Cenotaph - Sneak Peak

Dear Friends,

I could not stop myself. I have posted one song from our first Nepali Album named ‘Cenotaph’. The album has not yet been finished and hence, I will not say anything more about it. However, I still want your opinion as to what do you folks think of it. Please listen to it and comment.

Regs

Barun

Gaulan Lepcha Resigns, says “Ghisingh cheated everyone”

Darjeeling, March 4: The panic stricken Gorkha National Liberation Front has steadily started to disintegrate. After the resignation of Darjeeling MLA, Pranai Rai, and Gorkha National Youth Front, Chief Kishore Gurung, the road has been laid for mass resignation and mass desertion. The newest in the list of leaders deserting the Gorkha National Liberation Front is Gaulan Lepcha, Kalimpong Member of Legislative Assembly and the Vice President of the GNLF Kalimpong Branch. “After 20 years of dedicated service in the Party, I resign and no longer want anything to do with the party. Subash Ghisingh as given wrong leadership to everyone. He has cheated everyone,” said the one time staunch support and subordinate of Subash Ghisingh. “He knowingly committed huge blunders. He was the one to form the Gorkha National Liberation Front and now he is the one to destroy it,” Lepcha said referring to Subash Ghisingh. “I have given the best 20 years of my life to the party and have never betrayed the ideologies of the party, but the way in which Subash Ghisingh handled the party and tried to singlehandedly change the destiny of the people, the people have resented to it and disowned him as a leader. It is because of him that the Hills have almost near again been ravaged by hate. Even while he (Ghisingh) had the people’s mandate and support he did nothing for the good of the people and the hills. While the Sixth Schedule Bill was endorsed at the Bengal State Legislature, Ghisingh could have taken the appropriate actions to fulfill the aspirations of the entire population but he did not do so. Hence, Subash Ghisingh is singlehandedly guilty of everything that has happened in the hills. The people are against him and I can’t go against the people. Hence, I have resigned. I have not become a traitor to the people,” Lepcha said.

 

 ”Every time, Subash Ghisingh, took steps against the people, I was wounded. I was hurt but I believed that they were necessary for the greater good. However, now that I have realized that he was wrong and is wrong I have been forced to resign from the party.  People want Gorkhaland and I must work for Gorkhaland. Gorkhaland is the future of the entire population. We will now have to come together to fight for Gorkhaland,” Lepcha said. 

Gorkha Brigades in New Delhi for Statehood Demand

Ex- Army men being received by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Delhi Branch at New Delhi Railway Station on 2nd and 3rd of March. All photos by Bishal Rai

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People differ on polls

Kurseong, March 3: With the GNLF and Mr Subash Ghisingh now no more controlling the political scenario in the Darjeeling Hills the people’s attention now seems to have turned towards elections. There are diverse views on the subject though.According to some people, the pending DGHC elections must be held now, and the GJMM must contest the elections. “Gorkhaland is still a distant dream and so the elections are necessary,” say some. According to many, contesting in and winning the elections would help the GJMM prove its popularity to the state government.Others, however, say that the GJMM should not contest the elections as it may create suspicion among its followers that the so-called democratic movement is for retaining power.Only three elections to the DGHC have been held since its formation in 1988. The last that was supposed to be held in 2005 was skittled by the GNLF chief. [The Statesman]

GJMM wants early polls

Siliguri, March 3: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha(GJMM) has come out in support of an early Panchayat poll in the hills and at the same time has expressed its willingness to contest in the same.

According to the GJMM Press and Publicity Secretary, Mr Binoy Tamang, the Panchayat polls in the Hills, pending for about three years, should be held ‘as soon as possible’. “Holding the Panchayat polls in the Hills had figured as one of our major demands in the deputation to the Centre. Now that Mr. Subash Ghisingh’s dictatorial regime has collapsed, the democratic process should be initiated by conducting elections in the Hill Panchayats as soon as possible,” Mr. Tamang said.

He explained that the GJMM was favoring the Panchayat polls because ‘Panchayat is a Concurrent Subject’ and it would exist even if the Hills achieved statehood. “Taking part in the Panchayat polls would not contradict our statehood demand in any way. We would campaign for Gorkhaland, before and after the polls as that is our ultimate goal,” the GJMM press and publicity secretary said.

The GJMM, which now enjoys popular support in the Hills, however, sounded non-committal about the DGHC elections. “Let the state government first hold the Panchayat polls then we can discuss the DGHC polls,” Mr. Tamang said. Welcoming the GJMM gesture favoring an early Panchayat polls in the Hills, the Darjeeling District Magistrate, Mr. Rajesh Pandey said that the party should convey the same to the administration.

“If they (GJMM) are saying it to the Press, let them officially convey the same to the district administration. The state government always wanted the polls to be held but could not due to adverse situations,” the DM said. The Panchayat polls were held in May 2000 for the last time in the DGHC area. Although due in 2005, the GNLF chief Mr. Subash Ghisingh denied the same demanding further autonomy to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. [The Statesman]

Morcha ‘warriors’ off to Delhi for statehood

Darjeeling, March 3: Hundreds of Gorkha “warriors” are marching towards Delhi, not to fight a war but to win statehood without the help of guns.

Members of the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha, which was formed under the aegis of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, will voice their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland on March 5 in front of Jantar Mantar.

In groups of 10 to 20, the ex-serviceman have been leaving the Darjeeling hills on the quiet for the past couple of days. The first batch is expected to reach Delhi late tonight.

“About 325 Gorkha warriors (read ex-servicemen) will take part in the rally. But the war will be without guns,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha.

Not only Darjeeling, but Gorkhas from places like Dehra Dun, too, are expected to take part in the programme. A seven-member delegation headed by Morcha president Bimal Gurung also took a flight to Delhi today. “I plan to address (the ex-servicemen) at the Delhi venue on March 5,” said Gurung.