Shop Till you drop!
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Perishable items can’t be seen around
Posted in photo feature | Tagged: kurseong, people, rajesh pradhan | No Comments »
I was the King and I am still the King of the Hills - Subash Ghisingh
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Kolkata, Feb.23: Hounded out by his own supporters-turned-foes the GNLF supremo, Mr Subash Ghisingh has no immediate plans to return to the hills. Mr Ghisingh who met the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, today however, remained defiant on face claiming he is still as popular as ever and his own party GNLF cannot be written off despite the ongoing agitation.
“Kitne aadmi chahiye (How many supporters you want)? I have people backing me in Hills, in Kolkata as well. GNLF is not finished. Things are under our control. But we do not want any confrontation’’, said Mr Ghisingh after meeting Mr Bhattacharjee. “I was the king and I am still the king of the Hills,” he added later.
He refused to step down as the administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC) before 24 March when his current term comes to end.
“I will not resign before 24 March. Once the Sixth Schedule Bill is passed in Parliament, the post of administrator would automatically cease to exist and an interim council would come into effect. There is no need to make a political issue out of this,” clarified the GNLF leader. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been demanding that Mr Ghisingh should step down as the chairman of the DGAHC immediately. Unable to enter Darjeeling for the past five days the once strongman of the Hills had come to the city yesterday.
However, he evaded questions on whether he would like to continue beyond 24 March even if the Sixth Schedule Bill gets stuck. “We will consider about that later. I am not hungry for any seat of power,” he said. Regarding his failure to get past the agitators and enter Darjeeling, Mr Ghisingh explained, “after all that running around in Delhi I took some rest. I came down to Kolkata since it is my duty to brief the Governor, chief minister, home secretary and chief secretary about the deadlock.” But then again said: “I could have entered Darjeeling any time I wanted but I wanted to avoid a clash since it would come in the way of getting the Sixth Schedule Bill passed in Parliament.” Mr Ghisingh remained evasive about the demand of statehood but reminded his priority was to include Darjeeling in the Sixth Schedule. He is scheduled to meet the Governor on Monday but declined to give a date when he would return to Darjeeling. the GNLF leader claimed, “chief minister is happy” with what he said. [The Statesman]
Alternate Headline to the story: Kitne aadmi chahiye, asks cornered Ghisingh
Posted in In Newspapers Today | Tagged: bhattacharjee, buddhadeb bhattacharya, darjeeling gorkha autonomous hill council, dgahc, gnlf, gnlf supremo, governor, parliament, sixth schedule bill, subash ghisingh | 2 Comments »
Asok Bhattacharya was not the only one to call Gorkhas - Outsiders!
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
The Bazaar facing the Gitangee Dara (now Sumeru Manch)
On the 29th of May 1979 a strike was called by Akhil Bhāratỉ.ya Nepąli Bha.sa Samity (supported by other parties) to protest Morarji Desai’s anti Nepąli language speech in his Darjeeling visit.. The following picture portrays the mood in Darjeeling on the said day. Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister of India had asked the Akhil Bharati.ya Nepali Bhasa Samity to ‘go to Nepal because the Gorkhas belonged there’
The road leading to Bazaar Circuit House. A poster protesting Morarji’s uneducated statement can be seen on the wall of a shop
Posted in photo feature | Tagged: akhil bharatiya nepali bhasa samity, asok bhattacharya, darjeeling morarji desai, gorkhas | No Comments »
50 GJM supporters arrested start hunger strike at Siliguri jail
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Siliguri, Feb 23: According to news just coming in today, the 50 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters arrested in Siliguri have started hunger strike at Siliguri prison. The GJM procession that was trying to march towards Siliguri have been stopped at Salbari by the massive Police presence there. Speaking to reporters Roshan Giri said through phone, “We have not been allowed to sit for ‘fast unto death’, this is a human right violation. We are not coming to cause any problems.”
Posted in Breaking Story | No Comments »
Fresh clashes erupt across Darjeeling
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: The political situation in the Hills took a grim turn after fresh clashes broke out between the supporters of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) since Thursday.
Two GJM members were hospitalized in Darjeeling after they were allegedly beaten up by a mob of GNLF supporters on Thursday and Friday night in Pokhriabong under the Sukhia police station.
The GJM supporters retaliated on Friday and ransacked two houses belonging to GNLF leaders, including Sanjib Gurung, who had allegedly led the attack on Thursday. There were reports of clashes from Mirik, too, with GJM alleging that GNLF had taken the help of Nepalese Maoists to fan unrest there.
The first incident took place in Pokhriabong bustee, about 35 km from Darjeeling. According to GJM youth unit president Deepan Mallay, he and his companions were attacked when they were on their way back from a meeting. He alleged that the mob was led by Gurung.
The GJM supporters targeted
Sanjib and another GNLF supporter’s house on Friday morning. Police officers said GNLF supporters have filed a complaint. “We have sent a large police force to Pokhriabong,” said Darjeeling SP Rahul Srivastava. GNLF Darjeeling branch president Deepak Gurung said: “GJM supporters attacked ransacked my house.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in In Newspapers Today, News | Tagged: asok bhattacharya, bimal gurung, cpm, darjeeling, darjeeling sp rahul srivastava, deepak gurung, gjm, gnlf, gorkha janmukti morcha, gorkha national liberation front, l b rai, maoists, mirik, nepal, pokhriabong, pokhriabong deepan mallay, roshan giri, sanjib, sanjib gurung, siliguri, sukhia | No Comments »
Siliguri traders grim over Darjeeling Hills strike
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Siliguri, Feb. 22: The continuing shutdown in the Hills is having a grim impact on the markets in Siliguri. Particularly, the vegetable and grocery traders and the transport operators are bearing the brunt of the ongoing Hill bandh.The senior functionaries of the Siliguri-based merchants’ organisations expressed anguish at the ‘enormous loss’ the traders have been incurring as the bandh is dragging on. The secretary of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, North Bengal, Mr Biswajit Das said today that with all modes of transportation to and from the hills remaining off the roads for three days the retail and wholesale trades were grimly affected. “The traders associated with FOCIN in normal time do transactions to the tune of more or less six crores per day. The contribution of the hills is almost sixty per cent. Now with the continuing shutdown the transaction per day has stooped to a mere forty percent as compared with the normal transactions. Apart from the wholesale and retail trading the tour operators and the transport operators are also incurring huge losses. Routes to Sikkim and Nepal have remained blocked apart from the routes to the three subdivisions in the Darjeeling hills. This drastic reduction of trading activities will negatively affect the revenue collection and the state exchequer,” he added.
Speaking in the same vein Mr Omprakash Agarwal, the secretary, Siliguri Merchants’ Association said that for the traders associated with SMA the loss was staggering. [The Statesman]
Posted in In Newspapers Today | Tagged: biswajit das, chambers of commerce and industry, darjeeling, hill bandha, nepal, north bengal, omprakash agarwal, sikkim, siliguri, siliguri merchants association | 2 Comments »
‘Fast Unto Death’ I at Kurseong
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Posted in photo feature | 5 Comments »
GJM Dooars Branch on a 24 hours hunger strike
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Birpara, Feb 23: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Dooars Branch President and a Central Committee member Madhukar Thapa through a phone call has informed us that the GJM Dooars branch will be organizing a 24 hours hunger strike before Birpara Thana today.
Posted in News | Tagged: birpara, birpara thana, committee, dooars, gjm, gorkha janmukti morcha, madhukar thapa, president | No Comments »
GJM Treasurer and Hunger striker seriously unwell
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: After seven days of continuous ‘fast unto death’ two of hunger strikers have fallen gravely ill. This include the 60 year old member of the Gorkha Janmukti Central Committee member and Treasurer Dawa Lama and Sarita Mukhia. Other hunger strikers are also facing continuous physical deterioration. All of the hunger strikers have resolved to ‘fast unto death’ and put their life on the line. The situation worsen yesterday when the two hunger strikers refused medical attention. Bimal Gurung the President of the party was present at the moment.
Posted in News | Tagged: bimal gurung, darjeeling, dawa lama, fast unto death, gorkha janmukti morcha central committee, president, sarita mukhia, treasurer | No Comments »
Prakriti Giri not yet forgotten!
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: The famous singing duo of Sagar Bal and Kiran Waiba are working on an album. “This album is dedicated towards Prakriti Giri,” said Waiba. It may be noted that both the singing duo had come up with a dedication album to Prashant Tamang, ‘Lakho dilo ki dhardan’ which featured the most popular song ‘ban.na he tuje ban.na he Indian idol.’ Sagar Bal and Kiran Waiba hopes that people doesn’t forget Prakriti.
Posted in News | Tagged: darjeeling, kiran waiba, prakriti giri, prashant tamang, prikriti giri, sagar bal | 3 Comments »
Protest on the removal of flag
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Kalimpong, Feb 23: Indian Gorkha Ex Army Front has severely condemned the Bengal Police move to forcefully remove Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Flag from their vehicles when they were traveling towards Sukna to participate in an all Ex Army meeting there. “This is undemocratic and uncalled for move by the Police. We severely condemn it,” Colonel D. K. Pradhan said through phone to THB. “In democracy every body has the right of protest. This is where the Constitution guarantees us the Freedom of Expression and that Freedom of Expression manifest in our flag,” he said.
Posted in News | Tagged: bengal police, colonel d k pradhan, freedom of expression, gorkha janmukti morcha, indian gorkha ex army front, kalimpong | No Comments »
Gorkhaland is the need of the hour – Trinamul Congress
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: Alleging that it was the misrule of the West Bengal Government and their one track dedication to please Subash Ghisingh and the GNLF that lead to the present turmoil, Trinamul Congress General Secretary Gopal Chettri, called for the formation of the Gorkhaland under the provisions of the Constitution. “Gorkhaland is the need of the hour and Trinamul Congress is devoted to it,” he said.
Posted in News | Tagged: constitution, darjeeling, general secretary, gnlf, gopal chettri, gorkhaland, subash ghisingh, trinamul congress, west bengal government | No Comments »
ST and SC from the Hills rise up against Sixth Schedule Status
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Siliguri Feb 23: Darjeeling Hills Schedule Caste and Tribes Welfare Association has requested the Central Government from not going ahead with the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill. The Association believes that the Bill a ‘brain child’ of the West Bengal Government is aimed at dividing the Gorkha people and was unacceptable to the Association.
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Opposition parties condemn ‘Outsider’ Tag!
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling Feb. 23: All political parties excluding GNLF, CPIM and ABGL have condemned the West Bengal Government’s move of not allowing GJM supporters from sitting for ‘fast unto death’ at the Siliguri Mahukama office. “If we are not allowed to even protest democratically, then certainly there is no democracy in this state,” one of the senior Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists leader said. “We also severely condemn the ‘outsider’ tag that has been levied upon us by the Municipal and Urban Development Minister Asok Bhatacharya. This is not just the disrespect of all our people but all those Gorkha soliders who have been guarding the sanctity of this nation,” he said.
Posted in News | Tagged: abgl, asok bhatacharya, communist party of revolutionary marxists, cpim, darjeeling, gjm, gnlf, gorkha, municipal and urban development minister, siliguri mahukama, west bengal government | 1 Comment »
Naxalite leader comes in support for Gorkhaland
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Sukna/Siliguri: Naxalite leaders came openly in support of the Gorkhaland movement and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha yesterday. A prominent underground leader of the Naxalites Kanu Sanyal visited hunger strikers at Pintail village and offered his supported. This is unprecedented because no Naxalite leaders have so far come openly in support for the Gorkhaland movement.
Posted in News | Tagged: gorkhaland, gorkha janmukti morcha, siliguri, sukna, kanu sanyal, naxalite, pintail village | No Comments »
Ex-Army meet for Gorkhaland
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Sukna: A meeting was by the Ex-Army from all the four sub-divisions of the Darjeeling District. The meeting was organized at the Ram Singh Thauri Chow and attended by more than 500 delegates from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri, Shivmandir, Kadamtala, Salbari, Khaprail etc. Organised by Ex Army Welfare Organisation, the main aim of the meeting was the creation of a unified forum incorporating ex-army personnels from Darjeeling Hills to Terai in the pursuance of Gorkhaland.
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As a neighbour Sikkim has always come in aid for us – Bimal Gurung
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: “Now, no one can stop two Gorkhey Chief Ministers from being made in India. One of Sikkim and the other of Gorkhaland,” said Bimal Gurung in an one on one with THB. “Even the people of Sikkim has now started coming all out in support of our struggle. I am greatly obliged with their gesture and I hope quickly the rest of the world will do the same. There is no alternative to Gorkhaland and we will achieve it. Sikkim is a state which has survived with her own ideologies and so have Darjeeling Hills. People of same race, culture, language and life styles resides in these two places but yet there are difference in the problems that they face. As a neighbour Sikkim has always come in aid for us. They have supported and helped us every time. But the people elsewhere cannot digest this selfless help from Sikkim to her extend family in Darjeeling Hills. All this has changed and we must be grateful to Sikkim for the helps and support rendered to us,” Bimal Gurung. Speaking about the people of the Dooars, he said, “People from all over the Dooars and Terai had helped and supported Subash Ghisingh wholeheartedly during the agitation but they were abandoned as soon as the DGHC Accord was signed. This will not happen again. We will not accept Gorkhaland without Dooars, I can guarantee you right now.”
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Asok Bhattacharya is not welcome in Darjeeling – Bimal Gurung
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling, Feb 23: Reacting sharply to the allegations made by Asok Bhattacharya against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the GJM President Bimal Gurung said today that he (Bhattacharya) was not welcome in Darjeeling. “If he calls us anti-social, anti-democratic and anti-people, I have only one thing to say to him – you are not welcome in Darjeeling Hills,” Bimal Gurung said. “Now our 70 per cent of our programmes will be organized in Siliguri and in the plains. How can he call us ‘outsiders’ when Siliguri still is in Darjeeling District? What kind of statement is that? Aren’t we the citizens of this country? We are called ‘outsiders’ the moment we step beyond Darjeeling More. What will these people do to us if we carry our agitation to Kolkata? I strongly protest his statements. We are the rightful citizens of India, We have Indian voter cards. In fact, by labeling us as outsiders, Asok Bhattacharya is himself working against the nation. Is he calling all the Gorkhas defending the borders of this nation ‘outsiders’. He should think before he speaks,” Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung said.
Posted in In Newspapers Today | 2 Comments »
Darjeeling District Communist Party concerned over GJM presence in Siliguri
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Siliguri, Feb 23: An emergency meeting of the Darjeeling District Communist Party. The meeting was presided over the prominent leader Piyush Guha. The meeting was attended by the district coordinator Asok Bhattacharya, Ujjwal Chowdhury (General Secretary, CPI), All India Forward Bloc, district President, Anil Bose, RSP leader Bikash Sen Roy and State Committee Member of the Communist Party Jiwesh Sarkar. The meeting unanimously regretted and protested the presence of ‘outsiders’ in the plains. Asok Bhattacharya, also the Municipal and Urban Development Minister alleged that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had started a violent and undemocratic agitation. This agitation is not for the good of either of the Hill people or those in the plains. He further alleged that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was creating unrest by spreading their wings beyond the boundaries of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. This could lead to major confrontation between the people of the hills (read GJM) and the people of the plains (read CPIM cadres) unfolding an era of chaos, uncertainty and violence in the region.
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Ghisingh Flees to Kolkata
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Siliguri, Feb 23: The caretaker administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, left for Kolkata at around 20 minutes past 12 amidst one of the most unprecedented security cover in the history of Darjeeling Hills. More than 500 special combat troops offered security cover besides the regular West Bengal Police. The motorcade winded before the the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ‘fast unto death’ and suddenly the supporters of the party taken aback waved black flags at them. The motorcade then made its way towards the interior of Siliguri and cheer could be heard amongst the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters! They had won a moral victory.
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Subash Ghisingh has lost confidence of his own party – Jyoti Basu
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Kolkata, Feb 23: [Baijnath Roy] Jyoti Basu, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and an eminent leader of the CPIM have said that Subash Ghisingh has lost confidence of his own party. Speaking about the prevailing situation in the Hills, Basu said that Ghisingh had lost all power. All the political parties have now started speaking up against him. Subash Ghisingh has arrived in Kolkata after not being able to return back to Darjeeling. It may be noted that Ghisingh was under seize for four days at Pintail Village after which he flew to Kolkata by a Jet Airways flight late in the evening. It has been believed that Ghisingh would be staying Kolkata for some days. He will be residing at the Gorkha Bhawan in Salt Lake. While the press tried to meet him, he vehemently rejected the movement of the press.
Speaking to the press meanwhile, the once arch nemesis of Subash Ghisingh, Jyoti Basu said, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is much concerned in the unfurling of the situations in Darjeeling Hills. The Chief Minister is in touch with the Central Government for the passing of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill within this session of the Parliament. Jyoti Basu further said that he was personally confirmed of the passing of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill in the Budget Session of the Parliament. “I have been assured that the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill will be passed in this session of the Parliament. And once this Bill is passed, there will be a paradigm shift in the fortunes of the people of the Hills,” said Basu. According to information from the Writers Building in Kolkata, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will be meeting Subash Ghisingh for a closed door private meeting. Yesterday, there was a meeting between the Chief Secretary to the West Bengal Government and the Chief Minister. It is believed that the Chief Secretary informed the Chief Minister on the present situation in the Darjeeling Hills.
Posted in HB EXCLUSIVE | No Comments »
Markets to Open Today from 10am to 2pm
Posted by barunroy on February 23, 2008
Darjeeling Feb 23: Reminiscent of the 40 days strike, today a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha poster at Sumeru Manch declared the opening of the market from 10 am to 2 pm for the general populace to do a ‘refill’ shopping. The indefinite strike it seems will elongated. While none of the leaders were presently available for comment, people marched towards the market for buying sustenance.
Posted in Breaking Story | Tagged: darjeeling, gorkha janmukti morcha, sumeru manch | 1 Comment »
