कालेबुंगमा दश पन्द्रजना माओवादी पसेर भुमिगत प्रशिक्षण दिईरहेको बिमलको दाबी- जीटीएको सत्तामा आर बी राई अथवा छत्र सुब्बा बस्न चाहे राखिदिनेछौ – बिमल गुरुंग
कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मोर्चा प्रमुखले जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा माथि धेरै बर्सिए । तिनी आफ्नो सम्बोधनको क्रममा जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्र सुब्बा सित बर्सिन्दै क्रामाकपा पार्टीले नचायो भन्दैमा धेर नाँच्नु नहुने सुझाव दिए। रेलीमा भएको भेट अचानक् भएको दाबी गर्दै उक्त भेटघाटबारे राजनैतिक दलहरुले राजनीति शुरु गरेको आरोप लगाए। रेलीमा भएको भेटमा दाजु भाइको सम्बन्धमा कुराकानी गरेको बताउदै उक्त भेट अवधि सुब्बाले आन्दोलन अघि बढाउन आफुलाई आइरहेको प्रस्ताव बताएको गुरुङले दाबी गरे।
डी० के० वाइबा,कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 6 फरवरी: कालेबुंगमा १५ - २० जना माओवादीहरु पसेका छन् गोर्खाल्याण्ड टास्क फोर्सले यो अण्डर ग्राउण्ड ट्रेनिंग दिदैछ। यो कालेबुंगको निम्ति राम्रो संकेत होइन यसबारे खुपिया विभागका मानिसहरुले ध्यान दिनपर्छ|राज्यका मुख्य मन्त्रीलाई यस विषयमा कुराकानी गर्नेछु । हाम्रा युवाहरुले विभिन्न जंगलहरुमा ट्रेनिंग भइरहेको कुरालाई ध्यान पूर्वक खोजी गर्नुपर्छ। हामी हिंसामा विश्वाश गर्दैनौ तर यहाँ कसले माओवादीहरु भित्राएर हिंसा गर्न खोज्दैछ यो सहन गरिने छैन - उक्त कुरा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरुगले भनेका हुन् ।
गोजमुमोको भातृ संगठन भू० पु० सैनिकमोर्चाको चौथो स्थपना दिवस समारोहमा यहाँको टाउन हलमा मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमलगुरुङले कालेबुंगमा माओवादी भित्रिएको दाबी गरे । यस अवसरमा बोल्दैगुरुङले पहाडका विपक्षी राजनैतिक दल क्रामाकपा माकपा गोर्खाल्याण्ड टास्क फोर्स तथा जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा माथि आक्रमक शैलीमा आलोचना गरे । तिनले जीटीए गठन गर्नमा सरकारले दिनोदीन बिलम्ब गरिरहेको सन्दर्भमा तिखो प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त गर्दै आगमी २७ मार्च सम्म गठन हुनपर्ने नत्र १७ अप्रेल देखि पुन: छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने कुरा दोहोराए ।
गोजमुमोको भातृ संगठन भू० पु० सैनिकमोर्चाको चौथो स्थपना दिवस समारोहमा यहाँको टाउन हलमा मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमलगुरुङले कालेबुंगमा माओवादी भित्रिएको दाबी गरे । यस अवसरमा बोल्दैगुरुङले पहाडका विपक्षी राजनैतिक दल क्रामाकपा माकपा गोर्खाल्याण्ड टास्क फोर्स तथा जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा माथि आक्रमक शैलीमा आलोचना गरे । तिनले जीटीए गठन गर्नमा सरकारले दिनोदीन बिलम्ब गरिरहेको सन्दर्भमा तिखो प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त गर्दै आगमी २७ मार्च सम्म गठन हुनपर्ने नत्र १७ अप्रेल देखि पुन: छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने कुरा दोहोराए ।
यसै अवधि तिनले आफुहरुले जीटीएको विरोध नगरेको तर सरकारले ६ महिना भित्रमा गठन गर्नेछु भनेर सम्झौता लेखेकै कुरालाई उल्लंघन गर्दा हाम्रो असन्तुष्टि रहेको गुरुङले भने । तिनले सरकारले ६ महिनाको समयअवधिमा जीटीए गठन नगरेको कारण मोर्चाको तर्फबाट २ महिनाको थप समय दिएको बताउदै उक्त समयमा पनि गठन नगरेको खण्डमा मोर्चाले जीटीए त्यागेर पुन:आन्दोलनमा उत्रिने चेतवानी दिए । यस आन्दोलनका निम्ति मोर्चाको सम्पूर्ण भातृ संगठनहरुलाई तयार बस्नुपर्ने तिनले निर्देश दिएका छन।
छत्रे सुब्बाको फयाल्टर् टोपी राम्रो छ तर बुद्दी जिरो छ
छत्रे सुब्बाको फयाल्टर् टोपी राम्रो छ तर बुद्दी जिरो छ
कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मोर्चा प्रमुखले जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा माथि धेरै बर्सिए । तिनी आफ्नो सम्बोधनको क्रममा जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्र सुब्बा सित बर्सिन्दै क्रामाकपा पार्टीले नचायो भन्दैमा धेर नाँच्नु नहुने सुझाव दिए। रेलीमा भएको भेट अचानक् भएको दाबी गर्दै उक्त भेटघाटबारे राजनैतिक दलहरुले राजनीति शुरु गरेको आरोप लगाए। रेलीमा भएको भेटमा दाजु भाइको सम्बन्धमा कुराकानी गरेको बताउदै उक्त भेट अवधि सुब्बाले आन्दोलन अघि बढाउन आफुलाई आइरहेको प्रस्ताव बताएको गुरुङले दाबी गरे।तिनले भने – कार्यक्रममा आएका मान्छेसित भेट गरिदिने रिक्वेस्ट् आउँदा मैले छत्र दाजुलाई भेटेको हूँ। यसै बेला बात गर्दा तिनले मलाई भाईहरुले आन्दोलन गरुँ भन्दै भेट गर्न आउँदैछ भनेका थिए अनि मैले आन्दोलन गर्छौ भने गर्नुहोस भन्दा भाईले सपोर्ट गर्नुपर्छ भने। यदि आँट छ भने मैले जस्तो एक्लै आन्दोलन गर्नुपर्छ तर, आँट छैन भने बिमल गुरुंग सित भेट गरे भन्दै बिन सित्थैको कुराहरु गर्नु हुँदैन छत्र दाजुले । यसै अवधी सुब्बाले आफूलाई जेलबाट बाहीर निकाल्नमा क्रामाकपाले सहयोग गरेको तिनलाई बताएको भन्दै सुब्बाको मुक्तिको निम्ति क्रामाकपाले होइन तर आफूले मुख्य मन्त्रीलाई व्यक्तिगत अनुरोध गरेर मात्र जेलबाट छुटाएको दाबी गरे। सुब्बाको मुद्दा घिसिंग हम्लाकाण्डको मात्र सकिएको बताउदै तिनकटरेको मुद्दामा तिनलाई सरकारले जेलमा नै राख्न सक्ने थियो तर आफूले अनुरोधगर्दा छोडिएको गुरुङले थप दाबी गरे ।
यसै अवसरमा तिनले छत्रे सुब्बाको बन्चरोको प्रतिक भएको फ्याल्टर टोपी सुन्दर रहेको अनि सबैले उक्त टोपी मन पराउनु तर तिनको टाउकोमा भएको बुद्दी चाहिँ जिरो रहेको बिमल गुरुङले भने तिनको पछि कोही लाग्न नहुने आह्वान गर्दै सुब्बाले पहिले कै जस्तो मान्छे मारेर अरुलाई फसाउने गुरुङले बताए । हाल क्रामाकपाले तिनलाई नचाउने काम गरेको आरोप लगाउदै सुब्बा यस्ता नेताहरुसित होशियार बस्नुपर्ने पनि तिनले बताए ।
यसै क्रममा यदि गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा अघि बढाउन आन्दोलन नै गर्ने सुब्बाको चहाना नै छ भने आफूसित आउ भन्दै मोर्चाको अहिंसात्मक नीतिमा बाच्नु पर्ने तिनले सुझाउ दिए। मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरुङले यदी भविष्यमा जीटीए गठन भए आफू सत्तामा नबस्ने दाबी गर्दै क्रामाकपा अध्यक्ष आर बी राई अथवा जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्र सुब्बा सत्तामा बस्न चाहे मोर्चाले राखिदिने पनि तिनले घोषणा गरे । तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन कसैको पेवा नरहेको स्पष्ट जनताको विश्वाश हुनपर्ने अनि जनताको विश्वाश नपाएकाहरु व्यर्थैको राजनैतिक पार्टीमा लागेर जनतालाई विश्वासघात नगर्नु भनी सुझाउ दिए। विगत दिनमा सुवास घिसिंगले कालेबुंगमा छत्र सुब्बा सिके प्रधान र एन० टी० मोक्तानलाई अस्पतालमा लडाएर जनता मार्ने कार्य गरेको बताउदै जनता सचेत बस्नुपर्ने सुझाउ दिए। अरुको उक्साईमा लागेर सुब्बा जथाभावी कुद्ने कार्य नगर्नु भन्दै आफू गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा प्रति इमान्दारी रहेको अनि यदी आफूले मुद्दा बेचेको प्रमाणित गरे आफ्नो घांटी रेटीदिने भनि विपक्षी राजनैतिक दलका नेताहरुलाई बिमल गुरुङले चुनौती दिए।
तिनले युवा मोर्चा कार्यकर्ताहरुलाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनको निम्ति सतर्क बस्नुपर्ने आह्वान गर्दै यहाँ टास्क फोर्सले भूमिगत प्रशिक्षण दिने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए। अहिले टास्क फोर्सले व्यर्थैमा जनता अल्मलाउने कार्य गरेको बताउदै मुद्दाको बहानामा जनतालाई भुलाउने कार्य गरिरहेको थप बताए। यसै अवधि गुरुङले आगमी १३ फरवरी देखि जीटीए गठनको दाबीमा सरकारलाई दबाउ दिन प्रत्येक आइतबार जुलुस निकाल्ने घोषणा पनि गरे । यहाँको टाउन हलमा आयोजित भू० पू० सैनिक मोर्चाको चौथो स्थापना दिवसको अवसरमा कालेबुंगका विधायक डा० हर्क बहादुर छेत्री, नगर अध्यक्ष एल० बी० परियार, गोजमुमो उपाध्यक्ष कल्याण देवान, भू० पू० सैनिक मोर्चा अध्यक्ष रमेश आले आदिले पनि सम्बोधन गरे।
कार्यक्रममा गत वर्ष सिब्सु हत्याकाण्डमा शहीद बनेका परिवारहरुलाई मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरुङले संवर्द्धनापनि जनाईयो |
Beware of Maoists and Chhatrey brain: Gurung
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Feb. 6: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today alleged that his political opponents were conducting underground training camps and were hobnobbing with Maoists. He also said though GNLF rebel leader Chhatrey Subba’s hats were likeable, his “brain” was not.
Gurung said the message on Maoist entry in Kalimpong would be sent to the chief minister and referred to the “task force on Gorkhaland”.
“What is the purpose of the task force? Underground training camps have been set up place in Kalimpong and I am sending this message to the chief minister. Some 15-20 Maoists have entered Kalimpong,” he said.
Five hill outfits — the ABGL, the CPRM, GNLF (C), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and the Gorkha Rashtriya Nirman Morcha — have come together to form a task force on Gorkhaland, which they hope to attain.
Gurung asked party supporters to be on the look out for training camps in the forests of Lava and adjoining areas. “No one should indulge in violence, bloodshed and dictatorship. We will crush them,” he told the audience attending the fourth anniversary of the foundation of the Bharatiya Bhutpurva Sainik and Ardha-Sainik Morcha at the Town Hall here.
Gurung accused his rivals of opposing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration for the sake of opposing it. He particularly targeted the 71-year-old Subba, who had spent more than a decade in jail for allegedly masterminding an assassination bid on GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.
“The opposition says GTA is not good, but can’t explain why…I didn’t want to see Chhatrey Subba, but met him on the request of my workers. I told him not to trust the CPRM,” he said.
The meeting between Gurung and Subba had set tongues wagging in the hills. Subba had said after his release from jail last year that he was against any sort of autonomy, even the GTA, because he was a supporter of Gorkhaland. It was for this reason that Subba fell out with Ghisingh when the GNLF chief accepted the DGHC. Subba is said to have a decent following in the hills and is seen as someone who could trouble the Morcha if he wants to.
Gurung said Subba had credited the CPRM with facilitating his release from the prison. “But we had taken up the matter of his release with the government. Mamata Banerjee and the (state) chief secretary are our proofs. He was released on our request,” he said.
Admitting that Subba had sought his help to renew the Gorkhaland agitation, Gurung warned the people against trusting leaders like him. “You can like his hat. He wears a nice one. But don’t like his brain. He has nothing in his head,” he said. “He is welcome to join me. I will carry him along but it will be a democratic agitation.”
Subba refused comment. But CPRM secretary J.B. Rai said: “This is an attempt to brand pro-Gorkhaland forces as anti-nationals and criminals. But we are confident the people will not believe their lies.”
The Morcha president said the Gorkhaland agitation would be renewed if the GTA was not implemented by March 27.
Taking a dig at the government for the first time since the GTA deal was signed on July 18, Gurung threatened to back out from the pact if the situation doesn't improve before March 27.
"The state government must not test our patience anymore," said Gurung, adding that the government must keep its promise instead of issuing statements to the media.
"Mamata Banerjee must remember that we have kept our promise and waited patiently. But it is the government that has been delaying the formation of the GTA. The government is dishonouring the agreement that I will be forced to burn after March 27," threatened the GJM president while addressing a meeting.
A committee is surveying the viability of including additional areas in the GTA as demanded by the GJM. Though the six-month deadline has expired , the committee has sought 42 more days' time to submit its report.
GJM reiterates March 27 deadline for GTA
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, February 01, 2012: Reiterating the March 27 deadline, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Wednesday proclaimed that if the government fails to form the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) within the above date, the GJM would launch an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland. West Bengal Governor MK
Narayanan will be arriving in Darjeeling on February 6.
A GJM Central committee meeting on Wednesday resolved that the GJM would be resurrecting the Gorkhaland agitation if the Government fails to meet the March 27, 2012, deadline. “We will hold a massive rally in Sukna near Siliguri on April 17 from where we will announce the political programmes for Gorkhaland” stated Jyoti Rai, GJM Central Committee member.
The GJM has also decided to observe February 8 as “Black Day” throughout the Hills. On this day in 2011, three GJM supporters had died in police firing at Sibchu bordering Dooars while agitating. West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan will be in Darjeeling on February 6, 7 and 8th. In Darjeeling the Governor is scheduled to attend a Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) programme on 7th and visit Chongtong Tea Garden on the February 8. On the same day he will be leaving for the plains.
Political observers however feel that the Governor’s sudden winter visit to the Darjeeling Hills could be in connection with the GTA. In Darjeeling he would definitely study the political environment and hold parleys with the GJM which could revolve around the GTA issue, opined political observers.
Since October 2007, the Darjeeling Hills have been a witness to a separate state agitation led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM.) Several rounds of tripartite talks between the Centre, State and the GJM finally paved way for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 18, 2011, between the Centre, State and the GJM for the formation of an autonomous body named the GTA.
The MOA led to the passing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill 2011 in the West Bengal Assembly on September 2, 2011. However with the territory issue (area to be incorporated in the GTA) remaining a bone of contention, the GTA has not seen the light of day yet.
Along with the three hill subdivision of the Darjeeling district namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, the GJM has demanded the inclusion of 199 “Gorkha dominated” mouzas of Terai and another 199 mouzas of Dooars of the Jalpaiguri district in the GTA.
A joint committee has been formed constituting of members representing the Union, State and the GJM to look into the territory issue. After the expiry of the 6 month term of the committee on January 27, 2012, the Government has further extended the term by another 6 months.
कार्यक्रममा गत वर्ष सिब्सु हत्याकाण्डमा शहीद बनेका परिवारहरुलाई मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरुङले संवर्द्धनापनि जनाईयो |
Beware of Maoists and Chhatrey brain: Gurung
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| Gurung in Kalimpong on Monday. (CF Lepcha) |
Gurung said the message on Maoist entry in Kalimpong would be sent to the chief minister and referred to the “task force on Gorkhaland”.
“What is the purpose of the task force? Underground training camps have been set up place in Kalimpong and I am sending this message to the chief minister. Some 15-20 Maoists have entered Kalimpong,” he said.
Five hill outfits — the ABGL, the CPRM, GNLF (C), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and the Gorkha Rashtriya Nirman Morcha — have come together to form a task force on Gorkhaland, which they hope to attain.
Gurung asked party supporters to be on the look out for training camps in the forests of Lava and adjoining areas. “No one should indulge in violence, bloodshed and dictatorship. We will crush them,” he told the audience attending the fourth anniversary of the foundation of the Bharatiya Bhutpurva Sainik and Ardha-Sainik Morcha at the Town Hall here.
Gurung accused his rivals of opposing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration for the sake of opposing it. He particularly targeted the 71-year-old Subba, who had spent more than a decade in jail for allegedly masterminding an assassination bid on GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.
“The opposition says GTA is not good, but can’t explain why…I didn’t want to see Chhatrey Subba, but met him on the request of my workers. I told him not to trust the CPRM,” he said.
The meeting between Gurung and Subba had set tongues wagging in the hills. Subba had said after his release from jail last year that he was against any sort of autonomy, even the GTA, because he was a supporter of Gorkhaland. It was for this reason that Subba fell out with Ghisingh when the GNLF chief accepted the DGHC. Subba is said to have a decent following in the hills and is seen as someone who could trouble the Morcha if he wants to.
Gurung said Subba had credited the CPRM with facilitating his release from the prison. “But we had taken up the matter of his release with the government. Mamata Banerjee and the (state) chief secretary are our proofs. He was released on our request,” he said.
Admitting that Subba had sought his help to renew the Gorkhaland agitation, Gurung warned the people against trusting leaders like him. “You can like his hat. He wears a nice one. But don’t like his brain. He has nothing in his head,” he said. “He is welcome to join me. I will carry him along but it will be a democratic agitation.”
Subba refused comment. But CPRM secretary J.B. Rai said: “This is an attempt to brand pro-Gorkhaland forces as anti-nationals and criminals. But we are confident the people will not believe their lies.”
The Morcha president said the Gorkhaland agitation would be renewed if the GTA was not implemented by March 27.
GJM threatens to pull out of GTA accord
TNN | Feb 6, 2012, DARJEELING: GJM chief Bimal Gurung on Sunday openly attacked the Mamata Banerjee government for its "inordinate delay" in forming the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).Taking a dig at the government for the first time since the GTA deal was signed on July 18, Gurung threatened to back out from the pact if the situation doesn't improve before March 27.
"The state government must not test our patience anymore," said Gurung, adding that the government must keep its promise instead of issuing statements to the media.
"Mamata Banerjee must remember that we have kept our promise and waited patiently. But it is the government that has been delaying the formation of the GTA. The government is dishonouring the agreement that I will be forced to burn after March 27," threatened the GJM president while addressing a meeting.
A committee is surveying the viability of including additional areas in the GTA as demanded by the GJM. Though the six-month deadline has expired , the committee has sought 42 more days' time to submit its report.
GJM reiterates March 27 deadline for GTA
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, February 01, 2012: Reiterating the March 27 deadline, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Wednesday proclaimed that if the government fails to form the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) within the above date, the GJM would launch an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland. West Bengal Governor MK
Narayanan will be arriving in Darjeeling on February 6.
A GJM Central committee meeting on Wednesday resolved that the GJM would be resurrecting the Gorkhaland agitation if the Government fails to meet the March 27, 2012, deadline. “We will hold a massive rally in Sukna near Siliguri on April 17 from where we will announce the political programmes for Gorkhaland” stated Jyoti Rai, GJM Central Committee member.
The GJM has also decided to observe February 8 as “Black Day” throughout the Hills. On this day in 2011, three GJM supporters had died in police firing at Sibchu bordering Dooars while agitating. West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan will be in Darjeeling on February 6, 7 and 8th. In Darjeeling the Governor is scheduled to attend a Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) programme on 7th and visit Chongtong Tea Garden on the February 8. On the same day he will be leaving for the plains.
Political observers however feel that the Governor’s sudden winter visit to the Darjeeling Hills could be in connection with the GTA. In Darjeeling he would definitely study the political environment and hold parleys with the GJM which could revolve around the GTA issue, opined political observers.
Since October 2007, the Darjeeling Hills have been a witness to a separate state agitation led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM.) Several rounds of tripartite talks between the Centre, State and the GJM finally paved way for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 18, 2011, between the Centre, State and the GJM for the formation of an autonomous body named the GTA.
The MOA led to the passing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill 2011 in the West Bengal Assembly on September 2, 2011. However with the territory issue (area to be incorporated in the GTA) remaining a bone of contention, the GTA has not seen the light of day yet.
Along with the three hill subdivision of the Darjeeling district namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, the GJM has demanded the inclusion of 199 “Gorkha dominated” mouzas of Terai and another 199 mouzas of Dooars of the Jalpaiguri district in the GTA.
A joint committee has been formed constituting of members representing the Union, State and the GJM to look into the territory issue. After the expiry of the 6 month term of the committee on January 27, 2012, the Government has further extended the term by another 6 months.
GORKHALAND TASK FORCE IS NOT ENGAGED IN UNDERGROUND MILITARY TRAINING, CHALLENGES GJM CHIEF TO PROVE HIS STATEMENT.
PR, KalimNews, February 6, 2012: The Gorkhaland Task Force vehemently refutes and strongly condemns the statement of the GJM president that the Gorkhaland Task Force is engaged in underground military training to create violence in the hills and to target the GJM leadership.
At the outset, the Gorkhaland Task Force is an alliance of well-known political and social organisations as well as prominent individuals who are committed to the creation of Gorkhaland. It includes the oldest political party of the hills as well as the district units of national parties such as the Congress and the BJP. 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. The said statement of Shri Bimal Gurung is all the more laughable since most concerned quarters, including government authorities, are aware which party or organization is capable of sparking violence in the hills. In fact his naming of CPRM General Secretary RB Rai and GTF Coordinator R Moktan in his statement is, in itself, implicit of a political threat. The unfounded statement of the GJM only proves that the politics of the GJM party is based on lies and deceptions.
The Gorkhas have seen through the doublespeak of GJM that still talks about the GTA 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 Gorkhaland Task Force 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.
The GTF also thinks that it is ridiculous of the GJM president to plead that it was not he but the general secretary who signed the GTA Agreement and was, therefore, free to lead the movement for a separate state. The GJM General 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 General Secretary signed against the wishes of the party and the president, then the GJM should expel Shri Roshan Giri from the party, make an unequivocal statement for Gorkhaland and join the Gorkhaland Task Force to unitedly fight for the creation of a separate state for India’s Gorkhas.
Morcha wants Barla to prove adivasi support
AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Feb. 6: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said that tribal leader John Barla had to prove that he still enjoyed the support of the adivasis for the inclusion of the Terai and the Dooars in the administrative arrangement for the hills.
Otherwise, the hill outfit said, it would revive the demand to bring the Gorkha-populated areas in the plains under the hill set-up.
The virtual challenge to the ousted leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad came in the wake of the official leadership of the tribal outfit deciding to re-launch the movement against the Morcha’s claim to the Dooars and the Terai.
Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the spokesperson for the Morcha and the Kalimpong MLA, today said his party would not interfere in the inner tussle of the Parishad.
“The factionalism in the Parishad is entirely an internal issue of that organisation. The Morcha hasn’t and won’t ever intervene. We have confidence in John Barla and his supporters that even though they faced action from the leadership, they continue to enjoy the support of the majority of the tribal people in the Terai and the Dooars,” said Chhetri.
Barla was the president of the Dooars-Terai regional committee of the Parishad when he entered into a deal with the Morcha to bring the entire region under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. He was later expelled from the outfit for tying up with the Morcha without the consent of the state committee.
Chhetri said it was imperative that Barla showed the Morcha that he wielded influence among the adivasis as the Parishad had announced a cycle rally to protest the formation of the Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA).
“Now that the official faction of the Parishad has lined up a movement, the onus is on Barla to prove that he has the backing of the tribal populace for the GATA. If we find that Barla is no longer interested in the issue, we will revive our old demand of including the Gorkha dominated mouzas in the Terai and the Dooars in the GTA.”
Barla, however, said there was no reason for the Morcha to worry.
“The so-called official lobby of the Parishad comprises leaders who lack mass support. That is why they have invited other organisations to take out a cycle rally against the GATA. We are ready to prove our support base at any time,” said Barla.
Governor
Governor M.K. Narayanan said in Siliguri today that the government was committed to forming the GTA and was doing everything from its end.
Morcha wants Barla to prove adivasi support
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| Governor MK Narayanan in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo |
Otherwise, the hill outfit said, it would revive the demand to bring the Gorkha-populated areas in the plains under the hill set-up.
The virtual challenge to the ousted leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad came in the wake of the official leadership of the tribal outfit deciding to re-launch the movement against the Morcha’s claim to the Dooars and the Terai.
Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the spokesperson for the Morcha and the Kalimpong MLA, today said his party would not interfere in the inner tussle of the Parishad.
“The factionalism in the Parishad is entirely an internal issue of that organisation. The Morcha hasn’t and won’t ever intervene. We have confidence in John Barla and his supporters that even though they faced action from the leadership, they continue to enjoy the support of the majority of the tribal people in the Terai and the Dooars,” said Chhetri.Barla was the president of the Dooars-Terai regional committee of the Parishad when he entered into a deal with the Morcha to bring the entire region under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. He was later expelled from the outfit for tying up with the Morcha without the consent of the state committee.
Chhetri said it was imperative that Barla showed the Morcha that he wielded influence among the adivasis as the Parishad had announced a cycle rally to protest the formation of the Gorkhaland Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA).
“Now that the official faction of the Parishad has lined up a movement, the onus is on Barla to prove that he has the backing of the tribal populace for the GATA. If we find that Barla is no longer interested in the issue, we will revive our old demand of including the Gorkha dominated mouzas in the Terai and the Dooars in the GTA.”
Barla, however, said there was no reason for the Morcha to worry.
“The so-called official lobby of the Parishad comprises leaders who lack mass support. That is why they have invited other organisations to take out a cycle rally against the GATA. We are ready to prove our support base at any time,” said Barla.
Governor
Governor M.K. Narayanan said in Siliguri today that the government was committed to forming the GTA and was doing everything from its end.
Literary Meet held at Sikkim House - Sikkim is forefront in preserving Nepali literature: Lil Bahadur Chhetri
KalimNews: “Sikkim has played a major role in preserving and promoting Indian Nepali literature, language and culture. The initiative to install the full sized statue of first Nepali poet Bhanubhata Acharya was contemplated by Sikkim, whereas the major step in order to include Nepali language in 8th scheduled of Indian constitution was successfully taken by Sikkim. Not only that, Sikkim hosted a mega event of honoring the great talents from Gorkha community of national and international repute for the first time.”
An octogenarian literary personality and the popular novelist of famous Nepali novel ‘Bassain’, Shri Lil Bahadur Chhetri expressed while speaking as the chief Guest here at Sikkim House, Panjabari in a literary meet called, Sahitya kala Sangam organized by Himgiri Prakashan, Gantok, Sikkim.
Shree Chhetri further said that in the field of promotion of Nepali language and literature, the Indian Nepali people always look forward to Sikkim. The present Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling is a poet and a literary person who have taken incomparable initiative in the field of literature. He recalled the mega event of Sikkim Samman Sammilan where he was also honoured and lauded the efforts. He further said that while organizing such a function in near future, the talents of Assam also have to be genuinely taken into account. He hoped that by organizing such a literary function by Himgiri Prakashan, Gangtok, the literary persons of the regions will come into contact frequently and exchange their works and unite in the promotion of literature in national level too.
While addressing the meet, Dr. Khagendra Chamlagai appreciated organizing the literary function and stressed the need of publication of bibliography of Indian Nepali litterateurs and hoped that Sikkim can take such a genuine work.
While presiding over the function, the literary person and journalist Bijay Bantawa in his speech expressed that literature has no boundary and limitation and it works to link the people immensely. The main objective behind organizing such a literary meet is to provide a forum to the writers and literary persons of North East from Nepali or Gorkha community and exchange their creative works and views on literary pursuits. He also stressed the need of translation of Nepali books in different language including Assamese and English.
The literary meet was also addressed by Dr. Kamal Chhetri, poetess, Laxmi Subedi, Secretary of Panjabari branch of Nepali Sahitya Parishad Dr. Deven Sapkota, Social worker and advocate Shri Kishore Upadhyaya, Shri Nanda Kirati Dewan and Shri Kamal Pradhan. In the self composed poetry recital session, poet Shri Rohit Gautam, Dr. Kamal Chhetri, Poetess Laxmi Subedi, Poetess Dr. Induprava Devi, Poetess Niru Parajuli presented their poems.
In the musical presentation session, Shri Kamal Pradhan, Shri Rabi Thapa and Shri Uttam Chhetri presented Nepali songs while Miss Suman Rai presented a dance.
In the meet, Shri Chintamani Sharma, General Secretary of Nepali sahitya Parishad, the Gorkha youths of Manipur Shri Ramesh Baskota, Shri Deepak Chhetri and a large number of Gorkha youth of Assam were present. The students from Sikkim studying medical science and various other disciplines were also present who interacted and shared their experiences in the meet. Chief Administrator of Gorkha Youth of Guwahati (GYG) facebook group Ram Thapa also attended the event along with GYG members.
Earlier, Miss Ruth Rai on behalf of the organizer of the meet welcomed the guest. The organizers offered Sikkimese khadas to the guest while welcoming them in the meet.
The function was conducted by Guwahati based correspondent of Himgiri and Snowline and promising Gorkha youth leader of Assam Shri Nanda Kirati Dewan and youth activist Kamal Pradhan.
Tax collection camps in the Hills
TNN | Feb 7, 2012, DARJEELING: The Hills municipality has chalked out a unique approach to coax defaulters into paying their taxes. It has decided to go to people instead of making them come to the office to make their payment.
According to municipality officials, the move surprisingly has become a hit as people have started paying their taxes. "The response has been positive from people.
We have made good collection in just a few days," said Amar Singh Rai, Darjeeling Municipality chairman.
The idea of going to the people had cropped up in the municipality's board of councillor's meeting. "Tax department staff made the suggestion in our board meeting. I felt it was a rather unique approach and so gave the green signal to the department," said Rai.
The process is simple.
The Municipality first identifies the taxpayers from a ward through their holding numbers. It then verifies whether they are defaulting. Once this is ascertained, tax department officials hold a meeting with the ward councillor.
"We identify beforehand who are the defaulters.The councillor concerned asks these defaulters to attend a camp in their ward. In the camp not only do we collect unpaid taxes but also make people aware of the need to comply with municipality rules. Besides, we also see that we listen to people's problems if they have any," said Rai.
The municipality has conducted camps in four wards already and has found several cases of defaulting. Several people have been defaulting for as long as eight to nine years. "There are small defaulters who have not paid their tax for one year. But, surprisingly there are also cases where a single person has dues to the amount of Rs 4 lakhs that has not been paid for over eight years," said Subhamaya Chatterjee, the tax department councillor, adding that at least sixty percent of people in Darjeeling default in tax payment.
According to records till the month of October last year, dues to the tune of over Rs 8 crore were pending on account of various taxes. It is the hotels that are the biggest defaulters according to the councilor. "One of the hotels in the town alone has Rs.17 lakh in tax pending which is additional to the earlier amount of Rs.22 lakhs," said Chatterjee. To ensure strictness, the Municipality has also decided to cut off water supply and sewage lines of the owner of building and houses who are found defaulting henceforth.
Funds to demolish quake-hit buildings
PTI, Gangtok, 6 February 2012: With the 19 September earthquake in Sikkim leaving many houses damaged, the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) has suggested that funds be provided to home owners for carrying out demolition on their own.
The damaged buildings that had been issued notices face a risk of collapsing as is the case with one at Singtam, about 30 km from here, four months after the quake.
Officials of the UDHD said the biggest problem was the significant monetary expense that has to be incurred by home owners to bring down their houses.
Moreover, demolition by the UDHD turned out to be a time-consuming process and the department was unable to complete demolition of the large number of houses that had been issued notices.
According to department officials, this was the reason for the proposal of providing monetary assistance to home owners.
The department, after overseeing the demolition of some structures in Gangtok, discovered that it would be impossible for it to continue with the demolition of all buildings marked to be taken down throughout the state
The department would provide any technical assistance, if necessary, the officials said.
The rate of monetary assistance is yet to be ascertained. Furthermore, the proposal is awaiting the state government’s approval.
The primary responsibility of demolishing a house rested upon the house owner, they said. Demolishing structures have chances of endangering nearby houses, as well as the public. In such cases, owners of the houses being demolished would be held responsible and liable for any damage to life or property, deputy commissioner, east, said.
Tax collection camps in the Hills
TNN | Feb 7, 2012, DARJEELING: The Hills municipality has chalked out a unique approach to coax defaulters into paying their taxes. It has decided to go to people instead of making them come to the office to make their payment.
According to municipality officials, the move surprisingly has become a hit as people have started paying their taxes. "The response has been positive from people.
We have made good collection in just a few days," said Amar Singh Rai, Darjeeling Municipality chairman.
The idea of going to the people had cropped up in the municipality's board of councillor's meeting. "Tax department staff made the suggestion in our board meeting. I felt it was a rather unique approach and so gave the green signal to the department," said Rai.
The process is simple.
The Municipality first identifies the taxpayers from a ward through their holding numbers. It then verifies whether they are defaulting. Once this is ascertained, tax department officials hold a meeting with the ward councillor.
"We identify beforehand who are the defaulters.The councillor concerned asks these defaulters to attend a camp in their ward. In the camp not only do we collect unpaid taxes but also make people aware of the need to comply with municipality rules. Besides, we also see that we listen to people's problems if they have any," said Rai.
The municipality has conducted camps in four wards already and has found several cases of defaulting. Several people have been defaulting for as long as eight to nine years. "There are small defaulters who have not paid their tax for one year. But, surprisingly there are also cases where a single person has dues to the amount of Rs 4 lakhs that has not been paid for over eight years," said Subhamaya Chatterjee, the tax department councillor, adding that at least sixty percent of people in Darjeeling default in tax payment.
According to records till the month of October last year, dues to the tune of over Rs 8 crore were pending on account of various taxes. It is the hotels that are the biggest defaulters according to the councilor. "One of the hotels in the town alone has Rs.17 lakh in tax pending which is additional to the earlier amount of Rs.22 lakhs," said Chatterjee. To ensure strictness, the Municipality has also decided to cut off water supply and sewage lines of the owner of building and houses who are found defaulting henceforth.
Funds to demolish quake-hit buildings
PTI, Gangtok, 6 February 2012: With the 19 September earthquake in Sikkim leaving many houses damaged, the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) has suggested that funds be provided to home owners for carrying out demolition on their own.
The damaged buildings that had been issued notices face a risk of collapsing as is the case with one at Singtam, about 30 km from here, four months after the quake.
Officials of the UDHD said the biggest problem was the significant monetary expense that has to be incurred by home owners to bring down their houses.
Moreover, demolition by the UDHD turned out to be a time-consuming process and the department was unable to complete demolition of the large number of houses that had been issued notices.
According to department officials, this was the reason for the proposal of providing monetary assistance to home owners.
The department, after overseeing the demolition of some structures in Gangtok, discovered that it would be impossible for it to continue with the demolition of all buildings marked to be taken down throughout the state
The department would provide any technical assistance, if necessary, the officials said.
The rate of monetary assistance is yet to be ascertained. Furthermore, the proposal is awaiting the state government’s approval.
The primary responsibility of demolishing a house rested upon the house owner, they said. Demolishing structures have chances of endangering nearby houses, as well as the public. In such cases, owners of the houses being demolished would be held responsible and liable for any damage to life or property, deputy commissioner, east, said.
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