Our “#liberation”has been labelled as “#Baimani”

The State Government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made a mockery of democracy in Bengal and Darjeeling. The fourth pillar, however, also seems to have fallen on Didi’s favour.  It is truly a sad day in a democracy where people’s mandate is being labelled as “Baimaani” towards Mamata Banerjee.

The people of Darjeeling have done no wrong by exercising their Constitutional ‘Right to Vote’.  The actions of the people stand within the four walls of the Constitution. People have every right to choose their representative. We see no wrong in this.

At the same time, we would like to question the newspaper which has tried to defame the Hill Community by labelling them “Baimaan Pahadbasira”. Is their action justified? Do they even know, the ground realities of Darjeeling and it’s adjourning areas?

The editor and journalists of the newspaper have broken all ethics of journalism by publishing such an offensive statement. The only reason why “Baimaan” became the primary word for their headline may be due to the fact that they are faithful to their Begum. Hence the “Baimani of Pahadbasira” may be a way to justify their perspective.

The newspaper has also accused the Development Boards of using 5.5 thousand crores. The revenue itself is very minimal as compared to what West Bengal gains from Darjeeling. The Tea Industry itself is known to generate Rs 1500 crores per annum.

Secondly, the developments boards formed on the basis of Catses is only a plan hatched to divide the hill community. True welfare of the economically weaker section can be done by the disbursement of the funds through the Boards formed on the basis of the economy rather than through caste.   Let us come to a conclusion by saying that the intention of forming the  Development board has failed tremendously. It should be noted that our aspiration for a solution to our identity crisis through the formation of Gorkhaland stands much higher than any other issues, let alone the idea of superficial development.

Darjeeling public vote will always be for Gorkhaland

If the editors of the so-called newspaper “Khabar 365” really want news they should dare them to write how people in Darjeeling

a) have been deprived of their political and economic rights

b) have been subdued by the police

c) have been provided with unwanted so-called caretakers of GTA who have been occupying the chair without a public mandate.

Democracy in Darjeeling has been subjugated to a mere idea and a word in the “Civics book”. This is the faith of “Democracy”  in the worlds largest democracy.

People of the “Pahar” have liberated themselves. The election has shown given logical proof that people have no faith in the present GTA administration, Development Boards, the Mamtas, the Binays etc.

At the same time, we would like to congratulate our Hill community for standing together for “Gorkhaland”. We further insist that our public speak up against such malicious cases of racism. We would like to use this platform question the silence of Darjeeling Press Guild, Kalimpong Press Club, Siliguri Press Club, Mirik Press Club, Kurseong Press Club. They should speak against such unethical operation of Khabar 365. The “Baiman” tag also associates with these agencies since they are also invaluable entities of our Darjeelingey society as a whole. “Shouldn’t they be writing to the Press Club of India and the Editor’s Guild of India and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, against such a communal post, where our entire society has been called crooks?

We would urge our intellectuals, leaders, social workers, civil societies to speak up against such racism. We may have won a battle but the war is not yet over. The news headlines published by Khabar 365 has shaken our very foundation on which our struggle for identity is based on. The newspaper has called us ” Baimaan” with an intention to portray us as loyalties of Mamata. Let us remember are an independent Indian society who aspires to have our own state under this great nation. No political force or entities can influence us. We have loyalty to the Constitution, not Mamata.

We would also request the winning candidates to sue the newspaper and their Chief Editor!

Jai Gorkha

Jai Gorkhaland

The post Gorkha Student Federation Condemn Offensive Headline by Khabar 365 appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

In a press released issued today, Mr. Anit Thapa has said, “I strongly protest against the offensive headline used by a Bengali newspaper, in which they have labelled various Boards as being ‘Baimaan”.

He further said, ‘I want to convey to the editor, that the hill people didn’t vote for BJP, rather they have voted for Gorkhaland, and even we respect the Gorkhaland issue.”

Defending the various community specific boards, he said, “The Development Boards have also done their best, but the results are because, the hill people have decided to support Gorkhaland over the development issue.”

Making an appeal to Bengali vernacular dailies, he said, “I request entire Bengali newspapers to stop name calling the entire hill people, and to stop blaming and scolding them.”

At the end, he stated, “To vote is everyone’s right, and they have exercised their right in favour of Gorkhaland.”

Here is the full release in Nepali…

एउटा बंगाली समाचार पत्रले आफ्नो एउटा समाचारको शीर्षकमा बेइमान भनेर लेखेको तथा जीटीएक्षेत्रका विभिन्न बोर्डहरूलाई विभिन्न प्रकारको आरोप लगाएको विषयलाई लिएर म घोर प्रतिवाद जनाउँदछु।

उक्त समाचार पत्रका सम्पादकलाई म यो पनि भन्न चाहन्छु कि पहाडका मानिसहरूले भाजपालाई हैन तर गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई भोट दिएका हुन् अनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दाप्रतिको उक्त समर्थनलाई हामी सम्मान पनि गर्दछौं।

डेभलोभमेन्ट बोर्डहरूले पनि चुनाउमा आफ्नो तर्फबाट हुने हरेक प्रयास गरेकै हुन् तर पहाडवासीको निम्ति विकासभन्दा ठूलो गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा भएकोले गर्दा उक्त परिणति निस्किएको हो।

यसैले म समग्र बंगाली समाचार पत्रहरूलाई तृणमूल कंग्रेसलाई भोट नलगाएकोमा दार्जीलिगं पहाडका मतदाताहरूलाई गाली वा विभिन्न आरोपहरू लगाउन बन्द गरिदिने अपील गर्दछु।
मतदान गर्नु सबैको व्यक्तिगत अधिकार हो अनि उनीहरूले आफ्नो मतदान गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति दिएका हुन्

अनित थापा

महासचिवगोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा, केन्द्रिय समिति।’

As our readers may recall, we had yesterday highlighted how Khabar 365 Din, which is seen as a TMC Mouthpiece, had denigrated the entire hill people by labelling us as being “Baimaan Pahadbasira“.

We are hopeful, other social and political leaders, thinkers and academics too will outrage over this gross display of anti-Hill people racism on the part of a chauvinistic editor of Khabar 365 Din.

The post GTA Chairman Anit Thapa Protests Khabar 365 Din Racist Report appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.