Guarding the former King

Gorkha MLAs Protest

Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha and Darjeeling MLA Pranay Rai protest the Budget Session before Bengal Legislative Assembly

Ghising not allowed to join Gorkha Janamukti Morcha

Darjeeling, Mar 17: The chief of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Bimal Gurung, has said that Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghising would not be allowed to join the GJM.

Gurung accused Ghising of being involved in several financial scandals during his two-year term as the head of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.

“This is despite his change of stance on the demand for Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling Hills and throwing support for a separate Gorkhaland State now,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ghising has decided to keep himself out of public view. Even his hardcore supporters are not being allowed to meet him at his Zakir Hussain Road residence.

Ghising had resigned as the caretaker administrator and chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) last week.

His resignation was a fallout of protests by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), that considered Ghising its principal political adversary.

The GJM had launched an economic blockade and started a fast-unto-death programme in the Darjeeling Hills on February 20, demanding the immediate removal of Ghising from the post and the scrapping of a move to grant Sixth Schedule status to the region.

A high-powered parliamentary panel had then advised the Centre to review the proposed inclusion of the area under the Sixth Schedule.

In a bid to stem the revolt against him, Ghising had renewed the demand for creation of a separate Gorkhaland State.

The GNLF leadership had also dropped their demand for Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling Hills that Ghising has been pursuing since 2005.

Articles 244(II) and 275(I) of the Indian Constitution have made provisions for a Sixth Schedule status. The Articles state that if various indigenous groups live in a district or area, then they can be granted Sixth Schedule status leading to its autonomy.

The GJM is also demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of the Darjeeling Hills and certain areas contiguous to it. (ANI)

GJMM takes over Kurseong Municipality

Kurseong, March 17: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha formed a board at the Kurseong Municipality today. Out of the 20 councillors of the Kurseong Municipality (KM), 12 had joined the GJMM on 29 February. While 8 were from the GNLF, the rest four were independents. One more commissioner Mr Shayam Sherpa of ward number seven joined the GJMM recently increasing the numbers. A no-confidence motion was moved against the Kurseong Municipality chairman, Mr PC Agarwal, following which, Mr Agarwal resigned from his post.Election to the chairman’s post of the KM was held today in the presence of inspectors, Kurseong SDO Mr Dibyendu Das and deputy magistrate Mr DT Bhutia. Mr Krishna Limboo Subba of ward number two was elected to the chairman’s post uncontested. With 13 commissioners in its fold, the GJMM also formed the KM board. Mr Balaram Chettri of ward number six has been appointed the new vice- chairman of the board. The oath taking ceremony will be held within a week and the resolution of today’s development has been sent to the Dar-jeeling district magistrate. GJMM supporters alle-gedly gheraoed the commissioner of ward number 15 Mr Bahnu Gupta at his shop this morning to force him to vote in favor of the GJMM. [The Statesman]

Tibetan and Non Tibetans Protest!

Tibetan sympathisers and activists in-exile take part in a candle-light peace march in Mumbai on Monday. More than eighty people have died in a wave of unrest and Chinese crackdown in Tibet -AFP

SPAIN : Protestors demonstrate outside the Chinese consulate in Barcelona to denounce Beijing`s crackdown on demonstrations against its controversial rule in Tibet on Monday .- AFP

Gurung’s condition for GNLF MLAs

Darjeeling, March 17: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leadership has imposed a condition for the GNLF MLAs to join their outfit. “If they wish to join the GJMM, they would have to relinquish their public posts first,” the GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung, said today. According to the GJMM leader, GNLF MLAs from Darjeeling and Kalimpong Mr Pranay Rai and Mr Golan Lepcha respectively have expressed the desire to join the GJMM. The two MLA’s have disassociated from the Gorkha National Liberation Front and staged walkouts from the Bidhan Sabha demanding Gorkhaland recently. But the GJMM wants to test them further and therefore have placed the condition. The two MLAs were unavailable for comments. Outlining the GJMM’s future plans, Mr Gurung said that his organisation intended to launch campaigns for a separate state in the region including the Dooars. “We have already set up more than 100 units in the Dooars,” said Mr Gurung. Regarding the massive corruption in the DGHC for the past 22 years, he said that the GJMM had forwarded a letter today to both the Centre and the state government demanding an enquiry into the matter. “It is the responsibility of the government to set up a commission to probe the matter otherwise there will be chaos in the Hills again,” he cautioned. [The Statesman]

CPM lashes out at GJMM

Siliguri, March 17: The Darjeeling district CPI-M secretary Mr SP Lepcha today alleged that the GJM has let loose a reign of terror in the Darjeeling Hills. He also demanded prompt election to the DGHC. Taking strong exception to the alleged strong-arm tactics of the GJM, the CPI-M leader said that his party had enough evidence in support of the supposition that the GJM was terrorising the Opposition into submission. “The GJM activists are perpetuating an atmosphere of strife and lawlessness. We would not tolerate these things,” Mr Lepcha warned.

March for ‘Free Tibet’

Kalimpong, March 17: About 2,000 Tibetans marched through the main streets of the town today as the outrage against the Chinese crackdown on the protests in Lhasa found its echo in the hills.

The marchers carried placards and shouted slogans against the Chinese government and in support of Tibetan independence. Cries of “Free Tibet” rent the air. Women protesters were seen weeping to mourn the deaths of their brethren back home. [Inset:  Tibetan protesters burn the effigy of Chinese president Hu Jintao at Damber Chowk in Kalimpong on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha]

“We will never give up until and unless Tibet is free. The Chinese must end their occupation of our homeland,” said Chumgdak, the president of the Kalimpong chapter of Tibetan Women’s Association.

Chumgdak added the world should come together to boycott the Beijing Olympics slated for August this year, especially since the Chinese aggression was there for all to see through international news channel.

A large number of women members in the crowd turned up in traditional Tibetan dress, while many youngsters wore bandanas carrying messages of freedom. Monks in their maroon robes were at the head of the procession.

“Tibetans from different parts of the region will gather in Siliguri tomorrow to march from Salugara to Court More. The Kalimpong contingent will be 100 strong,” Chumgdak said.

About 150 Tibetans had held a prayer service at Manilhakhang monastery here last evening for those killed in the latest round of protests in Lhasa. “We also said our prayers for world peace,” Chumgdak said.

Some marchers, however, seemed to suggest that passive protests alone would not be enough. “It is high time we abandoned the middle path of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and opt for drastic action,” said a marcher, Lobsang Dhendup, without elaborating.

Kalimpong used to be a hub of Indo-Tibetan trade till the Chinese aggression of 1962 put an end to it. The Tibetan presence is very strong in the town. [The Telegraph]

Survey unearths AIDS care woes

Siliguri, March 17: Bengal is performing poorly in healthcare delivery and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, a recent independent study conducted in three districts of the state has revealed.

Child In Need Institute (CINI), in association with the UK-based Voluntary Services Overseas, conducted the survey in Darjeeling, South 24 Parganas and Calcutta and found that more than a third of HIV patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in these districts do not follow their medication.

“This could lead to drug resistance and various complications among the patients,” said Rudranath Bhattacharya, a professor of community medicine at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, at a meet held here today to present the findings of the survey.

The irregularities in medication have been put down to high travel expenses, long queues at hospitals, lack of awareness and discrimination from society.

The survey has found that although 100 per cent of positive persons in the three districts visited hospitals for check-ups, 76 per cent of them had to travel long distances and spend a long time (some up to three hours) in queues before doctors could examine them.

“This and the lack of knowledge about the effects of non-adherence to ARV have contributed to irregular medication,” said Bhattacharya.

“Another concern raised by the study is the high levels of discrimination still being faced by persons infected with the virus,” said CINI deputy-director Veena Lakhumalani.

It has been found that 90 per cent have been exposed to some sort of discrimination or the other, perhaps a reason why only 50 per cent were willing to discuss their status with other members of the community.

The survey has also revealed that 62 per cent did not have a clear idea what a CD4 count was (it is a blood test that determines the immunity level of a patient).

The three districts where the survey was conducted represent zones with different levels of HIV prevalence: high (Calcutta), moderate (Darjeeling) and low (South 24 Parganas).

Representatives of several NGOs attended the presentation and made a few observations of their own, which will be incorporated in the recommendations to be submitted to the West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society for follow-up action.

Gautam, a representative of people living with HIV/AIDS from Jalpaiguri, said there was a need to train workers who are involved with home-based care.

“Quite often, they go to a village and ask where HIV positive persons live, thus disclosing their status and leaving them open to discrimination,” said Gautam.

Morcha demands high-powered probe

Darjeeling, March 17: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has demanded that a high powered commission be set up to investigate “cases of corruption” in the DGHC during Subash Ghisingh’s tenure as chairman and caretaker administrator.

In a letter addressed to Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Morcha said the commission must be headed by a high court judge.

“It is likely that a thorough investigation into cases of corruption will reveal siphoning of hundreds of crores of rupees from the exchequer,” said Bimal Gurung, the president of the Morcha. He added that the party might also approach the Prime Minister and the home minister for a CBI inquiry.

The Morcha chief said immediate orders should be issued for “freezing and sealing” all records and accounts that may be of relevance to the inquiry.

The demand follows close on the heels of the recovery of more than 150 files from the residences of former council officers. Police had, after complaints from the Morcha, raided the houses to seize the files.

The district police chief, however, had showcaused the inspector-in-charge of Sadar police station for conducting searches without warrants.

The Morcha today filed a petition before the court of the chief judicial magistrate seeking an inquiry into the content of the files.

Amar Lama, the lawyer who filed the petition, said: “Under 156 (3) of the CrPc, the court can direct the police through a magistrate to start an inquiry into the files that were recovered. The hearing of the petition will take place after a week.” The files are in the custody of the Darjeeling police.

Gurung has also asked Pranay Rai and Gaulan Lepcha, the MLAs of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, to resign from their posts and join the Morcha. “They must resign for the sake of Gorkhaland. Only raising voices (in the Assembly) is not enough,” said Gurung.

Both Rai and Lepcha have resigned from the GNLF and formed a group called GNLF (Rebels). [The Telegraph]

Cheer for tea gardens under lock and key

Calcutta, March 17: The Rs 750 monthly allowance given to workers in closed tea gardens will be extended by a year after they are reopened.

The tea industry applauded Asim Dasgupta’s announcement, hoping the move would encourage investors to buy closed gardens and open them. [Inset: The mace in the House dressed up with vegetables by Trinamul Congress leaders to protest rising prices. Picture by Amit Datta]

This is the first time some definite steps have been initiated under Section 16E of the Central Tea Act to transfer the management of the closed gardens to suitable entrepreneurs.