JUST IN: SC interim relief to GJM leaders on all UAPA cases

A two-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Vineet Saran has provided interim relief to six senior Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders, including Bimal Gurung, in the 2017 blasts and arms haul case by ordering the the West Bengal police that "no coercive action be taken till the next hearing".

The relief comes after a series of hearings based on a writ petition filed by GJM general secretary Roshan Giri in 2017.

Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri GJM Leaders

The Supreme Court has ordered, "Let an affidavit be filed on behalf of the State Government as to whether the provisions of Section 6(1) of the NIA Act, the cases which are covered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008, they have forwarded a report to the Central Government, as mandated by Section 6(2) or not. In the meantime, let the status quo be maintained with respect to the offences which are covered by the NIA Act, 2008. No coercive action be taken till the next date of hearing."

The case has been listed for hearing in the second week of January.

To those unfamiliar with the NIA Act of 2008, if any "scheduled offences" listed under the Act have been committed, Section 6(1) of the Act requires the local police to inform the state government, and Section 6(2) for the state government to inform the Central government immediately.

Cases registered under The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, widely known as UAPA, is included as "scheduled offences" under the NIA Act of 2008.

In Darjeeling, the West Bengal police have slapped 14 different cases against Gurung and other top GJM leaders under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, citing various blasts and arms recovery from across the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) region during the 2017 Gorkhaland statehood agitation period.

Speculations are therefore rife that the Supreme Court may actually order these 14 cases registered under the dreaded UAPA to be investigated by the NIA.

A lawyer present at the court said, “Even the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta spoke on behalf of the Central government, and he argued that, these cases are fit for investigations by the National Investigation Agency."

In political circles of Darjeeling, this order is being seen by many as providing credence to the beleaguered GJM leader Gurung and his followers, who have remained underground since the Gorkhaland agitation broke out in June of 2017.

A series of blasts had rocked the GTA region in the month of August, 2017, following which the West Bengal police had slapped charges under UAPA against Gurung and other top GJM leaders. Reacting to which, Gurung had asked for investigations by NIA under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

In a letter to the Unioin home minister Rajnath Singh, Gurung had questioned how was it possible that the police didn’t see someone planting a bomb when the blast site is situated right next to the Darjeeling Sadar police station.

“It is either a case of gross incompetence, or a case of fake blast planted by state agents to frame the GJM leadership. We suspect that the blast is a handiwork of the Bengal government to disrupt the Gorkhaland movement,” the letter had said.

The letter had further requested, “We demand that a probe be initiated, at the earliest, by a high-level inquiry committee, comprising of National Invstigation Agency (NIA) officials under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India, so that an unbiased investigations can be carried out into this heinous attempt to bring disrepute to the Gorkhaland movement and the leaders associated with it, and willful attempts at causing unrest in peaceful Darjeeling.”

The GJM faction loyal to Bimal Gurung have always professed their innocence in the acts of bomb blasts and arms haul, and have speculated on these being a frame-up of their leadership by the West Bengal government, this SC order is being seen as a vindication of their stand.

[Via: EastMojo originally posted at: https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2018/12/12/2017-blasts-sc-interim-relief-to-gjm-leaders-on-all-uapa-cases]

BREAKING: GJM-Union Home Secretary Meet, Discuss Darjeeling Situation

A meeting between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Union Home Secretary was was held today at the Chambers of Union Home Secretary at North Block in Delhi. The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary and other MHA Officials on behalf of the government, and was lead by Mr. Lobsang Yolmo the former Gorkhaland Terrirorial Administration Chairman.

At the meeting, the GJM comprised of Shri Lopsong Yolmo, former Chairman, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Lt Col (retd) Ramesh Allay, former deputy chief executive, GTA, Smt Sarita Rai, MLA, Kalimpong as well as central committee members of the party including Shri R Moktan, Smt Urmila Rumba, Smt Bandana Yonzone, Smt Minu Bhutia, Shri Bishal Chettri and Shri Bishal Lama, and Shri Anand Bhandari was present as the legal advisor.

In a Press release, GJM has said the main points discussed were as follows:

 1.   Need for finding a political solution to the long pending demands of Gorkhas and other people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong District, Terai and Dooars region at the earliest
  2.  The semi-autonomous bodies, earlier the DGHC and now the GTA, were failures and that only a permanent political solution would answer to the perennial political problem in the region.
    The delegation requested the home secretary that Government of India immediately commence a series of tripartite talks between the Government of India, Government of West Bengal and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which will pave the way for finding a permanent solution to the long pending demand of the Gorkha people.
 3.   Introduce a bill in the upcoming winter session of parliament for inclusion of the 11 Gorkha Tribes for ST status for the 11 left out Gorkha tribes – Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha and Dhimal into the Schedule Tribes of India list.
 4.   Constitute an Expert Committee to Study the Economic, Administrative and Political Viability of Gorkhaland State which will include the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Terai and Dooars region
  5.  Create a conducive atmosphere in Darjeeling region so that proper dialogue could begin.
 6.   They said that an undeclared "police-raj" was imposed in Darjeeling, "where false and fabricated cases are/being slapped against anyone who is even remotely deemed of being supportive of the demand for Gorkhaland."
 7.   Transfer of all cases of bomb-blasts and arms recovery to the NIA, and has also sought an investigative inquiry under the Centre into all deaths during the Gorkhaland agitation.

    The union home secretary has inturn asserted that a fact finding team would be sent to Darjeeling and other places to look into charges of misuse of law and order machinary by the district administration and police.

The union home secretary further assured the GJM team that the home ministry would seek to hold a tripartite meeting after the Puja holidays. The meeting lasted for about a hour and was attended by other union home ministry officials.

Via The DC

"GJM has been an alliance partner of BJP in NDA. In its manifesto for the last two general elections of 2009 and 2014, the BJP had stated that it will 'sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demand of Gorkhas and Adivasis'. We would therefore now appeal to you to take this assurance of the BJP forward through the Government by instituting an official committee to examine and appropriately consider the demand (of Gorkhaland)," read the letter by the GJM delegation to Singh.

"You are aware that you had been kind enough to issue a statement in September, 2017 assuring that talks would be held with GJM led by Bimal Gurung. Now that normalcy has been restored in Darjeeling, we are hoping that you would direct the Union Home Ministry to convene the talks at the earliest," the letter added.

In a press communique, Ahluwalia said Singh assured that a meeting will be convened soon.

The GJM delegation also met Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and submitted a memorandum demanding that 11 Gorkha communities - Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakhha (Dewan) and Dhimal - be included in the Central Scheduled Tribes list.

Express News Service

Suraj Subba, the former general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's trade union, was arrested on Monday in connection with the 2017 June 8 clash that triggered the last round of the statehood agitation in the hills.

He was the general secretary of the Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union before Binay Tamang took charge of the Morcha.

"Subba was directly involved in the incident that occurred on June 8, 2017 and in mobilisation (of supporters) to commit crimes during the agitation. He was arrested on Monday," said a police officer.

Once Binay Tamang took charge of the Morcha in November last year, Subba was removed from the post. He had been the general secretary of the union since the Morcha was formed in 2007.

Assistant public prosecutor Pankaj Prasad said Subba had been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

[Via:TT]

Bimal Gurung

दार्जीलिङ 14 अगस्त।
‘स्वतन्त्रता एउटा यस्तो मर्म हो जसको निम्ति हाम्रो पुर्खाहरूले सबै गुमाए, तथापी आज हामी स्वतन्त्रतादेखि बञ्चित छौँ’ उक्त कुरा गोजमुमो पार्टीका भूमिगत नेता विमल गुरुङले एक प्रेस विज्ञप्ति जारी गरेर भनेका छन्। उनले 72 औँ स्वतन्त्रता दिवसको सबैलाई शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्दै देशले स्वतन्त्रता दिवस मनाइरहेको अवस्थामा यता संविधान अनुसार छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड माग्नेहरूलाई पक्राउ र धम्काउने कार्य गरेको आरोप लगाएका छन्।

‘म सबै राष्ट्रवासीलाई अनुरोध गर्न चाहन्छु, पश्चिम बङ्गालमा हामीले भोग्दै आइरहेको तानाशाही व्यवहार, उत्पीडन अनि भेदभावपूर्ण व्यवहारको विरुद्ध तपाईँहरू हाम्रो न्याय, समानता अनि स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति लडिरहेको संघर्षमा उभिइदिनुहोस्’ विमल गुरुङले विज्ञप्तिमा अझ भनेका छन् –‘आज हामी 72 औँ स्वतन्त्रता दिवस मनाउन  गइरहेको बेला म, उत्तर बङ्गालको अल्पसङ्ख्यक गोर्खा, राजवंशी अनि आदिवासीहरूको दुर्दशाबारे राष्ट्रको ध्यानाकर्षण गराउन चाहन्चु। आज हाम्रो सबै मौलिक अधिकारहरू लगायत भारतीय संविधानको दिएको संवैधानिक सुरक्षाका प्रत्याभूइथरू पश्चिम बङ्गाल सरकारद्वारा खोसिएको छ।’

उनले देश स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति भारतीय गोर्खाहरूले आफ्ना परिवारका सदस्यहरू गुमाएको भन्दै भारतीय स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति सहिद बन्नेहरूको नाउँ समेत उल्लेख गरेका छन्। यद्यपी त्यहीँ देश स्वतन्त्रताको निम्ति लड्ने गोर्खाहरूले भने आजसम्म न्याय पाउन नसकेको पनि गुरुङले दुखेसो प्रकट गरेका छन्।

"आलोक कान्त मणी थुलुंग, मेरो प्रेस रिलिजमाथि तिम्रो भिडियो बयान हेरें| समयले तिमीलाई फरेबी राजनीति निकै सिकाएछ| भिडियोमा तिम्रो गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेम पनि देखें| शहीदको रगत बेचेर किनेको निलो पारी भएको सेतो लुगाले छोपेको तिम्रो गोर्खाल्याण्ड तिमीलाई मुबारक छ |

तिमीले विकासको कुरा गरेछौ| राम्रो लाग्यो| छिमेकी राज्य सिक्किममा हाम्रोभन्दा आधा जनसंख्या भएको ठाउँमा यो वर्ष पारित बजेट ७०५१.०९ करोड़ हो अनि तिम्रो जोजोको कुर्सीले थाप्ने प्लान बजेट ३५६ करोड़ अनि नन-प्लान बजेट २९८.१० करोड़ हो| तिमी अझै कति दिन विकासको नाममा सुगा रटाई बोलिरहन्छौ आलोक? आफ्नै राज्य हुँदा विकास गर्नु तिमीलाई के ले रोक्छ? आफ्नै राज्यमा आउने बजेटले कति विकास गर्नु सकिन्छ भन्ने सोचेको छौ? हिसाब लगाएको छौ?

हाम्रो चियाबारीको श्रमिकलाई भएको ज्यालाको अन्याय तिम्रो विकासले पुरा गर्छ? आफ्नै राज्य हो भने उनीहरूको आँशु पुछ्न सकिन्छ कि सकिन्दैन भन्ने कुरा सोचेको छौ?

दार्जीलिंगको हिलोसरीको सडक त टाल्नु पुग्दैन कलकत्ते बजेटले तिमीलाई गाउँको बिकासको बजेटको कुरा गर्नु लाज लाग्दैन?

फेसबुकमा आन्दोलन हुँदैन भन्छौ अनि मेरो एउटा प्रेस विज्ञप्तिलाई १९ मिनट जवाब पनि दिन्छौ, आफै अझै कतिदिन जनता अघि जोकर हुने? मैले प्रेस विज्ञप्ति लेखेको होइन भनेछौ, यसलाई हिन्दीमा खिसियानी बिल्ली खम्बा नोचे भन्छ| मतलब विज्ञप्तिले तिमीहरूलाई हल्लाएछ| यो त हल्लिनुको शुरूवात हो| हामीले एक वर्ष चुपचाप बसेर हाम्रै कमि-कमजोरीहरू केलायौं, अध्ययन गर्यौं, पड़्यौं|  अहिले तिमीहरूलाई पड़्दैछौं| हामी जुन दिन आउँछौं, तिमीहरूले जनतालाई भ्रममा राखेर, आतंकित बनाएर गरेको जाति विरोधी क्रियाकलापको पाई-पाई हिसाब बोकेर आउनेछौं|

 झण्डाको कुरामा तिम्रो जवाबले तिमीलाई नै गिज्याउँदैछ| आग्सुबाट श्री रोशन गिरी, पुरण थामी, सुरज सुब्बाहरू पोस्ट होल्डर फाउन्डरहरू हुन्| झण्डा मेरो सोच हो भनेर मेरो विज्ञप्तिमा भनेको छुइन| हो म ७  अक्टोबर २००७ -को दिन पार्टी लन्च हुँदा पोख्रेबुंगको युवाहरूसँग आएर समर्थन जनाएको हो अनि मलाई अध्यक्ष विमल गुरुङले झण्डा दिएको हो| म पछिबाट आएको हो, तर  इमान्दार भएर आएको हो| गद्दार बन्नुलाई त शुरूमा नै आएर पनि के भो र? यो झण्डा हाम्रो सोच होइन तर विमल गुरुङको भने अवश्य हो| तिमीले भने जस्तो त्यो समय विमल गुरुङलाई हजारौं जनताको समर्थन थियो| तर पार्टी र झण्डा बनाउने सोच र आँट केवल विमल गुरुङसँग थियो| के त्यही आँट र सोच जातिको हीतमा तिमीहरुसँग, विनय-अनितसँग छ? मेरो प्रश्न भनेको त्यति नै हो|

आज तिमीले बोल्दै गरेको भिडियो भविष्यमा तिम्रै नाति-पनातिले हेरेर घृणा नगरोस् भन्ने चाहन्छु|

तिम्रो भिडियो बयान हेर्दा भोलि एमपी चुनावमा तिमीहरूले पनि आफैले घाँटी रेटेर मरणासन्न बनाएको घाइते गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई देखाएर भोट माग्ने रहेछौ| गोर्खाल्याण्ड देखाएर राजनीति गर्नुछ भने पहिला त्यसको घाउको उपचार गर| गोर्खाल्याण्डको शत्रुसँग स्टेज र कुर्सी सेयर गर्नु छोडीदेउ| सत्ताको लालचलाई त्यागेर हामीसंग आयौ भने तिम्रो दश गल्ति माफ गरौंला| हामीले त मित्रताको कारणले गल्ति माफ गर्न सक्छौं तर समयले माफी दिंदैन| आलोक, कन्फ्युज भएको छौं भनेर तिमीले भिडियोमा भनेकै रहेछौ, अहिले नै धेरै लामो सोच है| कन्फ्युज भएर बस्नु राम्रो होइन ल|"

दिपेन माले
उपाध्यक्ष, गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चा
केन्द्रिय समिति, दार्जीलिंग|

Press release from President Shri Bimal Gurung:

“I extend my solidarity and support to all those genuine citizens of India whose name have been left out of the NRC list, and request the central government to take handle their cases with utmost care, and also request the Govt of Assam and the Central Govt to consider all genuine cases of those who have been living in Assam prior to 25th of March, 1971. 

We are also struggling for our identity here, and are very worried at the situation developing due to NRC in Assam. We fear that this could lead to the marginalization of the indigenous Gorkha-Kamtapuri and Adivasis of North Bengal, and we want to ensure that no such unfortunate situation in allowed to develop. We won’t allow the indigenous Gorkha, Adivasi, Kamtapuri, Meche and other indigenous communities to suffer injustice. If actions are taken to undermine the locals Bimal Gurung won’t stay silent.

Bimal Gurung

I have been made aware of the fact that state government is secretly measuring land in our hills, if this is being done to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been removed from Assam, then it creates a national security threat.

Darjeeling Terai and Dooars help connect mainland India to the north east states, this Chicken Neck region is therefore highly sensitive in entire South Asia, and there are possibilities of anti-National, anti-India forces fomenting trouble in this region. In such a situation, if conspiracy is hatched to settle illegal immigrants who have been removed from another state to our lands with which we share a very long border, this will put to grave risk the national security of our country. I will not permit any political entity from the state to jeopardize our national security.

No one should dream of undermining the indigenous population of north Bengal by hoping to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been kicked out to Assam. If they attempt anything like this, then all the Rajbanshis, Kamtapuris, Adivasis, Meche and Gorkhas from Dooars and all the Gorkhas from the hills will speak with one voice against this.

I once again request, the central government to consider the cases of genuine citizens of India with utmost care, and sympathy.

_---------------------------------------------

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति - ४ अगस्त २०१८

आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको विवादमा प्रभावित बनेका त्यहाँका पीडित साँचो नागरिकहरू सन्दर्भमा मेरो समवेदना राख्दै उनीहरूको समस्यालाई गहनतासँग लिनुपर्ने म केन्द्र सरकारलाई अपील गर्दछु|
२५ मार्च १९७१ भन्दा अघि आसाम पसेकाहरूको उजुरीलाई आसामको राज्य सरकार अनि केन्द्र सरकारले पुनः गम्भीर रूपमा हेरोस् भन्ने मेरो अनुरोध छ| हाम्रो छातीमा पीडितहरूप्रति समवेदना छ|

हामी पनि यता आफ्नो परिचयको लडाई लडिरहेको अवस्थामा आसाममा एनआरसी सूचिको कारणले जन्मिएको समस्याको कारणले गोर्खा-कामतापुरी-आदिवासीको बाहुल्यता भएको उत्तर बङ्गालको क्षेत्रमा यहाँका रैथानेहरू अल्पसंख्यक बन्न नपरोस्, त्यस्तो कुनै कार्य नहोस् त्यो सुनिस्चित गर्न चाहन्छौं|
हामी दार्जीलिङ-कालेबुंग पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सका रैथाने गोर्खा, कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे आदिलाई अन्याय हुनदिनेछैनौं| यस्तो अवस्था आएको खण्डमा विमल गुरुङ चुपचाप बस्नेछैन| अहिले पहाड, तराई अनि डुवर्सको विभिन्न स्थानमा राज्य सरकारले गोप्य रूपमा जमीन नापी गरेको सुन्दैछु| यदि आसामबाट निकालिएको अनि बंगलादेशबाट छिरेकोहरूलाई स्थापित गराउने षडयन्त्रमा जमीन नापीएको हो भने त्यसले देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षालाई खतरा उत्पन्न गर्छ|

दार्जीलिंग तराईको भूमिले मात्र भारत देशलाई आफ्नो पूर्वोत्तर राज्यसँग जोडेर राखेको छ| देशलाई पूर्वोत्तरसँग जोड्ने यो चिकन नेक क्षेत्र दक्षिण एसिया कै निम्ति अति नै संवेदनशील क्षेत्र भएकोले यहाँ राष्ट्रको विरुद्धमा अन्तराष्ट्रिय चलखेल हुनसक्ने आशंका जहिले पनि छ| यस्तो संवेदनशील क्षेत्रमा अर्थात् यसको छेउछाउमा यहि देशको एउटा राज्यमा उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर राख्नु भनेको देशको राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्नु हो|

विमल गुरुङले यसरी राज्यको कुनैपनि राजनैतिक शक्तिलाई राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षासँग खेलवाड गर्न दिंदैन| आसामबाट उच्छेद गरिएको बंगलादेशीलाई ल्याएर उत्तर बंगालको उहिलेदेखि बसेको रैथानेहरूलाई अल्पसंख्यक बनाउने सपना कसैले नदेखेको राम्रो हो| यस्तो भएको खण्डमा डुवर्सका समस्त राजवंशी कामतापुरी, आदिवासी, मेचे, गोर्खा लगायत पहाडका गोर्खाहरूले राष्ट्रहीतमा एकै स्वरमा विरोध जनाउनेछन्|
यसको साथै आसाममा अहिले पीडित बनेकाहरू सन्दर्भमा केन्द्र सरकारले मानवीय अनि सठीक पहल गर्नुपर्नेछ भनि म आग्रह गर्दछु|

विमल गुरुङ
अध्यक्ष, गोजमुमो,
केन्द्रिय कार्यालय, दार्जीलिङ
भारत|