Darjeeling MLA Resigns from GNLF

Darjeeling, Feb 29: In incidents unfurling itself today, Darjeeling MLA Pranai Rai resigned from the GNLF today. Sources say that he has sent his resignation to the Party President. There is a feeling of shock among the Gorkha National Liberation Party leaders and the cadres. While the MLA Pranai Rai himself remained unreachable sources from his party confirmed that he had indeed submitted his resignation. Pranai Rai had been advocating a referendum in the hills with respect to the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill and once the Bill had been itself shelved due to the Parliamentary Standing Committee report, he was the first leader in this party (GNLF) to demand for the resignation of his own party president, Subash Ghisingh.

Ghisingh Gives Up! Will vacate DGHC Premises in 10 days!

Kolkata: The caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Hill Council and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) Chief , Subhash Ghisingh has sought 10 days time from the West Bengal government to vacate DGHC premises. The GNLF Chief had been holding the post and the Secretariat Lal Kothi for last 20 years.”We have won,” President of GJM Bimal Gurung told reporters after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here.The Chief Minister, he said, had told him that after 10 days as sought by Ghisingh, the GNLF chief, who has ruled the Darjeeling hills with an iron hand for 20 years, would be made to step down in case he did not resign from the post.Gurung said that Ghising sought 10 days time to remove his personal belongings from the premises of the Hill Council.Speaking about the bill on the 6th Schedule to give certain special powers to the Council, Gurung said that the Parliamentary Standing Committee had referred it back to the Union Home ministry.“It has been thrown into the dustbin. It will not be passed without our approval,” Gurung, who fell out with Ghising and floated the rival GJM in November last year, said.About the indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills, he said that the GJM would take a decision on it shortly.The Chief Minister, when asked about reports that Ghising who was in Delhi had resigned, said he did not have any information on them.

Indefinite Strike and Fast Unto Death Taken Back!

Darjeeling Hills to Open Tomorrow and Hunger strikers taken to Hospital

Darjeeling, Feb 29: With the news of Subash Ghisingh offering his consent to resign and the shelving of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill, the fast unto death by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was taken back today in the evening with the hunger strikers being brought to the District Hospital. There are jubilations among the people and the hope that the indefinite strike will also be taken back tomorrow and the Hills will resume normalcy. There is an air of disapointment among the GNLF.

Possibility of recalling Fast unto Death and Indefinite strike today!

Darjeeling, Feb 29: “News of Subash Ghisingh’s resignation and the postponement of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill has fulfilled the two important demands of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The talks between our President and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has been very much successful. If they have committed to our demands then we should also do our share and recall the indefinite strike and the fast unto death possibly today or tomorrow itself. Our President Mr. Bimal Gurung will announce it after an inhouse meeting, ” said a senior leader of the Party. While there are still come reluctance on the part of the general populace and the GNLF party to accept that Subash Ghisingh as submitted his resignation and that the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill has been shelved, the rest of the population have already started celebrating.

Deteoriting condition of Hunger striker

Saroj Basnet in Kalimpong

Subash Ghisingh to meet Foreign Minister today

New Delhi, Feb 29: Amidst reports of his resignation floating over the hills and people taking to streets exploding fire-crackers a twist to the story has resulted with Delhi Sources with allegiance to Subash Ghisingh and GNLF confirming that Subash Ghisingh might as yet not tender in his resignation. Instead the beleaguered Caretaker Administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council will be meeting Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee today evening in a desperate attempt to convince him that Darjeeling Hills is marching towards chaos. Sources say that Subash Ghisingh is tired, unwell and disheartened at the turn of tide against him. Pranab Mukherjee the Foreign Minister is believed to have been the co-architect of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill. The report submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs stating that the Bill should be looked up in lieu of the protest in the Darjeeling Hills, is not binding upon the Government. It could go ahead with the Bill anyway. However, with the General Elections standing across the horizon and the opposition the UPA Government might face going against the BJP led PSC, the Government is said to be hesitant about the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill. Subash Ghisingh in a last ditch effort will try to convince the Foreign Minister that the Government should move ahead with the Bill ignoring the PSC report.

Ghisingh Resigns!

People burn Ghisingh effigy in Darjeeling

 

Darjeeling, Feb 29: Unconfirmed reports suggests that Subash Ghisingh, the caretaker administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council has sent his resignation to the Chief Minister of West Bengal. However, the news has not yet been confirmed. Writers Building sources corroborating on the GJM Central Committee Members and President Bimal Gurung’s statement suggest that Subash Ghisingh has no option left but to resign. The West Bengal Government and the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya himself has committed to the removal of Subash Ghisingh, the caretaker administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. “If Subash Ghisingh does not submit his resignation then we will remove him within ten days,” said Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Subash Ghisingh is meanwhile in New Delhi in a desperate mission to salvage his brain child ‘the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill’. He is said to have tendered his resignation from New Delhi. However, again this has not yet been confirmed. It may be noted that Subash Ghisingh as been personally facing massive resentment and protest back home in Darjeeling Hills. There has been an indefinite strike for more than a week and over 300 individuals have been in ‘fast onto death’ demanding Ghisingh’s resignation and the withdrawal of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill. His own party members including GNLF MLA from Darjeeling, Pranai Rai have been demanding for his resignation and his commitment to the Gorkhaland Movement.

Ghisingh effigy being burnt at Ghoom, Darjeeling

Photos by Barun Roy

Deteriorating condition of the hunger strikers in Kurseong

Photos by Rajesh Pradhan, Sunil Pradhan and Dawa

 

 

 

Narbula opposes 6th Schedule in LS

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Feb. 28: The Congress MP from Darjeeling, Dawa Narbula today voiced his protests in the Lok Sabha against the proposed inclusion of the Darjeeling Hills in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This is even as the Congress has issued a whip on its parliamentarians to support the Darjeeling Sixth Schedule Bill whenever it is introduced in the Parliament.The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs headed by BJP leader, Sushma Swaraj tabled its report on the controversial Darjeeling Sixth Schedule status in the Lok Sabha during the second half of the proceedings today. In exact parliamentary vocabulary, the report was ‘laid down’ through the Speaker, although copies of the samewere not circulated among the MPs. Coinciding the tabling of the PSC’s report in the Lok Sabha, Narbula shouted in protest condemning the proposed special status for Darjeeling, although the Speaker had not allowed him to speak and his comments were not recorded either. “Amid confusing debates on other issues in the second half of the Lok Sabha proceedings, I sought permission to speak on the Darjeeling Sixth Schedule issue but was denied permission by the Speaker. Following the denial, I still voiced my protests and apprised the House that the majority in Darjeeling is against the Sixth Schedule status and any forceful implementation of the same may trigger violence in the Hills,” the Congress Darjeeling MP said over the phone from Delhi.

Narbula also informed that the copies of the PSC report are expected to be circulated among the MPs tomorrow and that the Union cabinet would discuss the report anytime now. Contacted over his MP’s gesture in the Lok Sabha today in violation of the party whip, the Darjeeling district Congress president Shankar Malakar declined a comment and said that it was a matter, which could be dealt by the Congress top brass only. In his reaction, the state urban development minister, Asok Bhattacharya expressed astonishment at Narbula’s gesture adding that, it was an internal matter of the Congress to look into.

Dilaram under vigil following GNLF-GJM clash

Kurseong, Feb. 28: Dilaram near Kurseong is under heavy security cover following last night’s clash between GNLF and GJM supporters. Last night’s clash was the latest in a series of hostilities between the two parties at Dilaram. Three GJM supporters along with Kurseong officer in-charge Navin Mukherjee were injured in last night’s clash. While Mukherjee and one of the injured, Amit Chettri were discharged after first aid, Milan Tamang and Dil Bahadur Khawas are still under treatment at the Kurseong sub-divisional hospital. According to the police, GJM supporters returning from the Pintail village, Siliguri, abused GNLF supporters at Dilaram following which, the GNLF supporters went to the Dilaram police post to report the incident.

Some GJM supporters also arrived at the police post at that point of time and the clash occurred. RB Lama, president, GJM, Tung Dilaram unit, however, alleged that the GNLF supporters started the clash and ransacked a vehicle transporting GJM supporters. Rejecting the allegation, the GNLF leadership alleged that GJM supporters hurled foul language and pelted stones at GNLF supporters, which led to the clash. No one has been arrested in connection with last night’s violence.

Options open to end term: Asok

Siliguri, Feb. 28: The Bengal government has the option to ask Subash Ghisingh to step down as caretaker administrator of the DGHC before his term expires on March 24, minister Asok Bhattacharya said today. [Inset: Bhattacharya in Siliguri on Thursday.]

“It was the state that appointed him and, if the situation so demands, it can ask him to resign,” the Siliguri MLA said.

Stressing that the primary importance was to bring peace in the hills, Bhattacharya said discussions had started in Calcutta and a solution was likely to emerge. “We welcome both the chief minister and the Morcha leadership’s role.”

According to the Memorandum of Settlement signed in 2005, the council’s caretaker administrator would change only if elections were held or the six-month term expired, whichever was earlier. “But since the government appointed him, it is also possible for the state to ask him to step down. No cabinet resolution or ordinance is required for this.”

Bhattacharya, however, was not specific about whether such a move would be taken by the government. “Discussions with the chief minister will continue and an amicable solution will emerge,” he told reporters at the party office here. He was accompanied by state CPM secretariat member Jibitesh Sarkar and district secretary S.P. Lepcha.

At the receiving end of verbal attacks from various quarters for labelling Morcha supporters “outsiders”, Bhattacharya today said the comment had been misinterpreted.

“The agitation is regarding the DGHC area — Siliguri has no links with it. Keeping in mind the clashes of September 28 last year, the police and the administration rightly decided not to allow the protesters to go to the Siliguri subdivisional office where they planned to sit on a hunger strike.”

“It was in this light that we said that the Morcha was using elements from outside Siliguri in a move that would have ultimately led to serious trouble,” Bhattacharya said.

The CPM leaders also criticised the Morcha for its “undemocratic movement”, especially the use of anti-people methods like indefinite bandhs. “Not only has the hills but even Salbari on the outskirts of Siliguri in the plains has been included in the bandh,” he said. [The Telegraph]

NGOs cry for govt role

Kalimpong, Feb. 28: Several NGOs here have sought the intervention of the central government and a human rights organisation to save the lives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha members who are on an indefinite hunger strike. [Inset: Women Morcha supporters in a rally in Kurseong on Thursday. Picture by Vivek Singh]

In separate memorandums to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights, the NGOs said the condition of most of the over 200 activists sitting on the hunger strike in the hills was a “matter of concern” and only an “immediate intervention” by authorities would prevent the loss of lives.

Twenty-two Morcha activists have been on fast since February 17, while others joined later. In Kalimpong, 35 supporters are now on fast.

After much persuasion, some of them have started taking medicine. “Six of them, including three women, are on medication. Five others resumed fasting after receiving intravenous treatment in the morning,” said P.T. Sherpa, the subdivisional officer of Kalimpong.

The Morcha has been demanding the removal of Subash Ghisingh as the caretaker administrator of the DGHC and immediate scrapping of the Sixth Schedule bill.

In a letter to the prime minister, Citizen’s Right Forum of Kalimpong pointed out that the whole region has been paralysed by an indefinite bandh. “We request your immediate intervention to bring about an early solution to the problems in the hills,” said forum president N.P. Dixit.

The Kalimpong branch of the Indian Red Cross Society has urged the governor to intervene immediately as the situation has turned alarming. “As the grandson of the Father of the Nation and president of the Red Cross, we request you to come and visit the young souls, determined to end their lives, to defuse the situation and prevent any loss of life,” said O.B. Das, the branch secretary of the society.

Vision Kalimpong has written to the UPA chairperson, requesting her to use her office to bring an end to the hunger strike. [The Telegraph]

Morcha happy with panel go-slow on bill

Darjeeling, Feb. 28: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is jubilant that a parliamentary panel has appeared to have put the brakes on the Sixth Schedule bill that would have accorded special status to the Darjeeling hills instead of statehood.

The committee, led by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, has cautioned and advised Parliament “to make fresh assessment of the “ground realities all over again” before proceeding with the bill in the two Houses.

“The panel could not come to the hills to collect first-hand information on ground realities. This was reflected in its report and we welcome it. The aspiration of the hill people must be taken into consideration before any further steps are taken. The report will definitely damage the Sixth Schedule bill now,” said Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, from Calcutta.

Gurung has been camping there, demanding the removal of Subash Ghisingh as caretaker administrator of the DGHC. The Morcha had earlier alleged that the Bengal government, in connivance with Ghisingh, had stopped the panel from visiting the hills citing law and order problems.

The GNLF, which was banking on the bill being passed in the budget session, has been pushed to the wall. The party had been maintaining that if the Sixth Schedule does not get passed during the budget session, it would start the Gorkhaland agitation.

Deepak Gurung, the president of the Darjeeling Branch Committee of the GNLF, said: “It is for Parliament to reassess the situation. We have no problems with it, but we stick to our stand: the bill must be passed in the budget session.”

Pranay Rai, the GNLF MLA from Darjeeling has, however, requested Ghisingh to resign following today’s development. “He should now join hands with others to strengthen the Gorkhaland movement,” Rai said from Calcutta.

Madan Tamang, the president of the ABGL, an anti-GNLF party, however, cautioned the people about the government’s game plan.

“The panel has asked the government to reassess the situation. It means the review will be done by the government, not the panel. Some changes will probably be made and the bill will be passed before the second state reorganisation committee is formed prior to the general elections.” [The Telegraph]

Ghising not asked to resign from Darjeeling body: official

Kolkata | February 28, 2008 9:45:15 PM

Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subhas Ghising was not asked to resign from the post of caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), West Bengal Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said Thursday.

“No one was asked to quit in the meeting. Discussions are on with both parties – Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and GNLF – and the government is now trying to bring normalcy in the hills,” Roy said.

GJM has crippled life in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since Feb 20 along with an economic blockade since Feb 17 demanding a separate statehood and immediate sacking of Ghising as DGHC caretaker administrator.

Roy said the GNLF chief was not summoned to the state secretariat Thursday but he came to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on his own.

The GNLF supremo again met Bhattacharjee Thursday at the Writers’ Buildings and discussed the political situation in the hills.

The state’s Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb and the home secretary were also present in the meeting.

“I can’t say anything more unless the discussions are over. If I comment everything in public now there will be no point in continuing discussion,” Roy said.

Ghising’s rival GJM is opposed to the constitution’s Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling – which envisages greater autonomy – and instead demands a separate state.

The GNLF leader was forced to knock on the chief minister’s door after hundreds of GJM supporters confined him at Pintail village, a resort three km from Siliguri, for five days since his return from the national capital Feb 18 after holding talks with the central government over inclusion of Darjeeling in the Sixth Schedule.

Earlier, Ghising described his meeting with Bhattacharjee on Feb 23 as “positive”.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung also met the chief minister at his office here Wednesday night but he stuck to his demands. (IANS)

Shared by Re

Women Power on work!

Photos by Rajesh Pradhan and Sunil Pradhan

Lady volunteers of the womens wing of the GJMM on duty at the SDO Office,Kurseong where the hunger strike is in progress.

Prayers in progress for the well being of the hunger strikers.

Muna Hang Subba being offered ‘khada’ by the GJMM supremo Mr.Bimal Gurung while on his way to Kolkata

Gorkha Bill in Delhi – Sixth Schedule on Hold Again!

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Created on : 02/28/2008 13:56 (PRI)

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Parliamentary panel puts brakes on Gorkha Hill Council Bill

 

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) A Parliamentary panel today put brakes on the bills seeking to accord special status to Darjeeling hill areas and asked the Government to take a re-look before proceeding further.

After examining the bills, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs advised the Home Ministry to have a fresh look at the move.

“The Committee would like to caution and advise the Ministry of Home Affairs to make a fresh assessment of the ground realities all over again before proceeding with the bills in the two Houses of Parliament,” the Committee, headed by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, said in its report presented to Rajya Sabha.

The bills — Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2007 and the Constitution (107th Amendment) Bill 2007 introduced towards the fag end of the winter session — seek to provide Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling Hill areas.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides special status to certain areas in the North Eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura in terms of administrative and functional autonomy.

The Committee observed that if the bills had been passed immediately after signing the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) in December 2005, the situation would have been different because Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subhas Ghisingh was “the undisputed leader at that time”. MORE PTI SMI MS aps 02281400 DEL

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Created on : 02/28/2008 14:29 (PRI)

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The Committee in its 45-page report noted that “diametrically opposite” views have emerged on the bills with one group strongly supporting them and another opposing grant of Sixth Schedule status. It was contended before the Committee that the spirit of the Constitution was being changed by giving such a status to Darjeeling and a new precedent was being set by extending the Schedule to an area beyond the north eastern region, the report said.

It said an apprehension was also expressed that in future it would have to be extended to other areas as the tribal areas of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar might demand Sixth Schedule status.

There are already such resolutions from Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the Committee noted and felt that such demand might gain momentum and lead to “opening of Pandora’s Box”.

In the backdrop of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) demanding immediate ouster of Ghising as the caretaker administrator of the hill council and scrapping of the Sixth Schedule bill, the Committee stated that an “overwhelming majority” of those who appeared before it had asserted time and again that there would be bloodshed in the region if the bills were passed.

The GJM, spearheading the movement in Darjeeling, did not allow Ghising to enter the hills and forced him to go to Kolkata. PTI SMI aps 02281434 DEL

RS-LD GORKHA THREE LAST

RS-LD GORKHA THREE LAST (NATIONAL,BUSINESS,PARLIAMENT,DEFENCE)
Created on : 02/28/2008 14:55 (URG)

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(Reopens PAR15) The last election to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was held in 1999 and its term, which expired in March 2004, was extended by a year and the term of Ghising has been extended six times.

Recently an all-party delegation of West Bengal MLAs met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to demand grant of Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills.

The West Bengal Assembly had adopted a resolution in March 2006 recommending grant of Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling hill areas.

The main objective of the MoS is to replace the DGHC by an autonomous self-governing council under the Sixth Schedule to fulfil the economic, educational and linguistic aspirations and socio-cultural and ethnic identity of the hill people, while protecting the rights of non-tribals.

The MoS, popularly known as tripartite agreement, was signed by the Centre, West Bengal Government and Ghising, as Administrator of DGHC.

Racing against time in the wake of the agitation for creation of an autonomous self-governing council in Darjeeling, the Centre introduced the concerned bills in the Lok Sabha in November 2007.

The bills were introduced in the backdrop of largescale violence in Darjeeling forcing authorities to call out the army for restoration of peace. PTI SMI aps 02281459 DEL

Contributed by Mr. Bishal Rai, New Delhi

At last – Gorkha MP shouts…

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Created on : 02/28/2008 17:02 (PRI)
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Darjeeling MP objects to special status to hill areas

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) A Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling today opposed any move by the Centre to give special status to the Gorkha Hill Council.

Congress member Dawa Narbula said the situation in Darjeeling was grave as over 300 people were on hunger strike to protest special status to hill areas by seeking to bring these in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

“The entire hill people are against the Sixth Schedule bill. Considering the sentiments of the hill people, this bill giving special status to the hill areas, should not be brought before Parliament for passage, otherwise the entire hill will be on fire,” he said in a statement.

He said to ensure peace in the hills of Darjeeling district, the Centre should take the initiative to withdraw the Sixth Schedule bill. PTI SMI APS 02281707 DEL

Contributed by Mr. Bishal Rai

Panel puts brakes on Gorkha Hill Council Bill

New Delhi (PTI): A Parliamentary panel on Thursday put brakes on the bills seeking to accord special status to Darjeeling hill areas and asked the Government to take a re-look before proceeding further.

After examining the bills, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs advised the Home Ministry to have a fresh look at the move.

“The Committee would like to caution and advise the Ministry of Home Affairs to make a fresh assessment of the ground realities all over again before proceeding with the bills in the two Houses of Parliament,” the Committee, headed by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, said in its report presented to Rajya Sabha.

Source: The Hindu / The news was shared by Nepalidai

Morcha firm on demands

Feb. 27: The bandh in Darjeeling will continue till the state removes Subash Ghisingh from the post of caretaker administrator of the hill council and the Centre scraps the Sixth Schedule bill, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders said in Calcutta today. [Inset: Ghisingh in Santiniketan on Wednesday. “This is Kalyug,” he said after a guided tour of Visva- Bharati. “What happened in Iraq? What is happening everywhere? Negative,” he said.]

After a 75-minute meeting with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Morcha brass said they would stay in the city for a few more days awaiting the government’s response to their demands. “We are happy with today’s discussion. The chief minister said he would discuss our two primary demands with his cabinet colleagues and convey the government’s stand at the earliest,” said Morcha president Bimal Gurung.

“The bandh and the hunger strike (by Morcha supporters in Darjeeling) will continue,” Gurung said.

Asked about the demands, Bhattacharjee said: “We had a detailed discussion but no decision has been taken.”

About Ghisingh, the Morcha president said: “We have heard that he has gone to Santiniketan today, he should remain there.”

Ghisingh has been shut out of Darjeeling since his return from Delhi on February 18. He was holed up in Pintail, on the outskirts of Siliguri, for four days before moving to Calcutta.

Darjeeling hills erupt with statehood demand

Thu, Feb 28 02:40 AM

Santiniketan, West Bengal: The hills of West Bengal have erupted again with the Gorkhas reviving their demand for a separate state.

Leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have been on a hunger strike in Siliguri, North Bengal, for the past 11 days, and are baying for the blood of Subhas Ghising, who has ruled the Darjeeling hills for over three decades now.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has broken away from the Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front or GNLF and are opposing the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, which will give the region a tribal status.

“We want the provision of the Sixth Schedule for the region annulled immediately. This will lead to internecine clashes here. We also want Ghising to be ousted as the Administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC),” GJM Central Committee leader Vishal Chetri says about his party’s demands.

Life in the hills, meanwhile, has come to a standstill over the past week due to an indefinite bandh called by the Morcha. While occasional relaxations of curfew has hardly managed to ease tension, its impact has now been felt in adjacent Sikkim with tourists having to bear the brunt.

“The taxi-owners and drivers have been facing a lot of problems. The Sikkim Government should take up this issue with the West Bengal Government and find a way out so that the tourism industry does not suffer,” the in-charge of Sikkim National Transport, MM Ramudamu, says.

Hounded out of the trouble-torn hills and acting upon the advice of the West Bengal government, Ghising is at present cooling his heels in Santiniketan. But even as his opponents meet the Bengal Chief Minister with the definite agenda of seeing the end of Ghising’s political supremacy, Tagore’s abode of peace may just fail to provide him necessary solace.

(With Narayan Singh Roy in Siliguri and Mrinal Sarkar in Santiniketan for Yahoo India News and IBN) Contributed by Mr. Bibek Sharma.

Morcha sticks to demands– Indefinite bandh and fast to continue

Talks Fail

Calcutta/Santiniketan, Feb. 27: The indefinite hunger strike and the bandh in the Darjeeling hills will continue till the Bengal government removes Subash Ghisingh from the post of caretaker administrator of the DGHC and the Sixth Schedule bill is scrapped. [Inset: Gurung at Writers’ Buildings. (Sanjay Chattopadhyaya)]

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership stuck to this stand after a 75-minute discussion with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings this evening. The Morcha leaders said they would stay put in the city for a couple of days awaiting the government’s decision.

“We are happy with today’s discussion which went well. We got a good response from the chief minister. He said he would discuss our two primary demands with his cabinet colleagues and convey the government’s stand at the earliest. We are awaiting a speedy decision and will stay in the city for the moment,” said Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president.

“The bandh and the hunger strike will continue till our demands are met. Our supporters who are on indefinite fast have given in writing that they are undertaking the hunger strike wilfully,” Gurung said.

However, Bhattacharjee, while leaving Writers’ Buildings, did not elaborate much. Asked about the Morcha’s twin demands, he said: “We had a detailed discussion, but no decision has been taken as yet.”

About Ghisingh, the Morcha president said: “We have heard that he has gone to Santiniketan today. He should remain there.”

Ghisingh has been shut out of Darjeeling since his return from Delhi on February 18. Morcha supporters set up road blockades to prevent his entry to the hills. He was holed up in Pintail, on the outskirts of Siliguri, for four days before he shifted to Calcutta.

However, for the present, the demand for Gorkhaland does not seem to top the Morcha priority list. “We do not want to talk about it now,” Gurung said.

At Santiniketan, around 180km from Calcutta, where he was on a three-hour visit, Ghisingh described the Morcha leader’s movement as “negative”.

“This is Kaliyug. What happened in Iraq? What is happening everywhere? Negative.”

He said the new council to be formed once the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is amended would have more power. The standing committee on home affairs is expected to submit its report on the special status for Darjeeling in Parliament tomorrow. “The bill will be passed in a day or two and the situation in the hills will become normal,” said Ghisingh.

Asked if he would sit for a discussion with Gurung on the Sixth Schedule status, Ghisingh said: “I am not involved in all this (the dispute over the special status) It is something between the state, Centre and those opposing it. The state government should handle it.”

Ghisingh said he had come to Santiniketan as a tourist. “I also visited Belur Math, a place I never saw before. I will go back to Darjeeling in a day or two.” [The Telegraph]

CITU supports GJMM Hunger strikers in Kurseong

Kurseong, 27 Feb:  Mohan Gurung  the joint secretary of the CPM affiliated  CITU visited the hunger strikers at the SDO Office, Kurseong  with a bout 50 of his partymen and expressed his solidarity with the hunger strikers.There was a time when Mohan Gurung was a strong supporter of the GNLF but was disillusioned when Ghising signed the Darjeeling Accord and switched his loyalties to the CITU but observing the present political scenario he sees the GJMM heading in the right direction. [Rajesh Pradhan]

Maddening Crowd In Kurseong

 

Photo by Rajesh Pradhan/Sunil Pradhan/Dawa Lepcha

Peace procession by Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha at Kurseong

All Photos by Rajesh Pradhan and Sunil Pradhan