Violence (or incitement/provoking?) in Kalimpong

2 hrs Traffic Jam by GJMM and demonstartion with Gherao of GJVM at Kalimpong Police Station  PIX: Samten Kabo and D.K.Waiba

Is Gorkhaland very far? Why is Bimal Gurung, GJMM Chief stressing on alternative  set up as interim arrangement  and  indicating towards change in the nomenclature of proposed state of Gorkhaland and   exclusion of certain areas from the present map of Gorkhaland? These questions are brainstorming riddles and questions for discussion among the GJMM supporters of all status as well as others interested in activities of GJMM or related to Gorkhas. Sources state that Bimal Gurung and the GJMM top rankers were repeatedly informed by the Central Government that demand of Gorkhaland is an impossible demand, at least for the present. There are so many hurdles, of them some are similar demands cropping up from the Adivasis and Rajbanshis in the neighbouring areas. while others are such demand will endanger the country's defense mechanism. It is also known that they were convinced to these explanations.  On this appraisal Bimal Gurung forwarded the demand of union territory to the Central Govt which too was discarded stating that it has legal and technical difficulties like objection from State Government and for UT it has to have atleast three districts and 19 police stations.  As an alternative to the demand of GJMM Central Government forwarded a proposal of granting a high power autonomous body according to them which is also proposed by the State Govt. If this arrangement as an alternative to the demand of statehood is agreed upon it has further offered  to grant more powers afterwards  and UT too in near future. According to the sources, considering the violent opposition from the Adivasis of Dooars on the nomenclature (according to the ABAVP it will abolish their identity by the name of Gorkhaland)  Gurung consulted the matter with the think tank and study forum of GJMM. To resolve the matter and to receive support from them he has forwarded the center that if the center has any objection then GJMM is ready to consent on the proposal to change the name from Gorkhaland to similar names. So as to please the State Govt it has proposed to change the map and area of Gorkhaland demanded by GJMM. It has consented to exclude most of the areas of Dooars and a few areas of Siliguri (now in DGHC) dominated by Non-Gorkha & Adivasi populace too. There has been grumblings among the Hill people regarding the matters related to the demand of Gorkhaland as well as the agitation in which reluctant people too are being forced to participate. Mistrust among the party cadres, fight amongst leaders for the chair, corruption and involvement of party leaders in contract works of DGHC, misuse of DGHC fund, harassment facing by the people during agitational programme is increasing day by day. The sincere party workers are overburdened to reorganise the party structure and convince and clarify the public regarding rumours and charges made against the leaders including Bimal Gurung. TitBits KalimNews, 5 Feb: 2 hrs. demonstration of road blockade from 11am to 1 pm is lifted totally from tomorrow, announced Tshering Dorji, President of Janmukti Chalak Mahasangh. In its announcement it has also stated that it is providing vehicles at Mela Ground to the GJMM supporters for attending the meeting of 7th Feb at Deolo.  GJMM President Bimal Gurung will address the public at Deolo in Kalimpong. On that day no vehicles will not ply for Siliguri as these vehicles will be volunteering for transportation of the GJMM supporters to and fro from Deolo. Similar meetings of GJMM will be held in Darjeeling and Kurseong too. Kalimpong the town of posters witnessed another poster yesterday. The statement of poster demanded dissolution of Kalimpong Branch Committee of GNLF probably indicating the dissolution of  its President Dawa Pakhrin. Pakhrin denied of pasting of such posters in Kalimpong. KalimNews: ABAVP has called 12 hrs Dooars bandh on 7th February. On that same day JAMM, Dooars branch of GJMM is organising a public meeting at Birpara, to commemorate the day in memory of Babar Lama as Sahid Diwas who was murdered last year during a Adivasi-Gorkha clash. Terai Dooars Nagarik Manch also has supported the bandh. The district and subdivisional administration confirmed that no official permission is given to GJMM while Samuel Gurung organising Secretary of Dooars stated that permission is received from the BDO. It is refuted by Anurag Srivastav, the Alipore SDO stating that an application is submitted to the BDO but no permission is granted. It is reminded that BOBBBS has called 48hrs strike in Siliguri Terai region from 7th Feb.