विमल गुरुङले दिए स्वतन्त्रता दिवसको शुभकामना अनि भने –‘हामी स्वतन्त्रतादेखि बञ्चित छौँ’

4:33 PM

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Gorkhas in India

दार्जीलिङ 14 अगस्त।
‘स्वतन्त्रता एउटा यस्तो मर्म हो जसको निम्ति हाम्रो पुर्खाहरूले सबै गुमाए, तथापी आज हामी स्वतन्त्रतादेखि बञ्चित छौँ’ उक्त कुरा गोजमुमो पार्टीका भूमिगत नेता विमल गुरुङले एक प्रेस विज्ञप्ति जारी गरेर भनेका छन्। उनले 72 औँ स्वतन्त्रता दिवसको सबैलाई शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्दै देशले स्वतन्त्रता दिवस मनाइरहेको अवस्थामा यता संविधान अनुसार छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड माग्नेहरूलाई पक्राउ र धम्काउने कार्य गरेको आरोप लगाएका छन्।

‘म सबै राष्ट्रवासीलाई अनुरोध गर्न चाहन्छु, पश्चिम बङ्गालमा हामीले भोग्दै आइरहेको तानाशाही व्यवहार, उत्पीडन अनि भेदभावपूर्ण व्यवहारको विरुद्ध तपाईँहरू हाम्रो न्याय, समानता अनि स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति लडिरहेको संघर्षमा उभिइदिनुहोस्’ विमल गुरुङले विज्ञप्तिमा अझ भनेका छन् –‘आज हामी 72 औँ स्वतन्त्रता दिवस मनाउन  गइरहेको बेला म, उत्तर बङ्गालको अल्पसङ्ख्यक गोर्खा, राजवंशी अनि आदिवासीहरूको दुर्दशाबारे राष्ट्रको ध्यानाकर्षण गराउन चाहन्चु। आज हाम्रो सबै मौलिक अधिकारहरू लगायत भारतीय संविधानको दिएको संवैधानिक सुरक्षाका प्रत्याभूइथरू पश्चिम बङ्गाल सरकारद्वारा खोसिएको छ।’

उनले देश स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति भारतीय गोर्खाहरूले आफ्ना परिवारका सदस्यहरू गुमाएको भन्दै भारतीय स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति सहिद बन्नेहरूको नाउँ समेत उल्लेख गरेका छन्। यद्यपी त्यहीँ देश स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति लड्ने गोर्खाहरूले भने आजसम्म न्याय पाउन नसकेको पनि गुरुङले दुखेसो प्रकट गरेका छन्।

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No democracy in Darjeeling: NCW chief

6:09 AM

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West Bengal

District administration denies allegation that it prevented people from meeting Rekha Sharma during her four-day visit

Observing that there was no democracy in the Darjeeling hills, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma, who concluded her four-day visit to the hills on Wednesday, said she would send her report to the President of India, Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

“During my visit I did not feel that I am in a corner of independent India… There is an attempt to suppress people. From the very day I made plans to visit the hills I was discouraged from coming here,” Ms. Sharma told journalists at Siliguri in Darjeeling district.

Shutdown ‘excesses’

She said she met about 150 complainants from Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts who alleged police excesses during the 104 days of shutdown from June to September 2017.

“I will recommend inquiry by an independent investigation agency and will summon the SPs of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and the IG of North Bengal who served during the shutdown,” she said.

Ms. Sharma alleged that the police went house to house preventing people, particularly women, from meeting her.

The Darjeeling district administration denied the allegations made by the NCW chief. “The NCW should be responsible and specific about the allegations it makes. Why should I stop anybody from meeting her? If we wanted to prevent her from meeting people, we could have stopped her at Bagdogra. She did meet a number of people in the hills,” said Joyoshi Dasgupta, the District Magistrate of Darjeeling.



Ms. Dasgupta said she was unaware of the Ms. Sharma’s visit. “There should have been a newspaper ad announcing the NCW inquiry. Had there been wide publicity, more people would have met the NCW team,” she said.

The NCW chairperson alleged that the police are occupying the houses of people who escaped facing arrest and their names are being removed from the voters’ list.

“I have seen a woman with 45 cases, a woman picked up while going to buy vegetables… In a prison I met a woman political prisoner with 70 cases against her,” she said.

Referring to a matter where a police officer was allegedly heard threatening a resident with violence, rape and burning down the house, the NCW chairperson said that the administration has done nothing in the matter. Citing the case of a woman losing one eye in tear-gas shelling, Ms. Sharma said that many women did not receive any medical intervention from the State administration after the shutdown.

I have seen a woman with 45 cases, a woman picked up while going to buy vegetables... in a prison I met a woman political prisoner with 70 cases against her

Rekha Sharma

National Commission for Women chairperson

Via The Hindu

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

2:54 PM

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West Bengal

गणतन्त्रको हनन र कालो दिन।

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

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

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

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

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

*********************************************

Black Day when democracy was crushed by West Bengal

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

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

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

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

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

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Turning Darjeeling to Syria, Not Switzerland

10:01 AM

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Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Unprecedented Brutality - Turning Darjeeling to Syria, Not Switzerland

One of our readers who belongs to the Gorkha Marwari community writes...

"With the Video I saw today in regards to protest of the people and the lathi charge ordered by the SP, it clearly shows what the state government has planned for us.

I was shocked the way the lathi charge was done.

People were protesting in a non - violent manner and when they were asked to go back they were doing so. What was the need of the SP to order the lathi Charge. Its clearly a big misuse of power. Is this why the Chief Minister carried out successive transfers ? Is this the reason why this SP was brought ? To beat the people and suppress our Fundamental Rights.

She recently said that her presence has brought Peace in The Hills.

What Kind of a Peace is this ?

She always said i will turn Darjeeling into Switzerland but i feel she is turning it into Syria.

I request everybody to hold your nerve and request the Administration not to misuse its power.

Such kind of Brutality is very dangerous in our democratic society.

Jai Mahakal Baba
Jai Hind
Jai Gorkha
Jai Gorkhaland"

[Pic via: ANI]

Via TheDC

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If this is Democracy?

7:06 AM

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West Bengal

Writes Pramod Khadka

India the world's largest democracy,the country we live and the country where democracy prevails in which power ultimately comes from the people. The rights of the individuals are protected and respected as per the Constitution of India.
But when it comes to our state so called West Bengal these democratic rights of the same individual are butchered everyday.. West Bengal government has its history of exercising hegemony among its minority community( Gorkhas); who they terms as outsiders or separatists..
Darjeeling the town which is carrying the its legacy as the 'Queen of the Hills' with its utmost beauty and peaceful endeavour has always come as a pride for Bengal. But when it comes to the people residing there Bengal has always taken a discriminatory stand since ages be it any ruling party forcing the indigenous people to raise their voice for Identity,Dignity and the separation from Bengal but the words are still unheard,unjustified and unfulfilled.
Under Article 19,the backbone of the chapter on Fundamental Rights or Personal Liberty it has guaranteed basic freedom to all citizens:
1) Freedom of speech and expression
2)assemble peacefully and without arms
3)form associations or union.

But today the Life,Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness for a Gorkha community has been cremated with the malign human right abuse committed against the people(most notably women and senior citizens)by the police authorities who were organising a peaceful rally in Darjeeling today..

So Madam! I hereby challenge your notion of Democracy(or Dictatorship in disguise) .
*If your Democracy is about glorifying the inhuman acts against the older and weaker sections of society then I resist your Democracy.
*If your Democracy is about forcefully imposing an alien language to an indigenous community whose language has been officially recognised by the Indian Constitution then I resist such Democracy.
*If your Democracy is about practising Divisive Policy and dividing the community on the racial grounds then I resist such Democracy.
*If your Democracy talks about resorting forceful agents(CRPF,Police,Army) creating an Emergency like situation then I resist such Democracy.
*If your Democracy is about practising lawlessness and suppressing the minorities of your state then I resist such Democracy.
*If your notion of Democracy is aimed against the aspirations for a separate state then I resist such Democracy.

Madam! You should know the success of a democracy depends largely on the the extent to which the civil liberties are enjoyed by the citizens in general.. But our civil liberty has been suppressed,hampered and butchered everyday by you,your authorities and by your state..
So hereby I resist the Democracy which you talks about that doesn't falls under the Constitution and which you practice in Our Hills everyday. Political equality is for all but not for the Gorkhas.. If it would have been for us we wouldn't need to beg for it... So I resist You,Your Democratic vision and Your Democratic Development..

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Darjeeling local channels banned SELECTIVE PRECAUTION of the State administration

12:36 PM

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West Bengal

The Darjeeling district administration has banned all local news channels in the hills from broadcasting news. Their logic is that sharing of news about tensions could lead to spread of violence in the region and we respect their sentiments.

However, it is the selective banning of only local channels that makes us wonder if the real purpose is for peace to prevail, or for voices of dissent to be curtailed?

While hill based channels are told not to broadcast, all channels based on KOLKATA are doing so and reporting whatever their version of truth is. This has lead to massive distortion of the events as well as caused unnecessary panic.

For instance, GJM called for 12 hour strike today, while some news channels based in Kolkata said FJM has called for indefinite strike. can you imagine the panic this has caused among the tourists and locals.

In absence of reliable local news sources people with malicious intent are spreading FAKE NEWS on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

What is happening in our region is selective blacking out of authentic local news sources, while Kolkata based news channels are allowed to report whatever they want to. This is unacceptable in a democracy.

We once again request the district administration to allow for local channels to broadcast news so that people are made aware of what is actually going on.

We once again request people to maintain peace and help and tourists.

Via TheDC

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