SILIGURI : North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb today said if the owners of the ration shops in Darjeeling hills don't open their shops within next 72-hours, then their licences will be cancelled."If the owners of the ration shops in Darjeeling hills don't open their shops within next 72-hours, then the state government will cancel their licences and new licences will be given to other people," Deb told reporters here.The minister said the West Bengal government would attend the tripartite meeting to be called by the Centre to discuss the demand of the GJM for Gorkhaland only if it assures the state government that there would be no division of Bengal.
"Only if we get an assurance from the Centre that there would be no division of Bengal, then only the state government would attend the tripartite meeting to be called by the Union Home secretary to discuss the Gorkhaland issue," he said.Union Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on September three had told a delegation from the Darjeeling hills seeking statehood that the Centre would convene a tripartite meeting to discuss the issue, but appealed to the hill leadership to call off the strike. The West Bengal government is taking all steps necessary to bring peace and normalcy in the Darjeeling hills, Deb said.
08:18 |
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SILIGURI : After the major political stir observed in Darjeeling hills with large public movement over the state Chief Minsiter's visit there on despite Gorkha janamukti Morcha's (GJM) bandh call, the practical life in hills went back to its usual uncertain and frozen state today. The much waited and largely talked about meeting to elect Gorkhaland Territorial Administration's (GTA) chief Executive could not take place failing to get hill administration back to life. Only two GJM leaders with their capacity of GTA Chairman and thus convener of the meeting along with the Vice Chairman were present. Naturally, the meeting could not be held. "The development has been reported to the Government. Next step will be decided soon," said Mr. R D Meena, GTA Principal Secretary. "GTA is not our agenda now.
We want release of our arrested members first. And our movement for Gorkhaland will continue," said GJM President Mr. Bimal Gurung. GJM was pressing hard for the release of around 750 arrested members including 10 elected GTA councilorsbefore the meeting. But it was not accepted though the arrested GTA members were called in the meeting. Many GJM leaders, GTA councilors and their supporters kept on shouting slogans outside the meeting hall demanding 'immediate and unconditional' release of their members. GTA has 45 elected members from GJM and 5 nominated members. After resignation of Mr. Gurung from the post of its Chief Executive as a part of his movement step one month back, the administration board became defunct. To restart its activities, the board needs a new Chief. "We want the chief to be elected by the councilor in the meeting. But if they do not respond positively, Government will take strict step," said CM Miss Mamata Banerjee .
However, general life in Darjeeling or Kurseong was under strong influence of 'Ghar Bahir Janta' (people out of home) call of GJM .Offices, shops, schools, transportation all remained off due to ongoing indefinite bandh. Interestingly, hill sub division Kalimpong had large scale public movement yesterday over the Chief minister's presence there to receive felicitation from Lepcha community and her public meeting. But, ground picture in that Lepcha dominated town was not much different from Darjeeling. Though still enjoying solid public response in its bandh, GJM knows that it may break apart anyday soon under the pressure of already generated mass resentment.
While talking to media today on the issue, TMC all Indian General Secretary Mr. Mukul Roy said, said, "GJM is already detached from public." Even after one month long bandh and thus great suffering of public, GJM has practically failed to get anything positive. It has also failed to arrange a tri-partite talk with center. At this stage now it has become utmost important for GJM to come out of the knot while saving own supremacy in hills. As learnt, GJM central committee and Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee will meet again soon to chalk out future course of action.
21:29 |
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SILIGURI : Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee(GJAC), the conglomeration of pro Gorkhaland parties in Darjeeling preferred remaining on the path of bandh even on the days of the state CM's forthcoming visit to hills. After the three hour long meeting today, GJAC has announced its future course of action including imposition of 'Ghar Bhitre Janta' (People inside home) on the 2 nd and 3 rd September when the state CM is scheduled to be in the hills. "The bandh will be relaxed on Saturday to continue as usual from Sunday (1 stSep) onwards. On 1 stSeptember, a delegation of MLAs and MP's present as well as ex will visit Delhi to meet union Government representatives, especially the Home Minister," said Mr. E D Pradhan, President of GJAC. "On the 1 st, we will hold another meeting to decide on continuation of student's direct participation in the movement. At the same time, we will assess whether we can take the schools out of bandh purview or not," he added.
But importantly, "In addition to continuation to the usual bandh, 'Ghar bhitre janta' will be imposed on 2nd and 3 rd. It does not matter whether CM is scheduled to be here on those days or not. Our movement will continue the way GJAC constituents have decided, " said Mr. Pradhan.Clear enough, this is yet another aggressive step going to be taken by the GJAC against the CM's very clear and bold message to the hill parties to withdraw bandh. However, Darjeeling movement is being given a projection of conglomerated initiative of many likeminded organizations on the common platform of GJAC. But many important GJAC constituents have left the platform like All India Gorkha League or Gorkha Rastriya Congress. One more important constituent Gorkha Rastra Nirman Mancha was absent in today's meeting. On her three days long trip to hills, the CM has a plan to visit Kalimpong on the 3 rdto attend a function of Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association(ILTA) a body of lepcha community people in the hills. After Gorkhas, Lepchas are the second largest ethnic community to dominate hills demography.
22:42 |
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आजभन्दा 115 वर्षअघि सिलगढी-तराईमा बंगाली बस्दैनथे, आज लगभग अरू जाति बस्दैनन्।
(फाइनल सेटलमेन्ट रिपोर्ट 1898) पढ्नुहोस्। दार्जीलिङ त परै जाओस् जुन सिलगढ़ीलाई बंगाली सरकारले बंगालको हो भन्दैछ, त्यो कुनै हालतमा बंगालको हैन र पूर्व कालमा त्यहाँ बंगाली बस्दैनथे भन्ने कुरालाई अंग्रेज बंगालले 1898मा प्रकाशित गरेको, शशिभूषण दत्तद्वारा तयार पारिएको सिलगढ़ी तराईको सेटलमेन्ट रिपोर्टमा भएका जातिहरूको उपस्थितिलाई सबैले हेर्न अति आवश्यक छ। अंग्रेज बंगालको सचिवालय कलकत्ता द्वारा प्रकाशित फाइनल सेटलमेन्ट सिलगढ़ी तराईको रिपोर्ट यस प्रकार छ। हेर्नुहोस् -
(फाइनल सेटलमेन्ट रिपोर्ट 1898)
जाति। संख्या। पुरुष।स्त्री। पाठकवृन्द! तल पनि प्रथम संख्या पुरुषको र दोस्रो संख्या स्त्रीको भन्ने बुझ्नुहोला।
01)भुइमानी र मेतर । पुरुषः 539 स्त्रीः540
02) भुटिया । पुरुषः 292स्त्रीः130
03)ब्राह्मण। पुरुषः 500स्त्रीः130
04) दमाई। पुरुषः 75स्त्रीः33
05) घर्ती। 126-103
06) गुरुङ। 981-935
07) काईवार्ता। 184-135
08)कामी। 373-257
09) खम्बू(राई) 1314-1459
10) कोच। 6119-5014
11)लेप्चा। 529-532
12)लिम्बू। 416-109
13) मगर। 832-514
14)मुण्डा। 129-126
15) मुर्मी(तामङ)। 500-502
16) नेवार। 318-189
17) उराउँ। 2360- 2272
18) राजपूत। 366-143
19)सार्की। 109-42
20) सुनुवार। 67-34
21) याक्खा(राई)। 33-21
22) बोन। 644-526
23) साइक। 4000-2299
धेरै वर्ष भएको छैन यो रिपोर्ट तयार भएको । 115 वर्षमा सिलगढ़ी तराईमैं नभएको बंगाली जातिको जनसंख्याले अन्य त्यहाँ बसेका जातिको जनसंख्यामाथि यत्रो प्रभाव पार्छ र ती त्यहाँका रैथानेहरू चाहिँ अल्पसंख्यक भई अधिकारको निम्ति चिच्याइरहनुपर्ने स्थिति आइपरेको छ भने भारत सरकारले बढ्दो बंगवादप्रति चिन्ता गर्नैपर्नेहुन्छ।
माकपा सरकार होस् वा ममता सरकार । दुवै नै पश्चिम बंगालका नागरिकको सरकार नभएर बंगाली जातिका सरकार हुन्। बंगाली सरकारद्वारा बंग्लादेशी बंगाली र अन्य क्षेत्रका बंगालीहरूलाई ल्याएर हाम्रो भूभागभरि नै बंगाली जातिको जनसंख्या बढाउने काम गरिएको छ। जसको फलस्वरूप यस क्षेत्रमा मात्र नभएर पूर्वोत्तर भारतभरि नै बंगीय जातिवादको विस्तार गरिएको छ। आगामी दिनमा पूर्वोत्तर भारतमा बंगवादी विस्तारको कारणले अस्थिरता र साम्प्रदायिक सम्प्रीति बिथोलिने प्रबल संभावना देखिन्छ।
अन्त्यमा मेरो आँतका दाजु-भाइ-दिदी-बहिनीहरू! आजको दिनमा ज्यूँदै थिए भने रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर, बंकिम चन्द्र चट्टोपाध्याय, श्यामा प्रसाद मुखर्जी, रामकृष्ण परमहंस, स्वामी विवेकानन्द, स्वामी प्रणवानन्द, अनुकूल चन्द्र ठाकूर, बालक ब्रह्मचारी, प्रभूपादा, चैतन्य महाप्रभू, ऋषि अरविन्दलगायत कुनै पनि बंगलाभाषी सन्त र विभूतिले अवश्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको विरोध गर्नेथिए। राष्ट्रपति हुनुअघिसम्म धेरैपल्ट वर्तमान राष्ट्रपतिले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड़को विरोधै गरेका थिए। अतः आफ्नो को हो? आफ्नो के हो? हामी किन यसरी हाम्रा विरोधीहरूको हाँचमा जाँदैछौं? सोच्ने बेला आएको छ।
- स्वामी स्वदेशानन्द(कनकधारा गुरुजी)
जय गोर्खा, जय गोर्खाल्याण्ड, जय गणतन्त्र भारत।
21:09 |
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SILIGURI: After failing to get adjoining tea belt of Darjeeling hills under own command through Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA), Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) is now taking strategic path of utilizing panchayat election to have own dreams fulfilled. GJM is going to file its candidates for nearly 200 mouzas in foothills of Dooars and Terai. The party has successfully brewed up a friendship with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and a faction of Tribal communities to fight jointly in these locations. "Our major thrust will remain on the 196 mouzas we have asked to be left under GTA," said M Thapa, a senior GJM leader from foothills. "Our central committee leaders will start campaigning in these areas soon," he added. These foothills areas yield nearly 25% of nation's entire tea output.
During negotiation with center and state to have a separate administrative body GTA for the hills after 5 years long movement with the demand of separate state hood for Darjeeling hills in the name of Gorkhaland, GJM demanded entire foothills too under GTA. But, as that would generate massive resentment amongst common mass in foothills against the state Government, the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a strategic path to form a fact finding body. After around a year, pouring water to GJM's dream, the body recommended only 5 mouzas against demanded 196, to be given under GTA that was by then under ruling of GJM. "It is unacceptable,"" GJM president Mr. Bimal Gurng said then. But surprisingly, he did not launch any serious movement against this.
Clear enough, he wanted to take a path of re- negotiation. "Now he is going to get control of these areas through panchayat election, far smoother path compared to aggressive movement," said political observers. Though the political picture is gradually taking more and more complicated look every day, as of now, while GJM is with JMM and a faction of Tribals, Trinamool Congress on the other side has successfully managed to have the mainstream organization of tribals, Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad, in own side. "Whatever be the picture on surface, TMC and GJM have underground understanding and TMC has always been helping GJM to gain benefits," said ex Minister and senior CPIM leader Ashok Bhattacharya. TMC leader and Minister Gautam Dev however reserved his comment on this.
(The Economics Times)
23:31 |
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SILIGURI: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is in Darjeeling once again, trying to woo the state's northernmost constituencies ahead of the Panchayat polls that are now imminent. She held a meeting with leaders of the rather disgruntled Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday evening, and reeled off the usual set of promises at a public meeting on Wednesday. "Darjeeling is the heart of West Bengal and its development carries the very highest priority" she announced. If her audience was a bit surprised that the heart was located so high up north, she chose to drive home the point that she really cared by stating that the state will sanction 100 crore for a water treatment project in Darjeeling. She said that the state will also facilitate development of hydropower projects in Rammam, Rangit and Teesta and also the 344 crore water project for Kalimpong.
The state coffers are empty, but that did not prove to be a constraint for Mamata who told the gathering that the state will persuade the Centre for a smooth flow of central funds to the Gorkha Territorial Administration. Political observers think Mamata is now seriously trying to go into damage control mode before the crucial May 24 tripartite meeting in the hills to resolve existing problems. The GJM has demanded immediate handing over of critical departments from state control to the GTA. Some 35 such have already been effected, but 24 still need to be transferred. The GJM has also demanded extra financial support from the state. Politically, some remarks made by Mamata during her January 2013 visit to Darjeeling had rubbed GJM the wrong way and the morcha had immediately launched into an agitational overdrive. The morcha has always wanted absolute power in the foothills of Darjeeling and that is a grouse too.
(The Economics Times)
20:43 |
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DARJEELING: Direct toy train services between Siliguri and Darjeeling are likely to resume by the end of 2013. Coming under fire from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) MLAs over the lack of infrastructure in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), railway minister Mukul Roy announced this at Darjeeling on Sunday. The GJM leaders also demanded that the Darjeeling Mail be extended up to Gulma, which falls within the territory of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA). They also demanded that the Gulma station be renamed Darjeeling Road. It was the first official programme for Bimal Gurung, chief executive of the GTA and its other members. During the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday, the GJM leaders had received a number of sermons on how to behave in a responsible manner. A day after, it was their turn to remind the railway minister how the DHR - a Unesco World Heritage Site - has been neglected.
"During our childhood days, there used to be a large number of services of the toy train. Today, there are only a few services. Infrastructure has not been developed. The Darjeeling station has no mention that it is home to a World Heritage Site. Even the plaque at the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station has disappeared. The DHR requires a lot of care. It was the first industrial site in Asia to have been inscribed as a World Heritage Site, but the Indian Railways haven't come up with plans for its conservation. A director has been appointed to the DHR, but he has to commute to Darjeeling every day from Siliguri, said Rohit Sharma, MLA, Kurseong.
Gurung pointed to how the Tindharia workshop and the tracks there were devastated during the last major earthquake in the area. "Ever since we began our agitation, we have been demanding that the Gulma station be renamed Darjeeling Road and trains like the Darjeeling Mail, Mahananda Express and Kanchanjungha Express start from there. I would also urge the railway minister to level the DHR tracks that cross National Highway-55 for the benefit of motorists and reserve more quotas in trains from this area," Gurung said.
According to Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan, development of the Gulma station will lead to socio-economic development of the area. "In the GTA Agreement, there was a clause to extend the broad-gauge line up to Sukna. This isn't possible due to the non-availability of space. We want the Gulma station to be developed instead, so that people don't have to travel all the way to NJP from Darjeeling," he said. Roy said that the proposal to rename Gulma station has been sent to the ministry of home affairs. The general manager of Northeast Frontier Railway will decide the operational feasibility of running long-distance trains from there.
"We are trying to connect the hills of Darjeeling by rail. Several surveys, including the one between Sevoke and Mirik are already over while others are underway. All these projects will lead to development. We are also working on a budget hotel and a functional centre at the Darjeeling station. Several development projects are also on in Kurseong. The ministry of road transport has already cleared Rs 55 crore for the repair of the stretch of NH-55 near Tindharia. I also promise that we will resume services between Darjeeling and Siliguri by the end of 2013," Roy said. During the day, Roy flagged off two toy train services between Darjeeling and Ghum and Darjeeling and Kurseong.
( Times Of India)
00:33 |
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SILIGURI: After years long political debate and administrative complicacies, finally the first election of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA)in Darjeeling hills took place today peacefully. Though it remained just as a formality with actually only Gorklha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) candidates on the turf, administration had to carry out entire electioneering procedure in 17 out of 45 seats of the body. "The election today remained peaceful without any major untoward incident," said DM Darjeeling Mr. S. Mohan.
"We are happy that finally we could have the election," said Mr. Roshan Giri, General Secretary of GJM. Interestingly, the fate of the GTA board got decided much earlier after withdrawal of candidates by all political parties including CPIM or Gorkha League raising complains against GJM for 'not allowing the election to remain a free and fair one.' Out of 45 seats, GJM won in 28 seats without any contest. But there were candidates nominated by Trinamool Congress, main ruling party of West Bengal and close friend of GJM giving birth of confusion.
But putting the confusion to an end, TMC Supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee have announced withdrawal of all these candidates on 21 stJuly. But, since official time for withdrawal of nomination was over by then, the administration had to continue with entire electioneering formalities today. However, CPIM leader and ex state Minister Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya has labeled the election as a 'Political Drama' by an 'Unholy nexus of TMC and GJM.' Congress always preferred remaining silence on the issue. But TMC leader and North Bengal Development Minister Mr. Gautam Dev said, "After allowing Gorkha National Liberation Front, that used to rule Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC), to remain in power year after year without election, CPIM does not have any right to complain against TMC now on this."
GTA is an autonomous body with higher financial and administrative power than a District Development Board. This is to replace DGHC, formed in 1988 for administration of hills. Conceptualized to be formed under new GTA act, GTA is the final outcome of an agreement signed in 2011 between West Bengal state Government and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, the party that has been demanding separate statehood for Darjeeling since its upraise in 2007.
05:10 |
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Siliguri: Nearly 40,000 people were affected due to incessant rains triggering a flood-like situation in the north Bengal region with Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri being the worst hit, officials said, even as the water levels of major rivers Mahananda and Teesta continue to rise. A flood-like situation prevailed in several areas of Siliguri in Darjeeling district and Terai and Dooars area of Jalpaiguri district due to heavy rainfall for the last few days, officials said.
Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are the two districts which are worst affected due to this flood-like situation. The water level of Mahananda river, which flows along Siliguri town, has crossed the danger level and it continues to rise, officials said. "We are keeping a close watch into the situation. We have arranged relief material for the affected people. We have also opened several relief camps," Gautam Deb, north Bengal development minister, said.
The water level of Teesta river, which flows through Jalpaiguri district, is also rising with every passing day. The Matigara block in Siliguri area and Waste Dhontola area in Jalpaiguri district were worst affected.
21:12 |
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THE TELEGRAPHSiliguri : Darjeeling district president Shankar Malakar today accused Trinamul of using force to make its presence felt in the district’s rural belt ahead of next year’s panchayat polls, an allegation that has been met with a volley of protests and allegations from minister Gautam Deb. Trinamul said Malakar’s outburst was prompted by the party’s “insecurity” about its support base in north Bengal — adding one more dimension to the uneasy, and often bitter, relation between the two parties. The rift had started over the sharing of the posts of the mayor and the chairperson, soon after the two parties won the Siliguri Municipal Corporation election in 2009.
In recent times, the relation between the allies have dipped all the more because of clashes between the student wings of the two outfits and the arrest of a Chhatra Parishad leader. “Trinamul, which has a limited base in Siliguri town, is now forcibly trying to penetrate into the rural areas of Siliguri sub-division. A section of workers and leaders, who were with the CPM and have now joined Trinamul, is intimidating people, grabbing government land and trying to create tension in areas as a desperate move to garner support,” Malakar said today. “It seems to be a planned strategy to gain control in rural areas before the panchayat polls. However, we will not relent and continue our struggle with workers and supporters who have been with the Congress for decades.”
In Darjeeling district, of the three plains MLAs, two are from the Congress. The third is Trinamul’s Rudranath Bhattacharya, who represents Siliguri. Both Phansidewa and Matigara-Naxalbari, represented by Sunil Tirkey and Malakar in the Assembly, are in the rural belt. The district Congress president said north Bengal development minister Deb, a Trinamul MLA from Jalpaiguri district, was keeping him in the dark about the development projects in the region. “It seems to be a politically-motivated move to keep us in the dark and announce projects like fire brigade and a disaster management training centre in Naxalbari without our knowledge. Although I am the local MLA, I am never consulted,” Malakar said.
The Congress has lined up a series of programmes starting from April 20 across Siliguri to mobilise support before the panchayat polls. In the seven-seat Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, equivalent to the zilla parishad, three belong to the Congress and the rest are from the CPM. Of the four panchayat samitis, two are under the Congress and the rest with the CPM. The Congress is also in power in 12 of the 22 gram panchayats.
“It is clear that the influence of Trinamul is confined to some pockets of the Siliguri town only. We don’t know if there will be any alliance. But we can hold on our own. We will organise meetings, rallies and other events from April 20 to May 17. State level leaders will visit the region to interact with the workers. Even today, we are the only and principal opposition of the Left Front in rural areas,” said Malakar.
Responding to the charges, Deb, who is the president of the Darjeeling district Trinamul, said it would be difficult for the Congress to retain its support. “More and more people, from youths to elderly residents and women, are joining our party from the rural areas of Siliguri sub-division. This happened because of our performance and the fulfilment of commitments made by the chief minister,” he said.
“The Congress, whose representatives have failed to fulfil even the basic needs of people in the past 10 months after being elected, is suffering from the insecurity of losing support. So the party is levelling such baseless charges against us. The common people will understand that these leaders are trying to hide their failure,” Deb added. Like the Congress, Mamata Banerjee’s party will also line up programmes in rural areas of Siliguri, the minister said.
21:12 |
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Siliguri : The state government will tomorrow hold talks with representatives of organisations which have called a strike in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on April 18 and 19 for the inclusion of the Dooars and Terai in the set-up for the hills. The invitation for the talks at Writers’ Buildings was sent to John Barla, the convener of the Joint Action Co-ordination Committee that has called the strike.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is a constituent of the committee. North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb said the government would request the leaders of the committee to withdraw the strike as disruptive activities would hit the economic growth of the region. “The government is relentlessly trying to dissuade all organisations from calling strikes. We will hold talks with the John Barla group (of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad) and other associations tomorrow and request them to call off the strike,” said Deb. “We would like to tell them that the government is not against rallies and other forms of agitation, but they should refrain from strikes or any other disruptive activity which will have a negative effect on the region’s economy or will deteriorate law and order.”
The committee had called the strike in response to a shutdown announced by a forum of outfits on April 10 and 11 to protest the demand to bring the Terai and Dooars under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. However, the anti-GTA forum scaled down the strike to one day (April 10) at the request of industries minister Partha Chatterjee. Barla said a seven-member delegation from the committee would attend the meeting tomorrow. “We have received an invitation from minister Gautam Deb. A seven-member delegation will sit with ministers and officials. If the government appeals to us to withdraw the strike, the delegates will consult with other leaders before making any announcement. They will ask the ministers to promise us in writing that 349 mouzas in the plains will be made a part of the GTA,” said Barla.
The official faction of the Parishad said its supporters would hit the streets if the Barla group and other outfits went ahead with the 48-hour strike. “We had scaled down our strike by one day on the basis of the government’s assurance that there would be no fresh problems in the Terai and Dooars. However, if these people (Barla and others) observe the strike, we will not sit idle and scuttle the strike with the help of the common people,” said Rajesh Lakra, the general secretary of the Dooars-Terai regional unit of the Parishad. ( Source - Telegraph , Calcutta)
20:15 |
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SILIGURI : With the implementation of the tripartite accord for setting up a new Hills council in Darjeeling hanging fire since July last year, West Bengal chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today sought to lay the blame on the Centre. “There has been some delay by the Centre and not on our part in formation of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (the new Hills council),” the chief minister told reporters here after a brief meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) general secretary Mr Roshan Giri and GJMM leader Mr Harkabahadur Chhetri here. “The Centre had sought some clarifications from us on the GTA which has been sent,” she said. Describing as 'valid' the Morcha's demands that the tripartite agreement signed on 18 July last year be implemented as early as possible, Ms Banerjee said she had already spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue. “I have already talked to the Prime minister on the subject and also sought an appointment with him either on 23 or 24 February to discuss Darjeeling and some other issues,” Ms Banerjee who is on a two-day tour of north Bengal, said.
Expressing satisfaction at the chief minister's assurance, Mr Giri said: “We are satisfied with the meeting. She has assured us to take up the GTA issue with the PM on either 23 or 24 February. The Morcha leader, however, said that the GJMM's plan to burn copies of the GTA agreement on 17 April still stood if the state government did not implement the agreement by 27 March.
Without naming CPI-M, the chief minister said that there were provocations for sparking trouble in Darjeeling. “Darjeeling is at peace. A few separatists are trying to foment trouble in Darjeeling. I warn those trying to create trouble and disturb peace. Don't play with fire. They will not be spared.” The chief minister said she would visit Darjeeling on 28 February.
(PTI)
12:37 |
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TIMES OF INDIAKOLKATA: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the country's largest car maker, plans to invest about Rs 80 crore to set up a logistic hub at Siliguri in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.The auto major has asked for 35 acres of land for the hub to be set up in an upcoming industrial park at Siliguri. Senior officials from Maruti Suzuki held talks with industry minister Partha Chatterjee here Friday, the penultimate day of the ongoing "Bengal Leads 2012", a business summit organised by the state government.
The officials said the company has planned to invest about Rs.65-80 crore in the proposed logistic hub. About 300 people would be employed at the hub when it would be operational, they said. The government is understood to have asked the car maker to submit a formal proposal for the project. The industrial park at Siliguri is a joint-venture between West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC), the Kanchenjunga Integrated Infrastructure Development Private Limited and the Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formally inaugurated the six-day-long business summit Jan 9.
08:04 |
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Siliguri. A suspension of work notice was hung today at Phanighata Tea Estate in Darjeeling following disputes between the management and labour unions over non-payment of dues, rendering about 1,700 labourers jobless. Police and civil officials said when the workers went to begin the day s work at the 1,400-acre tea garden near Naxalbari under Kurseong sub-division, they found the notice at the gate. Union leader Kishor Pradhan alleged that the management was not paying their enhanced pay and kept the same due for the past seven months.
Under a new agreement in tea gardens in the Dooars and Terai, the daily wage is now Rs 75 per labour, an increase of Rs 18 from previous Rs 67. Mr Pradhan, a former Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader, who now leads an anti-Gorkha Janmuikti Morcha union, with support from CITU, said the management was not paying their (workers) dues, besides failing to deposit Provident Fund arrears up to Rs 78 lakh with the PF funds. He said the owner of the tea estate, B Agarwal, was gheraoed by the workers on Friday last and had assured to part some dues by December 25. But instead of paying anything, the management put up suspension notice after the workers resented the non-payment on Monday.
The garden has about 900 permanent workers and some 800 casual labourers. The garden, situated in the Terai, had faced lock-out twice in 2007 and 2008. Mr Pradhan threatened that if the management failed to lift suspension of work and pay their dues soon, the workers would force open the garden and start work on their own. This was the second tea garden that came under suspension notice after Tur Turi tea estate in the Dooars in last few days.
(UNI)
02:17 |
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सिलीगुड़ी.भारतीय फुटबॉल टीम के पूर्व कप्तान वाईचुंग भुटिया की नई टीम का नाम उत्तर बंगाल फुटबॉल टीम होगा। उन्होंने इस पर हामी भर दी है। उत्तरबंग उन्नयन मंत्री गौतम देव ने संवाददाताओं से ये कहा। उत्तर बंगाल में फुटबॉल एकेडमी कायम करने के लिए बीते 5 दिसंबर को ही मंत्री के साथ वाईचुंग भूटिया की बैठक हुई थी। उसमें कई मुद्दों पर सहमति बनी। उसके तहत यहां फुटबॉल एकेडमी कायम करने के लिए वाइचुंग को सिलीगुड़ी से 15 किलोमीटर दूर शिवमंदिर इलाके में 22 एकड़ जमीन पसंद आ गई है। वहां पहले चरण में नौ करोड़ रुपये की लागत से एकेडमी का निर्माण कार्य शुरू होगा। एकेडमी कायम होने पर उनकी देखरेख में ही पहाड़, तराई व डुवार्स के युवा यहां फुटबॉल का बेहतर प्रशिक्षण ले सकेंगे।
20:58 |
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सिलीगुड़ी। देश के पहले नार्थ बंगाल टी पार्क का उद्घाटन गुरुवार 8 दिसंबर को किया जाएगा। टी पार्क एनजेपी रेलवे स्टेशन के निकट टी पार्क परिसर में होगा। इस पार्क का शिलान्यास दो वर्ष पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री बुद्धदेव भट्टाचार्य ने किया था। इसकी जानकारी स्थानीय विधायक सह एसजेडीए चेयरमैन डाक्टर रुद्र नाथ भट्टाचार्य ने दी। टी पार्क में एक ही परिसर में चाय संबंधी सभी सुविधाएं उपलब्ध होगी। इसके माध्यम से उत्तर बंगाल के चाय उद्योग, उद्यमी, श्रमिक और उससे जुडे़ भट्टाचार्य ने कहा कि उद्घाटन के मौके पर उत्तर बंग उन्नयन मंत्री गौतम देव, मुख्य अतिथि प्रधान सचिव नगर विकास मंत्रालय देवाशीष सेन, अतिथि डीआरएम कटिहार बी आइ पाटिल, विभागीय आयुक्त ए के सिंह तथा मेयर गंगोत्री दत्त, विधायक खगेश्वर राय, चेयरमैन नगर पालिका जलपाईगुड़ी मोहन बोस, जिलाधिकारी दार्जिलिंग सौमित्र मोहन और जिलाधिकारी जलपाईगुड़ी एस महापात्र उपस्थित रहेंगे।
09:41 |
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Darjeeling . More than 500 taxis plying between Darjeeling and Siliguri will stay off the roads today to demand immediate repair of the Rohini route that connects the hills and the plains. Taxis ferrying tourists and school students will not participate in the strike.The 17-km Rohini road is dotted with craters and the black top has come off exposing the dirt beneath. Drivers said there had been four accidents on the route in the last two months.
During her visit to the hills in October, Mamata Banerjee had announced that the state government would provide Rs 20 crore for repairing the road from Rohini. “Life will go on only if the roads are good,” the chief minister had said.The administration today said the Rs 20 crore was meant for all damaged roads in the hills. “A part of the funds has come. That is why we could float tenders for the Rohini road. The process is on. But we need more cash if we are to repair all roads,” said an official.
In Siliguri, the administration tried to cajole the drivers into withdrawing the strike but they refused. “The district magistrate will listen to their grievances on December 8,” said Amit P. Javalgi, the additional superintendent of police of Siliguri.Four associations of truckers from the Darjeeling hills, plains and Sikkim, too, have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday if their hiring charges are not increased.
The president of the Darjeeling-Siliguri Taxi Drivers’ Welfare Association, Kavindra Gurung, said: “We along with the members of the Siliguri-based Terai Chalak Sangathan have decided not to ply our taxis tomorrow to protest the poor condition of the Rohini road.”The two associations have requested private car owners not to go in for hire if they ply their vehicles.
The associations, however, have decided to exempt vehicles carrying tourists. “We don’t want to inconvenience tourists and vehicles carrying them will be allowed to ply. We will also permit cars carrying students, defence personnel and local people who have valid air and railway tickets,” said Gurung, whose association enjoys the backing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.Asked how tourists would be identified, Gurung said: “We know, we can tell.”
At this time, nearly 500 people visit the hills daily. For the past one year, the hills have been seeing a steady tourist flow, with the Morcha suspending its statehood agitation and signing an agreement with the government to form a new set-up for the hills. The tourist count goes up during Puja and the peak season from April to June. As many as 2,000 visitors come to Darjeeling town alone then.
The associations have also decided to ask other transport syndicates not to ply their taxis tomorrow. More than a dozen syndicates with 500 more member cars operate in the hills on smaller routes. Gurung said these syndicates had agreed to extend support to the strike and would not ferry passengers on the Siliguri-Darjeeling route.The Rohini road branches out from NH55 near Simulbari tea estate, 15km from Siliguri, and joins the highway a little before Kurseong.With Hill Cart Road or NH55 closed for over one-and-a-half years because of landslide-induced damage at two points, vehicles bound for Darjeeling and Kurseong are travelling via Rohini.
The Rohini road was opened a little over nine years back and has been reduced to a dirt track more because heavy vehicles, which usually use NH55, have been plying on it. Taxi drivers prefer the road through Rohini, as it is the shortest route between Siliguri and Darjeeling taking three-and-a-half to four hours. The journey through Hill Cart Road takes four to four-and-a-half hours. During Mamata’s October visit to the hills, the administration was accused of trying to save its skin as she was made to take the circuitous Bagdogra Dudhia-Mirik-Sukhiapokri-Ghum-Darjeeling route instead of the shorter Rohini route.
The associations had also demanded that the district administration should consider hiking the present taxi fare of Rs 100 per person from Darjeeling to Siliguri.The administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, Anil Verma, said the repair on Rohini road would start from the third week of December. “We have already asked for bids from contractors and the entire process should be over soon. Work should start from the third week of December,” he said.
The DGHC had on November 30 issued an advertisement inviting tenders from those interested in the BOT (build, operate and transfer) model. The idea under this model is to hand over the repair, maintenance and operation of the road to a private party on a long-term basis. During the term of the agreement, the private party will generate revenue by charging toll tax from every vehicle plying on the route. After the term ends, the road will be handed back to the council.
( Source - The Telegraph)
20:17 |
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सिलीगुड़ी। बंगाल में माओवादी प्रमुख किशनजी की मौत के बाद उत्तर बंगाल के सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रों में सतर्कता बढ़ा दी है। सीमा सुरक्षा बल मुख्यालय कदमतला में सुरक्षा एजेंसियों की बैठक में सहमति बनी कि किसी प्रकार की सूचनाओं का आदान-
प्रदान किया जाएगा। इसमें खुफिया विभागों के अलावा पुलिस के आलाधिकारी से भी संपर्क किया जाएगा। नेपाल,
भूटान,
बांग्लादेश,
असम और बिहार सीमांत क्षेत्रों पर लगातार पैनी नजर रखी जाए। सशस्त्र सीमा बल के डीआइजी सुभाष कुमार का कहना है कि नेपाल में वर्तमान सत्ता माओवादियों के हाथ में है।नेपाल के माओवादियों के साथ भारतीय माओवादियों की सांठ-
गांठ की बात प्रकाश में आती रही है। इसको ध्यान में रखकर ही सीमा के सभी बोर्डर आउटपोस्ट को सतर्क रहने को कहा गया है। कुमार ने कहा कि एसएसबी किसी भी स्थिति से मुकाबला के लिए तैयार है। नेपाल और भूटान की खुली सीमा का उपयोग प्रतिदिन हजारों लोग करते है। प्रत्येक का जांच कर पाना मुश्किल है। इसलिए बोर्डर पर तैनात अधिकारियों को निर्देश दिया है कि किसी पर भी संदेह होने पर तत्काल उसे हिरासत में ले लिया जाए।वाहनों की तलाशी के साथ आने-
जाने वाले सामानों की जांच भी की जाए।
08:20 |
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सिलीगुड़ी। छठपूजा के लिए महानंदा नदी के किनारे दो सौ से अधिक घाट तैयार किए जा रहे हैं। सबसे पुराने घाट लालमोहन मौलिक घाट पर सफाई का काम पूरा हो गया है। वहां सोलह हजार से अधिक लोग छठपूजा के अवसर पर जुटते हैं। छठपूजा करनेवाले लोगों ने अपनी-अपनी जगह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए जगह चिह्नित कर उसकी सफाई की। गांधीनगर में भी नदी के किनारे घाट बनाने का काम शुरू हो गया। गांधीनगर छठपूजा सेवा समिति के अध्यक्ष दिलीप मिश्रा ने बताया कि घाटों पर सफाई की जा रही है। सजावट का काम सोमवार को शुरू किया जायेगा। गंगानगर एक व दो, संतोषीनगर समेत अन्य सभी घाटों पर छठपूजा के लिए तैयारी की जा रही है। कई जगहों पर अस्थायी पुल बनाये जा रहे हैं। गंगानगर व संतोषीनगर में पर्यावरण संरक्षण के लिए लोगों को जागरूक भी किया जाएगा। इसकी भी तैयारी हो रही है। कई जगहों पर भव्य पंडाल बनाए जा रहे हैं। छठपूजा के अवसर पर सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों का आयोजन किया जाता है। इस बार भी बिहार के कई लोकप्रिय गायक यहां आनेवाले हैं। छठपूजा को लेकर बाजारों में भी भीड़ शुरू हो गई है। महंगाई के बावजूद छठपूजा सामग्री की बिक्री तेजी से हो रही है।
10:00 |
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सिलीगुड़ी. एम्स की यूनिट को उत्तर बंगाल के उत्तर दिनाजपुर में स्थापित किए जाने की मांग को लेकर कांग्रेसी आंदोलन प्रारंभ कर दिया है। गुरुवार को मेयर गंगोत्री दत्त व महासचिव जीवन सरकार के नेतृत्व में दर्जनों कांग्रेसियों ने कहा कि इसे दक्षिण बंगाल ले जाने की राजनीति को सफल नहीं होने दिया जाएगा। पूर्व मंत्री व कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठ नेता प्रिय रंजन दासमुंशी ने इस यूनिट की स्वीकृति केंद्र से ली थी। इसके स्थापना से उत्तर बंगाल के लोगों को दूसरे जगह इलाज के लिए नहीं जाना पड़ेगा। मालूम हो कि सांसद दीपा दासमुंशी ने पिछले दिनों ही सिलीगुड़ी में बैठक कर पूरे उत्तर बंगाल में आंदोलन किए जाने का आह्वान की थी।
21:33 |
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