Ghisingh stranded in 2nd Mile near Sevoke after resignation

Darjeeling, March 6 [6:14 pm] : According to latest news coming in from Siliguri, Subash Ghisingh the President of Gorkha National Liberation Front after resigning from the post of Caretaker Administrator, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, has been stranded at the Forest Bungalow, in 2^nd Mile near Sevoke. The erstwhile ‘Chairman’ of the DGHC will no longer have heavy police protection and the pilot vehicle. “The King will now have to return as a common man,” said one of the senior leaders of All India Gorkha League. The District Commissioner will take over the management of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council from tomorrow. According to GNLF party sources, Subash Ghisingh might be asked to stay in 2^nd Mile for some day. However, it is believed that Subash Ghisingh was to return back home as soon as possible. The GJM has meanwhile, not declared of any blockage for him but Party General Secretary Roshan Giri, said yesterday that the “it would be the people who would not allow him to enter into Darjeeling Hills”

Subash Ghisingh submits resignation!

Darjeeling, March 6: News of Subash Ghisingh submitting resignation has reached Darjeeling amidst the explosion of fire-crackers and festivity. The GNLF President had clarified yesterday that he would be returning to Darjeeling Today after submitting his resignation in Siliguri. However, none of the GNLF leaders are available for comment. There was an one hour strike today in Darjeeling. It has not yet been established as to why this strike was declared.

Truck accident in Kalimpong

A Truck laden with rice sacks falls over a taxi in Kalimpong. No one was injured

The first GNLF delegation to New Delhi

The First GNLF delegation to New Delhi in 1982, the delegates along with Subash Ghisingh included Churamani Karka, Surya narayan Pradhan, Keshav Lama, Late. Navin Tamang and Tilotama Rana. [Photo: Courtesy Bishal Rai]

Gorkha Brigades steal media glare!

All Photos by Bishal Rai

GJM Delegates Meets Union Home Minister Shivraj Patel

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Central Committee Members in a meeting with

the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patel Patil.

Seen along with the Minister is GJM President Bimal Gurung, General Secretary Roshan Giri and D. K. Pradhan, President GNLF (C)

DC to take charge of hill council

Darjeeling, March 5: The Bengal government might hand over the charge of the DGHC to a divisional commissioner (DC) once Subash Ghisingh resigns from the post of the caretaker administrator of the council. [Inset: Gorkha ex-servicemen at a rally demanding Gorkhaland in Darjeeling on Wednesday. Picture by Suman Tamang]

The GNLF chief announced in Delhi today that he would send his resignation papers to the governor from Siliguri tomorrow. He had been ordered by the state government to relinquish his post within March 10.

About the new arrangement that is being mulled by the state, a source said: “The government is looking at handing over charge to the divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri and also wants to conduct elections to the council within six months.”

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had earlier said it has no objection to the government plan to appoint a senior IAS officer to take charge of the council. About elections, however, Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, was not so forthcoming. He had said it was a “secondary” issue for the moment.

Apart from the election to the DGHC, the government has also not been able to hold panchayat polls in the hills, largely because of Ghisingh’s reluctance, since 2005. Political observers believe that the government would at least like to hold the rural elections at the earliest.

Senior GNLF leaders, including Deepak Gurung, I.N. Pradhan and Dawa Pakhrin, the branch presidents of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, reached Delhi yesterday to meet Ghisingh.

Party sources, while confirming the visit, said the GNLF leaders were trying to work out a strategy for the coming days. The GNLF chief has written to the Prime Minister to look afresh into the Gorkhaland demand.

Ghisingh to resign today – Comeback bid with state cry

New Delhi/Darjeeling, March 5: Subash Ghisingh has toed the Gorkhaland line, a day before he resigns as caretaker administrator of the DGHC. His party, the GNLF, had been harping on statehood ever since it realised how the demand was cashed in by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to garner support against the special status for the Darjeeling hills.

The GNLF chief, it seems, is trying to make a comeback with the statehood demand in tow. At one point he had banked on the Sixth Schedule bill to see him through even when indefinite bandh and hunger strike launched by the Morcha against the special status crippled the hills.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, Ghisingh asked him to look afresh into the Gorkhaland demand. He has also accused the Centre and the Bengal government for the inordinate delay in implementing the memorandum of settlement granting Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills.

With the passage of the special status bill stalled for an indefinite period, the GNLF chief has now picked up the threads of the old demand, which had once under his leadership rocked the hills in the eighties.

Ghisingh has also announced that he will resign as caretaker administrator of the DGHC tomorrow. He will send his papers to the governor of Bengal after he reaches Siliguri, a close aide of the GNLF chief said at Gorkha Bhavan in New Delhi today.

War Vets Rally for Gorkhaland!

An old War Veteran rallies for Gorkhaland in New Delhi!  Photo by Bishal Rai