Darjeeling, Sept. 3: Bimal Gurung today appealed to his Lepchas “brothers” not to “fall into the trap” of the government, hours before Mamata Banerjee addressed a rally organised by the community in Kalimpong.
“I would like to appeal to the Lepcha brothers of Gorkhaland that the Government is trying to create a rift in the Hills and not to fall into this trap,” Gurung wrote in a Facebook post.
“The Kalimpong function was to be organised by the Lepcha community, but, I was sad to observe that the pandals look more like a Trinamul show with the use of BLUE and WHITE. I have always known that the Lepcha communities’ symbolic colour is MAROON and not BLUE. Please, do not change your colours, my dear Lepcha brothers and sisters,” Gurung wrote.
“I have nothing against the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board and, I, also understand it’s need for the protection, promotion and safeguard of my Lepcha brother’s language, tradition and culture,” his post read.
He said the only point he wanted to make was of hill identity.
“The only point I am trying to make is that the hill people are different from the rest of Bengal in all aspects, historically and culturally. Whether it is the Lepchas, Dukpas, Yolmos, Sherpas, Bhutias, Nepalis or even the Marwaris, Biharis and the Sikhs living in the Hills, we are different from the rest of Bengal even in our thoughts,” he wrote.
“Gorkhaland is about this distinct identity, separate from the rest of Bengal. Please do not think that the demand of Gorkhaland is an anti-Bengali demand or in this regard against any community. We have no enmity with the people of the plains or the rest of Bengal.”
Gurung, who had several times said Mamata Banerjee was trying to divide the hills using the formation of the Lepcha board as a tool, wrote: “To my Lepcha brothers and sisters, I, would only appeal to you that your concerns for socio and economic upliftment should not be allowed to be used as a political tool by vested interests.”
The Morcha chief said despite the Lepchas demanding a board in September 2012, the formation of the board was announced only in January 2013 after Mamata Banerjee was greeted with “we want Gorkhaland” slogans in Darjeeling.
“She was silent all along as I made peace with her for the sake of development. However, the moment we decided to democratically and peacefully raise our voice for Gorkhaland from July 29, 2013, she immediately rushed her officials from Kolkata and officially formed the Lepcha board. Dear Lepcha brothers, don’t you think she is using you all as pawns just to deny the hill people their legitimate rights?” Gurung asked.
Attack on Trinamul
A Trinamul leader said party supporters returning from Mamata Banerjee’s Kalimpong rally were attacked by alleged Morcha activists.
Binny Sharma, the spokesperson for the hill Trinamul, said the supporters from Kurseong were returning home when Nari and Yuva Morcha activists attacked them. “Ram Subba, our local leader, has been hospitalised,” Sharma said.(The Telegraph)
“I would like to appeal to the Lepcha brothers of Gorkhaland that the Government is trying to create a rift in the Hills and not to fall into this trap,” Gurung wrote in a Facebook post.
“The Kalimpong function was to be organised by the Lepcha community, but, I was sad to observe that the pandals look more like a Trinamul show with the use of BLUE and WHITE. I have always known that the Lepcha communities’ symbolic colour is MAROON and not BLUE. Please, do not change your colours, my dear Lepcha brothers and sisters,” Gurung wrote.
“I have nothing against the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board and, I, also understand it’s need for the protection, promotion and safeguard of my Lepcha brother’s language, tradition and culture,” his post read.
He said the only point he wanted to make was of hill identity.
“The only point I am trying to make is that the hill people are different from the rest of Bengal in all aspects, historically and culturally. Whether it is the Lepchas, Dukpas, Yolmos, Sherpas, Bhutias, Nepalis or even the Marwaris, Biharis and the Sikhs living in the Hills, we are different from the rest of Bengal even in our thoughts,” he wrote.
“Gorkhaland is about this distinct identity, separate from the rest of Bengal. Please do not think that the demand of Gorkhaland is an anti-Bengali demand or in this regard against any community. We have no enmity with the people of the plains or the rest of Bengal.”
Gurung, who had several times said Mamata Banerjee was trying to divide the hills using the formation of the Lepcha board as a tool, wrote: “To my Lepcha brothers and sisters, I, would only appeal to you that your concerns for socio and economic upliftment should not be allowed to be used as a political tool by vested interests.”
The Morcha chief said despite the Lepchas demanding a board in September 2012, the formation of the board was announced only in January 2013 after Mamata Banerjee was greeted with “we want Gorkhaland” slogans in Darjeeling.
“She was silent all along as I made peace with her for the sake of development. However, the moment we decided to democratically and peacefully raise our voice for Gorkhaland from July 29, 2013, she immediately rushed her officials from Kolkata and officially formed the Lepcha board. Dear Lepcha brothers, don’t you think she is using you all as pawns just to deny the hill people their legitimate rights?” Gurung asked.
Attack on Trinamul
A Trinamul leader said party supporters returning from Mamata Banerjee’s Kalimpong rally were attacked by alleged Morcha activists.
Binny Sharma, the spokesperson for the hill Trinamul, said the supporters from Kurseong were returning home when Nari and Yuva Morcha activists attacked them. “Ram Subba, our local leader, has been hospitalised,” Sharma said.(The Telegraph)
Gurung asks Lepchas not to fall into state govt’s trap
Siliguri, 3 September : Apparently disappointed Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha chief Mr
Bimal Gurung, after watching chief minister Miss
Mamata Banerjee’s felicitation programme in Kalimpong, today appealed to
the Lepcha people ~ don’t get into a trap laid by the state government.
Mr Gurung, in a Facebook post, said: “I was saddened watching the podium which was a show of the Trinamul Congress colours ~ blue and white colour. As far as I know Lepcha people use symbolic traditional colour ~ maroon and blue. My dear Lepcha brothers and sisters please don’t change your colour.”
Mr Gurung also said: “I would like to appeal to the Lepcha brothers and sisters of Gorkhaland that the state government is trying to create a rift in the Hills and don’t get into its trap”.
“My appeal to Lepcha people is that your concern for socio and economic uplift should not be allowed to use as a political tool by vested interests,” Mr Gurung said. Citing an example, he pointed out: “The Lepcha people started an agitation for a separate board in September 2012. But it was in 29 January 2013 when the chief minister decided to form the board for Lepcha, because the Hill people demanded Gorkhaland when she was addressing at a programme at Chowrasta in the Hills.”
“Immediately after the Gorkhaland agitation, which began on 29 July, the chief minister sent a team of officials here to form the Lepcha board. She is using the Lepcha community just to deny the legitimate rights of the Hill people. I know, that you ~ Lepcha brothers, wanted to organise the programme at Siliguri but you were compelled to organise the programme in Kalimpong because she insisted you to do it amid the Gorkhaland agitation,” the GJMM chief claimed.
“I am saddened to hear that Lepcha people came here from Sikkim when the state Assembly passed a resolution to support Gorkhaland,” he added.
“I condemn the state’s policy to use plainclothes security personnel, including the civic police and village, to present a huge crowd in the programme. More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed in Kalimpong as civilians,” he said.
“I am not against Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board. I understand the need for the protection, promotion and safeguard of Lepcha language, tradition and culture,” he said.
“And Gorkhaland is for all communities, including Lepchas, Bhutias, Dukpas, Yolmos, Sherpas, Nepalese, Bengalis, Roman Catholics, Protestants and many others. But the Hill people are different from the rest of Bengal in all aspects ~ historically and culturally,” he said. “Please do not think that the demand of Gorkhaland is an anti-Bengal demand or against any community. We appeal to a highly respectable class, which is politically being led by Miss Banerjee, to respect the sentiment of the Hill people so that the Hills and rest of Bengal is cemented forever after the formation of Gorkhaland,” he added. (SNS)
Mr Gurung, in a Facebook post, said: “I was saddened watching the podium which was a show of the Trinamul Congress colours ~ blue and white colour. As far as I know Lepcha people use symbolic traditional colour ~ maroon and blue. My dear Lepcha brothers and sisters please don’t change your colour.”
Mr Gurung also said: “I would like to appeal to the Lepcha brothers and sisters of Gorkhaland that the state government is trying to create a rift in the Hills and don’t get into its trap”.
“My appeal to Lepcha people is that your concern for socio and economic uplift should not be allowed to use as a political tool by vested interests,” Mr Gurung said. Citing an example, he pointed out: “The Lepcha people started an agitation for a separate board in September 2012. But it was in 29 January 2013 when the chief minister decided to form the board for Lepcha, because the Hill people demanded Gorkhaland when she was addressing at a programme at Chowrasta in the Hills.”
“Immediately after the Gorkhaland agitation, which began on 29 July, the chief minister sent a team of officials here to form the Lepcha board. She is using the Lepcha community just to deny the legitimate rights of the Hill people. I know, that you ~ Lepcha brothers, wanted to organise the programme at Siliguri but you were compelled to organise the programme in Kalimpong because she insisted you to do it amid the Gorkhaland agitation,” the GJMM chief claimed.
“I am saddened to hear that Lepcha people came here from Sikkim when the state Assembly passed a resolution to support Gorkhaland,” he added.
“I condemn the state’s policy to use plainclothes security personnel, including the civic police and village, to present a huge crowd in the programme. More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed in Kalimpong as civilians,” he said.
“I am not against Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board. I understand the need for the protection, promotion and safeguard of Lepcha language, tradition and culture,” he said.
“And Gorkhaland is for all communities, including Lepchas, Bhutias, Dukpas, Yolmos, Sherpas, Nepalese, Bengalis, Roman Catholics, Protestants and many others. But the Hill people are different from the rest of Bengal in all aspects ~ historically and culturally,” he said. “Please do not think that the demand of Gorkhaland is an anti-Bengal demand or against any community. We appeal to a highly respectable class, which is politically being led by Miss Banerjee, to respect the sentiment of the Hill people so that the Hills and rest of Bengal is cemented forever after the formation of Gorkhaland,” he added. (SNS)
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