Cabinet clears Lepcha board

Bimal Gurung file photo

TT;; Feb. 5: The state cabinet today cleared a proposal to set up a Lepcha development board under the backward classes welfare department, setting up a fresh point of confrontation with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the hills. The Morcha is opposed to the formation of any hill body outside the purview of the GTA Sabha and Bimal Gurung, the party chief and the chief executive of the GTA Sabha, had made it clear that any development board of the Lepchas should be under the GTA Sabha.

 Today, when asked about the government’s decision, senior Morcha leader Roshan Giri said the move was “arbitrary” and “an encroachment on the powers” of the GTA. The board has been named the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board — Mayel Lyang Lepcha in Lepcha language loosely means the land of the Lepchas. A senior minister said: “Mamatadi had promised the Lepchas that a board would be formed for their welfare and development. 

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The community members were apprehensive about their survival. The chief minister felt that they needed support and has kept her word.” Lepchas, who are regarded as the original inhabitants of the hills, make up about 20 per cent of the population there. During her visit to the hills last week, Mamata had a meeting with representatives of the Lepcha community at Algarah, near Kalimpong, and had assured them that work would start soon. 

 On January 31, when the chief minister came down to Siliguri after her trip to the hills, she told a news conference: “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.” Government sources said the proposal was added later to the agenda for the cabinet meeting that was held this afternoon. 

 According to sources, the details on the formation of the board would be worked out later. The chairman and the vice-chairman of the board would be from the community, a government source said. “The number of members in the board... is yet to be decided. An officer of the rank of joint secretary would be appointed as member-secretary,” a senior government official said.

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 The focus of the board would be on overall development of the community, preservation of their language and culture, their education, support for improving lifestyle through agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, tourism and cottage industry, the official said. Mobile health units, rural health centres and also indigenous treatment procedures of the Lepchas would be promoted. The Lepchas never had any territorial demand. 

 “The board will be set up under the Societies Act and will not have any political powers,” the senior official said. “The council will be based in Kalimpong.” Funds for the projects to be taken up by the board would be released through the departments concerned of the state government. “Central funds would also be provided,” the official added. Morcha leader Giri, who is now in Delhi, said over phone: 

“It is an arbitrary decision taken by the state government and an encroachment on the powers and functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Sabha.” He said if “the Lepchas are given such privileges then the other communities residing in the hills should get the same. We protest this decision strongly.” Representatives of the Lepcha community were reluctant to speak on the matter.

L S Tamsang file photo

 L. Tamsang, the president of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, and N.T. Lepcha, the co-ordinator of the Lepcha Rights Movement, refused to take calls. The president of the Lepcha Youth Association, Dorji Lepcha, said he had heard about the cabinet’s decision. “I have heard the news. However, I am not the right person to comment on the development,” he 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 Lepchas are a minority section in the hills. At present, the GTA Sabha does not have any nominated member from the Lepcha community. At least one rival party of the Morcha, the CPRM, raised a question on the “intention of the government”. Tara Mani Rai, the CPRM secretary, said: “What is the intention of the government (in forming such councils)? Could it be a conspiracy to divide hill people?”

Morcha calls on for collaborative agitation

Binay Tamang

KNE;;Kalimpong, February 05: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) head, Bimal Gurung had declared to invite all the opposition parties of the hills along with the former Sikkim University Vice Chancellor, Dr Mahendra P Lama to discuss about the future strategies. The GJM Joint Secretary, Binay Tamang, has reached Kalimpong with the invitation letters.

 Speaking with the reporters today, Tamang informed that to discuss and deliberate about the political situation, a meeting has been called on at Gymkhana Hall, Darjeeling on February 07, 2013. 

He notified that invitations have been sent to Kalimpong’s Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) and Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM) and Darjeeling’s, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (ABGL), Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Congress, Trinamool (TMC) District Committee, Gorkha Rashtriya Congress (GRC), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Vice Chancellor of SU, Dr MP Lama. 

“At time moment Gorkhaland is primary other issues remain secondary”, he said. Tamang further said that during the forthcoming meeting every person will can speak on what they feel. If any party is dissatisfied with the Morcha, they can discuss about it. The decisions will be taken collaboratively.

 In the meanwhile, the Gorkhaland Rashtriya Nirman Morcha (GRNM) President, Dawa Pakhrin said that the party received the invitation, however, the decision to attend or not will be taken during the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) meet on Wednesday. The GTF President, Sukhman Moktan too said that the decision will be declared tomorrow.

Triveni road mishap: 2 dead bodies recovered

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Kalimpong, February 05: Out of the 9 missing from the Triveni road mishap, 2 bodies have been recovered today. After 18 days since the accident, the bodies were seen floating on the River Teesta by the locals who informed the Teesta Police. One body was recovered 4kms away from the accident spot while the other was recovered 6 kms away. The bodies have been identified as Sancha Maya Chettri (22), of Melli, South Sikkim and Subhashna Chettri (13), Melli, South Sikkim. The bodies were identified by the clothes they were wearing. It was then forwarded to the Kalimpong Hospital for post mortem. The rest 7 are still to be found.

CPRM’s own way of Gorkhaland agitation

KNE;Kalimpong, February 05: The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM) members distributed booklets at various areas of Kalimpong today, related with the Gorkhaland issue. “A message to the Gokhaland lovers by the CPRM”, read the booklets. The CPRM Regional Committee, Spokesperson, Mohan Poudyal said that the century old demand of the hills is still not fulfilled. He informed that the booklet describes about the same. He added that the 1986 agitation was on full force but the leaders then lacked vision. 

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in 2007 started its agitation, but it all got compromised with Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), said Poudyal. Further, he claimed that in 2007, the CPRM also supported the Morcha and its leader Bimal Gurung, believing that the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) is a hindrance to a separate state formation, but nothing happened, he added.

 “Therefore, this booklet aims to aware the people about Gorkhaland and it states that it is not an issue of a single person”, said the Spokesperson and added tht it will only be possible if everybody stands united. Poudyal further stressed that similar to the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF), the voice should be made common in unity. 

The Kalimpong Regional Committee President, Kishore Pradhan said that the Gorkhaland agitation as per the CPRM is based on cadre, not public. “Our agitation works in an organizational manner. We have never received any invitational letter for a collaborative agitation by the Morcha”, he said. However, he said that if they are invited then there will be a discussion in the central level after which decisions will be taken.

Gurung has no moral rights to demand Gorkhaland- Khati

KNE;Kalimpong, February 05: The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) General Secretary alleged the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Chief Bimal Gurung of not being able to fulfill the aspirations of the people despite of having numerous supporters. Khati while speaking to the reporters today expressed that the ABGL has no hope over Gurung who has declared of reinitiating the agitation because it has many times proved false. “Gurung is that person who had once favored Subash Ghising and his 6th Schedule idea, has stooped Madan Tamang’s public meeting, had said that not an inch of Terai- Dooars will be left.

 Alas! Everything is left out”, alleged Khati and added that he has no moral rights to demand for Gorkhaland when he is not being able to separate himself from the July 18 agreement. Khati also said that until and unless all the 45 Sabhasads does not resign, then nothing can be done. The public supported Gurung, but unless this is not realized collaborative agitation does not seem valid, he told.

Torch rally by Morcha in the hills

Darjeeling/Kalimpong, Feb 03: Demanding Gorkhaland and to pressurize the government, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) conducted torch rally today. The said rally will be held every evening from today onwards. In Darjeeling the rally was taken out from GDNS ground at around 5pm and ended at Chowrasta after encircling the town. Talking to the press, assistant secretary Jyoti kumar Rai said the main motive of this programme achievement of Gorkhaland. “If Telangana state is considered by the government then Gorkhaland state should also be formed”, said Rai. Dawa Lama and party members of various frontal organizations were also present. Similarly, the rally was taken out in Kalimpong town too which ended at Damber Chowk.

 A meeting was then carried forward. The GTA sabahasads and ward councilors led the rallies from their respective constituencies. Kalian Dewan, the GTA sabhasad also the vice president of the GJM central committee informed that the Morcha leaders are conducting dahrna at New Delhi for the demand of Gorkhaland. “We need to pressurize the centre”, he stressed and added the Gorkhaland demand which stands older than Telangana should definitely be formed. He also urged everybody to remain united.

Cluny Sisters delivering service to mankind

KNE;Kalimpong, February 03: Believing ‘service is the greatest religion’, the Cluny Sisters since 8 years have been conducting health check-up camps in remote areas of Kalimpong. Under the same, the Sisters organized a similar camp at the premises of St Joseph Convent School today, during which the renowned doctors of Siliguri and Kalimpong areas checked around 250 people.

 The doctors were Dr AB Bose, Dr S Shah (Surgeon), Dr B Sharma (Orthopedic), Dr Siddhi Sharma (Neuro), Dr Sona Bhutia (Ophthalmologist) and Dr Matthew Rezish and his wife (Dentists) . People from remote places like Suruk, Tangyang, Nimbong, Gitabling, Mariah Busty, Gorubathan, 6 Mile, 7 Mile, 8 Mile, etc came at large for the check-up. 

There are many remote areas in Kalimpong where people have not in their entire life visited a doctor, said Sister Rachael Chettri and added for health to flourish the environment should first be peaceful. The medical expenses of the people who are diagnosed with multiple health issues will be borne by the Cluny Sisters. Earlier, the camp started with a prayer service. Sisters of 4 convents along with Sisters of St Joseph and St Philomena were also present during the camp.

Council caution by Morcha rivals

TT; RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, Feb. 3: The CPRM and the ABGL have expressed qualified support to the demand for the formation of the proposed Lepcha Development Council. The CPRM said it would support the formation of the council if the state government didn’t have the ulterior motive of dividing the hill population. The ABGL backed the move saying any arrangement that would ensure development of Lepcha culture and language would be welcome even if it was under the state’s control. Tara Mani Rai, the CPRM secretary, said: 

“We have started a discussion in our party on the issue. We can form a definite opinion only after that is done. However, if the council is set up to ensure the development of the Lepcha language and culture, we are okay with it,” said Tara Mani Rai, the CPRM secretary. Asked if they were okay if such a body was formed under the state government, Rai said that would depend on the intention of the government, especially given that chief minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke about forming a similar council for the Buddhists during her recent visit to the hills. 

 “What is the intention of the government (in forming such councils)? Could it be a conspiracy to divide us? Apart from the council for the Lepchas, the chief minister also spoke about forming a council for Buddhists,” said Rai. Pratap Khati, the vice-president of the ABGL, however, said any arrangement to ensure the development of the Lepcha language and culture, was welcome even if it was under the state government. “A body to oversee the welfare of the Lepchas is good. There is a need to uplift the language and culture of the Lepchas. We support such a demand,” he said.

डा महेन्द्र पी लामलाई भेटे राजनैतिक पार्टीका नेताहरुले

कालेबुङ 2 फरवरी। आज अचानक कालेबुङ आएका डा महेन्द्र पी लामाले यहाँको एउटा चर्चित होटलमा स्थानिय राजनैतिक पार्टीका नेताहरुसंग भेटघाट गरे। यद्यपी तिनले उक्त भेटघाट राजनैतिक भेटघाट होईन भनि स्पष्टिकरण दिएका छन। “म यहाँ सभा गर्न आएको होईन। आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत कामले कालेबुङ आएको समयमा साथीहरुसंग भेटघट गर्ने चाहना भएको कारण यसो साथीहरुसंग बसेको मात्र हो। यो भेटघाट कुनै राजनैतिक भेटघाट होईन।

 यदि यहाँ मलाई भेट्न राजनैतिक पार्टीका मानिसहरु आएका थिए भने त्यो केवल सयोग मात्र हो” – उक्त कुरा सिक्किम विश्व विध्यालयका संस्थापक उपकूलपती डा महेन्द्र पी लामाले भनेका हुन। तिनी आज आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत कार्यले कालेबुङ आएको बताउँदै यसै अवधी आफुलाई यहाँ युवाहरुले अनौपचारिक भेटघाट गरेर कुराकानी गरेको बताए। तिनले उक्त भेटघाट खुबै सौहार्दपूर्ण रहेको बताउँदै उक्त भेट एउटा आकस्मिक भेट हो भने।

 डा लामासंग भएको उक्त भेटघाटलाई लिएर थुप्रै अडकलबाजी समते लगाईएको थियो भने उक्त भेटघाट संयोगमात्र बताएपछि सबै अडकलबाजिलाई पनि बिराम लगाएका छन। उक्त भेटघाट कार्यमा गोजमुमो पार्टीका सभासद निमा तामाङ, सभासद दावा लेप्चा लगायत अन्य युव कार्यकर्ताहरु उपस्थित रहेका थिए भने अभागोली माहासचिव प्रताप खाती अनि तृणमूल नेता छेवाङ भोटियाले पनि यसै अवधी लामासंग भेटघाट गरेर कुराकानी गरे। उक्त भेटघाटको अवधी होटल बाहिर सुरक्षा व्यवस्था कठोर बनाईएको थियो। 

गोर्खाहरु जिरो ईनेमीको सिद्धान्तले अघि बड्नुपर्छ गोर्खाल्याण्ड अवश्य गठन हुनेछ – डा महेन्द्र पी लामा 

के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 2 फरवरी। “ठिक़ ठाउँमा, ठिक समयमा, ठिक तरिकाले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा उठाए अवश्य राज्य गठन हुनेछ। सायद अहिलेसम्म ठिक तरिकाले कार्य भएको छैन होला। हामी यसबारे सोचिरहेका छौ। यस बिषयमा सबै बसेर बिचार बिमर्श गर्न आवश्यक छ” – उक्त कुरा आज अचानक कालेबुङ आईपुगेका सिक्किम विश्वविद्यालयका संस्थापक उपकूलपती प्रो महेन्द्र पी लामाले भनेका हुने। आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत कार्यले कालेबुङ आएको बताउँने प्रो लामाले यहाँको एउटा चर्चित होटलमा बिभिन्न राजनैतिक पार्टीका नेताहरु लगायत स्थानीय मानिसहरुसंग भेट घाट गरे।

 तिनले उक्त भेटघाट केवल संयोगमात्र हो भनि स्पष्टिकरण दिएका छन। उक्त भेटघाट सम्बन्धि प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले आफु कुनै सभा गर्न नआएर व्यक्तिगत कार्यले आएको समयमा साथीहरुसंग भेटघाट गरिरहेको समयमा राजनैतिक पार्टीका नेताहरुले भेट गरेको जनाए। यद्यपी उक्त भेटघाट कुबै सौहार्दपूर्ण रहेको बताए। अहिलेघरी तेलेंगना गठनको मुद्दाले तातिएको पहाडमा आज अचानक प्रो लामा कालेबुङमा आएर एउटा होटलमा कुराकानी गरिरहेको हल्ल फैलिएपछि तिनले राजनैतिक पार्टी गठनको कसरत शुरु गरिरहेको मानिसहरुले चर्चा गर्दै अनुमान लगाउँन थालेका थिए।

 यसै सन्दर्भमा तिनलाई प्रश्न गर्दा साथीहरुसंग भेट गर्दा नेताहरु आएको केवल संयोग हो भन्दै आफुले सभा गर्न परे रामकृष्ण रंगमञ्चमा गरेर सबैलाई अवगत गराउँने तिनले स्पष्ट बताएर सबैको अनुमानलाई बिराम लगाए। छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको मुद्दालाई टुङ्गोमा पुर्यााउँन के तपाईँ आगमी दिनहरुमा सक्रिय राजनीति गर्न मैदानमा उत्रनुहुन्छ भनि प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले “जनताको जिज्ञासा एकापट्टिको हो मेरो व्यक्तिगत चाहना एकापट्टि हो।

 यद्यपी छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन हुनपर्छ” भने। तिनले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति सबै एक हुनपर्ने बताउँदै “मुद्दाको निम्ति जिरो ईनेमी (शुन्य शत्रु)को सिद्धान्त लिएर अघि बड्नुपर्छ। गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठन हुनपर्छ यो सबैको माग हो। यदि सबैको एउटै माग हो भने हामी किन एकार्कलाई शत्रु सम्झनु ? यसले गोर्खाल्याण्ड नदिनेहरुलाई सहयोग भईरहेको छ। अब जिरो ईनेमीको सिद्धान्तमा अघि बड्नुपर्छ तब मात्र हामी सफल हुनेछौ” तिनले भने।

 यसैक्रममा तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड गटःअनको निम्ति एक्लै अघि बडेर सम्भव नहुने बताउँदै “यो राजनैतिक पार्टी, सामाजिक संगठन अनि बुद्धिजीविवर्गको दायित्व हो। एक्लै अघि बडेर गोर्खाल्याण्ड ल्याउँनु सकिन्दैन” भने। एकातिर तेलेंगना राज्य गठनको चर्चा चलिरहेको छ भने अर्कोतर्फ गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा पनि दिर्घदिनदेखि अघि बडदै आईरहेको छ। 

यस बिषयमा प्रश्न गर्दा “राज्य गठनको निम्ति संविधानमा क्षेत्रफल, जनसख्या यस्तो हुनपर्छ भनेर उल्लेख छैन। यो राजनैतिक प्रक्रिया हो। राजनैतिक प्रक्रियाले नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड पनि गठन गर्न सकिन्छ” भने। सोहिक्रममा भारतमा सम्पूर्ण हिमाली क्षेत्रहरुमा उत्तरपूर्वीय क्षेत्रहरुदेखि लिएर जम्मु काश्मिर संग राज्य भएको बताउँदै त्यही हिमाली क्षेत्रहरुमध्ये दार्जीलिङ तरा डुवर्स मात्र राज्यबिहिन रहेको जनाउँदै यसलाई पूर्ण राज्य बनाउँनु आवश्यक छ भने।

Morcha builds on momentum - Protests in Calcutta, torch rallies in hills

Morcha leaders Binay Tamang and Jyoty Kumar Rai in Darjeeling on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang 

TT;VIVEK CHHETRIDarjeeling, Feb. 1: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today decided to hold daily torch rallies across the hills from February 3 to keep up the momentum of the statehood agitation generated during the uproar at Chowrastha in the chief minister’s presence. The decision to intensify the agitation was taken at a meeting of elected members of the GTA Sabha at the Morcha office here. 

The hill party has now decided that it will not wait till the March 10 Sukna rally to announce the outline of their renewed movement. The party also decided to extend the ongoing dharna in New Delhi for the creation of Gorkhaland till February 10 and is mulling over holding programmes in Calcutta also. Morcha president Bimal Gurung was not present at the meeting today. 

 He has said on January 30 that the future course of the renewed agitation for the separate state would be outlined at a public meeting at Sukna on March 10. The Morcha announced its “final battle” for statehood in the hills on January 16 after it got information from its sources that the Centre was amenable to the creation of a separate Telangana state.

 The Centre has not said anything clearly on Telangana yet. On January 29, some Morcha supporters chanted slogans of “we want Gorkhaland” when Mamata Banerjee spoke for a united Bengal at the Uttarbanga Utsav. “Darjeeling is a part of us,” she said, infuriating Morcha supporters at Chowrastha. 

 After today’s meeting, Morcha assistant secretary Binay Tamang said: “From Sunday onwards, the party will organise torch rallies in every village, tea garden and constituency of the GTA Sabha to demand Gorkhaland. For almost a fortnight, the youth front of the party has been organising torch rallies in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik on Thursday’s.” 

 The Morcha said the dharna in Delhi would continue till February 10, instead of the earlier date of February 5. “Today, Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh also took part in the dharna. We want to keep up the pressure on the Centre to create Gorkhaland if Telangana is formed,” Tamang said. Gurung will hold a meeting with members of various frontal organisation of the Morcha at the party office at Patlasbas in Darjeeling tomorrow to discuss the agitation plan. 

 “Our party chief will also address Morcha leaders of various units (subdivisional, town and village committees) at Darjeeling Gymkhana Club on February 4,” said Tamang. “The GTA Sabha members felt some programmes demanding Gorkhaland should also be held in Calcutta. We will definitely hold some programmes in Calcutta,” he said. 

 Even though the Morcha has been organising programmes in support of Gorkhaland ever since the Telangana issue came into limelight last month, the fiasco following the chief minister’s statement has suddenly injected fresh enthusiasm into the cadres. “The party is definitely trying to keep the momentum going and today’s announcement is a clear indication of that,” said an observer.