Apolitical forum formed in Darjeeling to pursue Gorkhaland demand

Move comes at a time when dynamics of hill politics have changed with both Bimal Gurung and Binay Tamang factions of the GJM aligning with the TMC

In pic Observers believe the new apolitical organisation is trying to tap in the “silent majority” which do not agree with the present stand of hill parties

File picture

Writes : Vivek Chhetri 

An apolitical forum has been formed in Darjeeling to pursue the demand of Gorkhaland at a time the dynamics of hill politics have changed with both Bimal Gurung and Binay Tamang factions of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha aligning with the Trinamul Congress, a party opposed to the statehood.

Leaders of the new organisation — Gorkhaland Sankalp Samua — held a meeting with office-bearers of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, another apolitical organisation espousing the cause of the Gorkhas across the country, in Darjeeling on Sunday to present their plans and proposals to pursue the statehood demand.

Pasang Sherpa, a representative of the GSS, said there had been a realisation that political parties had failed to achieve much through their movements.

 “This, we feel, is because they are not united. We want to create a platform where a united Gorkha voice can be heard,” said Sherpa stressing that the apolitical organisation would extensively use social media to reach out to the Gorkhas across the country.

At a time both the factions of the Morchas have aligned with Trinamul and the  GNLF is talking about the possibility of going for a “permanent political solution”, which is not less than the provisions enshrined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, observers believe the new apolitical organisation is trying to tap in the “silent majority” which do not agree with the present stand of hill parties.

Even though most hill parties swear by Gorkhaland, which is an emotive issue, the disillusionment against these parties is slowly coming out in the open, said an observer.

The GSS highlighted that the movements by political parties had achieved little but only destroyed “the economy, education, livelihood and even politics of the hills”.

“Our primary agenda at the moment is to unite all voices, including parties, and bring them to a common platform so that the demand is pursued strongly,” said Sherpa.

Sources said this new forum would not allow its members to engage with political parties.

“The forum is looking at agitation which does not severely affect common lives. Movements like not accepting government benefits on a particular day, hoisting national flags to demand Gorkhaland and mobilising people across the region with specific events, are being considered by the forum at the moment,” said a source.

Observers believe that these events are probably aimed to first mobilise support for the new platform.

The fact that the BGP has given credence to the new initiative suggests there is a bigger churn below the surface.

Sukhman Moktan, national president, BGP, said members of the apolitical organisations discussed the present situation of Darjeeling and “the problem, weaknesses and initiatives and strategies that need to be undertaken for fulfilment of Gorkhaland demand”. “We have also decided to hold a national seminar on Gorkhaland in Darjeeling soon,” said Moktan.

Source : Telegraph

समस्याले पीडित जनतालाई सबैले आजसम्म आश्वासन मात्रै दिएर वाक्क बनाएका छन् ,म ठुलो-ठुलो सपना देखाउदिन सक्ने काम गरेर देखाउने छु - अनित थापा

समस्याले पीडित जनतालाई सबैले आजसम्म आश्वासन मात्रै दिएर वाक्क बनाएका छन् ,म ठुलो-ठुलो सपना देखाउदिन सक्ने काम गरेर देखाउने छु - अनित थापा

विगतमा पहाडमा धेरैवटा व्यवस्थाहरू आए,गए। तर पहाड अनि पहाडवासीको मूलभूत समस्याहरूको भने उस्तो समाधान भएन। अहिलेपनि दार्जिलिङ पहाडको विभिन्न सुदूर ग्रामीण क्षेत्रहरू बाटो,पानी,बत्ती आदिको समस्यामा नै गुज्रिरहेको छ। पहाडवासी जनताले धेरैवटा पार्टीका नेता र व्यवस्थालाई साथ दिए तापनि ती नेताले चलाएको व्यवस्थाले जनतालाई साथ दिएन भन्नुमा अत्युक्ति नहोला। 

तर वर्तमान दार्जिलिङ पहाडमा अस्तित्वमा रहेको गोर्खाल्यान्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनले दार्जिलिङ पहाडको साधारण जनताको निम्ति धेरै जनसुविधामूलक अनि विकासमूलक कार्यहरू गरिरहेको छ। 

भोट जितेका,र अर्को पार्टीलाई जिताउन पोलिटिकल एजेन्टको काम गर्ने नेताहरु जनताको भोट लिएपछि आफ्नै दुनो सोझाउनु व्यस्त छन् । उनीहरू जनताले भोगेको समस्या हेर्न अहिले गाउँ जादैनन् ,उनीहरूलाई जनताको दु:खसंग केही सरोकार नै छैन । जनतालाई लट्टाएर गोजि भर्नु पायो भने भइगयो । तर भोट हारेको नेता नै अहिले जनताको दु:खमा काम लागिरहेको छ । फलस्वरूप जीटीए अध्यक्ष अनित थापा स्वयं जीटीए क्षेत्रमा रहेको विभिन्न सुदूर ग्रामीण क्षेत्रहरूमा भ्रमण गरि मानिसहरूसँग भेट गरिरहेका छन्। 

जनगुनासो एवम् क्षेत्रको समस्या बुझेर समाधानको निम्ति कार्य गर्नलाई सदैव अघि रहेर जीटीए अध्यक्ष अनित थापाले पहाडलाई विकासको मूलबाटोमा लागिरहेको कुरा सबैअघि छर्लङ्ग छ। 

जनता केवल भोट बैंक मात्र होइन तर जनताको मूलभूत समस्याहरू पनि हुन्छन् भन्ने कुरालाई बुझेका वर्तमान जीटीए अध्यक्ष अनित थापाले जनताको घरदैलोमा पुगेर उनीहरूका समस्यालाई सुनिरहेका छन्, समाधान गरिरहेका छन् । जनतालाई ढाँटेर राजनीति नगर्ने नेता अनित थापाले जनतालाई ठुलो सपना देखाएर आश्वासन दिएका छैनन् । सक्ने र हुने काम गरेरै देखाईरहेका छन् । 

यसैक्रममा आजपनि जीटीए अध्यक्ष अनित थापाले लुम्बुङ च्याग्रा र गुरुङ बस्तीको भ्रमण गरे। विभिन्न सुविधाहरूदेखि वञ्चित यस क्षेत्रमा जीटीए अध्यक्ष स्वयम् पुगेर भ्रमण गरी क्षेत्रको समस्याबारे बुझे। जनतासंग भलाकुसारी गरे । स्थानीय जनताले खुलेर आफुहरुले भोग्दै आएको समास्या बताए ।

Haven’t sold pride: Bimal Gurung on new pact

Haven’t sold pride: Bimal Gurung on new pact

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader explained in detail the need for a new pact with Trinamul and tried to flag off issues to his core constituency in tea gardens

Writes : Vivek Chhetri

Bimal Gurung’s supporters on Tuesday packed a community hall at St Mary-Tung area near Kurseong with people for him to address them from Calcutta through videoconference.

Gurung explained in detail the need for a new pact with Trinamul and tried to flag off issues to his core constituency in tea gardens.

Gurung’s party office at Patlebas, Darjeeling, also opened on Tuesday after a gap of more than three years.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader (Gurung faction) has started addressing large gatherings of party supporters through videoconferencing after three years, in an apparent bid to recover lost ground amid his prolonged absence from the hills after the Gorkhaland agitation of 2017.

“Till now we have not sold the pride, the self-respect of our community,” Gurung said, emphasising he had told in “clear-cut” terms (to Trinamul) that his party could not forget the Gorkhaland demand.

This statement acquires added significance as Gurung resurfaced on October 21 in Calcutta after three years to declare he was severing ties with the BJP-led NDA and support Trinamul in the upcoming Bengal polls, a party which has been against the separate-statehood demand.

Though Trinamul does not support the statehood demand, Gurung’s speech showed he was committed to the cause of Gorkhaland. “I explained during a news meet (in Calcutta) that during the 2024 Lok Sabha election we will support whichever party that takes forward the Gorkhaland demand,” added Gurung.

Politically, Gurung said, it was a do-or-die situation. “We were of the opinion that 2021 was most important and we had to take a swift decision keeping in the mind the (Bengal) election,” said Gurung, adding that a wrong decision would mean “the party would have died and along with it the issue (of Gorkhaland)...”

Without taking names, Gurung alluded that the political chapter of rival Binay Tamang would “close” within a few days.

Launching a multi-pronged attack on Tamang, who heads a breakaway faction of the Morcha, Gurung said that there were allegations of corruption in appointment of teachers and the interest of tea workers had not been taken care of.

“During my tenure we always ensured a 20 per cent bonus at one go (this year the tea gardens decided to pay bonus in two instalments of 15 and 5 per cent). After I return I promise tea workers that you will get a 20 per cent bonus in 2021,” said Gurung.

The 87-odd tea gardens in the hills employ around 70,000 tea workers.

Along with the welfare of tea garden workers, employment would be another core area of focus, he added.

“Difficult times” faced by his supporters on the run — Gurung said he too was on the run for the sake of the “community” despite having lived like a king (in Darjeeeling) — was another key point of his speech on Tuesday.

source : The telegraph 

The US President-elect’s message of unity - End era of demonisation in America: Biden

He promised to bring steady leadership and experience to meet the staggering crises facing the nation, most prominently the coronavirus

US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holds hands as they celebrate after winning the election. PTI

 Writes: Katie Glueck, Thomas Kaplan For TT.

Joseph R. Biden Jr addressed America for the first time as President-elect on Saturday night, delivering a message of unity and trying to soothe the extraordinary divisions that defined the last four years in American politics.

“Let this grim era of demonisation in America begin to end here and now,” he said.

In remarks before a drive-in audience in Wilmington brimming with long-time friends from Delaware, his home state, he directly appealed to the tens of millions of Americans who backed President Donald Trump’s re-election, seeking to make good on his central campaign promise of bringing the country together.

“For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight,” Biden, speaking at the conclusion of his third run for the presidency, said. “I’ve lost a couple times myself. But now, let’s give each other a chance. It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again.”

He added: “This is the time to heal in America.”

Biden’s optimistic speech, flecked with references to faith and American history, came 48 years to the day after he was first elected a senator from Delaware. He spoke from a flag-bedecked stage outside the Chase Center on the Riverfront, an event centre near the Christina river, where he invoked themes that shaped his presidential campaign.

The message, as it was throughout the campaign, was rooted more in a sense of values than in an especially ideological viewpoint, an approach that helped him build a broad coalition throughout the campaign but that will be tested in partisan Washington.

Yet Biden grew impassioned as he insisted that for all of the tensions in the country, Americans still wanted to see their leaders find common ground. He promised to bring steady leadership and experience to meet the staggering crises facing the nation, most prominently the coronavirus.

“What is our mandate?” he said. “I believe it’s this: Americans have called upon us to marshal the forces of decency, the forces of fairness, to marshal the forces of science and the forces of hope in the great battles of our time.”

Senator Kamala Harris, the vice-president-elect, spoke first, telling voters that they had chosen “hope and unity, decency, science and, yes, truth”.

She invoked her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who came to the US from India at the age of 19, and paid tribute to the women “who throughout our nation’s history have paved the way for this moment tonight”.

“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” she said. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”

New York Times News Service

Alipurduar identifies land for Cha Sundari homes

The Mamata Banerjee government is laying stress on a housing scheme — as part of the Cha Sundari scheme — for tea workers of the state as part of its bid to woo the tea population at a time the BJP has been highlighting how it has tried to offer a better deal to tea workers by changing labour laws.

At some 15 Assembly constituencies in north Bengal, votes of the tea population decide the results.

Surendra Kumar Meena, the district magistrate of Alipurduar, said that the administration had identified land in tea estates for the houses to come up in the first phase.

“The chief minister had announced the details of the scheme at the administrative review meeting that she held in Siliguri. The survey has been done and the state housing department soon will start construction work,” he said.

In the district, houses will be built in Mujnai, Dheklapara, Toorsa and Lankapara tea estates. Among these four, other than Toorsa, the rest are located under Birpara-Madarihat Assembly constituency, a seat the BJP won back in 2016 Assembly elections and secured a lead in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Under the housing scheme, the state intends to provide free houses to all the three lakh-odd tea workers over the next three years, and is popularising the scheme with a catch line, “Cha Sramikder Sakol Dorkare Pashe Achey Sarkar” (the government is always by the tea workers’ side).

In the tea belts of north Bengal such as Darjeeling, Terai or the Dooars, the BJP had always harped on the issue of minimum wage in the tea sector to embarrass the state government. The issue has, sources said, often affected the poll prospects of the ruling Trinamul.

Though the state government constituted a committee to recommend minimum wage rate for tea workers back in 2015, wage rate has not been fixed yet.

Added to it, the BJP is now highlighting the new labour law where it has been stated that maximum 15 per cent of the total wage can be provided to workers as non-cash component. In the tea industry, planters have time and again pointed out that they spend a considerable amount on non-cash benefits to workers.

“BJP leaders are trying to prove that if the new labour law is implemented, planters cannot provide non-cash components of more than 15 per cent of the wage and must pay the rest in cash. They are claiming this would increase the wage rate of tea workers,” said a senior trade union leader.

With the BJP emphasising on those issues, Mamata seems to be banking on the housing scheme. Home and land rights have been a longstanding demand of workers and their families.

By : Anirban Choudhury

Additional reports by Avijit Sinha in Siliguri, TT

Tiny hamlets now tourism focus Minister - -Deb bullish on Kalimpong’s potential

The Bengal tourism department has drawn up a plan to promote rural tourism in the new district of Kalimpong and promote it as a model district in rural tourism.

The decision comes in the wake of homestays, private resorts and other accommodations mushrooming across the district’s rural areas.

As a part of the plan, Gautam Deb, the state tourism minister, has started paying visits to prospective destinations and places already known but are yet to gain popularity among tourists visiting the region.

During the past few days, he visited Nokdara and Rishop, tiny hamlets of the hill district located within 35km  of the district headquarters of Kalimpong. Officials of the district administration and his department accompanied him.

“I have visited a couple of destinations in Kalimpong district where rural tourism can be developed with proper planning. We are exploring all possibilities to develop such facilities and will assess the potential of new destinations in the district. If rural tourism is promoted properly, it will also create employment for local residents,” said Deb.

Rishop’s idyllic hilly landscape is picture-postcard peaceful and also useful for short-distance nature trails. Nokdara, the other location, is a new site that can be developed into a destination for tourists.

An official who was with the minister on the trip, said that Nokdara has a lake where boating can be introduced.

“The serene location is surrounded by lush green forests. Also, visitors can enjoy a majestic view of the snow-capped Kanchenjungha, along with fabulous sunrises and sunsets. It is just 34km from Kalimpong town,” he said.

Raj Basu, a veteran in the tourism industry in the region who is assisting the department to conduct the survey, pointed out that the growth of rural tourism in Kalimpong district was encouraging more and more people to come up with accommodations in newer or less-known locations.

“The entire Kalimpong district has huge potential for village tourism,” Basu said. “In a number of places, local residents have developed facilities for visitors along with some private tour operators. What we now need is concrete planning from the state’s side to create more sites and also promote the locations,” added Basu, who is also the convener of the Association for Conservation and Tourism.

source  : The Telegraph

Chilahati-Haldibari rail link eyes Dec, March hope for Siliguri-Dhaka

IN Pic : A loco of Bangladesh Railway at the trial run from Chilahati station to the India-Bangladesh border on October 27

File picture

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The Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh intends to start train services along the Haldibari-Chilahati route from December 2020 as well as a passenger train service to connect its capital  Dhaka with Bengal’s Siliguri from March 2021.

The route between Cooch Behar’s Haldibari and Bangladesh’s Chilahati is likely to open on December 16, which both countries celebrate as Bijoy Dibosh or Vijay Diwas to mark the day in 1971 when Pakistani troops surrendered to the allied forces of India and Bangladesh, ending war of liberation for Bangladesh.

The Dhaka-Siliguri route is likely to come up on March 26, Bangladesh’s Independence Day. In 2021, Bangladesh will celebrate 50 years of independence.

Trains used to run through this route over five decades earlier — Bangladesh was East Pakistan then — but had stopped in 1965 during the India-Pakistan war.

During the past few years, governments of both India and Bangladesh had taken the initiative to lay railway tracks and put up ancillary infrastructure to run trains along the route. Work is almost over on both sides of the border.

Last week on October 21, Bangladesh railway minister Nurul Islam Sujon met Vikram Doraiswami, the new high commissioner of India at Dhaka’s Rail Bhawan.

After the meeting, an official release issued by the Bangladesh government the next day stated that the railway minister said the tracks for the Haldibari-Chilahati route would open this December.

“The railway minister said the railway line from Haldibari in India to Chilahati in Bangladesh will be launched in December,” said the release.

In an official post, the High Commission of India in Bangladesh said that at the meeting, Doraiswami and Sujon had discussed “ways to further enhance #IndiaBangladesh connectivity.”

The news release issued by Bangladesh press information department stated that its government was also mulling another plan, that is, introduction of passenger train services between Dhaka and Siliguri.

“….Besides, there are plans to run a passenger train from Dhaka to Siliguri on March 26 next year, the minister added,” reads the release.

Across north Bengal and in Bangladesh, there has been a steady demand to introduce train and air services. Thousands of Bangladeshi nationals visit Siliguri and nearby areas for education, healthcare, commerce and other reasons.

Many Bangladeshi tourists visit the hills every year, including Sikkim.

As of now, there are four rail routes that connect Bengal with Bangladesh, Petrapole-Benapole, Singhabad-Rohanpur, Gede-Darshana and Radhikapur-Birol.

Bus service is available from Siliguri to Dhaka via Changrabandha of Cooch Behar. Trial runs have been conducted to run buses along the Dhaka-Siliguri-Kathmandu route as a part of the transport agreement signed among the neighbouring countries but the service is yet to start.

“A passenger train service linking Bangladesh will give a major boost to the regional economy of north Bengal. We are eagerly waiting for the day,” said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary, Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.

Sources associated with the Haldibari-Chilahati route rail project said that chances were high that the route opens on December 16.

A trial run by the Bangladesh Railway two days back has cheered the residents of Cooch Behar’s Haldibari. “It was nice to see the locomotive of the Bangladesh Railway approaching the border after years. On both the sides, work is on in full swing and it will be great if the track is finally commissioned in December,” said Satish Dutta, an elderly resident of Haldibari.

Officials of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the zone of Indian Railway that has been working on the rail project, said tracks have been laid till the border. “Some ancillary works at Haldibari station are in progress. We do not have any information as to when the rail route will open but we have instructions to finish the work by December,” said S. Chanda, the chief public relations officer of NFR.

Additional inputs by Anirban Choudhury in Alipurduar

source :telegraph