News
ABAVP strike in Dooars and Siliguri; GJMM response
ABAVP shutdown hits life in Siliguri
www.thestatesman.net
SILIGURI, Oct.16: “We are suffering mainly because of the failure of the government to solve the Gorkhaland issue,” said Mr Akhil Roy, a resident of Batashi, as he waited at the Upper Bagdogra bus stand this morning.
Like Roy, the large number of people who remained stranded at many places on the Bagdogra-Naxalbari and Bagdogra-Bidhannagar highways due to the road blockades put up by Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) activists to protest against the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s claim to the Dooars and the Terai areas, lambasted both the West Bengal and Central governments for not taking initiative to solve the Gorkahland problem. “I shall not able to bring medicines for my ailing mother from Bagdogra today because the government took no special measures to solve the Gorkhaland problem,” lamented Subol Roy of Ghoshpukur.
Mr. Sanjay Sinha, who got stranded with his family in Naxalbari this morning, lashed out at the authorities for not making sufficient arrangements to inform people in the remote villages of the Terai areas about the bandh. “Had a proper and timely warning been issued to us, we would have returned to our home in Jalpaiguri immediately,” explained Sinha, who had come to Khoribari on October 14.
Many Adivasi labourers in the tea gardens along the Bagdogra-Naxalbari and Bagdogra-Bidhannagar highways, who took part in the agitations today, lost a day’s wage, as they could not attend their work. The workers blamed the government for the loss. Mr. Bhupinder Singh, who was stranded for over six hours at Panitanki before he decided to cancel the ticket of his flight to Kolkata this afternoon, lashed at the West Bengal government for allowing the situation in the hills to spiral out of control. “It is a pity that a government which is in power for more than 30 years cannot understand the sentiments of a section of its people and pursue and prevent them from holding an internationally and strategically important region hostage for an indefinite period of time leading to a series of counter-agitations and causing immense inconvenience to the common man,” he said.
Adivasis block roads, tracks
www.telegraphindia.com
Oct. 16: Blockades on roads and railway tracks were organised in several parts of Dooars and Terai as part of a 24-hour strike called by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today.
The agitation was called to protest against the demand by the Gorkha Janmukthi Morcha to include the two regions in the new state, Gorkhaland, that it wants.
In the Siliguri subdivision, all tea gardens were closed and 300 members of the organisation were arrested for blocking roads. They were released later.
“Overall, the situation was peaceful and no untoward incident occurred in Siliguri,” said Pradip Dutta, the deputy superintendent of police, Siliguri.
The bandh supporters organised a rally at Naxalbari, about 35 km from Siliguri. Several shops and establishments were closed and no tea garden was open in the block.
Vehicles were stopped at Salbari and Dagapur also. The scene was same at Sevoke where NH31 that connects Siliguri and Dooars was blocked.
“As we constitute 68 per cent of the population in the Dooars and Terai, how can the two regions be included in the separate state the Morcha is demanding,” asked Rajesh Toppo, the assistant secretary of the coordination committee of the Parishad.
The strike was partial in Alipurduar subdivision where most of the tea gardens were open. But blockades were held at many railway stations in the subdivision. The Northeast Frontier Railways said the strike had affected train services in north Bengal.
GJMM slams Adivasi strike
www.thestatesman.net
DARJEELING, Oct. 16: The GJMM leadership dubbed the strike called by Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parisad in Terai and Dooars today against the Gorkhaland movement “an eyewash” favouring the Left Front government.
“This is a frontal organisation of the CPI-M and it has a small support base. They are just following the CPI-M’s instruction to damage our movement,” the GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri said today. The Parisad has demanded Sixth Schedule status to be passed in Parliament for the uplift of the tribal community largely residing in the tea gardens of Terai and Dooars. “They have always been exploited and suppressed under the Bengal government for years, what progress do they expect now?” Mr Giri asked.
Incidentally, a separate body under the Gorkha Janamuti Adivasi Morcha has been formed under the GJMM’s banner to garner support for Gorkhaland in eastern, western and central Dooars. The body assists the GJMM in all its programmes to achieve Gorkhaland. Adivasi representatives have also been a part of GJMM delegations to New Delhi. “Their strike does not bother us as we enjoy the support of most adivasis through the Adivasi Morcha for Gorkhaland,” he added.
Tags: Discussion
7 comments for “ABAVP strike in Dooars and Siliguri; GJMM response”
Post a comment
ROSHAN is wrong. AVABP is not a frontal organisation of CPI(M).This organisation is belongs to Congress(I). Late Kartik Oraon(erstwhile minister of telecommunication, Govt. of India) was its founder President.
SILIGURI, Nov. 10: The Siliguri based ‘Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee’ (BOBBBC) has asked the Central Election Commission to segregate the ‘Nepali infiltrators’ from the Indian Gorkhas in Darjeeling district of northern Bengal and order an extensive revision of the existing electoral rolls of the whole district.
Serving a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi on 6 November, the Bengali body pointed out that as per the provisions of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 “Nepalese coming to India after 26-01-1945 are not Indian citizens although they can reside and exploit the livelihood opportunities in India.”
But in the four-page memorandum served to the CEC, the BOBBBC has claimed that “in violation of the bilateral treaty, lakhs and lakhs of Nepalese migrating to India after the specified date have found place in the electoral rolls of Darjeeling district and are unjustifiably enjoying the citizenship rights at the cost of the native Indians.”
“Even till date, scores of Nepali migrants are entering into the Darjeeling district and the adjoining Dooars region and are easily finding place in the electoral rolls,” said the BOBBBC president Dr Mukundo Mazumdar. To address the malady, the Bengali body has placed a four-point charter of demands before the CEC, which include ~ initiating an extensive revision of the electoral rolls of the four sub-divisions of Darjeeling district so as to identify and shed the names of the ‘Nepali migrants’ as per the guidelines offered by the treaty of 1950, order the district election officer of Darjeeling not to publish the final electoral rolls (for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls) until the task was over, to depute special election observers in Darjeeling for overseeing the roll revision and lastly, postpone all scheduled elections in Darjeeling until the roll revision was over.
It may be noted here that opposing the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling, the BOBBC on 7 November took part in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The agitation, which was also attended by the Siliguri based ‘Jana Chetena’ and other Bengali nationalist bodies from across India was convened by the ‘Bharatiya Bangla Bhasi Mahasabha’.
Separate memorandums were also submitted to the Prime Minister, President and the UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi in this regard.
The Siliguri based ‘Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee’ (BOBBBC) has asked the Central Election Commission to segregate the ‘Nepali infiltrators’ from the Indian Gorkhas in Darjeeling district of northern Bengal and order an extensive revision of the existing electoral rolls of the whole district.
Serving a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi on 6 November, the Bengali body pointed out that as per the provisions of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 “Nepalese coming to India after 26-01-1945 are not Indian citizens although they can reside and exploit the livelihood opportunities in India.”
But in the four-page memorandum served to the CEC, the BOBBBC has claimed that “in violation of the bilateral treaty, lakhs and lakhs of Nepalese migrating to India after the specified date have found place in the electoral rolls of Darjeeling district and are unjustifiably enjoying the citizenship rights at the cost of the native Indians.”
“Even till date, scores of Nepali migrants are entering into the Darjeeling district and the adjoining Dooars region and are easily finding place in the electoral rolls,” said the BOBBBC president Dr Mukundo Mazumdar. To address the malady, the Bengali body has placed a four-point charter of demands before the CEC, which include ~ initiating an extensive revision of the electoral rolls of the four sub-divisions of Darjeeling district so as to identify and shed the names of the ‘Nepali migrants’ as per the guidelines offered by the treaty of 1950, order the district election officer of Darjeeling not to publish the final electoral rolls (for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls) until the task was over, to depute special election observers in Darjeeling for overseeing the roll revision and lastly, postpone all scheduled elections in Darjeeling until the roll revision was over.
It may be noted here that opposing the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling, the BOBBC on 7 November took part in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The agitation, which was also attended by the Siliguri based ‘Jana Chetena’ and other Bengali nationalist bodies from across India was convened by the ‘Bharatiya Bangla Bhasi Mahasabha’.
Separate memorandums were also submitted to the Prime Minister, President and the UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi in this regard.
Question OF CITIZENSHIP , MAHANEPAL/GORKHALAND:
Darjeeling was not a Nepalese territory. Before 1947, that district was much smaller than what it is today; British used to use that only for their sanitariums and tea gardens. There were not Nepalese much, but only Bhutias and Lepchas and some Tibetans. Nepalese came after Nehru made another blunder to sign Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950. Nepalese came after that in millions, particularly when in 1980s Nehru’s grandson Rajeev Gandhi made another blunder to create Darjeeling autonomous area, giving total control of the hills to the Nepalese. All retired Nepalese soldiers were allowed to settle down in Darjeeling. Now Nepalese do not allow other non-Nepalese to live in Darjeeling District and they are now expanding their new Nepal within India by demanding the whole of North Bengal. It is really a scandal that CPI (M) chief minister does not know administration; he is not taking action against these Nepalese, but allows them to create a total lawlessness situation in the North Bengal.
Prachanda wants to change the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950. Excellent. It has to start with the issue of the people. Nepalese who cannot prove that their ancestors used to live in India before 1950 must get Nepalese passports? That includes every part of India, Sikkim Darjeeling, Kumaun, and North Bihar etc. In that case there will be very few Indian Nepalese in Darjeeling. Most of the Nepalese in West Bengal, Sikkim are foreigners, i.e., those who came after 1950. They are not Indian by any means. Nepalese or gorkhas from Nepal cannot be claimed as Indian because Nepal is a separate country. Example is there. Yes, Pawan Chamling is a Nepalese but not an Indian, his ancestors came from Nepal. Baichung Bhutia is very proud to be a Bhutanese, he has never claimed that he is an Indian. Nepalese coming from Nepal has no claim at all; they are foreigners. So Nepalese/gurkhas cannot demand a separate state within India for the Nepalese/gurkhas communities. Maoism is much more dangerous than anything, as they believe in mindless violence, which has destroyed Nepal. That is the reason all Nepalese/gurkhas are coming to India. India should follow Bhutan and expel all Nepalese/gurkhas from India and cancel this defunct Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950. This is not racism, but a question of citizenship. Nepalese cannot be Indian.
LOOTS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS:
All the money given to the Darjeeling Hill Council, over the last 20 years, were stolen by the very people who are now demanding Gurkhaland, because they do not want any investigations on their theft. This is the character of the leaders of the Gurkhas. Bimal Guring, the current leader of the Gurkhas was a truck driver, but now he is a Millionaire. Subhas Ghising was a primary school teacher, now he is a Billionaire. They have stolen all development fund meant for the Darjeeling Hill Council over the last 20 years. This is the true face of the Gurkhas. The current demand for Gorkhaland has started after the West Bengal government was about to appoint an auditor to investigate who has stolen the money (more than Rs.5000 Crores) given to the Darjeeling Hill Council. Immediately Subhas Ghessing said, in that case they will start the Gorkhaland movement again. Then his assistant Bimal Gurung started this current trouble, as he was also involved in that massive theft. There should be CBI investigation about this money and must identify the culprits irrespective of the threat of violence from GJJM.
Darjeeling Hill is not a part of Nepal. Nepalese/gurkhas of Nepal has no right to create trouble in a foreign country. There are lots of Pakistanis, Gujarati, and Sikhs in Britain. There is lots of Turkish in Germany. There are lots of Punjabis in Canada. There are millions of Chinese in Australia. Do they dare to demand separate states for them?
Nepal is now controlled by the most violent people, Maoists, They are demanding MAHA NEPAL and they want to destroy India, as that would please their master China. They want to expand Nepal with the help of Bimal Gurung and North Bengal is the first target.
Darjeeling and dooars were never a part of west bengal. These region shares an intimate history between Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim.They were a part of the kirati confederation, whose members are the kochs meches rais limbus bhutia and lepcha tribes. If india is taking land then it must also accept the people living there. Till 1900 one could hardly find a bengali soul but as of now they have completely occupied the plains of siliguri.
Today when india is on the brink of a war, it will gladly fall upon the gorkhas but when it comes to gorkha land there is a deafening silence. Turning suddenly a patriot and a martyr into a foriegner. Despite a small presence in india, they have contributed significantly and now what they want is just a separate state within india to get freed from the communal bengal masters.
A comment in a few lines will not suffice. For detail ideas of the Gorkhaland Movement, GNLF, GJMM, KPP, KLO,the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Movement, the Naxalites, the attitude of the Government of West Bengal, India and Bhutan as well as of the CPM, CONGRESS, TRINAMUL, BJP and others read my three books: 1. West Bnegal in Doldrums (335 pages) 2.Social and Political Tensions in North Bengal Since 1947 (277 pages) 3. Essays on the Cultural History of North Bengal(220 pages), National Library Publishers, Siliguri and Sibmandir.
Our people should be of well- informed of the history of the place in question for Gorkhaland; and in view of the facts of history in the context of citizen’s responsibility, greter humanism,mutual co-existence, toleration, justice and the commoners’ prosperity a rightful decision should be taken in cool mind, and emotional hooliganism should be stopped with the application of the rule of law for the sake of India as a nation.
Readers will get my comments and opinions about the Gorkhaland issue as well as about the Kamatapuri Movement and Greater Coochbehar People’s Movment in detail in my books (1)West Bengal in Doldrums and (2) Essays on Cultural History of North Bengal. These books are available in National Library, Siliguri and Shibmandir and also in Kolkata and Delhi. Attaching any of the chapters of these books is not possible here. In these books about the Dooars also analysis has been given. Wait for my next book, “The Dooars in Historical Transition” to come out soon, may be, in the year-end of 2009. Keep contact with me by email:debnathsailen@gmail.com
& debnathsailen@yahoo.com