GANGTOK, August 24: Ever since taking charge of a revived Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung today made a maiden visit to Sikkim and appealed ‘his elder brother Dr.Pawan Chamling’ to lend a few words of support to the ‘neglected smaller brother’.
Sikkim and Darjeeling share brotherly relations for ages and will continue till Teesta-Rangit flows, said the GJM chief in his address during a spiritual programme organized by ‘Heavenly Path’, a spiritual body here at Paljor Stadium. He had been invited to listen to the spiritual discourse of the founder of the body.
“Gorey Salam to Sikkim with whom we share blood relations. I have also come today to erase out the recent minor misunderstandings between the people of Sikkim and Gorkhaland. The road between these two regions have reopened today”, said Mr.Gurung.
The GJM chief then presented the tale of two brothers-elder being Sikkim and smaller being Darjeeling or ‘Gorkhaland’ in his words.
“The smaller brother is suffering a stepmotherly treatment from the makers of this nation and the elder brother (Sikkim) must come forward to help”.
Mr. Gurung said that he has been regularly appealing the ‘elder brother Dr.Pawan Chamling to impart some love to the smaller brother’. Please speak a few words for the smaller brother, that’s our only request, he said.
Mr.Gurung also acknowledged the support of Sikkim to Darjeeling since the 1986 agitation. “Sikkim has been helping Darjeeling. We will never forget the contributions of Sikkim and we are ready to return this gesture in future if Sikkim ever needs help from Darjeeling”, he said.
Later, the GJM chief interacted with the local press at Norkhil hotel on various issues specific to Sikkim and Gorkhaland movement. The excerpts of the interaction with the press is presented below
On his visit to Sikkim
I came here to attend a religious programme. I could not meet properly the Guru in Darjeeling and I have given my promise to attend his programme in Sikkim. And on this basis I have come today.
On the other objective
There were a kind of environment between Sikkim and Gorkhaland which was going some other directions. To address this also, I came here. I also took this occasion to tell the people here that we came from the same family tree and nobody should forget each other.
Sikkim and Darjeeling share blood relations. We share the same customs, culture and language. There is no different between these two regions. The only thing is that the smaller brother is presently suffering from a stepmotherly treatment.
Sikkim is our home. Darjeeling is also the home of the Sikkimese people. They are always welcome. Both areas are our family grounds.
On his maiden visit since taking leadership of the Gorkhaland movement in October, 2007
This is my first visit since the movement began. I should also respect the status of the place and people here. We have internal brotherhood and a pleasant environment exists between us which we don’t want to destroy.
Though we speak several things from mouth, but our internal feelings are the same.
The brotherhood
Sikkim and Darjeeling are brothers. We want to tell our elder brother that the father has given everything to them but not to us. We want to tell them to render some vocal support. Just tell a few things to the father. That’s what we want. The smaller brother is telling respectfully to the elder brother.
On the support from the elder brother
We understand that it is not a simple thing as he is the Government and have to consider the sentiments of all people. Nobody can openly support. They will do on their own.
On the Gorkhaland resolution demand from Sikkim Assembly
We will keep on sending delegations till he (Chief Minister) says yes. Brother should help brother.
On the Chief Minister
I am just a small person. Today Dr.Pawan Chamling is the Chief Minister of Sikkim. The Gorkhas of the world recognize him. I am just leading a population of 30-35 lakh Gorkhas. We have great respect for him.
Talks should be there between the two brothers. I can come any number of times.
On his coming to Gangtok on a GL number
There was no problem. I tell that I am coming to a home ground. A brother is coming to a place of an elder brother. Even if I was not allowed to come in a GL number, I would have come in another vehicle.
I will go to Siliguri in this GL number. It is a part of our non-cooperation movement to the West Bengal government.
(This is the first time a GL no vehicle has entered Sikkim. Two other vehicles carrying GJM workers with GL nos also accompanied the GJM chief)
On his claim of Gorkhaland by 2010
It’s our take. Gorkhaland will happen before 2010. If does not happen then my neck can also go. I have accepted this also. We will compel Bengal government to ask us to take Gorkhaland.
( SOURCE: SIKKIM EXPRESS)
Monday 25 August 2008
Saturday 23 August 2008
KASHMIR- GROUND REPORT
Srinagar:
Born and reared during the bloodiest years of insurgency and counterinsurgency, inheritors of rage, a new generation of young Kashmiris poured into the streets by the tens of thousands over the past several weeks, with stones in their fists and an old slogan on their lips: Azadi, or freedom, from India.
Their protests in Kashmir were part of an unexpected outburst of discontent set off by a dispute over a 99-acre piece of land, which has for more than two months been stoked by both separatist leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu nationalists elsewhere in India.
Overnight, the unrest has threatened to breathe new life into the old and treacherous dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which is claimed by both nations and lies at the heart of 60 years of bitterness between them.
Disastrously for the Indian government, Kashmir has burst onto centre stage at a time of growing turmoil in the region — with the resignation this week of Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, who had sought to temper his country’s backing for anti-Indian militancy here.
Even though the two countries have been engaged in four years of peace talks, India has grown nervous that the disarray in Pakistan has left it with no negotiating partner. From New Delhi’s perspective, that power vacuum has allowed anti-Indian elements in Pakistan’s intelligence services and the militant groups they employ to pursue their agenda with renewed vigour.
Relations between the countries have become newly embittered as Indian and Pakistani forces have engaged in skirmishes across the Line of Control. Not least, India has blamed the Pakistani intelligence services for playing a hidden role in the bombing of the Indian embassy in Afghanistan last month, a charge that Pakistan vehemently denies.
The latest unrest here has only added to the difficulties of renewed dialogue.
How long this agitation will continue depends on both India’s capacity to assuage Kashmiri separatist leaders, and their ability in turn to control the sudden eruption of rage among the young.
On Monday, tens of thousands of Kashmiris, mostly men, streamed into an open area in the city centre and demanded independence from India. They came in motorcycle cavalcades, and on the backs of trucks and buses.
A few waved Pakistani flags. Some shouted praise for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned Pakistan-based militant organization that India blames for a series of terrorist attacks in recent years. “India, your death will come,” they chanted. “Lashkar will come. Lashkar will come.”
By Tuesday, traffic had returned to the city, as the separatists called for a three-day suspension of the strike. Shops and cafes reopened. The pro-Pakistan graffiti had been covered up, as though it were again an ordinary day.
Again and again, Kashmiris from across the political spectrum said the scenes now reminded them of the peak of the anti-Indian rebellion in the early 1990s, except at that time, separatist guerrillas, aided by Pakistan, openly roamed the streets with guns.
The current demonstrations have pierced what seemed, perhaps deceptively to the Indian government, such as a return of the ordinary here.
“The uprising we see now is the latent anger against the Indian state that has erupted again.” N.N. Vohra, governor of Jammu and Kashmir, compared life in Srinagar today to darkness at noon.
The trouble began two months ago over 99 acres of government land that, for decades, had been used by Hindu pilgrims on the route to the Amarnath shrine. In May, the authorities authorized the panel that runs the pilgrimage site to put up “prefabricated structures” for pilgrims. The order enraged Muslims.
With state elections scheduled for this year, some politicians and separatist leaders pounced on the decision and declared it a bid to re-engineer the demography of Kashmir. Hardline Islamists compared it to the Israeli occupation of Muslim holy lands.
The government rescinded the order, but nothing, as Vohra said, actually changed —Hindu pilgrims still used the land, and they still came this year in record numbers.
Nevertheless, the retraction of the original order enraged people in the Hindu-majority plains of Jammu. And they, too, were goaded by politicians and hardline leaders.
All told, over the past two months, the protests here in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and counterprotests led by Hindu groups in the plains below, have left a death toll of nearly 40 in clashes with security forces.
Kashmiri public opinion is hardly uniformly anti-Indian, and the pro-Pakistan current is one among many. But distrust runs deep.
“It is a volcano that has erupted,” Shad Salim Akhtar, 54, a doctor, said of the latest agitation.
Source:THE NEW YORK TIMES
Yusuf Jameel contributed to this story
Born and reared during the bloodiest years of insurgency and counterinsurgency, inheritors of rage, a new generation of young Kashmiris poured into the streets by the tens of thousands over the past several weeks, with stones in their fists and an old slogan on their lips: Azadi, or freedom, from India.
Their protests in Kashmir were part of an unexpected outburst of discontent set off by a dispute over a 99-acre piece of land, which has for more than two months been stoked by both separatist leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu nationalists elsewhere in India.
Overnight, the unrest has threatened to breathe new life into the old and treacherous dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which is claimed by both nations and lies at the heart of 60 years of bitterness between them.
Disastrously for the Indian government, Kashmir has burst onto centre stage at a time of growing turmoil in the region — with the resignation this week of Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, who had sought to temper his country’s backing for anti-Indian militancy here.
Even though the two countries have been engaged in four years of peace talks, India has grown nervous that the disarray in Pakistan has left it with no negotiating partner. From New Delhi’s perspective, that power vacuum has allowed anti-Indian elements in Pakistan’s intelligence services and the militant groups they employ to pursue their agenda with renewed vigour.
Relations between the countries have become newly embittered as Indian and Pakistani forces have engaged in skirmishes across the Line of Control. Not least, India has blamed the Pakistani intelligence services for playing a hidden role in the bombing of the Indian embassy in Afghanistan last month, a charge that Pakistan vehemently denies.
The latest unrest here has only added to the difficulties of renewed dialogue.
How long this agitation will continue depends on both India’s capacity to assuage Kashmiri separatist leaders, and their ability in turn to control the sudden eruption of rage among the young.
On Monday, tens of thousands of Kashmiris, mostly men, streamed into an open area in the city centre and demanded independence from India. They came in motorcycle cavalcades, and on the backs of trucks and buses.
A few waved Pakistani flags. Some shouted praise for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned Pakistan-based militant organization that India blames for a series of terrorist attacks in recent years. “India, your death will come,” they chanted. “Lashkar will come. Lashkar will come.”
By Tuesday, traffic had returned to the city, as the separatists called for a three-day suspension of the strike. Shops and cafes reopened. The pro-Pakistan graffiti had been covered up, as though it were again an ordinary day.
Again and again, Kashmiris from across the political spectrum said the scenes now reminded them of the peak of the anti-Indian rebellion in the early 1990s, except at that time, separatist guerrillas, aided by Pakistan, openly roamed the streets with guns.
The current demonstrations have pierced what seemed, perhaps deceptively to the Indian government, such as a return of the ordinary here.
“The uprising we see now is the latent anger against the Indian state that has erupted again.” N.N. Vohra, governor of Jammu and Kashmir, compared life in Srinagar today to darkness at noon.
The trouble began two months ago over 99 acres of government land that, for decades, had been used by Hindu pilgrims on the route to the Amarnath shrine. In May, the authorities authorized the panel that runs the pilgrimage site to put up “prefabricated structures” for pilgrims. The order enraged Muslims.
With state elections scheduled for this year, some politicians and separatist leaders pounced on the decision and declared it a bid to re-engineer the demography of Kashmir. Hardline Islamists compared it to the Israeli occupation of Muslim holy lands.
The government rescinded the order, but nothing, as Vohra said, actually changed —Hindu pilgrims still used the land, and they still came this year in record numbers.
Nevertheless, the retraction of the original order enraged people in the Hindu-majority plains of Jammu. And they, too, were goaded by politicians and hardline leaders.
All told, over the past two months, the protests here in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and counterprotests led by Hindu groups in the plains below, have left a death toll of nearly 40 in clashes with security forces.
Kashmiri public opinion is hardly uniformly anti-Indian, and the pro-Pakistan current is one among many. But distrust runs deep.
“It is a volcano that has erupted,” Shad Salim Akhtar, 54, a doctor, said of the latest agitation.
Source:THE NEW YORK TIMES
Yusuf Jameel contributed to this story
Wednesday 20 August 2008
ALIENATION IN KASHMIR-WHERE IS THE SOLUTION
India is no stranger to secessionist movements and Kashmir is no different in this respect. India has had to weather insurgencies in many states in the 20th century and has always succeeded in stemming this tide. There has been no exception.
It is now being openly argued that such is the extent of alienation in Kashmir valley that, except for letting it go, there is little else that can be done. We believe this is a misreading of the situation and there is little to theories of Kashmiri exceptionalism.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), more than any other state, has suffered from a deficit of good governance. Since 1953, when autonomy of the state was greatly whittled down, most elections have been rigged there. This has deprived the people living there of precious public goods such as uncorrupt public representatives, equality of opportunity in public employment, and finally security. New Delhi’s preoccupation with security fundamentally eroded what it sought. This has greatly fuelled alienation.
But there’s more to this story. There is no way of providing public goods efficiently in a centralized manner. As a result, border provinces have problems in getting the right quantity of these goods. Punjab and states in the North-East have seen separatism. So, in that sense there is nothing exceptional to Kashmir’s current woes. This is where the Left (and now liberal) opinion misreads the situation.
Very good solutions exist to provide these goods on a decentralized basis. The Centre did not believe this was possible as it felt Kashmir was an exception. This was at the root of the problem. This required enhancement of autonomy and not squeezing it, as has been the case in J&K.
Instead what it tried was to give the government of J&K generous amounts of money. This, coupled with the promotion of venal local politicians (who were selected for their “right” security credentials), was a sure recipe for disaster.
Reversing alienation should be New Delhi’s top priority. This is difficult but not impossible. But it requires a change in attitudes. First, pro-India credentials alone should not be a criterion for elected office. The reason why democracies are successful is that people know what candidates are good for them. This will help. Two, greater autonomy for the state will go a long way in taking the wind out of secessionist sails. However improbable it may seem, such steps have the potential to stem alienation.
( SOURCE: Livemint)
It is now being openly argued that such is the extent of alienation in Kashmir valley that, except for letting it go, there is little else that can be done. We believe this is a misreading of the situation and there is little to theories of Kashmiri exceptionalism.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), more than any other state, has suffered from a deficit of good governance. Since 1953, when autonomy of the state was greatly whittled down, most elections have been rigged there. This has deprived the people living there of precious public goods such as uncorrupt public representatives, equality of opportunity in public employment, and finally security. New Delhi’s preoccupation with security fundamentally eroded what it sought. This has greatly fuelled alienation.
But there’s more to this story. There is no way of providing public goods efficiently in a centralized manner. As a result, border provinces have problems in getting the right quantity of these goods. Punjab and states in the North-East have seen separatism. So, in that sense there is nothing exceptional to Kashmir’s current woes. This is where the Left (and now liberal) opinion misreads the situation.
Very good solutions exist to provide these goods on a decentralized basis. The Centre did not believe this was possible as it felt Kashmir was an exception. This was at the root of the problem. This required enhancement of autonomy and not squeezing it, as has been the case in J&K.
Instead what it tried was to give the government of J&K generous amounts of money. This, coupled with the promotion of venal local politicians (who were selected for their “right” security credentials), was a sure recipe for disaster.
Reversing alienation should be New Delhi’s top priority. This is difficult but not impossible. But it requires a change in attitudes. First, pro-India credentials alone should not be a criterion for elected office. The reason why democracies are successful is that people know what candidates are good for them. This will help. Two, greater autonomy for the state will go a long way in taking the wind out of secessionist sails. However improbable it may seem, such steps have the potential to stem alienation.
( SOURCE: Livemint)
Tuesday 19 August 2008
GURUNG MIND IN FINAL SHOWDOWN
Border sentinels in Gurung’s mind for final showdown
Siliguri-Dooars-Teria populace does not want a repeat of 1986
DARJEELING, August 18: Reiterating that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will ‘walk out’ if Gorkhaland agenda does not figure in the upcoming tripartite talks, party chief Bimal Gurung said today that “if needed be, a call will be given to the Gorkha brothers guarding the border” in the final showdown.
“We will simply walk out if there is no discussion on Gorkhaland in the tripartite talks. We will give a call to our brothers guarding the nation’s borders and those working in police forces in the final moment”, said Mr. Gurung.
The tripartite talks are scheduled possibly at the end of this month between GJM, Centre and West Bengal government. The state government has already rejected the Gorkhaland demand.
On the other hand, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has directed Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold initial parleys with GJM to give a shape on the agendas to be placed before the proposed tripartite talks.
“We won’t accept anything less than Gorkhaland and we also know how to attain our rights”, said Mr. Gurung to a strong contingent of people from Dooars-Siliguri-Teria region at Darjeeling.
Around 680 people from Siliguri-Dooars-Terai region had marched on foot to Darjeeling today morning. They had began their march on August 16 demanding that Nepali dominated areas in Jalpaiguri district should be included in the proposed Gorkhaland territory.
The people from this region have not forgotten the bitter somersault of Subash Ghisingh in 1986. The Nepali dominated areas of Siliguri-Dooars-Terai have been left out of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in the peace accord signed that year by Ghisingh despite their sacrifices in the agitation.
Fearing a repeat of 1986, the Nepali speaking people of these plain areas mobilized a strong contingent and made a strong presentation before the GJM chief.
In response, Mr. Gurung committed that the territories of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri will not be left out. He also claimed that those CPIM families who have been displaced in the 1986 by GNLF from Darjeeling hills and forced to rehabilitate in Siliguri are now leaving the party and coming in support of Gorkhaland movement.
GJM Siliguri unit general secretary Madhusudhan Thapa who had accompanied the marchers said that businessmen from Siliguri are completely supporting the Gorkhaland demand. Even the Adivasi people from the plains are with us and are demanding Gorkhaland, he said.
“We request a representative from Siliguri to attend the tripartite talks which should only discuss on Gorkhaland”, said GJM Siliguri vice president Bikram Chettri. There should be no compromise on the proposed map of Gorkhaland, he said.
42- year old Sadu Mukhia who was part of the marchers said that he had undertaken the three day march to Darjeeling for the future of the coming generation. “This new movement will be successful. We must get freedom from the Bengal exploitation”, he said.
( Source: Sikkim Express)
Siliguri-Dooars-Teria populace does not want a repeat of 1986
DARJEELING, August 18: Reiterating that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will ‘walk out’ if Gorkhaland agenda does not figure in the upcoming tripartite talks, party chief Bimal Gurung said today that “if needed be, a call will be given to the Gorkha brothers guarding the border” in the final showdown.
“We will simply walk out if there is no discussion on Gorkhaland in the tripartite talks. We will give a call to our brothers guarding the nation’s borders and those working in police forces in the final moment”, said Mr. Gurung.
The tripartite talks are scheduled possibly at the end of this month between GJM, Centre and West Bengal government. The state government has already rejected the Gorkhaland demand.
On the other hand, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has directed Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold initial parleys with GJM to give a shape on the agendas to be placed before the proposed tripartite talks.
“We won’t accept anything less than Gorkhaland and we also know how to attain our rights”, said Mr. Gurung to a strong contingent of people from Dooars-Siliguri-Teria region at Darjeeling.
Around 680 people from Siliguri-Dooars-Terai region had marched on foot to Darjeeling today morning. They had began their march on August 16 demanding that Nepali dominated areas in Jalpaiguri district should be included in the proposed Gorkhaland territory.
The people from this region have not forgotten the bitter somersault of Subash Ghisingh in 1986. The Nepali dominated areas of Siliguri-Dooars-Terai have been left out of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in the peace accord signed that year by Ghisingh despite their sacrifices in the agitation.
Fearing a repeat of 1986, the Nepali speaking people of these plain areas mobilized a strong contingent and made a strong presentation before the GJM chief.
In response, Mr. Gurung committed that the territories of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri will not be left out. He also claimed that those CPIM families who have been displaced in the 1986 by GNLF from Darjeeling hills and forced to rehabilitate in Siliguri are now leaving the party and coming in support of Gorkhaland movement.
GJM Siliguri unit general secretary Madhusudhan Thapa who had accompanied the marchers said that businessmen from Siliguri are completely supporting the Gorkhaland demand. Even the Adivasi people from the plains are with us and are demanding Gorkhaland, he said.
“We request a representative from Siliguri to attend the tripartite talks which should only discuss on Gorkhaland”, said GJM Siliguri vice president Bikram Chettri. There should be no compromise on the proposed map of Gorkhaland, he said.
42- year old Sadu Mukhia who was part of the marchers said that he had undertaken the three day march to Darjeeling for the future of the coming generation. “This new movement will be successful. We must get freedom from the Bengal exploitation”, he said.
( Source: Sikkim Express)
Monday 18 August 2008
SIKKIM POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR GORKHALAND
SIKKIM POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR GORKHALAND
All parties to ask Sikkim Govt to pass resolution in favour of separate Gorkha state
Staff Reporter(sikkim Express)
GANGTOK, Aug 17: Rising above their ideological differences, the Opposition and the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party today agreed to submit an all party representation under the banner of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) to the Sikkim government requesting it to pass a resolution in the State Assembly in favour of Gorkhaland.
However, this all party accord does not include the CPIM party who went unrepresented in this historic hour.
This consensus was reached upon after a fiery interaction of almost five hours between the representatives of all the political parties in a seminar organized by the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, the apex body of 1.5 crores Indian Gorkhas living in different parts of the country.
Today’s attendance list figured prominent faces of Sikkim politics.
Nar Bahadur Bhandari (president of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee), HR Pradhan (president of Sikkim unit of BJP), GM Rai (president of Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party), Jigme N Kazi (founder member of Sikkim United), RC Poudyal (president of Rising Sun), former minister KN Upreti, Tseten Lepcha from Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad and SAFE convener, Bharat Basnett.
Kiran Chettri, publicity secretary of SDF represented the ruling party in the seminar.
Amidst the plethora of suggestions and some frank admonishment, all were unanimous in their support to the Gorkhaland cause taken up by the Parisangh and other political parties of Darjeeling including the most prominent of them, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
Summing up today’s intellectual exercise, BGP working president and renowned figure of this region, CK Shrestha concluded that all political parties in Sikkim “seemed to be in favour of Gorkhaland” and proposed an all party memorandum to be submitted to the Sikkim Government.
The proposed memorandum seeks to request Sikkim government to pass a resolution in the State Assembly in favour of Gorkhaland, a separate state for Indian Gorkhas in the country.
“Since all parties in Sikkim are in favour of Gorkhaland and agrees that the Sikkim government should play a proactive role, Sikkim should take the lead and be the first state pass a resolution in the Assembly before any other states does it,” Mr. Shrestha said. He claimed that BGP was working on war-footing with its units in 22 states of the country to get a similar resolution passed.
“In other states, we are almost near to get similar resolutions passed,” he said.
All representatives of the political parties present in the seminar gave their support to the resolution.
“It’s a part of the democratic process to approach an elected government for a representation. We should send the resolution collectively under the banner of Parisangh”, the state Congress chief, Bhandari said. It is up to the State Government to whether to entertain or reject it,” he added.
The SDF representative Kiran Chettri also nodded his agreement.
The memorandum will be submitted to the Sikkim Government under the banner of BGP in a later date.
“The Sikkim government has also a commitment to fulfill”, Mr. Shrestha said, referring to the statement made by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling a couple of years back for passing a resolution on Gorkhaland in the state Assembly.
The BGP also adopted another resolution to start a national-level signature campaign to get support from as many as MPs as possible in support of the Gorkhaland demand.
Earlier during the seminar, the political leaders spared no words to voice their support to the Gorkhaland and pinned responsibility on the Parisangh to take the movement on the national level.
Opening up today’s discussions, Bhandari conceded that Sikkim’s role is limited to state level and suggested BGP to make the Gorkhaland movement into a national agenda. The Parisangh should unite all the Indian Gorkhas and their leaders and similarly all of us should shed our egos and narrow mindedness and work for the greater cause, he said.
Sikkim Congress Pradesh Congress is whole heartedly supporting the Gorkhaland demand above our party politics, said Bhandari.
The State Congress chief opined that Gorkhaland realization is easier than the Nepali language recognition movement. “Language recognition was not easy because it was not constitutionally binding. But Gorkhaland demand is valid as there are constitutional provisions for creation of separate states”, he said.
“The proposed Gorkhaland territory should give leadership to all the Indian Gorkhas living in the nation”.
Stating that the MP signature campaign for inclusion of Nepali language in the 8th Schedule worked as a ‘Ram Bhan’, Bhandari urged the Parisangh to work on similar lines as GJM’s role is confined to a regional level.
Kiran Chettri, the SDF publicity secretary suggested the Parisangh to take up the role as a guardian to all the political parties identified with the Gorkhaland demand adding that the parties should also attach itself with the BGP.
“If BGP does not take into its fold all the parties and organizations of Gorkhaland, demand then there will be doubts raised whether the movement will be fruitful,” he observed.
“The BGP’s guardian role is important so that our demands are institutionalized and we reach the ears of Delhi through the Parisangh,” Mr. Chettri said.
Having offered his suggestions, the SDF leader expressed the support of Sikkim to the Gorkhaland demand. “I feel that nobody from Sikkim will back out from supporting the Gorkhaland demand,” he said. There will be constant support from Sikkim and Sikkimese people, he asserted.
State BJP president, HR Pradhan observed that an intellectual front is also necessary in the movement apart from political fronts. “The BGP should prepare a proper documentation justifying the Gorkhaland demand to the Delhi leader”, he said.
The Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP) president, GM Rai presented a strong cause for more proactive support from Sikkim government and people. Sikkim’s potential for the Gorkhaland movement is being wasted, he said.
Mr. Rai urged the Parisangh to use its 22 states network more effectively and work in tandem with GJM taking each other into confidence.
For example, whenever GJM calls for a bandh then BGP should be able to simultaneously use its units in 22 states to take up processions, posterings and slogan shoutings, he said.
“BGP has nationwide network but we are not using it”, Rai stated.
Sikkim United party leader Jigmee N Kazi also offered his personal and party’s support to the Gorkhaland demand.
Former minister and a stalwart in Sikkim politics, KN Uperti observed that the stand taken for separate state for Indian Gorkhas will not be successful if confined to Darjeeling region only. “It will not be successful unless it becomes a national issue”, he said.
Mr. Uperti also gave a call for separation of politics and the Gorkhaland cause and appealed that all the warring factions within the movement should be brought together on a common platform.
SAFE convener Bharat Basnett suggested BGP should not discard other political parties in Darjeeling apart from GJM and said that intellectuals should not be kept out of the movement.
Expectedly, the fireworks came from RC Poudyal.
In his brief and philosophical address, Mr. Poudyal rationalized that the erstwhile ‘king of Darjeeling hills’ and GNLF supermo Subash Ghisingh should be taken into the movement and his earlier misgivings be forgiven. “We should take good qualities of Ghisingh and use him in the movement and not treat him like his is being treated presently,” he said.
Mr. Poudyal also slammed the GJM’s antics to ostracize Ghisingh and said that it does not figure in his dreams for Gorkhaland. “The mass have no minds but leaders should be able to control the masses”, he said.
The Rising Sun leader opined that the definition of Indian Gorkhas must be expanded and rope in more people from other communities for a larger support base
All parties to ask Sikkim Govt to pass resolution in favour of separate Gorkha state
Staff Reporter(sikkim Express)
GANGTOK, Aug 17: Rising above their ideological differences, the Opposition and the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party today agreed to submit an all party representation under the banner of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) to the Sikkim government requesting it to pass a resolution in the State Assembly in favour of Gorkhaland.
However, this all party accord does not include the CPIM party who went unrepresented in this historic hour.
This consensus was reached upon after a fiery interaction of almost five hours between the representatives of all the political parties in a seminar organized by the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, the apex body of 1.5 crores Indian Gorkhas living in different parts of the country.
Today’s attendance list figured prominent faces of Sikkim politics.
Nar Bahadur Bhandari (president of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee), HR Pradhan (president of Sikkim unit of BJP), GM Rai (president of Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party), Jigme N Kazi (founder member of Sikkim United), RC Poudyal (president of Rising Sun), former minister KN Upreti, Tseten Lepcha from Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad and SAFE convener, Bharat Basnett.
Kiran Chettri, publicity secretary of SDF represented the ruling party in the seminar.
Amidst the plethora of suggestions and some frank admonishment, all were unanimous in their support to the Gorkhaland cause taken up by the Parisangh and other political parties of Darjeeling including the most prominent of them, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
Summing up today’s intellectual exercise, BGP working president and renowned figure of this region, CK Shrestha concluded that all political parties in Sikkim “seemed to be in favour of Gorkhaland” and proposed an all party memorandum to be submitted to the Sikkim Government.
The proposed memorandum seeks to request Sikkim government to pass a resolution in the State Assembly in favour of Gorkhaland, a separate state for Indian Gorkhas in the country.
“Since all parties in Sikkim are in favour of Gorkhaland and agrees that the Sikkim government should play a proactive role, Sikkim should take the lead and be the first state pass a resolution in the Assembly before any other states does it,” Mr. Shrestha said. He claimed that BGP was working on war-footing with its units in 22 states of the country to get a similar resolution passed.
“In other states, we are almost near to get similar resolutions passed,” he said.
All representatives of the political parties present in the seminar gave their support to the resolution.
“It’s a part of the democratic process to approach an elected government for a representation. We should send the resolution collectively under the banner of Parisangh”, the state Congress chief, Bhandari said. It is up to the State Government to whether to entertain or reject it,” he added.
The SDF representative Kiran Chettri also nodded his agreement.
The memorandum will be submitted to the Sikkim Government under the banner of BGP in a later date.
“The Sikkim government has also a commitment to fulfill”, Mr. Shrestha said, referring to the statement made by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling a couple of years back for passing a resolution on Gorkhaland in the state Assembly.
The BGP also adopted another resolution to start a national-level signature campaign to get support from as many as MPs as possible in support of the Gorkhaland demand.
Earlier during the seminar, the political leaders spared no words to voice their support to the Gorkhaland and pinned responsibility on the Parisangh to take the movement on the national level.
Opening up today’s discussions, Bhandari conceded that Sikkim’s role is limited to state level and suggested BGP to make the Gorkhaland movement into a national agenda. The Parisangh should unite all the Indian Gorkhas and their leaders and similarly all of us should shed our egos and narrow mindedness and work for the greater cause, he said.
Sikkim Congress Pradesh Congress is whole heartedly supporting the Gorkhaland demand above our party politics, said Bhandari.
The State Congress chief opined that Gorkhaland realization is easier than the Nepali language recognition movement. “Language recognition was not easy because it was not constitutionally binding. But Gorkhaland demand is valid as there are constitutional provisions for creation of separate states”, he said.
“The proposed Gorkhaland territory should give leadership to all the Indian Gorkhas living in the nation”.
Stating that the MP signature campaign for inclusion of Nepali language in the 8th Schedule worked as a ‘Ram Bhan’, Bhandari urged the Parisangh to work on similar lines as GJM’s role is confined to a regional level.
Kiran Chettri, the SDF publicity secretary suggested the Parisangh to take up the role as a guardian to all the political parties identified with the Gorkhaland demand adding that the parties should also attach itself with the BGP.
“If BGP does not take into its fold all the parties and organizations of Gorkhaland, demand then there will be doubts raised whether the movement will be fruitful,” he observed.
“The BGP’s guardian role is important so that our demands are institutionalized and we reach the ears of Delhi through the Parisangh,” Mr. Chettri said.
Having offered his suggestions, the SDF leader expressed the support of Sikkim to the Gorkhaland demand. “I feel that nobody from Sikkim will back out from supporting the Gorkhaland demand,” he said. There will be constant support from Sikkim and Sikkimese people, he asserted.
State BJP president, HR Pradhan observed that an intellectual front is also necessary in the movement apart from political fronts. “The BGP should prepare a proper documentation justifying the Gorkhaland demand to the Delhi leader”, he said.
The Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP) president, GM Rai presented a strong cause for more proactive support from Sikkim government and people. Sikkim’s potential for the Gorkhaland movement is being wasted, he said.
Mr. Rai urged the Parisangh to use its 22 states network more effectively and work in tandem with GJM taking each other into confidence.
For example, whenever GJM calls for a bandh then BGP should be able to simultaneously use its units in 22 states to take up processions, posterings and slogan shoutings, he said.
“BGP has nationwide network but we are not using it”, Rai stated.
Sikkim United party leader Jigmee N Kazi also offered his personal and party’s support to the Gorkhaland demand.
Former minister and a stalwart in Sikkim politics, KN Uperti observed that the stand taken for separate state for Indian Gorkhas will not be successful if confined to Darjeeling region only. “It will not be successful unless it becomes a national issue”, he said.
Mr. Uperti also gave a call for separation of politics and the Gorkhaland cause and appealed that all the warring factions within the movement should be brought together on a common platform.
SAFE convener Bharat Basnett suggested BGP should not discard other political parties in Darjeeling apart from GJM and said that intellectuals should not be kept out of the movement.
Expectedly, the fireworks came from RC Poudyal.
In his brief and philosophical address, Mr. Poudyal rationalized that the erstwhile ‘king of Darjeeling hills’ and GNLF supermo Subash Ghisingh should be taken into the movement and his earlier misgivings be forgiven. “We should take good qualities of Ghisingh and use him in the movement and not treat him like his is being treated presently,” he said.
Mr. Poudyal also slammed the GJM’s antics to ostracize Ghisingh and said that it does not figure in his dreams for Gorkhaland. “The mass have no minds but leaders should be able to control the masses”, he said.
The Rising Sun leader opined that the definition of Indian Gorkhas must be expanded and rope in more people from other communities for a larger support base
SEPARATISTS SUBMIT MEMO TO UN IN SRINAGAR
Srinagar, August 18
Riding high on anti-India sentiments, the separatists drew a huge crowd during a rally (UNI put the number at over 1 lakh) and submitted memorandums at the local office of the United Nations Military Observers Group at Sonwar here today. Though the Coordination Committee, comprising both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, lawyers, traders, social and business groups, did not submit its memorandum, other constituents of the committee submitted the memorandums in separate representative groups.
Earlier, addressing a rally at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) grounds here, the separatists sought a permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue in the wake of an “economic blockade” against the valley and asked India to hold tripartite talks and open cross-LoC routes for the movement of people and trade purposes.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq read out the memorandum addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and put forth three demands in view of the present crisis.
The memorandum called upon India to end its “forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and also desist from use of brute force” against the people.
Secondly, it sought the right of self-determination be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been conceded to them by Pakistan and India and approved by the UNO.
Thirdly, the memorandum sought to end “discrimination, violence and oppression of Muslims in the Jammu region.”
Riding high on anti-India sentiments, the separatists drew a huge crowd during a rally (UNI put the number at over 1 lakh) and submitted memorandums at the local office of the United Nations Military Observers Group at Sonwar here today. Though the Coordination Committee, comprising both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, lawyers, traders, social and business groups, did not submit its memorandum, other constituents of the committee submitted the memorandums in separate representative groups.
Earlier, addressing a rally at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) grounds here, the separatists sought a permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue in the wake of an “economic blockade” against the valley and asked India to hold tripartite talks and open cross-LoC routes for the movement of people and trade purposes.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq read out the memorandum addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and put forth three demands in view of the present crisis.
The memorandum called upon India to end its “forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and also desist from use of brute force” against the people.
Secondly, it sought the right of self-determination be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been conceded to them by Pakistan and India and approved by the UNO.
Thirdly, the memorandum sought to end “discrimination, violence and oppression of Muslims in the Jammu region.”
PRACHANDA AS PM NEPAL
Monday, 18 August 2008
Prachanda takes over as PM
18 AUG 2008
CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, who had waged bloody insurgency in the hinterlands of Himalayan nation for over a decade was sworn in as the Prime Minister on Monday. At around 3.45 pm at the President’s Residential Office (Rastrapati Bhawan) in Sital Niwas, the first President of the republic of Nepal Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected PM Prachanda amidst a function attended by dignitaries and high-profile personalities.
Discarding the long-held tradition of wearing Nepali dress (Daura-salwar,Nepali cap) Prachanda attended the ceremony in a western suit with white a shirt, tie, gray coat-pant and black cap (Bhadgaunle cap). He took the oath of office and secrecy in the name of the people.
Shortly after he took the oath of office, Prachanda assumed the office at Singha Durbar. Briefly talking to media, Prachanda said bringing the ongoing peace process to a logical end was the main priority of his government. Besides, the government would introduce immediate relief programme for the people and take initiative to maintain law and order situation across the country, he added.
Meanwhile, senior Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, alias Badal, who also attended the ceremony said the new government led by Prachanda would make Nepal free from all external interventions.
He also opined that the main challenges before Prachanda were to forge unity among the republic, nationalist and leftist forces.
Prachanda was elected as the Prime Minister with an overwhelming majority in the constituent assembly on Friday.
However, Prachanda could not expand his cabinet and administer the oath of office to the ministers today when the three-party alliance - the Maoist, the CPN-UML and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) failed to settle down power-sharing deal and sign a common minimum programme of the new government. Badal said the concerned parties could not reach an understanding over the issues and they still had to complete internal procedures in this regard.
Breaking off the existing practice, the CPN-Maoist on Monday decided to deploy its People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the security of the newly elected Prime Minister.
The Maoist central committee meeting held at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar this afternoon reached at a decision to include their combatants along with the national army, armed police force and the Nepal police for the security arrangement of Prachanda.
"It is the responsibility of the PLA to provide security to Prachanda," Maoist leader Netra Bikram Chand told journalists after the meeting.
He also claimed that the PLA was the national army. On Saturday, the Home Ministry officials said the government would deploy 150-Nepal Army personnel under the command of Lieut-Colonel Arun Pal.
Coincidently, the newly elected Prime Minister, who had waged over decade-long people's war with the influence of Chinese leader Mao, was going to China for his first official visit.
According to Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma, Prachanda is leaving for China on Saturday to take part in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
The Prime Minister was officially invited to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics by the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xiangling on Sunday. The closing
Prachanda takes over as PM
18 AUG 2008
CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, who had waged bloody insurgency in the hinterlands of Himalayan nation for over a decade was sworn in as the Prime Minister on Monday. At around 3.45 pm at the President’s Residential Office (Rastrapati Bhawan) in Sital Niwas, the first President of the republic of Nepal Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected PM Prachanda amidst a function attended by dignitaries and high-profile personalities.
Discarding the long-held tradition of wearing Nepali dress (Daura-salwar,Nepali cap) Prachanda attended the ceremony in a western suit with white a shirt, tie, gray coat-pant and black cap (Bhadgaunle cap). He took the oath of office and secrecy in the name of the people.
Shortly after he took the oath of office, Prachanda assumed the office at Singha Durbar. Briefly talking to media, Prachanda said bringing the ongoing peace process to a logical end was the main priority of his government. Besides, the government would introduce immediate relief programme for the people and take initiative to maintain law and order situation across the country, he added.
Meanwhile, senior Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, alias Badal, who also attended the ceremony said the new government led by Prachanda would make Nepal free from all external interventions.
He also opined that the main challenges before Prachanda were to forge unity among the republic, nationalist and leftist forces.
Prachanda was elected as the Prime Minister with an overwhelming majority in the constituent assembly on Friday.
However, Prachanda could not expand his cabinet and administer the oath of office to the ministers today when the three-party alliance - the Maoist, the CPN-UML and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) failed to settle down power-sharing deal and sign a common minimum programme of the new government. Badal said the concerned parties could not reach an understanding over the issues and they still had to complete internal procedures in this regard.
Breaking off the existing practice, the CPN-Maoist on Monday decided to deploy its People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the security of the newly elected Prime Minister.
The Maoist central committee meeting held at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar this afternoon reached at a decision to include their combatants along with the national army, armed police force and the Nepal police for the security arrangement of Prachanda.
"It is the responsibility of the PLA to provide security to Prachanda," Maoist leader Netra Bikram Chand told journalists after the meeting.
He also claimed that the PLA was the national army. On Saturday, the Home Ministry officials said the government would deploy 150-Nepal Army personnel under the command of Lieut-Colonel Arun Pal.
Coincidently, the newly elected Prime Minister, who had waged over decade-long people's war with the influence of Chinese leader Mao, was going to China for his first official visit.
According to Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma, Prachanda is leaving for China on Saturday to take part in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
The Prime Minister was officially invited to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics by the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xiangling on Sunday. The closing
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