मुख्यमंत्री ममता ब्यानर्जीको धम्कीपूर्ण बयानले गोजमुमोलाई मात्र होइन सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरुलाई नै अपमानित गरेको छ----- गोटाफो

कालेबुङ, ३१ जनवरी| छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन हिंसात्मक हुनसक्ने गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरङले घोषणा गरेपछि पहाड पुन: अशान्त बन्न सक्ने सम्भावना बडेको छ। बङगालकी मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले दार्जीलिङ बङगालको अभिन्न अंग भनेर दाबी गरेपछि पहाडका जनताले गोर्खाल्याण्ड जिन्दावादको नारा लगाउँदै पहाडवासीको चाहना गोर्खाल्याण्ड रहेको सन्देश दिए पछि पहाडको सत्तसिन पार्टीले जनताको आकाक्षमा पूर्ण गर्न कस्तो अख्तियार आप्नाउँने हो भन्ने कौतुहलता बडीरहेको समयमा गुरुङले आन्दोलन हिंसात्मक हुने घोषणाले पहाडको राजनैतिक हावा तातो बनाईदिएको छ। 

अहिले चारैतिर पुन: आन्दोलन हिंसात्मक हुने चर्चा चलिएरहेको समयमा यता गोर्खाल्याण्डॅ टास्क फोर्सले एक बैठक डाकेर हिंसात्मक आन्दोलनलाई गोटाफोले प्रश्रय नदिने निर्णय लिएको छ। आज गोरानिमो अध्यक्ष दावा पाख्रिनको निजी निवासमा गोटाफोको बैठक सम्पन्न भयो| बैठकमा क्रामकपाबाट कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष एलएम लामा, महासचिव तारामणि राई, उपाध्यक्ष जेबी राई, आञ्चलिक समिति अध्यक्ष किशोर प्रधान, अभागोलीबाट महासचिव प्रताप खाती, गोटाफो अध्यक्ष सुखमन मोक्तान आर. मोक्तान, पीके प्रधान अनि दावा पाख्रिन उपस्थित थिए| 

गोटाफोको आज एक बैठक सम्पन्न भए पछि पत्रकारहरु संग कुराकानी गर्दै राष्ट्रिय समन्वयक आर मोक्तानले “हिंसात्मक आन्दोलनलाई गोटाफोले मान्यता दिनेछैन” भने। गोटाफोले सन्धै अहिंसा अनि गणतन्त्रमा विश्वास राख्ने बताउँदै मोर्चाको हिंसात्मक आन्दोलन उनीहरुले नै जान्दछन भने। गोटाफोको बैठक पछि पत्रकारहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मोक्तानले दार्जीलिङमा मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले दिएको बयान प्रति प्रतिक्रिया जाहेर गर्दै उक्त बयान निन्दनिय रहेको बताए। मुख्यमन्त्री ब्यानर्जीले दार्जीलिङमा आएर आफुलाई रफ एण्ड टफ लेडी भनेर धम्किपूर्ण बयान दिएको बताउँदै तिनले गोजमुमोलाई मात्र होईन सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरुलाई नै अपमानित गर्ने कार्य गरेको आरोप लगाए। 

दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा जीटीए हुँदा हुँदै मुख्यमन्त्री आएको हस्तक्षेप गरेको घटनाले नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको बाटोमा जीटीए बाधा हो भन्ने प्रमाणित भएको बताउँदै सम्पूर्ण काम बङगालने गर्न चाहन्छ भने जीटीको कुनै औचित्य नै छैन अनि यस्तो औचित्य नभएको चिजलाई त्यागेर मोर्चा गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति अघि बड्नुपर्ने मोक्तानले अझ बताए। यसै सिलसिलामा दार्जीलिङमा मुख्यमन्त्रीअघि जसरी गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवाज स्वतस्फूर्त रुपमा निस्कियो त्यसले जनता दागोपाप अनि जीटीएजस्ता व्यवस्थासित सन्तुष्ट नरहेर गोर्खाल्याण्डकै पक्षमा रहेको स्पष्ट भएको गोटाफो ठान्छ मोक्तानले बाताउँदै जनताको मागअनुसार जीटीए त्यागेर सामुहिकरुपमा आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्ने तिनले बताए।

Trinamul hill campaign

 AVIJIT SINHA Siliguri, Jan. 31: Trinamul Congress leaders today told party leaders from the hills to launch a campaign highlighting development work done by the government to win over the section of the hill population that does not want fresh trouble in the region. Trinamul’s all-India general secretary Mukul Roy and north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today held a meeting with 17 members of the party’s Darjeeling district committee, who are from the hills, at the NHPC bungalow in Siliguri.

 They discussed plans to consolidate the party’s base in the hills. “Mukul Roy and Gautam Deb asked the hill leaders to be in touch with common people and launch a campaign on development work being undertaken by Mamata Banerjee. We will hold a public meeting in the hills but the date hasn’t been fixed,” said a leader who was present at the meeting. After the meeting, Deb said: “Today, Mukul Roy and I sat with 17 hill leaders and discussed the condition of the organisation in the hills.

 We also chalked out a plan to carry out our programmes in the hills.” Trinamul made a foray into the hills in 2012 when a number of leaders from the GNLF, ABGL, CPRM and even the Morcha joined the party. But this lot was bitter after the leadership told them to withdraw nominations for the GTA polls last year to pave the way for the Morcha’s sweep. “Today’s exercise was an attempt to mollify them. Simultaneously, the presence of Mamata Banerjee, who told the leaders to work with dedication, made it clear the party would stand by them now,” an observer said.

 “Trinamul leaders are confident that a section in the hills does not want fresh trouble that would affect the local economy. The party, in a discreet manner, is trying to… bring them under the party flag.” Mamata said after the meeting that two party leaders had held talks with Trinamul leaders from the hills. “We are not thinking of creating a support base and dividing people. All hill residents are our people. But every political party has a specific structure and system. We will work according to it.”

Council swipe at CM - Morcha says secular fabric of hills will be ruined

Binay tamang

TT; VIVEK CHHETRIDarjeeling, Jan. 31: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said Mamata Banerjee’s plan to set up separate development councils for Buddhists and Lepchas would destroy the social and secular fabric of the hills. The chief minister in Siliguri today spoke of establishing the councils but did not clarify if those would be under the GTA. The Lepchas have no territorial demand but want the council to be outside the purview of the GTA. 

 The Morcha has reservations about the formation of such councils outside the GTA’s ambit. Morcha assistant secretary Binay Tamang said: “This (the council for Buddhists) is again something new that she is talking about. Her announcements will only destroy the social and secular fabric of the hills. It will create confusion in the hills once again.”

 This morning, Mamata told a news conference in Siliguri: “We have decided to form a development council for the Lepchas. It will work for the development of the Lepchas who also reside in the hills. There are also large numbers of Buddhists in the hills for whom we have decided to form a separate development council.” The chief minister claimed that a development council for the Lepchas had been promised in the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by the Centre, state and the Morcha to set up the GTA Sabha. 

 But Tamang refuted the chief minister’s claim. “Nowhere in the agreement has this been agreed upon. The chief minister announced the decision to set up the Lepcha development council after the (GTA) agreement was signed (on July 18, 2011) and the Lepcha community demonstrated in Calcutta,” Tamang said. In the GTA memorandum of agreement (MoA), there is a clause for nomination of minorities to the GTA Sabha.

 “The GTA Sabha shall consist of forty five elected members and five members to be nominated by the Governor to give representation to members of SC, ST, women, and minority communities,” the MoA says. The GTA Act says: “The members to be nominated… by the Governor may include due representation of minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women.” 

 At present, the GTA Sabha does not have any nominated member from the Lepcha community, which is a minority in the hills. Tamang today said the decision to set up the Buddhist and Lepcha development councils would open a Pandora’s box. “Setting up a council based on religion is something that will destroy the secular fabric of the hills. Apart from the Buddhists, we have Christians, Muslims and Hindus residing in the hills. Everyone will now start clamouring for such a body,” he said.

 The Gorkha community which comprises 36 sects has a large number of Buddhists. The Tamangs and Gurungs, who are identified as Gorkhas, are predominantly Buddhists. Other sects such as the Rais and Subbas are nature worshippers mostly. The Newar, Chhetri and Magar sects, which also belong to the Gorkha community, are Hindus. Members of the Bhutia and Sherpa communities are also Buddhists. “Development councils kept out of the GTA Sabha’s purview will be parallel bodies.

 That is why we want the Lepcha development council to be named as Lepcha development board and be brought under the GTA Sabha’s purview. Even if the Lepcha board is agreed on (in the MoA), there could be demands by other hill communities such as the Rais and Subbas and minorities to set up their own development boards,” Tamang said. Members of other ST communities, who didn’t want to be named, said if the Lepchas were allowed to form a council, then they, too, should get a chance. 

“We, too, belong to the Scheduled Tribe community like the Lepchas. We, too, are as backward as the Lepchas. We are of the opinion that all communities should be given such privileges within the purview of the GTA Sabha,” said a leader of a tribal community. The ST communities comprise about 32 per cent of the hill population. However, there is a clamour by almost all Gorkha communities to be accorded ST status.

Warning in Delhi

Rosan giri

TT; NISHIT DHOLABHAI  New Delhi, Jan. 31: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation today met Union home secretary R.K Singh and told him that Gorkhaland will have to be formed if a Telangana state is created. “We apprised him (R.K. Singh) of the present political situation and told him that if the government considers Telangana, Gorkhaland is also a long-standing demand…. People will agitate (if the demand is not fulfiled),” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said after the meeting.

 The Morcha leaders said the home secretary told them that since the GTA was formed recently, people should not agitate. “We told him that in the GTA agreement it is clearly mentioned that the Gorkhaland demand will not be dropped,” Giri said. The Morcha revived its statehood agitation after the party leadership felt the Centre was likely to announce the formation of Telangana. 

 Giri had talked of a “relentless” movement till their demand was fulfiled. Singh today told the Morcha leaders that their sentiments would be conveyed to Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. The hill party leaders had met Shinde on January 11. 

 The Morcha is likely to keep up the pressure on Delhi. Today, the hill leaders also met BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who is the MP from Darjeeling. Jaswant Singh told the hill delegation that since the GTA had been achieved, the next stage was a Union Territory status, followed by full statehood, the Morcha leaders said.

 The hill party’s protest at Jantar Mantar continued today with supporters chanting: “Jai Kali, Mahakali, Jai Jai Gorkhali.” Giri said Jaswant Singh would take part in the dharna tomorrow. The agitation will continue till February 3.

Barla to fight rural polls with Morcha

TT; AVIJIT SINHA  Siliguri, Jan. 30: John Barla today said he would contest the upcoming panchayat polls as an ally of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha but the tribal leader desisted from commenting on the statehood demand. Earlier this month, Barla, who had been thrown out of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and formed the north Bengal unit of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had said that he would no longer support Morcha’s demand for a separate state.

 “We might have differences over the issue of separate statehood as tribals in the Terai and Dooars are against it. But we will continue to be allies and right now we are focusing on the panchayat polls,” Barla said today. The rural elections are likely to be held in May and four blocks in the Terai and seven in the Dooars will vote for all three tiers of the panchayat system. “It is up to the Morcha leaders in the foothills to decide whether they will participate in the Gorkhaland movement or not as the central leaders of the party have decided to resume it (the statehood agitation).

 In that case, we will remain silent and keep on working for the rural votes,” Barla said. He added that they had approached Trinamul to form an alliance but received no reply from the party. “We have been fighting for our rights and demands under the banner of the co-ordination committee which comprises Morcha and some other organisations and parties. A proposal was mooted from our side (Barla and the Morcha) and we had met north Bengal development minister and Trinamul leader Gautam Deb (in November) to join hands with us.

 But no communication was made from Trinamul’s side. Considering the present state of affairs, we want to say that common candidates would be fielded by us and the Morcha under the banner of JMM and the Morcha in the respective panchayat seats,” said the tribal leader. “According to our assessment, we have seen that Trinamul cannot be counted as a party with considerable political force in the Terai and Dooars. Their trade union is new with an insignificant base in the brew belt. The party does not have any political representative in the Dooars and Terai and its presence is limited to only some towns in the region,” he added. Earlier this month, Barla had said he would no longer support the Morcha’s demand for a separate state as the hill party had not shown any interest in forming the Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration, including Darjeeling and the Dooars. Morcha leaders in the Dooars stood by Barla after the announcement today. “Our alliance with John Barla and the JMM is more than a year old.

 It will continue and we will contest the panchayat polls together. We are waiting for instructions from our central leaders to resume the movement for Gorkhaland. But that does not mean we will shift our focus from the panchayat polls,” said Madhukar Thapa, a central committee leader of the Morcha from the Dooars. “We will definitely contest the rural polls and we intend to bag the majority of seats to work for development of the backward population in the Dooars and Terai. Like the GTA, which we consider as a tool for development in the hills, we will utilise the offices of the public representatives under the three-tier panchayat system (in the plains) to meet the basic demands of food, health, housing, road, electricity and employment of our people,” the Morcha leader said.

 Trinamul had contested against the Morcha in some seats during the GTA polls in 2012. “As of now, there is no question of an alliance with Trinamul. So far as the Dooars and Terai are concerned, the party (Trinamul) lacks base in these areas,” said Thapa. Today, Trinamul leaders in Jalpaiguri district said the widening rift between the party and the Morcha was unlikely to have any negative effects on the panchayat polls. 

 “Focusing on the Dooars and Terai, we have taken up micro-level campaigns. Residents have also realised the chief minister’s sincerity in improving their socio-economic conditions.We are working alone and have not forged any alliance so far,” said a senior Trinamul leader who did not wish to be named. “We might lack a trade union base and not have many public representatives. But, we are ahead in terms of the development process that has been taken up by our government and we expect a favourable mandate.”

Gurung raises movement pitch March 10 rally to lay out statehood fight

Bimal gurung.file photo

TT; VIVEK CHHETRI Bijanbari, Jan. 30: Peace in Darjeeling — one of Mamata Banerjee’s biggest trophies in power — is running the risk of getting sucked into a game of oneupmanship started by the chief minister herself. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today lined up a March rally to announce the future course of the Gorkhaland statehood movement, slipping back to aggressive language to counter the assertive streak the chief minister displayed before his core constituency yesterday.

 “You must be ready for the next phase of the agitation. Bullets will fly. We are ready to face police bullets as this is what they will do. She will send in the police force and their bullets, she will reopen old cases (against the agitators), we know all about it and we are ready to take bullets to achieve statehood,” Gurung told a meeting after he inaugurated a rebuilt bridge that Mamata opened by remote-control yesterday. The remote-controlled opening itself has become an emotive issue as 33 people had died when the original bridge collapsed in 2011, rubbing salt into the wounds split open when Mamata declared yesterday that “Darjeeling is part of us”.

 Many feel Mamata made a blunder as she could have steered clear of such statements at the non-political event that was associated with a festival. Another source of friction appeared to emerge with Mamata today holding a meeting with members of the Lepcha community in Kalimpong, prompting Gurung to allege that the chief minister was following a “divide-and-rule policy”. The Lepchas have been demanding a Lepcha Development Council — a body without territorial demand — outside the purview of the GTA. But the GTA Sabha wants the Lepchas to form a development board under it. Gurung, already under pressure because of the renewed debate on Telangana on whose fate the carefully maintained peace in the hills rests, betrayed the compulsions on his home turf by hitting out at the chief minister.

 “Let her do whatever she wants. My emotions are not attached to Calcutta but with the people of the hills, with the families who lost their near and dear ones at Bijanbari. Mamata is only confined to her name, she has no mamata (warmth) left in her,” Gurung added. The Morcha chief, who is also the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration that runs the hills, said he had agreed to attend yesterday’s event at Chowrastha only after an assurance from north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb that the chief minister would not make any statements on sensitive issues. “Gautam Deb called me up and requested us to be present.

 I, however, told the minister that if the chief minister comments on the sensitive statehood issue, we would stage a walkout,” the Morcha chief said. “Gautam Deb assured us that the chief minister would not make such a statement,” he added. Asked later, Deb said he could not respond without knowing the contents of Gurung’s speech. Gurung told reporters later that the rally to announce the future course of action would be organised at Sukna on March 10.

 “Do not take us lightly, we are not afraid of anyone and are ready to go to any extent to fulfil our goal. We will not tolerate such an attitude,” Gurung said at the Bijanbari programme. The GTA chief executive requested his deputy, Ramesh Allay, to unveil the memorial stone bearing the names of the 33 people who had died in the bridge collapse in October 2011, 35km from Darjeeling. “The Bengal government should not take this incident otherwise. We have planned so much for this place (Bijanbari). 

I still have a sum of Rs 15 lakh which was donated by the people for the victims’ families. I want to add another Rs 1 crore from the GTA to set up a memorial park at this place (Bijanbari). We have already passed a project to connect this bridge with a motorable road. So many things had to be said and this is why we wanted to inaugurate this bridge in a grand manner and not through remote-control” he said. “We are not trying to overtake them by inaugurating the bridge again. One has to understand that the story of this bridge is different. Thirty-three people lost their lives and the emotions of the entire hills are attached to this tragedy.”

दार्जीलिङको घटनालाई केन्द्र गर्दै क्रामाकपाको प्रतिक्रिया जनभावनालाई सत्ता र सहुलियको बलले रोक्न सक्दैन – क्रामाकपा

कालेबुङ, 30 जनवरी। गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई कुटनैतिक चाल चलेर जीटीएमा थान्को लगाउँने मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीलाई दार्जीलिङ पहाडका जनताले एकामात्र गोर्खाल्याण्ड चाहन्छ भन्ने सन्देश दिदै चौरास्तामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाराबाजी गरेको घटनालाई क्रामाकपाले सकारात्मक ठानेको छ। “मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जी अनि गोजमुमो अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुङ एउटै मञ्चमा रहेको कार्यक्रममा दार्जीलिङ पहाडका जनताअले गोर्खाल्याण्दको पक्षमा नाराबाजी गर्नु सही हो। यसलाई क्रामाकपाले स्वागत गर्छ।

 जनताको भावनालाई क्रामकपाले कदर गर्दछ। हामी चाहन्छौ जनताको आकाक्षालाई गोजमुमो पार्टीले पनि बुझ्न आवश्यक छ” – क्रामाकपा महासचिव तरामणी राईले भने। दार्जीलिङको चौरास्तामा भएको घटना जनताको स्वस्फूर्त आक्रोश रहेको बताउँदै जनताको चाहनलाई नेताहरुले निष्ठापूर्वक सिरोधार्य गरेर अघि लानपर्ने पनि राईले आह्वान गरे। तिनले जनभावनालाई कुनै पनि शक्तिले दबाएर लैजान नसक्ने बताउँदै पहाडका मानिसहरुको जनभावनालाई सरकार अनि गोजमुमो मिलेर चौकि र सहुलियतको बलले दबाउँने खोजेको आरोप लगाए। 

यद्यपी चौरास्ताको घटनाले जनभावना दबावन सक्दैन भन्ने प्रमाणित भएको तिनले बताए। गोजमुमो पार्टीले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन गरेर जीटीए थाप्दा जनताको बिचार लिएर थापेको घोषणा गरेको बताउँदै “अहिले जनताले गोर्खाल्याण्ड चाहियो भनेर मुख्यमंत्री अघि प्रदर्शन गरेपछि जीटीएको सत्ताबाट सबैले राजीनामा दिएर मोर्चा सडकमा उत्रनुपर्छ”- क्रामाकपा महासचिवले राईले भने। बिगत दिनमा जीटीएमा सम्झौता हुँदा आन्दोलनकारी नेताहरुले जनतालाई गलत बुझाएर भ्रममा पारेको आरोप लगाउँदै अहिले जनता स्वय सचेत बनेर अघि उत्रिएको तिनले दाबी गरे। 

तिनले दार्जीलिङमा मंगलबार भएको घटनाले अलग राज्यको चाहना राख्ने जनता अझै थाकेका छैनन भन्ने नेताहरुले बुझ्न आवश्यक रहेको बताउँदै “जनताको चाहनलाई चौकिको मोह त्यागेर सडकमा उत्रनुपर्छ” भने। तिनले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा राजनैतिक मुद्दा रहेको बताउँदै यसको समाधान पनि राजनैतिक स्तरमा हुनपर्ने माग गरे। “जबसम्म छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन हुँडैन तबसम्म पहाडमा स्थायी शान्ति हुँदैन। त्यसर्थ यदि सरकारले पहाड्मा स्थायी शान्ति चाहे गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन गर्नै पर्छ” राईले भने।

 यसै अवसरमा तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई दबाएर सरकारले दिएको व्यव्स्थाहरु केवल ‘पेन किलर’ मात्र हो भने। “दागोपाप, छैँटौ अनुसुची, जीटीए भनेको पेनकिलर जस्तो मात्र हो। ठूलो अपरेशन नगरी हाम्रो राजनैतिक चिन्हारीको गाँडे घाउ कहिले निको हुने छैन। यसर्थ यसलाई पूर्णरुपले निको पार्न एकमात्र बिकल्प छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको गठन हो” राईले भने।

 एकातिर ममता ब्यानर्जीले तनाव हुँदा कार्यक्रम कुनै राजनैतिक पार्टीको नभएर सरकारी भएको घोषणा गर्छन भने अर्कोतर्फ सरकारी कार्यक्रमकै मञ्चबाट राजनैतिक घोषणा गर्ने गरेको पनि क्रामाकपाले आरोप लगाएको छ। यस्तो दोहोरो चरित्र खुबै खतरानक रहेको बताउँदै “गोर्खाहरुको आँगनमा आएर गोर्खाहरुलाई छुट्टै राज्य दिदिन भन्दै दार्जीलिङ बङगालको अङ्ग हुन भन्ने मुख्यमंत्रीको बयान प्रति कामाकपाले कडा बिरोध गर्दाछ” राईले भने।

Unemployed youths deprived of employment under Excise Dept

Kalimpong, January 29: The unemployed youths under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has once again been deprived of being appointed under the Excise Department which had 1267 vacant posts. The CPRM leader, Tara Sundas, called on a press meet in the town on Monday and has protested the same. According to Sundas, the West Bengal Government has issued an order to appoint 1267 employees under the Excise Department.

 The appointment process under the same has started off with 162 males and 20 females in Alipurdwar, 80 males and 22 females in Jalpaiguri, 208 males and 28 females in Burdwan, 158 males and 24 females in Durgapur, 108 males and 10 females in Barrackpore, 118 males and 18 females in Krishna Nagar, 128 males and 22 females in Khadakpur and 18 individuals under the special section. 

“In one hand many people are being employed under this, while in the other there is no single employment in the GTA area”, said Sundas. Though the forms are being distributed in the Excise Department, Darjeeling, Sundas has alleged that it is just a way to misguide the people. “Where will the youths of Darjeeling be employed when there is no separate quota?” questioned Sundas. “Just like there was no single person from Darjeeling during the appointment of Kolkata Police, the same will happen with this employment too”, added the CPRM leader.

 He charged the hills’ leaders of doing nothing towards the benefit of the general public. Likewise, he also notified that under the state’s Forest Department, Rs 173 per day is being given and training is imparted. After the training, the individuals are deployed in the said department. Further he said that the GLPs who have been working hard are just being assured of employment, while the Maoists are being deployed as home guards. The educated youths should voice against such steps of the government, he added. Sundas directed the unemployed youths to enquire about the employment under the Forest Department, with the concerned area DFO and Forest officials.

तेलेंगनाको मुद्दाले तातिएको पहाडमा मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीको पहिलोपल्ट जोडदार बिरोध

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 29 जनवरी। दार्जीलिङको चौरास्तामा आयोजित बिकासमूलक कार्यहरुको उदघाटन कार्यक्रममा आएकी मुख्य मंत्री ममता ब्यानर्जीको यस्पल्ट पहाडभ्रमण बिरोधपूर्ण भयो। चौरास्ताको मञ्चबाट “दार्जीलिङ बङगालको अभिन्न अंग हो” भनेर मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले घोषणा गरेपछि तेलेंगनाको मुद्दाले तातिएको दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा एकाएक तिनको बिरोध भयो। दार्जीलिङको कार्यक्रम समापन भएपछि सोझै कालेबुङ आएकी मुख्य मन्त्रीको यहाँ पनि बिरोध भयो। प्रत्येकपल्ट पहाड भ्रमणमा आउँदा ममता ब्यानर्जीले गोर्खाल्याण्डॅ माग्नेहरुकै मुखमा “गोर्खाल्याण्ड होबेना” भनेर जाँदा पनि तिनको बिरोध भएको थिएन।

 तर यसपल्ट तेलेंगनाको मुद्दाले तातिएको दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा तिनेल दार्जीलिङ बङगालको अभिन्न अङग भने पछि तत्काल बिरोध भएको छ। मुख्यमन्त्री ब्यानर्जी आज बेलुकी दार्जीलिङबाट कालेबुङ आईपुग्दा संधै स्वागतको निम्ति जुटने भिडहरु बिरोधको निम्ति सडकमा उत्रिएको थियो। मोर्चाले मुख्यमन्त्रीको कालेबुङ आगमनलाई मध्यनजर राख्दै यहाँको थाना डाँडा, मेन रोड, मोटर स्ट्याण्ड, डम्बर चौक आदि स्थानहरुमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग गर्दै पोष्टरिङ गरेको छ।

 पहाडको आगमानमा आउँदा स्वागतको निम्ति जुटने भिडहरुले बिरोध गर्दै शहरमा एकाएक पोष्टरिङ गर्न थालेपछि स्थिती तनावपूर्ण हुने सम्भावना बडेको थियो। उक्त कुरालाई मध्यनजर राख्दै पुलिस प्रसासनले सुरक्षा व्यवस्था कठोर बनाएको थियो। “दार्जीलिङ बङगालको भूभाग होईन, दार्जीलिङ गोर्खाहरुको भूभाग हो अनि गोर्खाहरुको आँगनमा आएर गोर्खाल्याण्डको बिरोध गर्ने बङगालकी मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीको बिरोध गर्दछौ” भन्दै गोजमुमोले पोष्टरमा लेखेको छ। 

मुख्यमन्त्रीको आगमनमा एकाएक बिरोध गर्दै शहरमा मोर्चाले पोष्टरिङ गरे पछि शहरमा मानिसहरुको भिड जमेको थियो। यसै अवधी तिनी कालेबुङ आईपुगिन। दार्जीलिङबाट सोझै कालेबुङ आईपुगेकी मुख्यमन्त्री शहरको किनारामा बसेका मानिसहरुलाई हात हल्लाएर अभिवादन गर्दै सिधै अलगडाको पीएचई बिभागको गेष्ट हाउसमा प्रस्थान भईन। तिनले सडक किनारामा उपस्थित मानिसहरुलाई अभिवादनका हात हलाएर पनि जवाबमा कसैले तिनले अभिवादन स्वीकार गरेनन। यस अवसरमा मोर्चाले सडक किनारामा उभिएर मौन बिरोध गर्योई।

 तिनी कालेबुङबाट अलगडा जाने क्रममा मोर्चाले अलगडामा पनि पोष्टरिङ गरेर बिरोध गरेको समाचार प्राप्त भएको छ। यता गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाले मुख्यमन्त्री अलगडा प्रस्थान भएपछि पार्टी कार्यलयमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन डाकेर मुख्यमन्त्रीको बिरोध जनायो। युवा मोर्चा प्रवक्ता बिनय घिसिङले पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै पहाडमा आगो लाग्ने चेतावनी दिए।

 “मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले दार्जीलिङको ईतिहास पडनुपर्छ। दार्जीलिङ बङगालको कहिल्यै थिएन अनि कहिल्यै बङगालको नभएको दार्जीलिङलाई बङगालको अभिन्न अङग हो भन्ने मुख्यमन्त्री गो ब्याक भन्छौ। हामी गोर्खाल्याण्ड चाहन्छौ। अब युवा मोर्चा सडकमा निस्केर आन्दोलन गर्नेछ।

 मुख्य मंत्रीको वक्तब्यको घोर बिरोध गर्छौ अनि अब गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनले पहाडमा जोडदार आगो लाग्नेछ” – बिनय घिसिङले भने। यसै सिलसिलामा गोजमुमो कालेबुङ महकुमा समिति सचिव कुमार चामलिङले जीटीएमा भूमीसुधार बिभागको हूँदा हूँदै मुख्यमन्त्री आठ डेसीमन जमीनको पर्चा पट्टा बितरण गर्न आउँनु हाँस्यस्पदरहेको बताए। तिनले मुख्यमंत्री ब्यानर्जीको मोर्चाले बिरोध गर्दै अब गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघि बड्ने जनाए।

चौकिको मोह त्यागेर गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्छ – गोर्खालिग

कालेबुङ, 29 जनवरी| “गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति दागोपाप बाधा भए जस्तै जीटीए पनि बाधा हो। अब जीटीएमा सभामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको प्रस्ताव पारित गरेर राज्य सरकारलाई दिनुपर्छ अनि आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाउँन चौकिको मोह त्यागेर नेताहरु सडकमा उत्रनुपर्छ” – उक्त कुरा गोर्खालिग पार्टीका महासचिव प्रताप कातिले पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै भनेका हुन। तिनल यसै अवधी आज पहाड आएकी मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीलाई जीटीए सभामा पारित गोर्खाल्याण्डको प्रस्ताव सभासदहरुले सुम्पिएको भए मोर्चा गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई लिएर साँच्चै ईमान्दार रहेको प्रमाणित हुने थियो भनि जनाए।

 मोर्चाले यसचोटि पहाडमा हुने गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनमा हजारौ शहिद हुने घोषणा प्रति कटाक्ष गर्दै आन्दोलन जनताले होईन नेताले गर्नुपर्छ भनि सुझाव दिए। “पहाडका जनताले आन्दोलन गरिसकेको छ। अब जनतालाई समस्यामा पार्नु हुँदैन। आन्दोलनको नाउँमा जनतालाई कुटाई खुवाएर अहिले रातो बत्तिमा हिड्नेहरुले आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्छ” खातीले भने। छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्राप्तिको निम्ति नेताहरुले आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्ने बताउँडै तिनले भने “गोर्खाल्याण्डॅ नहुने प्रश्नै छैन। यसको निम्ति जनताले दुख पनि पाउँदैन।

 गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाउँमा भोट थापेर गएका सांसद, बिधायकहरुले दिल्लीको जन्तर मन्तरमा आमरण भोक हडताल गर्नुपर्छ। यदि आमरण भोक हडतामा नेतहारु बसे सरकारले गोर्खाल्याण्ड अवश्यै दिनेछ”। तिनले तेलेंगगना गठन भए गोर्खाल्याण्द गठन गर्नुपर्ने मोर्चाको बयान प्रति कटाक्ष गर्दै उक्त बयान सही नरहेको बताए। अहिले तेलेंगगना राज्य गठनको चर्चा पछि सरेको छ अनि त्यसओ भ गोजमुमोले आन्दोलन गर्दैन ? तिनले प्रश्न गर्दै तेलेंगना गठन नभए पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन हुने पर्ने माग गरे। 

तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई सही दिशामा अघि बडाउँनुको निम्ति बुद्धिजीविवर्ग पनि अघि आउँनुपर्ने आह्वान गरे। यता केहिदिन अघि कालेबुङका बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले गोजमुमो पार्टीको आन्दोलन हेरेर तेलेंगनाका नेताहरुले आन्दोलन गर्न सिकेको भन्ने बयान प्रति गोर्खालीग नेता खातीले असहमति जाहेर गर्दै “तेलेंगनाको मागमा त्यहाँका नेताहरु आमरण भोक हडतालमा बसे। संसद र बिधायकहरुले राजीनामा दिए। यहाँका नेताहरु न त भोक हडतालमा बसेका छन न त राजीनामा दिएका छ। तब कसरी मोर्चाको आन्दोलन हेरेर तेलेंगनाका नेताहरुले सिके भन्ने ? यो बिधायकको ढटुवापन बाहेक केही होईन। तिनी जनतालाई ढाँटन कह्प्पिस छन अनि त्यही ढँटाई हो उक्त बयान” – खातीले भने।

Blame on CM for hill protest

TT;AVIJIT SINHA Siliguri, Jan. 29: The CPM said Mamata Banerjee’s failure to understand the sentiments of the people in the hills and disregard for the GTA in the conduct of the Uttarbanga Utsav triggered the protest at the inauguration of the fest today. “The chief minister’s overconfidence and her pathetic understanding of the sentiments of the people in the hills led to today’s incident.

 In an unabashed manner, she had ignored the GTA and its representatives, undermined the autonomous body and gone ahead with the Uttarbanga Utsav in Darjeeling,” said former state minister and CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya. He said the festival had been organised in GTA territory without involving the hill body. “Bimal Gurung and others were simply invitees to the event, which has left the people disgruntled.

 Interestingly, all departments, except north Bengal development, which are partners of the festival, have been transferred to the GTA. We don’t believe Mamata Banerjee was unaware of these facts but it is her overconfidence that has led to the re-emergence of the crisis in the hills,” said Bhattacharya. 

 The CPM leader said the distribution of secured land pattas, and the opening of a tourist spot at Lamahata in Kalimpong and a minority building in Darjeeling should have been done by the GTA, and not the state, as the departments concerned were run by the hill body.

 Surjya Kanta Mishra, the leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said in Islampur that the chief minister was surely performing shradh in the name of festivals. “She is using public money of the cash-strapped government to perform the shradh of the common people.” Reacting to the incident in Darjeeling, the Kamtapur People’s Party said the Rajbangshi people in north Bengal were as aggrieved as the hill people. 

‘If nothing is done for them by the state government, the chief minister might have to witness similar protests in future,” said KPP president Atul Roy. The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad also said tribal people were becoming restless with the non-fulfilment of commitments by the government and warned of a movement against the rulers.

Morcha team meets Advani

Rosan giri

TT; NISHIT DHOLABHAI ;New Delhi, Jan. 29: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders will submit three documents on the Gorkhaland struggle to BJP leader L.K. Advani this week to push the party to take a clear stand on the statehood demand. A group of Morcha leaders, along with MLAs from the hills and GTA Sabha members, led by Roshan Giri called on Advani at his residence today. Over the next three days, the Morcha leadership will fine-tune and submit three documents to Advani titled “Case history of Gorkhaland”, “Why Gorkhaland” and “Gorkhaland movement”.

 “We will submit the three documents so that the BJP can take a clear stand (on the issue),” Giri told The Telegraph today after a 30-minute meeting with the senior BJP leader. “The BJP has been in favour of smaller states. After all, the party formed Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh,” Giri said. MLAs Trilok Dewan and Rohit Sharma and two GTA Sabha members also met Advani along with Giri today. 

 A bill for the creation of GTA was passed in the Bengal Assembly in 2011, making way for the autonomous hill body. Today, after the meeting with the Morcha leaders, BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Prakash Javadekar said: “It is a case for justice to be done.” Although BJP leaders have time and again said that the statehood issue should be viewed more “sympathetically”, the party has not been clear about its stand on carving out a separate state out of Bengal. 

 The BJP’s election manifesto in 2009 included addressing the long-pending demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland but stopped short of a commitment. “We will sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other people of Darjeeling district and Dooars region,” read the BJP manifesto. The party’s leader Jaswant Singh even won the Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling. 

 The Congress and the CPM are not known to support the statehood demand. While the Congress wants an alternative mechanism, the CPM is opposed to the demand for a separate state. Earlier this month, the Morcha had announced its final battle demanding a separate state after the hill party leadership suspected that the Centre was keen on carving out a separate state of Telangana. Giri had said that it would be a “relentless” struggle and continue till Gorkhaland was achieved. 

 The hill party had organised a dharna in New Delhi last week demanding Gorkhaland. The Morcha had called on Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and urged him to announce the formation of Gorkhaland along with Telangana. But with the UPA government treading cautiously on Telangana, and the Centre toying with idea of proposing a GTA-like model there, the Morcha wants to push the BJP to come clear on the statehood issue. 

 “We hope that in the next two days we will submit the “Case history of Gorkhaland” to Advaniji. Our dharna at Jantar Mantar will continue,” said Giri. He added that the Morcha had been seeking permission for the sit-in protest on a day-to-day basis. The agitators have been granted permission by local authorities in Delhi for a dharna tomorrow, said the Morcha leader. Share on email Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services

Cup of tea, coming on the social network

A tea garden in
Darjeeling. File picture

TT; AVIJIT SINHA  The Queen likes her morning cup of Darjeeling tea, we are told, but her young subjects do not seem to have taken to it. The Tea Board of India has realised that it needs some serious social networking to find and hold on to new, young drinkers of Indian tea, if it has to beat Chinese competition and instant coffee in the UK and other countries in the West.

 “We want to start a campaign through social media sites,” M.G.V.K. Bhanu, the tea board chairman, said during his recent visit to north Bengal. “Tenders have been sought from companies that can launch this campaign and work as our agency to exhibit tea through virtual platforms that are gaining popularity everyday,” he said. The countries the board is focusing on are the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Britain’s association with tea is as old as its relationship with India. 

It is the British who first grew tea on a plantation-scale in this country. For many Britons afternoon tea with scones is a must, but Indian tea has got replaced on many tables by varieties of flavoured herbal Chinese tea. Figures available with the tea board show that there has been a decline in the export of Indian tea since 2009. In 2008-09, the quantity of tea exports to the UK was 18,642,000 kg. In 2010-11, it had dipped to 16,849,000 kg. Argentina, Denmark, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Saudi Arab, Afghanistan and South Africa have shown reducing import figures of Indian tea during this period. 

Only in the US, the export figures have increased — from 8,894,000 kg in 2008-09 to 11,627,000 in 2010-11. In terms of tea exports, India is in the fourth place, with Kenya, Sri Lanka and China ahead of it for the last four years. In the fifth place is Vietnam, a comparatively new player in the global tea market. Bhanu said India exported around 214 million kg in 2011. 

“But in 2012, though we are yet to get the final figures, it seems exports would be less by 15-20 million kg as compared to 2011,” he said. “Through the social media campaign, we intend to create more consumers and win back the markets abroad,” a tea board official said. “The idea is to position Indian tea in the global market in innovative and unique ways to encourage trials, and thereafter gain loyalty. 

The campaign will also try to acquire the consumer’s mindspace and create preference for tea made in our country,” a tea board source said. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are the chosen tools for this campaign because the sites are identified with the youth, a section in the West the tea board wants to capture badly. 

 “The agency selected will be entrusted with an array of responsibilities. That would include selection of the networking sites, developing, hosting and updating content, promotion and submitting analysis reports to us,” the board official said. Another tea board official said: “The agency will also gauge the emerging trends in the international tea market, like health benefits of tea, and accordingly develop content so that it increases the popularity of Indian tea.

 The agency will also undertake creation, management and promotion of blog content, including engaging celebrities and high-profile people to write and talk about Indian tea.” So far, the tea board’s virtual connect is only through its website. “The social media pages would be integrated with the official web portal,” a board official said.

 “We would also ask the agency concerned to provide us with feedback and brief on any new trend or specific requirements of the consumers to leverage promotion,” the official said. The UK Tea Council in London, the US Tea Association, the Tea Board of Kenya and Vietnam Tea Association have their presence on Facebook and some other social media sites. 

 “The tea board’s initiative to launch a campaign online is the need of the hour. Given the high concentration of global consumers at these sites, a majority of whom are not yet tea drinkers (young people), Indian tea can be made popular among them,” Rajeev Lochan, a tea exporter based in Siliguri, said. Chinese flavoured tea is not the only competition that Indian tea faces in the global market. There’s also coffee to reckon with. 

 Tea board officials said tea was still the topmost beverage consumed across the world. “Coffee, however, is predominant in markets like Europe and the US,” said G. Boriah, the director (tea development), over phone from Calcutta. “Coffee was a natural drink for over decades, but in the recent years these countries (Europe and the US) are opening up as new markets for tea, which is why we want to tap prospective consumers through social networking,” he said. 

 The Queen’s grandson, Prince William, was once photographed making himself a hot cup of tea. Might be just the picture the tea board needs to promote the brew around the world.

पहाडका शिक्षित बेरोजगारहरुलाई बाराम्बार रोझगारको अवसरबाटॅ बञ्चित पार्ने कार्य गरिरहेको छ- माकपा

कालेबुङ, 28 जनवरी। पश्चिम बङगाल सरकारले दार्जीलिङ पहाडका शिक्षित बेरोजगारहरुलाई बाराम्बार रोझगारको अवसरबाटॅ बञ्चित पार्ने कार्य गरिरहेको माकपा नेता तरा सुन्दासले आरोप लगाएका छन। तिनले आज एउटा पत्रकार सम्मेलन डाकेर राज्यको आबकारी बिभागमा 1268 जना नियुक्ति गर्ने सरकारी आदेश जारी भएर फारम भर्ने प्रक्रिया शुरु भएको बताउँदै जीटीएका बेरोजगारहरु भने बञ्चित बनेको आरोप लगाए। 

‘मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले जीटीएको निम्ति थुप्रै आश्वासन दिदा यहाँका नेतहारु मख्ख भए। आज त्यही ममता ब्यानर्जीको सरकारले जाबो आबकारी बिभागमा नियुक्ति गर्नको निम्ति जीटीएको निम्ति कुनै ठाउँनै छैन। यति हुँदा पनि ममता ब्यानर्जीको धुपौरेहरु किन बोल्दैनन। जनताको भोट थापेर नेता भएकाहरु किन बोल्दैनन ?” – सुन्दासले प्रश्न राखे। पहाडमा दैनिक शिक्षित बेरोजगारहरुको संख्या बृद्धि भईरहे पनि राज्य सरकार भने पहाडको बेरोजगार समस्याप्रति उदासिन रहेको तिनले अझ आरोप लगाए।

 तिन अले अलीपुरद्वार, जलपाइगुडी, वर्द्धवान, दूर्गापुर, ब्यारेकपुरलगायत अन्य केही क्षेत्रहरुको निम्ति सरकारले कोटा आवण्टन गरेको जानकारी गराउँदै जीटीए क्षेत्रमा भने कुनै कोटा आवण्टन नगरेको दाबी गरे। पहाडवासीले रोजगारको अवसर पाउँनुपर्ने माग गर्दै एकातिर राज्य सरकारले माओवादीहरुलाई नियुक्ति गरिरहेको छ भने अर्कोतर्फ पहाडका जीएलपी युवाहरु प्रति भने क्लुनै सरोकार नराखेको पनिन आरोप लगाए। 

 कम्पनिमा पैसा लगानीकर्ताहरु बिलखबन्दमा 

 कालेबुङ, 28 जनवरी। कम समयमा धेरै पैसा कमाउँन मानिसहरु आतुर बनेर मल्टि नेशनल कम्पनीहरुमा पैसा लगानी गर्छन अनि कम्पनीका मलिकहरुलाए पोस्याएर आफु गरीब बन्ने गरेको सत्यता सबैको अघि छ। ठिक त्यस्तै मल्टि कम्पनीमा पैसा लगानी गरेर धनी हुने चाह राख्दा राख्दै गरीब भएकाहरुले कम्पनीले पैसा फिर्ता गर्नुपर्ने माग गर्दै दबाव दिन थालेको छ। उक्त घटना कालेबुङ शहरकै हो।

 कालेबुङ शहरमा सन 1995 देखि सञ्चालन हुँदै आईरहेको आशिष ईण्टरप्राईजका मालिक रोशन लामाले गत केहि महिना अघि आत्महत्या गरेपछि कम्पनिमा पैसा लगानीकर्ताहरु बिलखबन्दमा परेका छन। कम्पनिका मालिक नभएपाछि अहिले लगानीकर्ताहरुले कम्पनिका मालिकका परिवारहरु माथी दबाव दिन थाल्का छन। पैसा लगानीकर्ता, एजेंट अनि कम्पनि मालिकका परिवार पक्षमाझ दबाव बनाउँने कर्यले तनाव सृजना हुने थालेको छ।

 यसै सिलसिलामा लगानीकर्ताहरुले तामाङका परिवार पक्षमाझ दबाव बनाउँने क्रममा घरमा गएर कोलाहल मच्चाउँदा मामला थानामा पुगेको छ। आशिष ईण्टरप्राईजका मालिक स्व रोशन लामाकी छोरी अनामिका तामाङले आज थानामा प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरेकी छिन भने लगानी कर्ता अनि एजेंटहरुले परिवारपक्षलाई मानसिक दबाव दिएको आरोप लगाएकी छिन। 

तिनले आज थानाम जीडी गरेपछि यस कम्पनीका एजेण्ट र लगानीकर्ताहरु थाना परिसरमा भेला भएर थाना प्रभारीसँग गुहार लगाएका थिए। तर थानाप्रभारी भने कम्पनीविरुद्ध आफूले आजसम्म कुनै लिखित गुनासो नपाएको भन्दै पन्सिन खोजेका छन। थाना प्रभारीले कम्पनीको कुनै वैध कागजपत्र उपलब्ध नरहेको अनि कानूनी दृष्टिले मृतकका परिवारका सदस्यहरु रुपियाँ फिर्तीको निम्ति जवाफदेही नरहेको स्पष्ट पारेपछि एजेण्टहरु झनै बिखलबन्दमा परेका छन।

Gurung to meet Mamata in Darjeeling

Binay Tamang
 at Jamuni on Monday
. (Suman Tamang) 

TT; VIVEK CHHETRI Darjeeling, Jan. 28: Bimal Gurung will meet the chief minister here tomorrow and he has asked the people of all the constituencies of the GTA Sabha to welcome Mamata Banerjee, ending all speculations of giving her a miss during her hill trip. Mamata reached Darjeeling this evening to inaugurate the hill leg of the Uttarbanga Utsav tomorrow. 

Gurung said he would be present at the inaugural ceremony. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that had earlier said Gurung would leave for New Delhi “any day” after January 27 did a last minute flip-flop after an “emergency” meeting at Jamuni, 14km from here. The meeting was attended by GTA Sabha members, chairman and vice-chairmen of al hill municipalities and the representatives of the Morcha’s subdivisional committee. 

 “Today, we received the invitation for the chief minister’s programme. Our president Bimal Gurung has decided to attend the event as the chief minister is our guest. After the programme, he will lead a delegation that will meet the chief minister,” Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, told journalists after the meeting. Earlier Tamang had said senior Morcha leaders, including Gurung, might not meet Mamata in Darjeeling as they would go to Delhi to take part in a dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding Gorkhaland.

 Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri, the three hill MLAs and seven GTA Sabha members left for Delhi on Sunday. Even till yesterday evening, there were talks of only the Darjeeling municipality chairman and the vice-chairmen of the four hill municipalities attending the programme at Chowrastha. Tamang today announced that only Nari Morcha leader Asha Gurung would leave for Delhi tomorrow. 

 “Along with her, other leaders of the Nari Morcha and the Yuva Morcha would also go,” he said. Asked about the delay in Gurung’s departure, Tamang said: “We are monitoring the situation in Delhi. Taking into account the present situation, our president has decided to visit Delhi only after a few days. This is the reason that Morcha representatives would be present at the chief minister’s event here.” The Morcha leadership did not disclose the agenda of the meeting with the CM.

 “It will be more of a courtesy call,” Tamang said. Observers said with the Centre keeping on hold the decision on Telangana, the Morcha probably believes that there is no harm in meeting the CM during her trip. “Had the Centre given some positive response on the formation of Telangana, the Morcha might have been uncomfortable in attending the programme here as Mamata has always been vocal against carving out Gorkhaland.

 At the moment, both the chief minister and the Morcha will probably restrain themselves from making any comments that might strain their relationship,” said an observer. Asked if the Morcha representatives would stage a walk-out at the programme if the chief minister made an anti-statehood comment like she had made earlier, Tamang said: “No comments.” 

Leopard sighting catches Siliguri’s fancy Animal darted & taken to Sukna

TT; BIRESWAR BANERJEE Siliguri, Jan. 28: An adult leopard sneaked into Hakimpara here this morning and mauled two persons before it was hauled up in a house, triggering a two-hour high-voltage drama that saw the animal being darted and netted. Police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to keep at bay thousands of people who streamed to the locality to catch a glimpse of the male carnivore.

 After the tranquillisation, the animal was taken to Sukna where it would be kept under observation before it is released in Mahananda wildlife sanctuary tomorrow. A senior forest officer said the leopard might have strayed out of Baikunthapur forest and walked 12km to reach Hakimpara where the animal was sighted at 9.45am.

 The animal was first spotted by the residents of Atul Prasad Sarani of Hakimpara. As they shouted, the leopard entered the veranda of Tapan Talukdar’s house. “Moni, my niece, opened the door and found the leopard squatting on the veranda. As she shouted, the animal mauled her right hand and leapt out of our compound,” said Talukdar. 

 As more and more people came out of their houses, the leopard apparently became perplexed and entered the house of Bishu Ghosh and took shelter in a bedroom. On the way, the animal mauled Sukanta Mondal on his back. Bishu’s wife, Mina, who is a heart patient, said: “I somehow gathered courage to run out of the room, bolted it from outside and fainted.” 

 While the leopard was pacing in the room, Uttam Dutta, a tenant at Ghosh’s house, braved to see it closely. “I took a stick and approached an open window to see the leopard. As I went close to the window, it suddenly lunged at the windowpane and mauled me in the abdomen,” said Dutta. Moni was administered first aid, while Sukanta and Dutta were sent to Siliguri district hospital for treatment. 

 The crowd grew in size with more and more people heading for Hakimpara to see the animal. Minister Gautam Deb and Siliguri MLA Rudranath Bhattacharya reached the spot with police and foresters from the wildlife squad in Sukna. “I have never seen such a wild leopard from a close distance.

 It is amazing that the animal has walked for over 10km to reach here as the nearest forest is Baikunthapur,” said Moloy Sarkar, a resident of Collegepara who rode his two-wheeler to see the animal. The foresters, led by Baikunthapur divisional forest officer Dharmadeo Rai and Kanchan Banerjee, the warden of Sukna wildlife squad, placed a net at the entrance to Ghosh’s house to prevent the animal’s escape. 

 Around 12.30pm, foresters fired a dart at the animal and it fell unconscious. The onlookers became restless and started advancing on the house to see the animal. The foresters dragged the leopard to the net and the police made announcements over megaphones asking the people to maintain a safe distance. 

The police held ropes from one end of the street to another to stop the crowd from getting closer to the carnivore. The crowd, however, didn’t pay heed to the police and moved forward, forcing the force to resort to mild lathicharge. The 2,000-strong crowd was pushed back and the animal was taken to an enclosed van of the forest department. 

 When the van sped away with the darted animal at 12.30pm, the crowd shouted “Oi Dekho! Oi Dekho! Van er bhetor dekha jachche!(Watch it! It can be seen in the van).” The police personnel also left the spot and some of them headed for Kanchenjungha Stadium, where they were on security duty for chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit in the evening.

 A leopard had been spotted at Limbu Busty on the outskirts of Siliguri on July 19, 2011, when Mamata was in town. A day earlier, she had signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the creation of the GTA. DFO Rai said the animal regained consciousness en route to Sukna, 15km from Hakimpara. 

“It has regained consciousness on the way to Sukna. We have kept it under observation in an enclosure at Sukna. It would be released in the Mahananda wildlife sanctuary tomorrow.” He said the foresters were in the dark about how the leopard reached heart of Siliguri. Share on email Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services

Black deer rescued from water tank

KNE;Kalimpong, January 27: A deer belonging to the species of black deer was found at the SUMI Mission Compound today. The deer with pointed horns had fallen at a water tank near the SUMI Principal, NR Pradhan’s residence. It is opined that the deer which wandered its way from the forest fell into the tank after being chased by the dogs. The children living at the Principal’s house pulled out the deer from the tank and tied it up. Later it was taken to the Forest Department office and handed over. The department will further hand it over to the Wild Life Department. The age of the deer is said to be 1 and ½ years, it has been informed.

Republic Day celebrated in the hills Sonu Nigam enthralls the public at Jamuney

Darjeeling/Kalimpong, Jan 27: Similar to every part of the country hills too celebrated the 64th Republic Day. In Darjeeling the day was celebrated at Chowrasta. District Magistrate Dr Soumitra Mohan hosted the national flag. During the program S.P Kunal Agrawal and other officials were present. 

Darjeeling police band played the National Anthem. In his brief address Dr Mohan appealed one and all to maintain peace. Krishi Mela at Jamuni organised by GTA also observed this significant day. Renowned Bollywood playback singer, Sonu Nigam presented the patriotic songs.

photo chinlop 

Kalimpong celebrated the Republic Day in a grand manner on Saturday.Despite of the winter holidays, the school students partook in the Republic Day parade. The celebrations at Main Road witnessed Marathi and Khukuri dances by the students and the jawans of the 27 Mt Brigade Army. The Kalimpong Sub Divisional Officer, unfurled the national flag at Main Road. Lt. Col. MS Gurung from 27 Mt. Division Brigade, Padmashree, Sonam Tshering Lepcha, Ward Councilor, GTS Sabhasad, etc was present during the function. 

The celebrations was followed by a programme at Mela Ground during which, kite flying competition and 15 kms run was conducted. The race conducted by Kumudini Homes family started from 17 Mile and concluded at Mela Ground. Binod Tamang and Abhishek Karki from SUMI stood 1st and 2nd, respectively, while Basir Sharma from Kumudini Homes stood 3rd, in the mens category.

 Likewise, in the womens category, the winners were Renuka Rai from Sitang, Santa Sharma from Indo Tibetan and Menuka Khanal. Also during the occasion, the para gliders showering flower petals from Delo landed at Mela Ground.

KKKS demand crop insurance for farmers of the hills

KNE;Kalimpong, January 27: In one hand while the Kisan Credit Card (Farmers’ Credit Card) initiated by the government is said to benefit the farmers in the country, while in the other, Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan (KKKS) has alleged that the card is doing nothing except putting the farmers in debt. 

Vishnu Chettri, the KKKS Secretary, today said that the credit card facilitates loan to the farmers with 4% interest, insurance to the farmers, crop insurance, etc. The letter issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide letter no. RBI/2011-12/553/RPCD.FSD.BC. No. 77/05.09.2012 dated May 11, 2012, mentions these facilities of the credit card. On this context, Chettri said that the farmers in the hills are being delivered loan and insurance, however, they are deprived from crop insurance.

 He informed that unlike in the plains, only selective crops/ spices/ vegetables grow in the hills such as large cardamom, ginger, orange, soft broom, vegetables and few medicinal plants. The produce here faces issues like natural calamities and is at times eaten or spoiled by the animals. Despite of the crop insurance mentioned in the RBI guidelines, the farmers here are not receiving the same, he said. 

The KKKS demanding that the crop insurance should be delivered to the farmers of the hills has forwarded letters to the General Manager of RBI, Kolkata, General Manager of NABARD, Chairman of the State Level Bankers’ Committee, Darjeeling District Magistrate, Lead District Manager of Central bank of India, Darjeeling, etc.

Investors picket Ashis Enterprise, demands back their money

KNE;Kalimpong, January 27: People who had invested money at the Ashis Enterprises, today gathered at its office situated at 10 Mile demanding back their invested amount. It may be mentioned that the company’s owner, had committed suicide on 1st January fed up with the losses incurred by his firm. 100-150 individuals picketed the office and asked for their money. Discussions and deliberations also took place between the concerned society, agents, employees of the company, the investors, the owner’s son and the house owner. The investors lodged a case at the Police station after they did not get any confirmation on their money return.

Morcha leaders invited, says Deb

TT;Siliguri, Jan. 27: Gautam Deb today said he did not want to comment on any other party’s political programme when told that most Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders would be in Delhi when the chief minister visits Darjeeling on January 29. “The Utsav will be held for the first time at Darjeeling Mall from 1pm on Tuesday in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

 We have invited Morcha leaders and GTA members to the event,” Deb said, while giving an outline of Mamata Banerjee’s trip. When told that some of the Morcha senior leaders had already left the hills to take part in a protest in Delhi, Deb said: “I hope everybody will participate in the festival and it will be a success. I don’t want to comment on the political programme of any other political party.” Mamata will be in Darjeeling on Tuesday to open the hill segment of the Uttarbanga Utsav.

 The Morcha had earlier said that its senior leaders would not be present at the event in the wake of the party’s renewed agitation for a separate state. All three Morcha MLAs and party general secretary Roshan Giri are in New Delhi now to take part in a dharna to press for the creation of Gorkhaland. Sources in Darjeeling said Morcha president Bimal Gurung may leave for Delhi tomorrow to take part in the dharna that would continue till February 5. 

 Although the Morcha didn’t clarify if its leaders would share the dais with the chief minister in Darjeeling on January 29, observers believe they would like to avoid a meeting with Mamata when the agitation for Gorkhaland was going on. The week-long festival will be inaugurated at Kanchenjungha stadium at 4pm tomorrow. Anjan Dutt and Jojo will perform at the Darjeeling event.

Boy chokes on gum & dies

pemba sherpa

TT; NIRMAL MANGAR  Gangtok, Jan. 27: An 18-year-old boy died in East Sikkim yesterday after a 14km run when the chewing gum in his mouth got stuck in his windpipe. Pemba Sherpa, a resident of Bardang in East Sikkim, fell unconscious as soon as he reached the finishing line after completing the 14km run, police said. 

 The boy, who was training as a monk, had quit his monastery life recently to help his family by working as a construction labourer in Sikkim. It emerged later that Pemba had not told his family that he would participate in the run.

 “He had not told us that he would be participating in the race. He left home early and later we got the news of his death. He was a monk at Enchey monastery (in Gangtok) and had quit two years ago to financially support us,” said father Tshering Sherpa, who is a carpenter.

 Pemba was the fourth among eight siblings. The run was organised by the Singtam-based JVC Singtam Football Club as part of an anti-drug campaign on the occasion of Republic Day on Saturday. 

 The winner got Rs 3,000 cash. Dr. D.P. Sharma, the chief medical officer of Singtam Hospital, which is 25km from Gangtok, said during the post-mortem it was found that the chewing gum had got stuck in Pemba’s windpipe, causing his death. “The reason for the boy’s death was choking which was caused by the chewing gum getting stuck in his windpipe.

 This led to asphyxia (lack of oxygen),” the doctor said. When Pemba fainted at the finishing line, the organisers first tried to revive him, then took him to Singtam Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The 94 participants had to run from Singtam Bazaar to Ralap, and back covering a distance of 14km. The race started at 9.45am on Saturday.

 “The entry was open till Saturday morning and he (Pemba) had enrolled in the senior category on that day. There was no entry fee,” said the president of the club Sangay Bhutia. “This is the first time that the club had organised a run. The competition was in two categories: senior and junior.

 No advisory was given to the runners. They were given glucose and water after the run was over,” Bhutia said. The senior category had participants who were above 14 years. According to the organisers, Pemba was the 24th to finish. In a similar incident in Calcutta on January 15, an 11-year-old boy died after choking on chicken nuggets he had brought for tiffin to school. Pemba Sherpa

Tat Spacio accident: Search operation still unsuccessful

 Kalimpong, January 23: After 6 days of the fateful Tata Spacio accident returning from Triveni Mela, the missing people are still not found. Soon after the incident, the Rafting Rescue team recovered 6 dead bodies and on Sunday another body was recovered. Until now 7 dead bodies have been found and the rest 9 remains untraced. The rafting team is on their tips and toes every day, but their search operation results unsuccessful. 

The closing of the 29th Mile Hydro Project Dam has become one of the major hindrances to the search operation. As per Sukhbir Tamang, rafter and President of the River Rafting Association, the closing of the dam has caused rise and stagnation in water level which is not allowing them to search properly. Though, the deceased are from the Sikkim state, till now no agencies or administrations from Sikkim are helping in the search operation. The locals keeping in mind the increasing number of accidents had demanded for construction of a security wall along the NH31A.

Only meetings and rallies in hills cannot gather support-: GTF to GJM

KNE; Mukesh Sharma Kalimpong, January 23: After the Telangana formation seems quite possible, the hills have also caught pace with its separate state demand. Voices are being raised, postering is being held, mass public meetings are being conducted, etc. On this context, the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) has made clear that their faction will always voice for Gorkhaland.

 “With our without the Telangana issue coming under the spotlight, the GTF has always stood for the separate state demand”, advocates a GTF press release issued today. The Force who claims of not remaining silent believes that the Gorkhaland demand has its own value. The GTF’s struggle will prolong until the demand is fulfilled, the GTF Chairman, Sukhman Moktan, has stated in the release. 

It also informs that the Force with high alertness is keeping a check on the steps taken by the Centre at present. Moktan in the release has said that the GTF does not believe that support for the century old demand cannot be gathered through meetings and rallies in the hills. “For greater support works should be done collaboratively by including the Terai- Dooars and Siliguri areas under the Gorkhaland region”, asserts Moktan. 

Alleging the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) of making the aforesaid idea complex, the Chairman has complained that Morcha has spoiled the relationship between the communities here. Further the release notifies that the GTF is engrossed with their plans and programmes focusing the country’s capital. 

 “If the GJM is serious about the demand, then they should first pass the Gorkhaland resolution in the GTA board, dissolve the GTA, the MLAs should resign and commence a mass rally at New Delhi and initiate the agitation”, the GTF has recommended. Further, the GTF has also advised of forming a Sangarsh Samiti by taking the agitations of Uttarkhand and Telangana as examples. The GTF has appealed all to resist their selfish political motives and instead come forward for Gorkhaland.

Halted bus service resume after Morcha’s pressurization

KNE; Kalimpong, January 23 The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) had provided two buses at the Kalimpong depot, one from Kalimpong to Siliguri and the other from Kalimpong to Pani Tanki. But the sudden halt of the bus services has resulted severe problems to the commuters. The bus used to ferry students and the office goers to Siliguri to and forth. The concerned department officials have blamed the Kalimpong depot In-charge, Anil Kumar Sarkar for the halt of the bus services.

 “He was planning in removing the bus services from the depot”, they accused. The GJM Yuva Morcha spokesperson Binay Ghisingand the Central Committee member Bijay Sundas has tried to learn the matter with the officials of the concerned department, following which the GTA Deputy Chief Col Ramesh Allay, member Subh Pradhan, GJM Sub Divisional Committee president Sarita Rai and secretary Kumar Chamling reached the spot and pressurized the In-charge to restart the service. 

After much pressure, the In-charge contacted Bikas Das, divisional manager at Siliguri, who assured to continue bus service to Siliguri with effect from Thursday. The divisional manager also said that the bus service to Pani Tanki will resume in few days. The GJM has warned that if the bus services will discontinue, they will not let the In-charge leave from Kalimpong easily.

Youth claims dog pack attack - Hill town residents want canines to be killed

Sachadev Lepcha at the Darjeeling District Hospital.
Picture by Suman Tamang 

TT;VIVEK CHHETRI Darjeeling, Jan. 22: A youth in Darjeeling today said a pack of stray dogs attacked him last night at the same spot where another man was found dead with parts of his flesh torn away. Twenty-year-old Sachadev Lepcha said he would have also died but for the intervention of the residents of Toongsoong, who heard his cries for help when the dogs set upon him.

 Lepcha was admitted to the Darjeeling district hospital with bite marks all over his body. A doctor of the hospital confirmed that Lepcha had been bitten by more than one dog. Lepcha, who works in a hotel in Siliguri and had come to Darjeeling yesterday, said from the hospital bed: “I was returning home around 11.15pm when a pack of eight dogs started barking at me. They soon attacked me from all sides.” 

 Lepcha’s jeans were torn and his hand was badly bitten. When he fell to the ground, the dogs attacked his neck. “I started crying for help loudly. I saw local residents come out of their houses. I could see some throwing water at the dogs. But the animals continued to attack me. Then people came and chased away the dogs by throwing stones at them,” he said.

 Lepcha, a resident of Laden-la Road in Darjeeling, was administered anti-rabies vaccine. “The patient was admitted with multiple dog bites. We have given him the anti-rabies vaccination and his condition is stable. The patient seems to have been attacked by a pack of dogs,” said Dr R. Ghosh, the superintendent of the district hospital. 

 The road in Toonsoong where Lepcha was attacked is the place where 11 days ago, 47-year-old Chengba Sherpa was found dead. The flesh of some parts of his body seemed to have been torn away. The death on January 11 made many residents suspect that a leopard, seen in the area earlier, was on the prowl. 

Toonsoong is just over a kilometre from the Mall, the spot where almost all tourists to Darjeeling hang out. In order to catch the leopard, a cage was laid and goats were kept inside as bait twice. In both instances, the goat was found dead and partially eaten. The CCTV cameras near the cage captured stray dogs. After last night’s attack, many residents want the municipality to kill the dogs.

 “Human life is more precious than stray dogs. Animal activists who are against killing of dogs should keep these dogs in their houses. The place has become totally unsafe,” said a resident. The Darjeeling municipality, which had stopped the killing of stray dogs and started sterilising the animals with the help of NGOs, seemed to have woken up to the gravity of the canine menace. Suk Bahadur Biswakarma, the vice-chairman of the Darjeeling municipality, said: 

“Human lives are precious. We cannot also just catch the dogs and take them to some other place as the animals seem to have started attacking human beings.” The municipality has decided to call a meeting soon with the district administration to find a solution to the problem. The Darjeeling town is estimated to have more than 1,000 stray dogs.