Darjeeling on the boil: CM Mamata wants Bengali mandatory in schools, Gorkhas want Nepali, Hindi

[Hindustani78]

Police are searching for Bimal Gurung over his involvement in many cases.(AFP)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...g-continues/story-iTFbh0BWki8Bkzj6ILrX0K.html


The situation in Darjeeling remained tense as the indefinite shutdown in the hills entered its 81st day on Sunday. A massive search operation launched by West Bengal Police for absconding Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung continued.

Since Friday, police were combing Darjeeling hills and its adjoining areas for Gurung, against whom a lookout notice was issued for his alleged involvement in various cases, including a bomb blast in Kalimpong police station in which a civic volunteer was killed.

There are also cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him.

Protests by pro-Gorkhaland supporters demanding continuation of the shutdown and a separate state of Gorkhaland were organised in various parts of the hills. Rallies were taken out in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, Sonada and Kalimpong.

Picketing by GJM supporters has been strengthened in several parts of the hills and posters and leaflets were distributed in support of the shutdown.

Barring medicine shops and hospitals, all the shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed.

The shutdown in the hills is on after Gurung revoked party convenor Binay Tamang’s decision of suspending it till September 12, when the next round of dialogue with the state government is scheduled.

The GJM chief had also expelled Tamang on Friday on the charge of “violating the party line and indulging in anti- party activities”.

Police and security forces maintained a strict vigil in order to avoid any untoward incident.

 

[Hindustani78]

It is in connection with the violence that rocked Darjeeling hills on June 8.
In yet another setback to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership, a court in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district has issued arrest warrants against eight leaders, including party president Bimal Gurung, for their alleged involvement in the violence that rocked the district in June.

Violence had erupted in the Darjeeling hills when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a Cabinet meeting there on June 8. Several police personnel were injured and the Army was called in to control the situation.

“The warrants have been issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Darjeeling, on a plea by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) on Tuesday. The Court wanted to have a hearing in the day,” Ajay Prasad, Special Superintendent of Police, North CID, told The Hindu.

Besides Mr. Gurung, warrants have been issued against his wife Asha Gurung, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri and five others.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ite-meeting/story-jBQF04EnQNZtxbm38fSjKK.html

Paramilitary forces stand guard along a road in Kalimpong. The north Bengal hills have been reeling under an indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to demand a separate Gorkhaland state.(AFP)

Nearly a month after Union home minister Rajnath Singh appealed to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders of Darjeeling, an eight-member team of representatives of the hill parties met him again with the plea to start tripartite talks for the creation of a separate state.

“Raising the one point agenda of Gorkhaland, the delegation members requested the Union home minister to initiate the process of tripartite talks on statehood issue... Since the (Bengal) chief minister has already stated that the matter of statehood is not within ambit of the state government, the GJM members urged the Union home minister to initiate the process of tripartite talks,” the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) said in a press release.

The hills of north Bengal have been reeling under an indefinite shutdown that entered its 86th day on Friday. Ten people have died so far in the current phase of agitations for a separate state that started on June 8.

Although the home ministry did not issue any statement, members of the delegation claimed success. “The Union home minister told us that he had earlier spoken to Mamata Banerjee on this issue and would speak to her again and request her to call a tripartite meeting,” Arun Ghatani who represented the Communist Party Revolutionary Marxist in the meeting, said on phone from Delhi.

“The meeting was a success. Every meeting is a step ahead,” said Swaraj Thapa, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) central committee member.

On August 13, Rajnath Singh had told a team of agitators from the hills that they would have to hold talks with Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has vowed not to allow a separate state to be carved out.

The GJM representatives to meet Singh on Friday were Rohit Sharma (MLA Kurseong), Sarita Rai (MLA Kalimpong), Swaraj Thapa (central committee member), Roshan Giri (general secretary) and Ashok Lama (leader of Dooars). The other three were Arun Ghatani (Communist Party Revolutionary Marxist), Biplov Rai (Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League) and Dawa Pakhrin (Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha).

In a meeting between the representatives of GJM, Gorkha National Liberation Front and Jan Andolan Party at the state secretariat on August 29, Mamata Banerjee clearly said her government has no jurisdiction to discuss a separate state, and that she was opposed to it.

“The GJM members urged the Union home minister to speak to honourable chief minister of West Bengal and bring to a stop the continuous raids on GJM leaders and workers. Even today police disrupted a legitimate street corner public meeting in Darjeeling’s Chowk Bazar area and rained lathis on the crowd who had gathered. Tear gas shells were also fired...” read the GJM statement.

Referring to the earlier meeting with Rajnath Singh, the statement said, “The GJM had also called off indefinite hunger strike by Yuwa Morcha members on August 13, 2017 honouring the appeal of the Union home minister.”

Incidentally, senior GJM leaders including Bimal Gurung, facing charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act slapped by the state government, are believed to be in hiding somewhere in Sikkim.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/632289/delhi-mla-seeks-prez-intervention.html

Delhi BJP-SAD legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa today met President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention for the protection of two "historic" gurudwaras in Sikkim.

Sirsa, who is also general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, alleged that the Gurudongmar Sahib and Chungthang Sahib gurudwaras in Sikkim are facing a danger of "extinction" due to actions of the local authorities.

"This is a very controversial matter that needs immediate attention," he said.

He claimed that a letter has been issued by the local sub divisional magistrate (SDM) regarding "encroachment and illegal construction" by Chungthang gurudwara while a status quo was granted by the Supreme Court on the status of Gurudongmar gurudwara.

Both are historic gurudwaras that were visited by Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev in the 15th century on his return from Tibet, Sirsa said. The gurudwaras have been the subject of a dispute between local Buddhists and Sikhs.

 

[Hindustani78]

Indian paramilitary forces stand guard along a road during the 83th day of an indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) for separate state Gorkhaland in Kalimpong on September 3, 2017.(AFP File Photo)


http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...of-shutdown/story-6X68Xbqt4fr0dXz5o4rb7H.html


A large number of shops on Saturday reopened in the Darjeeling hills, braving threats and intimidation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), even as the indefinite shutdown in the hills entered its 87th day.

The police and administration appealed to the locals today through public address system to open their shops and restore normalcy in the hills.

The development comes two days after a blast took place in Mirik, forcing shopkeepers to close their shops.

Peace rallies were taken out by the residents of Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik demanding restoration of peace in the hills.

State Tourism Minister and senior TMC leader Gautam Deb welcomed the opening of the shops.

“GJM is trying to threaten the masses through bomb blasts and violence, but the people of the hills will not bow down before the threats. People are against the divisive politics of Bimal Gurung. They want peace and stability,” he said.

Echoing him, expelled GJM leader Binay Tamang thanked the people “for not bowing before the threat and intimidation of the GJM”.

The search operation to trace Gurung, the absconding GJM supremo against whom cases have been lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, continued in the Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas.

GJM supporters took out rallies in support of Gorkhaland, and the ongoing shutdown in parts of Darjeeling, Sonada and Kalimpong.

Picketing by them was strengthened in some areas and posters and leaflets were distributed in support of the strike.

Internet services in the hills remain suspended since June 18.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
26-September, 2017 18:04 IST
Union Home Minister appeals GJM to withdraw bandh in Darjeeling Hills

Home Secretary to convene meeting to discuss all related issues

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has appealed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to withdraw the ongoing bandh in the Darjeeling Hills. He also asked the Union Home Secretary to convene an official level meeting in the Ministry of Home Affairs within a fortnight to discuss all related issues.

Following is the text of appeal of the Union Home Minister:

"On the call of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) an indefinite strike is currently on in the Darieeling Hills since 12-06-2017.

Eleven precious lives have been lost so far, several have been injured and the entire people of Darjeeling hills have suffered a lot since the strike. I have been pained immensely by what has happened in Darjeeling hills.

In a democracy, dialogue is the only way out to resolve any problem. Solutions can be found through restraint, mutual dialogue and within the legal ambit.

I have asked the Home Secretary to convene an official level meeting in the Home Ministry within a fortnight to discuss all related issues. I also appeal to the GJM and its leader Shri Bimal Gurung to withdraw the ongoing bandh and to help create a conducive atmosphere for allowing normalcy to return to the area, particularly in view of the festive season.”

******

 

[livingdead]

mamta should not impose her language on others, bengalis seem to forget what happened in bd....

 

[Tshering22]

All these secular and leftist parties are the ones that are the most biased when it comes to creating trouble in the name of language, religion, region etc. Karnataka is ruled by a secularist party and look at the ruckus they created about Hindi. Now this Momta is doing the same with Bengali.

Some years back this was an issue in Maharashtra as well under the Chavan government; DMK does the same in TN to an extreme level.

So basically the lesson is that secularist parties are only known to create riots, unrest, chaos and pain for common people.

mamta should not impose her language on others, bengalis seem to forget what happened in bd....

The problem is not Bengali, or Hindi or Nepali or anything else.

THe problem is, she has gone mad with power and wants to become a monarch in a democracy.

She thinks she can defy PM Modi and get away with it even if it means ruining a lot of innocent lives.

Technically, I am of the view that the Hills of north bengal should be merged with Sikkim.

We'd welcome it as it is easier for us to deal with our own. Bengal sadly under Momta has become a hell for our brothers and sisters.

 

[El Sidd]

Darjeeling on the boil: CM Mamata wants Bengali mandatory in schools, Gorkhas want Nepali, Hindi
After GJM cadres clashed with police following their protests against Mamata's decision to make Bengali compulsory in syllabus of schools, the Army was called in to control the situation.

After Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) cadres clashed with police following their protests against CM Mamata Banerjee's visit to Darjeeling and her decision to make Bengali compulsory in syllabus of schools across the state, the Army was called in to control the situation.

On request of the West Bengal government, Army has been deployed in Darjeeling to control the situation. Two Army columns each, comprising 80 men, have been moved.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been campaigning for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.






The GJM has been demanding Nepali as a language instead or can accept Hindi, but is strictly against the making of Bengali mandatory in all schools across the state.

Buses vandalised by GJM protesters in Darjeeling.



HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Thousands of GJM supporters had gathered on the streets and bylanes of the hills with black flags and placards.
2. The protests have intensified with each passing hour even as Mamata Banerjee held a cabinet meeting for the first time in the hills on Thursday, in an attempt to highlight the importance of the region for her state government.
3. The GJM supporters took out a protest rally only 100 metres away from the venue of the meeting. The protestors shouted slogans and burnt effigies of Mamata Banerjee.
4. The anger of protesters spiralled out of control. The police was finally forced to resort to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells on them.
5. The protesters retaliated by hurling stones at the cops and torching police vehicles, just outside the Bhanu Bhawan in Darjeeling where Mamata Banerjee was holding a cabinet meeting. The Army had to be called to control the situation.
6. Since thousands of people were involved in various processions in different parts of Darjeeling, the intensity of protests continued unabated. The GJM supporters decided to show their strength in numbers against Mamata's frequent visits to this Darjeeling region and repeated warnings to them to give up their demand of Gorkhaland.
7. The protesters kept shouting 'Jai Gorkha' slogans, waving black flags on the streets of Darjeeling and demanding that the voice of Gorkhaland be heard.
8. Founder President of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Bimal Gurung said, "I want to thank all the people who have come from various places to be a part of this three-day rally. The people, who have revolted on the roads of Darjeeling, want to protect their Nepali language. Mamata Banerjee claims in the speech she gave in Mirik that this decision is not a compulsion. Studying Bengali is a choice. She needs to pass a bill in the assembly that Gorkha Nepali shall remain untouched and assure us of the protection of our language. Mamata has said that she will get a special audit conducted in this place. According to me, the audits should be imposed on Sharda scam, chit fund scam, Narda scam after which the ministers involved in corruption should be investigated. Her 'dadagiri' has become too much for us to stand. We won't let her gain political benefits from this land and we shall definitely strive for the creation of Gorkhaland."
9. Mamata Banerjee, however, said that she was concerned about the people of Darjeeling and that it was her government that had till now taken all decisions beneficial for the hills, including the recognition to the language.
10. Mamata had been threatening strong action against the GJM leaders, many of whom have been booked in cases of murder and vandalism of state property. She alleged that there were large-scale financial irregularities committed in the running of the autonomous council Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) by the GJM members.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...rotests-bengali-school-syllabus/1/973908.html

Some people just have recurring issues.

Like seriously?

Again the language?

Hmmm interesting

 

[Tshering22]

Some people just have recurring issues.

Like seriously?

Again the language?

Hmmm interesting

WHen things are going on naturally, then no one will mind taking one more as an option.

But WB government has gone crazy under Momta.

The rate at which she's going, Centre will intervene very soon.

 

[El Sidd]

WHen things are going on naturally, then no one will mind taking one more as an option.

But WB government has gone crazy under Momta.

The rate at which she's going, Centre will intervene very soon.

So its just political stunt?

 

[Tshering22]

So its just political stunt?

She is an extremely narcissistic personality in Indian politics. She runs Bengal like the Fat Kims of North Korea. This lady has issues with the simple fact that Narendra Modi is her boss at the end of the day. She cannot get over it and it affects her secure votebank of illegals from Bangladesh.

Add to it the fact that Assam, the most affected state from this demographic tensions, is right under PM Modi's thumb with steps being taken to evict this lunatic's votebank.

Without illegal Banglas, especially the kind that come here (not talented but radicalised and decrepit poor), she will lose elections without significant voter base.

Darjeeling and hills region of Bengal is very different in terms of temperament and public life in general. They are more akin to my state and the culture and day to day life is more like us.

Her imposing of this nonsense against our brothers from the Hills is a big problem. Normally we are not the kind who distinguish anyone from anyone but Momta has had it coming for years now.

GJM is a political threat to her and she's worried that if BJP lends its support to them, they'll become all powerful in the region. Her influence on the Hills will go and she'll lose an important area of influence.

 

[El Sidd]

She is an extremely narcissistic personality in Indian politics. She runs Bengal like the Fat Kims of North Korea. This lady has issues with the simple fact that Narendra Modi is her boss at the end of the day. She cannot get over it and it affects her secure votebank of illegals from Bangladesh.

Add to it the fact that Assam, the most affected state from this demographic tensions, is right under PM Modi's thumb with steps being taken to evict this lunatic's votebank.

Without illegal Banglas, especially the kind that come here (not talented but radicalised and decrepit poor), she will lose elections without significant voter base.

Darjeeling and hills region of Bengal is very different in terms of temperament and public life in general. They are more akin to my state and the culture and day to day life is more like us.

Her imposing of this nonsense against our brothers from the Hills is a big problem. Normally we are not the kind who distinguish anyone from anyone but Momta has had it coming for years now.

GJM is a political threat to her and she's worried that if BJP lends its support to them, they'll become all powerful in the region. Her influence on the Hills will go and she'll lose an important area of influence.

Provinces in India enjoy far too less freedom to claim that she runs a state within a state in a country.

That's like saying Guam will elect the next President of America.

Constitutionally impossible.

 

[Hindustani78]

Gangtok, August 22, 2018 22:23 IST
Updated: August 23, 2018 00:53 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...an-chamling/article24754277.ece?homepage=true

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling says State is the most peaceful in the country, seeks a peace bonus
Sikkim is the most peaceful State and the Centre should consider it for a peace bonus, Pawan Chamling, the State’s longest serving Chief Minister, who has been elected CM five times consecutively since December 1994, said in an interview.

What are your thoughts on being the longest serving Chief Minister?
I never thought I would join politics and come this far. When I became an MLA, I never thought I will become a Minister leave alone Chief Minister. During five consecutive terms as Chief Minister, I have always stood by the people of the State. All I can say is that I have never indulged in negative politics...targeted leaders of the Opposition. The people of Sikkim have blessed me with their support for so many years.

You have worked with eight Prime Ministers, starting from P.V. Narashima Rao to Narendra Modi. Who do you think has been the best Prime Minister?
Vajpayeeji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee), I think… I have great regard for him. When spoke to him, it felt like you were speaking to a saint, not a politician. Once when he was visiting Sikkim, I was addressing a public meeting and raised a demand for ₹1,000 crore for the State, and asked that the Centre accommodate our demand yathasambhav [as much as it can]. When Vajpayeeji rose to speak, he thanked me publicly for using the word (yathasambhav) and said I understood his situation as well.

What are your expectations from the Narendra Modi government?
We have a lot of expectations and I cannot say that all our expectations are being fulfilled. We are getting support as much as is mandated in law, but nothing more than that.

What more do you expect from the Centre?
Sikkim is the most peaceful State of the country and you have to realise that it is a very sensitive State, considering its location, surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan and China. There were years of Maoist movement in Nepal. We insulated the State from that. The issue of Gorkhaland has been raging for 35 years in West Bengal and yet we were able to keep Sikkim peaceful.kept Sikkim insurgency-free for 24 years. This is my greatest achievement.

Had Sikkim been an unstable State, imagine how much money and resources the Centre would have to pump in to counter insurgency. Considering this, the Centre should have given a peace bonus to Sikkim. I have raised the issue but do not have any response. The Centre does not give attention to States which do well.

How are your relations with West Bengal?
I have spoken to Mamataji, personally after the Gorkhaland agitation. She is a great leader, Chief Minister of such a large State and I admire her. I am with Mamata Banerjee on the development and peace of Darjeeling.

Sikkim is known for its measures to control pollution and encourage environmental protection. Can you elaborate on this?
We have taken a lot of steps for environmental protection and also tried some innovative means. You must be aware that the Sikkim government was the first to ban plastics. We have decided to allocate 1% of every project for environmental protection.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which side will you support, the BJP-led coalition or the one by Opposition parties?
I am not with anyone. We have only one MP from Sikkim and that is of not much consequence at the national level. We believe in Ekla cholo re (walking alone).

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...artite-meet-on-gorkhaland/article25137921.ece

Large-scale violence was reported in Darjeeling in West Bengal and nearby areas controlled by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in June last year, claiming the lives of 11 persons.

Ms. Rai, who led the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation, said they met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba who had assured them that the talks would be held by November after Durga Puja. None from the West Bengal government attended the meeting.

“ We called off the strike last year after an appeal was made by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. From that time we were seeking tripartite talks. …it is a political issue,” she said.

Asked what would be the fate of the talks since there was no representative from the West Bengal government, Ms. Rai said, “We are from West Bengal. I am hopeful that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agrees and she has already said it is a political issue.”

She said they had asked the Home Ministry to send a fact-finding team to survey the areas. “Around 5,000 youth face criminal action and are away from home. I don’t know if cases are fabricated. We have met the Chief Minister and raised that cases against political leaders should be withdrawn. It has not been done yet,” she said.

The GJM is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and has been pushing for a separate State for the Nepali-speaking Gurkhas. The decades-old demand revived last year when Ms. Banerjee announced that Bengali would be made compulsory in schools.