VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: CALL FOR BANDH ON 15TH MAY BY BOBBC

Thursday, May 14, 2009

CALL FOR BANDH ON 15TH MAY BY BOBBC

Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee (BOBBC) today gave the call for 24- hour bandh on May 15 in West Bengal alleging irregularities during the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state on April 30.
The committee has demanded the Election Commission for repolling in the entire Darjeeling constituency.
Dr Mukunda Majumdar, president of the committee said ''We also demand that the name of migrated Nepalese should be omitted from the voter`s list''.

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TRADERS ARE NOT ALLOWING TO DO THEIR BUSINESS IN TEA GARDENS BY THE MORCHA ACTIVISTS

24 HOURS BANDH AND BLACK DAY TO BE OBSERVED AGAINST GORKHALAND

A 24-hour “state-wide” general strike has been called by the Jana Chetana, an anti-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha forum, tomorrow to protest against the demand for a separate state.
The bandh called on a day when the Morcha leaders will sit with the government to discuss the demand for Gorkhaland is likely to affect normal life in the Siliguri subdivision and the adjoining areas of Jalpaiguri district.
The another forum BANGLA O BANGLA BHASA BANCHAO SAMITY has asked people to observe black day on 29th December against Gorkhaland demand.
“We , oppose the way the central and state governments have remained silent despite the high-handedness of the Morcha in the hills.” said secretary of Jan Chetna Manch.

PEOPLE ARE FED-UP DUE TO GORKHA LAND AGITATION . AFFECTED ITS OWN ECONOMY.

The recent Gorkha Janamukti Morcha-led Gorkha agitation in North Bengal has led to a substantial drop in the state’s tourism and hospitality trade. The Gorkha’s demand for a separate state (Gorkhaland) has greatly affected five million tourism businesses in Darjeeling. Over 100 Darjeeling hotels and others in neighbouring states remain vacant, even in the current peak tourist season.
On the political unrest affecting the flourishing tourism and allied trades, Manab Mukherjee, Tourism Minister, West Bengal, comments, “The unfortunate civil disorder has made the tourism and hospitality industries, which are the prime revenue generating trades in the region, receive a major setback. Although it is difficult to comment on the exact loss, Darjeeling has witnessed a big slash in its entire economy.” The protests and the movements have been called off till July 5, 2008 and the agitation is expected to resume thereafter.
Panchwati Holiday Resorts, a Kolkata-based hospitality group with three properties in Bengal and Orissa, planned to launch hospitality properties in the state by March end. The projects have been postponed for an indefinite period of time. Anshul Sharma, General Manager, Panchwati Holiday Resorts Ltd, says, “Earlier, we had plans to start a passenger amenities centre, along with a 45 room hotel at Sevok Road in Siliguri. All the plans have been postponed as of now, since hotels are vacant even in this ideal season to visit Darjeeling.” Presently, many hospitality majors who are at mid-project stages in the Tea Tourism Circuits and Eastern Dooars are calling off their ongoing projects. T V N Rao, Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, says, “Darjeeling, the prime location of tea tourism and the gateway of seven select tea tourism circuits, is experiencing massive losses. Tea Tourism, which is one of the State Tourism’s USPs and a major tourism product of the state, has attracted hospitality giants across India to launch projects.” However, the recent unrest will postpone these projects, which will affect the state’s tourism and hospitality opportunities.
Vinaey Malhotra, Managing Committee Member of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) and Managing Director, Viramma Group (which has resorts in Siliguri and Darjeeling), says, “In previous years, during this season, we earned around Rs 2 Lakh per month from both properties. The income this year is not even Rs 2000. I do not see any betterment of the situation in the next two months. This agitation has rendered a long-term loss, not only in the district, but in entire North Bengal and the North East, especially in terms of earning foreign exchange.” Malhotra opines that it is time for the Centre to intervene, in order to save this Rs 5 million industry.
The Gorkha protests were supposed to begin in July, but the agitation started much earlier. This has affected the peak tourist season in North Bengal. The political turmoil has also led to poor communication and transportation systems; the GJM has demanded a ‘GL’ (Gorkhaland) quote on their vehicles instead of the ‘WB’ (West Bengal) already in place. “This season is followed up by the monsoon season, when there is no business opportunity for hoteliers. We plan to set up a different local association of hotels in Darjeeling to deal with the aftermath of the agitation in the hospitality industry,” informs Malhotra.

ETHNIC CONFLICT

The Gorkhaland agitation in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal shows signs of degenerating into an ethnic conflict.

Outside a shop along the deserted National Highway 55 at Rontong near Darjeeling on June 21, the fifth day of a bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha.
The fresh agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state under the leadership of Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has taken an ugly turn. Ethnic clashes in the plains of northern Bengal have marred what has so far been largely a movement restricted to the Darjeeling hills. Even though the indefinite bandh in the hills called by the GJM on June 16 was later suspended until July 5, the West Bengal government could not achieve any breakthrough in the last round of dialogue with the GJM in Kolkata on June 27.
When the Gorkhaland movement was first launched by Subhash Ghising and his Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in 1986, the agitation was mainly confined to the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling district. To Ghising’s credit, it was never allowed to degenerate into an ethnic conflict. But the movement spearheaded by the GJM includes not just the Darjeeling hills but also parts of the Doars, the Terai and Siliguri, the main town in northern Bengal in the proposed Gorkhaland State – a place where non-Nepalis are predominant.
The GJM’s rallies in the plains had already led to simmering tension between the Gorkha community and the Bengalis in the foothills. Fuelled by the success of its huge rally on the outskirts of Siliguri on May 7, the GJM wanted permission to hold public meetings in Naxalbari (just an hour’s drive from Siliguri), which was denied. In protest, on June 8, GJM supporters set up blockades on National Highway 31. Members of non-political outfits – the Amra Bangali, the Jana Jagaran Mancha and the Jana Chetana Mancha – grouped together to take on the protesting GJM members, resulting in violent street fights in various parts of the foothills, including Bagdogra, Naxalbari and Panighata, in which more than 16 people were injured.
Though the police succeeded in quelling the violence, the GJM called for an indefinite bandh the following day in all the areas under the proposed Gorkhaland, giving the 20,000-odd summer tourists less than 24 hours to leave the region. What followed was complete pandemonium, with tourists rushing to leave the hills and not enough vehicles to take them out.
A stretch of the National Highway (NH) 31 A that leads to Sikkim falls in the Darjeeling hills. The developments in the hills of West Bengal left the government of Sikkim with no alternative but to advise tourists to leave Sikkim. Otherwise, they were in danger of being indefinitely held up in the State. The mass exodus from both Darjeeling hills and Sikkim created enormous pressure on the hotel and transport infrastructure of Siliguri town.
On June 11, GJM activists wielding choppers and iron rods attacked a group of 16 tourists, including an elderly couple, from Kolkata who were returning to Siliguri from Chapramari forest in the Doars. They set ablaze the two cars of the tourists. The injured tourists were stranded on the highway. This was the first time in the history of the Gorkhaland movement that tourists were targeted. Ironically, the GJM had demanded the immediate sacking of West Bengal Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who hails from Darjeeling district, when he advised tourists to avoid Darjeeling this summer. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri had then assured, “There will be no major problems for tourists if they come to the hills.”
Matters came to a head when local non-political outfits led by the Amra Bangali announced a 48-hour bandh in Siliguri and the Doars. The bandh call coincided with the GJM’s announcement of a 60-hour relaxation of the shutdown in the hills to facilitate stocking up on essential commodities. This was allegedly aimed at countering the GJM by preventing the transport of essential commodities to the hills. The following day, on June 12, Bengalis who were opposed to the Gorkhaland demand and large numbers of Nepalis took to the streets in Siliguri and adjoining areas with sticks and stones and choppers. As the situation spiralled out of control, the police resorted to tear-gas shelling, and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a paramilitary force, carried out flag marches. Section 144 was clamped in certain parts of Siliguri and the Doars, and the Army was kept on alert. West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, in a written statement, appealed to the people of the region to restore peace and communal harmony.

गोर्खालैण्ड का विरोध में अखिल भारतीय आदिवासी विकास परिषद का 24 घंटे बंद

जलपाईगुड़ी: अखिल भारतीय आदिवासी विकास परिषद का गुरुवार को तराई और डुवार्स में 24 घंटे बंद का व्यापक असर रहा। जलपाईगुड़ी से डुवार्स जानेवाली एवं मालबाजार से अलीपुरद्वार जानेवाली लंबी दूरी तय करने वाली बसे नहीं चली। आज जलपाईगुड़ी नेताजीपाड़ा बसस्टैण्ड से डुवार्स जानेवाली बसे भी नहीं चली। आदिवासी विकास परिषद के समर्थक आज क्रांति के चेंगमारी में सड़क जाम किया। परिषद के समर्थक रेमश मिंज ने बताया कि सुबह से ही पिकेटिंग जारी है। दूसरी तरफ गोर्खालैण्ड का विरोध करने के लिए डुवार्स जनशक्ति मोर्चा ने इस बंद का समर्थन कर रहा है। जनशक्ति मोर्चा के रमेश लाकड़ा ने बताया कि आज डुवार्स में प्राय: सभी चाय बागान बंद थी। बागानों में कर्मचारी एवं श्रमिक नहीं पहुंचे। उन्होंने कहा कि बंद पूरी तरह सफल रहा।

गोर्खालैंड के नाम पर हो रही ठेकेदारी व गुंडागर्दी: एसके प्रधान

कर्सियांग (दार्जिलिंग): अलग गोर्खालैंड राज्य के नाम पर ठेकेदारी, गुंडागर्दी व धमकाने का कार्य हो रहा है। उक्त कथन अभागोली नेता एस के प्रधान ने व्यक्त किया। वह बुधवार को अखिल भारतीय गोर्खालीग कर्सियांग महकमा कमेटी की पार्टी कार्यालय में आयोजित सभा में बोल रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा कि ऐसे कार्य से गोरामुमो के 21 वर्ष के शासन से भी बदतर स्थिति का सामना जनता को करना पड़ रहा है। उन्होंने कहा कि अभागोली को सुदृढ़ बनाने को पार्टी द्वारा घर चले अभियान आरंभ किया जायेगा। उन्होंने कहा कि महकमा कमेटी में फेरबदल केंद्रीय अध्यक्ष मदन तामांग की उपस्थिति में होगा। उन्होंने कहा कि दीपावली के बाद कर्सियांग में विराट जनसभा होगी। उन्होंने कहा कि अभागोली पार्टी गणतंत्र पर विश्वास करती है परन्तु गणतंत्र का हनन हुआ तो पार्टी अवश्य विरोध करेगी। सभा में एस के प्रधान ने कहा कि वर्तमान पहाड़ की राजनीति कमजोर हो रही है। सभा में महकमा कमेटी के फेरबदल व भावी रणनीति पर विचार विमर्श हुआ। सभा में अभागोली समर्थित तरुण गोर्खा, नारी लीग, श्रमिक संघ व विद्यार्थी लीग के पदाधिकारी विशेष रुप से उपस्थित थे।

DIVISION OF BENGAL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED

Historically, Darjeeling and its surrounding terai areas formed a part of the then Kirat kingdom called Bijaypur. After the disintegration of the Bijaypur kingdom, it annexed with Sikkim and Bhutan. After the Anglo Nepalese War (1814-1815), the Treaty of Sugauli was signed between Nepal and the East India Company. Darjeeling was taken from Nepal by the British and returned to the Sikkimese after the Treaty of Titaliya. In 1835, Col Lloyd became the representative of East India Company for Darjeeling. During his tenure Darjeeling was leased by the British Indian Empire from the Maharaja of Sikkim for an annual amount of Rs 3000. However the original map of Darjeeling came into existence only after the induction of Kalimpong and Duars area after the Anlgo-Bhutanese war of 1864 (Treaty of Sinchula). Darjeeling as we know of today was organized in 1866. The term Gorkha is used by the people of Darjeeling to separate themselves from the Nepalese (citizens of Nepal. The term Gorkha encompasses all the three original inhabitants of the Darjeeling Hills viz: Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia[1].
By the start of the twentieth century, Gorkhas made socio-economic advance through government service, and a small fraction developed among them as literate people. Following this in 1907, the first ever demand for a separate administrative setup for the District of Darjeeling was placed before the British government by the leaders of the hill people. Their main reason for doing so was to assert their identity, which was entirely different and separate from those who lived in the plains. In 1917 the Hillmen's Association came into being and petitioned for the administrative separation of Darjeeling in 1917 and again in 1930 and 1934. In 1923 the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (All India Gorkha League) was formed at Dehradun.It soon spread to Darjeeling. On 15 May 1943, All India Gorkha League came into existence in Darjeeling[2].
On 19 December 1946, the party's heart and soul, D.S. Gurung even made a plea in the Constitution Hall before the Constituent Assembly for recognition of Gorkhas as a minority community "Sir, the demand of the Gurkhas is that they must be recognized as a minority community and that they must have adequate representation in the Advisory Committee that is going to be formed. When the Anglo-Indians with only 1 lakh 42 thousand population have been recognized as a minority community, and Scheduled Castes among the Hindus have been recognized as a separate community, I do not see any reason why Gurkhas with 30 lakhs population should not be recognized as such."
But leaders within its own ranks such as Randhir Subba, were not satisfied with this meagre demand. Soon after the death of D.S. Gurung, Randhir Subba raised the demand for a separate state within the framework of the Indian Constitution called Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand could be composed one of the following ways.
Darjeeling district only or
Darjeeling district and Sikkim only or
Darjeeling district, Sikkim, Jalpaiguri, Dooars and Coochbehar or
Darjeeling district, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar
Initially Randhir Subba was in favor of a militant movement. The movement never gained momentum as its leaders were mobilized to other purposes by apt politicians of Central Govt and leaders of the West Bengal government.
On April 6, 1947, two Gorkhas Ganeshlal Subba and Ratanlal Brahmin members of the undivided CPI (Communist Party of India) submitted a Quixotic memorandum to Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Vice President of the Interim Government for the creation of Gorkhasthan – an independent country comprising of the present day Nepal, Darjeeling District and Sikkim (excluding its present North District) in the line of Pakistan.
During the 1940s, the Communist Party of India (CPI) organized Gorkha tea workers. In presentations to the States Reorganisation Commission in 1954, the CPI favored regional autonomy for Darjeeling within West Bengal, with recognition of Nepali as a Scheduled Language. The All India Gorkha League preferred making the area a union territory under the Central government. In all from the 1950s to the 1985, first the CPI (1954), then the Congress (1955), then the triumvirate of Congress, CPI and AIGL (1957), then the United front (1967 & 1981), then again Congress (1968) and finally CPI(M) 1985.
Then during the 80s Subash Ghising raised the demand for the creation of the state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling and areas of Dooars and Siliguri Terai contigious to Darjeeling, with a large population of ethnic Gorkhas. The Gorkhaland movement took a violent turn in 1980s when Subash Ghishing lead Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) entered a violent demand for statehood, which lead to the death of over 1200 people (official figures). This movement culminated with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988. Over the years the state government allowed a free reign to Subash Ghishing and GNLF, there was a tactical understanding of West Bengal government not meddling in DGHC affairs as long as the demand for Gorkhaland was not brought up again.
After 20 years of GNLF rule the people of Darjeeling revolted against the tyranny, atrocities, high handedness, corruption of GNLF and prevented Subash Ghishing from entering Darjeeling hills. Since then the people of Darjeeling and Doors have restarted their fight for right to self assertion and development of the region by demanding the formation of Gorkhaland.
Since late 2007 the demand for a separate state within the Indian Union has been started more intensely by the Gorkha leader Mr. Bimal Gurung, under the newly formed party called Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM). He has called for a more violent form of protest by refusing to pay state taxes to the government including electricity and phone bills. People have resorted to changing vehicle numbers from WB (West Bengal) to GL (signifying Gorkhaland). Currently the administrative machinery in the hills of Darjeeling seems to have broken down, with most of the Government offices non functional, and even the police unable to maintain law and order in the district. The scene became particularly violent when a woman GJMM supporter was shot dead allegedly by GNLF supporters during a protest. Chaos and lawlessness reigned supreme while the administration was no where to be seen. The situation became normal after GJMM leaders called for restraint. The center and the West Bengal government has called for a tripartite meeting with the GJMM leaders to resolve the issue. However break through seems unlikely as both the GJMM leaders as well as the West Bengal government seems to be taking a hard stance, where the former has refused to consider anything less than Gorkhaland while the later has been adamant in claiming that they would not allow further division of Bengal.

Public Opinion

Bengal govt is a very soft and pro poor Govt. Bengalis are the most accomodating race in india. First, you try to think yourself as an indian and work for her. Work is more sound then word. Only given example of Gorkha Regiment by you people is actualy insulting for indian army. I am against GJMM not against any community. It is clear and loud. Do you know india having 644 dist and 1618 languages and maxium are deprived. Because, India her self a poor country. Tommorow TOTO LAND, MUNDA LAND, RONGKUOP LYANG, KAMTIPURI LAND , DONGRI LAND, DENZONG LAND, LIMBU LAND , KOORG LAND will arise if GL is given improtance. Before asking for GL, first go for a PUBLIC REFERENDUM. GJMM WILL LOSE.

By-RKA

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Thursday, May 14, 2009

CALL FOR BANDH ON 15TH MAY BY BOBBC

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Unlawful exercise of political rights by the treaty beneficiary Nepali Nationals in India

UTTAR BANGA BANDH

TRADERS ARE NOT ALLOWING TO DO THEIR BUSINESS IN TEA GARDENS BY THE MORCHA ACTIVISTS

24 HOURS BANDH AND BLACK DAY TO BE OBSERVED AGAINST GORKHALAND

About Me

WE ARE AGAINST ANY DIVISION OF WEST BENGAL

CHANGES........

NO DIVISION, WE ARE ALL TOGETHER.

PEOPLE ARE FED-UP DUE TO GORKHA LAND AGITATION . AFFECTED ITS OWN ECONOMY.

Gorkhaland Agitation creating enthic conflict

ETHNIC CONFLICT

Blog Archive

Administrative action was necessary to control the volatile situation in the Darjeeling hills.

गैर कानूनी कार्रवाई के खिलाफ प्रशासन व पुलिस की चुप्पी

गोर्खालैण्ड का विरोध में अखिल भारतीय आदिवासी विकास परिषद का 24 घंटे बंद

गोर्खालैंड के नाम पर हो रही ठेकेदारी व गुंडागर्दी: एसके प्रधान

Darjeeling Municipal Vice Chairman holds a young man as the other smears his face with oil paint

Gorkhaland agitation

Follower of true Ghandism but.......

BJP OPPOSED GORKHALAND

As per treaty Darjeeling City Should be handed over to Sikim, then it will solve the problem of Gorkhaland.

DIVISION OF BENGAL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED

BLACKENING THE NUMBER PLATES BY THE JANAMUKTI MORCHA

GORKHALAND AGITATION IS IT PEACEFULL?

Gorkhaland agitation : Is it peacefull ?

Videos of recent successful Siliguri Bandh

Public Opinion

WE ARE WITH YOU :