Showing posts with label TMC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TMC. Show all posts

Bhanu Jayanti and the Endless Mamata Hypocrisy

9:20 AM
Writes: Upendra
Darjeeling 12th July 2016 Tomorrow we celebrate Bhanu Jayanti, in honour of the 1st poet to write and publish in what is today known and regarded as Nepali language. This will be the first time that Bengal government is officially celebrating Bhanu Jayanti since India became Independent.
There is a reason behind it.

Municipal elections are set to be held in December and GTA elections next year and TMC fancies it is in with a chance to win political mandate in the hills, hence Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee accompanied by the President Pranab Mukherjee, who also happens to be Bengali, are going to celebrate Bhanu Jayanti as a Bengal government sponsored jamboree this year at Chowrasta.
There are multiple layers of hypocrisy in Bengal government holding this event, and had ours been a more self-respecting community, we would boycott this indirect slap on our faces. But given that some of our people have sold their self-respect for a few crore rupees, I am certain that there will be a massive crowd present tomorrow to cheer and hoot to everything that Mamata says.

Despite repeated requests for including Nepali as an Optional paper in WBCS, the Bengal government has turned a complete blind eye and deaf ears to our request, yet tomorrow when Mamata announces how the Bengal government is a champion of Nepali language, the sellouts from our hills in attendance will welcome her every word with a rapturous clap of hands.

Ever since Mamata came to power, there has been a deliberate attempt at undermining Nepali language at each and every turn. The government forms are printed in Bengali, scholarship sites have only featured Bengali language, all the government signs and majority of the posters are written in Bengali, and now even the ration cards are being printed in Bengali. Yet tomorrow, when Mamata announces how she has promoted the use of Nepali and Nepali language, the sellouts from our hills will dance and celebrate.
Bhanu Jayanti and the Endless Mamata Hypocrisy
In Pic: Same content... same class... same book... one is in Nepali... another is in Bengali... both the languages are recognized as NATIONAL languages of India under the 8th Scheduled of the Constitution... both the languages are recognized as OFFICIAL languages of West Bengal... yet Book in Nepali is printed in black and white... Book in Bengali is printed in colour... IF THIS IS NOT DISCRIMINATION, WHAT IS? This is the very reason why we need Gorkhaland... as for Bengal, we will always remain 2nd class citizens.
After taking over the reign of Bengal, Mamata has systematically discriminated against the hill students. Books written for Nepali medium schools, including that of Nepali language are full of factual errors and mistakes, and as if that was not enough, the books printed in Nepali are in black and white, where as the same books printed in Bengali are in colour. To add to our woes numerous schools across Darjeeling and Dooars where Nepali students are in majority, are yet to get any of their government issued textbooks, despite the fact that more than half of their school year is over. Yet tomorrow, when Mamata talks of her love for the Nepali speaking people, the sellouts from our community will call her God and perhaps even pray to her.

Tomorrow, Mamata will again claim "Pahar Hasche" and indeed the news channels will show the laughing, smiling face of sellouts - but what she won't tell you is that, Bengal government has not conducted Panchayat elections since 2000 in the hills, that over 500 Panchayat posts are remaining vacant in the hills, that for the past 15 years there have been no promotion granted to any hill panchayat employee, while Panchayat employees from the plains are being gradually transferred to the hills. Same is the case with schools where over 2500 vacancies have not been filled since 2001. Schools are running without headmasters and colleges are running without any principals. Same is also true for almost every other government department, where permanent posts have remained vacant for decades.

Tomorrow, Mamata will again promise numerous development projects in Darjeeling region, but what she won't promise is the equal treatment of Nepali language or Nepali speaking people in Bengal. She won't promise that the next Chairman of PSC will be from the hills, she won't promise that the next VC in any of the Bengal based universities will be a hill academic. She won't promise that non-Bengali students and youths will be provided with equal opportunity, she won't promise that they will be given equal benefits, and she won't promise that these children will have a bright future in Bengal. While students in the plains are given Kanyashree and Sabujh Saathi, hill students are deprived of even most basic of all needs - text books, that itself should be telling.

Most hypocritical of all though is the fact that Bhanu Bhawan, which is built in the honour and memory of Kabi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya is 5 minutes walk away from Chowrasta, which has a massive hall where such functions could be undertaken, but no that wouldn't assuage Mamata's ego, would it? She had to dig up and destroy Chowrasta so that she could send proper visuals back to Kolkata and non-Nepali speaking homes and proudly claim "Pahar Hasche" and our sellouts would indeed be laughing like mentally challenged retards who don't know right from wrong.

Via TheDC


Panchayat election in GTA area claims hill TMC president Rajen Mukhia

9:26 AM
TMC hints at rural elections

Writes Vivek Chhetri
Darjeeling, July 1: The Trinamool Congress (Hills) president today hinted that the state was planning to hold the panchayat elections in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration area by the end of this year.

Although the state Election Commission has not made any announcement regarding the polls, Rajen Mukhia, the president, TMC (Hills), said: "I am hopeful that the panchayat election, even if it is for two tiers will take place in October-November this year."

The last time the hill rural polls were held in 2000.

Although the Centre, state and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had agreed to hold the three-tier rural polls in the GTA area in 2011, it was not held as a constitutional amendment is needed to start the process.

As of now, the Constitution has a provision to hold a two-tier panchayat elections in the hills - the gram panchayat and the panchayat samity.

Today, Mukhia said: "I was told to take charge of TMC (Hills) for the second term yesterday. I will try my best to justify the faith reposed on me by the leadership. We will take part in all three elections - panchayat, municipality and the GTA - and we are confident of doing well."
Hill TMC president Rajen Mukhia
Hill TMC president Rajen Mukhia
Trinamul sources said Mukhia's confidence about the poll timing comes after getting strong indications from the party leadership. "He will not speak with such confidence unless he has been given a strong hint," said a source.

Mukhia added that new committees at all levels - from district to panchayat - would be formed in the next two weeks. "The party expects results from us and we must deliver. We are very clear that only those leaders who perform will get a place in the new committees. ... Those who do not perform or are not active in the party will have to sit out irrespective of seniority," he said.

A source said Trinamul was eager to contest the elections in the hills after its performance in the Assembly polls.

While elections to the four hill municipalities - Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik - are due later this year, the GTA polls are scheduled for July next year.

A Morcha leader refused comment on Mukhia's statement. "We would not like to react unless it is discussed in a party meeting."

Via Telegraph



Hill Trinamool Congress geared up for Municipality and GTA elections

8:32 AM
TMC
DARJEELING 1 Jul 2016 It is no work, no rank for hill Trinamool Congress leaders holding portfolios, as the party gears up to take on the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the upcoming municipality and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections.

Having tasted bitter-sweet defeat in the hills from the GJM in the 2014 Lok Sabha and the state Assembly elections, the hill TMC leadership is wary of a possible backlash from the high command in Kolkata in the event of another rout. “We just cannot keep losing elections. The party high command in Kolkata has expectations from us and we will have to deliver.

Therefore, from today we are going to take drastic measures within the party,” said Rajen Mukhia, the hill TMC president, who on Thursday was re-elected for the second consecutive term.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia lost to the BJP’s Surendra Singh Ahluwalia, who was supported by the GJM, by more than one lakh votes.
Hill Trinamool Congress geared up Municipality and GTA elections
Rajen Mukhia  - a file photo
Similarly, in the Assembly election earlier this year, TMC candidates from Darjeeling and Kurseong constituencies lost to the GJM, although the margin of victory was narrower.

On Thursday, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee announced in Siliguri separate committees of the party for the hills and plains regions. Gautam Deb, the state tourism minister, was made the president of the plains committee. Meanwhile, Mukhia said, “It is an honour and a huge responsibility to be made the president for a second term. I thank Didi for appreciating and recognising my sincerity in running the party in the hills.  I will try and live up to the expectations of the party leadership."

Today, the hill TMC president held a meeting in Sukhaypokhari near Darjeeling and asked party leaders there to form a new committee with a strong leadership. “I have made it clear that leaders holding portfolios and staying at home and working will not have it easy. They will be stripped off their rank and will have to be satisfied with being a general member of the party,” Mukhia warned, adding he had asked the Sukhaypokhari unit to form a new committee within a week.

“We will hold similar meetings and form new block committees in various municipality and panchayat areas and conduct fresh membership drives. We will also constitute the district committee within a week and send it to Kolkata for approval,” Mukhia said. Mukhia, who will be in Kolkata tomorrow to attend a meeting of district presidents with Mamata, said he was hopeful that elections to the  two-tier panchayat in the hills would be held at the end of this year. “We are hopeful that by October-November, the two-tier panchayat election will be held. We will contest the panchayat,  municipality and GTA elections,” he said.

Of the possibility of an alliance with the Gorkha National Liberation Front and Jan Andolan Party, who had extended support to the TMC in the Assembly elections, Mukhia said, “We are of the belief that those against the GJM misrule will ally with us. As for seat adjustments, it will be done by our high command whenever required."

(EOIC)

GJM leadership weak, corrupt and lacks vision - Trinamool Congress

10:17 AM
DARJEELING 28 Jun 2016 Firing a fresh salvo at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the hill Trinamool Congress today accused the GJM leadership of being weak, corrupt and lacking in vision, the fallout of which was the reluctance of the state government to trust it and hand over absolute power to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

The latest charge comes after Bimal Gurung on Monday shot-off a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee blaming the state government of non-cooperation in enabling the smooth running of the GTA.

Speaking to reporters today, hill TMC Mahila Congress president Sardha Subba said, “The GTA was formed four years ago but the GJM has nothing to show in terms of the development and progress of the region. The GJM leadership is weak and lacks vision. There is rampant corruption and nepotism in the GTA. This is why the state government cannot trust the GJM and give full autonomy to the GTA.”

Ever since the souring of relations with the chief minister, the GJM has been alleging of state government non-cooperation and unnecessary interference in the independent functioning of the council body. The GTA was formed with the state and central governments and the GJM signing an agreement in September, 2011 to bring to end four years of agitation for a separate state.
GJM leadership weak, corrupt and lacks vision - Trinamool Congress
Hill Trinamool Congress leader
But the hill TMC leader chose to differ saying it was an attempt by the GJM to hide four years of its failure in managing the council’s affairs properly. “Why is the GJM suddenly leveling such charges against the state government? What were they doing for four long years at the helm?

Blaming the state government now is nothing but the GJM’s effort to cover up its faults as they have not worked for the people,” charged Subba.

She was also of the opinion that not keeping a healthy relation with the state government would have a counter effect on the hills and its people. “The GJM has failed to keep good relations with the chief minister and the state government. She is after all the chief minister and the hills are a part of Bengal. Therefore, it makes sense that the two remain be on the same wavelength to usher development in the hills,” Subba said.

When asked about the possibility of the TMC contesting the upcoming municipality and GTA elections this November and next year, respectively, the TMC leader said, “Lots of things are going wrong in the hills and this needs rectification. However, the decision to participate in the elections rests completely on our party high command.”

(EOIC)


GNLF now second fiddle to TMC - Roshan Giri

10:23 AM
Writes RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Kalimpong, June 21: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri today accused the GNLF of kowtowing to Trinamul and said the party had "lost its plot".

Reacting to the meeting between GNLF president Mann Ghisingh and chief minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday, Giri told reporters in Darjeeling: "How can GNLF, under whose leadership over 1,200 people sacrificed their lives for Gorkhaland, join hands with a party whose chief has repeatedly voiced her opposition to the creation of a state for the Gorkhas? The party has lost the plot completely."

He added: "The GNLF will now be reduced to playing second fiddle to Trinamul in the municipality and the GTA elections. The party stands thoroughly exposed and is fast on its way to losing relevance in the hills completely."
GNLF now second fiddle to TMC - Roshan Giri
GNLF now second fiddle to TMC - Roshan Giri
After yesterday's meeting, GNLF leaders had said they were open to contesting polls in alliance with Trinamul.


Via Telegraph


GNLF strengthening alliance with Mamata Banerjee.

8:33 AM
TMC
Writes Vivek Chettri

Darjeeling, June 20: The GNLF today said it had found a common ground with the Trinamul Congress to take on Bimal Gurung in the hills and was confident of strengthening the alliance with Mamata Banerjee.

Mann Ghisingh, the president of the GNLF, today led a six-member delegation that met Mamata at Nabanna for nearly an hour and discussed issues concerning the hills, like granting tribal status to 11 communities and the dues of workers of three tea gardens owned by the Trinamul Congress MP K.D. Singh.

After the meeting, Neeraj Zimba, a central committee member of the GNLF who was part of the delegation, said: "Whenever we feel we cannot go alone, we will go with TMC. There is no formal alliance yet and we might not be natural allies. But we have found a common ground."
GNLF delegation met Mamata Banerjee
GNLF delegation met Mamata Banerjee
Asked about common ground, Zimba said: "There is a need to end corruption in the hills and bring about better administration that Bimal Gurung has not delivered. As far as formalising the alliance is concerned, our party president will take a call as and when its needed."

Zimba was hinting at an election-centric alliance rather than a long-term political front.

Even though the GNLF had supported Trinamul during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the recent Assembly polls, the party has not been able to cement its relations with Trinamul.

GNLF's apparent closeness with Mamata comes at a time Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Gurung, too, is keen on establishing a working relation with the state government. Sources said the Morcha was keenly following the Mamata-Mann dialogue.

The delegation today discussed a number of issues with the chief minister. "We talked about the demand to grant tribal status to 11 hill communities, problems in tea gardens owned by Alchemist Group, the closure of NH55, voluntary teachers' jobs, corruption in the GTA and regularisation of employees of the hill body," said N.B.Chhetri, the spokesman for the GNLF.

Chhetri claimed that Aroop Biswas, the Trinamul leader in charge of the hills, had assured that tea garden workers' dues would be cleared within 15 days.

Alchemist Group, which owns Dooteriah, Kalej Valley and Peshok tea gardens, has dues to the tune of Rs 10 crore.

Telegraph

Bhaichung might become Darjeeling District TMC president

11:11 AM
TMC
Siliguri, June 17: Mamata Banerjee is likely to announce the new president of the Darjeeling Trinamul district committee in Calcutta tomorrow and ex-footballer Bhaichung Bhutia and Pratul Chakraborty are being considered for the post, sources in the organisation said.

The chief minister, said the sources, wanted the replacement of Ranjan Sarkar, the current president of the party in Darjeeling, as Trinamul had failed in three consecutive elections in the district in one year. The defeat of Trinamul in the Siliguri municipal and mahakuma parishad polls and the Assembly elections has been attributed to factionalism in the party.

"Tomorrow, a meeting has been convened by the party at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta where leaders from different districts will be present. Our party chief Mamata Banerjee and other frontline leaders will be at the meeting. We can almost confirm that the name of the new Darjeeling district president will be announced tomorrow. The names of Bhaichung Bhutia and Pratul Chakraborty are making the rounds," a Siliguri Trinamul leader, who didn't want to be named, said over the phone from Calcutta today.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee with former Soccer star Baichung Bhutia
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee with former
 Soccer star Baichung Bhutia - file photo
Another senior leader said Bhaichung might be made the working president of Trinamul in the district. "Bhaichung has never made it to district and state committees. There is a chance that Pratul Chakraborty will be the new president, while Bhaichung will be made the working president of Darjeeling district. It can be an effective arrangement as Bhaichung can try to bring all lobbies in the party together and end factionalism, while Pratulda, who has good acceptability, can monitor from the top," said the leader.

There are also speculations that Bhaichung will be appointed as the chairman of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

Bhaichung had lost to the CPM's Asok Bhattacharya in Siliguri in the Assembly polls. Chakraborty had held the post of the district president before Gautam Deb.

Following the debacle Trinamul faced in the municipal and mahakuma parishad polls last year, minister Gautam Deb was removed as the Trinamul district chief in November. He was replaced with Sarkar, who was the district Trinamul Youth president then.

But even after Sarkar, who is also a municipal councillor in Siliguri, became the president, Trinamul couldn't win any of the six Assembly seats in the district.

"Mamata is completely disappointed over the performance of district leaders who are busy fighting among themselves. It is because of infighting that Gautam Deb was not allowed to contest the Siliguri civic polls in 2015. There is no chance that Mamata or any other state leader will seek opinion from the Darjeeling district leaders before finalising the name of the district president," said a Trinamul insider.

Telegraph


GNLF delegation led by Mann Ghisingh to meet Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna

9:54 AM
Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, June 17: The GNLF today said a delegation of party leaders led by Mann Ghisingh would meet Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna on June 20 at the invitation of the chief minister.

Political observers said the meeting might be the formalisation of a political alignment that had taken on the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the Assembly elections.

Harka Bahadur Chhetri's Jana Andolan Party, Trinamul and the GNLF had come together to fight the Morcha in the Assembly polls in the three hill constituencies. While Chhetri was the JAP candidate in Kalimpong, Trinamul contested from Kurseong and Darjeeling.

N.B. Chhetri, the spokesman for the GNLF, said: "We had written to the chief minister sometime back expressing our wish to meet her. We have been invited for a meeting at Nabanna on June 20. Our party president, Mann Ghisingh, will be leading a six-member delegation for the meeting which is scheduled for 4pm."
Mann Ghisingh to meet Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna
Mann Ghisingh to meet Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna
The GNLF had also backed Trinamul candidate Bhaichung Bhutia in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections. Despite the support, the hill party couldn't cement its relation with Mamata Banerjee. In between the 2014 Parliament elections and the Assembly polls, GNLF leaders had met Mamata only once in Darjeeling.

"We had met the chief minister once when she was in Darjeeling (after the Lok Sabha polls) but it was more of a courtesy call. Apart from that, our party president was invited to Mamata's swearing-in recently. This time, we are hopeful of the meeting. We also believe this would be the beginning of more meetings," said Chhetri.

The GNLF delegation is looking at using the meeting to strengthen its ties with Mamata. "We have nothing in mind. There are many issues which we need to take up with the chief minister. But everything will depend on how the meeting progresses," said Chhetri, who is also a former Darjeeling MLA.

The combined efforts of the JAP, Trinamul and the GNLF and also the support of chairpersons of development boards of various hill communities did give a tough fight to  the Morcha, especially in Kalimpong. In all the three hill Assembly segments, the Morcha’s victory margin went down by nearly 50 per cent compared to the 2011 Assembly election results.

In a separate development, Darjeeling MLA Amar Singh Rai said on Friday that all three legislators of the Morcha had met Mamata in her chamber in the Assembly building and thanked her for creating Kalimpong district


Via Telegraph


Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division

9:55 AM
TMC
DARJEELING 10 Jun 2016 The Trinamool Congress hill unit has submitted to the Darjeeling district administration its suggestions on a new Kalimpong district and Mirik sub-division. The suggestions incorporate a wide range of proposals such as extending the existing boundaries, forming new sub-divisions and blocks, and setting up expert committees to expedite the process in a planned and systematic manner.

The hill TMC has proposed the creation of three sub-divisions under the new Kalimpong district for better administrative functioning. However, the areas to be incorporated in the sub-divisions have not been identified or specified by the party.

The TMC also wants the number of community development blocks to be increased to eight and the formation of a Teesta Highway development block. At present, Kalimpong sub-division has three blocks, Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II and Gorubathan.
Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division
Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division
The proposals also include increasing gram panchayat members to at least 7-10 in each GP for better representation. The Kalimpong sub-division comprises 42 gram panchayats at present. Further, the TMC also wants areas adjacent to Gorubathan block and Kalijhora under Kurseong to be included in the new district, although specifications have not been proposed.

“These are important factors that need to be looked into while forming the new district of Kalimpong. It must be remembered that Kalimpong is a vast area touching some areas of the Dooars in the plains. Administratively too, we want Kalimpong district to be viable to the people, hence the suggestions,” said NB Khawas, the hill TMC general secretary.

Regarding upgrading Mirik to a sub-division, presently one of the eight blocks in the hills, the TMC wants the area of Gopal Dhara tea estate that falls under Sukhaypokhari block in Darjeeling sub-division, and Seyok tea garden under Kurseong sub-division, to be added to the new sub-division.

It has also proposed the formation of three blocks in the new Mirik sub-division, Mirik at present being one of the blocks under Kurseong sub-division. The party also wants gram panchayat members in Mirik to be increased to 10 from the present six.

Another proposal is the bifurcation of the Jorebungalow-Sukhaypokhari development block and creation of a Sonada-Rungbull block with seven existing gram panchayats of Rungbull and Sonada areas. “We have already placed our suggestions before the Panchayat and Rural Development department through the Darjeeling district magistrate,” said Khawas.

The bifurcation of the Kurseong development block with 14 GPs and up-gradation of the Darjeeling-Pulbazar block with 23 gram panchayats to a sub-division is one another proposal of the hill TMC. The party has suggested the formation of a committee comprising experts and political and social organisation representatives to avoid any controversies which could delay the process of creating a Kalimpong district and Mrik sub-division.

Source EOIC

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha says no issues working with the state government

10:36 AM
TMC
DARJEELING 9 Jun 2016 The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said it had no issues working with the state government, a day after North Bengal Development Department minister Rabindranath Ghosh assured his department would not interfere in the independent functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Ghosh, who has succeeded Gautam Deb as the NBDD minister, on Wednesday held a meeting with department officials at Uttarkanya following which he said  his department would not undertake any development work in the GTA area unless assistance was sought by the hill body.

All this while, the GJM had been accusing the state government of unnecessary interference in the functioning of the GTA and infringement on its autonomy.

In fact, the once cordial relationship between the two had ebbed to its lowest although signs of revival are being noticed of late.

The GJM leadership today took a soft approach in response to the NBDD minister’s remarks. “We welcome the NBDD minister saying the state government would not interfere in GTA matters. This means the territorial jurisdiction of the GTA is being respected. And this is good as controversies will not be created unnecessarily. We are ready to work in tandem with the state government for the greater benefit of the people,” said Roshan Giri, the GJM general secretary and GTA Sabhasad.

In 2014, the GJM-run GTA had filed a petition in the high court against the NBDD for floating tenders and building three roads in the hills under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund scheme without its consent. The GTA’s contention was that doing so violated the GTA Act.

GJM president Bimal Gurung had earlier asserted he would not meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee or hold talks with the state government. But he has backtracked on that stance since, when he went to Kolkata last month to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new state government on the invitation of the chief minister.
(From left) Rabindranath Ghosh, Gautam Deb.
(From left) Rabindranath Ghosh, Gautam Deb.

After his party's victory in the Assembly election, Gurung issued a statement congratulating the TMC chief and her party for regaining power. He even said he was ready to work with the state government to usher development in the hills. Meanwhile, Giri said the appointment of Gautam Deb as the tourism department minister was a positive step. “He headed the NBDD and is well aware of the region and its needs. We want the tourism minister to endorse projects the GTA prepares and pursue them with the state government. This will help boost the tourism potential of the hills,” said the GJM general secretary.

But Sardha Subba, senior leader of the hill TMC unit, termed the GJM’s revised stand as a betrayal of the people. “The GJM won the election by advocating for a separate state and terming the TMC as an anti-hill party. But now they are willing to work with the very state government they seemed dead against. The people must understand the GJM is betraying them once again,” she alleged.

(EOIC)

Bimal Gurung - central funded projects under GTA to be inaugurated by union Minister

9:09 AM
Darjeeling, June 5: Bimal Gurung today said he would invite Union ministers to inaugurate various projects being completed by the GTA as most of them were funded by the Centre, a remark which is perceived to pre-empt any move by the Mamata Banerjee government to take credit for the schemes in the hills.

Talking to the media after a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation met Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhavan in Darjeeling today, the GTA chief executive said: "It is through central funds that we have been constructing car parking facilities, Nepali academy, model schools and auditoriums. During my last visit to New Delhi on May 26, I had invited the Union home minister to visit Darjeeling between July 11 and 17 to inaugurate the car parking facilities."

Two car parking lots are being constructed at Singamari and near Darjeeling railway station.

"Since the Centre has funded these projects, we have to invite Union ministers to inaugurate them... we will invite central leaders to launch the projects funded by the Union government," said Gurung.

Observers said Gurung had referred to the central assistance to implement various projects in the hills so that the Trinamul government didn't take credit for the same ahead of the municipal and GTA elections.
Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling on Sunday
Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling on Sunday. (Suman Tamang)
"The distribution of rice at Rs 2 per kg to BPL families has helped Trinamul to a great extent in the just-concluded Assembly polls. But the fact is that the state is implementing the scheme with central funds. Gurung seems to be aware of it and doesn't want Mamata to stake claim to the projects," said an observer.

In the Assembly polls, the Morcha's victory margin has come down in the three hill seats compared to the 2011 elections.

While elections to four municipalities in the hills are slated for December, those to the GTA are due next year.

Regarding the relation with the state, Gurung today said: "The Trinamul Congress has formed the new government. We have to create a good atmosphere for the welfare of the people and for development to take place."

Asked if he would meet Mamata during her next visit to Darjeeling, Gurung said: "I will definitely meet her as protocol demands so."

During the times of strained relations between the duo, Gurung didn't meet Mamata during her visits to the hills.

Talking about the Morcha delegation's meeting with the governor, Gurung said: "We took up with him the issue of proper transfer of departments from the state to the GTA, implementation of three-tier pachayats in the hills, granting land rights to tea garden and cinchona plantation inhabitants and giving tribal status to 11 communities."

Later in the day, Gurung attended a meeting organised by the 11 communities seeking the ST status at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan here. He urged leaders of the 11 communities to prepare detailed documents on the respective communities.


Via Telegraph


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

11:34 AM
Darjeeling 3 Jun 2016 Fresh from their victories in the just concluded state Assembly election, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the hill Trinamool Congress has embarked on a war of words over the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 11 communities of the hills.

The hill TMC organised a victory celebration and a public meeting in Darjeeling where its leaders accused the GJM of hoodwinking the people over the issue by claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi had endorsed its demand. Sardha Subba, the Darjeeling TMC candidate for the Assembly election and the hill Trinamool Mahila Congress president, said that according to a Press Information Bureau report released on Thursday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Modi on May 25 approved of the introduction of two Bills relating to the issue of granting tribal status to various communities in five states. According to the PBI report, the Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to the amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order of 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Hill communities  seeking  ST status
Hill communities  seeking  ST status - a file photo
“The GJM claims the matter has been taken up by the PM himself and it is in the implementation stages. But the PBI report clearly shows that even though five states and a Union territory are mentioned, the demand from Darjeeling has been left out. This shows the GJM is playing with the sentiments of the people and fooling them for political interests,” said Subba today in the public meeting. The Prime Minister, campaigning in May for north Bengal BJP candidates in Siliguri, said the process of granting tribal status to the 11 communities had already been initiated and that a committee already been formed to look into the matter. The GJM wants the 11 communities to be brought under the ST list.

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

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

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


Via EOI

Bimal Gurung congratulate Mamata and expressed hope of receiving support

8:15 PM
Writes PRASHANT ACHARYA

BAGDOGRA 25 May 2016 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung seems to be softening his stance towards Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee after her landslide victory in the recently concluded state Assembly elections.

Gurung, who preferred not to meet the chief minister whenever she visited Darjeeling, flew to Delhi today en route to Kolkata to attend the oath taking ceremony of the new government on May 27.

Before boarding his flight to New Delhi from Bagdogra airport, the GJM chief said, "I am going to New Delhi for personal work and also for a health check-up. I will be in Kolkata on Friday evening to attend the oath taking ceremony. The chief minister has invited me in well advance."

Gurung said the three hill MLAs will reach Kolkata on Friday evening and join him for the oath taking ceremony. When asked about the level of cooperation being received from the government for development works in the GTA, he replied, "Support and cooperation from the government is a must for any development, I am hopeful about seeing some positive moves forward and an amicable atmosphere, but only time will tell what lies ahead."
Bimal Gurung and Mamata Banerjee
Bimal Gurung and Mamata Banerjee file photo

The Morcha chief also said he called up Banerjee to congratulate her and expressed hope of receiving support from her government. "Politics and development are spaces apart, so I don't like to mix the two. I shall work hard for the development for my people.”

About the demand for a Gorkhaland state, Gurung said, "It's in my mind and soul and we will never give up on that."

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has reportedly ordered a grand preparation for Friday's oath taking ceremony in Kolkata's arterial Red Road. TMC leaders expect to host at least 1 lakh people at the ceremony, apart from about 200 dignitaries.


Source EOI

Mamata may appoint Harka Bahadur Chettri a Hill Minister

1:45 PM
TMC
Defeated but in race for berths

The Mamata Banerjee government is likely to find some key positions for heavyweight ministers who became casualties in the poll fray. According to a source, the chief minister is weighing her options to position at least five former MLAs – Manish Gupta, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Upen Biswas, Shankar Chakraborty and Harka Bahadur Chetri.

They could be anointed head of state-run corporations, or could be put in specially created advisory posts in the departments they had headed before. Gupta had the power portfolio; Biswas backward classes; Chandrima law and health and Chakraborty PWD.

Chettri, who was backed by Trinamool in his fight against his former party GJM in Kalimpong, lost by a margin of 11,000 but is also likely to get a key post. “The chief minister doesn’t want to break the continuity. These former ministers have gained experience in running key portfolios and the chief minister wants to put that to use,” a senior leader explained. According to him, the chief minister believes that Gupta, Chandrima and Biswas have done commendable work and their experience is irreplaceable.
Harka Bahadur Chettri likely to become a Hill Minister
Harka Bahadur Chettri likely to become a Hill Minister
Harka, who has already met the CM after the results, has lent weight to Trinamool efforts to unshackle the GJM stranglehold in the Hills. The party has made some credible inroads in Kalimpong, Kurseong and even in Darjeeling.

Via: TNN

GJM triumph: Darjeeling hills vote for Gorkhaland, reject Mamata's TMC

10:00 AM
TMC
Writes: Priyata Brajabasi

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress' might have swept West Bengal but it failed to dislodge the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling hills. Despite Banerjee's attempts to gain a foothold in the hills, the GJM won all 3 constituencies in the area - Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

The message from the Darjeeling hills is loud and clear - the appeal for Gorkhaland is very much alive. Mamata's rigidity on the Gorkhaland issue has once again led to a near boycott of the TMC in the hills.

Roshan Giri, General Secretary of the GJM, spoke to Catch from Darjeeling.

"We were extremely confident of retaining all the 3 seats in the hills. And that is exactly what happened. We are extremely happy with the results and that people still have faith in us. People are very firm on their appeal for the state of Gorkhaland and they know we are the only party that can help them get there," he said.
Darjeeling hills vote for Gorkhaland
Darjeeling hills vote for Gorkhaland
- Amar Singh Rai of the GJM defeated TMC's Sarda Rai Subba in Darjeeling by 49,441 votes.

- Sarita Rai defeated Jan Andolan Party chief Harka Bahadur Chettri by 11,431 votes in Kalimpong.

- Rohit Sharma of the GJM won the elections from Kurseong for the second consecutive time, this time defeating TMC's Shanta Chettri by 33,726 votes.

While TMC decimated the opposition in the rest of Bengal, the party's promises of development fell on deaf ears in the hills. The party was unable to create a strong opposition to the GJM and the candidates' silence on the Gorkhaland issue evidently worked against them.

The demand for a separate state continues to be the most important factor and the distrust towards Bengal parties continues.

The decimation of TMC in the area is also an indirect win for GJM's ally - the BJP. The BJP won from Darjeeling in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by allying with the GJM.

The 3 seats won by the GJM gave a sense of respectability to the BJP-led alliance in what was otherwise a mediocre performance in West Bengal. BJP could win only 3 seats in the rest of the state.

Interestingly, the CPI(M) indirectly lent support to the GJM by not putting up any candidates in the hills and asking their supporters to vote for the GJM. The Gorkha National Liberation Front's (GNLF) support to the TMC evidently did not have any effect. Shanta Chettri, a 3-time former GNLF MLA from Kurseong was comprehensively defeated by Rohit Sharma of the GJM.

Harka Bahadur Chettri, former GJM MLA from Kalimpong quit the GJM after being asked to resign from the state government in 2015. He continued his tenure as an independent MLA. Chettri founded his own party called the Jan Adolan Party (JAP) in Kalimpong in early 2016.

Chhetri was initially nominated as a TMC candidate - Mamata Banerjee had announced his name in the TMC candidate list in February. But he quickly clarified, saying that he would fight on a JAP ticket. TMC's backing however proved to be a deal breaker for Kalimpong voters who had otherwise voted for him the last time around.

The appeal of Gorkhaland is a sentimental one. GJM has used this sentiment to their advantage time and again.

Two things remain to be seen in the near future. First, how Mamata Banerjee deals with the Darjeeling hills in her second term as CM, especially given the manner her party has been rejected in the region. Second is whether the GJM is able to leverage its alliance with the BJP at the Centre to push for a separate state,


Via: Catch News

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Win is a Mandate for Hill Unity

9:02 AM
TMC
Darjeeling, Kalmpong and Kurseong 19th May 2016 The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has won all the three seats from the three constituencies in the hills, defeating the allied forces of the Jan Andolan Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Gorkha National Liberation Front. However, the victory margin was a far cry from what the party had achieved in the 2011 Assembly election.

- Amar Singh Rai, the GJM candidate from Darjeeling, polled 95,386 votes to defeat his closest rival Saradha Subba of the TMC by a margin of 49,913 votes, with her polling 45,473.

- In Kurseong, GJM candidate and former MLA Rohit Sharma got 86,947 votes as against 53,221 polled by TMC candidate Shanta Chhetri, with the win margin standing at 33,726 votes.

- Kalimpong witnessed a close fight between GJM candidate Sarita Rai and JAP president Harka Bahadur Chhetri, with the former garnering 67,693 and the latter 56,262 votes. Rai managed to win by a margin of 11,431 votes.

Thursday evening saw euphoric scenes in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong as GJM supporters who had gathered near the counting centres started singing and dancing after the results were announced. In Darjeeling, GJM supporters burst firecrackers and distributed sweets. In Kalimpong, GJM president Bimal Gurung walked nearly 2km from the counting centre to Dambar Chowk distributing sweets, and in Kurseong, GJM supporters gathered at the railway station to celebrate and savour the moment of victory.

Bimal Gurung after  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has won all the three seats from the three constituencies in the hills
Bimal Gurung after  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has won all the three seats from the three constituencies in the hills
The GJM welcomed the victory but party leaders appeared a bit thoughtful with the margin of win as in the previous election, each party candidate had won resoundingly over their rivals, by at least 1 lakh votes. The GJM president though reacted realistically to the outcome saying there were several things to be addressed. “We were confident about our victory as the people are with us. A win is a win nonetheless irrespective of the margin. However, we will definitely identify our lapses and mend them,” said Gurung in Kalimpong.

The GJM chief also congratulated TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for retaining power and expressed hope that the two sides could work together for the welfare of the hill people. Meanwhile, Chhetri, the JAP candidate and party president, expressed optimism at the outcome. “In such a short span of time we have received good response from the people. We could have fared better had the election been conducted fairly. However, our party was not formed for elections and as such we will continue to work for the people,” Chhetri said, adding his party would contest all elections in the hills henceforth.

Amar Singh Rai said, “We respect the decision of the people but we have observed that votes in favour of the opposition have increased in comparison to previous polls.” Political observers said the lower victory margin for the GJM was the outcome of several factors and it has cast a shadow on the GJM even in victory. “Overall, the GJM’s vote bank was affected by the formation of the community development boards and the TMC-JAP- GNLF alliance. In Kalimpong, the JAP played the separate district card to their advantage and managed to snatch votes,” an observer said.


Via: ECOI

GJM TMC joint press conference - Rare bonhomie

8:12 AM
Via Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, May 4: A rare political scene unfolded in Darjeeling today when Amar Singh Rai, the chairman of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-controlled municipality, held a joint press conference with the Trinamul Congress (hill) leadership in his chamber.

The Trinamul leaders met the chairman to submit a memorandum that dealt with issues like the collapse of a staircase in Darjeeling town last month and settlement of hawkers. Nobody could recollect Trinamul and the Morcha displaying bonhomie at least in the recent past as was shown today.

Although there had been ups and downs in the equations between the Morcha and Trinamul, for a couple of years, both the parties have been on a warpath. In fact, one of the Morcha's main mottos in the Assembly election was the defeat of Trinamul which the hill party alleged was dividing the region.
GJM TMC joint press conference - Rare bonhomie
Darjeeling municipality chairman Rai and Trinamul leaders hold the
 joint news conference. (Suman Tamang)
Rai was the Morcha's candidate for the Darjeeling Assembly seat, while one of the Trinamul delegation members, Sharda Rai Subba, was also in the fray.

N.B. Khawash, the general secretary, Trinamul (hill), and Milan Dukpa, a nominated GTA Sabha member, were also part of the delegation. The Trinamul leaders, who had obtained an appointment to submit the memorandum, reached the Darjeeling municipality office around 3pm today.

Rai, along with vice-chairman Suk Bahadur Biswakarma, and other officials met the delegation for more than an hour in the chairman's chamber. Soon after the meeting, Khawash met the waiting journalists outside the chairman's chamber. At that particular moment, Sharda Rai Subba suggested that the media could be addressed jointly by the chairman and the delegation on the outcome of the meeting.

Khawash then returned to the chairman's chamber with the proposal which was instantly agreed upon by Rai.

Rai said: "TMC leaders today came to submit a deputation as concerned residents of the town and we had a very fruitful discussion in a congenial atmosphere."

The memorandum was on the collapse of a staircase connecting HD Lama Road and Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling, possibility of a sabotage in the recent fire at a municipality building at Daroga Bazar, steps against high-rises and the issue of permanent settlement of hawkers.

"The municipality has informed the delegation that the staircase collapsed because of the construction of a market complex. We have filed an FIR against the builders, directed them to construct the staircase and stop the work on the market complex now. The municipality will also be monitoring the construction at every stage," said Rai.

Trinamul said the width of the staircase should not be narrowed. On the Daroga Bazar fire, the Darjeeling municipality said an FIR had been filed and it was looking at the police's investigation.

Khawash said: "We thank the municipality for giving us time and hearing our grievances. We just want the municipality to show the political will to tackle the issues and Trinamul will also support the civic body."

Asked if the move to raise municipality-centric issues was prompted by the civic election which is due at the end of the year, Khawash said: "No, we simply raised the issues today as concerned people and it has nothing to do with elections."



Via Telegraph

TMC demands re-poll in eight booths in Darjeeling Assembly constituency

9:28 AM
TMC for re-poll in eight booths

Writes Rajeev Ravidas and Vivek Chhetri

April 18: The Trinamul Congress in the hills today alleged that there was widespread rigging at eight booths in Darjeeling Assembly constituency and demanded re-poll in all of them.

N.B. Khawash, the general secretary, Trinamul (hills), said: "We want re-poll at eight booths. We have received complaints that there was widespread rigging in the booths. Moreover, two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters were arrested while casting false votes at a booth in Singamari."

The ruling party today wrote to the district election officer (Darjeeling district magistrate) seeking the re-poll.

District magistrate Anurag Srivastava said the scrutiny of the EVMs had been held this morning in the presence of the candidates or their representatives. "I was also present. But none raised the allegation of rigging. The re-poll can be ordered only by the election observer," he said.

In another development, traffic in Kalimpong town came to a grinding halt for an hour this morning when some polling officials staged a road blockade at Thanadara. They were protesting against the authorities' alleged failure to provide them with vehicles to return home after overseeing the polling.

About 80 polling officials blocked the road.

A senior election officer, however, said some of the polling officials did not want to make a late night journey and stayed back on their own.

The protesters were finally given vehicles to go home.


Via Telegraph

First party (ABGL) formed for a separate state no longer features on Darjeeling’s political map

9:13 AM
TMC
In house of man who started Gorkhaland stir, a family united by 3 political parties.

"The first ever party formed to fight for a separate state of Gorkhaland (ABGL was formed in 1943 by Damber Singh Gurung) no longer features on Darjeeling’s political map."

The Tamang family in Darjeeling is unique, at least politically. While Bharti Tamang, wife of late Madan Tamang heads the Akhil Bhartiya Gorkha League (ABGL), son Sanyog Tamang is with the ruling Trinamool Congress. Madan’s brother, Amar Lama, on the other hand, is backing Kalimpong MLA Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri’s Jan Andolan Party (JAP).

Bharti (69), who stays at Rhododendron — a bungalow surrounded by bushes of bright fuschia azaleas — in the town, is fielding only two candidates, both in Dooars. Her husband, former ABGL chief Madan Tamang was murdered in broad daylight in May 2010 allegedly by workers of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) headed by Bimal Gurung.
In house of man who started Gorkhaland stir, a family united by 3 political parties
Slain ABGL leader Madan Tamang’s son Sanyog and wife Bharti at their residence in Darjeeling on Sunday. While Sanyog is a TMC member, Bharti heads ABGL. Madan’s brother is backing Jan Andolan Party.Express photo by Partha Paul.
“We are supporting Jan Andolan Party in Kalimpong and therefore, have not fielded candidates from there. We have also decided not to field candidates in Darjeeling and Kurseong,” Bharti said, not giving a reason why.

Her 35-year-old son, Sanyog Tamang, was hopeful of bagging the ruling party ticket for Darjeeling, but was passed over. “In this family, different members belong to different parties. My mother heads ABGL, I am with Trinamool and my uncle is with JAP,” he said.

The first ever party formed to fight for a separate state of Gorkhaland (ABGL was formed in 1943 by Damber Singh Gurung) no longer features on Darjeeling’s political map.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bharti said: “But they all came and sought my blessings… We support everyone except the GJM.”

The family alleged that despite warrants issued on court orders for the 13 named in Madan’s murder, no arrests have yet been made in the case.

In the 2011 Assembly polls, riding on sympathy wave at Madan Tamang’s murder, ABGL had fielded candidates in three main hill constituencies but lost all. “The ABGL could have won then. It needed to strike the iron while it was still hot. But it did not manage to capitalize on the situation. Now, it is no longer politically important,” said a political analyst.

But Sanyog claimed a number of anomalies determined the 2011 results. “We came to know later that there were many polling booths where votes weren’t even counted. We knew we had the support of the people, but in the face of rigging, of course my mother would lose,” he said.

On a rocking chair in Rhododendron’s conservatory, where Madan Tamang would usually sit, a sketched portrait of his is kept. A shelf holds a framed certificate that says he was a member of the National Geographic Society. “Most people knew my husband as a politician. But more than a politician, who would not compromise on Gorkhaland, he was a naturalist,” said Bharti.

The couple would supply and export seeds of rohododendrons and work for hours — with no employed gardener — on the estate plantation. Now, the Tamangs have shut down the seed business. Also, shut is the tea estate they ran in Meghma — while half of the estate fell Indian side, the other fell in Nepal.

Via indianexpress


The Darjeeling Chronicle Editor's Interview That Was Never Published by Catch News

10:23 PM
TMC
In the process of their election coverage, Catch News had interviewed TheDC Editor Ms. Rinchu... but perhaps her answers were not what the national media were looking for... perhaps they wanted to hear her rants on GJM vs. JAP rivalry again, perhaps they were not happy with the fact that our editor highlighted the TMC failures instead of going on anti-GJM or anti-JAP tirade... they didn't publish the interview... so we are putting out the same...

Thanks Catch News, our time was well spent after-all

The Darjeeling Chronicle Editor's Interview That Was Never Published by Catch News

CATCH NEWS: In the past 5 years, how much development/improvement in infrastructure have you seen in Darjeeling?
RINCHU: One of the most visible signs of improvement in the infrastructure is in the sphere of road constructions; relative improvement has been seen in the road connectivity from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Our’s is perhaps the only border region in India which touches three countries Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and Tibet (China) is just beyond a hill, and yet our National Highway – 55 is shut down since 2010. Given this, we did not have a proper highway connecting Darjeeling with the rest of India. Thanks to powers that be, they repaired and widened the existing Rohini Road which has gone on to become the lifeline of Darjeeling hills. Of late we have seen slight improvements in the subsidiary road connectivity as well. Even within the Darjeeling municipality, the roads are finally being looked after, after many years of utter neglect.

Most important infrastructure development has been in terms of rural electrification, where numerous villages that had never gotten electricity finally got connected to the grid. Earlier around 167 villages did not have electricity connection in Darjeeling region, today around 60% of those villages do.

In terms of education new College buildings have been completed in Mirik and Bijanbari, and other colleges are being constructed in Pedong, and Gorubathan, model schools have been constructed in Sukna and other parts of Darjeeling hills.

In terms of Darjeeling municipality region, they have started a few pay toilets which were much needed, and over all cleanliness of the municipality region is currently being undertaken.

Other than these there have been minor improvements in terms of provisioning drinking water and proper drainage in small streams, cemented roads or stairs that reaches right up to people’s doors in rural areas and so on.

However, I must highlight that there is way more avenues and scope for improving infrastructure in our region. There are numerous villages that don’t have road connectivity, numerous villages that don’t have basic infrastructure in place – access to drinking water, proper hospitals, schools and colleges, roads and so on.

Even Darjeeling town reels under acute water-crisis every winter, and so do the town of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. So the infrastructure development we have seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg in relative terms of what needs to be done.

CATCH NEWS: How happy are the locals since the implementation of GTA?
RINCHU: To be honest, NO ONE is happy with the formation and implementation of GTA. Everyone feels that GTA is a premature baby that was thrusted upon us as a compromise, that our idiotic politicians conceded to. GTA does not fulfill any of our aspirations, and it does not do justice to the sacrifices numerous Gorkha brave-hearts have made for our nation as well as for the cause of Gorkhaland.

However, the blame primarily lies with Bengal government, as they did not live up to their side of the bargain. They did not transfer all the departments that they were supposed to, they also did not transfer the powers associated with the functioning of those departments they had transferred to GTA; they continued and have continued to interfere in the day to day running of the GTA.

Moreover, with the Bengal government establishing the so called “Development boards” on divisive ethnic lines has created a huge chasm in the hills, and these boards are being run as a proxy representation of Trinmool party in the hills.

Furthermore, Darjeeling region hasn’t seen Panchayat elections since 2005, we are perhaps the only region in India where the provision for Panchayati Raj Under Article 40 of our Constitution and guaranteed by the73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) has not been implemented. Even after the formation of GTA in 2011, the Bengal government hasn’t taken any initiative to implement Panchayat raj in our hills, which is why our rural population is suffering as none of the Central government schemes have reached our rural regions.

The youth are particularly unhappy, as the Bengal government was supposed to have established a separate Subordinate Services Commission, School Services Commission and College Services Commission for GTA region, yet in the past 5 years none of these have been done. All our educated youth are today forced to head to other parts of India or abroad for employment opportunity.

I feel that GTA is today much less powerful than the Zilla Parishad, hence none of the locals are happy with GTA.

As if that was not enough, the party in power Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ran GTA as their fiefdom and allegations of rampant corruption and nepotism abound against GTA and its functionaries.

Having said that, there is a section of population, I call them “Perpetually Optimists” that is moderately happy with GTA, as they feel that even though the real power is vested with Bengal, yet for them GTA represents (to some extent) a degree of autonomy and authority that the Gorkhas have earned for ourselves. Moreover, GTA provides a political space where we can elect our own representatives, whose aspirations align with the aspirations of the majority of the local people.

Most important of all, people are thankful that we don’t have to rely on Bengal to meet our basic needs and wants. GTA is after all something we have earned through our struggles, and to a certain extent it has kept the focus on Gorkhas and our aspiration for Gorkhaland state in the national psyche, imagine in a country with over 1.2 billion populations - that is something which we keep in mind.

CATCH NEWS: Among The Candidates In Darjeeling, Who Do You Believe Is A Better Bet For Darjeeling?
RINCHU: I think from among the choice of candidates that we have, definitely Prof. Amar Rai is hands down the best candidate for Darjeeling MLA seat. He is first an educator, and has over 35 years of experience teaching Political Science to graduate students. From what I have heard from his students, he is very popular among his students. Unlike some other “intellectuals” who require appointments to meet them made through their PAs, Prof. Rai is grounded and accessible, with no unnecessary airs or sense of “intellectualism” about himself. He is the current Chairman of the Darjeeling Municipality so he has enough administrative experience as well; moreover he is perhaps the only Municipal Chairman in Darjeeling’s history who does not use government issued vehicle. He walks to his office and back and uses his private vehicle for all his personal needs. He is widely respected and with this background he is more inspiring as compared to all other candidates.

CATCH NEWS: Do you want the TMC to find its ground in the hills? Do you think that will be good or bad or the people of the hills?
Rinchu: NO I would never want any Bengal based party to find grounds in the hills, be it TMC or earlier CPI(M), as the moment they gain power in Bengal, they tend to treat the hill people as 2nd class citizens. They tend to distort our history, narratives surrounding our place and people and threaten our language, diverse culture and tradition, our unity, question our identity – in short our very existence.

TMC, Good?? Hahaha... what worries me is the fact that TMC has already through its various proxies started to dig its roots in the hills. The formation of so called “development boards” is in and of itself an indication of how low they are willing to stoop to gain power in the hills. What the British did in India, TMC is already doing that – divide and rule. One of my main concern is that TMC is a autocratic party and has no room for dissent, we have already seen how they managed to curtail all voices of protest and dissent during the Gorkhaland agitation. We have seen how deceptive they can be in their not living up to the GTA agreement. We can feel how divisive they can be in the boards that they are forming, I fear that if TMC comes to power in the hills, then the Gorkha community will be divided in such a way that the umbrella term Gorkha which defines us will cease to exist, eventually our very existence, our history, our connections to our place will be eradicated... we will become so distorted that we will cease to exist. It will be genocide of the other kind, a more modern, a more evil and a more pervasive form of genocide.

TMC doesn’t has a fixed ideal or ideology, they are the most opportunistic and power hungry party that will never stop till it devours all that stands between them and power. Sadly some of our hill leaders, particularly of the “intellectual” variety are paving the way for TMC to walk on.

CATCH NEWS: How will the formation of Gorkhaland help the cause of the people of the hills according to you?
RINCHU: Gorkhaland statehood itself is the primary cause of the people of the hills, Terai and Dooars. In India, the Gorkhas are seen as immigrants, where as our history is proof that the majority of us did not immigrate, rather we came with the land. When someone says they are a Bengali, people in India naturally assume they are from West Bengal and no one asks them if they are from Bangladesh. If someone says they are Punjabi, people naturally assume they are from Punjab, and no one asks them if they are from Punjab in Pakistan. If someone says they are Tamil, everyone assumes they are from Tamil Nadu, and no one questions if they are from Sri Lanka. Whereas when we say we are Gorkhas, people ask us if we are from Nepal. When we say we are from Darjeeling in West Bengal, people ask us if we are Bengali, then we say no we are Gorkhas, then they ask us when did we immigrate? This is the “CRISIS OF RECOGNITION” that we have lived and continue to live with. Ironically we are asked this question even in Kolkata, which is supposed to be the capital of the state we live in. We do not have a place-based identity - Our identity was derecognized, when Bengal colonized us after absorbing our district on the 13th of April 1954.

Moreover Bengal has always treated Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars as its colonial outpost, from which they have drained out our resources and wealth for the past 7 decades without making any repatriation. We are literally to Bengal, what India was to the British, a colonial outpost meant to be plundered, robbed and pillaged from.

So formation of Gorkhaland state means restoring back our existence, our control over our land and resources, our control over the wealth that we have always created through tourism, hydro, trade and other avenues.

Our languages will get due recognition and respect. Though Nepali is one of the recognized national languages of India under the VIIIth Schedule of our Constitution, recognized so since 1992, and it is also the Official Language in West Bengal since 1961; and we can choose Nepali as an optional paper in IAS examination, yet till date we cannot opt for Nepali as an optional paper in WBCS. Our language is treated as a 2nd class language, just as we are treated as a 2nd class citizen. When Gorkhaland is formed, this discrimination towards us and our language will end.

Gorkhaland statehood will ensure that we will be able to “live the kind of life that we value living.”

CATCH NEWS: Who will you vote for and why?
RINCHU: I won’t tell you who I am voting for, but I will tell you what I am voting against. I am voting against the division of our community on the lines of development boards. I am voting against the injustice – discrimination, apathy, indifference and subjugation that our people have had to face under Bengal for decades. I am voting against the systematic and systemic marginalization of our community. I am voting against the short-sighted vision of the “intellectual” leaders. I am voting against those people who are power-hungry and put themselves before the cause of Gorkhaland. I am voting against those forces and alliances that are threatening our very existence.

I am not voting for change this time, I am voting for the continuation of the 100 year old struggle that our forefathers had initiated, so that we – the Gorkhas could live the life with dignity, equality and opportunity that our great nation has promised us.

I am voting for Gorkhaland.


Via TheDC

 
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