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BGP National Council at Siliguri TIME TO MAKE PARISANGH EFFECTIVE

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laj{kd% Jherh fny dqekjh Hk.Mkjh] Jh eksgu vf/kdkjh mins"Vk% he National Council of the welfare arm (see report in following jsHk- Mk- ,uksl nkl iz/kku] Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh pages). lq[keu eksDrku] ,y-ch- jkbZ Tmet in Siliguri from January 6 The Niti-Nirdharan Samiti also met lEiknd e.Myh% to 8. The meeting began with a on the evening of January 6 and dis- tks,y jkb minute’s silence to respect BGP’s cussed important policy issues, in- Zone 1 President Shri Pitambar cluding on Saino Media. Its decision cqf)eku iz/kku ^cei*Z Gurung of , member and were later endorsed by the National HkqisUnz vf/kdkjh music arranger of the Jagaran Geet Council. ch-ch- Ns=h Kiran Kumar Pradhan of New Delhi The consensus at the National and laureate Gopi Narayan Pradhan Council was that the Bharatiya email: [email protected] of Shillong. All state and regional Gorkha Parisangh had to go down to units presented reports. the grassroot level to ensure that the Please send news/ articles in Nepali to The first meeting at the event was entire Gorkha community in the [email protected] held to discuss the Bharatiya country was included in all proactive and in English to Gorkha Foundation on January 6. measures for empowerment and [email protected] before the 8th of each month. The Trust Board, while reviewing the progress. There was also general finances of the Foundation, also dis- agreement among the National Published by Sukhman Moktan for the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and edited by Joel Rai cussed priority activities for BGP’s Council members that education

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BGP President Smt Dil Kumari Bhandari (left) and Working President Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan (right) addressing the participants

was an important facet of social change and that the bers as possible enrolled by all BGP units. Parisangh had to initiate ways in which to encourage ■ An important project of BGP is the Bharatiya education at all levels. Gorkha Parisangh Foundation. It main focus will be All states presented reports on the functioning and educational aid to students, including higher studies activities on January 7. Suggestions were noted, oth- and competitive exams, and help to those affected ers endorsed. Some of the important decisions that by disaster and ethnic violence. To make the were taken at the National Council were: Foundation a strong institution, BGP members are ■ The 3rd Triennial Maha Adiveshan of the BGP will urged to become members by paying a monthly be held in Siliguri tentatively on November 1-3, 2012. `500 for three years, or `6,000 annually for three The agenda and the budget will be finalised by the years or `18,000 as a one-time contribution. National Executive of the BGP in April 2012. ■ After wideranging discussions regarding member- ■ To press for the creation of a separate state of ship fees under the new amended Constitution, from Gorkhaland (in Darjeeling and Dooars area) which April 1, 2012 the membership fees (in addition to will ensure the political identity and security of the ` 10 admission fee) of Gorkhas, all regional and state units of the BGP will the Bharatiya Gorkha July 8, 2012 give active support and assistance to the Parisangh has been Paryawaran Diwas Gorkhaland Task Force, created under the aegis of revised as follows: tree planting the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh. Ordinary three-year August 20, 2012 ■ August 20, 2012 will be celebrated at the national membership: `200 level as Bhasa Utsav to mark 20 years of the Nepali (from April 1, 2012 to Bhasa Utsav—20 years language being recognized as a national language March 31, 2015) of Nepali’s inclusion in of with its incorporation in the 8th Schedule of Associate 8th Schedule the Indian Constitution. Organisation : `500 August 25, 2012 ■ The second Sunday of July, namely July 8, 2012, for three years will be observed as Paryawaran Diwas by the BGP Life membership: Balidan Diwas with a tree-plantation campaign. It will also be the re- `2,500 November 11, 2012 sponsibility of the BGP to nurture the trees planted Patron: `20,000 Gorkha Gaurav Diwas that day to full growth. ■ The amendments ■ The second Sunday of November, namely passed also stipulate that now the National November 11, 2012, will be observed as usual as Executive would meet once a year (from twice a year Gorkha Gaurav Diwas with the felicitation of Gorkha earlier) while the National Council would sit simulta- achievers by all units of the BGP. neously with the Maha Adviveshan once every three ■ Balidan Diwas on August 25 to honour all Gorkhas years. Membership of the National Council will be who have given their lives for the country should be determined based on the membership of the state observed and efforts made to organise programmes unit at a ratio of 1 National Council member for every in villages, towns and cities and involve as many 10 state unit member, i.e. a state could send one places, people and organisations in the event. member to the National Council for every 10 mem- ■ A membership drive should be organised every bers in its roll. So if it had 250 members, its repre- year between January and April and as many mem- sentation in the National Council would be 25. The

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Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh members from most states of India were present for deliberations at the National Council meeting

numerical strength of National Executive representa- nominees for the National Executive. The list of these tion from units has also been proposed and passed. nominees, including their full details like postal ad- ■ All state units must submit a list of their members dresses, mobile number, email IDs, etc has to be (with details about their postal address, pincode, sent to the Head Office in Siliguri. email IDs) to the BGP Head Office at Siliguri by July ■ Lt-Colonel SK Mukhia, who is the Finance 31, 2012. All state executives are requested to treat Secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, has this as mandatory. Branches that do not submit the been given the additional responsibility as General list will not be allowed participation in the BGP’s Secretary (Administration) for the Head Office in meetings and organisational events. Siliguri. Shri BM Pradhan ‘Bamapa’ woudl continue ■ The BGP has on principle agreed to include 50 per to assist Lt-Colonel Mukhia. cent women in all its representational bodies based ■ It has been decided that `10 lakh from the Akshay on their active membership and merit. Kosh of the BGP will be invested with Himsikhar Pvt ■ All state and regional units must convene their ex- Ltd at an interest of 12 per cent after due diligence ecutive meetings by July 31, 2102 and finalise their by the Finance Committee.

SOME DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

■ Each state to have represen- tation in the National Council at the ratio of 1 National Council member to every 10 enrolled state members. ■ National Executive to be held once a year (from twice earlier) and National Council to sit con- currently with Maha Adhi- veshan once every three years. ■ All representational bodies of the BGP to have 50 per cent women, based on their active membership and merit. ■ New membership fees: ◆ Ordinary three-year member- ship: `200 (from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015) ◆ Associate organisation: `500 for three years ◆ Life membership: `2,500 ◆ Patron: `20,000

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Hkkjrh; xks[kkZ ifjla?kdks eq[ki= bZ&laldj.k Qjojh 2012 BGP FOUNDATION TO BEGIN WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS he Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Foundation is tion, many donors would step forward. She also re- an important arm of the BGP in its effort to minded the members that for the purpose of attract- Tcreate a “susubhya, susikshit” Gorkha society. ing donors, the Foundation had to undertake some The BGP Foundation Trust met on February 6 in attractive programmes and publicise its activities.. Siliguri to take stock of the Foundation’s finances Secretary Dewan reminded the house that the ap- and plans. The meeting was presided over by Trust plications for tax exemption u/s 12A and 80G of the Chairman Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan. IT Act have already been made before the This was followed by Trust Secretary Pravakar Commissioner of Income Tax at Siliguri. He added Dewan read out the annual report of the that a contribution from Durga Gurung had been Foundation. Treasurer P.K.Pradhan read out the sent via bank transfer from Dehradun. audited and unaudited account of the Foundation. In The meeting felt that since the Trustees had the regard to audited accounts for the year ending dual role of raising funds as well as managing them, December 2011, a total expenditure of ` 29,727 and the Trustees had to commit themselves to the a closing balance of `22113 were submitted. In the Foundation wholeheartedly. unaudited accounts till the same date, the treasurer With some funds having flowed in, the members reported expenditure of ` 2086/- and a cash bal- felt that it had to chalk out some priorities. It was re- ance of `55,5697. solved that since the financial strength of the The Chairman proposed that everytime the corpus Foundation was yet in its infancy, it would be pru- collected crossed `50,000 the sum should be dent to give priority to education as a first measure. deposited in a fixed deposit account. The It would help meritorius, poor students in their edu- meeting welcomed the proposal and unanimously cation.The Board resolved to form a three-member resolved to adopt the proposal. . subcommittee comprising the Chairman, Secretary Smt. Dil Kumari Bhandari renewed her commit- and Treasurer to give effect to these objectives of ment to contribute `1 lakh to the fund if the the foundation. Discussion on the suggestion of Foundation obtained Income Tax exemption. She Tamlal Lohar of on carrying out a census felt that if the Foundation obtained the tax exemp- of Gorkhas of India was put off for later.

Contributions to the Bharatiya Gorkha Foundation can be made in three different ways: BHARATIYA GORKHA ■ At `500 per month for 3 years PARISANGH FOUNDATION ■ At `6,000 per year for 3 years ■ At `18,000 one-time payment. INVITES APPLICATIONS FROM NEEDY Contributions can be sent by cash, cheque made out to GORKHA STUDENTS WHO ARE Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Foundation or by bank transfer. CITIZENS OF INDIA FOR FINANCIAL The BGPF bank account is with Bank of India, Kalimpong, ASSISTANCE TO PURSUE RESEARCH A/c no 429310210000011 (IFSC code is BKTD 0004293). WORK LEADING TO MPhil/PhD DEGREES; UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAM During the meeting in Siliguri, contributions were received from the following: COACHING; STUDIES LEADING TO Tamlal Lohar, Aizawl `6,000 (per year) P.K.Pradhan, Kalimpong `500/ (per month) MASTER’S DEGREES. Munish Tamang, Delhi `500/ (per month) Send your applications to: Smt Kuntal Tamang, Delhi `500/ (per month) Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan Smt Anju Pradhan, Siliguri `500/ (per month) Chairman Col S.K. Pradhan, Siliguri `500/ (per month) Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh Foundation Sukhman Moktan, Bagrakot `500/ (per month) Near Himalayan Stores SM Krishna Chettri, `500/ (per month) Kalimpong 734301 Smt D.K. Bhandari, Delhi `500/ (per month) Dist Darjeeling Pappu Pradhan, Delhi `500/ (per month) Joel Rai, Delhi `6,000 (per year) For more details, contact BGPF Secretary Bal Krishna Pradhan, Ghayabari `6,000 (per year) Pravakar Dewan, Phone no 09434007034

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Gorkhaland Task Force tours Northeast states GTA is a conspiracy: P A Sangma

he Gorkhaland Task Force was formed under Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, All the aegis of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh India Gorkha League, GNLF (C), Gorkha Rajya Tto bring all political parties, organisations and Nirman Manch and Gorkha Shaheed Sewa Samiti. personalities who support the creation of a separate The hill units of the BJP and the Congress too have state of Gorkhaland under the Constitution of India. offered their support to the Task Force. With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the political The Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) began its pro- party that was spearheading the demand for gramme to continue the Gorkhaland movement with Gorkhaland, signing an agreement with the West a series of meeting with political leaders of national Bengal Government to form the Gorkhaland parties in Delhi in December 2011. Among others, Terroritorial Adminstration (GTA), the Gorkhas the GTF met and got assurances of support from across India felt that new impetus was required to the Lok Janshakti Party, Nationalist Congress Party, renew the movement for a separate state. They re- Bahujan Samaj Party and from individual MPs from alised that the GTA was only an agency of develop- other parties. ment meant for the Darjeeling area and would not Taking its campaign further, the GTF is now on a address the question of political identity and secu- tour of India’s Northeast, which is home to a large rity of Gorkhas across the length and breadth of number of Gorkhas. The joint programme of the India. All organisations and people who had ex- Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and the GTF has at- tended their support to the GJM felt let down in tracted the Gorkhas of the region who feel that states like Uttarakhand, , Manipur, Mizoram, agencies like the DGHC and the GTA had twice Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. cheated them of their aspiration to a Gorkha state. Listening to the voice of the people, the Bharatiya Ramesh Bastola, on behalf of the executive Body Gorkha Parisangh invited political parties and orga- of the Yuvaharu, Manipureli Gorkhe (YMG), which is nisations to come on a united platform to fight for one of the strongest media-based associations of Gorkhaland. Barring the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Manipur, said that his organisation fully supported political parties of the Darjeeling hills responded the GTF.“Our fundamental wish is one and only and the Gorkhaland Task Force was formed with the Gorkhaland for securing the political identity of involvement of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Indian Gorkhas,” he said.

“I have always been in favour of creation of Gorkhaland. Tell me what I can do to help in this movement for Gorkhaland, I am ready to do anything.”

Kishore Pradhan (CPRM), R Moktan (Coordinator, GTF), Sukhman Moktan (BGP) and P A Sangma Dawa Pakhrin (GNRM) discussed Gorkhaland with PA Sangma at Tura, General Secretary, NCP

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Hkkjrh; xks[kkZ ifjla?kdks eq[ki= bZ&laldj.k Qjojh 2012 “I will also apprise Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma about the Gorkhaland issue.” Lalthanhawla, Chief Minister, Mizoram

With Lalthanhawla (fifth from left) are GTF Coordinator R Moktan, Sukhman Moktan (BGP), JB Rai (CPRM), Dawa Pakhrin (GRNM), and senior BGP Mizoram members Tamlal Lohar, Nirmal Pun and Maniraj Sarankoty.

When the GTF met former Speaker Force Coordinator R Moktan, Kishore Pradhan and NCP General Secretary PA Sangma in Tura, (CPRM), Dawa Pakhrin (GRNM), Sukhman Moktan Meghalaya, he was very upbeat about Gorkhaland (BGP) Assam state BGP president Nityanand state. He said that he had always supported the for- Upadhaya and Gopal Sharma met BJP National mation of Bodoland and Gorkhaland states. He Vice-President and MP and MP said, “This Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is a . The GTF justified the Gorkhaland de- conspiracy between the Janmukti Morcha and the mand to them and solicited their support in West Bengal government.”Then he asked the dele- Parliament and in their party for the demand. gation, “Tell me what I can do to help in the demand It was also very encouraging for the Task Force in for Gorkhaland, I am ready to do anything.” Manipur, where a delegation comprising R Moktan, Similar support came from Mizoram Chief Minister Sukhman Moktan, JB Rai (CPRM), John Paudyal Lalthanhawla. After the delegation thanked the Chief Minister for the harmony between Mizos and Gorkhas in the state, Lalthanhawla said that he was disappointed at the formation of the GTA and was in support of a creation of a full state of Gorkhaland. When asked to help raise the issue at the Northeast Coordination Committee of the Congress, he readily agreed and added, “I will talk to Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and apprise him about the rightful demand for Gorkhaland.” When the GTF met Mizoram Lok Sabha member CL Ruala, he recalled how statehood had changed Mizoram, which once was an “excluded area” With Mani Kumar Subba (above) and Tanka Bahadur Rai (below) exactly like Darjeeling. member Lalhmingliana also expressed sympathy with the demand of the Gorkhas. Earlier the GTF met Assam Minister for Planning and Development and Law and Judiciary Tanka Bahadur Rai and former Lok Sabha MP and President of Assam Gorkha Sammelan Mani Kumar Subba in Guwahati. They discussed the separate state of Gorkhaland with the two Gorkha leaders. Also in Guwahati, the delegation comprising Task

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GTF with BJP National Vice- President Bijoya Chakravarty in Guwahati (above) and MP Ramen Deka (above, left). The GTF also held meetings with the Gorkhas of the region, including in Guwahati (left), Shillong, Imphal and Aizawl.

(GRNM), BGP Manipur president KB Chhetri and Working President Ghanshyam Acharya met former state chief minister, current Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader Reishang Keishing. An emotional Keishing said, “I fully understand that you need Gorkhaland for your identity and security. A Gorkha state will also be good for the security of the whole Northeast region. I will write to Madam Sonia Gandhi and “I know you need Gorkhaland for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about this.” identity and security. I will write to The GTF will next travel to New Delhi and meet leaders of national Madam Sonia Gandhi and Prime parties and MPS .The GTF and BGP will jointly hold a dharna at Minister Manmohan Singh about this.” Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Reishang Keishing, March 19, 2012. Ex Chief Minister, Manipur, now Rajya Sabha MP

ASSEMBLE IN LARGE NUMBERS AT JANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI ON MARCH 19, 2012 FROM 9 AM ONWARDS TO SIT ON DHARNA WITH THE GORKHALAND TASK FORCE AND PRESS FOR THE CREATION OF GORKHALAND

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BGP KALIMPONG UNIT WRITES TO MAMATA REGARDING DR MANI KUMAR CHHETRI

January 29: The Kalimpong unit of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh wrote a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decrying the arrest of Padma Shri awardee Dr Mani Kumar Chhetri in connection with the Amri hospital fire inci- dent in Kolkata. “Considering his tireless, sincere and selfless service to the nation and consider- ing his age and dwindling health, you are earnestly requested to arrange to re- lease him from police cus- tody immediately,” the letter said. Dr Chhetri is a national personality in the field of medicine and served the West Bengal government in the highest capacity before retirement. GJM CHIEF’S FALSE ALLEGATIONS: UTTARAKHAND AND MEGHALAYA PASS RESOLUTIONS

February 9: Strongly protesting the allegations of by senior BGP members Brig (retd) NBS Bist, Lt Col Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung that (retd) V K Sharma, Lt Col (retd) D S Khadka, Shri the Gorkhaland Task Force was involved in under- Suraj Rai and Shri Shiv Lal Ale. ground arms training and in cahoots with Maoist ex- Similarly, the Meghalaya unit said it strongly con- tremists, the BGP state units of Uttarakhand and demned the statement purportedly issued by Bimal Meghalaya passed resolutions demanding a retrac- Gurung terming Gorkhaland Task Force as a terrorist tion of Gurung’s statements. organisation. “The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha should Calling the allegations “highly objectionable”, the have supported the movement instead of criticising Uttarakhand unit said that the creation of the movement. Sri Bimal Gurung has been mislead- Gorkhaland was aborted for reasons best known to ing the people of Darjeeling District in particular and the GJM and its leadership but “the creation of the Gorkhas in general. The statement should be im- Gorkhaland was a strong aspiration and desire” of mediately withdrawn and he should tender unquali- the Gorkhas living in other states of the Indian fied apology. I appeal to the Gorkha Janmukti Union. "We the members of Uttarkhand BGP Morcha to extend their hands for creation of separate strongly detest the statement of Shri Bimal Gurung state of Gorkhaland initiated by Gorkhaland Task and request him to withdraw the same through a Force,” the press statement by Meghalaya BGP press note at the earliest", said the resolution signed President BB Chettri said.

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