GJM chief to be part of Mamata's event in Darjeeling
The political cat and mouse game finally came to an end with the Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha (GJM) top brass deciding to attend chief minister Mamata
Banerjee’s programme at the Darjeeling Chowrasta on Tuesday.
A GJM delegation led by chief Bimal Gurung is also scheduled to meet
Banerjee after the Chowrasta programme. The development comes as a major face saver for the chief minister.
With a renewed Gorkhaland agitation launched by the GJM in the wake of the Telangana developments, the GJM leaders had initially decided to remain away from the CM’s programme on the pretext of the ongoing agitational programmes in Delhi for Gorkhaland.
It would definitely have been difficult for Gurung and the GJM leaders to publicly associate with Banerjee, who is known as a strong antagonist of Gorkhaland, as that would have provided an opportunity for the Hill opposition parties to dub the Morcha agitation “a mere fiasco.”
Banerjee after the Chowrasta programme. The development comes as a major face saver for the chief minister.
With a renewed Gorkhaland agitation launched by the GJM in the wake of the Telangana developments, the GJM leaders had initially decided to remain away from the CM’s programme on the pretext of the ongoing agitational programmes in Delhi for Gorkhaland.
It would definitely have been difficult for Gurung and the GJM leaders to publicly associate with Banerjee, who is known as a strong antagonist of Gorkhaland, as that would have provided an opportunity for the Hill opposition parties to dub the Morcha agitation “a mere fiasco.”
On the other hand not wanting to antagonize Banerjee, the Morcha had
opted for the middle path. They had earlier stated that as the Morcha
top brass would be away in Delhi attending the ongoing dharna whosoever
would be available from the Morcha camp would attend the CM’s programme.
However the Centre vying for more time to decide on the Telanaga
issue has provided the Morcha with the required political space for a
climb down. An emergency meeting of the GJM Central committee, sub
divisional committees, town committees, Youth and Women’s wing, presided
by Gurung at Jamuney, 15 km from Darjeeling town decided that top GJM
leaders including Gurung would attend the CM’s function and also meet
her after the programme.
“Mamata Banerjee is a guest for the Hills and as we have received
invitations for the programme we along with party President Bimal Gurung
have decided to attend Tuesday’s function. Only the leaders who are in
Delhi including General Secretary Roshan Giri, 3 Hill MLAs, and some GTA
members will not be able to attend. Whosoever is available in
Darjeeling will attend. We have also asked the general public from
different GTA constituencies to attend the programme. After the
Chowrasta programme a GJM delegation led by Gurung will meet the CM”
stated GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang.
Explaining this sudden political maneuver, Tamang added: “Earlier we
had speculated that there will be postive nod to Telangana by January 27
hence the front rung leaders including Gurung would have to rush to
Delhi. Now with the Centre asking for more time to decided on the
Telangana issue, we have postponed our Delhi trip by a few days.”
However he was quick to add that the Delhi-centric agitation would continue and is independent of Telangana.
“Our dharna will continue till February 5 in Delhi. As of now we will
not have a hunger strike. However much will depend on Delhi
developments.” stated Tamang. The GJM leaders and supporters camping in
Delhi will also meet leaders of both the UPA and the opposition with the
Gorkhaland demand.
When confronted with the question on what would be the GJM’s stand if
Banerjee reiterates her “United Bengal and No Division of Bengal”
mantra, the GJM decided to remain sketchy. “She is coming to inaugurate
various projects. Its for Development. This is not the forum for such
political statements” stated Tamang.
The GJM also sidestepped questions on what would be discussed in
their meeting with Banerjee. “It will just be courtesy visit” claimed
Tamang. The GJM’s decision to continue with the political bonhomie with
the GJM definitely comes as a major relief to the Banerjee camp.
CM Banerjee has always trumpeted her triumph in resolving the complex
Gorkha issue with GJM by her side. She has also been accorded a warm
welcome in the Hills during all her visits with the GJM forming a large
chunk at all her Government programmes. GJM staying away from her
programme would paint a very different picture.
As part of the ongoing Uttar Banga Utsav, Tuesday’s programme at the
Darjeeling Chowrasta would also see the CM inaugurating a village
eco-tourism project located at Lamahatta (from the Chowrasta.)
Source: Hindustan Times.
Mamata Banerjee unlikely to receive any warm welcome from Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in Darjeeling
KOLKATA: For the first time after she became chief minister and had claimed to have settled the Darjeeling agitation, chief minister Mamata Banerjee is unlikely to be welcomed in Darjeeling on Tuesday by key Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders.
Key GJM leaders including the three MLAs in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (WBLA) left Darjeeling for Delhi for holding a dharna near "Jantarmantar" demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is in Siliguri on Monday where she will inaugurate "Uttarbanga Utsav" (north Bengal festival) and on Tuesday she will go to Darjeeling in connection with some Key government functions including inauguration of Lamahat tourist centre and opening of Bijanbari bridge. When Mamata will reach Darjeeling on Tuesday morning, no key GJM leaders will be there to welcome her as all the three GJM MLAs and their leader Roshan Giri will be in Delhi on Tuesday in connection with their dharna.
This is for the first time that Mamata will miss a warm reception from the GJM leadership during her visit to Darjeeling. However, the GJM president Bimal Gurung will be in the Hills during the chief minister's visit to Darjeeling on Tuesday, but there is no indication till Monday afternoon about any meeting between Gurung and the chief minister.
The GJM has renewed its demand for a separate statehood recently. They held two meetings at Kurseong and Darjeeling on January 20 and 27 respectively to mobilise support for their demand.
GJM's gathering at Darjeeling on Sunday was impressive and political circles here feel that the huge gathering will certainly embolden the leadership's desire to launch a fresh agitation for getting a separate state for themselves.
GJM leaders have now raised a new issue. "If the Centre accepts separate statehood demand for Telengana, then they should consider our demand too for a separate Gorkha state. In fact, our demand is much older than the Telengana issue and we have categorically informed the Union government that they would have to accept our demand once they accepts Telengana state issue," said Giri on Monday.
Asked why they have organised their dharna in the capital at a time when the chief minister will visit Darjeeling, Giri said "the state government has nothing to do with our demand for a separate state. It is the Centre which can only consider our demand and grant the same by consulting the state government. That is why we are now holding our agitation in Delhi and we will inform the state government and the chief minister about our determination to get a separate state when we will meet her in future."
The GJM had earlier expressed utter displeasure over the state government's delay in handing over key government departments in Darjeeling to the newly formed Gorkha Territorial Adminsitration (GTA) Sabha.
Political circles here feel that by not attending the chief minister's function in Darjeeling on Tuesday, the GJM leadership is trying to send her a signal that they are not very happy with the way her government is handling the issues in Darjeeling hills and if necessary, they (GJM) might hold agitation against Mamata's government also in the days ahead.
Key GJM leaders including the three MLAs in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (WBLA) left Darjeeling for Delhi for holding a dharna near "Jantarmantar" demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is in Siliguri on Monday where she will inaugurate "Uttarbanga Utsav" (north Bengal festival) and on Tuesday she will go to Darjeeling in connection with some Key government functions including inauguration of Lamahat tourist centre and opening of Bijanbari bridge. When Mamata will reach Darjeeling on Tuesday morning, no key GJM leaders will be there to welcome her as all the three GJM MLAs and their leader Roshan Giri will be in Delhi on Tuesday in connection with their dharna.
This is for the first time that Mamata will miss a warm reception from the GJM leadership during her visit to Darjeeling. However, the GJM president Bimal Gurung will be in the Hills during the chief minister's visit to Darjeeling on Tuesday, but there is no indication till Monday afternoon about any meeting between Gurung and the chief minister.
The GJM has renewed its demand for a separate statehood recently. They held two meetings at Kurseong and Darjeeling on January 20 and 27 respectively to mobilise support for their demand.
GJM's gathering at Darjeeling on Sunday was impressive and political circles here feel that the huge gathering will certainly embolden the leadership's desire to launch a fresh agitation for getting a separate state for themselves.
GJM leaders have now raised a new issue. "If the Centre accepts separate statehood demand for Telengana, then they should consider our demand too for a separate Gorkha state. In fact, our demand is much older than the Telengana issue and we have categorically informed the Union government that they would have to accept our demand once they accepts Telengana state issue," said Giri on Monday.
Asked why they have organised their dharna in the capital at a time when the chief minister will visit Darjeeling, Giri said "the state government has nothing to do with our demand for a separate state. It is the Centre which can only consider our demand and grant the same by consulting the state government. That is why we are now holding our agitation in Delhi and we will inform the state government and the chief minister about our determination to get a separate state when we will meet her in future."
The GJM had earlier expressed utter displeasure over the state government's delay in handing over key government departments in Darjeeling to the newly formed Gorkha Territorial Adminsitration (GTA) Sabha.
Political circles here feel that by not attending the chief minister's function in Darjeeling on Tuesday, the GJM leadership is trying to send her a signal that they are not very happy with the way her government is handling the issues in Darjeeling hills and if necessary, they (GJM) might hold agitation against Mamata's government also in the days ahead.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Gurung, Mamata to share dais today in Darjeeling
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) may have revived its demand for a separate State but that does not seem to deter its president Bimal Gurung from sharing the dais with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at an event in Darjeeling on Tuesday.
“Led by our president, we are also planning to meet the Chief Minister separately,” GJM assistant general secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling on Monday, even as his colleagues participated in a demonstration in New Delhi to press their demand for Gorkhaland.
“Our decision to respond to an invitation from the West Bengal government to the inauguration by Ms. Banerjee of the Uttar Banga Utsav should, in no way, be construed as softening in our posture for a separate State. Gorkhaland is very much on our agenda,” he said.
The GJM leadership considers it politically expedient to take its agitation for Gorkhaland to the Capital at a time when the Centre is giving the Telangana issue yet another hard look.
“Led by our president, we are also planning to meet the Chief Minister separately,” GJM assistant general secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling on Monday, even as his colleagues participated in a demonstration in New Delhi to press their demand for Gorkhaland.
“Our decision to respond to an invitation from the West Bengal government to the inauguration by Ms. Banerjee of the Uttar Banga Utsav should, in no way, be construed as softening in our posture for a separate State. Gorkhaland is very much on our agenda,” he said.
The GJM leadership considers it politically expedient to take its agitation for Gorkhaland to the Capital at a time when the Centre is giving the Telangana issue yet another hard look.
From: The hindu.
Gurung to stay back in Darjeeling and welcome CM
DARJEELING: While Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and three party MLAs from the Hills left for Delhi on Monday to press for the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state, party president Bimal Gurung decided to stay back in Darjeeling and welcome chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday. The CM will inaugurate the Hills chapter of the North Bengal Utsav at Chowrasta during her visit.
Gurung's decision to stay back and attend the function was taken after day-long consultations with the chairman and commissioners of the three hill municipalities, GTA sabha members and leaders of sub-divisional and frontal units of the GJM.
"We have never said that we will not attend the CM's programme. She (Banerjee) is our guest and we will definitely welcome her and attend her programme," assistant secretary of the GJM Binoy Tamang said, dropping indications that the party doesn't want to sour ties with the state government at the moment.
Political pundits in the Hills offered two possible explanations for the GJM chief's U-turn over the chief minister's visit.
First, with the Centre deferring its decision on Telengana , the GJM leaders might have concluded that the time was not appropriate to press forward with the Gorkhaland demand in Delhi.
Secondly, it is learnt that GJM leaders had not received prior intimation from Kolkata about the state government organizing the Utsav in the Hills. Initially, the Hills chapter of the Utsav on January 29 was to be held in Kalimpong, but was later shifted to Darjeeling. In both cases GJM leaders were not informed.
Gurung's decision to stay back and attend the function was taken after day-long consultations with the chairman and commissioners of the three hill municipalities, GTA sabha members and leaders of sub-divisional and frontal units of the GJM.
"We have never said that we will not attend the CM's programme. She (Banerjee) is our guest and we will definitely welcome her and attend her programme," assistant secretary of the GJM Binoy Tamang said, dropping indications that the party doesn't want to sour ties with the state government at the moment.
Political pundits in the Hills offered two possible explanations for the GJM chief's U-turn over the chief minister's visit.
First, with the Centre deferring its decision on Telengana , the GJM leaders might have concluded that the time was not appropriate to press forward with the Gorkhaland demand in Delhi.
Secondly, it is learnt that GJM leaders had not received prior intimation from Kolkata about the state government organizing the Utsav in the Hills. Initially, the Hills chapter of the Utsav on January 29 was to be held in Kalimpong, but was later shifted to Darjeeling. In both cases GJM leaders were not informed.
Source: TOI
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?