FROM TIMES OF INDIA 

BY AJANTA CHAKRABORTY

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a fortnight ago seems to be bearing fruits slowly and steadily. The Centre has started loosening its purse strings. It has granted Bengal special central assistance (SCA) of Rs 158.35 crore for border development. That’s higher than the allocations for Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan which border Pakistan.

Officials at Writers’ Buildings are upbeat over the small yet significant gesture since they have been provided with a list of allocations for 17 states by the ministry of home affairs (MHA), which shows that Bengal’s share is the biggest.

The letter to chief secretary Samar Ghosh reveals that Rs 2.16 crore has been allocated for “the hilly areas of the border blocks in Darjeeling”. CM Mamata Banerjee has been campaigning for special funds for Darjeeling after last year’s earthquake and to strengthen her efforts to restore peace in the Hills.

Only 24 hours ago in Parliament, Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had resolved to look into Bengal’s distress along with the other two debt-stressed states of Punjab and Kerala. He talked about special packages but officials at Writers’ Buildings feel that Mamata’s recent talks with the Prime Minister were more effective. 

Having some inkling that the Centre might try to appease her with compensatory allocations, the chief minister recently told Ghosh to ask district officials to ensure that not a rupee of central funds is left unutilized. Her meeting with Singh was targeted at winning a moratorium on the Rs 22,000 crore that Bengal owes to the Centre every year as interest on loans granted over the years. Even as Mamata had made it clear that she won’t settle for a development package in lieu of a moratorium or any other “half-hearted measure”, both the PM and the FM had told her that an interest waiver or debt restructuring won’t happen until the committee headed by Union expenditure secretary Sumit Bose submits its report.

The UPA is aware that its way of handling the bailout package for Bengal could influence Mamata’s support for the Congress candidate for the presidential elections in June. The next big allocation in the border funds has gone to Rajasthan (Rs 137.73 crore) followed by Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 128 crore).

It has asked Bengal to repair roads on the borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan with the money allocated and secure the areas on this side of the fence. In a communique to the state government, the Centre has promised to consider funds for tourism development by including eastern India in its “Incredible India” campaign.

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

NEW DELHI: A doctor has been arrested from Mayur Vihar Phase I for allegedly raping a 30-year-old woman from Darjeeling. The two had known each other for several months, said cops. The woman has claimed that he drugged her before raping her.

The incident took place on May 15 at the doctor’s Mayur Vihar residence. “We received a complaint on May 16 and arrested the accused the same day after a medical examination of the victim confirmed rape,” said DCP (east) Prabhakar. On Tuesday, the doctor had called over the victim to his house and allegedly raped her.

Sources in east Delhi police said the accused, Dr Pradip Kumar Bhatia, works at a government hospital in east Delhi. He had met the victim while she had gone to him for treatment.

“The two got talking and soon their friendship developed into an intimate relationship. The doctor proposed marriage to the woman but he failed to keep his promise,” said a cop. On her latest visit to his house on Tuesday, Bhatia tried to get intimate with her. but the woman resisted his advances. When he couldn’t have his way, he drugged her and then raped her. 

Cops are mulling if a case of cheating can also be slapped against the doctor.

The incident highlights rising incidents in which people known to the victim are involved in the rape. Of those arrested for rape in 2011, 52 were the victim’s relatives, 65 were friends, 222 were neighbours and 130 were others known to the victim. In 20 cases, rapes were committed by strangers.

FROM THE STATESMAN

KOLKATA, 17 MAY: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today announced an increase in government subsidy from 20 per cent to 30 per cent to the Self Help Groups for various poverty alleviation projects while inaugurating the National Rural Livelihood Mission or Aajeevika.

The project, a joint initiative of the Centre and the state government, named by Miss Banerjee as ‘Anandadhara’, is aimed at achieving self-reliance and socio-economic development of the rural poor in the state. She was overwhelmed to see the Netaji Indoor stadium packed with women.

The chief minister also said that her government will set up markets for the SHGs at block, sub-division and district levels to help them sell their produce.

Today she renewed her commitment to develop rural economy, remove poverty and encourage self-employment in the state.

“We need to develop rural economy on a faster pace through strong grassroots institutions like Self Help Groups (SHG),” Miss Banerjee said while launching the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) project here.

The chief minister also announced setting up of a “task force” to speed up the project under the chairmanship of the state’s Panchayat and Rural Development minister, Mr Subrata Mukherjee.

The task force would also comprise ministers of various other departments involved in the project, she said.

Lauding the work of the SHGs, Miss Banerjee asked the nationalised banks and NABARD to see that loans were made available in time.

Urging officials to expedite work under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), she spoke of her government’s success in MGNREGA. Miss Banerjee said that the state has achieved 33 days’ work this year under the 100-days work scheme, while the next year’s target has been set at 60 days.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Mr Sisir Adhikari, said that women from the Sunderbans, Darjeeling, Terrai and the Dooars will be involved in forming SHGs to develop apiary and collect honey and kesar which are in great demand across the nation.

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KOLKATA: A compromise formula on inclusion of additional areas from the Dooars and Terai in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) may finally end the impasse and pave the way for holding of the GTA elections. On Tuesday, it was learnt from sources in Darjeeling that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is waiting for such a formula to emerge before it can accept the proposal for going to the polls.

Though GJM leaders, in its central committee meeting held on Monday, took the tough stand of reviewing their position on GTA after the high-power committee headed by Justice Shyamal Sen submits its report by June, observers believe this was more of a public posturing. Even a partial acceptance of its demand on additional areas could lead to GJM softening its position. For, the first priority for everyone was now to make GTA functional.

New Delhi: Gorkha Boys Football Club, Delhi, celebrated “Yeh Shaam Aapke Naam” on Sunday May 13 at the MP Club. This cultural programme was organised to felicitate the football players for the year 2011. The Chief Guest for the occasion was NK Bhatia, Vice-President, Delhi Football Association. Guests of Honour were Manoj Shanker, President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Delhi, Andrew Gurung, Managing Director (Gurung Securities Pvt Ltd), and Wangdi Wangchuk, Central Excise and Customs.

The programme began with the playing of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Football Anthem followed by lighting of the diya by chief guest and all the guests of honour. Manoj Shanker, President, Delhi GJMM released the Club T-shirt, designed to match the colour of the club banner(red and green) and later distributed them to the members of the team. Club certificates were also given to the players by NK Bhatia, Vice-President, Delhi Football Association and Andrew Gurung.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest NK Bhatia, thanked Gorkha Boys Football Club for the invitation and praised the Gorkha Community for its valour, courage and dedication in all fields. He expressed satisfaction about the programme which will help motivate and encourage the footballers in making a strong team.

On the occasion Gorkha Boys Football Club, Delhi, also organised a small cultural programme which was choreographed and arranged by Vinod Labar, Culture Secretary, GJMM (Youth Wing). The event enlightened the august gathering and everyone present danced to the music.

Henry V.Kumar, Founder Secretary and Coach of Gorkha Boys Football Club, Delhi, also announced that a film on Gorkha Boys FC will be released within this year. The film is being director by Mumbai Director Subodh Chopra and Produced by Mumbai Producer Gita Nair. The Film is based on the story of the club, its struggles, ups and downs, achievements and future aims.

[FROM INDIANSPORTSNEW.COM]

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON 

BY DARJ MAN

It is agreed the GTA Act 2012, Chapter I , Section 2. (o) the meaning of ‘region’ to mean Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and including 18 mouzas of Siliguri, is practically the DGHC areas only without having said so. In this respect EDP is speaking the truth, but not the whole truth, but only part of the truth. How is this so.

He is advised continue reading Chapter 1 Section 3, sub section (1) “ … GTA comprised the region as specified in the district of Darjeeling”’ But more importantly is the text of the matter continued in the same Chapter 1 Section 6, sub section ( 3) : “ The Government may, by notification , constitute a Committee for examining the question of identification and transfer of additional areas of Siliguri Terai and Dooars to the region. “ This has widespread implications to mean exactly, all the territories constituting the District when it was officially established in 1866 – 67 ( ie. When Sikkimes’ Darjeeling constituted the contiguous areas of Darjeeling , Kurseong and Siliguri subdivisions to which area was amalgamated with Kalimpong (earlier named Damsang guri of Dalimkot Bhutanese Dooars) 

The territory of Darjeeling District as ceded area and requisitioned requires due process of acquisition of foreign territories, as understood by international understanding and implied by treaty obligations. This due process of acquiring this district into the Union of India, which legal processes is now being undertaken via the method of GTA after the deliberation and findings of the high powered body – comprising representatives of the stakeholders , the people , the State and Centre, formed under the legal expertise and chairmanship of retired Chief Justice of Kolkata High Court , eminent retired Justice Shamal Sen . In fact the primary purpose of GTA is the role of the Justice Sen high level body, which for all practical purposes is seen as functioning State Reorganisation Committee( SRC). The jurisdiction and authority of this body can be considered as final and settled, unless otherwise proved, and that all aspects of constitutional legalities and other matters, require to be taken into consideration in determining the GTA areas.

In absorbing the delimitation of territorial contours, ( being the territories under the GTA ) in Chapter 1 Section 6 (3), if one is to believe newspaper statements , GJMM has demanded an additional 399 Mouzas. In addition to this, later on an additional extra 50 Mouzas have been demanded for inclusion. The relevance of these extra Mouzas demanded require to be properly verified in a legal context taking into consideration all the territories ceded by Sikkim and Bhutan .Although the territories were ceded to the ‘crown’ before Independence, these territories were transferred to the Governor General at the time of Independence. Later with the commencement of the Constitution in 1950 – 1952 these territories were automatically transferred to the President of India, and safeguarded under the provisions of the 5th and 6th Schedules. It is on the basis of this accounting, probably GJMM additional Mouzas demanded stands at 449 Mouzas. The details of the specific Mouzas are not available, but merely the sheer numbers of additional Mouzas demanded, proclaims practically the territorial areas comprising the subdivision of Siliguri including Kharibari and Khasideba ,ie the West Bengal assembly constitutuencies of Matigara – Naxalbari (SC) and Phansideba (ST) excluding Siliguri.

It may however be important for public notice, the total number of Mouzas in Darjeeling district is 718 (336 in the hills and 332 in the Terai) The total Mouzas in the Dooars in 342 . Thus if Darjeeling districts and Terai Dooars are to be included in the GTA, the total Mouza in GTA , leaving out some areas of Jalpaiguri (originally included in the district of Rajshahi) would be certainly less than 1060 Mouzas. This is a rough contour of the GTA which is set on becoming a State in the near future.

In reading Chapter 1 Section 6, sub section (3), the following Section 7: reiterates further the context of preceding Section 6, sub section (3). This indicates the section is subject to any amendment whenever required to fulfill the larger context of the GTA which is seen as a guarantee provided for this region under the 5th schedule.

This is further supported by the matter contained in Section 6, subsection 3 , “ The government may by notification , constitute a committee for examining the question of identification and transfer of additional areas of Siliguri Terai and Doars to the region. This sub section is cited in whole in order to indicate the important matter it contains , i.e., to address the entire issue regarding all the legal aspects of additional areas to be incorporated in the GTA as legally provided . Therefore reducing Darjeeling District territorially can be considered a constitutional infringement as these acquired foreign territories required by International understanding to remain as undivided administrative units while acceding into the absorbing State, in this case, Union of India.

In taking all the above contexts into consideration , the territories that intends to be incorporated in to the GTA seemingly designates the entire territory except the Siliguri town, assembly constituency, which as a matter of fact was formally a part of the Jalpaiguri district, which itself was part of Rajshahi subdivision before the partition of Bengal . It is understandable the Siliguri town / MLA constituency does not truly form part of Sikkimese Darjeeling. Siliguri town is an enclave of Jalpaiguri District but included in Darjeeling District for certain convenience.

However, if the additional territories demanded by the GJMM, is based on the 2001 census which is based on spoken mother tongue or linguistic basis or Gorkha occupied areas, then the additional areas so surmised will fall far short , to that projected for identification on ethnological aspects , being the true aspects of census determination .It is therefore most pertinent to add Census 2011 which still remains to be published which would declare the true population census , as the same yardstick was used , i.e., the ethnology of the population in determining the Census in 1931. It may be recalled Census 1931 practically determined all the hill communities as Tribes of the Himalayas, however with the application of mother tongue for identifying the Census , it so happened most of the hill Tribes of the Himalayas were delisted for the time being and their case remained pending even at the time the Constitution commenced in 1950- 1952. The case is still pending for the delisted ‘Hill Tribes’ for reenlistments if properly applied. It is this peculiar situation which seemd to have allowed to the Hill communities – Limbus and Tamangs for reenlistments as scheduled as Scheduled Tribes in 2003 .

It is therefore highly probable if Census 2011 is applied for determining the GTA area, almost all the Hills Tribes of the Himalayas delisted in Census 1931 can afford to be relisted back to their original pre Census 1931 status. The impact of Census 2011 will have wide ranging implication in determining the GTA area which can be qualified as a Scheduled Area, which is the primary factor in the provision of the 5th Schedule , thereby allowing the area to legally demand a State , particularly after the GTA Area is identified by the High Level Body formed to identify GTA Area , required to be based on Census 2011 later, discarding the identification of Census 2001 .Obviously if these relevant factors are taken into consideration , merely applying Gorkha dominated area for delimitation for the GTA constituency, is bound to fall short of the legally expected areas to be included in the GTA . Since the GTA is a Presidential approved body in sequence of the 5th Schedule aspects in which Darjeeling District is guaranteed safeguard, this programme will be marginalized till the time an opportune moment when the legal demand for a state is placed to the President on basis of Census 2011. Till that moment of time the GTA area may be diminished in size as a result of the application of Census 2001. However this defect will be amended in time when Census 2011will play its role by identifying more Hill Communities for enlistment as Scheduled Tribes. This is probable in considering the position accounted for by Prof . B. K Dev Burman (CRESP) , Government of Sikkim , in 1 April, 2008 has recommended to the Centre for declaring the following communities as Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim, viz : Kirat Khambu Rai, Gurung , Sunwar , Thami, Newar and Bhujel. It is probable this recommendation will be accepted by the Centre and applied by Sikkim in due time. Once this state comes about it is more than probable the same seven tribes will be declared the same in West Bengal.

2 .Response to Bongo Bondhu 9th May 2012

The demand for statehood for the time being, may be considered under any name, whether Gorkhaland or any other nomenclature , it does not matter for the time being , as long as the demand for the state is a legal guarantee, which happens to be so in the case of Darjeeling District .It is because of this legality the issue of the demand for a State for the Darjeeling hills peoples is alive and kicking in the constitutional womb . The birth of the statehood child is now nearing. Once again , for the sake of Bongo Bondhu , it is repeated here again , the legality of Darjeeling District to demand a state is by virtue of the fact it was referred to a “ Partially Excluded Area” which itself contains the legality of the area to have a separate administrative unit of its own as these areas require to be formally integrated into the Union of India via provisions of the 5th Schedule.

As long as the demand for a state , under whatever name , has the mandate of the peoples representatives : the MLA’s , MPs and the GTA elected members, the demand is legally valid, and therefore constitutionally implemented at the proper time .This particular aspect of the sequence of time is directly related to Census 2011 whenever this is published. After which will be the opportune moment to formally demand a state by the elected representatives of the Darjeeling hill people. It is pertinent however to note Darjeeling District required to be identified as a Scheduled Area by the President of India , who is the direct authority safeguarding the interest of the 5th and 6th Schedule areas.

Without being regarded as a Scheduled Area of the 5th Schedule , the demand for a State is Constitutionally weak and therefore the GTA will continue for the time being , till the deficiency is complete , which it is expected will eventually come about in time , whenever the President may decide to grant statehood to Darjeeling District and the adjoining area of the Dooars , as determined by the constitutional predicament.

Once again it may be reminded the provisions of the 5th Schedule in the Constitution is to lead these areas finally to a position for the people of the area for the self determination as a State in the Union of India. To cite an example of the 5th Schedule Areas, as Scheduled Areas , which have recently become States in 2000 are Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal out of their respective Absorbing States. Presently Darjeeling District and the contiguous Dooars Terai ( eleven Bhutan Dooars) have only been absorbed in West Bengal without being territorial integrated into the State . This is ascertained by the Govt. of India, Absorbed Area Act 1954.

3. Response to Tribal – 9th May 2012 

Like the length and breadth of the state and extending to entire India, foreign national have become Indian citizens post 1950. Unfortunately there is no strong legislation to stop this ingress at this moment of time. Parliament is sitting on two pending bills to confront this issue wherein any illegal entry is identified and appropriate deportation ensured. Regretfully this possibility is unavailable at the moment , till the two pending bills in Parliament are enhanced into Acts. It is a rough estimate to know over 3 – 5 crores , or maybe even more illegal immigrants are visible and invisible in the eyes of the law. The illegal immigrants become invisible after having obtained voter registration by the simple process of registration by obtaining a ration card which is any time available through political touts, enlarging endeavoring to increase the party vote bank for the general elections.

With the bludgeoning population of India, the future demography of the country bade bad tidings for the true citizens. The Darjeeling District is already being marginalised by this aspect, so that, once again the Inner Line Permit (ILP ) and the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) entry to the District is reinforced to curtail illegal foreigner’s entry to the region. The State in correlation with the Centre has uplifted the said regulations, permitting to allow foreign nationals into the District for political motivation – to increase the vote bank. This is a national crime, illegally marginalising the status of the indigenous people of the region. The rightful citizens of the areas of the state are impacted adversely by being relegated to the status of second class citizens, which is a total violation of human rights within the nation, as well as per international understanding.

4. Response to Bongo Bondhu 

It is generally believed that British India was divided on religious basis. This is an aspect understood and expressed by writings many number of times. However, this is not true if you look deeper into the division of the Province of Bengal in 1947 into West Bengal as a Province of the Union of India and East Bengal as a province of the Dominion of Pakistan divided under the Raddcliffe Line Border Commissions 1947. You will not believe, but the two new provinces of West Bengal and East Bengal was actually created under the understanding there were two Indigenous People existed in the Province of Bengal. The Chakmas and other tribes of the Chittagong Hill ( mostly Buddhist ) and the Lepcha, Bhutia and 5 other in Darjeeling district.

Thus was defined as such by the Act of 1935 wherein the Areas of the Chittagonge Hill Tract were ‘Excluded’ and Darjeeling District was ‘Partially Excluded’. By virtue of these indigenous people inhabiting Bengal: West Bengal and East Bengal could be created following the internationally accepted norms applied to the indigenous people. India is a member of the UNO , therefore conventionally requires to abide by international norms, Similarly west Pakistan was created out of the ‘Excluded Areas’ designated of the ‘North West Frontier Provinces’, which were inhabited my the mountain tribes and recognized as such by the Act of 1935.

Readers who disbelieve the above claims are advised to read ( a ) The Quest for Identity by Amalendu Kishore Chakraborty, The Asiatic Society , Kolkatta and ( b ) Human Rights and Indigenous People by J.K.Das 2011

5. Response to Gorkhay – 10th MAY 2012

No need to reply to this question, as the entire issue has already been dealt in detail in No 1 & the other replies No 2 – 4

6. Response to ‘the other’ Darjman – 10th May 2012 

It is somewhat glorifying to note many intend impersonating the Darjman. Whatever may be their stance and their reasons for doing so it is accepted as a compliment. Thank you. The entire act gives credential to Darjman in playing as original enough to be imitated.

7. Response to Bengalis Awake – 11th May 2012

It is infact the state which is prolonging delay the right of the people of Darjeeling District to be implemented by creating all sorts of make believe strikes like West Bengal will not be divided. The constitutional fact is Darjeeling District was never a part of Bengal or West Bengal – it was a Partially Excluded Area and merged in West Bengal only in 1959 under the Government of India Absorb Areas Laws Act 1954 and its people of the District provided safeguard under the provision of the Fifth Schedule. Darjeeling District was included in the Tribes Advisory Council in 1954 -56 which is the legality of the Fifth Schedule. It was the State which was postponing the District its legal right by marginalizing the legality by creating Darjeeling Hill Council (under the Congress regime under the late S.S. Ray: as Chief Minister ), the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988, and intentionally but wrongly forcing the Sixth Schedule to Darjeeling District referred as Gorkha Hill Council, Darjeeling lies aborted in 2007/ 8 in the Rajya Sabha These bodies were created as a function of the 5th Schedule while at the same time diluting the legal demand for a state – which happens to be the ultimate safeguard for the people therein .Whether Bengalis awake like it or not Darjeeling District is within the provisions of the 5th schedule .This means even within West Bengal it si required to be treated as a separate administrative unit under the state legislature who has to be directed by the Governor of the State who represents the President who is directly responsible for the territories in the 5th and 6th Schedule Areas.

In a similar stance, the GTA in fact is seen as the implementation of Tribal Advisory Council ( TAC) of the 5th Schedule . This is not declared as such primarily because the demand is for ‘Gorkhaland ‘and as of the moment most of the ‘Gorkhas’ are not Tribal’s , and therefore calling a TAC may sound improper till such time the area is declared as a Scheduled Area which is expected to be so after Census 2011 comes in first.

Therefore, it was the States vested interest to hold on to Darjeeling District as long as possible which was an antithetic to the democratic interest of the Darjeeling Hill people whose constitutional right to become a state was marginalized since Independence in 1947 and thereafter after the commencement of the constitution in 1950 /52 The answer to the charge is simple. It is obvious the State would be the biggest loser in every aspect revenue wise with every loss of territory if the Statehood demand is met .On the other hand, denying the hill people their right to self determination in forming a state within the Union as provided by law of the provisions of the Fifth Schedule is a greater offence in a democratic background which exists in India.

8. Response to Bengalis Awake 11 May 2012

If the hill people of Darjeeling remained in Bengal for over a century, more aptly after the commencement of the Constitution, the State had enough time and opportunity to exploit the District to its maximum benefits for over 60 years. Therefore , what harm now if other citizens of India, including Bengalis in the District are now under the GTA in India . The GTA is a administrative setup by the elected members of the body, approved by the State, Centre and the President of India. As such any objection to the GTA tantamount to violation of the Constitution. Therefore every citizen of India, whoever it may be or any other groups are legally obliged to abide by this body. There is no question of the GTA as a discriminating body. In fact GTA is now a constitutional body till such time a new state for Darjeeling District and the Dooars are formed in due process implied by the 5th Schedule. This stage will probably come about after the territorial area is defined. In reading the writ of the Constitution, it is expected the two new States of Darjeeling and Dooars would be created simultaneously with another new state of Telangana, which too is legally bound to become a State- however not in the same context of the 5th Schedule which is applied to Darjeeling and Dooars.

10 . Apropos Tribal, 11 May 2012

The Koch, according the Hurry Mohan Sannial’s A History of Darjeeling 1880, p.55 says, “Dr. Hunter believes that many Koch people mixed with the Mech to create a separate original category. In terms of customs of worship, marriage and such others of the upper class Koch and Rajbanshis, they would be counted as an original tribe of Bengal”.

Meche are also an ancient tribe, of Mongolian origin, inhabiting all along the Terai foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. It is probable the same ‘Meches’ is short form of the blanket reference to the ‘Melacha’ – a designation implied ‘vile’ people, really speaking – backward cultural aspects, now reframed as ‘tribes’ and therefore ‘indigenous people of the region’. Presently there are in large numbers in the Darjeeling District in the Terai and Dooars.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

BY BARUN ROY

DARJEELING: All India Gorkha League’s invite to Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) Supreme Subash Ghisingh is an ideological abomination. It is not only indicative of Gorkha League’s desperation but also of its political bankruptcy. Surely, the slain Gorkha League leader must be turning in his grave to learn that Subash Ghisingh whom he had opposed tooth and nail over various issues would not just be attending his 2nd death anniversary but would also probably be lending support to his party. All India Gorkha League (AIGL) President and the slain leader’s widow Bharati Tamang has invited all anti-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders including Subash Ghisingh to attend the 2nd death anniversary of the slain leader.

The AIGL’s attempt to time and again use Madan Tamang’s death as a political instrument has caused a great deal of harm to the cause of the party, since, the party has instead of trying to solidify its base through political outreach has continued to tie its fortune on public sympathy over Madan Tamang’s brutal death. 

The party’s call for justice for Madan Tamang and the alleged perpetrators walking free has destroyed all hope for the people in hills – if leaders and powerful individuals like Madan Tamang[ could face such an end and justice remain unattainable and further AIGL looking towards support to anyone who can stand up to the [GJM]] including those its slain leader spent his life opposing proves that politics in Darjeeling Hills is still in its infancy and in essence it cannot be called politics of ideology but indeed mere groupism possibly to the extent bordering on ghettoistic mentality.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Bharati Tamang, President, AIGL, `making an appeal. Photo from The Telegraph

Darjeeling, May 15: The ABGL has decided to observe the second death anniversary of Madan Tamang here on May 21 with a memorial meeting to which major leaders opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, including Subash Ghisingh and Chhatrey Subba, have been invited.

The May 21 event will be a test for not only the ABGL but also for other parties which are trying to challenge the Morcha’s might in the hills.

“We have decided to organise an event to mark the second death anniversary of our leader. All anti-Morcha leaders like Subash Ghisingh, Chhatrey Subba, Ajay Dahal (United Gorkha Revolutionary Front), Enos Das Pradhan (chairperson of the Gorkhaland Task Force), Munish Tamang (the GTF secretary), Dawa Pakhrin (Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha) and R.B. Rai (CPRM) among others will be present at the meeting,” Chewang Bhutia, the president of Tarun Gorkha, the youth wing of the ABGL, told journalists here today. 

While Chhatrey Subba, said he wouldn’t attend the meeting, there was no last word on Ghisingh’s participation. “They had invited me, but I am not going. I have quit politics,” Subba said when contacted in Kalimpong.

In Jalpaiguri, Ghisingh’s aide Mani Gurung said: “I don’t know if he (Ghisingh) has received any invitation. But as far as I know, he doesn’t plan to go to Darjeeling.”

The GNLF’s last major public meeting in the hills was in Mirik on April 9, 2011. The meeting, organised to drum up support for the party candidates contesting the Assembly polls in the three hill seats, was addressed by Ghisingh. The party also organised picnic like gatherings in Darjeeling and Mirik on December 6, 2011, to mark the signing of an agreement that sought to grant special status to the hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Today, the ABGL celebrated its 67th foundation day at the party office on Ladenla Road here. At the programme, the party accused the Trinamul Congress government of delaying the arrest of all those involved in the murder of Madan Tamang.

“We have learnt that a digital file containing telephonic conversations of hill leaders named in the FIR is in the custody of the chief minister and she is refusing to hand it over to the CBI. If the CBI gets hold of the file, senior Morcha leaders can be arrested,” said Pratap Khati, the general secretary of the ABGL.

Madan Tamang was killed by a khukuri-wielding mob in broad daylight in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010.

Khati alleged that absconders in the Madan Tamang murder case were roaming in the hills. “They are active on Facebook and their whereabouts are known to the state police who are not co-operating with the CBI.”

The ABGL also demanded that a judicial inquiry be conducted into the fire that destroyed a market in Darjeeling on April 20 as foul play couldn’t be ruled out.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY VIVEK CHHETRI 

Pipes for the Balasun project in the College Valley tea garden. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, May 16: The Balasun drinking water project, which has missed at least four deadlines for its commissioning, will be delayed further as the army is yet to give permission to lay pipes through its camp in Darjeeling.

The project was envisaged to end the shortage of drinking water in Darjeeling. The hill town requires about 15-18 lakh gallons of water everyday and the municipality is in a position to supply only 7-8 lakh gallons daily at the moment.

Once the project is completed, 2 million gallons of water will be pumped to Darjeeling from the Balasun river.

A forum of elderly people under the banner of the Concerned Citizens’ Association expressed concern over the army’s delay in granting permission to lay pipelines through its camp at Kattapahar and Jalapahar. 

“The project is a long cherished dream of the people of Darjeeling as it is expected to solve the water shortage in town. Even though we were happy to note that 80 per cent of the work has been completed, we were told that permission to lay pipes in the army area in Darjeeling hasn’t been granted yet,” said J.B. Edwards, the secretary of the association.

The project was awarded to a Hyderabad-based construction company and the work began in July 2007.

The firm said the project would be completed in 24 months. But the deadline was revised to April 2010, December 2010 and again to February 2011.

A response to an RTI application revealed that the commissioning of the project was being delayed as permission had come late from the forest department and railways to carry out various works related to the scheme.

Political unrest and frequent calls for strike also hit the progress of the project.

Under the project, water is to be pumped from the Balasun to the North and South Lakes at Senchel, 12km from here. From Senchel, pipes have to be laid to carry water to the St Paul’s and Rockville reservoirs in town. Two parallel pipes are supposed to pass through the army land for over 6km.

Amar Singh Rai, the chairman of the Darjeeling municipality, said MP Jaswant Singh had recently met defence ministry officials in New Delhi to push for permission.

“The MP has asked for relevant documents and I will send him the papers as soon as I get them from the PHE officials,” said Rai.

Sources in the army said it couldn’t issue no-objection certificates to such proposals and permission had to be given by the ministry of defence.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

East meets West -Global Geo-spatial Conference 2012 Inaugurated in Quebec, Canada. L.P.Sharma presents DVD, Brochures and Booklet on Sikkim Tourism and Cultural Heritage to Director General of National Land Survey of Finland.

The Global Geo-spatial Conference 2012 was inaugurated in Quebec Convention Centre, in Quebec, Canada on 14 May 2012 amidst great fanfare. The conference will take place for four days. And in hectic schedule covering the four days,  scientists from across the globe will be presenting papers on various geo-spatial technologies and latest trends and practices in the field. They will also be discussing on strategies to implement and further improve the present technologies.

The inaugural session of the conference were addressed by Joe Oliver, Minister for Natural Resources, Government of Canada, Dr. Abbas Rajabifad, President of Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association, Greg Scot, Advisor of United Nations Global Geo-spatial Information Management besides other eminent scientists and achievers.

The programme also included presentation of global citizens award to eminent achievers in Geo-spatial technology Implantation from various part of the globe.

As part of the Global Cooperation for Geo-spatial Data Development and Implementation, during the inaugural session of the conference proceeding L. P. Sharma, Programme Director NLRMP, E-Governance and GIS Cell, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim, presented a Digital Video Disk, Brochures and Booklets on Sikkim’s Cultrural and Tourism Heritage to Dr. Jarmo Ratia, Director General of National Land Survey of Finland. His scientific presentation is slated for 16.05.2012 afternoon.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

DARJEELING, 14 MAY: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has demanded that the Shyamal  Sen Committee to submit its report by the first week of July. The committee was setup to look into GJM demand for the incorporation of the 396 mouzas in Dooars Terai in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. The party has until the submission of the said report also announced the withdrawal of all its political movements in the Dooars Terai. 

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

SILIGURI: Jibesh Sarkar has been appointed as the Acting Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Darjeeling District unit. Sarkar’s appointment has broken a 30 year old convention through which the Acting Secretary of the Darjeeling District unit of Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPIM was appointed from the Darjeeling Hills.

Jibesh Sarkar was the CPIM candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2009. He lost to BJP candidate Jaswant Singh. Sarkar has replaced the long-ailing party leader from the Hills S. P. Lepcha.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Better days ahead?

Siliguri, May 14: The tea garden wings of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and an Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad faction led by John Barla have decided to carry out a campaign among workers in the Terai and Dooars, highlighting that they will be provided with land rights if the plains are brought under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

The campaign will be spearheaded by the Joint Action Committee comprising the Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, and the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union, an affiliate of the Parishad. Barla is the chairman of the committee. The Parishad union is largely pro-Barla, even after he was expelled from the outfit by the state leadership.

“The Left Front had been ruling the state for more than three decades and it didn’t do anything to give land rights to the tea garden dwellers. Even after the Trinamul Congress came to power, the workers continue to live in pathetic conditions. Although forest dwellers were given secured land rights, the tea garden labourers are still deprived of the same,” said Suraj Subba, the general secretary of the Terai Dooars Union, an affiliate of the Morcha.

Subba said the garden workers in the Terai and Dooars would be given land rights if the areas were included in the GTA. 

“We (Morcha and Parishad unions) will launch a campaign among the garden workers, telling them that the Morcha bargained for the tauzi department’s inclusion in the list of subjects to be handled by the GTA specifically for the objective of handing them land rights. Giving land rights to the workers will be the priority of the GTA,” he said.

The two outfits felt the need to launch such a campaign after failing to win the support of majority of the adivasis, who form a major chunk of the garden workforce in the plains, for the inclusion of the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. “The adivasis have shunned Barla and others batting for the GTA in the plains till now. The Morcha and Barla now feel that they can draw a good number of the adivasis if they highlight the issue of land rights,” said an observer.

Work hours

Morcha today overruled an agreement signed by its tea trade union, which stated that labourers would have to put in eight hours of work a day.

Roshan Giri, general secretary said: “We do not agree with the new conditions and we want the old system to be continued.”

According to the old system, the one-hour lunch break was included in the eight hours work. That means the labourers had to put in only seven hours of work a day.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY VIVEK CHHETRI 

Roshan Giri in Darjeeling on Monday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, May 14: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to refrain from agitation in the plains till the Shyamal Sen committee submits its report as the party fears that the Gorkhas will face a backlash if further violence breaks out in the region, sources revealed.

The decision was taken at a five-hour meeting attended by the members of the central committee and the subdivisional committees of the Morcha here today.

Officially, the Morcha said it would soon hold further discussions with other constituents of the Dooars Terai Co-ordination Committee to decide on the next leg of agitation in the plains. However, sources said the Morcha felt it would be better to wait for the committee’s recommendation rather than going in for any major agitation.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: “The party today discussed the Terai-Dooars issue and decided to wait for the high powered committee’s recommendations. Elections to the GTA will be held after the recommendations are made… We will soon hold a meeting with the Dooars-Terai Co-ordination Committee on the future course of action (agitation).”

Party insiders said the meeting weighed the pros and cons of continuing with the agitation in the plains and concluded that more unrest in the Dooars and Terai would cause problems to the Gorkhas living in the region. 

“Senior party leaders were of the opinion that the co-ordination committee was able to prove its support base in the plains and further agitation could lead to unrest in the plains. The leaders felt that the Gorkhas would be targeted if more clashes break out in the Dooars and Terai as they are the minority in the region. So, the leaders said it would be best to wait for the committee’s recommendations,” said an insider.

The plains witnessed violence recently when the co-ordination committee called a bandh after the government had denied it permission to hold a meeting at Nagrakata on April 22.

In fact, Giri today hinted that the Morcha no longer wanted to press ahead with its demand for permission to hold meetings in the plains. “Even (CPM state secretary) Biman Bose was not allowed to hold a meeting in the plains,” Giri said while replying to a query on the Morcha’s demand to allow the party to hold public meetings in the Dooars.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

May 14, 6:36 PM: Sikkim will soon get her own Judicial Academy. Supreme Court Judge Justice Altamas Kabir today laid the foundation stone of Sikkim Judicial Academy at Sokeythang. Kabir also inaguarated a Legal Clinic at the State Jail at Rongyek, near Gangtok today.

Speaking on the occasion Kabir said that the Sikkim Judicial Academy will be first of its kind in the entire North East offering training and reorientation of judicial officers of Sikkim and other states of the North East.

The Union Ministry for Law and Justice has allocated a sum of 500 crore for the construction of the Sikkim Judicial Academy. The Sikkim Judicial Academy will be spread over 1.5 acres of land. 

Oppositions must respect CM, as he is the will of the people”

FROM SIKKIM MAIL / ISIKKIM.COM

Gangtok, May 14, 2012: The president of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee Nar Bahadur Bhandari told the media that the party has been trying to unite all the opposition parties in the State and will be forming a new regional party.

Addressing a conference held at the Congress Bhawan, Development area Gangtok, Bhandari said that has been busy designing the manifesto for a new regional political party taking all the oppositions.

Bhandari hinted of the formation of the new regional political party taking all the opposition of the State, however it was not announced officially.

He also said the SPCC will talk to the Centre, that several other awards are been given to the State, but they must also bestow Bharat Shanti award as it the State defines peace.

Commenting on CM Pawan Chamling, Bhandari said that the opposition should respect the CM as he is the will of the people, but the government should be changed at regular intervals in order to eliminate dictatorship.

Bhandari also said that the Centre must take members from the Sikkim State as the Centre Ministers, as Sikkim has completed 35 years in the Indian Union and till date not a single person has been selected.

FROM ISIKKIM.COM

Kalimpong, May 14, 2012: Eleven of Gorkha League along with ten from Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) today joined hands with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) during a meeting of the 4 branches of the GJM Yuva Morcha under Homes Zone held under the Presidentship of Kumar Rumtel at the Community Hall of Dr Graham Homes (DGH).

The GJM Central Committee Joint Secretary, Benoy Tamang, Kalimpong Sub Divisional Secretary, Samuel Gurung and the Coordinator of 24 No Constituency, Dr RB Bhujel was also present during the meeting. Marking the addition of new members, the Central Committee Joint Secretary presented them GJM flags. The Sub Divisional Secretary speaking of their leader said that the movement initiated by Bimal Gurung is totally democratic and is based on Gandhism.

Saying that the GJM workers are helping the youths to go in a right direction, he mentioned that any person is free to join GJM. During the previous Gorkhaland movement the political parties used to forcefully make people to join them, but GJM unlike them is trying to gain more support and bring success to Gorkhaland movement via non violence, he underlined. (TS)

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

BY MADHUPARNA DAS

Since September last year, when an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 rocked Sikkim, scientists have recorded nearly 300 aftershocks in the region and predicted the possibility of a quake up to magnitude 9. As such, they have recommended that parts of Sikkim be upgraded to Zone 5, the classification that carries the highest risk.

The seven Northeast states are in Zone 5 — Assam and Meghalaya had a magnitude 5.4 earthquake last week. Sikkim is now in Zone 4. The prediction — by reserachers of the department of geology and geophysics of IIT Kharagpur— is for a northeastern region that includes the Sikkim-Darjeeling region in particular.

“The entire northeastern zone is at present facing the threat of an earthquake from the Himalayan regions, one that has the potential of being of magnitude 9,” says Professor Shankar Nath of IIT Kharagpur. 

Scientists studying aftershocks recorded 292 tremors since the Sikkim earthquake, all in the range 1.5 to 5 and including 63 in the range 3.5-5, with 17 of these of magnitude 4.5 or higher. “We have completed part of our Sikkim-Darjeeling project. We have recommended that parts of Sikkim including Gangtok, Mangan and Singtham be updated to Zone 5 from Zone 4,” Professor Nath says.

Scientists have also sought an upgrade for parts of the Doors and Terai regions of West Bengal.

Months of study have resolved another contentious issue over which the scientists had been divided. Geo-scientists have come to agree that the earthquakes frequently hitting Sikkim and neighbouring areas of Bengal have not been induced by water reservoirs. “After the September 18 earthquake, there was a brainstorming session… we reached a conclusion that the earthquake is not reservoir-induced; therefore hydel projects are not a threat to the area.” Geo-scientists are of the opinion that the earthquakes have originated rather from tectonic shifts.

Sikkim government officials say the state has 27 hydel power projects, of which four are operational. According to professor Nath, “The projects can be affected due to earthquakes, but the projects cannot cause earthquakes.”

Professor Sugata Hazra, a senior professor of geology and head of the school of oceanographic studies of Jadavpur University said, “The seismicity in these regions has increased and these are not reservoir-induced earthquakes. So we think that the Sikkim and Bengal governments have to revise disaster management plans. If a strain is building up then the region can potentially have an earthquake of magnitude 8.5 in the near future.”

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY RAJEEV RAVIDAS 

Lepcha (third from left) with some of his students in the music school in Kalimpong on Sunday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, May 13: If you have been toying with the idea of playing the guitar and rock is your style, a music school in town can guide you in your journey.

A rock guitar school that offers its students certificates from an England-based music institute started here last month.

It is the first institution in Kalimpong to provide training in rock guitar.

Rock School set up by guitarist Clement Lepcha is functioning from Haat Bazar near here and has a tie-up with an institute by the same name in England.

Lepcha said students of his school could complete their courses and apply for the exams that the foreign institute conducts every year.

“There will be eight grades in total. We have started with the first two grades. Twelve students have already enrolled in our school,” said Lepcha.

Examinations are held for each grade. Lepcha said guitar classes were held every Saturday. While the admission fee is Rs 1,500 for each student, the monthly fee is Rs 800.

“We will be shifting to a permanent place at Dungra Busty in 11th Mile. As of now I am the only qualified teacher. But I will recruit more teachers as the number of students increase,” said Lepcha, who has a degree in classical guitar from Trinity College of Music, London.

Although guitar is very popular in the hills, there are not many schools that provide expert training in the stringed instrument. Darjeeling has a school for western classical guitar, but Lepcha’s school is the first in rock genre.

Lepcha said the training would include both practical and theory lessons.

Norden Lama, the 39-year-old bassist of rock band Flames, and a student of Rock School, said: “I have been playing the guitar for 24 years now. But I don’t know how to read the notations. I learned guitar on my own but now I want to learn it in a systematic way.”

Lepcha said the annual exams for this year were scheduled for November. The tests would be conducted here.

ALL PHOTOS BY CHENDUP LEPCHA

A Still from the Musical Play 'I have a dream' staged at Loreto Convent, Darjeeling and directed by V. Gurung. Photo by Chendup Lepcha

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE PICS MY CHENDUP LEPCHA OF THE MUSICAL PLAY

FROM THE HINDU

BY SYEDA FARIDA 

It is not the physical abuse but the verbal humiliation that is rife, say many about the discrimination they face

University campuses across the city have a sizeable number of students from North East and an equally impressive number of employees from the region. File photo: Nagara Gopal

“Why are we singled out? Is it because we look different?” asks Sonam, a student from Nagaland, much like her counterparts from the other North-Eastern States. Women are on the receiving end, agrees Bipin, a student from Manipur at the University of Hyderabad, and a participant of the event organised at UoH as part of a nation-wide campaign for ‘Justice for Richard Loitam’.

“We believed he was killed. There are cases of racial discrimination. I went through harassment in Delhi University. Colleges are relatively safe in Hyderabad but you cannot say the same about other cities like Bangalore and Delhi,” he says.

Campuses in the various universities across the city have a sizeable number of students from the North-East and an equally impressive number of employees from the region who have been working with IT, ITeS, MNC firms and Central Government offices here.

There are about 500 members registered with each of the various region-based communities that support families hailing from Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam. The associations often meet on weekends.

“New students coming into the city get enrolled with us. We keep a track of their welfare. We also brief them on local culture,” says a member of the Hyderabad Mizo Association. Similarly, the Hyderabad Manipuri Society (HYMS) brings together students in the city under its cover.

Workplaces do offer conducive atmosphere here, which is one of the main reasons why most stay back despite issues they face in public places. But finding accommodation tops the list of worries in the twin cities. 

“People refuse to give us apartments on rent. You have food restrictions as well. There is a misconception that people from the North-East are into drug and alcohol abuse, which is not true,” says a student from Dimapur. An electrical engineer from Assam working in the city agrees, “I was travelling in a bus when the lady conductor started talking derogatorily. And then she and the driver went on to talk ill about my State which was unacceptable.”

It is not the physical abuse but the verbal humiliation that is rife, says Vivian Lepcha from Darjeeling, associated with the F&B industry in the city. “People come up to us and ask us if we can speak English or whether we hail from Japan, Burma or China.” He, however, notices fewer issues of discrimination now when compared to more than a decade ago when he came to the city. “Name calling used to be rampant then,” he recollects.

“Change in the perception about North-East won’t happen overnight. One has to bring about awareness about the region. My classmates did not even know the name of the seven North-Eastern States, leave alone their capitals,” says Sonam.

The need of the hour then is to bridge the divide. “Including history of these States in the text books will go a long way to bring about awareness about the place, people and culture. The choir group from Shillong and Indian Idol winner from Tawang have shown that people there have talent too. Please don’t treat them as second-class citizens in other States,” says Bipin.

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

BY DEEP GAZMER

DARJEELING: Tour operators from North Bengal, Sikkim and the northeastern states have decided to move high courts of respective states to keep tourism out of the purview of strikes and will submit a plea to the chief ministers demanding emergency services tag for the sector.

The decision was taken in a tourism convention held in Siliguri on May 8. under the banner of Bandh Free Tourism – Tourism for Peace and Harmony.

“The process for filing the appeal before the high courts has already been started.

We will move the high courts at the respective state level for keeping tourism out of the purview of any bandhs,” said Raj Basu, chairman of Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators. The association plans to involve tour operators from the Northeast where the problem of bandhs is manifold.

“We will file our petition by next week,” Basu added.

In North Bengal, tour operators had to bear the brunt of the four-year agitation by pro- and anti-separate statehood agitators. In fact, the region is also facing an agitation at present with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and a faction of ABAVP protesting against the ban on public rallies and meetings.

“We lose at least Rs 12 to Rs 18 crore in a single day when a bandh is enforced. This does not auger well for the region as it depends on tourism industry. More than 3.5 lakh people of North Bengal and Sikkim get affected by bandhs,” Basu said. The association will also organize a ‘Great March’ in North Bengal and northeast regions and the stakeholders will address a letter to the chief ministers of respective states and request them to declare tourism as an emergency service.

During the convention, attended by 120 tour operators, an eight-point resolution was also adopted, including introduction of a transparent insurance policy and extending the repayment period of tourism purpose bank loans in case of strikes.

FROM SIKKIM MAIL / ISIKKIM.COM

BY SILAS TAMANG

Sunsilk Mega Miss North East 2012 Zennyla Bhutia

Dimapur, May 11, 2012: Miss Sikkim 2012 Zennyla Bhutia clinched the title of the Annual Sunsilk Mega Miss North East 2012 contest held at DDSC stadium, Dimapur on Thursday.

Talking over the phone to Sikkim Mail from Dimapur she expressed her happiness and said that “it is just the beginning”. Earlier in the competition she had also won the ‘Miss Photogenic’ that was held in Guwahati. She said that she will be returning home on Saturday. Her mother Puspabala Yonzone back home in Sikkim has expressed deepest contentment over Zennyla’s winning the title. “She made me proud” said her mother talking to Sikkim Mail.

The Sunsilk Mega Miss North East 2012 prize package includes Rs One lakh, a custom American diamond tiara, gifts from pageant sponsors, extensive travel opportunities representing sponsors and charitable partners and professional representation by Mega Entertainment.

The Miss NE title had commenced from 3rd of May and had the finale on Thursday. The event was organized by the Mega Entertainment and Get Gorgeous Society, styled and powered by fashion designer-choreographer Abhijeet Singha. (TS)

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

Dr. Mahendra P Lama receiving the Gorkha Gaurav Award. A File Photo

NEW DELHI: Dr. Mahendra P. Lama, the Darjeeling born Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University has lately become a controversial figure in Sikkim. The Vice Chancellor was publicly criticized by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Kr Chamling a few days ago for working ‘against the aspirations of the people of the state’ and promoting nepotism.

The lone Member of Parliament from Sikkim P. D. Rai meanwhile has gone to the extent of demanding the outright replacement of Dr. Mahendra P. Lama from the post of the Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University. He has written to Kapil Sibal, Union Human Resource and IT Minister stating, ““In view of the untenable situation that has been obtained in the State between the State Government and the Vice Chancellor of the Sikkim University, it will lead to a very bad situation if the Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University continues in his post. In fact we would like the Ministry to remove him forthwith. I would urge the Hon’ble Union Minister to take immediate steps to replace the incumbent with an institution builder…”

No reaction could be obtained from Dr. Mahendra P. Lama regarding the controversy surrounding his continuation as the Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University.

FROM THE STATESMAN

BY BAISHNABI MANGAR

Can you be a Buddhist before actually practicing it? Your actions are decisive, after all. Are you confused? Well, you’ll get the answers soon. Just answer a few questions of this checklist. Visualise a day in your life

• Have you lived without desiring anything, not even a candy? What about a ceiling on desire?
• Did you tell the truth?
• Did you put a hold on your expenses and give to charity?
• Did you help anyone?
• Did you talk without using abusive language?
• Did you become a vegetarian?

The list of questions goes on and on. It’s basically saying “live life like a hermit”. Do you think it’s possible to live this way? Consider a few observations and ask, is Buddhist way of living associated with religion alone? Or does it involve logic?

Lord Buddha had acknowledged that the universe operates in response to the law of cause and effect – there is an action, and accordingly, its reaction. Imagine a room faintly lit under flickering candlelight, which is deluged by continuous chants of ‘Ho Ren Ge Kyo Nam Myum Myo’ (Buddhist mantra). It echoes across the room and every other soul present there feels at peace. It is just another effect (a reaction) of an action that has been created.

But “peace”: has a deeper meaning to it. We all want peace, don’t we? We have diverse desires – we want ‘peace in the world’, ‘peace in society’, ‘peace with friends’, ‘peace in the family’ and ‘peace with ourselves’. We wonder where it comes from.

‘Peace’ is deep rooted in ‘desire-less-ness’, and that according to Buddhism is the place where we will find peace. In equation, a human minus desire is equal to Nirvana ~ nothing exists beyond that. It is also said that one who has reached the state of “nirvana” feels an unimaginable bliss and distances himself from worldly passion.

However, reaching the state of “Nirvana” is not an easy one. Anger, jealousy and fear are the biggest obstacles towards happiness or enlightenment. How can one conquer these human emotions? Well, you have to put Buddhist teachings into practice and find the truth yourself.

As Buddha says, “you have to take it”. In this fast paced world, people have a voracious appetite for materialism and Lord Buddha has said that every moment and everything is ‘anitya’ (temporary). People die in the end; it is the ultimate truth. Yet everyone is oblivious to it.

Ask any Buddhist if he can forgo all his desires and live in peace. You’ll get a long awkward pause. Walk down the street in your locality, you will hear televisions blaring, people watching MTV, VH1, shows on fashion and glued to their gadgets. Can you ignore their attraction? So desire is where you live and what you do.

So why is there a growing number of people converting to Buddhism in this country? Why do people across the globe flock to Bodh Gaya to meditate alone?

The reason behind Buddhism’s popularity around the world is its core concept that goes well beyond religious teachings, encompassing a vast range of thinkers, schools, philosophical and psychological issues. It identifies the root of the problem and offers solution to mitigate it. Buddhism offers a space to practice compassion and love.

The Dalai Lama during a media summit last year had pointed to the fact that anyone can win with love, he was indirectly pointing to the issue of Tibetans in exile, but he fears that compassion might slowly disappear in the hearts of Tibetans towards the Chinese and that is a problem.

“As I know, the main reason of conversion to Buddhism is that, people are not distinguished in terms of their caste. It is believed that every individual is equal and that creates a sense of solidarity among them, for instance Dr BR Ambedkar eventually choose to be a Buddhist”, says a 24-year-old, Bishwaraj Gurung, a Hindu living in Bangalore.

Buddhism essentially has three aspects – philosophy, rituals and scientific. The number of people who consider it as a philosophy shows there are many practitioners – its’ teaching are simply laid down for the common understanding of an individual. It’s easy to read but in practice it could drive you up the wall.

Another corollary that follows is: Has Buddhism turned into a threat to other religions in India?

No religion has evolved to demean or encroach on another. However, India is a multi-cultural nation where we exchange ideas with people of different religions. Our beliefs get intertwined in the process, so no religion is a threat to another. People in India are equally aware of the faiths and they have lived in harmony for decades together.

Lord Buddha delved into 5 precepts, (panchasheel) that draw the Lakshman Rekha, a line of control for mortals to follow- refrain from telling lies, killing, consuming intoxicants, adultery and stealing, We need to follow it strictly says, Mr Tshering, a monk in the Japanese temple in Kolkata.

But in reality there is another side to it. For instance Nichol Tamang, who is a Buddhist, is an alleged murderer of the opposition leader, Madan Tamang, two years ago in Darjeeling before Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) came to power.

Passang Lhamu Sherpa, a 20-year-old Buddhist and a student has an insight to share, she says, “It is individual’s choice – to consume alcohol or not, some do it for fun, some for the kick, but most us from the hills consume alcohol to escape the bad weather, some people resort to alcohol due to their loneliness and miseries in life. People tend to forget it for the moment but I have seen a lot of Buddhists who repent and rectify their mistakes”.

“Killing animal is not acceptable,” adds Mr. Tshering, “We are the cause, behind killing the animal; we create the market and an impetus, though Lord Buddha has not specified on turning into a vegetarian. It is believed that in many Buddhist rituals, monks are also offered meats to partake, but I am completely against it.”

As a Buddhist it is essential to explore into ‘karmic beliefs’, your actions leads you to your faith, and your action can be positive and proactive, when your intent is pure. Dorji Phutsho, a young Buddhist, believes that there are lots of values formed around Buddhism, like, being kind to someone and not being selfish. “I start my day by wishing that all sentient beings enjoy the fruit of peace and happiness. It really makes me satisfied and that is exactly what Buddhism says,” adds Phutsho.

Buddhism is a way of living to eliminate the suffering in life. One has to admit that sufferings and dissatisfaction exist in the first place. It is a part and parcel of our life and one cannot deny it. Dissatisfaction arises out of our approach to circumstances in life; how your mind reacts to life’s ‘have’ and ‘not have’.

In particular, Buddhism teaches that your mind causes you suffering; attach yourself to permanence and construct a separate self where neither exists.

Can you be a Buddhist before actually practicing it? Your actions are decisive, after all. Are you confused? Well, you’ll get the answers soon. Just answer a few questions of this checklist. Visualise a day in your life 
o  Have you lived without desiring anything, not even a candy? What about a ceiling on desire?
o Did you tell the truth?
o Did you put a hold on your expenses and give to charity?
o Did you help anyone?
o Did you talk without using abusive language?
o Did you become a vegetarian? 
The list of questions goes on and on.  It’s basically saying “live life like a hermit”. Do you think it’s possible to live this way?  Consider a few observations and ask, is Buddhist way of living associated with religion alone? Or does it involve logic?
Lord Buddha had acknowledged that the universe operates in response to the law of cause and effect – there is an action, and accordingly, its reaction. Imagine a room faintly lit under flickering candlelight, which is deluged by continuous chants of ‘Ho Ren Ge Kyo Nam Myum Myo’ (Buddhist mantra). It echoes across the room and every other soul present there feels at peace. It is just another effect (a reaction) of an action that has been created. 
But “peace”: has a deeper meaning to it. We all want peace, don’t we? We have diverse desires – we want ‘peace in the world’, ‘peace in society’, ‘peace with friends’, ‘peace in the family’ and ‘peace with ourselves’. We wonder where it comes from. 
‘Peace’ is deep rooted in ‘desire-less-ness’, and that according to Buddhism is the place where we will find peace. In equation, a human minus desire is equal to Nirvana ~ nothing exists beyond that. It is also said that one who has reached the state of “nirvana” feels an unimaginable bliss and distances himself from worldly passion. 
However, reaching the state of “Nirvana” is not an easy one. Anger, jealousy and fear are the biggest obstacles towards happiness or enlightenment. How can one conquer these human emotions? Well, you have to put Buddhist teachings into practice and find the truth yourself.
As Buddha says, “you have to take it”. In this fast paced world, people have a voracious appetite for materialism and Lord Buddha has said that every moment and everything is ‘anitya’ (temporary). People die in the end; it is the ultimate truth. Yet everyone is oblivious to it. 
Ask any Buddhist if he can forgo all his desires and live in peace. You’ll get a long awkward pause. Walk down the street in your locality, you will hear televisions blaring, people watching MTV, VH1, shows on fashion and glued to their gadgets. Can you ignore their attraction? So desire is where you live and what you do. 
So why is there a growing number of people converting to Buddhism in this country? Why do people across the globe flock to Bodh Gaya to meditate alone? 
The reason behind Buddhism’s popularity around the world is its core concept that goes well beyond religious teachings, encompassing a vast range of thinkers, schools, philosophical and psychological issues. It identifies the root of the problem and offers solution to mitigate it. Buddhism offers a space to practice compassion and love.
The Dalai Lama during a media summit last year had pointed to the fact that anyone can win with love, he was indirectly pointing to the issue of Tibetans in exile, but he fears that compassion might slowly disappear in the hearts of Tibetans towards the Chinese and that is a problem.
“As I know, the main reason of conversion to Buddhism is that, people are not distinguished in terms of their caste. It is believed that every individual is equal and that creates a sense of solidarity among them, for instance Dr BR Ambedkar eventually choose to be a Buddhist”, says a 24-year-old, Bishwaraj Gurung, a Hindu living in Bangalore.
Buddhism essentially has three aspects – philosophy, rituals and scientific. The number of people who consider it as a philosophy shows there are many practitioners – its’ teaching are simply laid down for the common understanding of an individual. It’s easy to read but in practice it could drive you up the wall. 
Another corollary that follows is: Has Buddhism turned into a threat to other religions in India?
No religion has evolved to demean or encroach on another. However, India is a multi-cultural nation where we exchange ideas with people of different religions. Our beliefs get intertwined in the process, so no religion is a threat to another. People in India are equally aware of the faiths and they have lived in harmony for decades together. 
Lord Buddha delved into 5 precepts, (panchasheel) that draw the Lakshman Rekha, a line of control for mortals to follow- refrain from telling lies, killing, consuming intoxicants, adultery and stealing, We need to follow it strictly says, Mr Tshering, a monk in the Japanese temple in Kolkata. 
But in reality there is another side to it. For instance Nichol Tamang, who is a Buddhist, is an alleged murderer of the opposition leader, Madan Tamang, two years ago in Darjeeling before Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) came to power.
Passang Lhamu Sherpa, a 20-year-old Buddhist and a student has an insight to share, she says, “It is individual’s choice – to consume alcohol or not, some do it for fun, some for the kick, but most us from the hills consume alcohol to escape the bad weather, some people resort to alcohol due to their loneliness and miseries in life. People tend to forget it for the moment but I have seen a lot of Buddhists who repent and rectify their mistakes”.
“Killing animal is not acceptable,” adds Mr. Tshering, “We are the cause, behind killing the animal; we create the market and an impetus, though Lord Buddha has not specified on turning into a vegetarian. It is believed that in many Buddhist rituals, monks are also offered meats to partake, but I am completely against it.”
As a Buddhist it is essential to explore into ‘karmic beliefs’, your actions leads you to your faith, and your action can be positive and proactive, when your intent is pure. Dorji Phutsho, a young Buddhist, believes that there are lots of values formed around Buddhism, like, being kind to someone and not being selfish. “I start my day by wishing that all sentient beings enjoy the fruit of peace and happiness. It really makes me satisfied and that is exactly what Buddhism says,” adds Phutsho.  
Buddhism is a way of living to eliminate the suffering in life. One has to admit that sufferings and dissatisfaction exist in the first place. It is a part and parcel of our life and one cannot deny it. Dissatisfaction arises out of our approach to circumstances in life; how your mind reacts to life’s ‘have’ and ‘not have’. 
In particular, Buddhism teaches that your mind causes you suffering; attach yourself to permanence and construct a separate self where neither exists.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Harka Bahadur Chhetri

Calcutta, May 11: The Bengal government has decided to hold a “special” school service commission examination” to regularise the appointment of 279 teachers who had been recruited on an ad hoc basis in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council area.

The decision was conveyed by chief secretary Samar Ghosh to Kalimpong MLA and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri here today.

“Regularisation of ad hoc teachers in hill schools was a long standing demand of the Morcha as all of them have more than the required educational qualifications,” said Chhetri.

The MLA said Morcha leaders had discussed the demand with education minister Bratya Basu several times and the latter had promised to expedite the regularisation process.

“We had talks with Bratya Basu several times. He said the state government was trying to find out a middle path. Finally, the chief secretary told us today that the schools in the DGHC area would be treated as a special case and the school education department would hold a special examination to regularise the ad hoc teachers’ jobs,” said the MLA. 

“The examination will just be a formality to regularise their appointments. All of them are surely going to qualify,” he added.

The Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation, an affiliate of the Morcha, had held meetings and dharnas across the hills, demanding that the ad hoc teachers’ jobs be made permanent.

The teachers had been appointed on a temporary basis by the DGHC run by Subash Ghisingh. The state school service commission wasn’t allowed to fill up the vacancies in the hill schools as Ghisingh was opposed to the panel conducting the recruitment. Most of the teachers had been working for more than 15 years.

Reacting to the government’s decision to hold the special school service commission exam, JSTO spokesman Bhishan Roka said: “Whatever they mean (by special exam), as long as the ad hoc teachers are absorbed into the service, the JSTO will be happy.”

The Kalimpong MLA said there were 621 vacancies in the hill schools at present and they needed to be filled up as soon as possible.

“The new government has been taking positive initiatives in this regard. A considerable number of schools in the hills have been upgraded in the past one year. After the regularisation of the 279 ad hoc teachers, we would request the government to fill up the vacancies as soon as possible,” said the Morcha leader.

Chhetri said Darjeeling was the centre of education and tourism since the days of British Raj. “But the schools are in a shambles now because of the strife in the past three decades,” he added.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

BY DIRGHA RAJ PRASAI

At first, the Maoists were once known as a nationalist rebel force. The Maoist leader Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai have forgotten the ideology of Mao, not even the teachings of Buddha, now they have only holy Bible. In reality the Maoists’ party likes to take an opportunity to get profit from China whereas it is internally guided by Indian strategy to disintegrate China in the name of Free Tibet. The Maoist leaders have been exposed as the brokers of Christians in the name of revolutionary force. The Ekata Kendra party was transformed to Maoist party in accordance to interest of India. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is the supporter of the Catholic- Christian as Indian Congress (I) leader, Sonia Gandhi. Prachanda is himself a follower of Protestantism (according the advocate Balkrishna Neupane).

This is now clear that CIA, the Christian mission and European nations including Norway had and have been offering huge economic supports to break Hindu and Buddhist’s identity for Christianity and Free-Tibet. During a mass meeting organized by Christians two years ago at the Open Theater, Prachanda had said in a threatening tone- ‘Those who oppose secularism will be kidnapped.’ We cannot say that the policy of secularism, republic and ethnic federalism that inevitably pushes the nation towards disintegration has emanated from Maoists strength than foreign support. 

Ninth month ago, Baburam Bhattarai became the PM and he is trying to destroy Nepalese identity. Kantipur’s Sudhir Sharma wrote an article in which he acknowledged Professor S.D Muni’s article ‘India’s role with the Maoists’. Sharma writes- ‘In 2002 Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai had sent a letter to Indian PM through S.D Muni, reply of which they received after several months. In the Maoists’ letter they had expressed desire to maintain good relation with India. They also expressed that they were committed not to act against Indian interest in Nepal. Later officials of the intelligence bureau took over the responsibility of maintaining contact with the Maoists and later intelligence agency ‘RAW’ took over same job. Due to the good personal relationship with ‘RAW’ chief Hermij Dharakan and Baburam Bhattarai made it easier in understanding between the Maoists and ‘RAW’. The first meeting between Shyam Sharan and the Maoists’ leaders took place at ‘RAW’ safe house at the initiative of S.D Muni’ (Kantipur 21 April, 2012). So, the PM Baburam Bhattarai and Deputy- PM Krishna Sitoula both are the known agents of RAW. Both traitors became the PM and Deputy-PM from the conspirator design of RAW. Down with traitors!!

Himal Media organizer Kanakmani Dixit, who maintains a deep relation with India, writes about the Maoists- ‘The alliance of Maoists and Madhesi parties under Baburam Bhattarai’s leadership was imposed on the people with Delhi’s active role. If any government has been manipulated by ‘remote control’ then it is incumbent regime. After 1989 Delhi played the role of utmost influence in Nepal and Nepalese politics. For the armed struggle, Maoists used Indian land. There is no doubt that agents were deployed to monitor and take care of Maoist leaders living in India’s Noida, Faridabad and other places during the major time span of the insurgency period. They used Baburam Bhattarai and the process of 12-point pact was simplified. To impose such an alliance on Nepal it is a loathsome act of New Delhi,” (Nagarik daily 27 April, 2012)

Actually, the PM Baburam Bhattarai and Prachanda are simply show-piece. Whatsoever is being done in Nepal it is due to India? However India must realize that the suspicious Maoist Baburam will be destructive for India also. Nepal would not have witnessed such extremity of foreign activities had the royal institution continued to exist. It is now crystal clear for everyone that the institution was a guardian of Nepal’s security. The foreign powers have dared to remove the force- royal institution, and take this opportunity to do whatever they want in this land.

United Nations Secretary General who is more concerned over America had visited India on 27 April, 2012. During his visit he said- ‘India’s role is crucial for Nepal’s transition to democracy and stable peace.’ He thanked India for its engagement in Nepal and said that India’s role is important for the successful transition of Nepal to democracy and stability. How a UN Secretary General could say so against a sovereignty and independent Nepal? This is another intervening pressure which the Nepalese people do not want. So, we disregard such biased Secretary General of UN who is in ally of America. The Rana rulers were aware of this fact so that they had kept the monarch isolated and protected in a harem. We feel proud that due to the presence of the royal institution we have remained sovereign Nepalese people. The royal institution is the symbol of Nepal’s unity. We must learn from our mistakes. We must commit ourselves to 1990 constitution with the presence of monarchy to save the nation, and spread the dignity of a sovereign Nepal. There are no other alternatives.

[NOTE: The opinions published in this article are sole of the author (Dirgha Raj Prasai).]

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, May 11: The Shyamal Sen committee is unlikely to submit its report on the territorial jurisdiction of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration by the first week of June as it is yet to receive the linguistic break-up of the population in each mouza in the Dooars and Terai.

The high powered committee has sought mouza-wise population details from the directorate of census. However, the directorate of census couldn’t part with the data, as it didn’t receive clearance from the Union home ministry.

Apart from Justice (retd) Sen, four representatives of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, a representative of the state home department and the director of census are members of the panel. The administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council is the convenor of the committee.

The panel that met last on April 19 has not been able to set the next date, as no progress could be made without the linguistic details.

“The last meeting was held on April 19, but the next date has not been announced. That is mainly because the director of census has not received the permission from the Union home ministry to release the mouza-wise linguistic details,” said L.B. Pariyar, one of the four Morcha representatives on the committee. 

He said the committee had heard all parties which were for or against the inclusion of the mouzas in the GTA.

“Unless the linguistic details are furnished with the committee, not much headway can be made. The director of census is in the process of seeking permission from the Union home ministry. The permission is needed as the directorate of census doesn’t publish the number of people who speak a particular language in each mouza. The census report shows only the block-wise population details. Let us see what happens,” Pariyar said.

The data would be from the 2001 census as the 2011 report is not yet published.

The Morcha has demanded that 196 mouzas from the Dooars, 199 from the Terai and three from the Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district be brought under the GTA.

Asked if the party would write to the Union home ministry to grant the permission fast, Pariyar said: “The committee is headed by a person of Justice Sen’s stature and it would not be proper for us to bypass him in this regard. We hope that the permission will be granted soon.”

Earlier, Morcha president Bimal Gurung had set April 28 as the deadline for the submission of the committee report and threatened to pull out of the GTA agreement and embark on a renewed statehood movement.

However, the Morcha later relented after holding talks with Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta and was assured that the committee would submit its report by the first week of June. It was also agreed by the Morcha and the state government that the elections to the GTA would be held either at the end of June or in early July.

The panel was formed on July 18, the day the GTA pact was inked by the Centre, state and the Morcha. It was given six months to hold sittings and submit the recommendations.

However, in February, the committee sought another six months as it had not completed going through the submissions and conducting the hearings on the territory issue.

FROM ISIKKIM.COM

Gangtok, 11 May 2012: The Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling inaugurated the five days long Sikkim Spring Carnival 2012 and Military Tatoo today at a function held at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok. With this the Spring Carnival organized by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim to woo the tourists started all round the state.

The inaugural function at the Paljor Stadium, Gangtok saw various adventurous programmes from the 17 Mountain Division of the Indian Army. The programme included fly past by the Helicopters, bhangra dance, khukri display, dog show, kalari payattu, malkhamb and band display.

Inaugurating the Carnival the Chief Minister while addressing the gathering of public representatives, army personnel, tourists, students, local gentry and officers from state administration talked about the various initiatives taken by the state government to project Sikkim as a repeated cliental destination. 

The GOC, 17 Mt Division V.N. Prasad in his address expressed his happiness in being associated with the civil administration of the state government in this mega event. Such joint venture will bring a bond between the army and the people of the state which will be of great help for the protection of the country.

The Chief Minister during entire day visited the various other programme sites organised in view of the Spring Carnival in and around Gangtok.

After the completion of the inaugural function at Paljor Stadium, the Chief Minister visited the Directorate of Handlooms and Handicrafts complex and inaugurated and visited the exhibition on ethnic bamboo products cum live demonstration by rural artisians from all round the state. The exhibition at the DHH complex also included unique tools and equipments used by the Lepcha tribe in their daily lives vis-à-vis hunting, fishing, musical instruments as well as daily household kits made up of bamboos and stinging nettle. The exhibition highlighted and show cased the magnificient and languishing traditional arts and craft of the state. The exhibition was also supported by various departments like Forest, Tourism, Commerce and Industries, Horticulture, SRDA and various NGO’s.

Thereafter, the Chief Minister proceeded towards White Memorial Hall where he inaugurated the Buddhist art of Butter Sculpture and Sand Mandala exhibited by Tourism and Civil Aviation Department and Photo exhibition by Information and Public Relations department of the State government. He also flagged off the seven days Mountain Biking expedition to Gurudongmar consisting of twelve participants including one from Norway at Ridge Park and inaugurated the newly beautified Ridge Park. The Chief Minister along with other dignitaries visited various stalls of the ethnic communities of the state showcasing traditions and culture.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

DARJEELING, 11 May 2012: GJM Spokesperson and Kalimpong MLA Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri has claimed that the State Government will be setting up a Regional School Service Commission to break the 25 year teacher recruitment deadlock in Darjeeling District. He said that the commission will soon also being recruitment drive of teachers to fill the 600 vacancies in the 770 schools in the district. He said this was decided at a meeting between the Chairman of the  School Public Service Commission, State Home Secretary and the GJM leaders.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON 

Bhupinder Singh Hooda - Chief Minister of Haryana

CHANDIGARH: After successfully completing the their tour of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the joint delegation of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) and Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) today met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Hooda was briefed about various issues involving the Gorkha populace in the nation.

The delegation also briefed Hooda about the demand for the formation of separate state of Gorkhaland.

Hooda said that he was aware about the demand for the separate state of Gorkhaland and was sympathetic about it. 

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

New Delhi: Darjeeling Member of Parliament (MP) Jaswant Singh raised the issue of prevailing water crisis in Darjeeling Hills in the Parliament. During the Question Hour, the former Defence Minister urged the Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Jairam Ramesh to ‘nudge’ the State Government into ‘living up to its expectation in the hills’.

Singh said, “May I inform the Hon’ble Minister that the municipal supply of water in Darjeeling is once in 17 days. Deeply depressed, may I request you to pleas urge upon the State Government to pay special attention to this matter” He also advised the State Government in Bengal to instead of asking more funds looking into the proper utilization of funds that had already been sanctioned.

Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Jairam Ramesh thanked Singh for raising the issue. He also assured Singh of looking into matter and holding discussions with the State Government. 

FROM SIKKIM MAIL / ISIKKIM.COM

Ravangla, May 8, 2012: Dawden Bhutia aged 48 resident of Nardang, Tinkitam was found hanging inside a cowshed on May 06, 2012 at around 3 in the morning.

The deceased’s husband, Jambi Bhutia had filed a missing report at Ravangla Police Station earlier in the evening hours of May 05. It has been informed that the deceased was in the house when her husband returned after collecting the ration from 12th Mile, Tinkitam.

After sometime Dawden went missing and Jambi realizing this and went in search for her, but all went in vain. Another search was conducted during which the deceased was found. She had committed suicide by hanging herself.

The case has been registered U/S 174 CRPC by the Ravangla Police. Though no foul play has been recorded so far, still the case is under investigation.

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Secretary Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department Mrs. Nalini G. Pradhan accompanied by Secretary Mr. K.S Tobgay, Information and Public Relations Department holding a press meet. Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Gangtok: Secretary Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department Mrs. Nalini G. Pradhan accompanied by Secretary Mr. K.S Tobgay, Information and Public Relations Department held a press meet at the conference hall of New Secretariat, Development Area, on May 9. Secretary, Culture Department informed that the Government of Sikkim has instituted Sikkim State Civilian Awards in recognition of the sterling contribution and achievements made by individuals in various disciplines/fields of activities. The objective behind instituting these awards is to felicitate those people who have worked relentlessly for the cause of their community in their individual capacities so that they are encouraged to rededicate themselves with renewed vigour and in process to serve as an example for others to follow, she added.

She further informed that the Sikkim State Civilian Award is conferred in three categories namely, Sikkim Ratna (Category A), Sikkim Sewa Ratna (Category –B) and Sikkim Sewa Samman (Category-C).

Elaborating further she said that Sikkim State Civilian Awards, the State’s highest civilian award is given in all spheres of activities, namely, social services (Sewa), Sports (Khel), Music & arts (Kala), literature (Sahitya), trade and industry (Udyog), etc. The Sikkim Ratna is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. Sikkim Sewa Ratna is awarded for distinguished service of high order and Sikkim Samman is awarded for distinguished service in any field.

The above mentioned awards are being announced for the first time by the State Government. For the year 2012 no one has been recommended for Sikkim Ratna (Category-A). Nine persons have been recommended for Category-B (Sikkim Sewa Ratna) and twenty persons have been recommended for Category-C (Sikkim Sewa Samman). The Sikkim Sewa Ratna Award carries citation, shawl, gold plated silver medal, a memento and cash prize of 2,00,000. The Sikkim Sewa Samman Award carries citation, shawl, silver medal, a memento and cash prize of 1,00,000 .

The Secretary informed the media that the presentation of Sikkim State Civilian Award will take place on the 16th May, 2012 on the occasion of celebration of State Day at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok.

The Secretary also informed that in another event which is being organized by the Department as a part of the State Day Celebration is dance by Padmashri Astad Deboo on “Interpretation of Tagore and his Works” to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

This dance recital hosted by Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department is slated for 17th May at the Defence Auditorium. Governor of Sikkim will be chief guest and chief minister guest of honour on the occasion, she informed. (With IPR input)

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI 

Chief Minister Chamling with students of Kamrang Government College. Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Namchi: “Vice Chancellor Prof. Mahendra P. Lama of Sikkim University is misusing his power and running his monopoly administration, favoring his own people against the interest of the people of Sikkim, leaving the future of students of Sikkim in dark, which amounts to betrayal of the people of Sikkim.” This was said by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Kr. Chamling Wednesday, May 9, at the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front party’s Namchi office where he received a petition of the students of Kamrang Government College. In the petition, the students have reportedly asked for reservation of more B-Ed seats in Sikkim University for the students of Sikkim.

Chief Minister said that the VC has included many subjects in the University which are not in the interest of the students of Sikkim. Not a single employment has been given in SU to the people of Sikkim, thus violating the employment exchange rules in Sikkim and betraying the people of Sikkim.

He further said that government of Sikkim had brought the Central University in Sikkim hoping that the students of Sikkim will have opportunities for higher studies in their homeland and also get jobs in the University but the VC has put all such expectation to a naught.

Regarding the vexed issue of a and for the University, CM said that he himself urged the land owners to give land for the Sikkim University in Yangang and land owners also agreed; but at the time of land acquisition. the VC put a threat to the land owners to coerce them to evacuate the land within a week. That made all the land owners angry; now they are saying that they will give their land for the University “only after the present VC is removed from the post”.

Chief Minister said that the SDF government of Sikkim during its 18-year rule has ushered in many people centric developments in the state “and we should continue our efforts till we achieve the development like that in first world countries”. He sought joint cooperation and responsibility from the people’s side in the matter. “We should shun making allegations against each other works and, instead, work together towards making a better Sikkim”, he said.

Chief Minister, who is also SDF president, asked all the party leaders and workers to bring mass awareness about the harmful social effects of AIDS, drugs addiction, night clubs, sex culture. He also interacted with the party workers and general public and sanctioned many public demands.

FROM THE SUNDAY INDIAN

BY C S BHATTACHARJEE

Differences seem to have cropped up once again between Trinamool Congress and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) after the hill party was ‘not invited’ for Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary celebration at Mungpoo in Kalimpong on Tuesday.

Speaking to TSI on Tuesday, GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri told TSI, “Despite our proactive stand, we were not invited by the government at the Mungpoo ceremony. Our MLA from Kalimpong, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who is in Kolkata, attended Tagore’s birth anniversary programme at state assembly.”

The programme was organized by the state government in the presence of West Bengal minister for North Bengal Development, Gautam Deb.

“We have high respect for Tagore who composed our national anthem. We were ready to attend the government sponsored programme at Mungpoo. But, we were not invited,”Chhetri told TSI. 

GJM has been boycotting all government programmes since the party chief Bimal Gurung was prevented from addressing a public meting at Nagrakata on April 22 this year.

Gurung on April 22 had announced boycott of all government functions and declared Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a ‘persona non-grata’ in Darjeeling hills.

Earlier Roshan Giri stated, “The Morcha will continue to boycott all programmes organised by the state government. But we want to exclude the Mungpoo event from the ambit of the boycott as it will be an occasion to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.”

Tagore visited Mungpoo four times between 1938 and 1940 and stayed with one of his friend’s daughter Maitreyi Devi, whose husband Manmohan was Director of Cinchona Plantation over there.

After the bard’s death in 1941, Maitreyi Devi established Rabindra Samiti in 1944 at the bungalow. Presently, a museum is housed in the bungalow.

FROM IBNLIVE.IN.COM

Mumbai, May 9 (PTI) Nearly two months after Bollywood starlet of Nepalese origin, Minakshi Thapa, was murdered and two junior film artists being arrested in the case, her family members, who today met the city police chief, have suspected involvement of more than two persons in the crime. Police had on April 14 apprehended Amitkumar Jaiswal (36) and Preeti Surin (26) from suburban Bandra in connection with the brutal murder of the 26-year-old smalltime actress who had been missing since March.

Thapa’s mother Kamala (56) and brother Navraj (35) called on the city police commissioner Arup Patnaik and handed him over a written application stating that the case should be thoroughly probed as they suspect involvement of more than mere two persons in the crime. “It was a preplanned gruesome killing. I had been to the spot and the crime does not appear to be carried out by only two arrested accused.

There might have been a group which executed the crime. Family members of the accused might have also participated in killing,” said Navraj, who works with India Army. “The belongings, including mobile phone, bag and shoes, of my sister are still missing,” he said. Kamala Thapa claimed that Patnaik assured her that police would do their best to reach to the roots of the case. Patnaik was unavailable for comment.

“The severed head of my daughter is yet to be found,” Kamala said, adding that, “the probe has lost its momentum. We requested the police that the investigations needed to be intensified”. According to police, the accused duo, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, had befriended the victim on the sets of Bollywood film ‘Heroine’ in which she landed a small role.

FROM [ISIKKIM.COM] / SIKKIM MAIL

Gangtok, 10 May, 2012: From MG Marg to Palzor stadium, streets to hotels, everything has been rhythmically embellished to greet the tourists from different parts of the world, there is no time left for the grand opening of the Spring Festival which is scheduled from May 11.

It seems like the joint venture of the Tourism department and the Army will end at a colourful note as the eve of the fest has fetched thousands of tourists in the town. Right from the old to the young ones, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to that of Arunachal, tourists are just enjoying the mood at the MG Marg, which has been superbly festooned with lights. It is not only the story of the Indian tourist, but the fest has been successful in bringing foreign tourist in the town, who are seen everywhere even before the fest sets on roll. “I have been to Switzerland many times, but the environment in Sikkim for me is blissful” said Mod, a tourist from Thailand, who is basically in the town to witness the carnival. “It feels like walking in a rainbow at night” said Subhasish, a tourist from Gujarat who is here on a weeklong tour with his family. A Bengali tourist who was dressed in a typical Lepcha dress with a traditional cap said that “This is my 7th time, but this time Gangtok looks Bhallo”.

In the meantime, the Indian Army had a final rehearsal for the Military Tattoo at Paljor Stadium, under the supervision of Secretary Tourism, R. Telang, Secretary Sports & Youth Affairs, K.P Bhutia and P. Bhatt, Dy GOC. The rehearsal included a Punjabi dance Bhangra by the army personnel and a dog show, landing by the sky diving team members one by one, besides many other items.

The Secretary Tourism & Civil Aviation Department commenting about the forthcoming event said, “We want to make continuous efforts for reviving tourism, in the State. So the Department has organized the Carnival, in collaboration with the army to boost the morale of the stakeholders and to draw more tourists”. Adding on it he also said that having a carnival is not sufficient but these have to be followed step by step.

After the 18/9 earth quake, inflow of tourists has gone down though everything is now normal and back on the track. We are expecting a positive tourists’ response this time, better than the recent Snow Festival he added.

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON

JALPAIGURI: John Barla, who had earlier split from Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) on the issue of the inclusion of parts of Dooars Terai into the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and shook hands with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is now in trouble. The GJM Dooars Terai unit leaders have sent feelers to the Party Central Leadership in Darjeeling saying that Barla has failed time and again in living up to the expectation of the party leadership (GJM).

A party insider said, “John had failed to rally the tribals of the Dooars Terai on the issue of the GTA. The strike called last month was not very successful and the scuffles that his  cadres had with the cadres of ABAVP has shown that John does not have a great deal of popular support in the reason. The hunger strike that was started after the end of the strike has also been failure as not much have come out of it. It is high time now that we (GJM) being to re-assess our partnership with John.”

He further said, “Minister Gautam Deb had called for an end to the strike in the Dooars at a function at Mungpoo. We will be having a meeting today of the Joint Coordination Committee (comprising of the GJM and the John Barla faction of the ABAVP) to discuss on the course of our future action in the Dooars Terai.”

When inquired about the issue of John’s continuing relationship with GJM, he said, “There is really no change in our relationship with John and we will continue to maintain a mutually respectable relationship. However, we are disappointed with his leadership and it remains an issue. We will have to workout something to intensify our movement in the Dooars Terai if we are to get the 396 mouzas in the region merged within the GTA jurisdiction.”

FROM ZEENEWS.COM

Kolkata: India`s medal prospects in archery will have a conditioning camp in Gangtok beginning May 16, to acclimatise with the prevailing cold conditions in London, where the Olympics Games are scheduled to take place from July 27-August 12.

The camp assumes utmost importance for the men`s team that would take the last shot to earn Olympic berths when they compete at the World Cup Stage III, to be held in Ogden, USA from June 18-24.

The women`s team of Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro, who have already earned Olympic quota places, are not competing in the World Cup Stage III and would train till the Olympics, Indian archery coach Poornima Mahato told PTI.

In the men`s team, only Jayanta Talukdar has sealed a berth for the sporting extravaganza.

The men`s team consists of Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai and Rahul Banerjee. 

“The conditions in Gangtok would be similar to that of London so it would help the archers. Even the weather in Ogden where the men`s team would compete is quite similar,” Mahato said.

“The weather in London would be quite cold and breezy. I`m sure the camp in Gangtok would help us.”

The high altitude, cold weather training would be a first for the archers who had been camping in Kolkata for more than three years.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The e-auction in progress at the Jalpaiguri centre on Wednesday. (Biplab Basak)

Jalpaiguri, May 9: The tea auction centre in Jalpaiguri reopened today after two years and conducted its first e-auction by selling 12,570kg of brew from Dooars gardens and bought leaf factories.

While the highest bid was quoted at Rs 168 per kg, the lowest was at Rs 100 a kg.

The North Bengal Tea Auction Centre (NBTAC), the second of the kind in the region and third in the state, was opened in February 2005.

Although the centre did well in the first two-three years, it was shut down in November 2009 following a dip in the supply of brew.

Today, tea from 12 bought-leaf factories and two Dooars gardens weighing 12,570 kg went under the hammer.

Sources said tea from the BLFs were sold between Rs 100 and Rs 160 per kg.

Smaraki Mahapatra, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri and the chairperson of the centre, inaugurated the e-auction system today. 

“The e-auction was introduced at the centre today and the produce from BLFs and a couple of estates was put up for sale,” she said.

Kamal Bhattacharya, the chief executive officer of the centre, said the entire stock had been sold through the online auction.

Sanjay Dhanoti, the president of the North Bengal Tea Producers’ Association, representing the BLFs, said they would participate in larger numbers at the auctions conducted by the centre in the future.

“The next auction would be held on May 15,” Bhattacharya said. Tea Board of India has handed over 30 laptops to the centre for carrying out the online transaction.