GJM LIFTS BLOCKADE AS CENTRE SENDS CENTRAL FORCES

Zee News ,Siliguri (WB), 21 July: Barely a few hours after the Centre on Tuesday rushed central para-military forces to reopen the arterial national highway 31A connecting Sikkim to the rest of the country, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, today decided to allow all vehicles on the highway from tomorrow morning.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI that they were opening the highway 'for the time being' from six am, but insisted the indefinite bandh, they had been observing since July 13, in the Darjeeling hills would continue.

Four companies (about 400 personnel) of Central Reserve Police Force, two companies (about 200 personnel) of Sashastra Seema Bal along with a company of women personnel (comprising about 100) were sent to clear the highway, a senior Home Ministry official earlier today said in Delhi.

Bandh supporters allowed vehicles registered in Sikkim to ply on the highway yesterday and also relaxed the bandh for 10 hours yesterday to carry essential commodities in the hills and Sikkim. Government had decided to open the highway linking Sikkim capital Gangtok with the rest of the country 'at any cost', chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti told newsmen at the end of a security meeting here.

Chakrabarti said they had requested GJM leaders to withdraw the bandh in Darjeeling hills before tripartite talks with GJM, state government and the Centre due on August 11 in New Delhi. The state government was in favour of a peaceful solution to the ongoing stalemate in Darjeeling, Chakrabarti said.

The Supreme Court had also issued a notification to the GJM asking why it blocked the highway despite the apex court barring any blockade on NH-31.

A Home Ministry official in Delhi said the government may send Army personnel, if necessary, to the hills even as the Centre has advanced the date of a tripartite meeting with it, West Bengal government and the striking GJM.

Meanwhile, the GJM criticised the Centre's decision to send paramilitary forces in Darjeeling hills. "If there were deployment of paramilitary forces in hills, the peace in the hills would be breached. The situation in hills is peaceful," GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang said.

Meanwhile, after a recess of 10 hours, normal life in the Darjeeling hills was paralysed again today with the resumption of the indefinite bandh by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Shops, markets and business establishments downed shutters and vehicles went off the roads after the brief recess to enable people to stock up on essential commodities.

All schools above class IV were, however, open, while the GJM exempted tea and cinchona gardens from the purview of the shutdown, which had not been granted initially.

MORCHA WITHDRAWS NH CLOSURE

Morcha supporters at a picket at Sukna on Tuesday to issue emergency passes to vehicles. Picture by Kundan Yolmo TT, Darjeeling, July 21: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today decided to keep NH31A out of the purview of its ongoing strike, hours after Bengal government had announced the deployment of CRPF across Darjeeling district. However, the Morcha sought to relate its decision to a letter sent by the Bengal home secretary, Ardhendu Sen, that offered to discuss the issue of Gorkhaland at the tripartite talks in Delhi on August 11. The national highway is the only arterial road connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country. The Supreme Court had yesterday sent notices to the Morcha, the CPM and the Bengal government among others, asking them to explain in two weeks why its earlier order to not allow blockades on the highway had not been complied with. The state government’s decision to deploy seven companies of the CRPF in the hills ought to be viewed in this context. The Supreme Court issued the notices on a petition filed by O.P. Bhandari, a resident of Sikkim, who had pointed out the troubles his state faced whenever parties like Morcha called strikes in the hills. After a meeting of the Morcha central committee this evening, Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the party, said: “This is a victory of sorts for us. The state government has agreed to discuss Gorkhaland for the first time. The tripartite meeting had already been advanced from August 24 to August 11. In the wake of these developments, we have decided to allow all vehicles to ply on NH31A. Police vehicles can also now move in the hills.” Asked about the fate of the indefinite strike, Giri said the party would hold discussions and take a decision “in a day or two”. When contacted, Sen said: “The Morcha wanted to know whether Gorkhaland would figure in the talks in Delhi. I have sent them a letter, saying we are ready to discuss anything, including the demand to create a separate state, but only at the official level.” In the morning, when told about the deployment of CRPF, Giri said: “Even if 100 companies are deployed, our movement will not be crushed.” “We had requested the Centre to make paramilitary forces available in Darjeeling district. The Union government agreed to our plea and seven companies of CRPF will be deployed in the hills,” said Rahul Srivastava, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling. Sources said the forces were expected to reach Siliguri tomorrow. In Siliguri, Bengal chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarty hinted that police might have to intervene for the return of normalcy in the Darjeeling hills if the Morcha continued its indefinite strike. “The Morcha has not withdrawn the indefinite strike even after we appealed to it several times ever since the next round of tripartite talks was announced. If the strike continues even during the talks, police will have to intervene to restore normalcy in the hills,” Chakrabarty said. In Delhi, a home ministry official said: “They (Morcha) have some problems with the state government and that is why they are protesting. But our priority is to keep the highway to Sikkim open.” Centre sends additional force to West Bengal to deal with GJM bandh UNI, New Delhi, Jul 21: The Centre has sent additional security forces to West Bengal to deal with situation arising from indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morch (GJM) in Darjeeling hill area. Home Ministry officials said here today that four companies of CRPF, one of Sashastra Seema Bal and one Mahila battalion has been sent to the state. Moreover, steps are being taken to re-open the NH31 highway blocked by GJM. Normal life has been paralysed again in Darjeeling today with the resumption of the indefinite bandh by GJM, after a brief recess to enable the people to stock up essential commodities. Shops, markets and business establishments downed shutters and vehicles remained off roads after the recess of ten hours. However, schools above class IV were open, while the GJM exempted tea and cinchona gardens from the purview of the shutdown. Earlier, the Home Ministry had pre-poned the tripartite talks between the Centre, West Bengal Government and GJM to August 11 on the request of GJM as a ''goodwill gesture.' WEST BENGAL SETS TERMS TO DISCUSS FOR GORKHALAND TH,KOLKATA: The West Bengal Government has informed the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership that it is willing to discuss the issue of a separate Gorkhaland State as demanded by the latter “along with all its implications” at the forthcoming tripartite talks proposed by the Centre but the discussions should be at an official level, at least for now. In a letter on Tuesday to GJM president, Bimal Gurung, the State Home Secretary, Ardhendu Sen, repeated the government’s request to withdraw the indefinite bandh called by the GJM leadership that entered its ninth day in the Darjeeling hills. Only if the agitation is called off could future talks be meaningful, the State Government had earlier pointed out. The letter was in response to the GJM leadership’s seeking clarifications regarding the status of the tripartite talks proposed by the Centre that is to be held in New Delhi on August 11. The discussions had earlier been slated for August 24. It stated that the State Government felt that the talks should be held at the official level as more ground needed to be cleared before the discussions could be taken up at the political level as demanded by the GJM leadership earlier, Surendra Gupta, District Magistrate, Darjeeling, told The Hinduover telephone from Darjeeling. There where some indications after a meeting of the GJM leadership in Darjeeling in the evening that in view of the developments it could consider calling off later this week the indefinite bandh in support of its demand for a separate State. The State Government has been considering the deployment of central paramilitary forces in the event of a protracted bandh. The response of the State Government to the clarifications sought by the GJM leadership in regard to the tripartite talks was satisfactory, GJM sources said. Leaders of the GJM have been insisting that its demand for Gorkhaland State be the sole issue for discussions at the proposed tripartite talks. Normal life in the hills was paralysed during the day with shops, commercial establishments and offices remaining closed. Vehicles were off the road. The GJM leadership announced that the stretch of the National Highway 31A passing through the Darjeeling hills would henceforth be open to traffic and all blockades removed. The highway links Sikkim to the plains. It had earlier decided that vehicles registered in Sikkim would be allowed to ply. Call to close schools in hills TT, Darjeeling, July 21: Educational institutions in the three hill subdivisions here have once again been asked to shut down by two frontal organisations of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to protest against Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s stand that Gorkhaland would not figure in the tripartite talks in Delhi. Keshav Raj Pokhrel, the general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha, said today that Mukherjee’s remarks needed to be condemned. “Mukherjee is trying to derail the tripartite talks at a crucial juncture and we will not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the process of negotiation. So, we are calling a strike.” Mukherjee said Raiganj on Sunday Bengal would not be divided at any cost and “muscle-flexing” in the hills would not get anywhere. He said without naming the Morcha that a status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for the hills would be preferred and, if need be, more powers could be accorded to the DGHC. The president of the Janmukti Secondary Teachers Organisation, Binay Dewan, said it, too, joined the call for an education strike to “further strengthen the demand for Gorkhaland”. Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the two organisations had written to the party’s central committee that they would like to call a strike. “We gave them the nod, but the decision is entirely theirs” The Morcha had exempted educational institutions from the purview of the indefinite strike from yesterday. Heads of schools, not wanting to be named, expressed their disappointment at the decision taken by the two organisations. “All the boarders had returned and classes began yesterday. Once again, their studies are going to suffer,” said a school head. Rudy used the word Gorkhaland in Rajya Sabha. -Objected by Chairman ( The term Gorkhaland cannot be used in Parliament print (newspapers) as it was not recorded on the directions of the chair). (Note: not for copying or for pubic use- Adm) Q. No. 242 (Contd.) SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Mr. Chairman, Sir, my question is related to the North-East. It is a small question to the hon. Minister. Bagdogra Airport, of course, is an international airport apart from being a military airport. It is a gateway to Sikkim; it is a gateway to Gorkhalnd, it is a gateway to West Bengal ..(Interruptions).. SHRIMATI BRINDA KARAT: There is no Gorkhaland .. (Interruptions).. MR. CHAIRMAN: Please use official terminology. ..(Interruptions).. SHRI MOINUL HASSAN: I have a point of order. ..(Interruptions).. This is the third time that my friend has raised this. ..(Interruptions).. Please drop this. ..(Interruptions).. This is intentional. ..(Interruptions).. MR. CHAIRMAN: The Chair has corrected it and there is no need for any..(Interruptions).. SHRI TARINI KANTA ROY:You correct your question. ..(Interruptions)..Do this. ..(Interruptions).. MR. CHAIRMAN: The Chair has corrected the question. ..(Interruptions).. SHRI MOINUL HASSAN : This is the third time. ..(Interruptions).. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Sir, I will correct it ..(Interruptions).. MR. CHAIRMAN: You please correct your question. ..(Interruptions).. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: I just said the queen of hills which will shortly be called Gorkhaland*..(Interruptions).. MR. CHAIRMAN: No. Please don't. ..(Interruptions).. No speculative questions. ..(Interruptions).. ___________________________________________ * Not Recorded. Q. No. 242 (Contd.) SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Okay. I don't talk about Gorkhaland*. I am talking about a particular region. Sir, Bagdogra Airport is a gateway for Sikkim; it is a gateway for Bhutan and it is a gateway for Darjeeling. Is the hon.Minister aware -- I am sure if he is not aware he will find out and reply if he wants to do it later -- that the Airlines Operating Committee comprises of Air India, Jet, Kingfisher, Indigo, Spicejet and Deccan on 25th May have made a representation to the Airport Authority of India saying that the security area, which is a bottleneck, is almost a chickenneck for a passenger? It takes about three hours for a single passenger to board at Bagdogra Airport. It has been a matter of concern. It has been raised by passengers; it has been raised by operating airlines. Is the Minster aware of the problems faced by passengers boarding from Bagdogra Airport which covers a large geographical area? If the Minister is aware, would he make facilities available at Bagdogra Airport, which has a lot of traffic flowing in and which is spread over a large area? (Followed by 1d/KSK) KSK/11.15/1D SHRI PRAFUL PATEL : Sir, I am not aware of the specific meeting that the hon. Member has mentioned. But, I visited the Bagdogra Airport a few months ago and I inspected all the facilities. Yes, what he is saying right. It is a busy airport. It needs more upgradation. I know it is the closest way for him to reach home also. But, the fact is that it is an airport where we have a big expansion plan. I would also have to discuss this issue with the Ministry of Defence because the airport is an Air Force airport. And, in most of these Defence airports, for expansion of the civil facilities, we need land from them. Talks are on. The moment we get the land, I am sure like many other important cities and airports which are coming up in bigger way, Bagdogra Airport expansion will also be taken up. The only issue is about the land. Once I sort it out with the Ministry of Defence, I am very confident that we will take up the expansion work. SHRI KHEKIHO ZHIMOMI : Sir, the hon. Minister is a very knowledgeable Minister. But, it seems when the question of North-East comes, his information seems to have been exhausted. I would like to request him that he should have the same knowledge regarding North-East as he has about other parts of the country. Now, I would like to ask whether the Ministry is contemplating to extend the night landing facilities to Dimapur Airport or not since it is the only airport in the State. SHRI PRAFUL PATEL: Sir, I am little pained to hear this comment that we have lesser concern or knowledge of airports in the North-East. I would certainly like to update the hon. Member that the night landing facilities in the North-Eastern region are available at Dimapur, Guwahati, Lilabari, Silchar, Jorhat, which is IAF, Agartala, Lengpui, Imphal and Dibrugarh. So, regarding your question about Dimapur, I think, probably, you do not have information. As I said, all airports, which I have mentioned, have night landing facilities. Operations may not be taking place for various reasons, like the airlines don't wish to operate at night, or other reasons are there. But, the fact is that these facilities are available. (Ends) BJP MISJUDGES DARJEELING CAUSE The NewIndian Express, 22 July: The BJP does not seem to have considered all aspects of its decision to nominate a man from Rajasthan to contest a Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal. Its only focus was the candidate’s chances of success notwithstanding his unfamiliarity with the local scene. The party was right in this respect because Jaswant Singh had little difficulty in winning from Darjeeling at a time when the BJP itself wasn’t faring too well elsewhere. But his victory appears to have created problems for the party, which the winning of one seat will not compensate. Yet, the BJP should have anticipated them since Singh’s support for the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s demand for a separate state was bound to antagonise the party’s West Bengal unit. As it is, the BJP does not have much of a presence in the state. Whatever little influence it may have acquired in a few areas was entirely due to its alliance with the Trinamool Congress. Since that partnership has ended, the party is very much on a weak wicket. It is this vulnerability which may have induced it to contest a ‘sure’ seat since the GJM had virtually ousted the CPI(M) from Darjeeling because of the latter’s opposition to the formation of Gorkhaland. But, even as the BJP took the advantage of accepting the GJM’s offer to contest from there, it should have clarified its own position on the sensitive question. The Gorkha organisation’s compulsions were clear. It wanted a leader of stature to present its case in the national capital. The GJM also preferred the BJP because of its supposed preference for smaller states. But the latter should have remembered that West Bengal is not Bihar or Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, which have all been bifurcated. First, the state is much smaller and, secondly, it has already suffered partition at the time of Independence. The loss of the ‘queen of hill stations’, therefore, is unacceptable to the people in the plains. The state government’s attempt to pacify the people in the hills by granting autonomy failed after years of incompetent management by Subhash Ghising of the Gorkha National Liberation Front. Now, the more militant GJM has evicted even Ghising from Darjeeling. Before entering this volatile scene, Singh and his party should have looked at it more closely. Now, they have to deal with a revolt in their own ranks.