GTF meets Sangma....GLO revived by Chhatrey....Chhatrey refutes allegations of GJM...बिमलको गुरुंगको आरोपमा छत्र सुब्बाको जवाब - थोत्रे जीटीएमा मलाई भुल्याउँन नखोज्नु – छत्र सुब्बा...Rivals challenge Gurung on Maoist slur -‘Prove camp claim or withdraw remarks’...TA delay spurs campaign race in hills- GNLF meeting on Feb 26

GTF meets Sangma

KalimNews, Bureau: The Gorkhaland Task Force, currently on tour in the Northeast, met Shri Purno A Sangma former Speaker at Tura of Meghalaya on February 6, 2012. The team had an hour talk with P.A.Sangma the General Secretary of NCP central committee. It pleaded to support the demand of Gorkhaland and voice the demand in national level. It also requested him to gather support from other leaders and be help to bring other leaders at Delhi during a demonstration for Gorkhaland.

Sangma said he had always been in favour of the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland and Bodoland. He further said "I will do whatever I have to do, donot worry for that . Sangma expressed his dismay on the conspiracy framed by the Bengal government and Bimal Gurung in formulating GTA to deviate from Gorkhaland. ".The team also submitted documents and booklets in support of the demand.

Today the team met Gorkha leaders of Tura, Meghalaya.

Sukhman Moktan, Secretary General of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), R Moktan Co-ordinator Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF), Dawa Pakhrin, President, Gorkha Rajya Nirman Morcha, Kishore Pradhan executive member of CPRM are in the delegation visiting and meeting the leaders of North East. 
GLO revived by Chhatrey
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 7 February: Chhatrey Subba Ex Gorkha Liberation Organisation leader declared of forming GLO as his party to start a new phase of Gorkhaland agitation. He declared that GLO with the same flag with a new strategy and thought will hence forth fight for Gorkhaland, however if people desires to change the name then it is open to them. "GLO will now democratically and in a non-violent way fight for our right" declared Subba.
He declared himself as the one and only sincere leader to fight for Gorkhaland and once again repeated that he will sell water for living but not the land and demand as others have done. Subba blamed Ghising of betraying the Gorkhas by accepting DGHC. On questioning regarding Sixth Schedule status Subba said he is not lured by such a petty thing.
Subba said that for GJM, GTA is a big matter but for me it is nothing, it is a rubbish system. Subba didnot clarify that from when his actual agitation will come into force with programmes. 
Chhatrey refutes allegations of GJM
KalimNews: Refuting allegations of Bimal Gurung made during a programme at Kalimpong Town Hall on 6th February Chhatrey Subba Ex GLO Chief said that he was not released due to such requests as told by Bimal Gurung but by the Court finding him innocent. Subba further refuted the statement of Bimal Gurung that Bimal Gurung had requested Mamata Banerjee CM of West Bengal for Chhatrey's release. 

Answering a question on his release Subba said that he was acquitted by the court finding him innocent and affirmed that CPRM played a vital role to release him and suggested that no body should comment on his release. He further addded that GJM instead of supporting had obstructed the movement of CPRM for Chhatrey's release. "GJM has tried to mislead the people by saying that it had helped for the release", Chhatrey added. He further said that he was jailed for no reason and a PIL is filed in the Supreme Court and it will clarify the actual conspiracy behind his arrest.
Coommenting on the statement of Bimal Gurung GJM President regarding him, Chhatrey said "Bimal Gurung is the wrong leader who had supported Ghising while I made the objection to Ghising". He further said , " I am the sole sincere leader to fight for Gorkhaland and GJM has lost public support.".
"Bimal Gurung is lured by GTA and has betrayed the people and their aspirations", Subba said."I have no brain that is why I am crying for Gorkhaland but those who have brains had negotiated for GTA". He further said, "Gurung should not worry for my strategy of Gorkhaland, that is my business".
Chhatrey said,"in the past government had offered me greater autonomy with areas of Dooars and Terai when I was spearheading the demand of Gorkhaland but I had rejected the offer". "I will never come to an agreement for anything lesser than Gorkhaland and nobody should dare and think that I will be bought ". Refuting all allegations of GJM, Subba said, "GJM should refrain from misleading the people and telling lies and false allegations".
बिमलको गुरुंगको आरोपमा छत्र सुब्बाको जवाब - थोत्रे जीटीएमा मलाई भुल्याउँन नखोज्नु – छत्र सुब्बा
डी० के० वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 7 फरवरी: गोर्खा लिबरेशन अर्गनाइजेशन ( जीएलओ) प्रमुख छत्र सुब्बाले आफुमाथि लगाएका सम्पूर्ण आरोपहरुको ठाडो जवाब दिएका छन् |भारतीय गोर्खा भूतपूर्व सैनिक एवम अर्ध सैनिक मोर्चाको चौथो स्थापना दिवसमा जसरी मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले आक्रमण शैलीमा छत्र सुब्बा माथि बर्सिए ठीक त्यस्तै आक्रमण शैलीमा सुब्बाले कडा प्रतिक्रिया जनाएका छन् |तिनले सुवास घिसिंग हमलाकाण्डको आरोपमा आफूलाई जेलमुक्त गराउन मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले राज्यका मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यनार्जीसित व्यक्तिगत अनुरोध गरेको दाबीलाई खण्डन गर्दै आफूलाई बिमल गुरुङले निकाल्ने कार्य नगरेको दाबी गरे |
दार्जीलिंग पहाडका राजनैतिक दल क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवाद कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी ( क्रामाकपा) ले आफू जेलमा हुँदा मुक्तिको निम्ति आवाज उठाउदा मोर्चाले बाधा दिने कार्य गरेको दाबी गरे | गोजमुमो प्रमुख गुरुङले आफ्नो मुक्तिको निम्ति मुख्य मन्त्रीसित कुराकानी गरेको बताएर जनतामा भ्रम फैलाउने काम गरिरहेको तिनले उल्टो आरोप थोपे | यति मात्र होइन तिनले जनताबाट श्रेय बटुल्न छत्र सुब्बाको मुक्तिको निम्ति मोर्चाले पहल गरेको समाचार पत्रमा वक्तव्य दिएको तर वास्तविकरुपमा भने केही नगरेको थप दाबी गरे |
यसैक्रममा तिनले पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै गत केही महिना अघि रेली खोलाको बगरमा बिमल गुरुङसित भएको भेटमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघिबढाउन सहयोग मागेको आरोप स्वीकार गर्दै आन्दोलनको निम्ति जनता भएको पार्टीको नातामा सघाउन पर्छ भनेको बताए | यधपि अहिले मोर्चाले जन समर्थन गुमाईसकेको कारण आफूलाई मोर्चाको सहयोग नचाहेको स्पष्ट पारे | यसै अवधि तिनले छुट्टै राज्यको आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने नेताहरुमा आफूमात्र एकमात्र इमान्दार नेता रहेको दाबी गर्दै बिमल गुरुङ गलत नेता रहेको ठोकुवा गरे | तिनले भने " मैले सुबास घिसिंगले शुरु गरेको छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनमा साथ दिए | तर तिनले दागोपापमा सम्झौता गरेर घात गर्ने काम गर्यो | उक्त समय मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले पनि समर्थन गरेर घिसिंग कै साथ लाग्यो | केवल म मात्र एकजना नेता हुँ जसले घिसिंगले सम्झौता गरेको दागोपापमा लिखित विरोध जनाएर गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन गरेको थिए" |
तिनले आफूलाई कसैले पनि किन्न नसक्ने र आफू मुद्दा र जातिको निम्ति बिक्री नभएर गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने नेता रहेको ठोकुवा गर्दै बिमल गुरुङ नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड मुद्दा अघि सारेर जीटीएमा बिक्री भएको तिनले आरोप लगाए | सुब्बाको बुद्धि जिरो रहेको मोर्चा नेता गुरुङले लगाएको आरोपको जवाब दिंदै "मेरो बुद्धि जिरो भएर नै सायद अझै गोर्खाल्याण्ड भनिरहेछु अनि बुद्धि धेर भएकाहरुले चाहिँ जीटीएमा सम्झौता गरेको होलान" भन्दै गुरुङ प्रति व्यंग कसे | मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघि बढाउन छत्र सुब्बाको कुनै रणनीति छैन भन्ने आरोपको जवाब दिंदै "आन्दोलनको रणनीति बारे बिमल गुरुङले टाउको नदुखाउनु" भन्ने सुझाव दिए | तिनले आफूलाई जीटीएको सत्तामा बस्न चाहे राखिदिन्छु भन्ने गुरुङको बक्तब्यलाई खण्डन गर्दै "मेरो निम्ति जीटीए थोत्रे कुरा हो अनि यस्तो थोत्रे व्यवस्थामा छत्र सुब्बाले लोभ गर्छ भन्ने सोंच नराख्नु" भनि ठाडो जवाब दिए | यसै सन्दर्भमा तिनले आफूलाई सरकारको पक्षबाट पहिले नै ग्रेटर अटोनोमसको अफर आएको अनि उक्त अफरमा तराई डुवर्स समावेश रहेको दाबी गर्दै गोर्खाल्याण्ड बाहेक अन्य कुनै पनि व्यवस्थामा आफूले सम्झौता नगर्ने अडान राखेको दाबी गरे | तिनले गोर्खाहरुको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षा नबोक्ने कुनै पनि व्यवस्था स्वीकार नगर्ने अनि यस्तो थोत्रे व्यवस्था जीटीएमा छत्र सुब्बालाई लोभ देखाएर भुल्याउछु भन्ने आँट समेत नदेखाउनु भनि चुनौती दिएका छन् | अहिले मोर्चाले जीटीए थाप्न कस्तो बाध्यता पर्यो भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दै सम्पूर्ण आन्दोलनमा जनताले साथ र सहयोग दिंदा जीटीएमा सम्झौता गर्नु जनतालाई छलको राजनीति गर्नु हो भनि स्पष्ट पारे | तिनले आफू अघि मोर्चा नेताहरुले लगाएका सम्पूर्ण आरोपहरु निराधार रहेको दाबी गर्दै "यस्तो झूटो आरोप लगाएर जनतामा भ्रम सृजना नगर्नु" भन्दै सुझाउ दिएका छन् |

जीएलओको ब्यानरमा पुन: गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन शुरु गर्ने छ्त्र सुब्बाको घोषणा

डी० के० वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 7 फरवरी: पुरानै राजनैतिक झण्डा अनि पुरानै चर्चित गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका जंगी नेता छत्र सुबाले नयाँ सोंच र नयाँ अवधारणामा छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड आंदोलन शुरु गर्ने घोषणा गरेका छन् | तिनले उक्त घोषणा आज पत्रकारहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै भनेका हुन् | छत्र सुब्बाले भने " गोर्खाल्याण्डको अब हुने नयाँ आन्दोलन पुरानै राजनैतिक दल गोर्खा लिबरेशन अर्गनाइजेशन ( जीएलओ) पार्टीको ब्यानरमा हुनेछ | यसको झण्डा पनि पुरानै हुनेछ अनि नेता पनि पुरानै र मेरो टोपी पनि पुरानै हुनेछ | " तिनले पुरानै झण्डा र दलको ब्यानरमा छुट्टै राज्यको आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने भएतापनि यसको शैली र कार्य पद्ति भने नयाँ हुने बताएका छन् |

पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै छत्र सुब्बाले आफू मात्र कुनै पनि व्यवस्थामा विक्री नहुने नेता रहेको दाबी गर्दै अब हुने आन्दोलन अहिंसात्मक र गणतान्त्रिक तरिकाले गरिनेछ भने | यसै क्रममा तिनले पुरानो दल जीएलओको ब्यानरमा आन्दोलन शुरु गर्ने भएको भए पनि एउटा सभा राखेर जनताको आकाक्षा बुझ्ने बताउँदै यदी जनताले पार्टीको नाम र झण्डा परिवर्तन गर्ने अनुरोध गरे त्यसलाई सहर्स स्वीकार गर्ने पत्रकारहरुलाई जनाए | 

सुब्बाले आफूले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड कसरी चलाउनु पर्छ भन्ने कुरा आजभन्दा २० - २५ वर्ष अघि नै सोंचि सकेको पनि प्रष्ट पारे | तिनलाई केही दिन अघि दार्जीलिंग पहाड लगायत तराई डुवर्सको भ्रमण बारे प्रश्न गर्दा " म गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेमी नेता हुँ, त्यसैले गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेमी जनताको बिचार बुझ्न जही पनि घुम्ने मेरो अधिकार छ " भने | दार्जीलिंग पहाडमा छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति आफूमात्र एक्लो निस्वार्थ मुद्दा र जाति प्रेमी नेता रहेको दाबी गर्दै म पानी बेचेर आफ्नो जीवन चलाउछु त्र माटो र जाति बेच्ने काम गर्दिन भने | तिनले सुबास घिसिंगले दागोपापमा सम्झौता गरेर जाति र माटोको मुद्दा बेचेको अनि अहिले बिमल गुरुङले जीटीएमा माटोको आन्दोलन थन्काएको दाबी गरे | हाल गोरामुमोले उठाईरहेको छैटौ अनुसुचीको मुद्दा विषयमा प्रश्न गर्दा यस्ता चान चुने मुद्दाहरुमा सोच्ने मेरोमा फुर्सद छैन किन भने म केवल गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा मात्रै सोचिरहेको छु भने | 

यसै सन्दर्भमा सुब्बाले यस गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनमा सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेमी जनताहरुले साथ दिनुपर्ने आह्वान गरे | तिनले जीटीए विषयमा टिप्पणी गर्दै मोर्चा नेताहरुका निम्ति जीटीए भयङ्कर होला तर् मेरो निम्ति यो थोत्रे व्यवस्था हो भने | दार्जीलिंग पहाडमा चलेको राजनैतिक चलखेलको शिकार बनेर आफूलाई बिनाकारण जेलमा राखेको बताउँदै अहिले न्यायलयले सम्मानपुर्वक निर्दोष रहेको बताउँदै जेलबाट छोडेको अनि यसबारे कसैले नकारात्मक टिप्पणी नगर्नु भनि सुझाउ दिए | तिनले सुप्रिम कोर्टमा पब्लिक लिटीगेशनमा मुद्दा दर्ता गरेको अनि यसबारे चाडै पर्दाफास हुने सुब्बाले जनाए | तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन गर्ने घोषणा गरेतापनि समय र महिना निश्चित नभएको अनि यो पनि चाडै निश्चित हुने बताएका छन् |

बिमल गुरुंगको आरोपमा बिभिन्न राजनैतिक दलहरुको प्रतिक्रिया शुरु- माओवादी कालेबुंग पसेको कुरा गरेर बिमल गुरुंगले जनतामा भ्रम फैलाऊने कोशिश गरिरहेको अभागोली अनि माकपाको आरोप 

डी० के० वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 7 फरवरी: दार्जीलिंग पहाडमा पुन एकचोटी राजनैतिक वाकयुद्ध शुरु भएको छ | मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले कालेबुंगमा दिएको भाषण संगै आजदेखी वाक युद्ध चर्किएको छ | मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरुङले कालेबुंगमा १५ - २० जना माओवादी पसेर भूमिगत प्रशिक्षण दिरहेको बताएपछि अभागोलीले कडा प्रतिक्रिया जनाएको छ | अभागोलीका महा सचिव प्रताप खातीले उक्त विषयमा तिखो प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त गर्दै मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङलाई कालेबुंगमा माओवादी पसेको छ भन्ने कुरा कसरी थाहा भयो भन्ने प्रश्न तेर्साए |
यस विषयमा खुफिया विभागले बिमल गुरुङलाई यथासिघ्र् सोधपुछ गर्नुपर्ने तिनले माग गर्दै के तिनी आई० बी०, डी० आई० बी० भन्दा पनि ठुलो हुन्? भनी प्रश्न गरे | यसै सन्दर्भमा तिनले हाल कालेबुंगमा माओवादी पसेको छ भन्ने कुरा गरेर जनतामा आतंक सृजना गर्ने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै गुरुङले आफ्नो उक्त भड्काउ बयान १५ दिन भित्रमा फिर्ता लिनुपर्ने नत्र मुद्दा दर्ता गर्ने खातीले चेतावनी दिएका छन् | गुरुङले स्थानीय च्यानल कर्मीहरुलाई धम्की दिएकोमा प्रतिक्रिया गर्दै दार्जीलिंग पहाडमा राजाको जस्तो तानाशाह शासन नचल्ने बताए | तिनले टास्क फोर्सले कुनै भूमिगत प्रशिक्षण नदिने दाबी गर्दै यस्तो झुटो आरोप लगाएर जनतामा आतंक सृजना गर्ने कार्य गरेकोले प्रशासनले हस्तक्षेप गर्नुपर्ने माग गरे |

यसै सन्दर्भमा खातीले यस्तो भुमिगत प्रशिक्षण गोजमुमोले नै जीएलपीलाई दिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै जीएलपीको विषयमा पुलिस प्रशासनले जाँच गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेका छन् | अर्कोतिर तिनले हाल मदन तामांग हत्याकाण्डमा गोजमुमोले आरोपीलाई पैसा दिएर किन्ने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप थोपेका छन् | यस विषयमा अभागोलीले सीबीआईलाई अवगत गराएको बताउँदै मदन तामांग हत्याकाण्डमा सीबीआइले मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङ अनि रोशन गिरीलाई यथासिघ्र् केरकार गरेर पक्राउ गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेका छन् |

माकपा नेता तारा सुन्दासले पनि बिमल गुरुङको बक्तव्य प्रति तिब्र प्रतिक्रिया जनाएका छन | तिनले बिमल गुरुङले व्यर्थैको कुरा गरेर जनतामा आतंक फैलाउने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए |

यसै सन्दर्भमा गुरुङले तारा सुन्दासले राशनको मात्र कुरा नगर्नु भन्ने बक्तब्यको तिखो प्रतिक्रिया जनाउदै हामी सरकारी राशन खाने मान्छे हौ भन्दै राशन कार्ड नभएका मान्छेहरुले राशन पायो पाएन भन्ने कुरा नउठाउँदा हुन्छ भने | साधारण जनताको दुख नबुझ्ने नेताहरुले समस्या नबुझ्ने दाबी गर्दै जनताले राशन पायो पाएन भन्ने कुरा राशन कार्ड नै नभएको नेताहरुलाई कसरी थाहा हुन्छ भनी प्रश्न गरे | यसै क्रममा तिनले कालेबुंगका पत्रकारहरुलाई गुरुङले दिएको धम्कीबारे प्रतिक्रिया गर्दै गणतन्त्रको चौथो स्तम्भ मानिने पत्रकारहरुलाई राजनैतिक हस्तक्षेप गर्न उचीत नरहेको बताए | यसबारे प्रशासनले कडा कारवाही गर्नुपर्ने सुन्दासले माग गरेका छन् | अर्कोतिर कालेबुंगमा माओवादी पसेको कुरालाई दार्जीलिंग पुलिसका अधिक्षकले पुलिस विभागमा कुनै जानकारी नरहेको बताएका छन् |
GTA delay spurs campaign race in hills

Governor MK Narayanan (centre) at the Darjeeling railway station before boarding a toy train to Ghoom on Tuesday. Picture by Suman Tamang

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 7: The rivals of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have geared up their revival activities as prospects of the government implementing the new administrative arrangement for the hills by March 27 seem dim.
The deadline was set by Morcha chief Bimal Gurung but with the territory issue yet to be sorted out, chances of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) coming into force by next month is almost impossible.
Under the circumstances, the GNLF has decided to hold a public meeting in Mirik on February 26 to garner support for the Sixth Schedule status for the hills. Party president Subash Ghisingh will be present at the meeting — to be his first public address after the Assembly elections. He had attended a public meeting before the elections.
The Gorkhaland Task Force, a conglomerate of five outfits opposed to the Morcha, has revved up a campaign for statehood. The GTF members — the ABGL, CPRM, GNLF(C), Gorkhaland Rashtriya Nirman Morcha and the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang — are currently meeting MPs and MLAs in the Northeast, seeking support for the formation of a separate state, an activity that has been bothering Morcha chief Bimal Gurung.
He had come down heavily on the GTF yesterday in Kalimpong, accusing its members of being in touch with the Maoists. He also said his rivals were opposing the GTA only for the sake of opposing it.
Arjun Rai, the convener of the GNLF’s Mirik unit, today said: “We have decided to hold a public meeting in Mirik on February 26 and our party president Subash Ghisingh is expected to be present. He will announce the party’s future course of action in support of the implementation of the Sixth Schedule status in the hills.”
Ghisingh, who had been hounded out of the hills by the Morcha in 2008, returned on April 8, 2011. The very next day, he headed for Mirik to attend an election meeting — the only public meeting he had addressed — to drum up support for the three party candidates.
Following clashes between Morcha and GNLF supporters at Sonada after the election results were announced, Ghisingh had quietly slipped out of the hills under the cover of darkness on May 16, 2011.
A section of GNLF supporters, however, feels that Ghisingh who now stays in Jalpaiguri may come to reside permanently in the hills when he comes up to address the public meeting.
On the other hand, in the GTF camp, a team met P.A. Sangma, the NCP leader and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha at his residence at Tura in Meghalaya yesterday.
Chhatrey Subba, the chief of the Gorkha Liberation Organisation, also appears to have plans to revive his political activities after nearly 10 years. Gurung has been wary of the 71-year-old Gorkha leader, who is known to be against any form of autonomy, even the GTA, and is a staunch supporter of Gorkhaland.
The Morcha has threatened to re-launch the agitation for statehood if the government fails to implement the GTA by March 27.
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said his party was not worried about the GNLF demand for the Sixth Schedule status for the hills.
He said governor M.K. Narayanan has assured the party of all possible help for the early implementation of the GTA. “The governor has promised to speak to the President during their scheduled meeting on February 15,” said Giri, who met Narayanan at the Darjeeling Raj Bhavan this evening. The GTA Bill is awaiting the President’s approval.
Sibchu meeting
The Morcha will hold a prayer meeting at Sibchu tomorrow after a 12-km run from Nagrakata, reports our Jalpaiguri correspondent. Party members will pay tribute to Morcha supporters “who laid down their lives” for Gorkhaland at the meeting.
The rebel faction of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad led by John Barla will also participate in the meeting.
The Jalpaiguri district administration has granted permission to the Morcha to hold the run. But police are unaware of the public meeting to be addressed by Gurung.
“The police will be deployed along NH31 from Chulsa to Nagrakata and we have granted them permission for the run. But we have no information about the public meeting. We have appealed to everyone to maintain peace,” said Arindam Sarkar, the subdivisional police officer of Malbazar.
Rivals challenge Gurung on Maoist slur  -‘Prove camp claim or withdraw remarks’
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, Kalimpong, Feb. 7: The Opposition parties have challenged Bimal Gurung to provide concrete evidence on the existence of underground training camps in the hills or withdraw statements to that effect as “baseless” allegations could vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the region.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president had said here yesterday that his political opponents were conducting underground training camps and were hobnobbing with Maoists in Kalimpong.
He hinted that the camps were run by the Gorkhaland Task Force, an anti-Morcha forum comprising the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang, ABGL, CPRM, GNLF (C) and the Gorkha Rashtriya Nirman Morcha.
Munish Tamang, the GTF secretary, said in a press release that the “unfounded” statement of the Morcha only proved that its politics was based on lies and deceptions.
“The Gorkhas have seen through the doublespeak of the Morcha that still talks about the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) as well as Gorkhaland in the same breath. The statement also shows that the party is now bereft of ideas and meaningful issues and is thus trying to divert public attention from its visible failures on all fronts.”
“The GTF challenges Shri Bimal Gurung to come out with concrete evidence to back his claims about the GTF receiving illegal underground training or else withdraw his statement and desist from making statements that vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the hills,” he said.
The GTF said Gurung’s claim about the training camps is “all the more laughable” as everybody knows “which party or organisation is capable of sparking violence” in the hills.
According to Tamang, the GTF is an alliance of well-known political and social organisations as well as prominent individuals who are committed to the creation of Gorkhaland.
“All organisations that are part of the Task Force have a long, unblemished track record of dedicated service to the Gorkha society. No partner in the GTF is on any record for involvement in random violence,” he said.
The GTF pooh-poohed Gurung’s plea that he was free to lead the movement for a separate state as it was not he but Morcha secretary Roshan Giri who had signed the GTA agreement.
“The Morcha secretary signed the agreement on behalf of the party and with the full consent of the president. If indeed, as the statement of the party president suggests, the secretary signed against the wishes of the party and the president, then the GJM should expel Roshan Giri from the party, make an unequivocal statement for Gorkhaland and join the GTF to unitedly fight for the creation of a separate state for India’s Gorkhas,” reads the GTF statement.
Former GNLF leader Chhatrey Subba, who was at the receiving end of Gurung’s verbal attack yesterday, also attacked the Morcha chief.
Subba accused Gurung of settling for the GTA by hoodwinking the people. “So many people have died; didn’t they all die for Gorkhaland? Why can’t he (Gurung) accept Gorkhaland when he enjoys so much support,” he said.
Subba said he was willing to lead the agitation for Gorkhaland if the people wanted him to. “If I get the support, I will definitely lead the Gorkhaland agitation. If I don’t get the support, I can’t do anything,” he said, adding that he was open to the idea of heading the movement under the banner of the Gorkhaland Liberation Organisation (GLO) or any other forum acceptable to the people.
The GLO was formed by Subba after he fell out with GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.
20 lakh emails for tour revival mission - Sikkim invites honeymooners and corporate houses

A mountain biker in Yumthang in North Sikkim. File picture

BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, Feb. 7: Travel agents in Sikkim have sent over 20 lakh email invitations to the snow festival to newly wed couples, corporate offices and tour operators across India and Southeast Asia.
The publicity blitzkrieg started on January 5 and the target is around 1 crore emails.
The Sikkim Snow and Cultural Festival will be held from February 14 to 29 as part of a mission to regain the state’s image as a favoured tourist destination. Tourism in Sikkim suffered a jolt after the earthquake on September 18.
“Eight computer operators are sending around 70,000 e-brochures of the snow festival daily from our office. We are targeting honeymooners, the corporate sector, tour operators and associations of different professions to send the emails,” said Sonam Norgay Lachungpa, the general secretary of the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim (TAAS).
The festival will be organised by the association with the full backing of the Sikkim government. Snow line tours in areas above 8,000ft such as Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar Lake (all in north Sikkim), and Chhangu lake and Nathu-la (in East district) will be conducted as part of the fest.
Also on offer are bird and butterfly watching excursions to Dzongu in North Sikkim, Maintam wildlife sanctuary in South district and Pelling in West.
Lachungpa said the email had a link to the home page of sikkimsnowfest.com that detailed every activity of the event.
“We have tied up with a matrimonial website to get the email addresses of newly married couples and are sending them links to our website. The response is very encouraging as we are getting lots of enquires and feedback from potential tourists. Some of our members have already received bookings for the festival,” said Lachungpa.
The president of the association, Lukendra Rasaily, said the organisers wanted to send 1 crore emails by the time the festival kicked off.
Adventure sports like mountain biking, trekking, camping, paragliding and kayaking have also been planned across the state as part of the festival. Entertainment programmes like culture shows, food festivals, yak rides and fashion shows have been lined up to woo all kinds of tourists to the state.
The association is using an email extractor software to get the email addresses of the targeted sector in India and Southeast Asia. “Once the addresses are extracted, our computer operators start sending the emails to all. Our website is getting thousand hits every day,” said TAAS software consultant Jayant Das.
Apart from the email blitzkrieg, the association will also send text messages to about 1 lakh tour agents across the country to promote the festival. “Such kind of mass tourism promotional activity through emails and text messages is being conducted for the first time in the country. Everything is possible because of the teamwork of the travel agents and the support we are getting from the Sikkim government,” said the association president.