Dispur mulls law to ban bandhs

Guwahati, Aug. 31: The Assam government is considering a legislation to prohibit bandhs in the state. Additional advocate-general K.N. Choudhury made this submission in Gauhati High Court today during a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Arun Pathak seeking action against organisers of bandhs.

 A division bench of Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed the state government to file an affidavit on the PIL before November 15, the date of the next hearing. 

 The petitioner’s counsel, Bhaskar Dev Konwar, said they have sought imposition of exemplary damages of Rs 1 crore each on Bajrang Dal and All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) for enforcing statewide bandhs on August 27 and 28 respectively. Both the bandhs were called in connection with the violence in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) and adjoining areas.

 The petitioner appealed to the court to direct the state government to set up a “bandh loss compensation fund” into which the aforesaid amount could be deposited to be eventually paid to the citizens who have suffered injury or loss of property because of the bandhs. Pathak also urged the court to direct the state government to initiate suo moto criminal proceedings, to be investigated by the CID, against the organisers of the aforesaid bandhs. He appealed to the court to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings against the organisers of the two bandhs for having wilfully violated the law laid down by the Supreme Court in this regard.

 Responding to the petition, the additional advocate-general said the matter was being looked into with a view to bringing about a suitable legislation and also to take further legal action. Choudhury also produced a copy of a wireless-transmitted message, dated August 29 and issued by the state government, directing the police and civil administration to take appropriate action against anybody trying to enforce a bandh.

 The message was signed by principal secretary (home and political department) Sailesh. “We are of the view that the state has to have a consistent policy in the matter instead of taking action on selective basis. In view of the above, let appropriate affidavit be filed on behalf of the state of Assam before the next date (November 15),” the high court said in its order.

 The state government had on Wednesday prohibited calling of bandhs for a month in accordance with a Gauhati High Court order in January 2010 that declared bandhs as “illegal and unconstitutional”. It took the step following the widespread violence during the AAMSU-sponsored bandh that created communal tension in the state. Kerala High Court had first declared bandhs “illegal” in 1997. 

The order was upheld by the Supreme Court later that year. Gauhati High Court passed a similar order in 2010. Since January this year, Assam has witnessed 23 statewide bandhs, 48 district bandhs, 65 road blockades and 13 rail blockades. But so far, the government had done little to enforce the court order banning bandhs and strike or to recover compensation for any damages caused to public and private property because of the protests. Share on email Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services

Falling logs injure woman

 The tipped truck and logs on the road in Alipurduar 

TT;Alipurduar, Aug. 31: A truck carrying illegally felled logs, while being chased by a foresters’ car, turned on its side on an Alipurduar road and huge chunks of wood rolled down and severely injured a woman. Doctors in Alipurduar advised that the 50-year-old woman be taken to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. 

According to forest sources, around 4am today, the truck loaded with illegally cut timber was crossing Bairaguri in Alipurduar, when forest staff with the BTR 9east) range officer, Dulal Dhar, were patrolling the area. The forest staff asked the driver to stop the truck but he sped off. 

 The forest officials said when two of them tried to stop the vehicle, the truck tired to run over them. The foresters then got into a jeep and started chasing the truck. For 15km from Bairaguri, the jeep tailed the speeding truck.

 Near Cooch Behar district order, the truck driver lost control of the vehicle as he tried to avoid a lorry coming from the opposite direction. The truck fell on its side and as it tipped, the logs piled on it started rolling down.

 Around 5am, 50-year-old Sumitra Barman, her daughters and grand daughters were plucking flowers on the roadside when they saw the accident. The logs were rolling towards them and Sumitra pushed the others out of the way. 

 But a couple of logs fell on her, the forest staff, who saw the accident from their jeep, said. She became unconscious. Her daughter Ratna suffered a minor leg injury.

 The truck driver escaped. When Sumitra came to, she was taken to Alipurduar hospital which said she should be taken to the North bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH). At NBMCH, Sumitra got 10 stitches on the head. Bhaskar J.V., the deputy field director Buxa Tiger Reserve (East), said:

 “The value of the seized timber will be no less than Rs 2 lakh. We have got the name of the owner of the vehicle.”

Morcha hotel drive

TT; Darjeeling, Aug. 31: The Gorkha Janmutki Morcha has decided to “campaign” from tomorrow in restaurants, bars, hotels and cyber cafés to discourage minors from drinking and booking hotel rooms on their own. The decision was taken following the murder of 18-year- old Nima Tamang allegedly by a 16-year-old here on Thursday. Narayan Pradhan, the secretary of the Morcha’s town committee, said: “The town committee has decided to start a campaign in restaurants bars, hotels and also cyber cafes from tomorrow to ensure that minors do not hang out in these joints drinking.” Pradhan also said they had decided to bring the cyber cafes under the scanner as minors were bunking classes to play video games in the cafes.

Search in Siliguri to house 2 new courts

TT; Siliguri, Aug. 31: The chief justice of Calcutta High Court today inspected a market complex at Himanchal Vihar in Matigara to see if the building could house two new courts which are to be set up with the establishment of the Siliguri police commissionerate.

 Chief Justice J.N. Patel was accompanied by three high court judges, law minister Malay Ghatak and north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb. Malay said a chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court and a city session court would be established in Siliguri and the high court had to take a final call on their location. 

 “Now that the police commissionerate has been formed, at least these two courts will have to be set up in Siliguri. The chief justice visited an unused market complex at Himanchal Vihar in Matigara. We need to develop lock-ups, courtrooms, chambers of judicial officers and parking space to make the courts functional.

 We will wait for instructions from the high court regarding infrastructure and accordingly, we will do the necessary work and ready the courts in 45 days,” said Malay. The law minister also said there had been a proposal that three police stations in the Siliguri subdivision, which were outside the purview of the commissionerate, should be brought under the city session’s court. 

Although the government plans to open the two new courts at the Matigara building owned by the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority, the Siliguri Bar Association said the CJM court could function from the existing court complex.

 “We have requested the authorities to set up the city session’s court at Himanchal Vihar and the CJM court at the court complex (where the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court, three fast track courts and seven other courts are located). If three fast tracks can be shifted to Himanchal Vihar, the CJM court can come up at the court complex,” said Suresh Mitruka, the president of the bar association.

Mamata pleads for anganwadi land Tough to find plot, says CM

TT;Buniadpur, Aug. 31: Mamata Banerjee, who has chosen to keep the state’s hands off land acquisition, today appealed to villagers in South Dinajpur for plots to set up anganwadi centres and hinted that the government was finding it difficult to get land. The chief minister, while speaking about acquiring land for an AIIMS-like hospital, has told a rally in Itahar yesterday that she would not “put a gun to a farmer’s head” and take his land. Today she said:

 “We are unable to set up anganwadi centres in the district. Another 1,100 centres have to be set up in South Dinajpur but we are not getting land. I will request those who have land or two rooms to spare to please give them to the government for setting up the anganwadi centres.

 Only a cottah is required for a anganwadi centre.” Some Congress leaders in North Dinajpur, where the AIIMS-like hospital was supposed to be built said Mamata could have made a similar appeal in Itahar yesterday.

 “She could have made a similar appeal for the AIIMS-like hospital at Raiganj which was the dream of our leader Priya Ranjan Das Munshi,” said a senior Congress leader. Raiganj Congress MP Deepa Das Munshi said there was no opposition to the project there. “There are no unwilling farmers here. Only the chief minister is unwilling,” she said.

 Deepa had alleged earlier that the state government was trying to move the hospital project to Nadia. On two occasions earlier, Mamata had appealed for land for two projects. During a visit to Gosaba in the Sunderbans on January 31, she had appealed to the villagers to part with their land for building embankments in Aila-affected areas.

 On May 18, during a visit to Furfura Sharif, Mamata had requested local people, who were demanding higher compensation for land, to allow a pending rail link between Furfura Sharif and Dankuni to be completed. “I am not asking for much. If the landowners want, the centres will come up in the names of their mothers, wives or children. 

The government will spend on building the infrastructure. They will be allowed to use the premises for other purposes when the centre closes for the day,” Mamata said. Those who want to donate their land should speak to the block development officer, she said. Mamata also appealed for a change in the next panchayat elections in the district.

 “There are some roads and bridges under the zilla parishad which need immediate repairs. The zilla parishad is run by another party. We will appeal to them to do the repairs. You have the choice of exercising your right and bring to power whom you want in the next panchayat polls.” 

 The chief minister had to cut short her programme at a field adjacent to the Buniadpur railway station after crowds pushed through the security barricade. The chief minister had to walk around 8km to reach the venue as the convoy could not pass through the narrow road leading to the railway station. A board announcing the rail wagon factory was dismantled on the chief minister’s instructions to allow the crowd to have a glimpse of her.

सिलगडी दार्जीलिङको निम्ति दुख्ने घाऊ मात्र बनेको छ – डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्री

 डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 31 अगस्त: दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा क्रमैले नगरपालिका चुनाउ अनि जीटीए चुनाउ समाप्त भए पछि अब पञ्चायत चुनाउ हुन बाँकी रहेको छ। गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको सम्झौता पत्रमा पहाडमा त्रीस्तरिय पञ्चायत चुनाउ हुने लेखिएको भए पनि सम्भवत आगमी वर्षको जनवरी महिनामा हुने पञ्चायत कुनाउ दुईस्तरीय हुने वा त्रीस्तरिय भन्ने कुनै पुष्टि हएको छैन।

 यता पहाडका सम्पूर्ण राजनितिक दलहरुले पहाडमा पञ्चायत चुनाउ केवल त्रीस्तरिय हुनपर्छ भनि माग गरिरहेका छन भने गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनका प्रमुख बिमल गुरुर्ङले पनि पञ्चायत चुनाउ त्रीस्तरिय गर्नुपर्छ भनि अगावै घोषणा गरिसकेका छन। 44 महिना लामो आन्दोलन पछि नगरपालिका सञ्चालनको निम्ति मोर्चाले नगरपालेका चुनाउ गराउँने अनुमति दिए पनि धेरै वर्षदेखि हुन नसकेको पञ्चायत चुनाउ भने अझ सम्म हुन सकेको छैन ।

 जसको कारण ग्रामिण स्तरका मानिसहरु समस्यामा परिरहेका छन। यता सोहि बिषयहरुमा आज कालेबुङका बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीसैग कुराकानी गर्दा तिनले आफुहरुले सम्झौता गर्दा त्रीस्तरिय पञ्चायत चुनाउ हुनपर्ने बिषयमा सम्झौता गरेको बताउँदै यदि मोर्चाले पहाडमा त्रीस्तरिय पञ्चायत चुनाउ गर्नुपर्छ भनि सरकारलाई माग गरे सरकारले त्रीस्तरिय चुनाउ नै गराउँनुपर्ने बताए।

 यद्यपी अहिलेघरी मोर्चाले पञ्चायत चुनाउमा धेरै मह्त्व नदिईरहेको पनि तिनले बताएका छन। हाल सम्पूर्ण साथीहरु जीटीएलाई व्यवस्थित तरिकाले सञ्चालन कसरीगर्न पर्ने भन्ने भिषयमा पार्टीले शक्ति केन्द्रित गरिरहेको बताउँदै यस बिषयमा पनि बिस्तारै चर्चा गर्ने डा छेत्रीले अझ बताएका छन।

 तिनलाई त्रीस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउ गर्दा सिलगडी महकुमा परिषद के हुनेछ भनि प्रश्न गर्दा यस बिषयमा सरकाराले सोच्न पर्ने बताए। अहिले गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनमा 14 वटा बिभागहरु हस्तान्तरण भईसको बताउँदै अन्य रहल बिभागहरु हस्तान्तरण भएपछि कसरी पहाडलाई बिकशित गर्न कार्य गर्न पर्ने भन्ने बिषयमा आफुहरु चिन्तित बनेर कार्य गरिरहेको तिनले अझ बताए।

 “हामिले हरेक बिभगको कार्य क्षमता जीटीएमा हुनपर्छ भनेर माग गरेका छौ। तर सरकारले बिभिन्न अडचनहरु लगाएर सम्पूर्ण बिभागलाई नियन्त्रण गर्ने कोशिस गर्नेछ। यस बिषयमा थुप्रै झगडा पनि हुनसक्छ। किन भने हामी जीटीएको नियन्त्रण बाहेक अरुको नियन्त्रण चाहँदैनौ। अहिले सर्कारले बिभागहरु हस्तान्तरण प्रक्रिया शुरु गरेको छ।

 कतिपय बिभागहरु आए पनि बिभागहरुक्जो कार्यक्षेत्र कति हो भन्ने अझ स्पष्ट भईसकेको छैन। यसबारेमा पनि हामी गम्भिर छौ” – डा छेत्रीले भने। यसै क्रममा तिनले पत्रकारहरु सित कुराकानी गर्दै पञ्चायत चुनाउमा जानलाई केवल पार्टीले निर्णय लिन मात्र ठूलो कुरा रहेको अनि उक्त निर्णय लिएपछि संगठनहरु तयार रहेकोले चुनाउ सहज तरिकाले जित्ने पनि तिनले अप्रत्यक्ष जवबा दिए।

 तिनले कुराकानीकै अवधी दार्जीलिङ पहाडको मुख्य भाग भनेर चिनिने सिलगडी महकुमा त्यतिमात्र आफुहरुको हो जति हाम्रा मानिसहरु त्यस ईलाकामा बस्ने गर्छन भन्दै सबैलाई आचर्यचकित हुने कुरा गरे। आफुहरुले उक्त ईलाकामा गोर्खाहरु बहुसंख्यक रुपमा रहेको क्षेत्रहरुलाई पनि यसैको आधारमा जीटीएमा समावेश गरिनुपर्छ भनेर माग गरेको पनि स्पष्ट पारेका छन।

 तिनले सिलगडीसित प[अहाडका मानिसहरुको भवना जोडिएको बताउँदै मानिसहरु भावनात्मक मात्र हुन भन्दा व्यवहारिक बनेर पनि सोंच्नपर्ने बताए। तिनले सिलगडी अहिलेघरी पहाडको निम्ति दुख्ने घाऊ मात्र बनेको बताउँदै सरकारले सिलगडीको दैनिक आय हेरेर दार्जीलिङ पहाडको आय बताउँदै अनि सिलगडीमा ठूल ठूला उद्योगधन्दाहरु निर्माण गरेर दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको नाम अघि सार्ने गरिरहेको जनाए।

 तिनले सिलगडीमा सरकारले बिकास गरेर दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा बिकास गरे भन्नु सहि नरहेको बताउँदै आखिर सिलगडीको बिकासाले पहाडलाई के फरक पारेको छ भनि प्रश्न तेर्साउँदै आफुहरु पहाडकै सर्वाङ्गीन बिकासमा ध्यान दिईरहेको पनि डा छेत्रीले जनाएका छन। य्सै क्रममा तिनलाई हाईपावर कमिटिले सिफारिस गरेको रिपोर्टको जाँच गर्न गठन भएको फ्याक्ट फाईण्डिङ कमिटिको कार्य के भयो भनि प्रश्न गर्दा यस बिषयमा जीटीएको आगमी 15 सितम्बरको निम्ति बजेट सत्र समापन भए पछि चाँदै रिभ्य मिटिङ बस्ने तिनले जानकारी गराए।

Deteriorating Handloom Development office await its own development

MUKESH SHARMA; Kalimpong, August 30: The head office of the Hastshilp Bikash/ Handloom Development is situated at Ringking Pong Road, Kalimpong under the Darjeeling district. The office right now is in a degrading condition crying for dire need of attention. The GTA councilor, Phubi Rai under whose jurisdiction comes, the said office visited the location.

 He, after inspecting the office met with the staffs. Realizing the deteriorating condition of the building, Rai said that though, it being the head office is not being maintained properly. He pointed out the so called intellects of the area for its worse condition. The small scale projects should be carried out properly and the local youths should be encouraged towards employment through it, he stressed. Through the development of minute things the GTA shall eventually achieve greater heights, he said.

 “We have many chances of reforming our economic condition which we have been overlooking,” he added. Development should happen, keeping in mind the future of the coming generations, told Rai. Rai also addressed the issues of the employees of the said office which were put forward by the office cashier, Lalit Kumar Chettri.

 Notifying about the condition of the building Chettri said that the building needs to reconstructed at the soonest. He also informed that during the time of DGHC the office was run at a rented place at Pratiman Road. But it was shifted to the present place (which used to be one of the offices of sericulture) in 1993 after the office rent was not paid at the earlier place. Hence, Chettri on behalf of the department insisted that the present office which belongs to sericulture to be given to Hastshilp Bikash.

 They also demanded the clearance of the weeds and which has covered the way to the office. The demand for filling up the vacant posts in the said department was also placed. They also asserted that more office branches should be opened at different places. It was also notified that since 1993 the DGHC had stopped providing funds for the said department.

गोर्खाहरुको समस्या गोर्खाल्याण्डले मात्र समाधान गर्छ भनेर केन्द्रिय गृहमन्त्रीलाई बुझाएका छौ – एनोसदास प्रधान

कालेबुङ, 29 अगस्त। भारतीय गोर्खा परिसंघका राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष रेभरेन डा एनोस दास प्रधान दिल्लीमा केन्द्रिय गृह मन्त्री शुसिल कुमार सिन्देसंग भेट गरेर आज कालेबुङ आईपुगेका छन। तिनले कालेबुङ आएपछि यहाँको भागोप कार्यलयमा आयोजित पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा केन्द्रिय गृह मन्त्री शुसिल कुमार सिन्देलाई भारतभरी छरिएर बसेका गोर्खाहरुको एकमात्र माग गोर्खाल्याण्ड रहेको सन्दर्भमा अवगत गराएको जानकारी दिए।

 तिनले पत्रकारहरुस्ंग कुराकानी गर्दै गृहमन्त्री सिन्देले भागोप टोलिले राखेको तर्कहरुलाई खुबै गम्बिरतापूर्वक लिएको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति सहयोगको अपिल गरेको पनि तिनले जानकारी दिए। तिनले भागोप भारतभरि छरिएर बसेका गोर्खाहरूको अभिभावक सङ्गठन रहेको बारम्बार आफुहरुले भन्ने गरेको बताउँदै यस अर्थमा अभिभावक संगठको जिम्मेवारी पनि धेरै रहेको तिनले बताएका छन। 

तिनले भारतीय गोर्खा परिसंघबाट भारतभरिका गोर्खाहरूले धेरै आशा गरेको कुरा भागोपले महशुस गरेको बताउँदै छुट्टै राज्यको एक नम्बर मुद्दासहित अन्य 7 वटा मुद्दाहरूलाई भागोपले टुङ्गो लगाउन विशेष पहल गर्ने भएको दाबी गरे।

 तिनले दिल्लीमा भागोपको नीति निर्धारण समितिको बैठक बसेर आगमी दिनहरुको निम्ति नीति निर्धारण गरेको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई पहिलो प्राथमिकता दिएको तिनले थप जनाएका छन। प्रधानले यसैक्रममा मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यनर्जीले गोर्खाहरूप्रति निक्कै सहानुभूति दर्शाएक ढोङ गरिरहेको दाबी गर्दै यदि मुख्यमन्त्री ममताको गोर्खाहरु प्रति साँच्चै ममता छ भने साहित्य महारथी डा. इन्द्रबहादुर राईलाई पद्मविभूषण दिलाउनमा राज्य सरकारले पहल गर्नुपर्छ भनि माग गरे।

 डा. राईलाई पद्मविभूषण दिलाउनुपर्ने मागमा भागोपले अघिबाटै केन्द्रिय गृहमन्त्रीलाई पत्रचार गरिसकेको अनि मुख्यमन्त्रीबाट पनि सरकारी पहल होस्‌ भन्ने भागोपले आशा गरेको जनाए। यसैक्रममा प्रधानले आगमी सितम्बर महिनामा मुम्बइ अनि बेङ्लोरमा भागोपको साङ्गठनिक कार्यक्रम छ भने नोभमेम्बर महिनामा नागपुरमा सङ्गनलाई मजबुत पार्न विरोट जनसमावेश गरिने भएको जानकारी गराए।

 तिनले प्रत्येक तीन वर्षमा गरिने अधिवेशन यसपल्ट 17, 18 अनि 19 दिसम्बरको दिन सिलगडीमा गरिने तय गरेको पनि यसै अवधी जानकारी दिएका छन। तिनले नेपाली भाषा सम्बन्धि चर्चा गर्दै नेपाली भाषाले मान्यता पाएपनि यसको प्रयोगमा भइरहेको ढिलाइलाई हेरेर भागोपले नेपाली भाषा प्रयोगको निम्ति अभियान नै चालाएको पनि बताए। तिनले नेपाली भाषा पूर्ण रु[पले प्रयोग हुन नसक्नुमा आफ्नैहरूको दोष रहेको पनि जनाए। भागोपले अब नेपाली भाषा प्रयोगको आन्दोलन शुरु गरेको पनि बताएका छन।

 यसै सन्दर्भमा बोल्दै नेपाली भाषालाई सिक्कम सरकारले पनि सरकारी भाषाको रुपमा मान्यता दिनुपर्ने माग गरेको छन्। अर्कोतिर भारत स्वतन्त्रता संग्राममा पहिलो शहीद दुर्गा मल्ललाई राष्ट्रिय स्तरमा परिचय दिन भोगोपले संसद भवनअघि सालिग निर्माण गरिसकेको भने उनै शहीद मल्लको जन्म शतवार्षिकी अर्को वर्ष भागोपले धुमधामसँग मनाउने निर्णय लिएको छ।

तिनले भारतमा गोर्खा सपुतहरुको सहि मुल्याङ्कन नभएको बताउँदै राष्ट्रिय धुनमा संगीत भर्ने रामसिह ठकुरीको सही मुल्याङकन नभएको तिनले जनाए। 

 आर्थीक बिपन्न परिवारका मानिसहरुलाई निर्माण गरिदिने घरहरुमा व्यापक घोटाला

 कालेबुङ, 29 अगस्त। सरकारले आर्थीक बिपन्न परिवारका मानिसहरुलाई निर्माण गरिदिने घरहरुमा व्यापक घोटाला भईरहेको माकपा नेता तरा सुन्दासले आरोप लगाएका छन। तिनले एउटा घर निर्माणको निम्ति सरकारले 1 लाख 75 हजार अनुमोदन गरेको बताउँदै उक्त अनुमोदन राशीको घर ठेकेदारहरुले गरिब मानिसहरुको निम्ति सही प्रकारले निर्माण नगरेको तिनले दाबी गरे।

 तिनले उक्त घरहरु निर्माणको निम्ति दार्जीलिङमा ग्लोबल टेण्डर भएको कारणले सही प्रकारले कार्य नभएको पनि आरोप लगाएका छन। तिनले दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा हाउजिङ विभाग अन्तर्गत एउटा घरलाई 1 लाख 75 हजार रुपिया गरेर गरेर 15 सय घर बनाइने भएको जानकारी दिदै पहिलो चरणमा 735 वटा घर निर्माणको टेण्डरको विज्ञापन 16 अप्रेल 2012 मा जारी गरेको बताउँदै रहल घरहरुको निम्ति सरकारले यथाशिघ्र टेण्डर गरेर घर निर्माण कार्य शुरु गर्नुपर्ने माग गरे।

 सुन्दासले गरिब परिवारहरुको निम्ति सरकारले निर्माण गरिदिने घरमा व्यापक घोटाला भईरहेक दाबी गर्दै यस सम्बन्धमा बिभागले जाँच कार्य गर्नुपर्ने माग गरे। बिभागले यस बिषयमा जाँच कार्य नगरे आफ्नो आवश्यक प्रमाण रहेको बताउँदैओ न्यायलयमा जाँने पनि तिनले चेतावनी दिएका छन। सुन्दासले अब दोस्रो चरणमा 735 वटा घर बनाउनु बॉंकी छ रहेको बताउँदै पहिलो चरणमा भएको भ्रष्ट्रचारलाई सरकारले अनदेखा गर्नु हुँदैन भन्दै बिभगले यस बिषयमा सही पदक्षेप लिन पर्ने माग गरेका छन।

Unity hint in plains

jhon barla

 TT; Siliguri, Aug. 29: A group of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad that had been expelled after John Barla’s exit has sent feelers to the official lobby for a patch-up.

The Parishad-backed Progressive Tea Workers’ Union (PTWU), formed in 2010, got divided when a section of leaders walked out after John Barla’s expulsion in November last year.

 Last Friday, Sukra Munda, a leader of the Barla faction and a former chairman of PTWU, “sent us a letter, requesting a meeting to discuss a proposal to join hands and run the union”, said Tezkumar Toppo, the vice-chairman of the PTWU and state Parishad leader. “We have discussed the proposal within our organisation and welcome the move.

 The meeting will be at Malbazar tomorrow,” Toppo said today. Munda, when asked about the letter, said the rebels had faced inconveniences in running a parallel faction of the PTWU. “When our intentions are similar, that is welfare of tea workers and the tribal population living in tea estates, there is no rationality in operating two parallel factions,” he said.

 “Whether it is us or the other group, both face problems in dealing with workers’ problems. On the other hand, tea companies, state labour officials and other administrative functionaries are often getting perplexed while inviting us for talks on workers’ issues. We want the convergence.” According to Parishad leaders, the dissidents have also perceived that the tribal vote bank would get divided in case they keep their differences alive.

 That would make it tough for the Parishad and the rebels to win seats in the panchayat elections. “We interpret the letter as a feeler for a patch-up. An agenda is required to start the talks and in this case, they have chosen the merging of the PTWU, which for both factions is important as the majority of our supporters live in the tea estates,” a Parishad leader said. 

 “We have forwarded the proposal (of the dissidents) to our state committee. They must be apprised of this development as these leaders had been expelled from the Parishad and PTWU,” said Rajesh Lakra, general secretary of Parishad’s Dooars Terai regional unit. “There might be talks to know more about the proposal but the final decision will be taken by the state committee,” said Lakra.

Gurung seeks quota for poor schoolkids

BIMAL GURUNG

TT; RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, Aug. 29: Bimal Gurung today said big English-medium schools in the hills must reserve 10 seats for children from economically weaker sections. Gurung, who was addressing Gorkha Janmukti Morcha workers on his first visit to Kalimpong after taking over as the GTA chief executive, said he has asked the two executive members in charge of education — Roshan Giri and R.B. Bhujel — to work out the modalities and talk to the schools.

 “Big schools like St. Paul’s and North Point (St. Joseph’s School) in Darjeeling and similar schools in Kalimpong and other parts of the hills must reserve at least 10 seats for deserving children from poor families,” he said. The Morcha president said poor children must have access to quality education to ensure a better future. School principals in the hills have declined comment.

 One of them, who did not want to be named, said the school would study the quota proposal when it is brought before it. “I run a school called Kanchenjungha Public School in Darjeeling where I provide free education to many poor children. The children are being given very good education and are being brought up in a good environment.

 I want them to be educated in such a manner that when they go outside for higher studies, they face other students with confidence and on equal terms,” Gurung said. None of the school heads The Telegraph spoke to wanted to comment on Gurung’s quota plan. “The proposal is yet to come to us. 

We will have to study the demand as and when it is brought to us before making any comment,” said a school principal on condition of anonymity. Gurung, during his speech, repeatedly assured the students that he would work towards bettering their lot. He also announced that a bus will be provided between Darjeeling and Cluny Women’s College at 8 Mile here using cash from the MP local area development funds.

 The Morcha president, who arrived here from Kurseong after paying his respects to Father Abraham, who passed away yesterday, paid rich tribute the educationist and philanthropist, hailing him as the Father of Gorkhas. State affidavit The state government on Wednesday filed an affidavit at the high court against a case filed by GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh challenging the validity of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act, 2011. The affidavit, filed before Justice Dipankar Dutta, held that the GTA Act was constitutionally valid as it had been endorsed by the President. It also said Ghisingh’s contention that the act was passed without amending the Constitution was incorrect.

 The state had powers to draft laws and get them passed by the President. The affidavit also stated that the act was necessary to form a new autonomous body for the development of the hills as the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council had failed. 

“The tripartite agreement on the GTA was signed by the Centre, state and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on July 18, 2011 and Ghisingh challenged it after a year and the court should declare the case as not maintainable and ask Ghisingh to pay the cost,” the affidavit read.

 In another affidavit, filed by Morcha president Bimal Gurung, it was stated that Ghisingh’s case against the GTA Act was “politically motivated.” He added that Ghisingh was not accepted in the hills. Justice Dutta after hearing both the sides said the case would come up for hearing on September 14. He also directed the Centre, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the ABGL to file affidavits stating their views on Ghisingh’s plea before September 13.

Teen murdered, friend held in Darj

Nima tamang

TT; VIVEK CHHETRI Nima Tamang Darjeeling, Aug. 29: A night of fun that seemingly went awry in the heat of the moment has led to the murder of teenager, for which a 16-year-old boy, who went to the victim’s house to apologise without realising he had died, has been arrested in Darjeeling.

 Nakul (name changed), who was arrested this afternoon, is a school dropout and was believed to be hanging out last night with two of his male friends — all aged between 16 and 18 — and three girls in a hotel here. The other two boys are school students, as is one of the girls. The police, who have interrogated all six, have pieced together a sequence of events. 

 Yesterday night, Nakul, two other boys and three girls checked into Capital, a mid-level hotel, close to the Darjeeling Motor Stand near the Mall around 8.30pm. The police are questioning the hotel owner on why the staff allowed three minor boys to check in with three girls for a night. Nakul hails from Basbotey village, about 90km from Darjeeling. 

 Nima Tamang, the boy allegedly murdered last night, was 18 years old and a resident of Pachphanhatta in Darjeeling town. He and two friends were looking for Nishant (also name changed), one of the two boys with Nakul at the hotel. The police have said the five boys were known to each other.

 According to the police, around 8.45pm, Nishant went home because his mother called him on the phone. Nakul and the third boy went to buy cigarettes and beer from outside, while the girls stayed in the room. When they stepped out of the hotel, they met Nima and his friends.

 “Nima and two of his friends were looking for Nishant, who had already left for home after getting a call from his mother,” said L.T. Bhutia, the inspector in charge of Sadar police station. When Nakul told them Nishant had left, the three boys did not believe him. What followed was a scuffle during which Nakul fell on the road.

 Near his hand, the boy found a sharp piece of metal and he struck Nima with it. “Initially, Nima’s two friends thought he had only suffered a cut and decided to take him to a hospital.

 On the way, they realised that there was a deep gash in Nima’s stomach and his intestines were popping out,” Bhutia said. Nima was taken to Siliguri from a Darjeeling hospital but died on the way around 2am today. After the scuffle last night, Nakul and his friend went back to the hotel with their beer and cigarettes. Nishant, who lived in the same locality as Nima, alerted the two boys about the 18-year-old’s serious condition later at night.

 “He (Nishant) heard about the incident and immediately went back to the hotel to tell the others,” said a police officer. Nishant and Nakul wanted “to go to the hospital to apologise” to Nima but a neighbour told them “not to go there as matters had turned serious”, the police officer said.

 Around 10.30pm, Nakul and two of the girls left the hotel. The police said the third boy and a girl stayed back. The two girls who had left Capital checked into another hotel for the night. The police believe Nakul kept loitering in the town the entire night. Around 3pm today, people in Nima’s locality saw Nakul.

 They first thrashed him, then handed him over to the police but some neighbours said the boy had come to apologise to Nima, unaware that he had died. By then, the three girls, Nishant and the other boy had been rounded up. Nima’s friends have not been detained. “The boy (Nakul) has confessed that he had a scuffle and he hit Nima with something sharp he found on the road last night,” police officer Bhutia said.

 Nakul, though he came from a village outside Darjeeling, used to live under the guardianship of a well-known family here from the age of seven. Last July, he went missing from his guardians’ house. A police officer said Nakul disappeared with some cash. “When he was found again, the Darjeeling family immediately sent him to his parents at Basbotey.

 But the boy found village life to be boring and returned to Darjeeling,” a police officer said. Bhutia said: “We have brought the hotel manager for interrogation. The manager claims he had refused the room to the six but the boys pleaded with the management that they were helpless.” One of the three girls, according to the police, is a minor and reads in a reputed school in the town.

Rotary Club’s Rain Water Conservation Project aims to relief for water crisis

MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, The inaugural function of the Rain Water Sanitation Project/ Rain Water Reserve Conservation and Cleanliness Project prepared by the Rotary Club of Kalimpong at the Kalimpong College was held today.

 The function held under the presidentship of the College Management Committee, Kumar Chettri had the presence of the Rotary Club District Governor, Rotarian Dr Yogesh Verma as the chief guest. The said scheme has been prepared with an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakhs. A water tank which can conserve approximately up to 1.5lakh ltrs rain water has been constructed. The water accumulated will be used at various areas of the College with the help of water pumps.

 The College Principal, Dr RP Dhakal in his address said that water scarcity issue has not only taken a toll over the hills but also the plain areas in the recent times. If this is condition keeps on ascending then in the near future it is possible for IIIrd World War to be initiated due to this crisis, he stressed. Highlighting the importance of water, he exampled India’s oppose against the construction of dam by China at the River Brahmaputra. Saying that the project by Rotary Club shall bring some relief to the College, its staffs and its students, he thanked the Club for the helpful initiative.

 The President of Rotary Club of Kalimpong, Dr DP Pandey was also presented a eulogy letter on behalf of the College. Dr Pandey giving brief details about the project expressed his gratitude towards the Rotary Clubs of Scotland, KELSO, SELKIRK and Castle Douglas for their support to the project. 

The project will not only help but will also teach the Administration and organizations about water conservation, he added. The chief guest appreciating the initiative of Rotary Club said that the Club has been working keeping in mind the issues, benefits and developments of the people. The Charter President of the Club, Brig. NK Gurung along with the College students of pressed the switched button of the project and the main keys were handed over to the College Principal. 

पञ्चायत चुनाउमा आरोप लगाउँनेहरुलाई गतिलो जवाब दिनेछौ – जोन बारला

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 29 अगस्त। गोजमुमो कालेबुङ महकुमा समितिको आयोजनामा यहाँको रामकृष्ण संगमञ्चमा आयोजित सम्वर्द्धना एंव सद्भावना कार्यक्रममा आदिवासी नेता तथा गो.क्षे.प्रका आमन्त्रित सदस्य जोन बारलाले तराई डुवर्सको निम्ति आफुले ईमान्दार बनेर कार्य गर्दै आईरहेको बताएका छन।

 तिनले तराई डुवर्सको निम्ति राम्रो कार्य गर्दा अनेकौ बाधा सृजना गरिरहेको बताउँदै गोर्खा आदिवासीहरु एक बनेर बस्नुपर्ने आह्वान गरे। तिनले यसै सिलसिलामा बिगत दिनहरुमा आफु तराई डुवर्सका मानिसहरुको हितमा कार्य गर्दा जोन बारलाले डुवर्स बिक्रि गर्योह भन्ने आरोप लगाएको बताउँदै अब पहिला आफुसंग छुट्टिएर जाने आदिबासी नेता तेजकुमार टोप्पो अनि अन्य मानिसहरु 31 अगस्तको दिन पुन: आफ्नो साथमा आउँने घोषणा गरे।

 तिनले आफ्नो साथमा आउँन चाहनेहरुलाई स्वागत गर्दै तराई दुवर्सको हितमा सबै एकबद्ध बनेर अघि बड्नुपर्ने आह्वान गरे। तिनले आफुलाई सम्मान जनाएको सन्दर्भमा उक्त सम्मान सम्पूर्ण तराई डुवर्सवासीको सम्मान हो भनि बताए। तिनले सबै एक हुन पर्ने बताउँदै एक बनेर अघि बडने कार्यले आगमे दिनहरुमा प्रस्तावित तराई डुवर्स गो.क्षे.प्रमा गाभिने बारलाले दाबी गरे। तिनले अहिले पनि कतिपय षडयन्त्रकारीहरुले तोड्न खोजिरहेको बताउँदै आगमी दिनमा हुने पञ्चायत चुनावा आफुहरुलाई बिभिन्न आरोप लगाउँनेहरुलाई गतिलो जवाब दिने तिनले घोषणा गरे।

गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनलाई सञ्चालन गर्न सबैले सहयोग गर्नुपर्छ –बिमल गुरुङ

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 29 अगस्त। “म काम गर्न आएको हूँ। यहाँ थुप्रै बिकाशका कार्यहरु गर्नु बाँकी रहेको छ। ग्र्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको यस चौकिमा म चाहे दुईमहिनाको निम्ति बसुँ अथवा दश वर्षको निम्ति बसुँ तर यहाँ बिकासको निम्ति ऐतिहासिक कार्यहरु गरेर जानेछु।

मलाई तपाईँहरुले सम्वर्द्धना जनाउँनु पर्दैन। यहाँ थुप्रै कल कारखाणाहरु निर्माण गर्नुछ। बिद्यालय, महाबिद्यालय निर्माण गरेर पहाडमा शैक्षिक स्तर बडाउँनुछ। यहाँका प्रत्येक बेरोजगार युवाहरुलाई रोजगारको अवसर प्रदान गर्नु बाँकी नै छ।

यस्ता सम्पूर्ण कार्यहरु गर्न सक्षम बनेपछि मात्र मलाई तपाईँहरुले सम्वर्द्धना जनाउँदा हुनेछ” – उक्त कुरा गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको कार्यकारी प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले यहाँको रामकृष्ण रङगमञ्चमा आयोजित सम्वर्द्धना एंव सदभावना कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै भनेका हुन। 

गोजमुमो कालेबुङ महकुमा समितिको आयोजनमा आयिजित सम्वर्द्धना एंव सद्भावना कार्यक्रममा बिमल गुरुङ मुख्य अथितिका रुपमा उपस्थित रहेका थिए। गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षत्रीय प्रशासनको मुख्य कार्यकारीको पदभार ग्रहण गरेपछि पहिलोपल्ट कालेबुण्ग़ आईपुगेका गुरुङ आज हँसिलो मुद्रामा रहेका थिए। यस अवसरमा तिनले पहाडमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षत्रीय प्रशासनको माध्यमबाट तुप्रै बिकास कार्यहरु गरेर सबैलाई देखाईदिने घोषणा गरेका छन।

 कहिले सक्नु दुईसय करोड ? 

गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनका कार्यकारी प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले केन्द्र सरकारबाट प्राप्त हुने बार्षिक दुईसय करोड रुपिया कहिले बिकास कार्य गरेर सक्नु ? भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दै उक्त धनराशीलाई प्रयोग गर्न केवल हातमा सात महिना बाँकी रहेको बताए। अहिलेको समय खुबै मह्त्वपूर्ण रहेको बताउँदै यस मह्त्वपूर्ण समयलाई कसैले खेरो फाल्न नहुने तिनले बताउँदै यस समयलाई त्यसै खेरो फाल्न नहुने समेत तिनले बताए। तिनले तराई दुवर्सको भाग्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको माध्यमबाट बनाउँन पर्ने घोषणा गर्दै अब सबैले यस कार्यमा सह्योग गर्नुपर्ने पनि बिमल गुर्तुङले आह्वान गरेका छन। 

गो.क्षे.प्र. सञ्चालनको निम्ति आरोप होईन सहयोग गरौँ 

गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन सञ्चालनको निम्ति सबैको कर्तब्य रहेको बिमल गुरुङले बताएका छन। तिनले कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित सबैलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै गो.क्षे.प्रलाई व्यवस्थित तरिकाले सञ्चालन गर्न यस क्षेत्रमा वसोवास गर्ने प्रत्येक नागरिकहरुको कर्तब्य रहेको तिनले अझ बताएका छन। दार्जीङ पहाडबाट थुप्रै बिद्वानहरु जन्मिसकेको बताउँदै देशको निम्ति थुप्रै महान हस्तिहरु जन्माउँने दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा विश्वविद्याल समेत नभएको जनाउँदै यस दिशातर्फ पनि कार्य गर्ने तिनले बताएका छन। कुनै क्षेत्रमा राम्रो कार्य गर्नको निम्ति मानिसहरु सभासदहरुको भर पर्न नहुने बताउँदै राम्रो कार्यको निम्ति सबैले आफुलाई सुझाव दिन सक्ने बताउँदै उक्त सुझावलाई लिएर आफु चर्चा गर्न समेत तयारी रहेको जानकारी गराए। यसै सिलसिलामा तिनले कुनै पनि राजनैतिक पार्टीहरुको नाम नलिई अब आरोप प्रत्यारोप गारेर समय नष्ट गर्न भन्दा गो.क्षे.प्रलाई राम्रो बनाएर अघि बड्न सहयोगको हातहरु अघि बडाउँनुपर्ने अह्वान समेत गरे। तिनले गो.क्षे.प्र आफुहरुले यदि व्यवस्थित तरिकाले सञ्चालन गर्न नसके यसलाई बिपक्षी पार्टीहरुले चालाउँनको निम्ति ठाउँ छोडिदिने समेत कार्यक्रममा घोषणा गरे। 

भाई भतिजावादलाई प्रश्रय दिनेछैनौँ

 बिगत दिनहरुमा दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा सुवासले दागोपाप सञ्चालन गर्दा कुनै पनि रोजगारको निम्ति भाई भतिजावादलाई प्रश्रय दिने कार्य गरेको सङ्केत गर्दै गो.क्षे.प्रमा रोजगारको निम्ति भाई भतिजावादलाई बडवा नदिने गो.क्षे.प्र कार्यकारी प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङाले घोषणा गरेका छन। “गो.क्षे.प्रमा कसैलाई कुनै पनि रोजगारमूलक कार्यको निम्ति सुटुक्कै भर्ना गर्नेछैन। रोजगारको निम्ति मेरोमा सिफारिस लिएर आउँने कसैले कार्य नगर्नु। यदि कुनै बिभागमा भर्ना हुन छ भने त्यसको निम्ति सार्बजनिक जन सूचना प्रकाशित गर्नेछौ। हामी आफ्नो मान्छेलाई काखी च्याप्ने कार्य गर्दैनौ” – बिमल गुरुङले भने।

 गो.क्षे.प्र सभासदहरुलाई तीस लाख बजेट

 गो.क्षे.प्रका सम्पूर्ण सभासदहरुलाई बिभिन्न बिकासमूलक कार्यहरुको निम्ति अहिलेलाई प्रारम्भिक चरणमा तीस लाख बजेट छुट्ट्याईएको गो.क्षे.प्र कार्यकारी प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले घोषणा गरेका छन। तिनले उक्त बजेट अहिले प्रारम्भिक चरणमा छुट्ट्याएर बिभिन्न क्षेत्रहरुको आधारभुत बिकास कार्यहरु यथाशिघ्र सञ्चालन गर्ने घोषणा समेत गरेका छन। यस बिषयमा गो.क्षे.प्र क्षेत्रका मानिसहरुले आफ्ना क्षेत्रमा रहेका समस्याहरुबारे आफुलाई भेटेर सुझाव दिन सक्ने जानकारी समेत दिएका छन। 

फेसबुकले नकारात्मक कार्य गर्दैछ 

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने क्रममा गो.क्षे.प्र कार्यकारी प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले फेसबुकको चर्चा गर्न समेत चुकेनन। अहिले युवाहरु फेसबुकतिर जथाभावी टिप्पणी गर्ने गरिरहेको बताउँदै यसलाई राम्रो कार्यको निम्ति प्रयोग गर्न सक्नुपर्ने तिनले बताए। “आज भोलि हाम्रा मानिसहरु फेसबुकमा बिमल गुरुङको बद्ख्वाईँ गर्ने गरेको छ। मेरो चरित्र माथि अनेकौ प्रश्नहरु फेसबुकमा गरिरहेका छन। यस्तो पटक्क राम्रो कार्य होईन। फेसबुकमा राम्रो बिषयहरुमा तर्क गर्नुपर्छ। यसले समाजमा नकारात्मक कार्यहरुलाई निम्ताउँनु हुँदैन” – बिमल गुरुङले भने।

 क्लुनी महाबिद्यालयलाई सांसद कोषबाट बस 

गो.क्षे.प्रको प्रमुख कार्यकारी एव मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले आज यहाँको रामकृष्ण रङ्गमञ्चमा आयोजित सम्वर्द्धना एंव सद्भावना कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै आफुहरुले दार्जेलिङ पहाडमा शिक्षालाई पहिलो प्राथमिकता दिएको बताए। गुणस्तर शिक्षा व्यवस्थाको निम्ति आफुहरुले हरसम्भव प्रयास गर्ने बताउँदै आर्थीक बिपन्न परिवारका ननीहरुलाई राम्रो शिक्षा प्रदान गर्न सहयोग गर्न समेत पछि नपर्ने तिनले घोषणा गरे। यसैक्रममा कालेबुङको क्लुनि महिला महाबिद्यालयलाई केहीदिन भित्रमा सासदकोषबाट बस दिने घोषणा गरे। यस सम्बन्धमा सांसद संग अघिबाट कुराकानी भईसकेको बताउँदै बिद्यालयमा अध्यनरत बिद्यार्थीहरुलाई आफ्नो पक्षबाट उक्त पहिलो सौगात रहेको तिनले थप बताएका छन।

AICC chief warns troublemakers - Sonia focus on healing, harmony

 Riot-affected people at a relief camp in Assam’s Kokrajhar district. (PTI) 

NISHIT DHOLABHAI TT;New Delhi, Aug. 28: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today called for strict action against divisive forces, condemned incendiary speeches and misuse of social media and urged reconciliation among communities in Assam. In a nuanced speech at the Congress parliamentary party general body meeting in the central hall of Parliament today, Sonia said no government could stand by and ignore such treacherous activities.

 Nearly half her speech was dedicated to the violence in Assam and its aftermath whereby thousands of people from the Northeast had become victims outside the region. “The immediate need is for healing wounds and bringing about reconciliation among the communities that have been hurt so grievously,” Sonia said. 

 Her statement comes in the wake of the clashes between Bodos and Muslims in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) since July and will hopefully apply balm to the volatile situation in BTAD this week. Sonia, who visited relief camps in Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts on August 13, said the last few weeks had been troublesome for all those who cherish India’s traditions of tolerance, amity and harmony. She said every effort should be made to ensure that camp inmates return to their homes and rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.

 Her speech also contained a stern warning, apparently referring to the violence in Mumbai and Bangalore in the aftermath of the Assam violence that she termed as traumatic. “The strictest possible action must be taken against those who deliberately seek to divide us, incite and provoke people by their incendiary speeches and aggressive actions.

 They have misused the social media for their hate-mongering, causing havoc and spreading mass panic,” she said. A protest by the Raza Academy in Mumbai earlier this month had spun out of control as miscreants took advantage of the situation. Some incendiary speeches were made during the meeting at Azad Maidan into which police investigations are on.

 Exodus from Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities, mostly in south India, was triggered by rumour-mongering through SMS messages and on Internet. The Congress president, however, did not refer to either Pakistan or an outside hand.

Speaking for the people of the Northeast, Sonia said young men and women from the region were deliberately subjected to physical and psychological assault outside. Appreciating that members of the Lok Sabha had spoken in one voice against this injustice, she said the northeasterners, like all other citizens of India, had every constitutional right to study, work and live in any part of the country in complete safety and security.

 Thousands of northeasterners study and work in commercial hubs like Bangalore and Pune. On Saturday, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, R. Ashoka, had visited the Northeast to convince people to return. Politicians from various northeastern states have also visited the southern states to instil confidence among people from the region to stay put.

Homemaker shot dead

TT; Krishnagar, Aug. 28: A homemaker was shot dead in her sleep in Nadia early today in what police said could be the fallout of an extra-marital affair. According to the police, the assailants broke open the door of Sulata Biswas’s paternal home in Bhangarpara and pumped two bullets into her head.

 Her mother, who lay asleep beside, said she saw four masked youths with torches but couldn’t recognise them. Sulata, 21, had been staying at her paternal home for the past two weeks. The police said she often came here since her husband Sanjit left their Ainshmali home for Abu Dhabi in 2009 to work as a construction labourer. The woman stayed with her in-laws and her brother-in-law.

 The couple didn’t have any children. The police have started a murder case on unknown persons. Although father Jagadish Biswas did not name anybody in the FIR, he hinted at the possible role of her in-laws, who he said often “tortured” her, the officer said. Sulata’s mother Dulurani said she was woken up by her daughter’s screams. Dulurani said she didn’t suspect anybody.

 The police refused to buy Dulurani’s version, saying they suspected an extra-marital affair to be the cause for the murder. An investigating officer said an empty liquor bottle and cigarette butts were found inside Sulata’s room, which “amply suggested there were at least three or four persons who had spent some time there” .

Evict & beautify plan for Darj

TT;VIVEK CHHETRIDarjeeling, Aug. 28: The Darjeeling municipality has decided to extend its eviction drive against hawkers to other parts of the town in an effort to beautify the town and decongest thoroughfares following its success in removing 182 hawkers from Nehru Road.

picture by suman tamang

 Amar Singh Rai, the chairman of the Darjeeling municipality, said: “Once the eviction of shops lined along Nehru Road is completed we will start the drive along Orient Line (NB Singh Road) and Paachpanhatta area in town. GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung wants the municipality to ensure that all the drains in the town are free of encroachment.

 Last evening, the Darjeeling municipality evicted 182 hawkers that sell items of tourist attraction from along the Nehru Road. Although the municipality had yesterday said there were no plans to rehabilitate the hawkers immediately and that they would be given space only after a permanent two-storied construction comes up later, there was a change in plans today.

 Gurung today visited Chowrastha and the chief executive along with Rai went to several spots to identify a suitable for immediate rehabilitation of the evicted hawkers. “In the end it was decided that 60 shops would be accommodated along the stretch of road that connects Chowrastha and Chowrasta Road (near Alice Villa) while the rest can put up along C.R.

 Road that leads to Bhutia busty. These hawkers have been asked to start construction work from tomorrow,” Rai said. The two places where the hawkers will be accommodated are not crowded by tourists as much as Nehru Road. The Nehru Road is the major thoroughfare for tourists going to the Mall. The chairman said the municipality had decided to beautify Nehru Road. “We are thinking of keeping chairs along the road.

 We are also exploring the possibility of lighting up the road and perhaps have little garden lining the road,” said Rai. The civic chief maintained that the decision to evict hawkers from Orient Line and Paachpan Haat was aimed at providing more space to pedestrians to walk through the streets of Darjeeling.

 Residents have for a long time complained about the lack of walking space in the town. Most of the walking spaces are either taken up by transport syndicates — there are around 53 such syndicates across town, or by hawkers who have slowly come up with permanent structures in many places.

Kurseong teacher

TT; MRINALINI SHARMA Siliguri, Aug.28: Father Joseph Murray Abraham, an educationist and philanthropist who had spent more than six decades working for the welfare of the people of Kurseong, died at Flame of Hope — a home for disabled — in Matigara today. The 86-year-old Father was suffering cardiac and breathing problems. He had been the headmaster of St Alphonsus School in Kurseong for 22 years.

 “This afternoon, just past 12, Father Abraham breathed his last. He died peacefully. He brought peace, joy and love to so many people in the Darjeeling hills. His funeral service will be held at 2.30pm tomorrow in Kurseong. He was currently the Chaplain at the Flame of Hope,” said Father Kinley Tshering of the Darjeeling Jesuits. Nanda Kishore Thapa, the assistant headmaster of St Alphonsus who was a student of the institution, said Abraham was a “disciplinarian”, yet a “compassionate person”.

Kidnap buzz sparks highway block - 10-hour protest by tribals ends after news of leader’s arrest in Bihar

TT;Islampur, Aug. 28: Tribals blocked NH31 for almost 10 hours at Islampur yesterday over the alleged abduction of their leader, but withdrew it when they found out he had been arrested by Bihar police and taken to Kishenganj. 

 However, this morning, they gheraoed the office of the district magistrate in Kishenganj, 30km from here, for five hours demanding Ramu Hembram’s release. Some of the tribals also blocked the highway again, this time for an hour. Hembram, 45, a resident of Bihar’s Sitalpur, was leading a movement to reclaim land that had been occupied by non-tribals who had set up tea gardens on the plots.

 Yesterday, Hebram’s wife Bharati filed a complaint with Islampur police saying a group had stopped the tribal leader at Millanpalli while he was travelling towards Bihar on a motorcycle. The men forced Hembram inside an SUV and the car sped towards Bihar. She told the police that she was with Hembram when the incident happened around 3pm. 

Bharati alleged that Hembram was abducted by people against whom he had been leading the movement. Around 4pm yesterday, 300-odd adivasis, armed with bows and arrows, blocked NH31. The blockade continued till 1am while vehicles on both sides waited in queues several kilometres long. 

 The subdivisional police officer of Islampur, Subimal Pal, said Bihar police confirmed Hembram’s arrest after 10pm. “Around midnight the subdivisional police officer of Kishenganj, Poonam Kesri, and the additional district magistrate, Shatrughan Singh, informed the agitators their leader had been arrested. Some of the protesters went to the Kishenganj police station and met Hembram. The blockade was lifted after that,” Pal said.

 “The Bihar police should have informed us earlier (about the arrest). Policemen in plainclothes had arrested Ramu from Milanpalli around 3pm yesterday,” the SDPO said. Hembram was arrested for his involvement in a case of alleged arson and rioting in April. He was produced in court at Kishenganj today and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

नेपाली भाषाले मान्यता पाएको 20 वर्ष पछि यसको प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्नु एक बिडम्बना : के भन्छन त नेताहरु ?

 डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 28 अगस्त। देहरादुनबाट शुरु भएको नेपाली भाषा मान्यता आन्दोलन लग भग 36 बर्ष सम्म जारी रहेपछि भारतको आठौँ अनुसुचीमा 20 अगष्ट 1992 को मान्यता पाएको आज 20 बर्ष पुरा गरिसकेको छ। नेपाली भाषाले मान्यता पाएको आज 20 बर्ष पुरा गरिसकेको समयमा नेपाली भाषी मानिसहरुको गड मानिने दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा भने पुन: सरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग हुन पर्छ भन्नु ठुलै बिडम्बना मान्नु पर्ला।

 सन 1956 मा देहरादुनबाट प्रकाशित हुने जागृत गोर्खाका सम्पादक आनन्दसिह थापाले तत्कालिन भारतका राष्ट्रपति राजेन्द्र प्रसादलाई नेपाली भाषाले भारतको संविधामा मान्यता पाउँनुपर्छ भन्दै स्मारक पत्र चडाए पछि नेपाली भाषा मान्यता आन्दोलनको सुरुआत भएको हो। नेपाली भाषाले भारतको संविधानको आठौ अनुसुचिमा मान्यता पाउँपर्छ भन्ने माग चलिरहेकै समयमा सन 1961 मा भने पश्चिम बङगाल सरकारले नेपाली भाषालाई दार्जीलिङ पहाडको तीनवटा महकुमा क्रमैले दार्जीलिङ, कालेबुङ अनि खर्साङमा भने दोस्रो सरकारी भाषाको रुपमा मान्यता दिईसकेको छ।

 तत्कालिन पश्चिम बङगाल सरकारले नेपाली भाषालाई दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा दोस्रो सरकारी भाषाको रुपमा मान्यता प्रदान गरेको ठिक 51 वर्ष पछि अनि भारतको संविधानको आठौ अनुसुचिमा मान्यता प्राप्त गरेको 20 वर्ष पछि नेपाली भाषी मानिसहरु बहुसंख्यक रहेको दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन प्राप्त भएपछि नेपाली भाषा प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्दै बिद्यार्थी मोर्चा सडक आन्दोलनमा निस्कने छाँट काँटमा रहेको छ। 

गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको भातृ संगठन बिद्यार्थी मोर्चाले नेपाली भाषा दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा अनिवार्य रुपले प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्दै यस बिषयमा आगमी 9 सितम्बर सम्मको अल्टिमेटम समेत दिएको छ। अर्कोतिर गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनमा नेपाली भाषलाई सरकारी भाषाको रुपमा प्रयोग गरेर सम्पूर्ण सरकारी अनि गैरसरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा नेपाली भाषा अनिवार्य रुपले प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने माग गर्दै भारतीय गोर्खा परिसंघले गोक्षेप्र प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङ अनि जिल्ला शासकलाई पत्रचार गरिसके छ। 

बर्तमान समयमा नेपाली भाषाले मान्यता प्राप्त गरेको 20 बर्ष पुरा गरिसके पनि नेपाली भाषाको सर्वाङ्गीन बिकास भने हुन नसकेको बिद्वजनहरुको मत रहेको छ। बड्दो अङ्ग्रेजी भाषाको प्रयोग अनि नेपाली भाषी मानिसहरुको अङ्ग्रेजी भाषाप्रतिको ओहले पनि नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोगमा बिस्तारै बिराम लाग्दै गईरहेको छ। सरकारले दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा नेपाली भाषालाई सरकारी भाषाको मान्यता दिनको साथै दार्जीलिण्ग़ पहाडमा सरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा कार्यरत अधिकारीवर्गले नेपाली भाषा जान्न पर्ने नियम समेत बनाएको छ।

 तर नेपाली भाषी अधिकारीहरुको अभावमा पनि नेपाली भाषी मानिसहरु सरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा नेपाली भाषालाई पर सारेन अङ्ग्रेजी भाषाको प्रयोग गर्न परिरहेको गुनासो रहेको छ। यस्तो परिस्थितिमा नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग सम्बन्धि गोजमुमो पार्टीकै भातृसंगठन बिद्यार्थी मोर्चाले चालेको पहल कति सम्म सफल होला भन्ने अनिश्चित प्रश्न खडा भएको छ। उक्त कुराहरुलाई मध्यनजर राखेर बिभिन्न राजनैतिक पार्टीहरुका नेताहरु संग कुराकानी गर्दा नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग माथिनै जोड दिएका छन।

 नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोगमा अधिकांश राजनैतिक पार्टीहरुले सकारात्मक सोच राखे पनि यसमा तुप्रै कठिनाईहरु आउँने कुरापनि उनीहरु स्वीकार्छन। यस सम्बन्धमा आज गोजमुमो पार्टीका प्रवक्ता एंव कालेबुङका बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीसंग जान्न चाहँदा तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन (गोक्षेप्र) मा नेपाली भाषालाई प्रयोगमा ल्याउँन सकिने मन्तव्य जाहेर गरे।

 तिनले नेपाली भाषालाई गोक्षेप्रमा अभ्यास गर्न सकिने बताउँदै यस कार्यमा आउँने समस्याहरुलाई समेत बिस्तारै समाधान गर्न सकिने बताए। यसै सिलसिलामा तिनले नेपाली भाषाको बिकासको निम्ति गोक्षेप्रले नेपाली भाषामा रहेका उच्च तहका कृतिहरुलाई विश्वबजारमा अन्य भाषा साहित्यका कृतिहरुको आमु उभ्याने कार्य गर्नुपर्ने पनि बताएका छन। तिनले नेपाली भाषाका कृतिहरुलाई विश्वका अन्य भाषाहरुको कृतिहरुको अघि अभ्याउँन सके विश्वका मानिसहरुले यसबारे जान्ने मौका प्राप्त गर्ने बताउँदै यसले भाषाको बिकास हुने बिचार राखे। 

यसैक्रममा गोजमुमो महासचिव एंव गोक्षेप्रको शिक्षा बिभागका भारप्राप्त सभासद रोशन गिरीसंग जान्न चाहँदा तिनले यसबारे आफुहरुले बिचार गरीरहेको बताउँदै आफु व्यस्त रह्व्को कारण यसबारे पछि कुराकानी गर्ने बताए। यता नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग गर्नपर्ने बिषयमा क्रामाकपा पार्टीका उपाध्यक्ष जी बी राईसित जान्न चाहँदा तिनले हामी नेपाली भाषी गोर्खाहरु भारतीय हौ भन्ने प्रमाण नै नेपाली भाषाले भारतको आठौ अनुसुचिमा मान्यता प्राप्त भएर पुष्टि भएको बताउँदै भाषाले मान्यता प्राप्त गरेपछि यसको स्वत: प्रयोग हुनपर्ने बताए।

 तिनले भारतको संबिधानले मान्यता प्रदान गरेको नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग गर्न नसक्नु भनेको नेपाली भाषी मानिसहरुको निम्ति खुबै दिर्भाग्यपूर्ण रहेको बताउँदै सम्पूर्ण कार्यहरुमा नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग हुन आवश्यक रहेको बताएका छन। अर्कोतिर यस सम्बन्धमा गोर्खालिग पार्टीका महासचिव प्रताप खातीसंग जान्न चाहँदा तिनले नेपाली भाषालाई राज्य सरकारले दोस्रो सरकारी भाषाको रुपमा मान्यता दिएको बताउँदै यसको प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने बिषयमा राज्यसरकारले गोक्षेप्रका अधिकारीहरुलाई निर्देश दिन आवश्यक रहेको छ भने।

 नेपाली भाषा सरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भनेर होक्षेप्रका अधिकारीहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्न भन्दा यस सम्बन्धमा नेपाली भाषा प्रेमी मानिसहरुले राज्यसरकारसंग लडाई गर्नुपर्ने पनि खातिले बताएका छन। अर्कोतिर भारतीय गोर्खा परिसंघका राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष रेभरेन डा एनोसदास प्रधानसित जान्न चाहँदा तिनले नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग हुनपर्छ भन्ने कुरामा जोड दिए।

 तिनले नेपाली भाषाले संविधानमा मान्यता पाएर थुप्रै बिकास कार्य हुन आवश्यक रहेको बताउँदै गोक्षेप्रमा यसको प्रयोग हुनपर्छ भनेर आफुहरुले ज्ञापन पत्र सुम्पिसकेको जनाए। सोहि सिलसिलामा कालेबुङका महकुमा अधिकारी एल एन शेर्पासित कुराकानी गर्दा तिनले सरकारी कार्यलयहरुमा सरकारबाट सबै आवश्यक कागजपत्रहरु अङ्ग्रेजीमा लेखिएको आउँने जानकारी गराउँदै नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग गर्नको निम्ति बिभागहरुमा अनुवादक राखिन पर्ने आवश्यक रहेको तिनले बताएका छन। तिनले कार्यलयमा सम्पूर्ण कामकाज नेपाली भाषामा नभए पनि मानिसहरुले कार्यलयमा नेपाली भाषा प्रयोग गरेर बुझाएका दस्तावेजहरु भने स्वीकार गरेर कार्य गरिरहेको जानकारी दिएका छन।

स्वास्थ्य बिभागकी भारप्राप्त सभासद आशा गुरुङले गरिन महकुमा अस्पतालको दौडाह

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 28 अगस्त। गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन (गोक्षेप्र) को स्वास्थ्य बिभागका भारप्राप्त सभासद आशा गुरुङले आज यहाँको महकुमा अस्पतालको दौडाह गरेर जानकारी लिईन। यस अवसरमा तिनीसंगै सभासद निमा तामाङको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। 

गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनमा स्वास्थ्य बिभाग प्राप्त गरेपछि पहिलोपल्ट कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालको भ्रमणमा आएकी आशा गुरुङले यस अवसरमा महकुमा अस्पतालको भ्रमण गर्दै अस्पतालमा रहेको समस्याहरुबारे महकुमा स्वास्थ्य अधिकारी शुभरत्न प्रधानबाट जानकारी लिए।

 यस अवसरमा तिनले अस्पतालमा रहेको सम्पूर्ण वार्डहरुको पारिभ्रमण गर्दै बिरामीहरुसंग पनि कुराकानी गरे। तिनले प्रत्येक बिरामीहरु संग कुराकानी गर्दै अस्पतालमा बिरामीहरुले के कस्ता समस्याहरु भोग्न परिरहेको छ भन्ने बारेमा पनि सोध खोज गरे। यस अवसरमा तिनलाई यहाँको महकुमा अस्पतालका कर्मीहरुले भव्य स्वागत गरे।

 सोहि क्रममा तिनले अस्पतालमा रहेको समस्याहरु आगमी दिनहरुमा कसरी समाधान गर्न सकिन्छ अनि यस बिषयमा कस्तो पहल गर्नु आवश्यक छ भन्ने बिषयमा पनि तिनले स्वास्थ्य अधिकारी शुभरत्न प्रधान अनि सम्पूर्ण चिकित्सक लगायत नर्सहरु संग बैठक पनि गरिन।

 दार्जीलिङबाट अचानक कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालको दौडाहमा आएकी सभासद आशा गुरुङ यसै अवधी पत्रकारहरु संग कुराकानी गर्दै अस्पतालको सम्पूर्ण समस्याहरु समाधान गर्न आफु कार्य गर्ने बताउँदै यस सम्बन्धमा सरकार संग गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको माध्यमबाट पहल गर्ने प्रतिश्रुति दिए।

 तिनले दार्जीलिङ शहरको सरकारी अस्पताल भन्दा कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पताल सफा अनि व्यवस्थित रहेको बताउँदै यसलाई अझ व्यवस्थित बनाएर अघि बडाउँनुपर्ने पनि आह्वान गरिन। दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा बिगत दिनहरुमा गोरामुमो पार्टीले शासन गर्दा यहाँको स्वास्थ्य बिभागहरुले राम्रो कार्य नगरेको आरोप लगाउँदै पहाडको अस्पतालहरुको अवस्था सोचनीय हुनमा माकपा सरकारको लापारवाही रहेको पनि आरोप लगाईन। 

अहिले घरी दार्जीलिङ पहाडका मानिसहरु स सानो बिरामीहरुको जाँच गर्न सिलगडी जान पर्ने बताउँदै पहाडमा राम्रो व्यवस्थित अस्पतालको निर्माण गर्न सके पहाडका मानिसहरु स्वास्थ्य जाँच गर्न बाहिर जान नपर्ने तिनले थप जनाईन।

 यस अवसरमा तिनले पहाडमा रहेको प्रत्येक खण्ड स्तरको स्वास्थ्य केन्द्रहरु बिकशित गरेर मह्कुमा अस्पताल झै बनाउँने बताउँदै महकुमा अस्पतालहरुको स्तरलाई अझ बडाएर अझ व्यवथित अस्पतालहरु बनाउँन सक्दो प्रयास गर्ने पनि आशा गुरुङले पत्रकारहरुलाई बताईन। तिनले कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालमा पनि अहिलेघरी कतिपय समस्याहरु रहेको बताउँदै उक्त समस्याहरुलाई समाधान गर्न पनि पहल गर्ने आश्वासन दिएकी छिन।

 यसै अवसरमा तिनले अहिले पहाडमा रहेका स्वास्थ्य केन्द्रहरुमा चिकित्सक, नर्स लगायत सफाईकर्मीहरुको अभाव रहेको बताउँदै उक्त रिक्त पदहरुमा भर्ना सम्बन्धि पनि पहल गर्ने जानकारी दिएकी छिन। तिनले पत्रकारहरु सित कुराकानी गर्दै मानिसहरुले सरकारी अस्पतालमा जथाभावी मैला गर्ने कार्य गरेको बताउँदै प्रत्येक नागरीकले स्वास्थ्य संग सम्बन्धित बिभागलाई माया गरेर यसको संरक्षण गर्नुपर्ने आह्वान गर्दै सरकारको सम्पति हो भन्ने संकिर्ण मानसिकता त्यागेर हाम्रो सम्पत्ति हो भावना प्रत्येक नागरीले सोच्न पर्ने तिनले थप बताईन।

Indian Gorkhas failed by Centre and the State- GTF Home Minister Shinde assures GTF delegation to talk on Gorkhaland issue

MUKESH SHARMA;New Delhi, August 26: The Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde met a delegation of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) - Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) today at his residence in New Delhi.

 Led by GTF Chairman Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, the delegation discussed the separate State issue with the Home Minister and submitted a memorandum on the same.

 At the discussion, Rev Dr Pradhan and GTF General Secretary Munish Tamang emphasized that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) do not meet the expectations of over 1 crore Indian Gorkhas. 

They pointed out that the GTA was only a development agency, while the demand of the Indian Gorkhas revolves around their National identity and political security. The Union Government had not consulted all political parties or social organizations concerned while settling for the GTA agreement, they said. 

The delegation said that the Indian Gorkhas has been regularly failed by the Centre and the State and their actual problems are not being taken seriously. “As a Dalit, you will understand marginalization.

 We request you to understand the issues of deprivation of the Indian Gorkhas and take steps to give them justice,” they told Shinde. The Home Minister was keen on these views and assured that he would like to discuss them more. 

“We will sit down again and talk about the issues of the Gorkhas,” he told the delegation. Other members in the delegation included BGP Secretary General Sukhman Moktan, Gorkha Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM) President Dawa Pakhrin and GTF National Coordinator R Moktan.

Union snips protest time in garden

TT; Alipurduar, Aug. 26: A trade union in a Dooars tea garden has asked workers to reduce the duration of their morning “gate meetings”, a euphemism for protests, from over two hours to half an hour as the agitation was hampering plucking. It is unusual for a trade union to tell workers that protests hamper production — a line generally favoured by the estate management.

 “Gate meetings” are a form of protest that garden workers organise to raise slogans. The “gate meetings” at Ramjhora Tea Estate started on Tuesday over a demand for a wage hike. The meetings went on for over two hours every morning till Saturday. The labourers were demanding revision of wages as they are being paid according to the old rates of Rs 67 a day. They are entitled to get Rs 90 a day. 

 Mani Darnal, a leader of the INTUC-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) today said: “Yesterday we went to Ramjhora Tea Estate and spoke to the workers. It is true that according to a tripartite agreement signed in 2011, workers are supposed to get Rs 90 per day and the labourers here are not getting that. But the management has invested a lot of money to improve the estate after they took over (in 2010).” The garden in Jalpaiguri, 75km from here, was shut on August 11, 2002, and reopened on October 9, 2010. Darnal added:

 “We told the workers that the garden should not go back to the earlier state (when it was shut down). We will meet the DM of Jalpaiguri and take up the issue with him.” The union leader added that from tomorrow the “gate meetings” would be held for half an hour everyday. Jalpaiguri district magistrate Smaraki Mahapatra said: “I have received information that the workers are getting Rs 67 a day.

 I have asked the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri to submit a report to me on the matter.” According to the tripartite agreement signed by the labour commission, garden management and trade unions on November 4, 2011, the minimum daily wage of a garden worker in Dooars was fixed at Rs 85 from the earlier rate of Rs 67. In April this year it was revised to Rs 90 a day.

 Not all NUPW leaders are happy with the decision. Ramesh Sharma, an NUPW leader in the garden, said: “We thought the management would pay the increased amount gradually as they have invested a lot of money in the estate after they took over. But they did not.

 We started the gate meetings from Tuesday to demand the increased wages. But the management has not yet taken any initiative to discuss the matter with us.” Garden manager Hemant Popli said he would like the “gate meetings” to stop and would issue a notice to this effect.

 He added that “in the agreement we had signed while taking over the estate, nothing was mentioned on the revised wages. I have told the workers that their wages would be increased from next year. But I don’t know the exact amount. 

I appreciate the trade union leaders’ move to convince the workers.” Sharma said the workers would stop the half-an-hour “gate meetings” too if the management sat for discussions with them on wages. He said when the garden was reopened in 2010, 846 of the total 1,103 workers were given jobs and the management had said the rest would be absorbed in the next five years.

 “Kalchini Tea Estate also reopened in 2010 after eight years but there was no retrenchment and the workers are getting Rs 90 as their daily wage. Then why is the management not paying the increased wages here? From tomorrow, the gate meeting will be for half an hour instead of two hours everyday because we do not want to go back to what we had witnessed during the closure period,” Sharma said. In the eight years that the estate was shut, at least 150 people died reportedly of malnutrition.