ) With GTA & Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung

Calling on Bimal Gurung Official to end the agitation and the padyatra, the Prime Minister had advised him to trust the government and let the government work out a strategy on the issues concerning the Gorkhas of India.

SS Ahluwalia, Darjeeling MP also joined the protestors at Jantar Mantar and conveyed the message of the Prime Minister’s Office. “The centre will expedite the process of establishing a Central University in GTA region, Sainik School and other educational institutes for research on Tea, Medicine, and Hospitality Management under Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry” added the MP. While personally calling upon Shri Bimal Gurung to call of the agitation, he assured his complete support in pursuing the demand for the Gorkhaland state.

Representing the Gorkha community of Assam and the North East, Prem Tamang, President All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU) assure the support of Gorkhas from all over India for the cause of Gorkhaland. Citing example of the Language agitation, Prem Tamang called upon Gorkhas from all over the country to come together for the bigger cause of the community. “Like we did during the bhasa aandolan, the Indian Gorkha community unite in supporting the cause for Gorkhaland. The Gorkhaland cause is above the politics of the GTA region and will shape the future and identity of every Gorkha citizen of the country.” AAGSU is the apex Gorkha body from Assam representing the interest of over 30 lakhs Gorkha people.

Rajen Chhetry from Gorkha Youth and Students’ Association (GYASA) called for “a national awakening among the community to realize the Gorkhaland dream.” While highlighting the contribution of Gorkhas in the nation he added “we protect the borders of the country, we contribute to sports, service industry, manpower and human resources for the booming Indian economy, promote India tea export, and most importantly the Gorkhaland region is also the chicken neck of the country that connect to the rest of North East region. There certainly cannot be a discontent community living in region of such national importance.” Rajen Chhetry also spoke spreading awareness about history, culture, and story of the Gorkhas through social media and other new age platforms and reach out to every individual seeking support for Gorkhaland.

Bimal Gurung also welcomed the creation of new Kalimpong District and Mirik sub-division by the West Bengal Government. While congratulation the people, he informed that the demand for a separate district was one of the first agendas pushed forward by GJM. Shri SS Ahluwalia while responding to the same question stated that “it does not matter even if 10 more districts are created. In fact, it will bring in more development to the areas. However, the aspirations of Gorkha and their cry for Gorkhaland cannot be compromised, and the Gorkha society cannot be divided on the lines of Development boards and districts.”

The agitation was called off around 3:30 after MP Shri Ahluwalia and Shri Bimal Gurung addressed the massive gathering.

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GJM Demands Land Rights for Tea Garden Workers - Minimum Salary of Rs 322/-

7:22 AM

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SS Ahluwalia

A high level delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by its president Bimal Gurung and Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP SS Ahluwalia called on the Union commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi and served her a memorandum placing various demands on behalf of the tea garden workers.

The memorandum places two very important demands:
1. Bringing the tea gardens under the purview of Minimum Wages Act.
2. Increasing salary of tea garden workers to Rs. 322 /- as of September 2013.
3. Issuing Land Rights to the tea garden workers
4. Reopening of all the shut down gardens in the region.

The minister has assured that she is keeping a close eye on the plight of the tea garden workers and will take necessary steps to remedy the situation at the earliest.

The GJM delegation highlighted number of important issues relating to the tea industry in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to Smt Nirmala Sitharam.

The first related to bringing all tea garden workers in these areas immediately under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. It is sad and unfortunate that thousands and thousands of tea workers employed in the plantations in these areas till this day continue to earn a pittance that is decided by the tea garden management. This notwithstanding the fact that in the rest of the country workers in scheduled employment enjoy benefits under the Minimum Wages Act 1948.

GJM immediate plea was that the Wages/Salary of Staffs, Sub-Staffs and workers needs to be regulated without any further delay, by including the tea workers in the Scheduled Employments under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. The current wages should be calculated taking into account the overall inflation, AICP Index and Minimum Wages Act with an effort to meet the basic needs of the Plantation Labours. The Wages of Workers should be calculated starting from Rs. 322 /- as of September 2013. DA payable to the Staffs and Sub-Staffs should be calculated scientifically by giving priority to yearly AICP Index.

The second issue related to death of 22 persons by malnutrition so far in the tea gardens of Darjeeling Terai and Dooars since May 12, 2015. The starvation/malnutrition deaths due to closure of tea gardens are as follows; Panighatta 5, Hantupara 3, Dumsipara 6, Bagrakote 7, Nagaisjree 1. Considering the sensitive situation in these closed tea gardens, there is an urgent need for intervention by the Centre so that more lives are not lost.

Presently many tea gardens in the Dooars region have remained closed and death toll due to starvation/ malnutrition has reached over 1000 since 2002. Due to the lack of basic living amenities like calorie-based food, medical facilities, potable drinking water, access to alternative employment opportunities and minimal wages, human trafficking, especially child trafficking is rampant in the region, and even the local social organizations and government agencies seem to be unable to handle and curb the growing instances of trafficking activities.

Besides these closed tea gardens, there are some other tea gardens also which have faced closure for some time now. The GJM delegation appealed to the Central government to take immediate steps to ensure that these closed gardens begin operations without any further delay so that workers are able to work and get their rightful due.

The issue of granting Pattas (Land rights) to the tea garden workers in all tea gardens is another demand of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which we have been seeking. We would like to request that the Centre intervene in this regard so that landless tea garden workers, who have been deprived of land for generations now, will finally be able to own a piece of land.

The Darjeeling and Dooars tea are famous world over. The Darjeeling tea has been accorded the Geographical Indicator (GI) status by the World Trade Organization, making it one of the most well recognized brands of tea across the world. Notwithstanding this deep market penetration by ‘Indian tea,’ the huge working population – more than 4 lakhs permanent member, out of which more than three lakh permanent workers are there in the Districts of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, who are engaged in the tea sector in West Bengal.

The GJM delegation has appealed to the Hon'ble Minister to visit the tea gardens of North Bengal & Darjeeling and see the situation in reality. The Hon'ble Minister said that she is closely monitoring the situation of tea garden industry in North Bengal.

Via TheDC & dstv darjeeling

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

12:02 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

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

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SS Ahluwalia raised Gorkhaland issue on 69th Independence Day in Kalimpong

12:02 AM

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SS Ahluwalia

"WHEN WILL GORKHAS BE ABLE TO SAY - I BELONG TO ‪GORKHALAND‬" - SS Ahluwalia 

BJP Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia today raised his voice for a separate Gorkhaland and wondered when will Gorkhas living in Darjeeling can say that they are residents of Gorkhaland. 

"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," Mr Ahluwalia said at a programme in Kalimpong during the day.

The BJP state leadership, however, quickly distanced itself from Ahluwalia's comment and said it does not want division of Bengal.

"The BJP doesn't want division of West Bengal but want economical development of Darjeeling. Maybe he had made an emotional speech," BJP MLA Shamik Bhattacharya said.

We are thankful to our MP for keeping the spirit of our statehood alive and for being vocal on the issue...

Gorkhaland is a reality waiting to happen, and the earlier Bengal and Central realize this fact the better it will be for everyone.

[Via: TheDC]

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GTA submits DPR for establishing a Central University in Darjeeling

11:20 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

Today Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia,  Roshan Giri, GTA Executive Member for Education and GTA Secretary, Don Bosco Lepcha, IAS met Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs and Smriti Irani Minister of Human Resource Development and presented the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) for establishing a Central University in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration area as mentioned in the GTA agreement.

GTA submits final Detailed Project Report (DPR) for establishing a
Central University in Darjeeling

The GTA engaged EdCil, a consultancy group under the auspices of MHRD, Govt. of India for preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a Central University in Darjeeling. The experts from EdCil conducted on-site studies and came up with a DPR with meticulous care. They are of the view that a Central University in GTA is both necessary and viable. The said group has also tentatively selected the site for the proposed university.

Both the Ministers have given a positive assurances regarding the setting up a Central University and we are confident that the Government will take immediate steps towards introduction of a Bill in Parliament for establishment of the Central University of Darjeeling.

Establishment of a Central University is a long standing demand of the people of Darjeeling. Although Darjeeling hills began as a Centre of European education in early nineteenth century, the situation of higher education in the region has become rather dismal in last few decades with access to educational opportunities, which is considered to be one of the basic human rights, highly inadequate. In fact, the history of Darjeeling has always been a history of deprivation and negligence.
Central University in Darjeeling Hills will not only fulfill our long term demand, but will also fulfill the educational dreams of our students, play a pivotal role in the economic, cultural and intellectual development of the entire region and above all, will play positive role in connecting the entire community with the national mainstream.

Via Bimal Gurung Official 

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

5:43 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

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

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Prime Minister Will Fulfill His Promise "Dream of Gorkhas" - SS Ahluwalia

10:10 AM

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SS Ahluwalia

"Please Have Patience - the Prime Minister Will Fulfill His Promise" - SS Ahluwalia

Speaking at an election meeting held in Khaprail, Darjeeling MP S S Ahluwalia requested people to have patience, and assured the audience that the Prime Minister will fulfill his words.

SS Ahluwalia and Bimal Gurung

As reported in a local daily, Mr. Ahluwalia told the crown, "the Prime Minister has stated unambiguously... the dreams of the Gorkhas are my dream... and he knows what he promised... please be patient... justice will be done to you... all you need to give us is some more time."

He further stated, "The Gorkhas have lived and died for India... and for the past 107 years the issue of Gorkhaland has been raised in various forms... all of this records will be examined in details... and the issue will be sympathetically examined..."

He warned the voters, "in this election a lot of fake currencies from Bangladesh, and alcohol is being distributed... be aware of those people..."

He promised to convert Siliguri into a world class city and requested the voters to vote for BJP.

Via : TheDC

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Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Reacts to MP SS Ahluwalia's Speech in the Parliament

7:11 PM

•

SS Ahluwalia

'The Official Statement of the (BGP) Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh on the Parliament address by Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia on March 17.

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Reacts to MP Speech in the Parliament

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh would like to applaud Shri SS Ahluwalia, member of Parliament representing Darjeeling Constituency, for his short speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the debate on the Union Budget in which he referred to some among the many issues confronting the Gorkhas of India. We appreciate the fact that Shri Ahluwalia cited the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars and apprised the House about their economic and developmental problems. He rightly pointed out that West Bengal has treated the people of Darjeeling and Dooars as second-class citizens despite two agreements being signed to create the DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) and the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration).

Having said that, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh would, however, like to point out that Shri Ahluwalia seems to have diminished the entire Gorkha aspirations for a separate state into an issue of local development. His speech referred to areas in his constituency like Chopra and Phansidewa and Sevoke Road and to matters of development like smart corridors and educational institutions and other benefits that were “promised during the formation of GTA”. In talking about these matters as being the main problem of the Gorkhas, Shri Ahluwalia seems to clearly think that changing the economic status of Gorkhas of Darjeeling and Dooars would resolve all issues about which the Gorkhas of India have been agitating since 1907.

The real truth behind the demand for Gorkhaland lies not in the economic status of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars, but in the insecurity that Gorkhas across India feel about their national identity and political existence. Resolving the economic issues raised by Shri Ahluwalia in his speech would meet the problems only half-way, and that too only for the Gorkhas living in Darjeeling and Dooars.

He failed to enunciate the real issue, which is of the Gorkhas being discriminated as citizens -- politically, socially and economically -- in other states of India on the erroneous ground that they are foreigners from Nepal who have entered India under the provisions of the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Friendship. While he rightly recalled the contributions of Gorkhas in defending India, even eloquently quoting Lata Mangeshkar, he failed to tell the country and the members of Parliament that these very same Gorkhas are treated as foreigners in their own country. The foundation of the demand of Gorkhaland is the need to concretise the Indian identity of Gorkhas, not economic deprivation as made out by Shri Ahluwalia in the Lok Sabha.
The honourable member of Parliament also requested the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to set up a committee to examine the long-pending demands of the region. The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh feels that the Central Government is well aware of all the nuances of the demand of the Gorkhas for a separate state, having been petitioned hundreds of times since 1907. There is no need for any panel to evaluate the problems of Darjeeling and Dooars. Rather, what is emphatically needed is Parliament’s support in setting up a Constitutional commission to determine the bifurcation, under Article 3 of the Constitution, of West Bengal and the creation of a new state comprising the Darjeeling-Dooars region.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh urges Shri Ahluwalia to take all steps to ensure that he represents the true sentiments of the Gorkhas and their demand in Parliament, keeping in mind that the biggest driver of his election from Darjeeling by a massive margin in 2014 was the hope that he would be an able spokesperson for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, which is the only democratic measure that can resolve the identity and political insecurity of India’s Gorkhas.

Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, National President, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh.'
DarjeelingTimes.com - Darjeeling News
The Official Statement of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh on the Parliament address by Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia on March 17.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh would like to applaud Shri SS Ahluwalia, member of Parliament representing Darjeeling Constituency, for his short speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the debate on the Union Budget in which he referred to some among the many issues confronting the Gorkhas of India. We appreciate the fact that Shri Ahluwalia cited the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars and apprised the House about their economic and developmental problems. He rightly pointed out that West Bengal has treated the people of Darjeeling and Dooars as second-class citizens despite two agreements being signed to create the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Having said that, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh would, however, like to point out that Shri Ahluwalia seems to have diminished the entire Gorkha aspirations for a separate state into an issue of local development. His speech referred to areas in his constituency like Chopra and Phansidewa and Sevoke Road and to matters of development like smart corridors and educational institutions and other benefits that were “promised during the formation of GTA”. In talking about these matters as being the main problem of the Gorkhas, Shri Ahluwalia seems to clearly think that changing the economic status of Gorkhas of Darjeeling and Dooars would resolve all issues about which the Gorkhas of India have been agitating since 1907.

The real truth behind the demand for Gorkhaland lies not in the economic status of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars, but in the insecurity that Gorkhas across India feel about their national identity and political existence. Resolving the economic issues raised by Shri Ahluwalia in his speech would meet the problems only half-way, and that too only for the Gorkhas living in Darjeeling and Dooars.

He failed to enunciate the real issue, which is of the Gorkhas being discriminated as citizens -- politically, socially and economically -- in other states of India on the erroneous ground that they are foreigners from Nepal who have entered India under the provisions of the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Friendship. While he rightly recalled the contributions of Gorkhas in defending India, even eloquently quoting Lata Mangeshkar, he failed to tell the country and the members of Parliament that these very same Gorkhas are treated as foreigners in their own country. The foundation of the demand of Gorkhaland is the need to concretise the Indian identity of Gorkhas, not economic deprivation as made out by Shri Ahluwalia in the Lok Sabha.
The honourable member of Parliament also requested the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to set up a committee to examine the long-pending demands of the region. The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh feels that the Central Government is well aware of all the nuances of the demand of the Gorkhas for a separate state, having been petitioned hundreds of times since 1907. There is no need for any panel to evaluate the problems of Darjeeling and Dooars. Rather, what is emphatically needed is Parliament’s support in setting up a Constitutional commission to determine the bifurcation, under Article 3 of the Constitution, of West Bengal and the creation of a new state comprising the Darjeeling-Dooars region.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh urges Shri Ahluwalia to take all steps to ensure that he represents the true sentiments of the Gorkhas and their demand in Parliament, keeping in mind that the biggest driver of his election from Darjeeling by a massive margin in 2014 was the hope that he would be an able spokesperson for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, which is the only democratic measure that can resolve the identity and political insecurity of India’s Gorkhas.

Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, National President, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh.

Source: TheDC

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