TT, Delhi/Darjeeling, Oct. 11: The Centre today indicated that it wanted to set up an interim authority for the Darjeeling hills by December with at least four contentious issues being kept aside for discussion at the political-level talks, likely to be held before Diwali.
“Pending issues like composition, election and legislative powers would be dealt with in the political level talks that would be held very soon,” general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Roshan Giri told The Telegraph today.
Territorial jurisdiction of the Gorkha Regional Authority or the set-up, its mode of selection, its legislative powers and the transfer of the tauzi department will be taken up for discussion in the political round.
“At the end of the meeting all the representatives were of the opinion that… they did not have the mandate to take a decision on (the) four issues,” said Harkabahadur Chhetri, the spokesperson for the Morcha, one of the three participants in today’s official-level tripartite talks.
The state, another participant in the talks, was represented by chief secretary Samar Ghosh and home secretary G.D. Gautam. The central team was led by joint secretary (Centre-state) N.S. Kalsi.
“The Centre is in a mood to set up the authority by December,” said a home ministry source. The set-up would be similar to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, he said.
Chhetri claimed that the Centre had not been able to work out a method for the transfer of legislative powers to the new set-up.
The transfer of legislative powers to the GRA could pose a problem for the government because the Morcha has been demanding that all members of the interim body be nominated by the hill party. The Centre and the state want either a direct or an indirect election to the interim body.
An administrative source said a nominated body could not be bestowed with legislative powers, as this would be against the established rule of the law.
The Morcha, however, claimed that the Centre today proposed to increase the number of seats in the interim body to 45, though the hill party preferred it to be 50. Earlier, Delhi had maintained that the body would have only 20 members.
The interim set-up will also be given powers to issue licences, which is now vested with the Regional Transport Authority, the Morcha claimed. “Issues concerning the regularisation of the casual workers of the DGHC were also raised. The chief secretary of Bengal maintained that the state had no problems in regularising the workers provided certain norms were fulfilled and that the process had already started,” said Chhetri.
TH, New Delhi, 11 October: The Darjeeling Regional Authority is expected to be in place before next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said here today. “We hope the Authority will come up before the West Bengal elections. Today was the last round of official level meeting. We discussed the departments that should be given to us,” GJM General-Secretary Roshan Giri told reporters after meeting senior Home Ministry officials.
The next round of talks among the Centre, West Bengal government and the GJM will focus on territorial jurisdiction, composition of the legislature and the number of elected or nominated members, among others things, he said.
The Central and West Bengal governments have earlier worked on the subjects and departments which are expected to be handed over to the interim authority.
The term of the current West Bengal Assembly ends in May 2011 and the proposed Darjeeling Regional Authority comprises the districts of Darjeeling and adjoining areas.
Sources said both central and State governments favoured limiting the proposed Authority to just the hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
Since its inception in 2007, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been demanding a separate Gorkhaland State that includes the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district in the plains and contiguous areas in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.
KalimNews: Speaking to the reporters Roshan Giri said that we had a positive discussion on SSC, recruitment of staff of GRA and regularisation of contractual staff of present DGHC.
GJM hopeful- ‘Tripartite level talks in Delhi satisfactory'GJM wants plains of north Bengal under the jurisdiction of the interim authority
TT, Siliguri:Hill talks in Delhi, rallies in Siliguri Police stop a rally taken out by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on NH55 near Panchnoi on the outskirts of Siliguri on Monday, the day an official-level tripartite talks on Darjeeling was held in Delhi. The rallyists were dispersed by the law enforcers. Two anti-Morcha forums of Siliguri also demonstrated and took out rallies to protest the tripartite meeting. The plains outfits, which usually call strikes on the days the talks are held, did not resort to shutdown tactics this time, which came as a huge relief to the people, puja organisers and businessmen. While the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee organised a public meeting at Baghajatin Park followed by a rally, Amra Bangalee observed a Black Day and resorted to a day-long agitation at Hashmi Chowk. The rally taken out by the Bhasha Banchao Committee was stopped near the central bus terminus by the police. The protesters burnt effigies of Morcha leaders Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri before dispersing. Picture by Kundan Yolmo
SNS, DARJEELING, 11 OCT: Though there was no breakthrough at the official level tripartite talks held in New Delhi today, the GJMM leaders expressed confidence over the contentious issues related to composition of the proposed interim council and land rights over the tea plantations in the Darjeeling Hills and termed the talks held here to be positive and successful.
With the success of today's official meeting, the GJMM leaders will have to participate in the final political level talks to ink the interim setup proposal for the Hills. In the one and half hour meeting in North Block, New Delhi, the GJMM tabled their demands and an agreement between the parties participating in the talks has been reached over many such demands.
Both the State government and the Central government have agreed to concede the demands including that of the the School Service Commission and power to appoint Group C and D staffs to the new administrative body as demanded by the GJMM. The talk for regularisation of more than 6,321 casual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council also as demanded by the Morcha was also successful.
Though the talks were quite successful, many contentious issues have been left to be taken up during the political level talks scheduled to take place before Deepawali.
The dates for the political round of talks have not been finalised yet. Mr Harkha Bahadur Chettri, spokesperson for the GJMM said from New Delhi: “the contentious issues like finalisation of the nomenclature of the new setup, transfer of tea gardens (tauzi department), territory and composition of the new setup and the legislative powers of the new body have been left out to be taken up during the political round of talks”.
Conducting elections or as proposed by the GJMM will also be taken up later. The GJMM have stressed that the interim body is a temporary one and therefore they are not in favour of holding election. The state and the central governments have not agreed to the idea of nominating members in the new interim set-up that is being envisaged for the Hills. The central government was represented by NS Kalsi (Joint secretary, Govt. of India) while the state government had Mr Samar Ghosh (chief secretary) and Mr GD Gautam (home secretary) participating in the talks with the GJMM. The official and secretary level talks on the finalisation of the interim setup draft came to an end with today's meeting. The new administrative setup for the Darjeeling Hills will be finalised by the end of this Deepawali.
ASESEUEA organised open debate on Pink-Card and Residential Certificate
KalimNews: Speaking to the reporters Roshan Giri said that we had a positive discussion on SSC, recruitment of staff of GRA and regularisation of contractual staff of present DGHC.
GJM hopeful- ‘Tripartite level talks in Delhi satisfactory'GJM wants plains of north Bengal under the jurisdiction of the interim authority
TH, KOLKATA, 11 October: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership on Monday expressed hope that outstanding issues related to setting up of an interim authority for the Darjeeling region would be resolved soon after sorting out remaining differences with the Centre and the West Bengal government at “the political level”.
“The contentious issues related to territorial jurisdiction, whether the members of the interim authority are to be elected or nominated and its legislative powers will be matters to be taken up at the next round of talks which will be at a political level,” JM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hin du over telephone from New Delhi shortly after a round of “official level” tripartite talks.
“All official level talks on the proposed interim authority are over. The outstanding issues can only be sorted out at political level discussions, the date of which is yet to be determined”, he added.
Mr. Giri described as “satisfactory” the tripartite talks that were attended by, among others, Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, Joint Secretary (Home Affairs), and West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh.
Mr. Ghosh said the three main issues including the one involving the question of whether or not new areas be brought under the command of the interim authority (besides those presently under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) would have to be taken up in talks at a higher level.
The GJM leadership and the State Government are not in agreement on the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed body with the former demanding the inclusion of Gorkha-dominated areas in the Terai and Dooars region of north Bengal.
The stand of the State Government is that the areas to be brought under the interim authority should not extend the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The GJM, however, is hopeful that the State Government will “concede at least some if not all the areas demanded” for inclusion under the interim authority.
TT, Siliguri:Hill talks in Delhi, rallies in Siliguri Police stop a rally taken out by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on NH55 near Panchnoi on the outskirts of Siliguri on Monday, the day an official-level tripartite talks on Darjeeling was held in Delhi. The rallyists were dispersed by the law enforcers. Two anti-Morcha forums of Siliguri also demonstrated and took out rallies to protest the tripartite meeting. The plains outfits, which usually call strikes on the days the talks are held, did not resort to shutdown tactics this time, which came as a huge relief to the people, puja organisers and businessmen. While the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee organised a public meeting at Baghajatin Park followed by a rally, Amra Bangalee observed a Black Day and resorted to a day-long agitation at Hashmi Chowk. The rally taken out by the Bhasha Banchao Committee was stopped near the central bus terminus by the police. The protesters burnt effigies of Morcha leaders Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri before dispersing. Picture by Kundan Yolmo SNS, DARJEELING, 11 OCT: Though there was no breakthrough at the official level tripartite talks held in New Delhi today, the GJMM leaders expressed confidence over the contentious issues related to composition of the proposed interim council and land rights over the tea plantations in the Darjeeling Hills and termed the talks held here to be positive and successful.
With the success of today's official meeting, the GJMM leaders will have to participate in the final political level talks to ink the interim setup proposal for the Hills. In the one and half hour meeting in North Block, New Delhi, the GJMM tabled their demands and an agreement between the parties participating in the talks has been reached over many such demands.
Both the State government and the Central government have agreed to concede the demands including that of the the School Service Commission and power to appoint Group C and D staffs to the new administrative body as demanded by the GJMM. The talk for regularisation of more than 6,321 casual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council also as demanded by the Morcha was also successful.
Though the talks were quite successful, many contentious issues have been left to be taken up during the political level talks scheduled to take place before Deepawali.
The dates for the political round of talks have not been finalised yet. Mr Harkha Bahadur Chettri, spokesperson for the GJMM said from New Delhi: “the contentious issues like finalisation of the nomenclature of the new setup, transfer of tea gardens (tauzi department), territory and composition of the new setup and the legislative powers of the new body have been left out to be taken up during the political round of talks”.
Conducting elections or as proposed by the GJMM will also be taken up later. The GJMM have stressed that the interim body is a temporary one and therefore they are not in favour of holding election. The state and the central governments have not agreed to the idea of nominating members in the new interim set-up that is being envisaged for the Hills. The central government was represented by NS Kalsi (Joint secretary, Govt. of India) while the state government had Mr Samar Ghosh (chief secretary) and Mr GD Gautam (home secretary) participating in the talks with the GJMM. The official and secretary level talks on the finalisation of the interim setup draft came to an end with today's meeting. The new administrative setup for the Darjeeling Hills will be finalised by the end of this Deepawali.
Protest over Tamang murder
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Defense Minister on a three days visit to Sikkim
Prabin Khaling, GANGTOK, October 11: Union Minister of State for Defense Dr MM Pallam Raju is scheduled to visit Sikkim for a three day visit starting from tomorrow. He is also the chairman of Border Roads Development Board.
Border Roads Organization (BRO) Director General Lt General MC Badhani is accompanying the Minister of State for his visit of Sikkim, informs a BRO release.
The release informs that during the visit, the two dignitaries will be reviewing the progress of works being undertaken by Project Swastik of BRO on Sikkim’s lifeline NH 31A and strategic road of Jawaharlal Nehru Marg which connects Gangtok with Indo-China border at Nathu La.
Project Swastik of BRO which looks after the connectivity issues of Sikkim and parts of North Bengal has three widening projects at hand- North Sikkim highway (180 kms, Rs. 600 crore), Gangtok-Nathu La road (66 km, Rs. 495 crore) and NH 31 A (96 km, survey has not been completed on the West Bengal side, Rs. 73.9 crore for the Sikkim side). The first two projects are scheduled be completed by 2015.
The Union Minister of State will also be inaugurating tomorrow the newly constructed ‘cut and cover’ tunnel along NH 31 A at Bardang, some 35 km away from here.
The 61.6 m tunnel at Bardang is first of its kind in Sikkim and only second to be constructed in the country, BRO said. The tunnel will mitigate problems of landslides at Bardang faced by commuters on the NH 31A, the lifeline of Sikkim.
The Bardang stretch is notorious for its slides which have snapped Sikkim’s connectivity in the past during monsoons and the BRO had zeroed in the ‘cut and cover’ tunnel as a permanent solution.The tunnel has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 677 lakh by the BRO and is suitable for two way traffic. The tunnel will ensure all weather traffic movement for highway users at the Bardang slide, BRO said.
The Project Swastik had deployed five concrete mixers, a concrete pump, a road roller, JCB, bulldozer, crane and generator set since November, last year. Sixty unskilled and twenty skilled labours worked around the clock and completed the work within 11 months of short period, it was informed.
Meanwhile the NH 31 portion in Gangtok is getting a face lift in view of the visit of the Minister of State for Defense and the BRO Director General. The pot holes and worn out portions in the road stretch are being cleared by the Project Swastik. During this exercise which started a couple of days ago, Gangtok is witnessing heavy traffic jams during the day hours.
Defense Minister on a three days visit to Sikkim
Prabin Khaling, GANGTOK, October 11: Union Minister of State for Defense Dr MM Pallam Raju is scheduled to visit Sikkim for a three day visit starting from tomorrow. He is also the chairman of Border Roads Development Board.
Border Roads Organization (BRO) Director General Lt General MC Badhani is accompanying the Minister of State for his visit of Sikkim, informs a BRO release.
The release informs that during the visit, the two dignitaries will be reviewing the progress of works being undertaken by Project Swastik of BRO on Sikkim’s lifeline NH 31A and strategic road of Jawaharlal Nehru Marg which connects Gangtok with Indo-China border at Nathu La.
Project Swastik of BRO which looks after the connectivity issues of Sikkim and parts of North Bengal has three widening projects at hand- North Sikkim highway (180 kms, Rs. 600 crore), Gangtok-Nathu La road (66 km, Rs. 495 crore) and NH 31 A (96 km, survey has not been completed on the West Bengal side, Rs. 73.9 crore for the Sikkim side). The first two projects are scheduled be completed by 2015.
The Union Minister of State will also be inaugurating tomorrow the newly constructed ‘cut and cover’ tunnel along NH 31 A at Bardang, some 35 km away from here.
The 61.6 m tunnel at Bardang is first of its kind in Sikkim and only second to be constructed in the country, BRO said. The tunnel will mitigate problems of landslides at Bardang faced by commuters on the NH 31A, the lifeline of Sikkim.
The Bardang stretch is notorious for its slides which have snapped Sikkim’s connectivity in the past during monsoons and the BRO had zeroed in the ‘cut and cover’ tunnel as a permanent solution.The tunnel has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 677 lakh by the BRO and is suitable for two way traffic. The tunnel will ensure all weather traffic movement for highway users at the Bardang slide, BRO said.
The Project Swastik had deployed five concrete mixers, a concrete pump, a road roller, JCB, bulldozer, crane and generator set since November, last year. Sixty unskilled and twenty skilled labours worked around the clock and completed the work within 11 months of short period, it was informed.
Meanwhile the NH 31 portion in Gangtok is getting a face lift in view of the visit of the Minister of State for Defense and the BRO Director General. The pot holes and worn out portions in the road stretch are being cleared by the Project Swastik. During this exercise which started a couple of days ago, Gangtok is witnessing heavy traffic jams during the day hours.
Telangana Panel to submit report
PTI, Adilabad (AP), Oct 11: The Srikrishna Committee, appointed by the Centre to go into the Telangana issue, would suggest multiple solutions, its Member-Secretary V K Duggal said today.
"We have been asked to suggest a range of solutions and we hope to give multiple solutions or multiple ways forward through which the issue can be handled," he said.
He hoped the suggestions of the five-member panel would be satisfactory to the largest number of people.
Earlier the committee members undertook a field visit to Adilabad district in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.
During the public interaction, some persons voiced the separate Telangana demand.
Last month, Duggal, a former Union Home Secretary, had said in Hyderabad that the committee would examine a range of solutions on the issue and recommend optimal solutions as a way forward.
"We have been asked to suggest a range of solutions and we hope to give multiple solutions or multiple ways forward through which the issue can be handled," he said.
He hoped the suggestions of the five-member panel would be satisfactory to the largest number of people.
Earlier the committee members undertook a field visit to Adilabad district in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.
During the public interaction, some persons voiced the separate Telangana demand.
Last month, Duggal, a former Union Home Secretary, had said in Hyderabad that the committee would examine a range of solutions on the issue and recommend optimal solutions as a way forward.
Tunnel ready to skirt rubble- Junior defence minister to review NH work today
 |
| Workers repair NH31A in Gangtok on Monday ahead of Pallam Raju’s visit. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
TT, Gangtok, Oct. 11: Sikkim’s first cut-and-cover tunnel constructed on NH31A to mitigate disruptions arising from landslides will be opened to traffic at Bardang tomorrow.
“The 61.6-metre tunnel at Bardang is the first of its kind in Sikkim and second to be constructed in the country. The tunnel will mitigate problems of landslides faced by commuters on NH31A,” said A.K. Singh, the executive engineer of Project Swastik.
NH31A, the lifeline of Sikkim, is cut off frequently with mudslides hitting the road frequently at Bardang.
Singh said the tunnel would be inaugurated tomorrow by Union minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju at Bardang, around 35km from here. Raju, who is also the chairman of the Border Roads Development Board, will be in Sikkim for two days. He will be accompanied by BRO director general Lt Gen. M.C. Badhani.
The tunnel construction, taken up under BRO’s Project Swastik, started in November last year. Five concrete mixers, a concrete pump, road roller, JCB, dozer, crane and a generator set were pressed into service by the BRO.
“The tunnel has been constructed at a cost of Rs 677 lakh by the BRO and is suitable for two-way traffic. The tunnel will ensure all weather traffic movement for highway users. Sixty unskilled and 20 skilled labourers worked round the clock and completed the tunnel in 11 months,” said Singh.
The cut-and-cover tunnel is the one that is raised above the surface of the earth with walls and capping beams. India’s first cut-and-cover tunnel is in Meghalaya.
During the visit, the minister will review the progress of works on Sikkim’s lifeline, NH31A, and on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg connecting Gangtok with Nathu-la. The JN Marg had been closed for two months because of repeated mudslides at 17th Mile before being opened to traffic on October 8. Raju will go to Nathu-la on Wednesday morning and oversee the upgrade work on JN Marg.
The part of NH31A in Gangtok is getting a facelift ahead of Raju’s visit. Potholes and worn-out portions on the stretch are being repaired by BRO labourers. The repair that began a few days ago has been causing traffic jams in Gangtok.
He will return to Bagdogra from Nathu-la on a chopper on Wednesday evening.
Jumbo attack on Ramesh radar
TT, Siliguri, Oct. 11: Delhi has for the first time raised with Kathmandu the issue of human attacks on elephant herds that enter Nepal from north Bengal.
The elephants that walk along the corridor — extending from Mechi on the Indo-Nepal border to Sankosh on the Bengal-Assam border — often fall prey to bullets or die of electrocution and poisoning after they enter the neighbouring country crossing the Mechi in search of food.
Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh, who was in Banarhat in Jalpaiguri district after seven elephants were mowed down by a goods train on September 22, was apprised of the issue by foresters and wildlife NGOs.
“We had requested him to look into the issue as it can be resolved only through discussions at the bilateral level. We have received information that he had raised the issue with his counterparts in Nepal,” said Animesh Bose, a member of the state board for wildlife.
Ramesh, who attended an international symposium organised by the Kathmandu-based ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) last week, met his counterparts — Thakur Sharma and Dipak Bohara — the environment minister and the forest minister of Nepal, respectively.
Speaking on the Kathmandu visit, Ramesh said: “Biodiversity does not stop at geographical boundaries and countries must work together for protection and management of wildlife. The objective of my visit was to prepare better environment for bilateral and regional cooperation in the field of climate change and other trans-border issues on environment and wildlife conservation. We have talked over the issues with my counterparts in Nepal.”
Though Ramesh did not specify, highly placed sources confirmed that the minister did raise the elephant attack issue with his counterparts. “We had handed over maps, facts and figures to the minister to prove our point that elephants are regularly being attacked as soon as they cross the Mechi river. There had been incidents of rampant firing, electrocution and poisoning,” said a senior forest official of the state.
State forest minister Ananta Roy said although the Centre did not take any step when the Union ministry was told about the elephant deaths, Ramesh’s visit seemed to have been “productive” as the issue was brought to the notice of the Nepal government.
The resolution carries 1. The absence of state government in debate regarding Pink-Card is regretted. 2. Purification process of the historic Sikkim subject register in the custody of government must start immediately. 3. Concerning the absence of gazette notification by the state government on Pink-Card, its implementation process must be shelved immediately in the interest of all Sikkimese citizens residing in state until April 26, 1975. While all the political parties of the state were asked to join the debate, the ruling government including the major opposition party Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) did not participate.
The debate was chaired by the Former Lok sabha MP Pahalman Subba and coordinated by Journalist BP Bajgain while veteran journalist CD Rai; Treasurer of Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP), Diley Namgyal Barfunga; Vice President of Bharatya Janata Party Sikkim Unit, Padam Sharma; Former District Court Judge, Uday P Sharma; Member of Nagarik Sangharsa Samity, Prem Goyal; Legal Expert Hemlal Bhandari; President of Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP), Dr AD Subba; President of Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), Tsheten Tashi Bhutia and State Committee Member of Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM), Punya Prasad Koirala were present as the speakers.
The President of ASESEUA Nabin Kiran said that the issue of Pink-Card has to be handled with care. Stressing on the importance of the debate he said that Sikkimese society is confused regarding Pink-Card which makes today’s initiative inevitable. He further said that any unlawful move of state government could give rise to agitation from association part. The points raised in the symposium by the speakers are as below:
CD Rai: Any Resolution framed by Sikkim State should not collide the Constitutution of India. Pre dominant mind is dangerous as we should firstly study the pros and cons of the Pink-Card and Residential-Certificate. Bhandari’s statement few days back that Pink-Card will replace Sikkim Subject is baseless.
Prem Goyal: Introduction of Pink-Card is intended for detaching the non Nepali business class society from Sikkim although they had been residing in the state before its merger with India. Pink-Card will act non functional outside Sikkim as it has no gazette notification and cabinet decision. Government should ensure equal status for its entire citizen before implementing any Acts in the state. Pink-Card should only be brought into force by taking all of the citizens in confidence
Padam Sharma: Debating on Pink-Card is useless as our identity as Sikkimese was already dissolved with the government notification on April 26, 1975 after Sikkim’s merger with India. Despite introducing Pink-Card, the state government should cancel the records of approx thirty one thousands influx in state as per the data of the state government’s survey, if Pink-Card is really meant to check the flow of growing population in the state. Further, is the decision of confirming citizenship falls in the jurisdiction of the state or with the central government? Now it’s time to think on technology and world economy for the up gradation of our society rather than sticking on baseless issues.
Diley Namgyal Barfunga: One should be well versed in history of Sikkim before commenting in the very issue. The state government is acting silence even after raising protests concerning Pink-Card. Government should know accurate facts and figures before implementing Pink-Card for it may give rise to problems in near future.
Dr AD Subba: State government is trying to hypnotize the general public through the issue of Pink-Card. Government is charging Pink-Card application fee of Rs 50/- per individual even after the department for collecting the deposited charged money is not mentioned whatsoever. Further, Pink-Card will be of temporary means even after it is successfully introduced in the state.
Punya Prasad Koirala: Government should come forward to relieve the commoners from the prevalent misconceptions on Pink-Card. But the absent of government representative in the debate shows that they are confused in the whole episode, even after Pink-Card was their initiative. The Central Government is unaware of whole issue as Pink-Card has no base outside Sikkim. People in villages are being forced to apply for Pink-Card, in threatening of victimization by the government officials. The officials that leaded to thirty one thousands illegal registrations in state voter’s list should be punished at the earliest rather than introducing Pink-Card.
Tsheten Tashi Bhutia: We are the citizen’s of democratic India, so we should think of national integrity rather than involving in state related issues. Such flawless attitude of state government should give rise to extremism in near future. Government should bore the responsibility to face such debates rather than adding assets. The data of Sikkim subject holders must be scrutinized before implementing Pink-Card. State government is itself issuing certificate of identity (COI) without inputting relevant data which may leads influx in Sikkim. After all, it’s high time our youths should take the charge of Mintokgang for the upliftment of the Sikkimese society.
Uday P Sharma: The very issue has never been discussed in the assembly session nor it had any cabinet discussions. Pink-Card had no stand concerning legal values but it could follow the back door entry. Chief minister Pawan Chamling debriefed himself from the whole issue stating that the matter to be discussed and scrutinized by the conscious society, but he himself had maintained several times that Sikkim lacks conscious class.
Hemlal Bhandari: Pink-Card has no socio-economic values as it lacks necessary laws. The introduction of Pink-Card on Sikkim citizens is uncertain with the gazette notification still pending. Even the time limit concerning it’s introduction is unfixed.
The open debate was followed by question answer session wherein the curiosity of audiences regarding Pink-Card was answered by the speakers.
India created history in athletics
PTI, New Delhi: India today created history by breaking the 52-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal jinx with Krishna Poonia winning the yellow metal in women''''s discus throw to become the first woman from the country to win a Commowealth Games gold here today.dia swept the event with Harwant Kaur and national record holder Seema Antil also winning the silver and bronze respectively.
Poonia's gold, which she won by throwing the discus to 61.51m, was the first gold after 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh's 440 yard race gold in the 1958 edition of the Games in Cardiff, Wales.
Harwant came up with an effort of 60.61m, a tad below her season's best of 60.66m, while national record holder Seema Antil threw the discus to a distance of 58.46m.
India created history in athletics
PTI, New Delhi: India today created history by breaking the 52-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal jinx with Krishna Poonia winning the yellow metal in women''''s discus throw to become the first woman from the country to win a Commowealth Games gold here today.Poonia's gold, which she won by throwing the discus to 61.51m, was the first gold after 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh's 440 yard race gold in the 1958 edition of the Games in Cardiff, Wales.
Harwant came up with an effort of 60.61m, a tad below her season's best of 60.66m, while national record holder Seema Antil threw the discus to a distance of 58.46m.
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