As initiatives have started for another round of meetings for a permanent political solution in the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong in north West Bengal
A court in Mumbai has directed Shenpenn Khymsar, a Darjeeling-based filmmaker, to repay more than Rs 3 crore that he had allegedly borrowed from a person in Portugal for making a film.
A former GNLF (Gorkha National Liberation Front) activist Bhawesh Bhujel, resident of Kalimpong, has informed the President of India Droupadi Murmu that a group of Gorkhas will start 'fast unto death' under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) area demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland from 22 August. Mr Bhujel has written a letter to the President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention in resolving the issue amicably.
After facing a disaster in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the recently concluded panchayat polls in West Bengal, the BJP seems to be heading for yet another complication with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Bimal Gurung hinting at distancing his party with the saffron camp unless the latter announces its definite standpoint on the issue of separate 'Gorkhaland' state.
Notably, Mr Sharma had met the Joint Director of the CBI in Kolkata on 16 June, and appealed him to investigate the alleged illegal appointment of teachers in governmentaided schools under the GTA.
Morcha invited; other Hill parties left out; they question meeting to be held on 7 Oct
Paying homage to Ghisingh, who was born in Mirik in 1936, and died on 29 January 2015, Mr Bista today wrote in his Facebook post: "The Gorkhas, no matter where we are from, no matter who we are, remain indebted to Subash Ghisingh who brought about a political consciousness and sense of identity in all of us."
“They are feeling helpless, looking at our recently held meeting at the GDNS (Gorkhka Dukha Niwarak Sammelan hall) which was a success." "Is it against the law to have a party in a democracy? Is the demand of Gorkhaland unlawful?" questioned the Morcha leader, further appealing to the people to not lose hope as, according to him, the rule of the present state government would soon end.
On the differences of opinion among trade unions on the issue of bonus payment, Mr Edwards said his party’s stand was clear.
Dialogue should be set up among Centre, state & Gorkha representatives for solution.
