Daily Archives: July 7, 2012
SPORTS WATCH: 12th Sikkim State Open Boxing Championship 2012 concludes
FROM ISIKKIM.COM / SIKKIM MAIL
Gyalshing, July 5, 2012: The 12th State Open (men and women) Boxing Championships, 2012 which commenced from 30th June, 2012 concluded successfully on 2nd July at the Community Hall, Gyalshing. The event was organized by the Committee under the aegis of Sikkim Amateur Boxing Association (SABA). A total 198 boxers (124 boys & 74 girls) participated from all Districts of the State in different categories. Deputy Speaker, SLA, MB Dahal, presided over as the chief guest on the main day and MLA, Yangthang, PL Subba and District Collector West, Santa Pradhan as the guests of honour.
In the Sub-junior Boys category, Sikkim Young Star Boxing Club bagged the 1st position whereas in the Sub-junior Girls category, East district stood 1st. Likewise, in the Men category, Sikkim Police was declared1st and in the Women category, East District stood 1st. Madan Rai, East District was adjudged as the Best Boxer in the Senior Men category while Vabya Gurung, West district, as the Best Boxer in the Senior Women category. Milan Hang Subba and Arma Pradhan, East District were the Most Promising Boxers.
Speaking on the occasion chief guest Dahal expressed his gratitude and happiness for choosing Gyalshing as the venue of State Level Boxing Championships by the organizing Committee and was pleased to announce that such event was organized for the first time in West District. This event shall certainly encourage the youth to take boxing as one of their carrier option seriously and take the game in the international level and making the State as well as the nation proud, he added. Further he reminded the various policies and schemes adopted by the Government to encourage the sports persons in their own fields and the financial aids provided to them by the Department.
DARJEELING HILLS: Gorkhaland Task Force’s stand on GTA Polls
Gorkhaland Task Force has clarified its stand on GTA Polls as per the following:
1. The formation of Gorkhaland Task Force (GOTAFO) with those who are sincerely committed to the cause of separation from Bengal and the creation of separate state of Gorkhaland is in itself confirms the fact that nothing less than Gorkhaland is acceptable to the Gorkhas of this Nation. This was the top-most priority in the agenda of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh since 2006. The CPRM was formed in 1996 when pro-Gorkhaland Marxists left CPM and they are committed to this cause ever since then. For AIGL their President Madan Tamang was killed as Gorkha League was opposed to any other set-up less than Gorkhaland. The Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha was created in 2010 for Gorkhaland only.
2. GOTAFO, therefore maintains that the idea of GTA itself is flawed. GTA, in fact, is a betrayal of the aspirations of all Indian Gorkhas who fervently desire the creation of Gorkhaland. The movement and the accompanying sacrifices of the people in and outside the hills have been for Gorkhaland and not for GTA. The mandates given in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and the Assembly elections in 2011 were also ONLY for Gorkhaland. The support garnered from the Terai-Dooars and from all over India was ONLY in the name of Gorkhaland.
OPINION: GTA on Census 2001, Statehood on Census 2011
THE HIMALAYAN BEACON
BY DARJ MAN
A review of the letter dated 26 June 2012 to Mr. P.Chidambaram, Union Home Minister by Bimal Gurung President Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJM).
It is significant in a pertinent sense to note the Morcha is believed to have demanded 396 mouzas in the Siliguri and Dooars Terai into the GTA out of which only 5 mouzas was recommended by the Justice Sen (Retd) Committee. Besides the 396 mouzas demand, another 40 mouzas were also believed to have been demanded in the early stages before the Tripartite Agreement. Therefore in total the additional mouzas demanded by GJM stands at 436 mouzas.
It might be of interest to let the public know Darjeeling District comprises 718 and the Dooars 342 mouzas respectively. In the three subdivisions of Darjeeling (roughly the DGHC areas) are composed of 336 mouzas with an electoral limitation of 28 Council seats. The remaining 382 mouzas of Darjeeling District are located in Siliguri subdivision. Taking this statistics into consideration the entire Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling District, historically and legally also qualifies to be part of GTA. Therefore the demand for 396 additional mouzas to the existing DGHC area (336) is calculated as a genuine perception (396-382 = 14 extra), this is to be added onto the additional 40 mouzas in the Dooras Terai = 54 mouzas). Accordingly it was expected the GTA comprised Darjeeling District (718 mouzas) and the adjoining Dooars Terai (54 mouzas). In total the GTA territory should comprise 718 + 54 =772 mouzas. This could be the territorial expanse of the GTA setup for the time being, based on Census 2001 (linguistic basis) which is the reason why only 5 additional mouzas were recommended in the Justice Sen (Retd) Report.
OPINION: No reservation for SC/ST/OBC in GTA (Fifth Schedule)
THE HIMALAYAN BEACON
BY DARJ MAN
There seems to be consternation among the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes of Darjeeling District as there are no constitutional provisions for the reservation of the Sabha seats for the concerned minority groups in the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA). Had there been any provisions for reservation of SC and ST in the GTA, surely, without doubt the Other Backward Classes (OBC) would not have been left out. It is a predictable state of affair that no amount of appeals and petitions to the concerned authorities would realise the reservation demand. Therefore whether the case has been placed before the top brass of GJM, the Chief Minister or for that matter the Centre would avail no positive response. All responses to the above concerned would only be lackadaisical without any positive consideration to set about the reservation for the ST /SC/OBC at all. It would be interesting however if at all the concerned authorities be transparent enough to convey the message, whether acceptable or not, to inform, whatever is in store for Darjeeling District under the Constitution happens to be within the provisions of the Fifth Schedule. This truth of the matter has neither been realised nor discussed by all the concerned stakeholders including the political party under the present disposition.
However, with or without understanding the fact, had Darjeeling District not safeguarded within the framework of the Constitution (Partially Excluded Area, 1935 = Fifth Schedule, 1950), surely the Centre would not have considered the case of Darjeeling District by allowing the democratic process set about by the political agitation spearheaded by GJM. It is this moot fact, the right of Darjeeling District and its people, are unseeingly guided by the Centre in fact who is responsible for the upkeep of the constitutional guarantee.
GTA POLLS: Gurung in GTA fray – CPM out with 15 names
FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY VIVEK CHHETRI
Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri at the Morcha’s Singamari party office after announcing that they will contest the GTA elections. Picture by Suman Tamang
Darjeeling, July 6: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung will contest the July 29 GTA election from his native village Tukvar in Darjeeling, the party said today.
Binay Tamang, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha, today said in Singamari: “Since everyone from the party wanted our president to contest the elections and head the GTA, he has decided to contest from Tukvar.”
Later in the evening, Gurung also said: “Yes, everyone wanted me to contest, so I agreed.”
The Gorkhaland Task Force, a grouping of five Morcha rival parties, has said it will not contest the elections.
Trinamul Congress has not yet clarified whether it will contest. The only significant political party so far in the contest other than the Morcha is the CPM, which announced 15 candidates from Darjeeling today.
From the Morcha, Roshan Giri, its general secretary, will contest from Sitong-Latpanchar in the Kurseong subdivision. Party vice-president Pradip Pradhan, who is from Kurseong, has been asked to contest from Darjeeling’s Poobshering-Pandam constituency.
Till yesterday, the Morcha had announced the names of 36 candidates, leaving the decision on nine more seats for today. However, the party announced names of candidates for eight seats today, leaving out the Chongtong-Marybong seat.
SIKKIM Soccer League: Update
FROM SIKKIM REPORTER
Gangtok: Howlers FC (Singtam) and Dalam SA (Sombaria) fought a 1-1 draw in a second division S-League match on Thursday here at Paljor Stadium. Yona Rai gave the lead for Singtam side but Shyam Rai restored parity with a stunning free kick for Dalam SA.
In the second match, Boys Club A routed Lower Arithang 6-0. Ongdup Lepcha and Rinchen Lepcha scored a brace each while Sameer Pradhan and Micheal Pradhan hit one goal each.
SIKKIM: Landslide blocks NH 31A
FROM SIKKIM REPORTER
Rangpo: National Highway 31A was blocked for six hours Thursday due to heavy landslide that occurred at 21st mile under Riyang police station (West Bengal).
Reportedly, at about 11 am, the landslide suddenly occurred at the area blocking traffic both ways. Commuters were in trouble, especially Air and train passengers. They were stranded, till the thoroughfare was opened.
Border Road Organisation worked promptly, cleared the debris and restored the traffic from 5 pm. However, it took time for the traffic jam to be cleared.
GTA POLLS: Bimal Gurung in GTA election fray
FROM THE STATESMAN
Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri during a press meet. A file photo
DARJEELING 6 JULY: the GJMM president, Mr Bimal Gurung has decided to contest the GTA elections. He would contest from the Darjeeling-Tukvar constituency.
The party today announced eight names, include two party stalwarts, MrBimal Gurung and Mr Roshan Giri. Mr Giri would contest from Sittong-Lathpanchar. So far names of 44 candidates have been made public. The candidate for the one ward left would be announced tomorrow.
”The insistence of my party leaders has forced me into the fray. If elected, I would plunge headlong into the task of transforming the Hills through developmental,” Mr Gurung told reporters.
“With Gurung himself leading the party from the front, the GJMM might become irresistible and its almost impossible to stop them from winning” said an observer.
All Payments are secured by Paypal, the world leader in online payment systems and recognized by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
