Skip to content Skip to navigation

Gorkha demand reverberates in NE states

By AT News Imphal |

The demand for Gorkhaland reverberated in Nagaland as Gorkha domiciles of the state organised the ‘Global Gorkhaland Unity March’ on Sunday at Kohima in solidarity with other Gorkhas across the world.  

Organised by the Nagaland Gorkha Association (NGA), the rally witnessed some 10,000 Gorkhas marching to the Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Nagaland Governor.

NGA general secretary at the rally said that the Gorkhas of Nagaland are standing in solidarity with their Gorkha brothers and sisters in Darjeeling as the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state is a question of the “Gorkha Indian political identity.”

Stating that the Gorkhas have been discriminated against the West Bengal government, Thapa added that the attitude of the West Bengal government has hurt pride and dignity of the Gorkhas. 

“We therefore join the Global Gorkhaland Unit March to show the Government of India as well as Government of West Bengal that the people of Darjeeling are not isolated, the Gorkhas of whole world are with them. We march for the dreams and aspirations of our children, we march for our identity, language, culture and our birthright in India,” Thapa said.

The NGA in its memorandum said that it is “the desire and aspiration of the entire Gorkha community of India to establish their Indian identity so that every Gorkha can proudly defend their country.”

 

Naga bodies extend solidarity to Gorkhaland demand

The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Angami Students Union and the T Khel Council of Kohima village extended solidarity to the Gorkhaland movement.

NPMHR secretary general Neingulo Krome while terming the ‘Global Gorkhaland Unity March’ as a significant initiative said that it has brought every Gorkha together irrespective of geographical boundaries.

He further urged the Gorkhas to continue the fight but not through violence rather democratically.

The NTC held that the Gorkhaland issue is India’s priority and should not be delayed as ignoring it would be an exhibition of “deliberate insensitivity.”

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

AIUDF MLA in trouble

31 Mar 2014 - 11:10am | AT News
In a major set back for AIUDF’s polls prospect, Karimganj Congress has lodged a complained against Jamaluddin Ahmed for threatening to set Siddique Ali Ahmed on fire.The Election Commission is also...

A D C held for taking bribe

14 Feb 2009 - 2:46pm | Dibya J Borthakur
The Additional Deputi Commisioner of Morigaon district Haripada Roy has been sent to police custody on February 13 for allegedly demanding and taking bribes against Permanent Residence Certificates (...

Fate of BMCJ, JMCH hangs in balance

3 May 2014 - 9:25am | AT News
In a major setback for Assam’s health sector, the Medical Council of India has cancelled the recognition to two of the newly set up medical colleges.Reliable sources have told Assam Times that MCI...

Leopard cub found dead in Namrup

27 Nov 2017 - 5:19pm | AT News
  NAMRUP: A leopard cub was found dead in Namrup which was believed to have been killed during a fight between two tiger on Monday. Tea garden workers spotted the lifeless cub under the tea...

Other Contents by Author

KSA calls 48-hour Manipur bandh from August 23 midnight

 The Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), which has been spearheading the movement demanding constitutional protection to the indigenous people of Manipur, has announced a 48-hour state wide general strike beginning midnight of August 23.  A KSA statement informing the decision accused the Manipur government of paying mere lip service to the demand raised by the association.  It expressed unhappiness over what it said non-fulfillment of promises made by the state government on exclusive seat reservation for indigenous people in every assembly constituency and removal of names of “outsiders” from the electoral roll.  The student body has also demanded...

Manipur rights bodies demand govt support in CBI probe

Human rights organisations on Friday called upon all concerned and the Manipur government to extend full cooperation to the CBI inquiry into 85 cases of alleged extrajudicial killings that took place in the state between 1979 and 2012.  A discussion on imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur was held at Manipur Press Club jointly organized by the Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families AssociationManipur (EEVFAM), Human Rights Alert (HRA) and United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNMM).  “We appeal to all concerned and the state government as well to extend full cooperation to the CBI inquiry to help ensure delivery of justice to the...

Panchayat polls in Manipur on October 7

The much-awaited Panchayat polls in BJP-ruled Manipur will be held on October 7 next with the model code of conduct coming into effect from Friday.  The schedule for the upcoming crucial Panchayat polls was announced by Manipur State Election Commissioner Th Kaminikanta Singh during a press conference at the office of State Election Commission, Lamphelpat on Thursday.  Last date of filing of nomination is August 25 while the scrutiny will be conducted on August 26, he further announced, adding that last date of withdrawal of nomination is August 29.  Kaminikanta said counting of vote will take place on October 11. He said the...

Naga peace framework in final stage

Convenor of the NSCN-IM Steering Committee, Rh Raising said that the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM is now at the final stage.  “We are now at the final stage. We have drafted, they have drafted and exchanged our point of views. We have decided what we have already agreed; now we are in the final stage. Almost 90 percent is completed. We have yet to work on some papers,” replied Raising to queries from the media during the 71st Naga Independence Day celebration at the NSCN-IM’s Council Headquarters, Hebron on Monday.    According to Raising, the Agreement is about the recognition of the sovereign right of the Nagas,...

68 ultras surrender in Manipur

As many as 68 militants belonging to various outlawed underground groups, including 17 from UNLF and seven from PLA, surrendered to the Manipur government and laid down weapons.  Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, his deputy Yumnam Joykumar Singh and several other ministers attended the ‘homecoming ceremony’ held at 1st Battalion, Manipur Rifles.  The militants, including four women, were 17 from UNLF, 7 from PLA (RPF), 10 from PREPAK, 7 from PREPAK (Pro), 4 from KYKL, 10 from KCP (N), one each from KCP (W), KCP (KK Mangang) and KCP (MJC), 5 each from KCP (KM) and KCP (MC).  They surrendered themselves to Chief Minister Biren Singh during the function.  The...

Amidst tight security for I-Day, bomb blast rocks Imphal

A bomb exploded here on Sunday amidst tight security being put in place ahead of the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations, but there were no casualties. The incident occurred at Kakwa Naorem Leikai within Imphal West around 9:30 in the morning. Sources believed militants had triggered the blast that took place close to a power transformer.  A team from the district police led by its Superintendent of Police Themthing Ngasangva rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Seven different militant outfits have given a call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations across North East region on August 15. They have called a total shutdown in the...

Tripartite talk on districts creation held

The crucial tripartite meeting on the pressing demand of rollback of creation of districts by the United Naga Council (UNC) was held at Senapati district headquarters on Tuesday.  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary in-charge of NE, Satyendra Garg chaired the tripartite talks involving the Centre, Manipur government and UNC, the apex social organisation of the Nagas in Manipur.    This time the tripartite dialogue was upgraded to political level by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the hope to find a solution where all sides can win.  UNC has strongly protested creation of districts, especially Kangpokpi district, after allegedly bifurcating “Naga...

Manipur tells Myanmar to stop violating traffic rules

The Manipur government has on Thursday informed Myanmar authority no vehicles from the neighbouring country would be allowed to violate Indian traffic rules and regulation on Indian territory.   The development comes after Manipur authority has learnt that Myanmar vehicles entering India through Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge at Gate No 1 have been violating Indian traffic rules and regulation while proceeding towards Namphalong Market. In a letter to Deputy Commissioner, Tamu, Myanmar, Kh Raghumani Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Tengnoupal district said it has been observed that Myanmar vehicles entering India through Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate No 1 have been violating...

NSCN-K to boycott I'Day

The NSCN-K declared that it will boycott the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on August 15. A press release from the NSCN-K’s Ministry of Information & Publicity (MIP) on Tuesday stated that it has imposed a ban on celebration of “Indian Independence Day throughout Naga inhabited territories” in India. While it appealed to “every Naga national” to abstain from participating in the I-Day event, it stated that the Government of India has been relentlessly continuing “massive military deployment empowered with unethical and inhuman Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA, Disturbed Area Act, Terrorist tag etc.” Despite, the NSCN-K said it “will keep up the...

Uphill task ahead for Biren government in negotiating UNC

The United Naga Council (UNC) hopes that the next tripartite talks scheduled for August 11 at Senapati headquarters must come up with a solution to the nearly nine month-old issue on district creation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoS) said the next meeting involving the state and central governments and UNC will be held at the “political level.” The upcoming negotiation aims at finding a mutually agreeable solution to all concerned. But the Nongthombam Biren Singh headed BJP government in Manipur still has to face the uphill task of maintaining the status quo of the “Naga-dominated districts” as demanded by UNC.  On December 9, 2016, the previous Okram Ibobi Singh headed Congress...