Euphoric
celebrations mark inking of Darjeeling accord
Monday July 18, 2011 08:33:59 PM,
IANS
|
Related Articles |
Darjeeling tripartite accord signed
A tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hills
was signed Monday between the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and
the West Bengal and central governments.
At the core of the pact is the » |
Sukna (West
Bengal): "Kya aap khush hain? (Are you happy?)", the
question posed to hundreds of locals, mostly Gorkhas, by West
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee elicited a deafening "Haan!
(yes)" as a tripartite accord was signed here Monday for the
Darjeeling hills.
In an euphoric atmosphere marked by Nepali music and dance,
hundreds of people in traditional attire witnessed the historic
signing of the tripartite accord that paved the way for formation
of the autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
"Kya aap khush hain? (Are you happy?)," asked the chief minister,
to which a roar of "haan" (yes) could be heard. Not satisfied she
again said, "To phir zor se 'haan' boliye" (then say 'yes'
loudly). A deafening "haan" went up that could be heard even far
away.
Amid cheers, drumbeats and blowing of trumpets, the leaders one by
one ascended the stage which had been decorated with the colours
of the national flag at the venue - Pintail Village - a sprawling
resort dotted with cottages and open spaces situated close to the
plains of Siliguri.
Like the spectators, the signatories too were in their
signature-tune dresses. Gorkha Janamukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung
wore daura-sural, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in her
traditional white cotton saree and union Home Minister P.
Chidambaram sported his usual white mundu and shirt.
The leaders present at the dais included union Minister of State
for Shipping Mukul Roy, Darjeeling parliamentarian Jaswant Singh
and state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee.
Gurung, who gave the opening speech mostly in Nepali, received a
rapturous welcome.
Chidambaram too got his share of applause after he referred to
Gurung as "My good friend Bimal Gurungji".
However, most of the claps and cheers were reserved for Banerjee
who started her speech with greetings in Nepali and kept on
switching between Hindi, English and Bengali as the flow of
applause and cheers continued uninterrupted.
Banerjee, accompanied by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi and
several Trinamool Congress leaders, walked the 1.5 km to reach the
venue.
Hundreds of people, mostly Gorkhas from the hills, came in
processions to be part of the momentous event. The balconies and
rooftops of adjoining buildings were brimming with people.
Dance troupes kept on performing at the venue.
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
Stories |

Suspect's
death: CID probe ordered
Police Sunday ordered an investigation
into the death of a young man who died of brain haemorrhage here
early Sunday after being detained for suspected links with the
July 13 bomb »
Suspect's death:
Neighbor alleges torture, police rubbish charges
RS MP warns against
harassment of innocent Muslims on probe pretext |
|
Most
Read |
India,
Pakistan firm up new cross-Kashmir CBMs
In their first contact after the
July 13 Mumbai terror attacks, Indian and Pakistani officials met
Monday to firm up new confidence-building measures to expand trade
and travel across the two
» |
Apex
court stays media wage revisions -- for now
The
Supreme Court Monday asked the central government not to implement
the recommendations of the National Wage Board for journalists and
other employees for the next two weeks.
The Board, headed by Justice G.R. Majithia, was set up in 2007. It
submitted its report Dec 31, 2010
»
|
|
News Pick |
Why India
can't feed its people, asks Canadian media
In this Year of India in Canada, India
is making news in the media here - not for the second highest
growth rate in the world but for its "absolute poverty'' and
failure to "feed its people
»
Redefining the Poverty Line
|
Government mulls curbs on junk food in schools
The
central government Monday admitted before the Delhi High Court
that junk food causes health hazards, including heart problem, and
said guidelines would be framed to serve good quality food in
schools and colleges.
»
|
Israeli
weapons used in Karachi unrest: Rehman Malik
The use of
Israeli-made weapons indicates "foreign hands" behind the Karachi
unrest, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said. "Over 200 persons
have been arrested and Israeli-made weapons including AK-45, have
been
»
|
Golden
debuts in 1996 gave India teeth to fight overseas
India lost
the 1996 series in England 0-1, but the golden debuts of Sourav
Ganguly and Rahul Dravid at Lord's, which eagerly awaits the 100th
Test match between the two countries, changed the way world looked
at Indian cricket in the
»
|
|
Picture of the Day |
 |
Defence Minister of Mozambique Filipe
Jacinto Nyusi laying wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti, in New Delhi on
June 28, 2011.
(Photo:
Fulchand) |
|
|
|