गरिबको घरमा अधिकारीहरूको धलिमली

 June 30th, 2012 rongotimes 

 अधिकारीहरूले गरिबको घरमा धलिमली गरिरहेको आरोप आज माकपा आञ्चलिक समिति सचिव तारा सुन्दासले लगाएका हुन्‌‌‌। सुन्दासले जनाएअनुसार, इकोनोमिक वेलफेयर सेक्सन अन्तर्गत राज्यको अघिल्लो बामपन्थी सरकारले दार्जीलिङ पहाडको निम्ति बीपीएल परिवार अनि सरकारी परियोजनाहरूबाट प्रभावित पविरारको 1500 घर निर्माण गर्न निर्देश दिएको थियो। उक्त घरहरूको छनौट दुइ सासंद अनि तीन विधायकद्वारा हुुनुपर्ने पनि निर्देश पत्रमा उल्लेख थियो। तर 4 जुलाई 2010 सालमा नै घर निर्माणको निम्ति राशी आइसकेको भएपनि जिल्लपालले भर्खरै टेण्डर नोटिस जारी गरे।

 त्यसैसमयदेखि माकपाले टेण्डर पारदर्शी रूपमा हुनुपर्छ भनेर विरोध जनाइरहेको थियो। फलस्वरूप अहिले पहिलो चरणमा दार्जीलिङ पहाडको आठवटा खण्डमा मोठ 775 घर बनाउन टेण्डर भयो। यसैमाथि आपत्ति जनाउँदै सुन्दासले भनेअनुसार गरिबको निम्ति एउटा घर 1 लाख 75 हजार रूपिँयामा बनिने भनिएको छ। तर विभागीय अधिकारीहरूको मिलिभगतमा गॉंउमा 1 लाख 10 हजार रुपिँयामा घर पूर्ण गरिने भनिँदैछ। यसमा सुन्दासले घोर आपत्ति जनॉंउदै दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा बनिने घरहरूको टेण्डर सिलगडी तिरको कन्ट्‌—याक्टरहरूले पाएकोमा पनि तिनले आपत्ति जनाएका छन्‌। एउटा खण्डमा मात्र तीन जनाले टेण्ड पाएकोमा तिनले सोझै जिल्लपालमाथि प्रहार गर्दै भने, टेण्डर पारदर्शी रूपमा भएन। अब जिल्लापाल कार्याकालमा ग्लोबल टेण्डर गरिने प्रथा हटाउनुपर्छ। ग्राम पञ्चायतमा हुने कामको टेण्डर ग्राम पञ्चायतमा नै हुनुपर्छ। जसले गर्दा धेरै वेरोगारहरूले रोगगर पाउँछन्‌ अनि काम पनि सही ढङ्गमा हुन्छ। सुन्दासले अझ भनेअनुसार गरिबको घर कस्तो बनिन्छ भनेर उनले पत्रचार मार्फत जिल्लपाललाई जनाउँदै घरको सम्पूर्ण विवरण मागेका थिए। तर प्रत्युत्तरमा जिल्लपालले आफ्नो कार्यालयमा आएर हेर्नसक्ने सुझाउ राखे। ‘मेरो घरमा छाना लाग्छ लाग्दैन, छाना खरले छाउछ कि टिनले, घर कत्रो बनिन्छ, कतिवटा कोठाको बनिन्छ भनेर श्रीखोला, याङमाखुम लिङ्‌ग्से आदिका मानिसहरू दार्जीलिङ जानु? जिल्लपाल राजा होइनन्‌। सीएमम होस्‌ कि चाहे डिएम कसैले गरीबलाई मार्दैछ भने हामी छाड्‌दैनौं। न्यायलय जन्छौं तर गरीबमारा नीति चल्न दिँदैनौं’-सुन्दासले भने। सासंद अनि विधायकहरूले घर छनौट नगरेको आरोप लगाउँदै पहिलो चरणमा बनिनलागेको घरहरूलाई लिएर पनि व्यापक जनगुनासो रहेको उनले बताए। घर सही ढङ्गमा निर्माण नहुनु, टेण्डर पारदर्शी रूपमा नहुनु अनि घर निरिक्षण कार्य सासंद र विधायकहरूले नगर्नुमा अधिकारी अनि दइचारजाना स्वार्थी तत्वहरूमाझ मिलिभगत रहेको आवश्यक परे उनले यो पनि जनताअघि खुलासा गर्ने चेतावनी दिएका छन्‌। घर निर्माणको पूर्ण विवरण सार्वजनिक गर्नुपर्ने मागमा तिनले आज पुनः जिल्लापालसमक्ष पत्रचार गरेका छन्‌।

Morcha to contest hill polls for growth

VIVEK CHHETRI T T; Darjeeling, June 30: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today announced that it would contest the elections to the hill administrative set-up next month for the “sake of infrastructure development”. The decision to participate in the July 29 polls to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha was announced by Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri after a five-hour meeting of the party’s central committee in Darjeeling. “The meeting was attended by our central committee leaders and also by Adivasi leader John Barla. It has been unanimously decided that the party will contest all 45 seats of the GTA Sabha,” Giri told a news conference. “We decided to contest the elections for the sake of infrastructure development. Moreover, (expelled Adivasi Vikas Parishad leader) Barla and the leaders of the Dooars-Terai Co-ordination Committee (of the Morcha) also spoke in favour of contesting the GTA elections,” he added. There were doubts over the Morcha’s participation in the GTA polls after the Justice Shyamal Sen committee recommended the inclusion of only five of the 396 plains mouzas that the party had demanded within the hill set-up. Morcha president Bimal Gurung had met Union home minister P. Chidambaram and chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the run-up to today’s meeting and said the talks had been “smooth”. The Morcha, however, is yet to decide if senior leaders such as Gurung would contest the elections. “During today’s meeting, it was decided that our party president would personally choose the candidates. It has not been decided whether senior leaders will contest the elections,” Giri said. A section of the Morcha leadership believes that Gurung should not enter the fray so that a message can be sent to supporters that the party is not making the GTA its final destination. Other leaders believe that without a senior leader at the helm, the GTA could find it difficult to carry out development work. Giri said the Morcha would not enter into any electoral alliance. Trinamul leader and north Bengal affairs minister Gautam Deb said his party would comment on the Morcha’s decision tomorrow. CPM leader and former minister Asok Bhattacharya said his party “knew all along” that the Morcha would contest the GTA polls.

GTA: GJMM to contest poll-Morcha to field candidates in all seats

SNS, DARJEELING/SILIGURI, 30 JUNE: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has finally decided to contest the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) election, though its president Bimal Gurung had earlier threatened to boycott the poll and announced a series of agitations over the Justice Shyamal Sen committee recommending the inclusion of only five plains mouzas in the GTA's jurisdiction.

The GJMM took the decision to contest the GTA election at its core committee meeting in Darjeeling today. The GJMM will go it alone in the poll and contest all 45 seats.

The core committee members, during the meeting, requested the GJMM president Bimal Gurung to contest the election himself. Mr Gurung said that he would take a decision on this later.

The GJMM adopted a resolution to suspend all its agitation plans and bring its relay hunger strike at Chowrasta to an end today. It will be convening a series of meeting from tomorrow onwards to decide on the nomination of candidates to contest the election.

“As the development of the Hills is the first duty of the party, our chief along with other leaders have decided to contest the election and suspend the agitation programmes,” said GJMM general secretary Roshan Giri adding: “We have already written to the state’s home department through the Darjeeling district magistrate demanding that the symbol of ‘Surya’ (sun) should be given to the party.”

The decision was made after the Morcha’s core committee members along with the John Barla-led Terai-Dooars Joint Action Committee held a lengthy meeting today on the outskirts of Darjeeling.

Mr Giri added: “We have sent a petition to the fact verification committee to look into the matter of additional mouzas to be included under the GTA's jurisdiction.”

Senior leaders of the AIGL and the CPI-M said their parties would take the decision on participation in the GTA election in a couple of days. However, the participation of the GNLF in the election is out of the question, as party president Subash Ghising has challenged the constitutional legitimacy of the GTA Act in Calcutta High Court.

Ridiculing the GJMM decision to participate in the election as another manifestation of the its 'hypocritical' statehood-posturing, AIGL vice-president Laxman Pradhan said his party would take the decision on the election in a couple of days. “Let us first see whether the Trinamul Congress takes part in the election. We will finalise our strategy after the ruling party makes its stand clear,” he said.

Senior CPI-M leader and former state minister, Asok Bhattacharya said his party would participate provided the state administration ensures an environment for a free and fair election.

राज्य सरकार बिरुद्ध गरिएको आन्दोलनको घोषणालाई तिलाञ्जलि दिएर गोजमुमोले अप्नायो चुनाउको बाटो

बिशेष प्रतिनीधि, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 30 जूनः आखिर कुन शक्ति गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको निम्ति खत्रा प्रमाणित भईरहेको छ ? अहिले उक्त प्रश्न दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा जस्तै जटिल बन्न पुगेको छ। सुवास घिसिङको 21 वर्षे शाषनलाई सहजै ध्वस्त पारेर पहाडमा आफ्नो बर्चस्व बनाउँने गोजमुमो पार्टी किन सम्पूर्ण जनताको साथ पाउँदा पनि फेल बनिरहेको छ भन्ने प्रश्न पनि उत्तिकै जटिल बनेको छ।

सम्पूर्ण पहाड लगायत भारतभरी छरिएर बसेका गोर्खाहरुको साथ पाएर सही गन्तब्यमा बडीरहेको आन्दोलन अहिले स्वेटरको धागो फुस्किए जस्तै लगातार फुस्किन्दै गईरहेको छ जसको कारण राज्य सरकारले मुखैमा बङग भङ होबेना भन्दा समेत आन्दोलनकारी नेताहरु चुईँ बोल्न सकिरहेका छैनन। संसदमा छुट्टै राज्यको आवाज बारम्बार उठाएर केन्द्र सरकारलाई जवाब दिन बाध्य बनाउँछु भन्ने हेभिवेट सांसद जसवन्त सिह चुनाव जितेर दार्जीलिङका पाहुना बनेका छन अनि बिधान सभामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवाज उठाउँन नपाए बिधानसभाबाट वक आउट गर्छु भनि गएका बिधायकहरु भने जीटीएको गुण्गान गाउँन नै व्यस्त रहेका छन। यस्तो परिस्थितिमा मोर्चाले शुरु गरेको गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनले चार् जना शहीद बनाएर पाँचवटा नयाँ मौजाहरु थपिएको क्षेत्रिय प्रशासन जीटीएमा अल्झिएको छ। जुन जीटीएमा 396 वटा प्रस्तावित मौजाहरु समेत गाभिन नसकेपछि राज्य सरकार बिरुद्ध गरिएको कार्यक्रमहरु एकाएक बन्द भएको छ। सोहि परिस्थितिमा तराई डुवर्सको प्रस्तावित 396 वटा मौजाहरुबाट केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र जीटीएमा गाभिनसक्ने हाईपावर कमिटिले राज्य सरकारलाई सिफारिस गरेपछि आक्रोशित बनेको गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले अन्तत: तराई डुवर्सको भू-भाग अन्तर्भुक्ति हुन अघि नै चुनाव लडने घोषणा गरेको छ।

हाईपावर कमिटिले केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र गाभिन सक्ने सिफारिस गरेपछि फ्याक्ट भेरिफिकेशन कमिटिको हातमा पुगेको जाँच कार्यले कति सम्म मौजाहरु थप जीटीएमा गाभिन सक्ने सिफारिस गर्ने हो भन्ने कुरा निश्चित हुन अगावै मोर्चाले चुनाव लड्ने घोषणा गरेपछि अब तराई डुवर्सको मौजाहरुलाई मोर्चाले तिलाञ्जली दिएर चुनावको बाटो पहिल्याएका हुन कि भन्ने गम्भिर प्रश्न खडा भएको छ। दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा गोर्खा राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा (गोरामुमो) प्रमुख सुवास घिसिङको 21 वर्षे एकक्षत्र शाषणलाई ध्वस्त पार्दै नयाँ राजनैतिक पार्टीको रुपमा जन्मेको गोजमुमो पार्टीले चलाएको 44 महिना आन्दोलनले छुट्टै राज्य ल्याउँन नसकेपनि उपलब्धिको रुपमा जीटीए हात पारेको छ। जुन जीटीएलाई मोर्चाले छुट्टै राज्य प्राप्तिको निम्ति सिडी हो भनि बारम्बार दाबी गर्दै आईरहेको छ। गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य प्राप्तिको बाटोमा मोर्चाले सिडीँ भनेर दाबी गरेको जीटीएमा पहिले तराई डुवर्सको भू-भाग एक ईञ्च पनि नछोड्ने ठोकुवा गरिरहेको थियो भने पछि गएर गोर्खा बहुल मौजाहरुको कुरामा अल्झेको थियो। यस्तो परिस्थितिमा समस्याको समाधान गर्न गठन गर्न गठन भएको हाईपावर कमिटिले मोर्चाको चाहना बिपरीत केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र जीटीएमा गाभिन सक्ने राज्य सरकारलाई सिफारिस गरेपछि गोजमुमो पार्टीले राज्य सरकार बिरुद्ध एकाधिक कार्यक्रमहरु घोषणा समेत गरेको थियो। हाईपावर कमिटिले जीटीएमा केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र गाभिन सक्ने राज्य सरकारलाई सिफारिस गरेपछि आक्रोशित बनेका मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले एकाधिक कार्यक्रमहरुको घोषणा गरेपनि उक्त कार्यक्रमहरु राज्य सरकारलाई आक्रोशमा देखाएको केवल धम्कि मात्र बनेको छ। तिनले राज्य सरकार बिरुद्ध कार्यक्रमको घोषणा गदै पहाडको चारवटै नगरपालिकाहरुबाट नगरअध्यक्ष लगायत सबै वार्ड पार्षद्हरुले राजिनामा दिने घोषणा गर्दै आगामी 2 जुलाई देखि 72 घण्टा बन्द गर्ने समेत घोषणा गरेका थिए। उक्त कार्यक्रमहरु गर्दा समेत राज्य सरकारले पत्यार नदिए चारजना बिधायकहरुलाई राजीनामा दिन लगाउँने घोषणा संगै जीटीएको सम्झौता पत्र जलाउँने घोषणा गरेका थिए जुन घोषणाहरु मोर्चाले जीटीए चुनावमा भाग लिने घोषणा गरेपछि केवल राज्य सरकारलाई तर्साउँन फोकटमा दिएको धम्कि मात्र थियो भन्ने प्रमाणित भएको छ।

अवकाश प्राप्त न्यायधिस श्यामल सेनको नेतृत्वमा रहेको हाईपावर कमिटिले जीटीएमा पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र गाभिन सक्ने सिफारिस गरेपछि आत्तिएको मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले दिल्ली र कोलकोताको यात्रा सकेर फर्किन्दा बाघडुग्रा हवाई अड्डामा पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै अहिले मुख्य मन्त्रीसंग राम्रो वार्ता चलिरहेको समयमा आन्दोलनको कुनै आवश्यक्ता छैन भन्नुको साथै तराई डुवर्सको भू-भाग जीटीएमा कति गाभिन सक्ने कुराको कुनै छिनाफाना नभई चुनावको बाटोमा जाने घोषणाले हात्तिको देखाउँने दाँत र् खाने दाँत बेग्ला बेग्लै हुन्छ भने जस्तै मोर्चाको “कथनी र करणी” मा पृथक रहेको स्पष्ट बनेको छ। शुरुका दिनहरुमा छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक कुनै पनि बिकल्पहरुमा सम्झौता गर्न नचाहने गोजमुमो पार्टीलाई जीटीएमा सम्झौता गराउँन राज्य सरकार सफल बनेपछि प्रत्येक पाईलाहरुमा अझै लडाउँन सफल बन्दै गईरहेको समयमा पुन: यसपल्ट तराई डुवर्सको भूभागबारे फ्याक्ट भेरिफिकेशन कमिटिको रिपोर्ट सार्वजनिक हुन अघि नै मोर्चाले चुनाउको बाटो रोजेपछि राज्य सरकारले आफ्नो कुट्नैतिक चालमा ठूलै सफलता हात पारेको स्पष्ट भएको छ।

चुनाउको चटारोमा पहाड : जीटीएमा तराई डुवर्सको भू भाग के होला ?

डी के वाइबा,  कालेबुङ, 28 जूनः दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा गोरामुमो पार्टीको 21 वर्षे शाषणलाई ध्वस्त पार्दै जन्मेको राजनैतिक दल गोजमुमोलाई लगाम लगाउँन राज्यको तृणमुल सरकारले अन्तत: जीटीएको चुनाव गर्ने मिति घोषणा गरेको छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई दबाएर क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन जीटीएमा सम्झौता गराउँने मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले अब जीटीएको चुनाउ पहाडमा गराए टाउको दुखाई समेत बन्द गर्ने पाईला चाल्न सुरु गरेकी छिन।

जीटीएमा गोजमुमो पार्टीले तराई डुवर्सको मोठ 396 वटा मौजाहरु दाबी गरिरहेको समयमा समस्याको समाधान गर्न गठन भएको हाईपावर कमिटिले केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु मात्र गाभिन सक्ने सिफारिस गरेपछि समस्या समाधान हुनको साटो अझ जटिल बन्न पुगेको थियो। यसै क्रममा जीटीए थाप्ने दल गोजमुमो पार्टीले नै हाईपावर कमिटिको रिपोट खारेज गरेर आन्दोलन गर्ने घोषणा गरेपछि ममता ब्यानर्जीले मोर्चा नेताहरुलाई कोलकोतामा बोलाई बैठक गरेर कमिटिमाथि कमिटि बसाउने घोषणा गरिसकेकी छिन। अवकाश प्राप्त न्यायधिस श्यामल सेनले तयार पारेको रिपोर्ट पुन: जाँच गर्न अर्को कमिटि बसाउँने घोषणा गरिसकेपछि गोजमुमो नेताहरु तराई डुवर्सको थप मौजाहरु जीटीएमा गाभिने कुरालाई लिएर आशावादी बनेका छन। हाईपावर कमिटिको रिपोर्ट जाँच गर्न गठन भएको अर्को कमिटिले रिपोर्ट कहिले सुम्पने हो भन्ने कुराको कुनै निश्चितता नभएको समयमा राज्य सरकारले जीटीएको चुनाउको तारिक घोषणा गरेपछि पहाडमा चुनावी हावा तातिन थालेको छ।

एकातिर पहाडमा राज्य सरकारले यथाशिघ्र जीटीए सभाको चुनाव गराएर आफ्नो टाउको दुखाई बन्द गर्न खोजिरहेको छ भने अर्कोतिर जीटीए थाप्ने गोजमुमो पार्टीले भने चुनावमा भाग लिने नलिने भन्ने बिषय अझसम्म कुनै निर्णय लिन सकेको छैन। हाईपावर कमिटिको रिपोर्ट प्रति असन्तुष्टि जताउँन दिल्ली पुगेका मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङ दार्जीलिङ आईपुगेपछि मात्र केन्द्रिय समितिको बैठक बसेर चुनाव बारे निर्णय लिने भएको छ भने तराई डुवर्सको भबिष्य के हुने भन्ने कुरामा भने अझ कुनै निश्चित हुन सकेको छैन। हाईपावर कमिटिको रिपोर्ट प्रति असन्तुष्ट जताउँन दिल्ली पुगेका मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले जीटीएको चुनावमा भाग लिने दिल्लीबाटै सङकेत दिएका छन। तिनले चुनावमा भाग लिए मोर्चाले मोठ 45 वटै आशनमा सहजै विजय गर्ने दाबी समेत गरिसकेका छन तर यसबारे निर्णय भने केन्द्रिय समितिको बैठक बसेर लिने भएको छ।

मोर्चाले 44 महिना आन्दोलन गरेर उपलब्धिको रुपमा ल्याएको जीटीए सभाको चुनाव गराउँन राज्य सरकारर तयार हुनको साथै चुनावको मिति समेत घोषणा गरिसको परिस्थितिमा यदि मोर्चालेनै चुनावमा भाग नलिए आन्दोलनको उपलब्धिको रुपमा बल्ल बल्ल ल्याएको जीटीएको सत्ता अन्य राजनैतिक दलहरुको हातमा निश्चित रुपले जाँनेछ जुन कुरा मोर्चाले कुनै पनि परिस्थिमा चाहने छैन। मोर्चाले जीटीएको सत्ता आफ्नो हातबाट फुत्किन नदिने चाहना राखेको भए पनि सोझै चुनावको बाटोमा जान भने कठिन देखिन्छ। केहि महिना अघि मात्र गोजमुमो प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले तराई डुवर्स जीटीएको मुटु हो भनेका थिए भने यदि तराई डुवर्सको केवल पाँचवटा मौजाहरु लिएर मात्र मोर्चा जीटीएमा सन्तुष्ट बने राजनैतिक ईमान्दारीता समेत रहनेछैन भन्ने डुवर्सबासीको आक्रोश समेत झेल्न पर्ने स्थिति देखा पर्ने व्यापक सम्भावना रहेको छ। यस्तो परिस्थितिमा एकातिर राज्य सरकार मोर्चालाई लगाम कस्न हरेक क्षेत्रबाट माछालाई दुवाली थुने जस्तै गरिरहेको छ भने मोर्चा भने प्रत्येक रणनीतिहरुमा चुक्दै गईरहेको छ।

यता छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई कुट्नैतिक चाल चलेर दबाउँन सफल बनेकी मुख्य ममता ब्यानर्जीले अब चुनाव गरेर पहाडमा घरी घरी सल्किरहने छुट्टै राज्यको मागलाई दबाउँने योजना तयार पारेकी छिन। दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा जीटीएको चुनावलाई माध्यम बनाएर ‘साँप पनि मर्ने, लठ्ठी पनि नभाँचिने’ रणनीति बनाएर तिनले बिभिन्न कुटनैतिक योजनाहरु तयार पारेर मोर्चा नेतृत्वहरुलाई काबुमा ल्याउँन समेत कुटनैतिक चाल चलिरहेको बिशेष श्रोत मार्फत थाह लागेको छ। एकातिर राज्य सरकारले कुटनैतिक चाल चलेर मोर्चालाई छेकारा काट्ने काम गरिरहेको छ भने अर्कोतिर जीटीएको चुनावलाई लिएर मोर्चा भित्रै पनि आपसी सहमति बन्न गाह्रै परिरहेको छ। जसको कारण अन्तिम निर्णय लिन डाकेको केन्द्रिय समितिको बैठकहरुको मिति समेत एकाधिक पल्ट पछि सर्दै गईरहेको छ।

GTA ELECTION ON 29TH JULY

mukesh sharma :The West Bengal government today announced election to the Gorkhaland T erritorial Administration (GTA), the proposed new council in Darjeeling which will run the administration in the hills, on July 29.

Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, who is also secretary to the Hill
Affairs Department, issued the notification for the election of members to the new body of GTA, which will replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.It said that there would be 45 single-member constituencies and the extent of which has already been delimited and published.The last date for filing of nominations is July 9, date of scrutiny would be the next day and last date for withdrawal is on July 12.Counting would be taken up on August 2, it said.Hours of polling would be between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm.The notification also said that EVMs would be used for election in 685
polling stations under GTA.Armed police and general observers would be deployed based on the
assessment of ground situation and model code of conduct would be applicable from the date of notification.
The election date has been announced at a time when a 5-member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation, headed by its president Bimal Gurung, would meet Union Home minister P Chidambaram in Delhi on Tuesday over the recommendations of Justice (retd) Shyamal Sen Committee. The GJM has expressed disappointment that the committee has recommended only five Gorkha dominated mouzas, an area less than a subdivision, in the Terai and Doars in the plains of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling district against its demand for 396.The tripartite accord with the GJM, Centre and the state government was signed in July 18 last year in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and GJM chief Bimal Gurung at Pintail village, near Siliguri. Among its salients points were that the central and state governments and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, keeping on record the GJM demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, agreed to form an autonomous body -- the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration -- through direct elections. The autonomous self-governing body would administer the region so that the socio-economic infrastructural, educational, cultural and linguistic development was expedited and the ethnic ideas of the Gorkhas established. The GTA Bill was passed in the state assembly on September 2 last year.

Gurung to meet PC, Mamata

Gurung to meet PC, Mamata

Gurung in Darjeeling on Sunday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

VIVEK CHHETRI, Darjeeling, June 24: Bimal Gurung today said he would personally meet P. Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee and Mamata Banerjee before taking the final call on contesting the GTA elections in what seems like a signal that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president wants more time to decide on the statehood agitation.
Gurung was expected to announce a series of protest meetings, but he did not. Instead he said: “Many of the speakers (party leaders) want to contest the elections. It is not necessary to take a resolution on this issue today.”
The chief said he would leave for New Delhi tomorrow “and will meet Union home minister P. Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee. I will try and seek an appointment with Mamata Banerjee”.
Gurung, who held a meeting with the Morcha central committee, the study forum and the party’s representatives from the Terai and Dooars, said he wanted to “personally” hear from the leaders about their thoughts on the three-member fact-finding committee that the state has formed to look into the Morcha’s demands to bring more territory under the GTA, besides the five mouzas included by the Justice Shyamal Sen committee. “I want to personally know whether this three-member committee… is merely an eyewash or a serious attempt to redress our grievances,” Gurung said.
The Delhi delegation would comprise Gurung, Morcha central committee members Ram Bhujel, P.T. Ola and Amar Singh Rai and Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma.
About the state government’s stand on holding the elections in July, Gurung said: “It is the state government’s call on whether to hold the elections or not. As a political party, it will be our decision whether to contest or not. We will take our stand after meeting the leaders and discussing it with our party’s central leadership.”
Gurung also said today that he had no problems if “those leaders wanting to contest the elections went ahead” as it was better “if they (Morcha leaders) are at the helm of affairs (in the GTA) instead of the leaders of the CPRM, AGBL or the Trinamul”. He did not clarify if these leaders would contest as Independents backed by the Morcha in case the party decided not to contest.
Gurung maintained that his party would always stand by its supporters in the plains. “I have always maintained that the Dooars and Terai are integral parts of the demand and we will never let them down. However, we have to be practical while taking decisions and working out the political strategies,” he said. Some observers read in this a hint that Gurung may seek more seats from the plains to the GTA. At present, five nominated seats are supposed to be given to the plains.

Gurung to leave for Delhi to discuss 'mouza' with home minister

Deep Gazmer, TNN, Jun 25, 2012, DARJEELING: Unhappy with the recommendations of Justice Shyamal Sen on inclusion of new areas in the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung has decided to go to Delhi and Kolkata on Monday. Gurung wants to know the opinion of ministers at the Centre and chief minister Mamata Banerjee before announcing an agitation programme.

Finding itself in a spot Unhappy with the Finding itself in a tight corner with over the recommendations made by retired Justice Shyamal Sen for inclusion of new areas in the GTA, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung, now has himself decided to go to Delhi and Kolkata to feel the pulse before announcing the party's agitation program.

On the sidelines of the party's meeting with its frontal organizations and units from the Terai and Dooars regions over the land issue, Gurung announced that he will lead a five-member delegation to Delhi on Monday to meet Union home minister P Chidambaram and Congress presidential nominee, Pranab Mukherjee, in line to become the next President.

"I will go to Delhi myself and meet the Union home minister and the present finance minister. I will discuss the issue of the Sen-committee report and see for myself the opinions and views of these leaders," said Gurung.

The five-member delegation includes Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, Darjeeling Municipality chairman Amar Singh Rai and central committee leaders Ram Bhujel and Pemba Tsering Ola.

The GJM chief without mentioning the day also said he will meet the Bengal CM on his way back. "I will meet the CM on my way back from Delhi to discuss one-on-one the issue of the fact verification committee that has been formed. I will also talk to Mamata Banerjee about the Shyamal Sen report that is completely biased," said Gurung.

With the Shyamal Sen committee report going against the demand of the party and the state government deciding to hold the finding itself, in a tight spot with the state government ready to hold the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (election to the GTA in July, the GJM president has decided to tackle the situation by leading from the front.)

This is the first time after signing of the GTA agreement in July last year that Gurung has decided to lead a delegation. It has always been the GJM general secretary or the MLAs that would lead delegation to Delhi on important matters.

The GJM had earlier said that the party's future programme vis-a-vis the Shyamal Sen report will be announced on June 24. But, the GJM president said on Sunday that all programmes will be announced after his return from Delhi and Kolkata.

"I will first meet the central ministers and the Bengal CM, to get to know their views personally. Our central committee, frontal organizations and units of Terai and Dooars will then hold a meeting following which I will announce the programmes," said Gurung.

Commenting on the issue of the state government issuing a notification for holding the GTA election, the GJM leader said, "It is the government's job to issue notification, but to participate or not is our decision. I promise the people of Terai and Dooars that I will not betray them".

Morcha divided; to meet PC, Pranab

ENS, Kolkata, Mon Jun 25 2012: The meeting of the central committee of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), convened at Darjeeling today to decide whether the party should take part in the elections for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), ended in a stalemate.

The party is vertically divided, admitted Harka Bahadur Chhetri, MLA and spokesman for the GJM. “The meeting ended in a stalemate. There is a sharp difference of opinion,” Chhetri said.

The party now seems to have lobbed the ball in the Centre’s court as a five-member delegation of the Morcha led by president Bimal Gurung will leave for Delhi tomorrow to meet Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. On their way back, they will meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.

While one section of the Morcha expressed its desire to go ahead with the agitation following rejection of the Justice Shyamal Sen Committee report that allotted only five mouzas of Terai and Dooars to GTA, another section firmly rooted for election, saying development of the region came first. This section does not want the hills to be rocked by turbulence again.

Another issue that remains unresolved is whether the four GJM MLAs would attend the Assembly session. “We have been instructed not attend the session,” Chhetri added.

BRO’s widening work causes inconvenience at NH 31A

KALIMPONG,MUKESH SHARMA

The residents alongside the National Highway (NH) 31A has complained about the pathetic condition of the Highway which is looked upon by the Border Road Organization (BRO). Along with the deteriorating condition due to the monsoons the road widening work is another add on to the traffic congestion on the NH 31A. Every day hordes of vehicles from Kalimpong and Sikkim can be seen lined up in the jam.

Speaking on this context, the Himalaya Forest Village Organization (HFVO) has said that the widening work between Kali Jhora, Rambi and Riyag should not have been initiated during the monsoon season, because this is also one of the major causes which triggers landslide. Only yesterday a huge tree lied uprooted at Kali Jhora blocking the Highway and bringing the traffic to a standstill. Also during yesterday night massive boulders blocked the way at Rambi and Riyag.

The Organization further complained that the BRO brings in heavy machinery for their work but after they are used, they keep it beside the road instead of taking them back. This is also one of the factors which contribute in traffic congestion for they occupy most of the space. Hence, the cautioned the BRO to work properly keeping in mind the convenience of the people or else the NH 31 A residents will be compelled to forcibly shut down BRO’s work. And also they will demand for a different company for the road maintenance if the BRO’s work does not function properly. 

Pratidin Channel celebrates its 1st anniversary

MUKESH SHARMA: KALIMPONG, June 23: In terms of journalism the Kalimpong Sub Division is regarded much advanced in the whole of Darjeeling District. The Kalimpong Pratidin Channel today celebrated its 1st anniversary under the Presidentship of the Principal of Clooney College, Dr RB Bhujel and under the leadership of journalist Khadka Chettri at Ramkrishna Rang Manch. Representatives of various political parties, authorities of different organizations and representatives of NGOs were present during the celebrations. On the occasion, the Pratidin family also honoured the family of Late Nirman Rai, a journalist of Himalchuli and Janpath newspapers who was brutally murdered on April 10, 1988 during the end of 1986 Gorkhaland agitation. It may be recalled that the brave journalist’s part of a body was found at near Damber Chowk on April 12, 1988. Late Rai’s sister, Krishna Kumari Rai was presented with a eulogy letter, shawl and a memento marking a tribute to him. Also during the celebrations, the 12th edition of Paryawaran Chetna was also released which is being published under journalist Bhuwan Khanal. The programme was coordinated by Sita Ram Kafley. The school students along with the children and artists of various Dance organizations also presented a cultural dance programme.

Left demands CM statement on GTA, walks out

SNS, KOLKATA, 21 JUNE: Left Front MLAs walked out from the state Assembly today demanding that chief minister Mamata Banerjee give a statement on the latest developments pertaining to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

They also alleged that the chief minister was showing utter disregard for the House by her “continuous absence” from it

Trouble began at 12.05 p.m. when CPI-M MLA and former minister, Mr Anisur Rehman wanted to know when the chief minister will apprise the House about developments relating to the GTA. When the speaker, Mr Biman Banerjee, didnt give much weight to their demand, Mr Rehman and other Left Front MLAs stood up from their seats and drew close to the Speaker's chair pressing for their demand. They also shouted some slogans, inviting some repartee from the Treasury Bench.

With the chaos still continuing at 12.12 p.m., the Speaker chose to take a break and the deputy speaker Sonali Guha assumed charge. At this point, continuing with the sloganeering, all Left MLAs walked out of the House. “On 18 June, the House was assured that the CM will make a statement on the GTA soon. But even after three days we are clueless as Miss Banerjee is not coming to the House. We are now hearing that she will not come tomorrow as well. What are we suppose to tell people as to what is happening ,” Mr Rehman said. The Left MLAs warned that if the government continues in this vein they would go for a bigger movement. However, the Opposition members later rejoined the Assembly session.

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration elections before board formation: CM

TNN, KOLKATA, June 23, 2012: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would be held prior to the formation of its board. Making a statement in the state assembly, she pointed out that the delimitation notification has been issued on June 21. The CM's statement comes on the wake of walkouts staged by Left legislators demanding her statement on the issue.

She said a 10-member high powered committee, headed by Justice (Retd) Shyamal Sen, had submitted its report to the government in May, this year. "This report was put up in the state government website and laid on the floor of the assembly on June 19. The GJM has raised some questions on the factual aspects of the report. Thereafter, a fact verification committee was formed," she said.

The three-member panel is headed by Manoj Agarwal. "I would take this opportunity to congratulate Shyamal Sen for the good work they've done. Some may like it, others may not. But in parliamentary democracy, there are some ethics. All voices should be heard," she said.

Police blames Municipality for the threat posed by landslide ‘No further construction of the shopping complex will proceed’- Pariyar

After facing much disagreement by the locals of the area, the Municipality still went further and started the initial construction work of the Shopping Complex near the Novelty Cinema Hall. But the continuous rainfall within the last few days plus the Wednesday night’s heavy rainfall has triggered a second landslide as it counts only 10 days of construction, where the mud cutting work was on full swing. Now the Shopping Complex project amounting Rs 2 crores is causing much inconvenience to the people. The landslide spot located in between the Sub Divisional Library and Police Quarters, is now posing a threat to one of the buildings of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) along with the Court Inspector and the FI Quarters. The Sub Divisional Police has directly blamed the Kalimpong Municipality for the threat caused by the landslide.

On behalf of the Sub Divisional Police, the Kalimpong Sub Divisional ASP Songmit Lepcha, Kalimpong Police Station In charge Prasad Pradhan, FI Dipen Tamang along Kalimpong Municipality Chairman LB Pariyar, Kalimpong Sub Divisional Officer LN Sherpa, Kalimpong MLA Dr HB Chettri visited and inspected the landslide spot.

After the review, Kalimpong Municipality Chairman LB Pariyar said no further construction will be done from today and the municipality will lay total stress on construction of protection wall.

Technical aspects were not undertaken during mud cutting as a fresh landslide occurred on the 13^th of this month after which Darjeeling SP had also visited the spot and the Municipality started construction of protection wall. Wednesday night heavy rainfall swept away the protection wall which has added much misery to the Municipality. The future rains can even prove to be fatal expressed the locals.

Language cry in college - Morcha wants Nepali course, Parishad Hindi

TT-Siliguri, June 21: Aspirations tied to identity have found expression in competing demands to teach Nepali and Hindi at the undergraduate level in Naxalbari College in Terai which has a substantial number of Gorkhas as well as Adivasis. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has demanded that the college include Nepali as an undergraduate-level course for Gorkha students, while the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad wants Hindi as a subject from this session. Both sides have warned of agitation if the college, situated in an area from which the Naxalite movement got its name, refuses to accede to either demand. College authorities spoke to the North Bengal University about the matter after which a varsity team visited the institution recently. A college source said a proposal has been sent to the NBU to start courses in both the languages but “no final approval has reached to us.” “We need more teachers. The new students opting for these two language courses, however, can be accommodated within the existing rooms,” a faculty member said. But the source pointed out that less than a month remained for the new session to begin, expressing doubt whether two courses can be launched in such a short time. “The vice-chancellor is likely to table the proposal at the next executive council meeting in July,” Subrata Sanyal, the inspector of colleges in NBU, said. The college can start courses only after the executive council clears its proposal. Some observers are sensing political undertones in the demands. The Morcha has been under pressure to pacify disgruntled supporters after the Justice Shyamal Sen committee kept most Terai mouzas out of the new hill set-up. Besides, the hill party has not been able to address the day-to-day problems of their supporters in the Terai. On the other hand, the Adivasi parishad has been accused of focusing on the Dooars and remaining oblivious to issues in the Terai. The demand for the language course is being seen as part of its attempt to address Terai issues. Naxalbari College, around 30km from Siliguri, is the only college for students in three blocks of the Terai. Students from Mirik also study there. There are only three full-time teachers, the rest are part-time and visiting faculty. In all, 1,000 students read humanities in Naxalbari College. “The college is an important educational institution in the Terai as a substantial number of Gorkha students living in rural areas of Siliguri subdivision and some parts of the hills study here,” said Shankar Adhikari, the Terai committee president of the Morcha. “We want the college and the North Bengal University to introduce Nepali as a course, both for pass and honours students, from current session. If Gorkha students are deprived of the option to study Nepali in the local college, we would be left with no other option but to launch a movement,” Adhikari said. The Parishad wants Hindi to be taught to students who come from tribal families to Naxalbari College. Most tribals in the nearby blocks are tea garden workers. “We have been demanding the introduction of Hindi in all Terai and Dooars colleges, the Naxalbari College being one of them. The Naxalbari block is dotted with over 25 tea estates where tribals work. The children from their families want to study Hindi in pass and honours courses,” said Rajesh Toppo, the organising secretary of the Parishad’s state committee. “If the institution fails to introduce it by this session, we will launch a movement across Terai,” Toppo said. He added that Parishad members would meet governor M.K. Narayanan in Calcutta on July 5, where the issue of teaching Hindi in the college would be raised. “We will request him to advise the varsity to start the course in Naxalbari College.”

Bharat Chetri counts on Nobbs effect

Arup Chatterjee, TNN | Jun 20, 2012: KOLKATA: Bharat Chetri's Bengal connection was celebrated on Tuesday as the state government felicitated sporting achievements of 'sons and daughters of the soil'. The Indian hockey skipper, who flew in for the function, was quick to see a link within that link.

"The last time a hockey goalkeeper from the state went to the Olympics, he brought back gold. I'm hoping I can do the same," smiled the Kalimpong born-and-bred Chetri, referring to Bir Bahadur Chettri's stint at the 1980 Moscow Games.

Of course, Chetri knows that competitions are not won on coincidences, and he is quick to point out that his team has prepared well for the quadrennial showpiece. He feels the new no-nonsense style they have adopted under coach Michael Nobbs and the stress on fitness will hold them in good stead.

"We used to play defensive hockey. Now we play an attacking game and try to get into the 'D' as often as possible. The more you move into the circle, the more are your chances to score. And that wins matches," Chetri said, adding: "Our style makes great demands on fitness and this is where David John, our trainer from Australia, has been such a huge influence. He has taken us to a higher plane, and we'll be among the fittest teams on the pitch when the Olympics begin."

Does India have the sort of intensity and consistency needed to do well in long tournaments like the one at the Olympics? "We have done well in recent tournaments like Azlan Shah and Champions Trophy, but I agree that there have been fluctuations in form. But that is because of a lack of fitness, when we often didn't recover enough in the one or two days between matches. I think we have addressed that problem now with our stress on stamina and strength. If we play to 70-80 per cent of our potential, we should be in the semis," he added, acknowledging the presence of Germany and Holland in India's group with "they are strong but we have also planned on how to play them, so we'll see."

Chetri reminded that as the goalkeeper, he has always had to take a leader's role, getting the whole picture from his position and shouting out directions to the players. "It's a special honour leading the country at the Olympics, but it'll be about the team," he said.

On the question of penalty corners and drag-flickers, Chetri responded with "we have let in very few goals from PCs in the last one year" even as he ticked Sandeep Singh and VR Raghunath as the "best in the business now" - embellishing his view by responding to a question with "Sohail (Abbas) was the best, but he can't match Sandeep and Raghunath at the moment".

He is, however, quick to stress that it won't be about individuals. "I think that if we are to win matches, we'll have to do so as a team," he said. I think we have a very balanced side. It's a combination of youth and experience in the side. "If we can reproduce 70-80 per cent of our abilities on the pitch, I am confident we'll get the results."

The failure to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games, the only time India didn't have a hockey team at the Olympics, did rankle but Chetri stressed it was time to move on. "That was a very sad day when we made (dubious) history. When we played in the qualifiers this time in Delhi (in February), we got together and said this mustn't happen again. You saw the intensity and the team game there... we beat France 8-1 in the final. We have put that behind us; now it's time for London."

It's time to bury the ghosts of Santiago.

(To know about Bharat see exclusive video produced by Dainandini a unit of KalimNews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBhPruaXxpc  )
TOI, KOLKATA: Bharat Chetri, who will lead the Indian hockey team at next month's London Olympics, was among the 556 sportpersons who were awarded with a total purse of Rs 30 lakh during a felicitation ceremony by the West Bengal government at the Netaji Indoor stadium on Tuesday.
The Darjeeling-born Chetri along with 25 former sportpersons of international repute were given INR 50,000 each.
There were also cash rewards for 530 sportpersons who had won medals at various age-group events at the national level.
"We want to encourage the budding sportpersons of this state. We hope they go on to achieve something and remember this day as a milestone in their respective careers," Sports Minister Madan Mitra said.
The Awardees: Rahul Banerjee (archery), Ramnath Banerjee (paralympic athletics), Shakti Majumder (boxing), Naresh Kumar (tennis), Sobhita Chatterjee (shooting), Laxmikanta Das (weightlifting), Shabbir Ali, Prodyut Barman, Sanat Seth, Arun Ghosh, Prasanta Sinha, Paltu Roy, Ahmed Khan (football), Kuntal Roy, Pranab Banerjee (athletics), Bholanath Guin (kabaddi and weightlifting), Indu Puri (table tennis), Keshav Dutt, Yashvant Rajput, Bharat Chetri (hockey), Gorachand Sil, Suhash Chatterjee (waterpolo), Subrabhat Chakraborty, Tarit Sett (cycling); Posthumously: Monotosh Roy (body building), Sachin Nag (swimming).

HC allows Ghisingh GTA plea - Affidavit order for govts & Morcha

TT, Calcutta, June 19: Calcutta High Court today admitted the case moved by Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subash Ghisingh who has challenged the legality of the government’s move to set up the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

Justice Dipankar Dutta told the three signatories to the GTA agreement — the Centre, the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha — to file affidavits stating their stand on Ghisingh’s contention.

“All three parties would have to file affidavits in two weeks’ time,” Justice Dutta said. “After that, the petitioner (Ghisingh) would reply to their affidavits in another week’s time. After that, the hearing will resume on July 20.”

Ghisingh’s counsel Arunava Ghosh said his client’s contention was that after the DGHC Act was passed in 1988, the Constitution was amended in order to make the panchayat structure two-tiered in the DGHC areas of Darjeeling district.

This was done to remove the zilla parishad, the highest tier in the panchayat structure, so that its authority did not clash with the DGHC. This amendment was carried out in 1993, the counsel said.

However, the GTA Act passed last year made the panchayat structure a three-tier one. But no constitutional amendment was brought on this, he said.

Ghosh argument that the Darjeeling hills would continue to have a two-tiered panchayat structure while the GTA Act in the absence of an amendment, even though the GTA states that once the new hill body comes into existence, the panchayat structure will become three-tier.

“Since a state act cannot supersede or override the Constitution, so the Constitutional amendment made in 1993 continues to prevail till such time as another amendment is brought,” Ghosh said.

“This is why our stand is that the new GTA Act is unconstitutional and therefore invalid.”

Ghosh prayed today that the GTA Act should be set aside the and that till the disposal of Ghisingh’s case, the court should pass an interim order restraining the government from giving effect to the act.

Ghisingh’s counsel also pleaded that till the case is not , the court should order that the DGHC be allowed to continue.

As soon as the court began its hearing today, government pleader Ashok Banerjee requested the court not to hear the case today as it was “unprepared” and needed more time to study the petition. However, Justice Dutta said that it was giving the government two weeks’ time to submit its affidavit.

“I am not going to listen to your submission today. So you have enough time to prepare yourself,” the judge said.

Advocate Sanjay Bakshi appeared on behalf of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and said that his client had received a copy of the petition only last night. “It is not possible for us to make our submission overnight,” Bakshi told the court. “Please give us more time.”

Justice Dutta repeated what he had told the state government and said that they had two weeks to file their affidavit.

There was no lawyer in court to represent the Centre. Justice Dutta told the court officials to communicate to the central government that they, too, would have to submit their affidavit in two weeks’ time. The state government hopes to conduct the elections to the GTA in July.

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आन्दोलनको विफलता र गोर्खाल्याण्डको विकल्प

आन्दोलनको विफलता र गोर्खाल्याण्डको विकल्प

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सम्पूर्ण भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको अस्तित्व र राष्ट्रियताको कवच मानेर छोड़िएको गोर्खाल्याण्डरूपी आन्दोलनको तीरले कहिले लक्ष्य भेट्‌न सकेन। लक्ष्यमा पुग्न अघि नै यसलाई व्यक्तिगत स्वार्थ र क्षेत्रीय आकांक्षाको ढाल उचालेर रोकियो। 86 को घिसिङ नेतृत्वको आन्दोलन होस्‌ या 2007 विमल नेतृत्वको आन्दोलन। दुवै क्षेत्रीय व्यवस्थामा नै आएर अड़किएपछि सम्पूर्ण भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको परिचय र अस्तित्व बोक्ने कवच मानिएको गोर्खाल्याण्ड पनि खुम्चिएर क्षेत्रीय बन्न गयो। अब गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दा एक करोड़ भारतीय गोर्खाहरूको परिचयको पताका नभएर केवल दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको तीन महकुमाका जनताको सुविधा, सहुलियत र विकास बोक्ने झण्डा मात्र बन्न गइरहेको विज्ञहरूको मत छ। जसको कारण अघिल्ला आन्दोलनहरूमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति सम्पूर्ण भारतभरि छरिएर बसेका गोर्खाहरूको जुन सहभागिता र समर्पण देखिन्थ्यो,यस्तो सहभागिता र समर्पणमा क्रमशः ह्रास आउन थालेको उनीहरू ठान्छन्‌। सम्पूर्ण भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको समस्याको समाधानको रूपमा मानेको गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य निर्माणको आन्दोलन घरि घरि केवल दार्जीलिङको क्षेत्रीय विकास र सहुलियतमा मात्र खुम्चिरहँदा नै राष्ट्रिय स्तरमा अलग राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डले बोक्ने ओजन र मान्यतामा क्रमशः कम हुँदै गइरहेको जानकारहरूको ठिमाइ छ। जसरी 86 को हिंसात्मक आन्दोलनले दागोपाप जस्तो क्षेत्रीय व्यवस्थामा चित्त बुझाउनुपर्‍यो र यसैको विकल्पमा जन्मिएको 2007 को गान्धीवादी आन्दोलनले पनि जीटीए जस्तो क्षेत्रीय व्यवस्थामा नै चित्त बुझाउन खोजिरहेको छ। यसबाट अलग राज्यको सपना देख्ने दार्जीलिङ बाहिरका भारतेली गोर्खाहरूमा आन्दोलनलाई लिएर नकारात्मक सोचको जन्म भइरहेको उनीहरू ठान्छन्‌।

यसरी घरिघरि अलग राज्यको आन्दोलन क्षेत्रीयतामै टुङ्गिरहे भोलिका आन्दोलनहरू केवल दार्जीलिङका तीनवटा महकुमाले मात्र हॉंक्नुपर्ने र यसमा दार्जीलिङ बाहिरका भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको उपस्थिति नगण्य हुने चेताउनी पनि विज्ञहरूको छ।

एकतिर आन्दोलनले लक्ष्य नभेट्नु र अर्कोतिर आन्दोलनमा सहभागी हुने जनभेला र क्षेत्रको फैलावटमा कमी आउँदै जानुले आन्दोलनको औचित्य र आन्दोलन गर्ने प्रणालीमाथि नै प्रश्न चिह्न खड़ा भइरहेको छ। जसरी अघिल्लो नेतृत्व सुवास घिसिङले सोझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुन नसक्ने, कहिले भारतको केन्द्र सरकारले गोर्खाल्याण्ड दिन नसक्ने , गोर्खाल्याण्डको भूभाग नै भारत गणराज्यमा अन्तर्भुक्त नभइसकेको र यो लिजहोल्डल्याण्ड र नोम्यान्सल्याण्ड हो भन्दै मूल मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्डमाथि नै भ्रमात्मक स्थितिको सिर्जना गरे । त्यसरी नै अहिलेको मोर्चाको नेतृत्वको आन्दोलन र नेतृत्ववर्गले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड सोझै पाउन नसकिने, राष्ट्रिय परिस्थितिको प्रतिकूलता, तराई डुवर्स अन्तर्भुक्तिको प्रश्न जस्ता कुराहरू अघि राखेर मूल मुद्दाको औचित्य र प्रासंगिकतालाई नै धुमिल्याउने काम भएको पर्यवेक्षकहरू ठान्छन्‌। यस्तो परिस्थितिमा गोखेर्र् राष्ट्रियता र गोर्खे चिह्नारीलाई लिएर अब फरक विचार, फरक शैली , फरक आन्दोलन र फरक अवधारणा अघि आउनुपर्ने उनीहरूको भनाइ छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डले बोक्ने गरिमा र यसप्रतिको आस्थामा दिनोदिन कमी आइरहेकाले सम्पूर्ण भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको राष्ट्रियता र चिह्नारीको समाधानार्थ चॉंड़ै फरक अवधारणाको विकास हुनुपर्ने बताउँछन्‌। कुनै यस्तो अवधारणा जो भौगोलिक सिमाना र क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनिक बन्धनहरूबाटमाथिको व्यवस्था होस्‌ । जसले कुनै भूखण्डको जोड़ घटाउ नगरेर राष्ट्रिय स्तरमा नै भारतेली गोर्खाहरूको राष्ट्रियता र चिह्नारी समस्याको समाधान खोजोस्‌। भारतभरि छरिएर बसेका गोर्खाहरू जो पूर्वको असममा हुन्‌ या पश्चिमको पञ्जाबमा। दक्षिणको कन्याकुमारीमा हुन्‌ या उत्तरको कश्मीरमा। जहॉंनै बसे पनि जे नै गरे पनि सबै भारतेली गोर्खाहरूलाई गणतन्त्र भारतको मूल धारामा ल्याएर उनीहरूको सुरक्षा, विकास र व्यवस्थाको संवैधानिक सुनिश्चता त्यो व्यवस्थाले गरोस्‌ भन्ने विज्ञहरूको मत छ। यसको निम्ति अब अलग राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दा माथिको अर्कै अवधारणाको विकास हुनुपर्ने कुरामा उनीहरू जोड़ दिन्छन्‌। उनीहरूको मत अनुसार जसरी गोर्खाल्याण्डले आफ्नो गरिमालाई प्रतिदिन हराइरहेको छ। चॉंड़ै यसको विकल्प नखोजिए दशकौं पुरानो गोर्खाहरूको समस्याको समधान कहिले नहुने उनीहरू बताउँछन्‌।

जीटीएमा घिसिङको पदार्पण — दोस्रो इनिंग्स्‌ कि म्याच फिक्सिङ

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 लामो समयको मौनतापछि गोरामुमो सुप्रिमो सुवास घिसिङ अचानक सक्रिय बने। गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल एडमिनिट्रेशन (जीटीए)-को वैधतामाथि नै चुनौती दिँदै उनले उच्च न्यायालयमा मुद्दा समेत दर्ता गरेका छन्‌। विमल गुरूङ नेतृत्वको गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनकालमा प्रायः मौन देखिएका र 18 जुलाईको जीटीए सम्झौता हुँदासम्म पनि चुप बसेका घिसिङ यसरी अचानक राजनैतिक रूपमा सक्रिय बनेपछि पहाड़को राजनैतिक हावा तात्तिन थालेको छ। दागोपापलाई अपग्रेड गरेर छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गरिरहेका गोरामुमो सुप्रिमोले यसरी अचानक राष्ट्रपतिको अनुमोदन प्राप्त गरिसकेको जीटीएको वैधतामाथि नै प्रश्न उठाउँदै पहाड़को राजनीतिमा खुट्टा हालेपछि अनेक थरीको शंका उपशंकाहरूले जन्म लिनु स्वाभाविक नै हो। जानकारहरू घिसिङको यो अवतरण अचानक नभएर पूर्व नियोजित हुनसक्ने बताउँछन्‌। किनकि विरोध नै जनाउने हो भने अघिबाटै घिसिङले पहाड़ चड़ीसक्ने थिए। उनका अनुयायीहरूले बारम्बार अनुरोध गर्दा पनि घिसिङ पहाड़ चड़ेनन्‌। एकचोटि मिरिक भ्रमणमा आउँदा आफूले गोर्खाल्याण्ड कहिले नमागेको जस्तो विवादस्पद वयान दिएर सबैलाई चकित तुल्याएका थिए।

 तर यसवाजी बने दागोपाप र छैटौं अनुसूचीको संवैधानिक अवस्था केलाएर जीटीए गठन विरूद्ध न्यायालयको शरणमा जानुले उनको यो पदक्षेपलाई गम्भीरतापूर्वक लिनुपर्ने एक थरी विज्ञहरूको भनाइ छ। गोरामुमो सुप्रिमो एवं उनका अनुयायीहरू अझै छैटौं अनुसूचीकै पक्षमा उभिएका छन्‌। उनीहरू अनुसार संवैधानिक सुरक्षा नभएको जीटीए भन्दा संवैधानिक सुरक्षा भएको छैटौं अनुसूची कैयौं गुणा राम्रो छ। विभाग र सहुलियत संगसंगै मौजाको संख्या पनि जीटीए भन्दा छैटौं अनुसूचीमा कम नरहेको उनीहरूको दावी छ। सबैभन्दा मुख्य कुरो छैटौं अनुसूचीमा यहॉंका रैथानेहरूलाई जनजातिको दर्जा प्राप्त हुने हुँदा जमीनको किनबेच जस्तो कुरामा रोक लाग्नेछ। जसले भारतमा गोर्खाहरूको किपटलाई अतिक्रमणदेखि सुरक्षित राख्नेछ। उनीहरूको तर्क अनुसार यो भूभाग अझैसम्म संवैधानिक रूपमा गणतन्त्र भारतमा गाभिएको छैन। यसैले भारत सरकारसित गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठन गर्नसक्ने अधिकार छैन। यसकारण अलग राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड असम्भव हो र छैटौं अनुसूची नै वर्तमान परिस्थितिमा अनुकूल रहेको तर्क उनीहरूको छ। यता जीटीएलाई विकास संगसंगै गोर्खाल्याण्डको पनि घरेड़ी मान्ने गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाका नेतृत्वपक्ष अनि अनुयायीहरू छैटौं अनुसूचीलाई पूर्णत असान्दर्भिक र गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठनको बाटोमा बाधा मान्छन्‌। संवैधानिक ग्यारेण्टी भएको व्यवस्था थापे अलग राज्यको आन्दोलन पुनः शुरू गर्न नसकिने उनीहरूको भनाइ छ। पहाड़को पूर्व अनि वर्तमान राजनैतिक शक्ति केन्द्रहरूको आ-आफ्नै तर्कबीच सरकारले तेस्रोचोटि दिइरहेको व्यवस्था माथि नै प्रश्न उठीरहेको छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा कतिले घिसिङको यो दोस्रो इनिंग्सलाई मोर्चाको गलाको हड्डी भइरहेको जीटीएलाई मोर्चाको गलाबाट निकाल्ने चालको रूपमा मात्र हेरिरहेका छन्‌। उनीहरू अनुसार जुन परिस्थितिमा घिसिङले जीटीए विरूद्ध मुद्दा दायर गरे यसले मोर्चालाई नै फाइदा पुग्नेछ।

 किनकि आफैले सम्झौता गरेर राष्ट्रपतिको हस्ताक्षरसम्म भइसकेको जीटीएलाई सोझै खारेज गर्नसक्ने अवस्थामा मोर्चा छैन। यो संगसंगै राज्यको तृणमूल सरकारसंग जुन सम्बन्ध मोर्चाको छ। यसलाई नकारात्मक असर पर्ने कुनै पनि काम मोर्चा गर्न चाहॅंदैन। यदि मोर्चा विरोधीहरूबाटै जीटीएको विरोध भइदिए मोर्चालाई भन्न सजिलो हुनेछ। जसले अघिबाटै गल्ती भइसकेको सम्झौताको पुनः संशोधन गर्ने मौका मात्र होइन। सम्झौताको विरूद्धमा उठिरहेको जनाक्रोशलाई साम्य पार्न पनि मोर्चा नेतृत्व सफल हुनेछ। जीटीए सम्झौतापछि मोर्चा भित्रैबाट जुन असन्तुष्टि देखिएको छ यसले मोर्चाको राजनैतिक धरातललाई कमजोर पारिरहेको छ। यतिबेला जीटीए थन्काएर अर्को कुनै व्यवस्थामा राज्य सरकारलाई सहमतिमा ल्याउन पाए त्यो मोर्चाको निम्ति फाइदाजनक देखिन्छ। अघिबाटै मौजा अन्तर्भुक्तिको कारण ब्याकफुटमा परेको मोर्चाको निम्ति घिसिङको योे कदम सञ्जिवनी सावित हुने विज्ञहरू ठान्छन्‌। विगतमा मोर्चा प्रमुख विमल गुरूङको राजनैतिक गुरूको रूपमा रहेका सुवास घिसिङ वर्तमानमा पनि मोर्चा प्रमुखकै राजनैतिक संरक्षकको रूपमा उभिएको त होइन? भनि शंका गर्नेहरू पनि धेरै छन्‌। कतिले जब घिसिङले आफ्नो राजनैतिक जीवनको अन्त देख्नथाले तब स्वयंले नै पहाडको राजनैतिक शक्ति केन्द्र प्रतिस्थापित गर्न गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको जन्ममा सहयोग पुऱ्याएको भन्नेहरू पनि छन्‌। मोर्चा प्रमुख विमल गुरूङले पनि कहिले सुवास घिसिङ विरूद्ध कठोर मनोभाव नराखेकाले पनि यस्तो शंका जन्मने ठाउँ देखिएको पर्यवेक्षकहरू ठान्छन्‌। राजनीतिमा असम्भव पनि सम्भव बन्छ भन्ने उक्तिलाई मान्ने हो भने घिसिङको यो राजनैतिक अवतरण धेरै पूर्व नियोजित र थोरै सान्दर्भिक देखिन्छ। यस सम्बनधमा मोर्चा प्रवक्ता डा. हर्कबाहदुर छेत्री सित सम्पर्क गर्दा उनले यी सम्भवनाहरूलाई सोझै नकारे। उनी अनुसार घिसिङ अहिलेको समयमा अप्रासंगिक हुन।

GJM Supremo mounts pressure on West Bengal, unwilling to call of agitation- GTA elections notification expected by month-end

Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, June 16, 2012:  A once bitten twice shy Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supremo Bimal Gurung is not willing to call off all the agitation programmes with the setting up of the 3 member Fact Verification Committee (FVC) by the state government. Mounting pressure on the government, Gurung made it clear that the agitation programmes will be held as per schedule except the resignation of the councillors of the four hill municipalities.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung at Patleybash on the fringes 

of Darjeeling town. Photo by Suman Baraily

Gurung also stated that the GJM would not agree to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections, if imposed.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) are on an agitation path demanding the scrapping of the retired Justice Shyamal Sen Committee recommendations. With the GJM demanding the inclusion of 396 mouzas of Terai and Dooars of the plains in the GTA, a 9 member committee had been constituted comprising of representatives from the Centre, State and the GJM. The committee headed by Justice Shyamal Sen had recently recommended the incorporation of 5 mouzas (3 from the Terai region of the Darjeeling district and 2 from the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri District.)

The GJM dubbing the recommendations as “humiliating and one-sided” demanded that the Chief Minister immediately scrap it. The Morcha further announced a number of agitation programmes including bandhs and resignation by the four GJM MLAs and even threatened to resurrect the Gorkhaland demand scrapping the GTA.

A GJM delegation met the Chief Minister in Kolkata on Saturday with this demand. The meeting managed to break the ice, with the State Government deciding to form three member FVC to study the various parameters that the Justice Sen committee had adopted. The GJM in the Kolkata meeting had argued that the parameters (compactness, homogeneity, contiguity and ground reality) that had decided the inclusion of the 5 mouzas were applicable for many other mouzas too. The FVC is to review this.

“As of now our agitation stands. We will only defer the resignation of the Councillors of the four his municipalities that was earlier slated for June 27. We will sit in a meeting with the GJM team after their return from Kolkata. We have to carefully scrutinize the Fact Verification Committee which comprises of three Government officials, who we feel will work on the behest of the State Government. We are weary of the functioning of the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri District Magistrates who were given the task of reviewing the ground realities in the Justice Sen committee. The report was one sided. We do not want a rerun” stated Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling.

The future agitation programme includes a 72 hour long bandh in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars on July 2, 3 and 4th; 4 GJM MLAs (Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Kalchini) would send in their resignations from the Darjeeling Chowrasta on 17 July.

Gurung anticipated that as the Government had not specified a time-bound report from the newly constituted review committee headed by Ragavendra Singh, the principal Secretary of the North Bengal Development Ministry, they would try to impose GTA elections in between. “To hold elections is the prerogative of the Government. We will however not accept the elections, if imposed” retorted Gurung.

However political observers feel that there is very little scope for the GJM to stay away from GTA elections. State Government sources state that very soon notification of the delimitation of the GTA area into 45 constituency will be published. With this the election process will ensue.

Sources further state that the GJM had initially pressed for a time bound report (within 6 months) by the FVC in the Kolkata meet. However the Government argued that 6 months would be too short a period for studying the ground realities.

“The GJM delegation had also pressed for a neutral person to head the review committee but the Government did not agree. The Government insisted that a Secretary of the State Government head the review committee” claimed Gurung.

The GJM climb down is a clear pointer of the issue to be resolved amicably in the near future. Observers feel that the Government could include a few more mouzas in the kitty ensuring a face saver for the GJM.

GJMM adamant on poll

SNS, DARJEELING, 16 JUNE: GJMM president Bimal Gurung made it categorically clear today that his party would not participate in the GTA election until it is satisfied that the proposed fact-verification committee works in conformity with the parameters outlined in the GTA agreement. He also said the party's agitation programme would stand, except for the proposed resignation of the chairmen of the Hill municipalities scheduled tomorrow, which has been postponed for the time being.

Taking exception to the move to form the fact verification committee, senior CPI-M leader Asok Bhattacharya said it was an affront to the credibility of Justice Shyamal Sen. Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad state president Birsa Tirkey said it amounted to lending roundabout credence to the GJMM’s unjustified demands for more mouzas from the plains.
GTA elections notification expected by month-end
SHIV SAHAY SINGH, TH, Kolkata, June 17: Even as the West Bengal government set up a fact verification committee in respect of the recommendations of the Justice Shyamal Sen Committee, it announced here on Saturday that the election schedule for the Gorkha Territorial Administration would be notified “immediately.”
These developments came after a meeting between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders at the State Secretariat.
State's Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh told reporters that the GJM representatives said during the meeting that some of the “factual information” on which the high-powered committee's report was based was not correct, so the government had decided to set up a fact verification committee.
Stating that the government would come out with the notification for the elections to the GTA by this month-end, Mr. Ghosh said that notification for delimitation of the areas that would go to elections would be out next week.
To a question whether the GJM team had agreed to participate in elections, he said: “During the meeting we had no such impression that they [GJM] have not agreed to the elections.”
He said that as per the terms of the tripartite GTA agreement, the first election to the proposed body would be held in areas under the erstwhile Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). So the GTA elections and the report of the committee could not be linked, he said.
Earlier while speaking to the press, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the high-power committee's report was a humiliation to the people in the hills and its recommendations should be scrapped.
On being asked about the elections, Mr. Giri said the party representatives had not come to the State Secretariat to discuss elections to the GTA.
Asked whether the GJM would continue with its protests as announced initially after the report was made public last week, he said this would be decided after discussing this meeting's outcome with party president Bimal Gurung.
The panel headed by retired Justice Shyamal Sen has recommended that five mouzas in the Dooars Terai plains be added to the GTA. The recommendations irked the GJM which was demanding that at least 150 of the 396 mouzas in the region be added to the GTA.
Meanwhile, the government said in a press note that the fact verification committee would be headed by the Secretary, Department of North Bengal Development and would look into any representation on the factual aspects of the report of the high-powered committee.