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

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.

“So far my knowledge goes, Congress has already issued a whip on its parliamentarians to back the Darjeeling Sixth Schedule status. But as is evident, there are a few both within the Congress and outside, who are trying to fish in the troubled water,” Bhattacharya said. Quoting his party sources in Delhi, the urban development minister further said : “The PSC report laid down in the Lok Sabha today, does not have any note of dissent from the PSC members, which was a favourable signal for the Darjeeling Sixth Schedule Bill.”

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. Meanwhile the GJM continued with its rallies in support of Gorkhaland and against the Sixth Schedule today. GJM supporters also burnt Subash Ghisingh and NB Khawas (GNLF Kurseong branch secretary) in effigy at Dilaram today.The GNLF, which so far has remained quiet, has now started taking to the streets as well. The Front organised rallies in different parts of the Hills today in support of the Sixth Schedule.

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)

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