Showing posts with label SS Ahluwalia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SS Ahluwalia. Show all posts

विमल गुरुङलाई मर्न दिन्न भन्ने भाजपा सरकार पनि विमललाई पाखा लगाउँदै विनयको पक्षमा! ।

7:14 PM

सिलगढी । लोकसभा चुनाउको ठीक एक वर्षअघि विनय तामाङ केयरटेकर रहेको गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन (जीटीए)- लाई केन्द्र सरकारले प्रायः १३५ करोड़ रुपियाँको आर्थिक गुच्छ दिइरहेको कुरा दिल्लीबाट पत्राचार गरेर लालकोठी (जीटीए सदर कार्यालय)-लाई सूचित गरिएको छ।

केन्द्रको भाजपा सरकार, जसले यतिका दिनसम्म गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा प्रमुख विमल गुरुङको पक्षमा वकालती गर्दै आइरहेको थियो, -ले अचानक पहाड़को विकासको निम्ति १३४ करोड़ ९९ लाख रुपियाँको आर्थिक गुच्छ विनय तामाङ केयरटेकर रहेको जीटीएलाई दिइन लागेकोले राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूले थरीथरीका अड्कलबाजीहरू लगाउन थालेका छन्। विनय तामाङको नेतृत्वमा रहेको गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले केही दिनअघि मात्र भाजपाको नेतृत्वमा रहेको नेशनल डेमोक्रेटिक फ्रण्ट (एनडीए) छोडेको घोषणा गरेको थियो।

तर त्यसको लगत्तैपछि विमल गुरुङले मोर्चा अहिले पनि एनडीएको सहयोगी दल रहेको घोषणा गरे । प्रेस विज्ञप्ति जारी गरेर अनि अडियो र भिडियो क्लिप मार्फत पहाडका बासिन्दाहरूलाई सन्देश र शुभकामना दिनु बाहेक विमल गुरुङ अहिले पहाड़मा सार्वजनिक रूपले बाहिर निस्किन सकेका छैनन्। राज्य सरकारले यूएपीए लगायत आईपीसीका विविध धारामा मामिलाहरू दर्ता गरेकोले विमल गुरुङ सार्वजनिक हुनसाथै पक्रा पर्ने प्रबल सम्भावना छ।

यसैले तिनी अहिले भूमिगत रूपमा नै छन्। भूमिगत रहेर तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठनको पक्षमा वकालती गरिरहेको भए पनि पहाड़का मानिसहरूसँग तिनको सोझै अन्तरक्रिया हुन सकेको छैन। न ता तिनले जनसभा मार्फत पहाड़का मानिसहरूलाई सम्बोधन नै गर्न सकेका छन्। यस्तो स्थितिमा पहाड़का मानिसहरूको विमल गुरुङप्रतिको आस्था र विश्वासमा ह्रास आउन सक्ने सम्भावना राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको एउटा समूह व्यक्त गर्छन्।

अर्कोतिर राज्यको तृणमूल कंग्रेस सरकारले जीटीएका केयरटेकर बनाएका विनय तामाङले जीटीएका विभिन्न ठाउँको भ्रमण गर्दै छन्। भ्रमण मात्र नगरेर तिनले जीटीएका केयरटेकर नै भएर पहाड़मा शिलान्यासलगायत विकासका केही कार्यहरू शुरू गरेका छन्। यसै विकास कार्यहरू मार्फत विनय तामाङ पहाड़मा आफ्नो जनाधार बढाउन प्रयासरत छन्। विकास बाँडेर विनय तामाङले विमल गुरुङपन्थी मोर्चा नेता, कार्यकर्ता र समर्थकहरूको मन जित्ने प्रयास गरिरहेका छन्।

पहाड़का बहुसंख्यक जनता अहिले पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठनको पक्षमा रहेको राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको एउटा समूहको दावी छ। तर गोर्खाल्याण्डका पक्षधर हुँदा हुँदै पनि पहाड़का केही नेता र जनता डरले, रहरले र करले विनय तामाङ नेतृत्वाधीन मोर्चालाई समर्थन गर्न बाध्य भइरहेका छन्। पहाड़को वर्तमान यस परिस्थितिबारे अगवत रहेको केन्द्रको भाजपा सरकारले एकातिर विमल | गुरुङलाई मर्न दिन्न भनेर अनि अर्कोतिर जीटीएलाई आर्थिक गुच्छ दिएर पहाड़का जनता र विनय तामाङको मन जित्ने प्रयास गरेको हुनसक्ने राजनैतिक पर्यवेक्षकहरूको अर्को एउटा समूह बताउँछन्।

स्रोत : हाम्रो प्रजाशक्ति

Darjeeling MP and MoS Ahluwalia Writes to Home Ministry on Gorkhaland Demand

10:01 PM

- Sumit Pande

New Delhi: Amidst the escalating protests in Darjeeling and adjoining areas, Minister of State for Agriculture SS Ahluwalia has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh to examine the demand for a separate hill state Gorkhaland.

Sources in the Home Ministry have told CNN-News18 that Ahluwalia, who won Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling on BJP ticket with the support of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), met Singh and the Home Secretary earlier this week in Delhi and drew the attention of the ministry on the escalating crisis in his constituency.

This is for the first time that a senior BJP leader has gone on record in a communication to the government to seek intervention on the core issue of the formation of a separate state from West Bengal.

Sources in the BJP say that Ahluwalia has also communicated with the Party President Amit Shah on this issue.

In its manifesto for 2014 general elections BJP had said “it will sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other people of Darjeeling district and the Dooars region; of the Kamtapuri, Rajbongshi and other people of North Bengal (including recognition of their language)”.

GJM, which is spearheading the separate statehood campaign now, currently controls the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). It is also the main challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress which has for long attempted to make inroads in the region.

In the process, GJM has tactically leveraged its stakes at the center vis-à-vis the state government by supporting a national party in the Lok Sabha polls. In 2009 general elections, it supported former Defence Minister and BJP leader Jaswant Singh.

The GTA was formed in 2012 after a tripartite agreement was signed between the state and union government and GJM which had been agitating for a separate hill state. The agreement led to the passage of a bill by the West Bengal Assembly delegating administrative and financial powers to the council. The state government, however, retained legislative powers with itself.

The latest round of protests were triggered by GJM’s opposition to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to implement three language policy in the state making Bangla compulsory in at primary and secondary levels. GJM sought exemption from the rule in the Nepali speaking areas of the state.

Amidst the unrest, and in a challenge of sorts, Banerjee also travelled to the hills earlier this month to hold the maiden meeting of her cabinet in Darjeeling. Former chief minister SS Ray had done the same at the peak of Naxal movement 34 years ago to send across a message that all was well and under control.

The anti-language movement soon metamorphosed to reignite the separate statehood demand with all political parties in the sub-division passing a resolution on Tuesday seeking to separate from West Bengal.

In his missive to Singh, Ahluwalia has also sought the State Government should through an executive order exempt Nepali speaking areas from compulsorily studying Bangla.

[Via:CNN-News18 ]

Time for Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the BJP to deliver Gorkhaland - JAP

9:45 AM
Kalimpong, July 6: The youth wing of the Jan Andolan Party today said time had come for both the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the BJP to deliver Gorkhaland to the people of the hills with Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia joining the Union cabinet.

Amir Basnet, the secretary of the Jan Yuva Ekai, said the Morcha had helped the BJP win the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat both in 2009 and 2014 on the promise of getting a separate state for the Gorkhas.
Jan Andolan Party
Jan Andolan Party


Via Telegraph

SS Ahluwalia's appointment as minister of state - opinions and reactions

12:56 PM
DARJEELING 5 Jul 2016 Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia’s promotion as a minister of state and induction into the Union cabinet - the first instance for a Member of Parliament from Darjeeling since Independence - has brought mixed reactions from political parties of the hills.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha welcomed Ahluwalia’s induction, saying it reflected the respect and sense of inclusiveness the BJP-led government has accorded to the people living in Darjeeling and the Dooars region. In a press statement, GJM president Bimal Gurung congratulated the Darjeeling MP and extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“With Ahluwalia joining the Union Cabinet, not only Darjeeling but the entire region of north Bengal will find representation at the highest policy making body of the country, and he will now be able to push for transformation of this region for the better. This also shows Modiji’s commitment towards the people of Darjeeling and we look forward to the day when all our long pending demands will be fulfilled,” Gurung said, without specifying his party’s statehood demand.

Over the years,the Darjeeling hills did have representation in both the lower and upper Houses of Parliament, mostly from the hill units of national parties such as the Congress and the CPM. This is the first time that a Darjeeling MP has been appointed as a minister of state and inducted into the Union Cabinet.

SS Ahluwalia
SS Ahluwalia
The All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) too welcomed the development but were cautious with their words. “It is a good gesture for the hills and hope it will benefit us. As for the statehood demand, only time will say what impetus Ahluwalia will bring,” said Pratap Khati, the AIGL general secretary.

NB Chhetri, central committee member of the GNLF, said, “Ahluwalia’s induction into the Union Cabinet will benefit the hills. But it will depend on what portfolio the BJP leader is given.”

The newly formed Jan Andolan Party (JAP) led by Harka Bahadur Chhetri and the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) were critical in their observation, saying Ahluwalia’s appointment was aimed at the election in Punjab where the BJP wants to give a face. “The sole agenda of the BJP government in making

Ahluwalia a minister of state is to give a Sikh minister as this will help the party in the Punjab election. It is also a strategy to help the GJM garner votes in the next Lok Sabha election as in the recent state Assembly election, the Morcha’s vote share decreased drastically,” said the JAP chief, adding Ahluwalia’s new role would only be a hindrance to the statehood demand.

CPRM spokesperson Govind Chhetri said, “As MP, Ahluwalia has failed to deliver. And we don’t see anything better happening for the hills with him as a minister of state.” The hill Trinamool Congress said it would only comment after the BJP leader was given a portfolio.


(EOIC)

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia sworn in as cabinet minister as PM Modi reshuffles

7:40 PM
5th July 2016: SS Ahluwalia, MP from Darjeeling has been inducted into the Union Cabinet as the Minister of State. This is the first instance where by Darjeeling MP is included in the Cabinet since Independence. S S Ahluwalia, on Wednesday, sworn in as minister at Rashtrapati Bhawan, as PM Modi reshuffles and expands cabinet.

A member of the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling, Ahluwalia was previously a Member of Parliament representing Bihar and Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha in 1986-1992, 1992-1998, 2000–2006, and 2006-2012. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha till 2012 when he lost his seat from Jharkhand.

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia sworn in as minister as PM Modi reshuffles the cabinet
Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia and GJM chief Bimal Gurung
 with PM Narendra Modi
GJM supremo Bimal Gurung on his FB page wrote the following.
हाम्रो संसदीय क्षेत्रका माननीय सांसद श्रीमान एस.एस. आहलुवालियाजीलाई क्याबिनेटमा राज्यमन्त्री (मिनिस्टर अफ स्टेट) को भार प्रदान गरिएकोमा समग्र दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ अनि डुवर्सक्षेत्रवासीको तर्फबाट हर्ष प्रकट गर्दै माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री श्रीमान नरेन्द्र मोदीजीलाई अन्तर्ह्रदयबाटै आभार व्यक्त गर्न चाहन्छु।

स्वतन्त्र भारतको इतिहासमा दार्जीलिङका सांसदले युनियन क्याबिनेटमा स्थान पाएको यो पहिलोचोटि हो अनि उक्त पहलले भाजपा सरकारको दार्जीलिङ अनि डुवर्सक्षेत्रका मानिसहरूको निम्ति सम्मान अनि आदर भाव झल्किन्छ। माननीय सांसद एस.एस. आहलुवालियाजीले आफ्नो संसदीय क्षेत्रको निम्ति जुन दक्षता अनि इमान्दारिताको साथ कार्य गरिरहेका छन् राष्ट्र निर्माणको दिशामा पनि सोही दक्षता अनि इमान्दारिताको साथ योगदान प्रदान गर्नेछन् भन्ने हामीलाई पूर्ण विश्वास छ।
माननीय सांसद श्रीमान आहलुवालियाजीले युनियन क्याबिनेटमा प्रवेश गर्नु भनेको दार्जालिङको निम्तिमात्रै होइन तर समग्र उत्तर बंगालले उच्चस्तरको नीति निर्धारण गर्ने महत्वपूर्ण स्थानमा प्रतिनिधित्व पाउनु हो । वहाँको उक्त उपलब्धिले हाम्रो क्षेत्रलाई अझ द्रुतगतिमा प्रगतितिर अग्रसर गराउने यथेष्टै सम्भावनाहरू बड़ेर गएको छ।

माननीय सांसद श्रीमान आहलुवालियाजीलाई पनि म उक्त महत अनि प्रशसंनीय उपलब्धिको निम्ति बधाई अनि शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्दछु। माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री श्रीमान नरेन्द्र मोदीजीले दार्जीलिङ संसदीय क्षेत्रका मानिसहरूको निम्ति जुन प्रकारको इमान्दारिता अनि प्रेमभाव दर्शाउनुभएको छ यसले लामो समयदेखि थाँतीमा रहेको हाम्रो सपना पनि एकदिन अवश्यै साकार हुनेछन्।

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling and Dooars region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji for appointing our Member of Parliament Shri. SS Ahluwalia as the Minister of State in his cabinet.

This is for the 1st time since independence that any MP from Darjeeling has been inducted into the Union Cabinet, and reflects the respect and inclusion that BJP government has accorded to the people living in Darjeeling and Dooars region. We are confident that our MP will serve the nation with same diligence and sincerity, with which he has served our constituency.

It is important to note that with Ahluwalia ji joining the Union Cabinet, not only Darjeeling but then entire North Bengal region will find representation at the highest policy making body in the land, who can push for transforming our region for the better.

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling, I congratulate Shri. SS Ahluwalia ji, with the appointment of Ahluwalia ji to the Cabinet, PM Narendra Modi has shown his commitment towards the people of Darjeeling, and we look forward to the day when all our long pending demands will be finally fulfilled.



"GTA cannot be Dissolved" says Darjeeling MP S.S. Alhuwahila

9:20 AM
MP to Voice Gorkhaland. Not to Defend GTA.

Writes Neeraj Zimba Tamang

The historic mandate bestowed by the people of Darjeeling Hills to Shri. S.S. Alhuwahila, MP BJP, is only for a Single Point Agenda of Gorkhaland. He is expected to deliver the wishes of his electorate, to be the advocate of the Gorkhaland cause and be its loudest VOICE in the highest political forum - the Indian Parliament.

So far, apart from speaking on a few developmental related issues in Parliament and fixing few courtesy appointments in the PMO and MHA for Bimal & Co. he has not been able to utter in the Indian Parliament, even a word "Gorkhaland" to the utter dismay and exasperation of the Indian Gorkhas who gave him such a thumping victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Now, our MP is advocating the cause and legitimacy of GTA over Gorkhaland and making loose statements like, "GTA cannot be Dissolved". This are words put to his mouth by Bimal & Co who all know very well that GTA is a unconstitutional body and be scrapped anytime. The case challanging the constitutional validity of GTA will come up for hearing soon in the Kolkata High Court under the directives of the Supreme Court. There is NO proviso in the GTA Agreement which says that GTA cannot be dissolved without the consent of the Center Government as GTA is a State Subject and the State Government can scrap it anytime.
"GTA cannot be Dissolved" says Darjeeling MP  S.S. Alhuwahila
Why is GJM so serious and scared about the dissolution of GTA.? Wasn't it was Bimal Gurung who once said Bye Bye to GTA and resigned? After signing the GTA Agreement the GJM had told the public that it was just a temporary set up and their ultimate goal is Gorkhland and that it was just on an experimental basis they had consented to GTA while catogorically accepting the region to be an "integral part of the State of West Bengal" and rhetoricially "not dropping their demand of Gorkhaland". Then why is it so vehemently protecting and propagating the validity and legitimacy of GTA?


Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia stands against Discrimination against Nepali Language

8:32 AM
Darjeeling Once again we are most thankful to Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia who has stepped up to protect the Nepali language. Following report on social media (The Darjeeling Chronicle) MP wrote to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu reminding him that not putting up signs in Nepali language is a violation of the Language Policy of India as well as a discrimination against the Gorkha community.

Here is the full text of the letter that our MP wrote

To 
Shri. Suresh Prabhu
Minister of Railway
Government of India

Re: Discrimination Against Nepali Language and the people of Darjeeling

Suresh ji
I want to draw your attention to the fact that the signboards that Indian Railways has put up in my Constituency – Darjeeling – has continued to violate the Language Policy of India since 2011.

The standard official language policy of the Government of India clearly specifies that, importance to be given to official State Language (only those which are also included in the VIIIth Schedule of Constitution)/regional/national languages, signboards of Railway stations in regional language, use of language on Railway Information Boards, naming of Railway stations in regional languages etc.”

Nepali was recognised initially in 1961 as an official language of West Bengal, and on 22/8/1992 as one of the Official Languages of India under the VIIIth Schedule of Indian Constitution as one of the 22 National Languages of India. Nepali is also the 1st official language for Darjeeling and Dooars region in West Bengal. DHR is still discriminated against and not featured in any of the sign boards put up by Indian Railways in Darjeeling. Not putting Nepali in these sign boards is not only a violation of the language policy of India, but also is disrespectful towards the Nepali language and also the Gorkhali community of my constituency. What is more hurtful to my constituents is the fact that Bengali which 99% of the population do not speak or read, is used as the 1st language.

On behalf of my constituents, I request you to kindly instruct the local administrative unit of Indian Railways to remove the signs that do not feature Nepali language and to put up signs in Nepali which is a Recognised regional language in Darjeeling and Dooars as well as one of the National Languages of India.

I look forward to your prompt action.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia
MP, Darjeeling.
Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Writes to Railway Minister - Demands Signs to be Written in NEPALI
Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Writes to Railway Minister - Demands Signs to be Written in NEPALI
Rule 3A of the Bengal Official Language Act, 1961 also specifically states
3A. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3, with effect from such date-1 as the Slate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, the Nepali language may, in addition to the Bengali language be used for such— (a) rules, regulations and by-laws made by the State Government under the Constitution of India or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal, and (b) notifications or orders issued by the Slate Government under the Constitution of lndia or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal, as apply to the three hill subdivisions of the district of Darjeeling, namely, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong:

Provided that different dates may be appointed in respect of different matters referred to in clause (a) or (b). .

Explanation.—For the purposes of section 3 and this section the words "law made by Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal" shall include any law made before or after the commencement of the Constitution of India by any legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India having power to make such a law.

Given this, we request the West Bengal government and all other administrative bodies to put up all the signs and instructions in NEPALI at the top.

Once again, we are grateful to our MP for stepping up to protect the dignity of Nepali language and Nepali speaking people... It is sad that none of our "intellectuals" and "sahityakkars" have so far bothered to highlight this issue.



Via The Darjeeling Chronicle

Bharat Ratna for Tenzing Norgay reminds Ahluwalia to PM

9:03 AM
Darjeeling 30 May 2016 Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia has written to the prime minister reminding and urging him to confer the Bharat Ratna to Tenzing Norgay, the most iconic personality of the Darjeeling hills whose 102nd birth anniversary was celebrated on Sunday.

Ahluwalia evoked the prime minister’s speech delivered in Sukna in 2014 where he had said Norgay has been one of the most iconic and inspirational personalities of the nation. And that the climber had been relegated to the background and his immense contribution towards strengthening Indian identity was not recognised as it should be.

The MP’s letter includes part of what Narendra Modi said on April 10, 2014, “In your speech you said the previous government did not bestow honour to Norgay thinking he was just another guide/porter from the hills. You also said the demand of the

Indian flag that reached the top of Mt. Everest with Tenzing Norgay in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling
Gorkhas of not only the country but the world over is to award Norgay with the Bharat Ratna.” The Darjeeling MP urged the prime minister to play an instrumental role in ensuring Norgay is conferred the prestigious Bharat Ratna and rectify the indifferent attitude of the previous governments.

Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary were the first to set foot on Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, a feat which at that time was unimaginable. It was after this that the central government decided to establish the now famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling.

The push to confer Norgay with the Bharat Ratna started 20 years ago but lost steam as sportspersons were outside the purview of this highest civilian award. However, in a landmark change in 2012, the UPA government placed an amended bill and got it passed, thus bringing sports personalities in the ambit of the award. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was the first to be conferred the award even though the names of Norgay and hockey legend Dhyan Chand had cropped up as potential recipients.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Sherpa community too are demanding the Bharat Ratna for Norgay. The movement gained momentum in 2015 when NASA named the first discovered mountain in Pluto as ‘Norgay Montes’. “I make a plea on behalf of all Gorkhas living in the country that our national hero should be awarded the Bharat Ratna. This will recognise the service, hard work and dedication of the Gorkha community towards the nation,” GJM president Bimal Gurung said in a press statement.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has also written to the Centre seeking to rename Bagdogra airport and National Highway 55 after the legendary climber and to install his statue in Parliament’s premises. NH55 is the primary link joining the hills to the plains.

 Norgay has been awarded with the George medal and Coronation medal by the British government, the Iran Shah Medal and the Nepal Tara and Nepal Pratap Vardak awards. The Indian government has honoured Tenzing Norgay (also known as Tiger of the Snows) with the Padma Bhusan.


 (EOIC)

Nepali‬ Language Included in State Bank of India Recruitment Process

7:09 PM
Thanks to  the Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia efforts, Nepali and other minority languages of West Bengal - Hindi, Urdu, Santhali, Oriya and Punjabi have been included as an optional regional languages. The State bank has also extended the last day of application to the 28th of April so that people from our region get to fill out the forms.

This is also one of the reasons why we should not remain a part of West Bengal, for the Central government had no problem in paying heed to our request and respecting it, while West Bengal government is yet to include Nepali in WBCS.
Revised State Bank of India Recruitment

[Please note that the notification just came out, and online application portal is being updated to reflect the same... for now you can apply with Bengali and change the language option once the SBI updates their portal]
...............................

After reports of Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment  on social media,  Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Writes to Finance Minister

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has taken strong note of non-inclusion of Nepali language option in State Bank of India recruitment and has written to the Finance Minister as well as the Chairperson of SBI demanding inclusion of Nepali language option, and extending the application deadline to allow for youths from Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to complete the application formalities.

MP Shri. Ahluwalia has also demanded that Nepali being a national language of India, should be offered as an optional language in all states of NE and rest of India where a large number of ethnically Nepali people reside.

Here is the text of his letter to the Finance Minister.

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley
Hon’ble Finance Minister
Government of India

Re: Exclusion of Nepali speaking candidates from SBI Recruitment

Dear Arun ji,
I want to draw your attention to the plight of the Gorkhali community in India, whose mother tongue is Nepali. Recently the SBI through the advertisement number CRPD/CR/2016-17/01 dated April 3, 2016 has sought applications for the post of Junior Associates (customer support and sales) for which there are close to 15000 vacancies that have opened up all over India, out of which around 2000 have opened up in the state of West Bengal.

When youths from my constituency logged online to apply for the post, they were taken aback to realize that the only linguistic option that they could chose for official language in the state of West Bengal was Bengali. Where as in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region majority of the people learn and speak Nepali and not Bengali.

Perhaps the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the 22 National Languages of India that have been duly recognized as such, under the VIIIth Scheduled of our Constitution since 1992. It also seems that the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the Official Languages of West Bengal along with Bengali and has been so since 1961.

In not allowing aspirants from Bengal to chose Nepali or any other official state languages – Hindi, Urdu etc, the State Bank of India has effectively disqualified those whose mother tongue is not Bengali, even before the recruitment process has begun.

I strongly feel that this is against the constitution guaranteed right of every national language being treated as equal, and also this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of my constituents to be able to chose their mother tongue, which is a recognized national language of India, as a linguistic option. I also feel that in not allowing the Gorkha aspirants to chose Nepali as a language option anywhere in India, the State Bank has turned them into a 2nd class citizen, whose language – even though recognized by our Constitution as one of the national languages – is actually not considered worthy of landing a job with a Government of India entity.

It is because of such instances of repeated discrimination, even by a Central government enterprise, the Gorkhas have been agitating for decades, asking for autonomy for themselves towards ensuring that they will not be discriminated against, on the basis of their language, ethnicity, or culture.

I therefore request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India and all other Central government entities to ensure that Nepali language and other languages that are actually recognized as Official Language of our state should be made optional during the application process in West Bengal. In addition, Nepali should also be made optional in all the North Eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi where Nepali speaking people reside in a large number.

Also, since this application process started from 5th of April, 2016 and is only going to last till the 25th of April, all the applicants from my constituency have not been able to fill up their forms so far, due to the linguistic barrier.

Given this, I request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India to extend the date by when the application can be filled in to 15th of May 2016, so that all those youths from my constituency who have been deprived from applying for these said posts are able to do so.

I look forward to a positive response from you at the earliest.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia
MP, Darjeeling

Included Nepali


Via TheDC

जापद्वारा आहलुवालीयाको बयानको खण्डन -- सांसदले जनतालाई ढाँट्ने कार्य गर्दैछ – अनमोल प्रसाद

1:45 PM
कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 15 अप्रेल। जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले सार्बजनिक गरेको छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील केवल चुनावी जनसभामा जनतालाई देखाउनका निम्ति मात्र हो भनि सांसद एस.एस आहलुवालीयाले लगाएको आरोपलाई जापले खण्डन गरेको छ। जाप सर्वोच्च नीति निर्धारण समितिका सदस्य अनमोल प्रसादले एक पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गरेर आहलुवालीयको बयानलाई खण्डन गरेका छन्।

‘सांसद एस.एस आहलुवालीयाले जापले सार्बजनिक गरेको बील केवल जनतालाई देखाउनका निम्ति मात्र हो भनेछन्। उनले यसक्रममा उक्त बीलले जापले आफूलाई पठाउँछ भनेर ईमेलमा पर्खिरहेको तर कुनै पनि ईमेल आएन भनेका छन्। यो उनले जनतालाई ढाटेका हुन्। हामीले उनलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील ईमेलद्वारा पठाइसकेका छौँ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले पत्रकारहरूलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील ईमेलद्वारा सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई पठाएको प्रतिलिपी देखाउँदै ‘सांसदले ईमेल सायद हेरेनन् होला यसकारण उनले ईमेल प्राप्त भएन भनि भनेका हुन्’ भने। यसका साथै उनले उक्त गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील सांसद आहलुवालीया अनि गोजमुमो अध्यक्ष विमल गुरुङलाई कोरियरद्वारा पठाएको जानकारी गराए।
अनमोल प्रसाद
अनमोल प्रसाद
‘हामीले आज गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई दिनका निम्ति समय मागेका थियौँ तर उनले हामीलाई भेट्ने समय दिएनन। यसकारण हामीले उक्त बील सांसद आहलुवालीया अनि विमल गुरुङलाई कोरियरद्वारा पठाएका छौँ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले कुनै पनि बील राज्यको विधानसभामा पठाउनुपर्छ भनि आहलुवालीयाले दिएको भाषणप्रति कटाक्ष गर्दै कुनै पनि राज्य गठनको बीललाई राज्यको बिधानसभामा पठाउनुपर्ने आवश्यक्ता छैन भन्ने भारतीय संविधानको धारा 3 मा उल्लेख रहेको बताए।

‘बील पारित गर्नका निम्ति विधानसभामा पठाइन्दैन। पहिला यो लोकसभामा पारित गरिन्छ अनि मात्र राज्यको मनतव्य लिन बिधानसभामा पठाउने कार्य हुन्छ। यदि त्यसमा राज्यको विधानसभाले स्वीकार नगरेको खण्डमा पनि त्यसलाई लोकसभाले राज्यको मंतव्य नमानेर पारित गर्न सक्नेछ’ अनमोल प्रसादले भने। यसक्रममा उनले यसबारे पहिला लोकसभामा यसबारे कार्य अघि बढाउने कार्यको थालनी गर्नुपर्ने सुझाव उल्टै सांसद आहलुवालीयालाई दिएका छन्।


Gorkhaland bill should first passed by Mamata Banerjee - S.S. Ahluwalia

8:37 AM
KALIMPONG 15 Apr 2016 Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia today said the bill for Gorkhaland should be first passed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet and send it to Delhi where the Centre would have no problems in passing it.

Addressing a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha election rally in Kalimpong’s motor stand area, the MP was responding to the suggestion made by the Jan Andolan Party from the same spot a few days ago that the GJM should place such a bill in Parliament.

GJM president Bimal Gurung too spoke on the same lines although the better part of his speech was directed at denouncing the JAP and the chief minister. He said this could probably be the last time that the Darjeeling hills will be sending MLAs to the Bengal Assembly because the next time would be for a state of Gorkhaland.
Gorkhaland bill should first passed by Mamata Banerjee - S.S. Ahluwalia
Darjeeling MP Surendra Singh Ahluwalia
“Earlier, people used to ask me how a state could be formed by just three sub-divisions. As Mamata is supposedly creating a new district of Kalimpong, there will therefore, be two districts under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. But why should she create only two districts?” wondered Gurung, who is also the chief executive of the GTA.

Meanwhile, Ahluwalia said, “More districts should be formed out of Kurseong, Gorubathan, Salbari and so on. No one is against this as more districts should be formed for the sake of good governance. It is for good governance that Uttarakhand was created out of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand from Bihar. Similarly from Madhya Pradesh the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out. If small states are created, there will be good governance. If Mamata wants to do likewise by making new districts, she is welcome. It was the Vidhan Sabha that endorsed the creation of the GTA now Harka Bahadur Chhetri wants a bill for statehood and she should pass it. If she does so and forwards it to Delhi, the Centre will also pass it. Delhi will have no problem in passing such a bill.”

Picking up the thread, Gurung said, “The JAP president has a good relationship with the Bengal chief minister, so why does he not demand the bill be passed by the state? We are doing what is needed to be done at the Centre.” And growing in confidence by the sight of the huge gathering, the GJM president further said, “We will win 110 per cent and once victorious, we will address local issues such as of drinking water. We should all stop useless discussions as that will not benefit anyone and is a waste of time. The doors of the GTA are open and any one can come to us and table their problems.”

Turning back to the statehood issue, Gurung said the next elections could see people voting to send legislators to a Gorkhaland state assembly. “The words ‘Territorial’ and ‘Administration’ will be soon gone from the GTA and only the word Gorkhaland remain. Mamata insists Bengal will not be divided, but we are not asking for the division of Bengal; we are only asking for our rights,” he asserted.

Reacting to the statements made by Ahluwalia and Gurung, JAP Bureau member Anmole Prasad said, “It is not mandatory for the state to pass a bill in approval of the creation of a new state as such a bill is rather passed by the Lok Sabha and then sent to the state government for its views. All we are asking is that the process should be started.” He also alleged that most of the people who had come for the GJM public meeting today were not from Kalimpong.


(EOIC)

JAP drafts Gorkhaland Bill , Challenge GJM and BJP to table in Lok sabha

1:16 PM
Writes Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong,14th April The Jana Andolan Party today in its election meeting released The West Bengal Re-Organisation Bill 2016 in Kalimpong. The meeting which was attended by 10 thousand plus party Supporter was held at Kalimpong Motar Stand. JAP Bureau member and Senior advocate Anmol  Prasad released the draft bill  throwing a open Challenge to GJM and MP S S Ahluwaliya to place the bill in Lok Sabha.

The first of its kind in hill politics the JAP party will be sending the 22 pages draft bill to both GJM President Bimal Gurung and MP S S Ahluwaliya informed Prasad.

In his forwarding letter to MP JAP president Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri has urge S S Ahluwaliya to rise to this challenge for the sake of his constituency.
Jana Andolan Party Meeting in Kalimpong
 Jana Andolan Party Meeting in Kalimpong
He have said ‘ As our representative in Parliament you are well aware that every person of your constituency passionately supports the creation of such a state within the Indian Union. Your party has time and again promised the people that it will sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long-pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other communities of Darjeeling district and the Dooars region. We also note with great eagerness that has your party enjoys an overwhelming and unprecedented majority in power”

JAP has hoped that MP will prevail upon his party not to appoint any committee or commission that will delay the consideration of our demand by Parliament.

The election rally saw massive number of party supporter from all part of Kalimpong.The party urged the people to vote for change and give mandate for Kalimpong District issue.

Amar Lama, brother of Slain Madan Tamang and Bureau member of JAP today alleged GTA of being a corruption syndicate. Giving proof of Corruption from Roads to PMGSY, Midday meal to Indra Awas yojana he one by one led example of corruption in GTA.Lama alleged GJMM leaders of having disproportionate assets

 Dr Chhetri addressing the mass went all out to GJMM President and other leaders. He said it was here in the same place in Motar Stand that Bimal Gurung gave his first speech in 2007 and tomorrow will be his last speech from motar stand as his downfall have started .

 Dr Chhetri attacked R Moktan, Binay Tamang, Bijay Sundas, Dawa Lepcha , Dr Rohit Sharma and MP S S Ahluwaliya in about more than one hour speech.

He said in his recent election campaign PM Modi did not utter a single word for Gorkhaland and even GJM . He said BJP and GJM cannot fulfill the aspiration as their leader regularly gives anti Gorkha statement. He urged the mass to give vote for change and Kalimpong District

Dr Chhetri said It was from this motar stand where in 2007 Bimal Gurung rose to a new high in hill politics and from the chapter of his downfall have started from this same place today.

He said in the 9 year rule of GJM party they never uttered the word of Gorkhaland in Delhi but always said of keeping the record of Gorkhaland intact.

We have bought a draft bill for separate State and throw a challenge to GJM and MP to place the bill in Loksabha.

GJMM rally is scheduled tomorrow in the same place.

Source Kalimpong News Express

SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment

1:45 PM
Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment - Writes to Finance Minister

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has taken strong note of non-inclusion of Nepali language option in State Bank of India recruitment and has written to the Finance Minister as well as the Chairperson of SBI demanding inclusion of Nepali language option, and extending the application deadline to allow for youths from Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to complete the application formalities.

MP Shri. Ahluwalia has also demanded that Nepali being a national language of India, should be offered as an optional language in all states of NE and rest of India where a large number of ethnically Nepali people reside.

Here is the text of his letter to the Finance Minister.

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley 
Hon’ble Finance Minister 
Government of India

Re: Exclusion of Nepali speaking candidates from SBI Recruitment

Dear Arun ji,
I want to draw your attention to the plight of the Gorkhali community in India, whose mother tongue is Nepali. Recently the SBI through the advertisement number CRPD/CR/2016-17/01 dated April 3, 2016 has sought applications for the post of Junior Associates (customer support and sales) for which there are close to 15000 vacancies that have opened up all over India, out of which around 2000 have opened up in the state of West Bengal.

When youths from my constituency logged online to apply for the post, they were taken aback to realize that the only linguistic option that they could chose for official language in the state of West Bengal was Bengali. Where as in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region majority of the people learn and speak Nepali and not Bengali.

Perhaps the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the 22 National Languages of India that have been duly recognized as such, under the VIIIth Scheduled of our Constitution since 1992. It also seems that the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the Official Languages of West Bengal along with Bengali and has been so since 1961.

In not allowing aspirants from Bengal to chose Nepali or any other official state languages – Hindi, Urdu etc, the State Bank of India has effectively disqualified those whose mother tongue is not Bengali, even before the recruitment process has begun.

I strongly feel that this is against the constitution guaranteed right of every national language being treated as equal, and also this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of my constituents to be able to chose their mother tongue, which is a recognized national language of India, as a linguistic option. I also feel that in not allowing the Gorkha aspirants to chose Nepali as a language option anywhere in India, the State Bank has turned them into a 2nd class citizen, whose language – even though recognized by our Constitution as one of the national languages – is actually not considered worthy of landing a job with a Government of India entity.

It is because of such instances of repeated discrimination, even by a Central government enterprise, the Gorkhas have been agitating for decades, asking for autonomy for themselves towards ensuring that they will not be discriminated against, on the basis of their language, ethnicity, or culture.

I therefore request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India and all other Central government entities to ensure that Nepali language and other languages that are actually recognized as Official Language of our state should be made optional during the application process in West Bengal. In addition, Nepali should also be made optional in all the North Eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi where Nepali speaking people reside in a large number.

Also, since this application process started from 5th of April, 2016 and is only going to last till the 25th of April, all the applicants from my constituency have not been able to fill up their forms so far, due to the linguistic barrier.

Given this, I request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India to extend the date by when the application can be filled in to 15th of May 2016, so that all those youths from my constituency who have been deprived from applying for these said posts are able to do so.

I look forward to a positive response from you at the earliest.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia 
MP, Darjeeling 





Via TheDC

Bimal Gurung campaigning in Kalimpong, calls JAP 'opportunists'

8:33 AM
Darjeeling, April 1: Bimal Gurung today started his campaign in Kalimpong, where one of his former lieutenants Harka Bahadur Chhetri is in a direct fight with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

That Gurung has decided to station himself in Kalimpong for a couple of days is an indicator that the Morcha is not taking the contest with the Jan Andolan Party, led by Chhetri, lightly.

The Morcha chief, of course, would not say the fight is tough. "Looking at the election campaign that is being undertaken by the various units of the party. I can say that our position is very good in Kalimpong. I will be spending the next few days in Kalimpong," Gurung said.

He said when "our own people" did not raise the demand for Gorkhaland, the BJP's S.S. Ahluwalia did.

He did not mention Chhetri by name, but there was little left to doubt whom Gurung could be indicating as "our own people".
Bimal Gurung
Bimal Gurung
Gurung, who reached Kalimpong late last night, immediately left for Sinji-Gidabling area in Kalimpong where the JAP had organised public meetings in the last couple of days, which was attended by an encouraging crowd.

He called the JAP "opportunists".

"A few opportunists are working in Kalimpong for their own personal interest. However, they will get a fitting reply on April 17," Gurung said.

The hills vote on April 17.

The JAP will hold a public meeting at Pedong tomorrow.

Amar Lama, member of the JAP's bureau, said: "It looks like Bimal Gurung has gone to Kalimpong to win back our supporters. However, I can assure you that our supporters are # determined and they will not buy the Morcha's empty promises. The people of Kalimpong are determined to achieve district status."

One of the JAP's major planks for the election is district status for Kalimpong.

Morcha, on the other hand, is accusing Trinamul, which is supporting Harka in Kalimpong, of dividing the hill community.

Binay Tamang, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha, said Gurung would be addressing public meetings in Darjeeling and Kurseong on April 9 and 10, respectively, and in Kalimpong on April 13.

The Morcha candidates have been allotted the candle symbol, while Harka has been allotted the whistle symbol for the elections.

While Chhetri could not be contacted, Amar Lama, reacted to the opportunist tag on the JAP president and said: "If there are opportunists in the hills, they are the Morcha leaders. As far as the BJP MP of Darjeeling is concerned, he should have moved a bill on statehood in Parliament. In fact, the JAP has already drafted a bill that we will hand over to Ahluwaliah in Delhi after the Assembly elections."


Via Telegraph

Bengal not willing to attend GTA Tripartite Meeting - Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia

9:31 AM
Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia today alleged that the state government did not want to attend a tripartite meeting on the GTA before the Assembly elections because it had failed to keep the promises in the accord for the hill autonomous body.

He added that the state wanted to stay away from such talks as it might have to face "uncomfortable questions".

"The state is not willing to attend any tripartite meeting on the GTA ahead of the Assembly polls. The only reason behind such reluctance is that it has failed to fulfil the promises made while signing the GTA agreement on July 18, 2011," the BJP MP said at a news conference in Matigara, on the outskirts of Siliguri, today.

Ahluwalia's comment comes at a time a tripartite meet, which was scheduled in New Delhi for tomorrow, has been postponed. The last round of talks was held on January 29, 2015, and since then, this is the third time that the tripartite is being deferred.
 Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia
 Darjeeling‬ MP SS Ahluwalia
According to Ahluwalia, there are at least 30 commitments in the GTA agreement that have not been addressed by the state. "Nothing has been done by the state in the past four years. Now that the Assembly polls are round the corner, Trinamul, which is running the state government, is apprehensive that if these issues are raised during a tripartite meeting, the state representatives would have to face uncomfortable questions from the central government and those in the GTA," he said.

"It might pose a fresh problem for Trinamul, as leaders of the party often blow trumpets saying how much the state cares about the Darjeeling hills. To avert such a situation, the state is shying away from attending tripartite talks," he added.

Ahluwalia said: "There were some important promises , like establishing super-specialty hospitals in all hill subdivisions, a sainik school, a central university and development of the national highway. Although four years have passed since the agreement was signed, nothing has been done except creating the GTA. The state, instead of transferring the projects under central schemes to the GTA, is retaining them."

Yesterday, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president and the chief executive of the GTA, Bimal Gurung, had said they would highlight the "autocratic attitude" of the state at the proposed tripartite meet.

Today, Ahluwalia echoed him. "The state is not at all keen to develop the Darjeeling hills and is depriving the residents," he said.

Source: Telegraph


‪Darjeeling‬ MP Demands - Land Rights + Minimum Wages Act + BPL Status for Tea Garden Workers in Parliament

9:49 AM
Darjeeling MP Shri. S.S. Ahluwalia yesterday raised the issue of suffering and pain that the tea garden workers in Darjeeling and Dooars have to face.

Highlighting the fact that Darjeeling tea is coveted world over, Mr. Ahluwalia said, "on his recent visit of the Queen of England, our Prime Minister gifted her among other things tea from the Makaibari estate in Darjeeling. While Darjeeling tea is celebrated internationally and was the 1st agricultural product from India to be accorded a Geographical Indicator (GI) status by the WTO, the tea garden workers have continued to languish in abject poverty.

Madam I want to draw your attention, and through you the attention of the Govt of India and the Govt of West Bengal, to the plights and sufferings of the tea garden workers from my constituency of Darjeeling and the adjoining Dooars region.

Since 2002 close to 2000 tea garden workers have starved to death in these tea gardens, and this year alone over 70 tea garden workers have died due to starvation, malnutrition and related diseases. However, nothing has been done to rectify the situation, and to provide assistance to the tea garden workers."
Darjeeling MP Shri. S.S. Ahluwalia
Darjeeling MP Shri. S.S. Ahluwalia
Mr. Ahluwalia stated that the sufferings of the tea garden workers could be directly linked to the Plantations Labor Act of 1951 which is highly feudalistic and nature and called for its amendment, he said, "Plantations across India are guided by the Plantation Labourer Act of 1951, PLA 1951 is heavily tilted in favour of the tea garden owners. So skewed is PLA towards the tea garden owners that, that under Sections 39 and 40, no courts in India (including the Supreme Court) can take any cognizance of any offence undertaken by tea garden management, and can only do so if the “complaint made by, or with the previous sanction in writing of, the chief inspector,” who in most cases is the labour commissioner.

Which means that even the courts cannot interfere against the tea garden management, unless requested to do so by the ‘chief inspectors’ which in today’s term are the ‘labour commissioners’. But the incidences of labour commissioners filling cases against tea garden owners are almost unheard of. The Plantation Labour Act as it stands today, is against the spirit of the Indian constitution and thus should be summarily amended to reflect current realities."

Highlighting the need for granting land rights to the tea garden workers, Shri. Ahluwalia said, "Madam, in addition to the flaws in PLA 1951 which is heavily skewed against the workers, one of the most significant fact working against the welfare of the workers in that the tea garden workers do not own the right to land.

They may live and serve in the tea gardens for generations, but if and when the tea garden owner decides, the worker’s family can be asked to vacate his home and leave the garden. Given which, each tea garden family is expected to send at least one worker to work for the tea garden. This is nothing less than a bonded labour like situation, where the workers have to continue sending their children to work in the gardens, lest they be asked to leave their home, friends and family if they chose not to. Thus, it is most important that the workers are given Land Rights so that they are not subject to whims and fancies of the tea garden owners."

Highlighting the discrepancy in pay that tea garden workers from Darjeeling receive, Mr. Ahluwalia said, "Madam the tea garden workers of Darjeeling and Dooars are the lowest paid workers in the nation. Their salary as it stands today is Rs 112.50 per day. Whereas the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers in West Bengal is Rs 206 per day (with food) for the non-skilled workers, Rs. 228 per day with food for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 252 per day with food for skilled workers [Details: http://bit.ly/1mwBdTX].

Plucking tea, processing them and packaging them require high degree of skills, yet the tea garden workers are only paid Rs 112.50 per day. In comparison the tea garden workers in Kerala get paid a basic wage of Rs 254 per day, in Tamil Nadu it is Rs 209, in Karnataka it is Rs 228, and even in next door Sikkim the workers get paid Rs 220.

I demand that the wages for tea garden workers be set the same for all the tea workers across India, and the minimum wages be set according to current rates."

Highlighting the abysmal state of tea garden governance and management, Shri. Ahluwalia highlighted the stats from a 2013 Govt of West Bengal report, he stated:

Madam the tea companies are expected to provide fringe benefits to the workers, yet an exhaustive survey of 273 tea gardens in the region, by the Govt of West Bengal found that:

87 tea estates could not provide registration certificate/number under Plantation Labour Act. This raises the question whether a large number of estates are being run by fictitious owners

116 tea estates have been run by different management in the last 10 years. Some of these estates are run by the promoters, who do not care for long-term development of the plantations

175 estates do not have labour welfare officers. Five tea estates could not provide registration number granted by Tea Board of India. Leases of 114 tea estates have expired; of them 105 have applied for renewal

41 tea estates did not deposit money towards provident fund contribution in 2012-13. In preceding three years, the numbers were 13, 18 and 24, respectively. In 46 estates total PF dues as part of workers’ contribution are Rs 17.14 crore. In 55 estates dues, as part of management’s contribution, are Rs 33.79 crore

08 tea estates have not paid wages to workers. In 35 estates workers are yet to be paid arrear wages as per last wage settlement. Food rations are due in 35 estates

84 tea estates are getting financial support through the Centrally sponsored employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGS; 22 estates are covered under food subsidy scheme, Antyodaya Anna Yojana

95,835 workers, or 36 per cent of the 262,426 living in tea estates across West Bengal, are yet to be provided with housing facilities as required under the Plantation Labour Act

166 of 273 tea estates have hospitals. The rest depend on visiting doctors. Of the 166, only 56 tea estates have full-time residential doctors and 50 have a nurse. Of the doctors at the 166 tea estates, 92 do not have an MBBS degree

[Details here: http://bit.ly/1S5Swr0]

Shri. Ahluwalia thus demanded:

1. Immediate granting of land rights for all the tea garden workers in Darjeeling and Dooars region.
2. Implementation of minimum wages act in the tea gardens of Darjeeling and Dooars and associated benefits.
3. Declare all tea garden workers as living under Below Poverty Line, until they are included in Minimum Wages Act, and grant them all the facilities and benefits due to those classified under BPL sections.
4. An inter-Ministerial committee comprising of tea garden representatives and local experts (in addition to Govt officials) to study the nature, scope and scale of problems plaguing the tea industry, and to develop a comprehensive plan to revive the tea industry
5. Make comprehensive changes to the PLA to reflect the realities of 2015-16 and to make all those provisions redundant that go against the spirit of our constitution.

8. Allow for immediate amendments to Section 39 and 40 – allowing courts to take cognizance of the offenses in tea gardens.
9. Make it mandatory for the Tea Board of India to provide ration and benefits to the workers, in case of any tea garden owners abandoning their garden.
10. Make it a criminal offense for the tea garden owners to abandon their tea gardens, or fail to provide them necessary wages and benefits that are stipulated by the law.

He also highlighted the failure of estate owners to fulfil statutory benefits for workers, like housing and hospitals.

Following his speech, the TMC MP Mr. Sugata Bose stated that the Bengal government was providing assistance to the tea garden workers, and he said that the Bengal government was willing to change the laws to assist the tea garden workers.

BJP MP Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy then supported the issue and requested the Minister for Commerce and Industry Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman to respond.

To which the Hon'ble Minister Sitharam said, "Thank you Madam, the Hon'ble Member has raised a very, very sensitive issue... since last year, this is a matter of great conecrn for us. In fact, I visited North Bengal, particularly, some tea estates from where we have reports of alleged deaths of workers. I have fone and visited and seen the situation then... but certainly the Hon. Member has raised a very, very important issue and a ot of people have also identified and associated themselves. I will come with a comprehensive reply subsiquently."

Via TheDC

Gorkhaland Resolution at an appropriate time - Narendra Modi

7:00 PM
Day II, GORKHALAND AGITATION: Bimal Gurung CALLS OFF AGITATION after assurance from PM Narendra Modi

Writes Dinesh Sharma

Bimal Gurung, the Chief Executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and national President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has called off the massive agitation and peaceful rally planned for tomorrow (December 19th 2015). A delegation of Bimal Gurung, Darjeeling MP Shri SS Ahluwalia, and other GTA functionaries took place yesterday with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

As reported, PM Narendra Modi has given his assurance on safeguarding the interest of the Gorkhas and a resolution of the Gorkhaland demand at an appropriate time. Bimal Gurung while addressing the 6000 plus crowd said that “The prime minister has given his assurance on protecting the interest of the Gorkhas and the demand for Gorkhaland.” During the discussion the Prime Minister assured that a committee will soon be formed to study the problems and issues of the GTA region and the ST status for the Gorkhas spread across India.
SS Ahluwalia ( DARJEELING MP ) With GTA & Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung
SS Ahluwalia ( DARJEELING MP ) With GTA & Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung
Calling on Bimal Gurung Official to end the agitation and the padyatra, the Prime Minister had advised him to trust the government and let the government work out a strategy on the issues concerning the Gorkhas of India.

SS Ahluwalia, Darjeeling MP also joined the protestors at Jantar Mantar and conveyed the message of the Prime Minister’s Office. “The centre will expedite the process of establishing a Central University in GTA region, Sainik School and other educational institutes for research on Tea, Medicine, and Hospitality Management under Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry” added the MP. While personally calling upon Shri Bimal Gurung to call of the agitation, he assured his complete support in pursuing the demand for the Gorkhaland state.

Representing the Gorkha community of Assam and the North East, Prem Tamang, President All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU) assure the support of Gorkhas from all over India for the cause of Gorkhaland. Citing example of the Language agitation, Prem Tamang called upon Gorkhas from all over the country to come together for the bigger cause of the community. “Like we did during the bhasa aandolan, the Indian Gorkha community unite in supporting the cause for Gorkhaland. The Gorkhaland cause is above the politics of the GTA region and will shape the future and identity of every Gorkha citizen of the country.” AAGSU is the apex Gorkha body from Assam representing the interest of over 30 lakhs Gorkha people.

Rajen Chhetry from Gorkha Youth and Students’ Association (GYASA) called for “a national awakening among the community to realize the Gorkhaland dream.” While highlighting the contribution of Gorkhas in the nation he added “we protect the borders of the country, we contribute to sports, service industry, manpower and human resources for the booming Indian economy, promote India tea export, and most importantly the Gorkhaland region is also the chicken neck of the country that connect to the rest of North East region. There certainly cannot be a discontent community living in region of such national importance.” Rajen Chhetry also spoke spreading awareness about history, culture, and story of the Gorkhas through social media and other new age platforms and reach out to every individual seeking support for Gorkhaland.

Bimal Gurung also welcomed the creation of new Kalimpong District and Mirik sub-division by the West Bengal Government. While congratulation the people, he informed that the demand for a separate district was one of the first agendas pushed forward by GJM. Shri SS Ahluwalia while responding to the same question stated that “it does not matter even if 10 more districts are created. In fact, it will bring in more development to the areas. However, the aspirations of Gorkha and their cry for Gorkhaland cannot be compromised, and the Gorkha society cannot be divided on the lines of Development boards and districts.”

The agitation was called off around 3:30 after MP Shri Ahluwalia and Shri Bimal Gurung addressed the massive gathering.


GJM Demands Land Rights for Tea Garden Workers - Minimum Salary of Rs 322/-

7:22 AM
A high level delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by its president Bimal Gurung and Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP SS Ahluwalia called on the Union commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi and served her a memorandum placing various demands on behalf of the tea garden workers.

The memorandum places two very important demands:
1. Bringing the tea gardens under the purview of Minimum Wages Act.
2. Increasing salary of tea garden workers to Rs. 322 /- as of September 2013.
3. Issuing Land Rights to the tea garden workers
4. Reopening of all the shut down gardens in the region.
The minister has assured that she is keeping a close eye on the plight of the tea garden workers and will take necessary steps to remedy the situation at the earliest.

The GJM delegation highlighted number of important issues relating to the tea industry in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to Smt Nirmala Sitharam.

The first related to bringing all tea garden workers in these areas immediately under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. It is sad and unfortunate that thousands and thousands of tea workers employed in the plantations in these areas till this day continue to earn a pittance that is decided by the tea garden management. This notwithstanding the fact that in the rest of the country workers in scheduled employment enjoy benefits under the Minimum Wages Act 1948.
GJM Demands Land Rights for Tea Garden Workers


GJM immediate plea was that the Wages/Salary of Staffs, Sub-Staffs and workers needs to be regulated without any further delay, by including the tea workers in the Scheduled Employments under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. The current wages should be calculated taking into account the overall inflation, AICP Index and Minimum Wages Act with an effort to meet the basic needs of the Plantation Labours. The Wages of Workers should be calculated starting from Rs. 322 /- as of September 2013. DA payable to the Staffs and Sub-Staffs should be calculated scientifically by giving priority to yearly AICP Index.

The second issue related to death of 22 persons by malnutrition so far in the tea gardens of Darjeeling Terai and Dooars since May 12, 2015. The starvation/malnutrition deaths due to closure of tea gardens are as follows; Panighatta 5, Hantupara 3, Dumsipara 6, Bagrakote 7, Nagaisjree 1. Considering the sensitive situation in these closed tea gardens, there is an urgent need for intervention by the Centre so that more lives are not lost.

Presently many tea gardens in the Dooars region have remained closed and death toll due to starvation/ malnutrition has reached over 1000 since 2002. Due to the lack of basic living amenities like calorie-based food, medical facilities, potable drinking water, access to alternative employment opportunities and minimal wages, human trafficking, especially child trafficking is rampant in the region, and even the local social organizations and government agencies seem to be unable to handle and curb the growing instances of trafficking activities.

Besides these closed tea gardens, there are some other tea gardens also which have faced closure for some time now. The GJM delegation appealed to the Central government to take immediate steps to ensure that these closed gardens begin operations without any further delay so that workers are able to work and get their rightful due.

The issue of granting Pattas (Land rights) to the tea garden workers in all tea gardens is another demand of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which we have been seeking. We would like to request that the Centre intervene in this regard so that landless tea garden workers, who have been deprived of land for generations now, will finally be able to own a piece of land.

The Darjeeling and Dooars tea are famous world over. The Darjeeling tea has been accorded the Geographical Indicator (GI) status by the World Trade Organization, making it one of the most well recognized brands of tea across the world. Notwithstanding this deep market penetration by ‘Indian tea,’ the huge working population – more than 4 lakhs permanent member, out of which more than three lakh permanent workers are there in the Districts of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, who are engaged in the tea sector in West Bengal.

The GJM delegation has appealed to the Hon'ble Minister to visit the tea gardens of North Bengal & Darjeeling and see the situation in reality. The Hon'ble Minister said that she is closely monitoring the situation of tea garden industry in North Bengal.

Via TheDC & dstv darjeeling

Ahluwalia clarifies his speech on Gorkhaland issue on I-Day in Kalimpong

12:02 PM
Writes Prashant Acharya

Darjeeling BJP MP S S Ahluwalia today called media to clarify his speech on Gorkhaland on Independence Day. BJP Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling S.S. Ahluwalia had lent his support for Gorkhaland in an address during an Independence Day event in Kalimpong.
S S Ahluwalia today called media to clarify his speech on Gorkhaland on Independence Day.
S S Ahluwalia today called media to clarify his speech on Gorkhaland on Independence Day.
Ahluwalia said that the media twisted to different meaning of his speech and he did not mean the same. He once again read out his speech during the press meet and asked the media to listen properly, it read, "The Biharis say they are from Bihar, the Punjabis say they belong to Punjab, those who are Tamils say they belong to Tamil Nadu. When will the Gorkhas say that they belong to Gorkhaland? Their dreams should also come true,"

He said that his speech mean to clarify people that when will Gorkhas called themselves that they are from Gorkhaland.

Ahluwalia who was still seen confusion over the establishment of Gorkhaland also said, "BJP is with the aspirations of the Gorkhas and will fulfill their long demand and our party has also mentioned it in the manifesto."

BJP MP also said that he is soon going to start the process for making Hatigicha village as an Adarsh Gram which he has taken responsibility to obtain it just after swearing as MP.

"It was late due to lack of support from the state government and the administration showed less interest, said Ahluwalia.


Source: khabartaja24

SS Ahluwalia raised Gorkhaland issue on 69th Independence Day in Kalimpong

12:02 AM

"WHEN WILL GORKHAS BE ABLE TO SAY - I BELONG TO ‪GORKHALAND‬" - SS Ahluwalia 

BJP Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia today raised his voice for a separate Gorkhaland and wondered when will Gorkhas living in Darjeeling can say that they are residents of Gorkhaland. 

"The Biharis say they are from Bihar, the Punjabis say they belong to Punjab, those who are Tamils say they belong to Tamil Nadu. When will the Gorkhas say that they belong to Gorkhaland? Their dreams should also come true," Mr Ahluwalia said at a programme in Kalimpong during the day.

The BJP state leadership, however, quickly distanced itself from Ahluwalia's comment and said it does not want division of Bengal.

"The BJP doesn't want division of West Bengal but want economical development of Darjeeling. Maybe he had made an emotional speech," BJP MLA Shamik Bhattacharya said.

We are thankful to our MP for keeping the spirit of our statehood alive and for being vocal on the issue...

Gorkhaland is a reality waiting to happen, and the earlier Bengal and Central realize this fact the better it will be for everyone.

[Via: TheDC]

 
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