DARJEELING, Dec. 1: The chief judicial magistrate court in Darjeeling could not give release order to GNLF leaders Mr CB Subba and Mr Tika Khati along with four others who have been granted bail by Calcutta High Court, because the court has not received a certified copy of the bail order.

Altogether 14 GNLF leaders and supporters were arrested for murder of GJMM supporter Ms Pramila Sharma on 25 July.

However, the bail of the remaining eight including GNLF ex-councillors Mr Deepak Gurung, Mr AR Dewan and Mr NK Kumai were rejected by Calcutta High Court.

Today, only Mr Subba was present among nine others for the hearing while the remaining five are presently undergoing treatment. The next hearing on the case has been fixed on 12 December.

SILIGURI, Dec.1: The veteran Naxalite leader Mr Kanu Sanyal today said that the Centre should undertake a full-scale survey of the region demanded for inclusion in the proposed Gorkhaland by the agitating Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha.

“Rounds of tripartite negotiations on the Darjeeling impasse would prove an official formality unless the Centre undertook a thorough survey of the proposed separate state territory to judge whether the GJMM claim on the matter stands objective scrutiny,” Mr Sanyal said. Speaking on the matter, CPI-ML (Liberation) leader Mr Abhijit Majumdar prophesied that the Centre would not take interest in the next round of tripartite talks till the Parliamentary election ends. Mr Kanu Sanyal said that the demand for inclusion of fresh territories in the GJMM envisaged Gorkhaland should be probed by a competent agency of the Central Government. “It is a fact that influx from neighbouring Nepal has been going on unabated for years. A full fledged survey is thus the need of the hour,” he said.

“The Centre after conducting the survey should decide whether the demand for an expanded Gorkhaland with the fresh areas in Dooars and other parts of Jalpaiguri and Siliguri as demanded by the GJMM is feasible or not,” he said. He, however, reaffirmed ideological support to the separate statehood demand. “The GJMM has every right to raise the separate state demand. But it is for the Centre to weigh the feasibility factor,” he said.

On delay in the negotiation process the CPI-ML (Liberation) leader Mr Abhijit Majumder, said that there was “little possibility” for the next round of talks right now with the Parliamentary election approaching. “Besides, secretary level talks are hardly to yield a positive outcome. The secretaries both at the Central and the state levels are not decision makers. The GJMM would perhaps have to wait till the next Parliamentary election scheduled next year,” Mr Majumder added.

DARJEELING, Nov. 30: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha will neither appeal to the state nor the Central government to expedite the second round of tripartite talks. They would rather intensify their agitation programme from the 7 December in protest against the delay.

“At the first tripartite meeting in September, it was decided that the next meeting would be in November. The month has come to an end and there is still no information about the meet. Hence we have decided to start our next phase of programmes,” party spokesperson Mr Binay Tamang said.

Giving a call to the people to be prepared he added that the strategy they would follow would be totally different from the present. “The movement will be stronger and intense. On what the programmes will be, we will inform the people before 7 December,” Mr Tamang said. The GJMM has entrusted its students wing to pressurise the state and Central government for the successful outcome of the tripartite talks. The party has also elected ex-DGHC councilor Mr RP Waiba as its vice-president for the post that was vacant since senior GJMM leader Mr KS. Ramudamu expired in August.

The GJMM president has also written letters to to the PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and home minister Mr Shivraj Patil, expressing his condolence for those who lost their lives in the terror attacks in Mumbai. GJMM will organise rallies at all places within the proposed Gorkhaland territory on 2 December condemning the attack. Blood donation camps will also be set-up on the same day for those injured in the attacks.

KURSEONG, Nov. 28: Hundreds of people from the rural areas gheraoed the GJMM run Kurseong Municipality under the banner of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee, demanding a halt to all development works in the municipal area. According to the agitators, the development works were diverting attention from the Gorkhaland movement.

A Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee member Mr Pappu Thapa claimed that they were true supporters of the Gorkhaland demand and of GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung. “However, development works being carried out by the civic body are diverting the people’s attention from the Gorkhaland struggle. We want the Kurseong Municipality chairman to state in writing about halting all development works,” he added.
Mr Thapa also demanded a halt to the Rs 12 crore sewage project in the town and the construction of 565 houses for BPL beneficiaries.

Another GJMJAC supporter, Mr Wangden Wangdi, said that the people of the panchayat areas in the hills have sacrificed a lot including development for the cause of Gorkhaland and now the Municipal areas should do the same. “We shall not move from here unless the chairman gives in writing that all works would be stopped,” he added.

The gherao was lifted at about 12:45 p.m. after the Kurseong Municipality chairman Mr Krishna Limboo gave in writing that all development works would be stopped for the time being. Mr Limboo also wrote: “Further decision on the issue would be taken after discussing with GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung.”
The GJMM leadership later held a meeting in Kurseong on today’s development. “We do not know about the Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee. However, we shall solve the issue as it is our internal matter.”

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Stall-growth march in hills

Kurseong, Nov. 28: Around 150 people owing allegiance to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today gheraoed the Kurseong municipal office, ruled by the outfit, and snatched an assurance from the chairman that all development work would be stopped for the time being.

The agitators, who came together under the banner of the Gorkha Janmukti Joint Action Committee that was formed yesterday, started marching to the office from Kurseong motor stand around 11am. The protesters shouted slogans that what they had wanted was Gorkhaland, not development.

The demonstrators, on reaching the office, demanded that two projects, which the civic body was about to implement, should be stopped immediately. One project — entailing a cost of Rs 12 crore — envisages the construction of sewerage for 20 wards. The other is for 565 BPL families which will be given houses.

“The various development works being carried out by the civic body are only diverting the people’s attention from the main cause for which the party was formed. The image of the party is also at stake. We want the civic chairman to give in writing that all projects will be stopped,” said Pappu Thapa, a member of the committee.

“The people living in panchayats have sacrificed everything for the cause of Gorkhaland and those in the municipal areas should follow suit. We will not move from here unless the chairman gives an assurance to this effect,” said Thapa.

He said the committee had not got approval from the Morcha and it had people representing panchayat areas.

The gherao finally got over around 12:45pm after the chairman, Krishna Limbu, had given in writing that all development work would be stopped for the time being. He wrote: “Further decision on the issue will be taken after holding discussion with Bimal Gurung (Morcha chief).”

Later, the chairman told reporters that the housing project was being implemented for the first time in Kurseong and if it was halted, it would be a loss for the people. “We are yet to receive funds for the sewerage project, but tenders have been issued.”

Roshan Giri, the general sectary of the Morcha, said he did not know that there was such an outfit.

DARJEELING, Nov. 28: The CPRM has taken it on itself to sort out the political differences between the GJMM and the AIGL, for the Gorkhaland cause. Accordingly, an 11-member CPRM delegation led by its central committee members ~ Mr Sawan Rai and Mr JB Rai ~ met the leadership of the two parties today with an appeal to make up the differences. “We did so to normalise the relation between the two parties. Our key leaders met GJMM president Mr Bimal Gurung and AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang separately to discuss the current political situation,” said the CPRM general-secretary Mr RB Rai.

The AIGL and GJMM have been at loggerheads for some time with the AIGL president, Mr Madan Tamang, constantly questioning the GJMM’s loyalty towards the Gorkhaland movement and the latter gagging the Oppositions’ right to speak. The verbal dual escalated after Mr Tamang alleged the GJMM leadership of having “compromised” with the state government on relaxation of its agitation programmes. Consequently, GJMM staged dharnas and demonstrations demanding proof due to which, the AIGL office in Laden La Road remains closed till date.

Concerned that the row between the pro-Gorkhaland parties would strengthen the anti-Gorkhaland adversaries in the plains, the CPRM has stepped in. This was also the first formal meeting between the CPRM and AIGL, two major parties of the anti-GNLF Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDF) who had fallen apart after the GJMM was formed last year. “The outcome of the meetings was positive and both parties appreciated our concern. This is just the beginning and we shall chalk the next move in our central committee meeting,” Mr Rai added.

SILIGURI, Nov. 28: The principal constituents of the Left Front flayed the Centre for “delaying” the second round of tripartite negotiation on Gorkhaland scheduled to be held in New Delhi in November. “The Centre has been delaying the talks deliberately for political gains,” said the leaders of the CPI, Forward Bloc and the RSP.

It may be mentioned that the GJMM leadership criticised the Centre and the state government yesterday for delaying the talks. The hill party’s secretary Mr Roshan Giri said that the crucial second round of talks scheduled to be held in the third week of November was being deliberately delayed as part of a political conspiracy to derail the ongoing people’s movement.

The Darjeeling district CPI secretary, Mr Ujjwal Chowdhury, said that the GJMM leadership had developed the practice to make the state government a scapegoat for any adverse condition in the hills. “The hill-based party should resist this temptation. All know that the tripartite negotiation has started exclusively because of the sincere initiatives of the chief minister. The Centre is, however, deliberate dithering,” the CPI leader said.

Echoing the same view the Darjeeling district FB secretary, Mr Smritish Bhattacharya, said that the seemingly inveterate habit of the GJMM leadership to raise accusing fingers at the state government should change. “The state government and the Left Front are as much eager as the GJMM for the resolution of the protracted tangle. The ruling Congress, given its track record, is not enthusiastic to resolve the issue for narrow political dividends,” the FB leader said.

Taking a slightly different stand the RSP Darjeeling district secretary Mr Benoy Chakravarty said that both the Centre and the state government were somehow responsible for the deepening of the crisis. “Both have been milking the issue to strengthen their respective constituencies,” he added.

DARJEELING, Nov. 28: The CPI-M suffered its first political setback in the Darjeeling Hills today in relation to the ongoing Gorkhaland struggle. Deserting the Marxists, CPI-M Darjeeling district committee member Mr Narayan Pradhan joined the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha today.

The CPI-M district leadership is yet to confirm the development officially. “We have not received any official information on the matter yet. We are also aware that a number of our supporters are under political and social duress in the Darjeeling hills. Under the circumstances, we shall have to inquire before confirming or rejecting the claim,” said senior CPI-M leader Mr Jibesh Sarkar in Siliguri. Mr Pradhan, however, said in Darjeeling: “There have been agitations for Gorkhaland in the past but the Gandhian movement of GJMM is exemplary. I respect their commitment towards the statehood demand and resolve to support it.” Associated with the CPI-M since 1983, he became a district committee member in 2005 and presently was in charge of the party’s Darjeeling town unit.

The GJMM on its part has welcomed the development. “Mr. Pradhan submitted a letter to our president Mr Bimal Gurung pledging his loyalty towards the Gorkhaland movement which we have accepted,” said GJMM general-secretary Mr Roshan Giri. When asked why he chose to join the GJMM Mr Pradhan said: “The CPI-M led state government has neglected development in the Hills. We faced difficulties when we raised voice for Gorkhaland while staying within the party. I suggest all others to do the same.” The GJMM leadership today reiterated that the party was open to all genuinely committed towards the Gorkhaland cause except a few “individuals.”

“We have instructed our units to take in whoever wants to join the party barring some who have vehemently opposed us and are involved in the murder of our cadres,” GJMM assistant secretary Mr Raju Pradhan said.

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‘CPM never looked at statehood seriously’ - Senior Left leader joins Morcha - Protesters say Gorkhaland first, projects later

Darjeeling, Nov. 28: After holding fort for more than a year, the CPM leadership in the hills seems to be cracking with prominent party leader Narayan Pradhan deciding to join the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today.

This is the first instance of a senior CPM leader deciding to support the Morcha movement.

“When I was with the CPM, I felt we from the hills were being distanced. We always talked about statehood among our party leaders but it was never looked into seriously. This (Darjeeling) is my place and Gorkhaland is everyone’s dream. It is something we will have to achieve for our future generation,” said Pradhan, a district committee member of the Left party.

“This is the reason why I have decided to support the Morcha whose movement is not violent as it was during the last time around (the GNLF agitation in the eighties),” he added. Pradhan was one of the visible faces of the CPM in town and his decision to join the Morcha is likely to hit the Left party hard.

The CPM leader who was associated with the party for the past 20 years and had served in the SFI’s state committee and the DYFI’s state council, also met Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, in Darjeeling today.

Roshan Giri, general secretary of the Morcha, said: “We welcome Pradhan to our fold and we also appeal to other Morcha units to try and reason out with the CPM leaders to join us. The Morcha members of Ward 22 (Pradhan resides in this ward) have done an exemplary work.”

There are 18 members in the CPM’s district committee in the hills. Most of them have moved out since the Gorkhaland agitation but for Pradhan, who had stayed back.

“Some time ago, a section of the CPM leaders like R.B. Rai had rebelled and formed the CPRM. When I look back I think theirs was a wise decision,” said Pradhan. The CPRM was formed in 1995 by former CPM heavyweights like Rai and DS Bomzom. The breakaway communist party formed for Gorkhaland was recognised as the largest Opposition even during Ghisingh’s heydays.

Raju Pradhan, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha, said his party would try and provide membership to all those who were with other outfits. “As far as the GNLF is concerned, we have categorised those who knowingly posed a hurdle to our party’s movement and those who are passive. We will welcome those in the second category,” said the assistant general secretary. Along with Pradhan, some CPM supporters from Ward 22 like Jayamit Lepcha, Purnima Gurung and Sadna Tamang have decided to join the Morcha movement.

In Siliguri, district CPM leaders refused to admit that Pradhan has joined the Morcha. “He is one of the members of the district committee of our party. We have no such information and don’t think he has joined the Morcha,” said Jibitesh Sarkar, a district secretariat member of the party.

Darjeeling, Nov. 27: Madan Tamang, the president of the ABGL, extended his “best wishes” to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for the ensuing tripartite meeting but said the talks must lead to statehood.

Tamang’s statement comes at a time when both his party and the Morcha are at loggerheads. In recent times, Morcha supporters had gheraoed his house and demanded that he quit politics.

Such has been Morcha’s tirade against Tamang for his alleged false statements that the ABGL office in Darjeeling has remained closed for the past two weeks. Tamang, however, has denied that there has been any pressure on him. “The only reason why we closed the office for sometime was to ensure that there were no skirmishes and untoward incidents.”

Today, the ABGL leader extended his best wishes to the Morcha for the tripartite meeting. “However, these talks must lead to separation of Darjeeling and the Dooars from Bengal. If this is not achieved and if the people concerned (Morcha) accept some other arrangements, they will be branded agents of Bengal (government),” he said.

Tamang claimed that during his recent trip to Delhi he had complained to the Election Commission about how the Morcha was muzzling the Opposition voice and using schoolstudents in the hills to serve its purpose.

Gorkhaland, Tamang said, is for overall development of the hills and not essentially for identity. “However, we must note that overall development is not possible (if we remain) in Bengal. For the past 60 years, they (Bengal) have not been able to provide drinking water. Funds meant for 102 schools have been embezzled but no one has been made accountable.”

The statehood demand was against the “principle of the Bengal government” and not against any particular community, he alleged. “The CPM and leaders from other organisation in the plains should stop inciting people and playing with fire.”

DARJEELING, Nov. 27: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha announced today that it would not sit for the purported bipartite talks with the state chief secretary Mr Amit Kiran Deb and home secretary Mr AM Chakraborty before the tripartite talks that is slated to be held in Darjeeling on 28 November.
“Some of the media channels are propagating that Mr Chakraborty and Mr Deb will hold a bipartite meeting with the GJMM president and central committee leaders to discuss modalities of the tripartite talks. But we will not attend any talks other than the tripartite talks in Delhi,” said party general secretary Mr Roshan Giri today.

The leader said that the state government was trying to tag the Gorkhaland movement as “undemocratic” by saying that tension would erupt in the Hills after the next round of talks. “The home secretary’s comment proves that the state government is planning to deploy additional forces in the Hills. The Gorkhaland demand should not be related to a law and order problem,” he said.

Mr Giri maintained that in the first round of tripartite talks on 8 September between the Centre, state and the GJMM it was “decided in principle” that a series of dialogues would be held on Gorkhaland demand and the next tripartite talk will be convened by the second week of November. “The third week of November has arrived, yet we have not received any intimation on the subject,” he said.
Tomorrow, the party would organise candle light rallies in areas within the proposed territory of Gorkhaland demanding speedy tripartite talks. “We will hold other programmes also which we will announce shortly,” Mr Giri said.

Darjeeling, Nov 27: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to organise candlelight rallies across “Gorkhaland” from tomorrow to press for an immediate second round of tripartite talks on the statehood demand.

The Centre, state and the Morcha delegation had agreed to hold another round of talks when they sat on September 8 for the first meeting.

“It was agreed then that the second meeting would be held in the third week of November. We now believe that both the Centre and the state government are conspiring to delay the talks,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha.

“We will hold candlelight rallies across Gorkhaland from 4.30pm tomorrow. We will continue to hold them till the next tripartite meeting is held,” said Giri, adding that his party would not tolerate conspiracies to delay talks.

The Morcha also made it clear that they would not attend any bipartite talks.

“The state government maintains that various modalities have to be worked out and that some more documents have to be submitted before the next meeting. We, however, want to make it clear that we will not sit for any bipartite meeting, as there is no need for such discussions. Our demand is Gorkhaland and nothing else,” said Giri.

Amit Kiran Deb, state chief secretary, is currently touring north Bengal but the Morcha has made it clear that they will not meet him before the tripartite talks.

The hill party said it has also written to the Union home secretary to arrange for the talks at the earliest.

“The state government has mixed up our demand with law and order problem. We would like to clarify that ours is not a law and order issue but a democratic demand and should not be treated as such,” said Giri.

Asok Mohan Chakrabarti, state home secretary, had recently said in Siliguri that the government was looking at deploying paramilitary forces in Jalpaiguri district soon. The Morcha has been demanding that Gorkhaland must include a sizeable portion of the neighbouring district too.

In another development, students of Southfield College today participated in a relay hunger strike organised by the Morcha’s student wing at Chowrastha in support of Gorkhaland. The fast is expected to continue till the tripartite meeting is held.

The Morcha had announced yesterday that it would set up units in two colleges that had till now remained untouched by student politics. Southfield is one of them while the other is St Joseph’s or North Point.

With the Darjeeling Telephone Exchange starting to accept payment of bills since yesterday, the party said it had not allowed for any such relaxation and appealed to the people to stop payments.

Late in the evening, Morcha supporters from Singamari-Tukvar constituency brought out a rally to demand immediate holding of tripartite talks.