Saraswati idol on the way to submersion

An Open Letter to the Chairperson, The Standing Committee of Parliament

To,

Smt. Sushma Swaraj,

Chairperson,

The Standing Committee of Parliament

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Parliament House

New Delhi

Subject: Sixth Schedule Constitution Amendment Bill in respect of Gorkha Hill Council Darjeeling

Respected Smt. Sushmaji,

This writer highly appreciates your esteemed self designated as the Chairperson of The Standing Committee of Parliament, to enquire into the relevancy of the Bill related to the amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in respect of Gorkha Hill Council, Darjeeling. Without intent to flatter you, it is only just, that a person of your stature and ability is occupying the chair for a just decision in order to hold the top position of a woman BJP politician but above all woman politician of other contemporary parties.

While deciding the fate of the Bill pending before you, this writer wishes to express pertinent and relevant views in this regard for your wider understanding to a more accurate perception to determine the issue, towards the evolution of the Bill standing before you. The Bill under scrutiny, as it stands comprises articles and subjects to address financial and administrative reforms, most of which are already incorporated in the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council with additional subjects added on from the existing state subjects. The Gorkha Hill Council originated from the horribly concluded tripartite body signed in 1988 concluding the political agitation demanding a separate union state titled Gorkhaland, which was adamantly objected to and rejected by the Leftist Govt. of West Bengal under the Chief Minister-ship of Shri Jyoti Basue with CPM dominance. Mr. Basu condemned the democratic rights of self-determination by the hill peoples of Darjeeling district as “sessessionist and anti-national’ this was a slander to suppress the truth by hook or crook, whence the CPM led leftist Govt. reacted with unprecedented repressive police actions to thwart the movement from its very roots. It is roughly estimated more than 2000, most of whom were innocent, hill peroples perished in the police action. A reign of terror ran for over three years quite similar to the experience of the Emergency of 1977, a blot in the character of Late Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the nation and the Patriarch of the Congress party who delivered the Indian masses from the British yoke in 1947. This culture of violence leased during the demand for statehood agitation became a way of life then, and continues now to the present tense with no hope of recession in the future. This was intentionally mandated by the autocratic rule of the Bengal CPM Govt.

Under such violent and insecure climate to sue the autocratic rule of the GNLF Supremo Subhas Ghissing comfortably occupied the throne of Darjeeling hills and the DGHC for over twenty years blessed by the CPM govt. of Bengal puppeting him to dance to Bengali music by flushing him with DGHC funds to use as he wished. Ghissing as Chairman DGHC is alleged to have spent DGHC funds to his whims and fancies as his own, and evne failed to submit the mandated funds utilization certificate to the Bengal govt. who expressed Ghissing’s omission but failed to take action and reprimand misuse of funds without submission of utilization certificates, surely a violation of constitution norms. When rules and regulations are thrown to the wind by the powers that be, what can be expected from all levels of administration, causing panic, insecurity and total anarchy in the Darjeeling hills? This has been the order of the day under the GNLF regime support and intended by the rulers that be at Writers Building to bring about an order of total and intended by the rulers that be at Writers Building to bring about an order of total collapse of civil societies for the CPM to make a heroic entry to save the situation. Hence, the canvas and support for the DGHC and the new Sixth Schedule status by the CPM. After twenty years the people of Darjeeling have come to understand the CPM end game, that is, to rule the hills by various Council provisions headed by puppets including that is, to rule the hills by various Council provisions headed by puppets including nominating the puppet as an administrator, totally violating democratic rights and constitutional norms, for the past three years all democratic provisions has been withheld as a result of not holding any elections to the DGHC or otherwise, by extending the tenure of the Administrator, a political figure without mandate being nominated as such.

The term Gorkha and Gorkhaland is just coincidental

By Vimal Khawas

The term Gorkha and Gorkhaland is just coincidental.

1. Issue of Regional Identity

India is a land of unity in diversity - often it is boasted. Truly, India is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual area. The society in the area is made up of various elements drawn from diverse origin. The social diversity is perhaps the most powerful manifestation of the area. The social groups with diverse ethnic and linguistic origins representing various racial stocks and social status have found places for themselves at different points of time adapting themselves to different ecological niches offered by the Physiographic and climatic setting of the area. The waves of immigration have drawn the ancestors of the majority of the present population of the area from the surrounding territories and across the Himalayas. Their dispersal has resulted in a creation of a social mosaic with ethnic distinctiveness. With such diversity in the area in terms of ethnicity, culture and language, the region is composed up of groups and sub groups with varied and diverse demands and needs. The primary responsibility of the State as an agent of development and planning is, thus, to take heed of the diverse requirements of social groups, not only of the majority social groups but also the groups in minority, residing within the length and breath of its territory. It is argued that ethnic expressions are in one way or the other related to development strategies adopted by a State and hence the failure and disparity in development strategies makes the association with the State less worthwhile and generates a multiplicity of separate ethnic expressions.

True to the above argument, over the years, the failure and disparity in development strategies (i.e. development planning) in India has led to the generation of multiplicity of separate ethnic expressions like Gorkhaland movement, Bodo movement, Uttarakhand Movement, Jharkhand movement and many others. And often it is observed that the agitating ethnic groups are in minority, have a distinct culture, language; they are geographically isolated, socially, economically and political insecure and have a low self-perception compared to those occupying the state berth.

Moreover, sociologists believe that the ethnic movements in India are essentially based on the perceived need to overcome poverty as against the conventional sociological arguments that the prospects of advancements enhance the utilization of ethnic identity.

Careful examination of the ethnic expressions in India reveals the importance of planning for development in ethnic and linguistic lines. There is a need for development plans to address ethnic and linguistic factors besides economic aspects. This becomes particularly true and relevant in a country like India where we talk of unit in diversity. The popular phrase that India is a land of unity in diversity itself suggests identification of diversities and giving due respect to them – which we, in fact, have misunderstood over the years.

Darjeeling Police or the British Army

Did the British Army catch this person or is this policeman dressed as a “wanna be” British Army personnel? Why in the world would you wear a British Army jacket when it is NOT part of your uniform? Do the policemen in Darjeeling NOT have uniform to wear, besides I bet anyone else can wear that jacket, so how are people to distinguish a policeman from a thug if they are NOT in their proper uniform. This is absolutely demeaning and absurd. I will be making a formal complaint to have this removed. All of this is a big mockery of your own job and of course the respected British Army. Does anyone have anything to say to them, this is a serious matter. The last question is “Who will police the police”? Seems like the British Army Jacket has been incorrigibly part of the Darjeeling police. These people seem to have absolutely no shame or regard or at the least some common sense. Do the “Higher Ups” wear them too?

By John Smith, England

ALL OF INDIA’S POLITICIANS ARE LIARS

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs was to arrive in Darjeeling on the 6 of February and leave on the 7^th. Sushma Swaraj herself had made her wish known that she wanted to visit Darjeeling to understand the ‘ground reality’ on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to the Sixth Schedule. A chance was even given to all the political parties to meet the Committee and offer their recommendations. But now it has become clear that the Standing Committee is not visiting Darjeeling, as such there is no chance for the people especially the intelligentsia and the civil forums to resonate their stance on the said Bill. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s hunger strike has only lead to the Bengal Chief Minister inviting a delegation from GJM to talk on the issue. God knows who were responsible for the refusal of Standing Committee’s visit to Darjeeling but indications clearly points out now that there will be indoor negotiations between the State, Central Governments and the political parties, especially GNLF and GJM. Once again chances are that the aspirations of the people of the hills will be relegated by the issue of ‘maintaining law and order’ and most importantly ‘power sharing’. In the largest democracy that India purports to manifest, these indoor hobnobbing between the Government and the people who supposedly represent us leave much to be desired. The Standing Committee could ultimately be nothing but a public relations exercise. The moral of the story – All of India’s Politicians are liars!

By Prof. R. K. Pradhan, Murshidabad

CPM reacts to allegations over 6th Schedule

Siliguri, Feb.11: Reacting sharply to the criticism of the state government on the Sixth Schedule issue by CPI and Forward Bloc the CPI-M affirmed today that the state government had neither delayed the matter nor had intentionally hobnobbed with Mr Subash Ghisingh. Smitrish Bhattacharya, general secretary, Forward Bloc, Darjeeling and Pijush Guha, state committee member, CPI criticised the role of the state government over the Sixth Schedule issue yesterday. They charged that the ongoing unrest in the Darjeeling hills was the direct fallout of the state government’s protracted indecisiveness and continuous political hobnobbing with Subash Ghisingh, hill council administrator.

In reaction to the criticism by the party’s Front partners over the sensitive issue Jivitesh Sarker, a CPI-M state committee member from Siliguri today said that the Front leaders were leveling baseless allegations against the state government either because of their ignorance of the ground reality or for some political motives. “There might have been some delay in presenting the case of inclusion of inclusion of Darjeeling hills in the Sixth Schedule of the constitution before the central government but the state government cannot be held responsible for it. The central government is responsible. Our chief minister contacted the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister repeatedly to emphasise on the issue.  As the issue involves a constitutional amendment, the state government cannot do anything arbitrarily.

Centre boost to small tea growers

Siliguri, Feb. 11: The Union commerce and industry ministry has decided to take up a slew of measures — ranging from training to financial assistance — to help the 15,000-odd small tea growers in north Bengal.

“We met the chairperson of the Tea Board of India on February 5 in Kolkata when he informed us in detail about future plans,” said Bijoygopal Chakraborty, the vice-president of the United Forum of Small Tea Growers’ Associations. “The measures are expected to be effective from the next season starting in the middle of March.”

The decisions taken by the ministry include upgrading a substation of the Tea Research Association (TRA) at Nagrakata into a training and research centre. “The upgrade on will be done under the 11th Five-Year Plan. Hostels for trainees and other infrastructure like class rooms will be built to organise training programmes for small growers throughout the year,” Chakraborty said. At present, a six-month course on tea cultivation is conducted only at the TRA headquarters in Tocklai in Assam.

Rethink on NH31A double lane project

Kalimpong, Feb. 11: The proposal to double-lane NH31A from Sevoke to Gangtok is being reconsidered with a special task force of the Union surface transport ministry looking at the possibility of alternative alignments between the two points. This is after the Sikkim government has raised doubts over the feasibility of double-laning the highway as the hills along this stretch are fragile.

During the last monsoon, traffic on the highway was severely disrupted following frequent landslides at various places along the route. According to sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in New Delhi and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the task force, headed by D. Saran, additional director general in the surface transport ministry, has suggested two different alignments.

The first one is proposed along the left bank of the Teesta river from the Teesta bridge to the Coronation Bridge, and the second one on the right bank of the river from Ranipool to the Teetsa bridge.

The search for the new alignment has no connection with the proposal to widen the Damdim-Rishi-Rhenok-Ranipool road, another link between Gangtok and Siliguri.

This road will be widened to national highway single lane specifications as per the requirements of the troops guarding the Sikkim border, said a BRO source.

Saraswati back after 3 years

Darjeeling, Feb. 11: After almost three years, an idol of Saraswati, instead of a shila (stone), was worshipped here today.

Residents of about 65 localities organised Saraswati Puja at Chowrasta under the banner of Chowrastha Toongsoong Puja Committee in defiance of the shila, a brainchild of GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.

“The old Darjeeling culture is being revived,” said Shadey Pradhan, a puja organiser. The last time the goddess was worshipped in Chowrastha in the idol form was in 2004.

Although the organisers claimed that the event was “apolitical”, it was clear from the way the idol replaced the stone that the puja was in defiance of Ghisingh and his interference in the religious life of the hill people. “We had not been able to organise the puja (for the past few years) because of Ghisingh,” added Pradhan.

Ever since the GNLF chief raised the demand for Sixth Schedule status, he has been maintaining that the hills should worship shilas instead of idols, be it during the Durga Puja or the Viswakarma. The leader’s argument was that that the people of the hills followed “a tribal way of life”, and were banbo (nature) worshippers.

GNLF bastion in Morcha grip- Subash Ghisingh’s supporters blame rivals for social boycott

Darjeeling, Feb. 11: Seven families in a village of more than 150 houses in Pandem have accused the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha of ostracising them. Once a GNLF bastion, the entire valley along Pandem, near here, has now switched allegiance to the Morcha. [Inset: The Saraswati Puja at Chowrastha. (Suman Tamang)]

Urmila Tamang, a GNLF supporter, alleged that she can neither visit her relatives nor use local vehicles or sell grocery from her shop after the Morcha call for social boycott.

“They have damaged my shop and house and now even my relatives fear visiting me. No one buys anything from my shop. People do not even give us their vehicle on hire saying that they are following the Morcha diktat,” said Tamang, who is in her 50s.

C.B. Tamang, who is the GNLF Lebong Valley chief and Urmila’s husband, is currently in jail after a clash between the two rival parties on January 4. “Such diktats were against houses which have GNLF flags,” said Urmila.