Morning Headlines:KalimNews
GJM central committee meeting postponed to 24th March.
ABGL and GNLF to file own candidates in Assembly poll.
GNLF "C" prefers vote boycott.
Leslie Chatter alleges he and .R.B.KHatiwada of CPIML were not invited in all party meeting called by GJM.
GJM central committee meeting postponed to 24th March.
ABGL and GNLF to file own candidates in Assembly poll.
GNLF "C" prefers vote boycott.
Leslie Chatter alleges he and .R.B.KHatiwada of CPIML were not invited in all party meeting called by GJM.
GNLF to organise public meeting in Kurseong.
GNWO meeting held in Kurseong in its party office for the first time with its huge number of representatives of Mirik, Sukuna, Tindharay, Soureni, Panighatta, Tung, Rangbull, Dhoteray, Sonada, Pankhabari, Giddapahar, Latpanchar and Mungpoo.
Mamata list snaps tribal-Cong ties |
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| Pranab Mukherjee, Mamata Banerjee: north Bengal calling |
TT, Siliguri, March 20: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas parishad has decided to contest from 15 seats in north Bengal, replacing the Congress with smaller parties like the KPP and the JMM in an alliance for the polls.
The Dooars-based tribal outfit has even decided to contest the Assembly polls by using the bow-and-arrow symbol of the JMM.
The Parishad decision comes closely after Mamata Banerjee announced candidates for three seats — reserved for Scheduled Tribes — that the Adivasi outfit had wanted to keep for itself in the Dooars and the Terai. The Adivasis had convinced the Congress to part with six seats, including the three for which Trinamul has announced candidates.
The Parishad leadership that met AICC members Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel in Delhi earlier this month had made it clear then that the Congress should ask its ally, the Trinamul Congress, not to contest the six seats.
In return, the Parishad had said it would support the Congress in the nine remaining seats in north Bengal. But on Friday, Mamata’s list of 228 contained the names of candidates for the two Dooars seats — Kumargram, Kalchini — and one in the Terai (Phansidewa).
“Contesting the Assembly election by forging an alliance with the Congress seems no longer possible as Trinamul has fielded candidates in three seats where we had already decided to file our nominations from,” a core committee member of the Parishad said.
“Except for these three seats, we were also going to file nominations in Nagrakata, Madarihat and Malbazar but support Congress candidates in the rest of the constituencies — that is what we had told the AICC leaders. The Congress had agreed to our condition and had also promised to highlight our demand for Sixth Schedule status for the Dooars and the Terai in their party manifesto. But now with the Trinamul fielding candidates in three of our seats, we are no longer interested in any alliance with the Congress which could not keep away Trinamul,” he added.
Sources in the tribal outfit said its core committee members had a meeting at Banarhat in Jalpaiguri district immediately after Mamata’s announcement of the Trinamul list.
Now, the outfit’s priority is an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP).
“We had a meeting with KPP and JMM leaders earlier this month in Siliguri. They had agreed to support our candidates in the election. A delegation of our core committee members will go to Ranchi on March 25, where the symbol is likely to be handed over to our members at the JMM head office in Ranchi,” he said.
Although they would use the JMM symbol, the candidates would be fielded as Parishad nominees.
KPP president Atul Roy admitted that there would be an alliance with the Parishad. “We will contest the MLA polls with an alliance with the Parishad,” he said.
The Parishad, however, has not yet intimated its decision to the Congress.
“We have not communicated anything officially to the Congress. We will make our stand clear as soon as the Congress candidate list is announced," said Tezkumar Toppo, the state secretary of the Parishad.
“We have also deferred the announcement of our list of candidates for the upcoming poll, which we were supposed to announce today. We will declare it by March 23,” he said.
Arms dealer and buyer arrested“We have also deferred the announcement of our list of candidates for the upcoming poll, which we were supposed to announce today. We will declare it by March 23,” he said.
TT, Raiganj, March 20: The CID has arrested an arms supplier and a criminal charged in five murder cases and his associate who had placed an order for a large number of weapons and bomb-making material.
A five-member CID team picked up Amirul Khandakar, 30, from Karnajora here on Friday afternoon while he was travelling on a bus. A loaded clip of a 9mm pistol and an improvised firearm with bullets were also seized.
While interrogating the arms dealer, the CID found out that Biplab Chhetri had placed an order with him for a large number of weapons and a huge quantity of bomb-making material.
Sources said based on the information given by Khandakar, the CID had picked up Biplab from Hemtabad in North Dinajpur, along with his sidekick Subhojit Pal, yesterday evening. A 9mm pistol and an improvised firearm were also recovered from the duo.
Biplab had been arrested by the CID on January 3, 2010, from Chandernagore in Hooghly in connection with the murder of Biswajay Ghosh, a cameraman with a local cable channel. “The 25-year-old cameraman was murdered on November 27, 2009. Biplab had secured bail a month back,” said a source.
Cop held for ‘murder’
TT, Jalpaiguri, March 20:A constable posted in Darjeeling was arrested yesterday on charges of murdering his wife who was found hanging at her in-laws’ house the previous night.
While Vinod Upadhayay, 28, was picked up from Darjeeling, his father Keshab Upadhayay, a former clerk in the district intelligence branch, mother, and sister-in-law were arrested from their house in Racecourse Para for allegedly murdering Saraswati for dowry.
The Upadhayays were produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate here today and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
Saraswati, from Jhapa district in Nepal, had married Vinod five years ago. They have a four-year-old daughter.
While the in-laws claimed that the 23-year-old had hung herself from the bedpost, Saraswati’s father Ganapati Acharya has lodged an FIR with Jalpaiguri police alleging that she was murdered and her body was tied to the wooden pole.
He also alleged that the Upadhayays were trying to portray the death as a case of suicide. “But we are not going to spare them. Her in-laws used to torture her regularly, both mentally and physically, demanding dowry,” he said. According to Acharya, he had “pleaded with his daughter’s mother-in-law and father-in-law repeatedly that they were not in a position to arrange for more dowry. But they kept torturing her.”
Councillor of Ward 10 Tara Roy said Saraswati used to discuss her plight with the neighbours sometimes. “We knew about the problems she had been facing. But she had never complained against her in-laws,” said neighbour Krishna Sen. She added that the Upadhayays did not like her talking to the people of the area.
Roy along with more than hundred women from the neighbourhood went to the police station last evening to protest the incident and demand action against the family.
District superintendent of police Anand Kumar said: “The body has been sent for post-mortem. Only the post-mortem report can confirm if she had been murdered or she had committed suicide.”
M.K. Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal with his family paid a visit to Kalimpong to celebrate Holi.
A five-member CID team picked up Amirul Khandakar, 30, from Karnajora here on Friday afternoon while he was travelling on a bus. A loaded clip of a 9mm pistol and an improvised firearm with bullets were also seized.
While interrogating the arms dealer, the CID found out that Biplab Chhetri had placed an order with him for a large number of weapons and a huge quantity of bomb-making material.
Sources said based on the information given by Khandakar, the CID had picked up Biplab from Hemtabad in North Dinajpur, along with his sidekick Subhojit Pal, yesterday evening. A 9mm pistol and an improvised firearm were also recovered from the duo.
Biplab had been arrested by the CID on January 3, 2010, from Chandernagore in Hooghly in connection with the murder of Biswajay Ghosh, a cameraman with a local cable channel. “The 25-year-old cameraman was murdered on November 27, 2009. Biplab had secured bail a month back,” said a source.
Cop held for ‘murder’
TT, Jalpaiguri, March 20:A constable posted in Darjeeling was arrested yesterday on charges of murdering his wife who was found hanging at her in-laws’ house the previous night.
While Vinod Upadhayay, 28, was picked up from Darjeeling, his father Keshab Upadhayay, a former clerk in the district intelligence branch, mother, and sister-in-law were arrested from their house in Racecourse Para for allegedly murdering Saraswati for dowry.
The Upadhayays were produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate here today and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
Saraswati, from Jhapa district in Nepal, had married Vinod five years ago. They have a four-year-old daughter.
While the in-laws claimed that the 23-year-old had hung herself from the bedpost, Saraswati’s father Ganapati Acharya has lodged an FIR with Jalpaiguri police alleging that she was murdered and her body was tied to the wooden pole.
He also alleged that the Upadhayays were trying to portray the death as a case of suicide. “But we are not going to spare them. Her in-laws used to torture her regularly, both mentally and physically, demanding dowry,” he said. According to Acharya, he had “pleaded with his daughter’s mother-in-law and father-in-law repeatedly that they were not in a position to arrange for more dowry. But they kept torturing her.”
Councillor of Ward 10 Tara Roy said Saraswati used to discuss her plight with the neighbours sometimes. “We knew about the problems she had been facing. But she had never complained against her in-laws,” said neighbour Krishna Sen. She added that the Upadhayays did not like her talking to the people of the area.
Roy along with more than hundred women from the neighbourhood went to the police station last evening to protest the incident and demand action against the family.
District superintendent of police Anand Kumar said: “The body has been sent for post-mortem. Only the post-mortem report can confirm if she had been murdered or she had committed suicide.”
M.K. Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal with his family paid a visit to Kalimpong to celebrate Holi.
Holi celebration in Kalimpong
चामलिङको जनतामारा नीतिको युवाशक्तिले गतिलो जवाब दिनुपर्छः भोजराज राई
प्रबिण खालिंग,कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,20 मार्च। सिक्किम प्रजातान्त्रिक मोर्चा आज राज्यमा सबै भन्दा अप्रजातान्त्रिक राजनैतिक दल साबित भएको बताउँदै पश्चिम सिक्किमको सोरेङमा सत्तारूढ एसडीएफ पार्टीका कार्यकर्ताहरूले विद्रोही नेता पीएस गोलेका समर्थकमाथि प्राणघातक हमला गरेको मामिलाई लिएर पूर्व विधायक तथा विद्रोहको निम्ति अग्रसर नेता भोजराज राईले घोर भत्सर्ना दनाएका छन्। उनले जारी गरेको एक प्रेस जनाउमा भनिएको छ, भारतको महान पर्व होलीको पूर्व सन्ध्यामा सोरेंगमा जनताको रगतको होली खेल्ने मन्त्री आर बी सुब्बा र उसको चेला जीवन गुरुङले एस डी एफ पार्टीको भविष्यको कार्यप्रणाली र तरिकालाई जनता अघि उदाङ्गो पारेर राखेको छ|
उनले अझ भनेका छन्, घटना घटेको २४ घण्टा बितिसक्दा पनि यस काण्ड बारे मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिंग नबोल्नुले मन्त्री सुब्बाको करतुतलाई उनले सहज र सही मानेको प्रमाणित भएको छ| उनले आरोप लगाउँदै भनेका छन, रगतको होली खेल्ने एस डी एफ पार्टी र उसको नाइके अनि चेला-चम्चाले अब याद राख्नु पर्छ, प्रजातन्त्रमा जनशक्ति भन्दा ठूलो केही होइन| जनताले रुचाएर कसैलाई सिंहासनमा राख्न सक्छन भने ती नै जनताले सिंहासनबाट फ्याँक्न पनि सक्छन, उनले भनेका छन् |
पूर्व विधायक राईले सोरेंगमा आर बी सुब्बाको निर्देशमा जीवन गुरुंगद्वारा काटिएका युवा राजेन तामांगको रगतले चिच्याई-चिच्याई एसडीएफ सरकारमा भोली राज्यको कुनै पनि युवामाथि प्राणघातक हमला हुनसक्छ भनेर बयान गरिरहेको दावी गरेका छन्। उनले राज्यका तमाम युवाहरुलाई आव्हान गर्दै भनेका छन्, अब पवन चामलिंगको दोहोरो, कुटिल, भ्रष्ट, गुण्डागर्दी नीतिलाई युवाशक्तिले गतिलो जवाब दिनुपर्नेछ| यसरी नै युवाहरुको भविष्यबारे चिन्ता गर्ने तमाम आमा-बाबु लगायत सिक्किमको आगामी भविष्यप्रति चिन्तित सबै बुद्धिजीवीवर्ग, राजनीतिविद अनि तमाम नागरिकले भोलिको सिक्किम उज्यालो बनाउनको लागी आज एसडीएफ पार्टीको गुण्डागर्दी सहन नगर्ने आव्हान गर्दछु, उनले भनेका छन् |
यसैगरि एस डी एफ पार्टीमा भएका तमाम नीतिवान व्यक्तित्वहरुलाई आह्वान गर्दै भनेका छन्, तपाईंहरुसँग रहेको नीति सिद्धान्तलाई यदि बचाएर राख्न चाहनुहुन्छ भने एसडीएफमा तपाईंहरुको सुविचारको कुनै महत्व छैन| एसडीएफ पार्टीमा त केवल रक्तपात र जनतामारा विचार नै हावी रहेको छ| यसैले सम्पूर्ण सिक्किमे जनता सजग भएर अन्यायको विरोध गर्दै घाइते राजेन तामांगको पक्षमा उत्रिएर क्रान्ति गर्ने समय आएको उनले ठोकुवा गरेका छन् |
यसैगरि उनले सिक्किम पुलिस र प्रशासनले जनताको पक्षमा काम गर्नुपर्ने सुझाउ दिँदै भनेका छन्, अन्तिम कुरा, सिक्किमको प्रहरी विभागले सरकारको आतंकको पक्ष नलिएर सिक्किमे जनताको पक्ष लिनेछन भन्ने कुरामा म विश्वस्त छु|
हतियारधारी युवा लिएर हिँड्ने मन्त्री सुब्बालाई झट्टै पक्राउ गर्नुपर्छः डॉ. एडी
प्रबिण खालिंग,कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,20 मार्च। पश्चिम सिक्किमको सोरेङ निर्वाचणक्षेत्रको सिङलिङमा सत्तारूढ एसडीएफ समर्थकहरूले राजेन तामाङ नामग युवामाथि प्राणघातक हमला गरेको विरोधमा सिक्किम हिमाली राज्य परिषद पार्टीले कडा भत्सर्ना जनाएको छ। पार्टी अध्यक्ष डॉ. एडी सुब्बाले यहाँको एक होटलमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन आयोजन गर्दै घटनाको कडा शब्दमा भत्सर्ना जनाएका छन्। उनले भने, एसडीएफको सरकारले जनतालाई त्रासित पार्न बाहेक अर्को कार्य केही गरेको छैन्। सिङलिङको घटनाले स्पष्ट हुन्छ सिक्किमे जनताको हितमा यो सरकारले केही गरेको छैन्।
उनले अझ भने, मन्त्री आरबी सुब्बाको वाहनमा चढेर हतियार बोक्ने एसडीएफ कार्यकर्ताहरूलाई मात्र होइऩ पुलिसले यथासिघ्र मन्त्री सुब्बालाई पनि पक्राउ गरेर जनताको अघि उभ्याउनु पर्छ। उनले यसमामिलामाथि मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले चाँडो भन्दा चाँडो हस्तक्षेप गरेर आफ्नो मन्त्रीलाई विधानसभाको सदस्यताबाट अनि मन्त्री पदबाट निष्कासित गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेका छन्। यसैगरि घटनामा संलग्न व्यक्तिहरूलाई पुलिसले कार्वाही गर्दै जनता समक्ष उभ्याउनु पर्ने माग गरेका छन्। अर्कोतिर उनले यदी यसो नगरिएको खण्डमा जनताले आफ्नो न्याय खोज्दा हुने अशान्तिबाट सरकार स्वयंले जिम्मेवारी लिनु पर्ने चेताउनी अध्यशक्ष सुब्बाले दिए।
अर्कोतिर यसरी एउटा तामाङ युवा माथि प्राण घातक हमला गराएर विधानसभामा आसन पाउनबाट बञ्चित लिम्बू अनु तामाङ समुदायमाथि फुट हालेर आफ्नो दुनो सोझ्याउने प्रयास एसडीएफ सरकारले गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए। यसैगरि उने भने, आरबी सुब्बाले आफैलाई लिम्बू समुदायको नेता सझन्छन भने आफ्नो दाज्युभाईको निम्ति राजनैतिक हक अधिकार मास्ने यो सरकारको नीतिबारे किन बोल्दैनन्।
उनले अझ भने 2004 सम्म चार जना लिम्बू समुदायको विधानसभामा प्रतिनिधि थियो अहिले कुनै पनि समष्टिमा यो लागु नहुने सीमाङ्कन गर्दै लिम्बुहरू चारजनाबाट घटाएर तीन जनामा सिमित पार्ने सरकारको विरोध गर्न आरबी सुब्बा अघि आउनु पर्छ। यसका साथै जनतालाई सरकारले त्रासित बनाएर राज गरेको भए पनि जनता अब त्रासित हुन नहुने बताउँदै सोरेङमा भएको अन्याय र अत्याचारको बिरोधमा उत्रिने निधो गरिसकेको बताए। उनले भने मन्त्रीले जनताको घर दैलोमा गएर धमक्याउने कार्य गर्दा पनि मुख्यमन्त्री चुप बस्छन र कार्वीह गर्दैनन् भने त्यो घटनामा उनको पनि सहमति भएको बुझिने छ, डॉ. सुब्बाले भने।
एसडीएफ पार्टीकै विधायकले मन्त्रीको पद खारेज गर्ने माग ऱाख्यो-अरूलाई गुण्डा देख्ने मुख्यमन्त्रीले कसरी मान्छे काट्ने आदेश दिदैंछः गोले
प्रबिण खालिंग,कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,20 मार्च। सत्तारूढ एसडीएफ पार्टीको साक्खे विधायक पीएस गोलेले आफ्नै पार्टीको सरकारमा रहेको मन्त्रीलाई निष्कासन गर्ने तथा विधानसभाको सदस्यता समेत खारेज गर्ने माग गरेर राज्यको राजनैतिक परिवेशमा हलचल मच्चाएका छन्। 2009 सालको विधानसभा चुनाउ पछिनै एसडीएफको नीतिलाई समालोचना गर्दै क्रान्तिकारी विचार र परिवर्तनलाई प्राथमिकता दिएर परिवर्तित सिक्किमको निम्ति संघर्षरत अप्पर बुर्तुक निर्वाचन क्षेत्रका विद्रोही विधायक पीएस गोलेले सोरेङ च्याखुङ निर्वाचन क्षेत्रको विधायक तथा पीडब्लुडी मन्त्री आरबी सुब्बालाई उनको मन्त्री र विधायक दुवै पदबाट निष्कासित गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेका छन्।
गत 19 तारिक पश्चिम सिक्किमको सोरेङस्थित सिङलिङ निवासी राजेन चामङलाई आरबी सुब्बाको उपस्थितिमा उनका युवा कार्यकर्ताहरूले धारिलो हितायारले प्राणघातक हमला गरेपछि उठेको विवादले अहिले सिक्किमको राजनैतिक माहोल सल्किन थालेको छ। घटनाबारे प्रेस जनाउमा विधायक गोलेले भनेका छन्. एक समय भनिन्थ्यो, एसडीएफ पार्टीमा नीति र सिद्धान्त छ, प्रजातन्त्रको सिद्धान्त छ आदि आदि , तर आज सिक्किम के भइरहेको छ। प्रसंग 19 मार्चमा सोरेङमा मन्त्री आरबी सुब्बाको उपस्थितिमा उनको युथ जीवन गुरूङले राजेन तामङलाई घरमै गएर धारिलो हतियार प्रहार गरेर मार्ने प्रयास गरेको घटना हो। एसडीएफ पार्टीको कार्यकर्कात दिग्दर्शन र पार्टी साहित्य नामक पुस्तिकामा पृष्ठ 6 मा जबरजस्ती नेता हुने प्रयास होइन ? उनले प्रश्न गरेका छन्। यसैगरि विधायक गोलेले स्पष्ट रूपमा पार्टीको खोइरो खन्दै भनेका छन्, आज सिक्किमे जनताले एसडीएफ पार्टीबाट विश्वास हराईसकेका छन्। पार्टीको बचनहरूल बितेका 17 वर्षदेखि खोक्रो सावित हुँदै आएका छन्, आज एसजीएफ पार्टीले जनतालाई विश्वासमा लिएर होइन तर ज्याम-मालको असुरङाको धम्कि दिएर आफ्नो पक्षमा पार्ने प्रयास गरिरहेको उनले आरोप लगाएका छन्।
उनले अहिले एसडीएफ पार्टीमा केवल शोषक, सामन्त अनि तानाशाहहरूको बोलाबाला रहेको दावी गर्दै सोरेङमा राजेन तामाङमाथि प्राणघातक आक्रमण प्रकरणमाथि नैतिकरूपमा एसडीएफ पार्टीले झट्ट भन्दा झट्ट कार्वाही गर्दै मन्त्री आरबी सुब्बालाई मन्त्री अनि विधायक दुवै पदबाट निष्कासित गर्नुसक्नु पर्छ भन्ने माग गरेका छन्। यदी पार्टीले यसो गर्न नसकेको खण्डमा उक्त प्राणघातक आक्रमण पार्टीको आदेशमा गरेको प्रमाणित हुने किटान गरेका छन्। उऩले यो कार्वाही एसडीएफ पार्टीको दिग्दर्शन र पार्टी साहित्य नामक पुस्तिकाको पृष्ठ 13 मा पार्टीको फसेलाहरू साझा फसेला हुन भन्ने उल्लेख गरिएको बताउँदै यदि मन्त्री सुब्बालाई पार्टीले बचाउने कार्य गरे राजेन तामङ माथिको आक्रमण पार्टीको साथा फसेलाको रूपमा मानिलिइऩे छ। उनले मुख्यन्त्री पवन चामलिङमाति प्रहार गर्दै भनेका छन्, मुख्यामन्त्री स्वयंले भाषणहरूमा अरूलाई गुण्डा भन्दै हिँड्दैछन भने उनकै मन्त्रीलाई चाही जनता काट्ने निर्दैश दिँदैछन?
यस घटनामा केवल जीवन गुरूङ र मन्त्री सुब्बामात्र दोषी नरहेर मास्टमाइण्ड को हो भन्ने तर्फ पनि खोजि गरिनु पर्ने माग विधायक गोलेले गरेका छन्। उनले भनेका छन्, जनता काट्ने, प्रेस मिडियाको टाउको फुटाउने सरकार र पार्टीबाट अब जनता वाक्कै बनिसकेका छन्। उनले अझ भनेका छन्, तामाङ माथिको प्राणघातक आक्रमम पछि जनताले मन्त्रीको गाडी तोडफोड गर्नु जनता असह्य भएर क्षणिक उत्तेजनामा आएको हुन, यसबाट पार्टीले पाठ लिएको राम्रो नत्र भने भोलि शान्तीप्रेमी जनता लामो समयको अशान्तिमा ओरेलिए भने यसको सोझो दोष एसडीएफ पार्टीलाई जानेछ अनि यसको परिणा सीमान्त राज्यमा राम्रो हुनेछैन, उनले चेताउनी दिएका छन्।
अन्तराष्ट्रिय गुराँस उत्सव 2010-11 को समापन समारोह हुने
प्रबिण खालिंग,कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,20 मार्च। सिक्किम वन विभागको आयोजनमा आगामी 25 मार्चदेखि शुरू हुने अन्तराष्ट्रिय गुराँस उत्सव 2010-11 को समापन समारोह पश्चिम सिक्किमको हिलेबाट शुरु भएर उत्तरेमा 28 अप्रेलको दिन सम्पन्न हुने वन तथा पर्यावरण मन्त्री भीम ढुङ्गेलले जानकारी दिए। यहाको वन वन विभागको सचिवालयमा आयोजित पत्रकार सम्मेलनलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मन्त्री ढुङ्गेलले महिना दिन व्यापी यो समापन कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न परम्परागत खाद्य उत्सव,पर्यटकीय गन्तव्यहरूको शुरुआत, याक सफारी, हेलीकप्टर जोय राईड, ट्रैकिङ, माउन्टेन बाइकिङ आदी रोचक कार्यक्रम आयोजन गरिने बताए। यस उत्सवको निम्ति 22 लाख रूपियाँ खर्च निश्चित गरिएको उनले जनकारी दिए। यसका साथै पश्चिम सिक्किमको सबै निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा रहेको विभिन्न पर्यटन विकास समितिहरूको अगुवाईमा सम्पन्न हुने सबै कार्यक्रमहरूमा स्थानीय सहभागित व्यापक रहने हुनाले यसले धेरै सहयोग पुगेको उनले बताए। यसैगरि विभिन्न मेला र कार्यक्रमहरूलमा सालभरिनै यस उत्सवको वारेमा जानकारी गराउँदै प्रचार प्रसार गरिएको हुनाले प्रशस्तै विदेशी पर्यटकहरूले सहभागिता जनाउने आशा व्यक्त गरे। उनले पछिल्लो वर्ष सिंग्वा गुराँउ उद्यान उत्तर सिक्किमबाट शुरु भएको उत्सव अहिले समापनमा आइपुग्दासम्मम व्यापक रूपमा सफल भएको बताए। यसैगरि गत वर्ष सिङ्बामा दुइवटा नयाँ प्रजातिको गुऱाँस फेला पारेको तथा त्यो दुइ प्रजातिलाई जोड्दा अहिले सिक्किममा 38 प्रजातिको गुराँस विद्मान रहेको मन्त्री ढुङ्गेलले बताए। यसैगरि बर्सेमा पनि 36 प्रजातिको गुराँस पाइऩे उनले दावी गरे। पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा वन विभागका संयुक्त निर्देशक कर्मा लेग्से, वन संरक्षक गट लेप्चा लगायात अन्य प्रतिनिधिहरूको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।
SHRA meet mulls ways to maintain Pelling’s tourism sanctity
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, March 20:Pelling, the pioneer of village tourism in Sikkim at 6250 Ft at West district is reeling under acute problems in recent days, which is likely to impact the town best known as the base camp and transit point for all tourism activities in the district. Now, the hoteliers and restaurants are facing serious water, drainage, garbage and energy related problems.
In an attempt to work out strategies to improve basic prerequisites for around 100 hotels and restaurants in Pelling area, the Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association held a coordination meeting with the local hoteliers and restaurant owners at a local hotel in Pelling today.The meeting that was attended by members of Pelling Tourism Development Association (PTDA) members, other tourism stakeholders and government department officials deliberated on the issue and problem faced in the locality to maintain and promote quality, rural and healthy tourism in Pelling and West Sikkim in general.
The SHRA team comprising by president Bhanu Pratap Rasaily, vice-president Arthur Targain, General Secretary Vivek Pradhan and assistant general secretary Basu Upreti heard the grievances faced by the hoteliers in Pelling.
The multi-taxation system imposed by the different departments of state government, acquit shortage of petroleum gas cylinder and mismanagement of water supply by the department of Public Health, Security and Engineering were the major concerns and complaints of the local hoteliers.
It is informed that the water supply which was provided by the department was washed away by the landslide, is not heard after the several complaints and request were made to the district officials of concerned department. The hoteliers are compelled brought water from other private source through other means of sources.
Garbage management is another issue of concerned Pelling nowadays, and it reflects the planning and management of concerned departments while promoting Sikkim as tourist destination. Pelling, pioneer village destination, tourism department fail to promote into eco-destination in coordination with line departments.
SHRA President Bhanu Pratap Rasaily said Peeling is a ‘pearl’ of Sikkim tourism and reflects Sikkim’s interior tourism quality, thus should be managed with great care. Rich in bio-diversity and culture, tradition and heritage business Sikkim added additional attraction in tourism industries. He also appealed for the stakeholders’ cooperation maintain Pelling’s tourism popularity in Sikkim’s tourism map.
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, March 20:Pelling, the pioneer of village tourism in Sikkim at 6250 Ft at West district is reeling under acute problems in recent days, which is likely to impact the town best known as the base camp and transit point for all tourism activities in the district. Now, the hoteliers and restaurants are facing serious water, drainage, garbage and energy related problems.
In an attempt to work out strategies to improve basic prerequisites for around 100 hotels and restaurants in Pelling area, the Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association held a coordination meeting with the local hoteliers and restaurant owners at a local hotel in Pelling today.The meeting that was attended by members of Pelling Tourism Development Association (PTDA) members, other tourism stakeholders and government department officials deliberated on the issue and problem faced in the locality to maintain and promote quality, rural and healthy tourism in Pelling and West Sikkim in general.
The SHRA team comprising by president Bhanu Pratap Rasaily, vice-president Arthur Targain, General Secretary Vivek Pradhan and assistant general secretary Basu Upreti heard the grievances faced by the hoteliers in Pelling.
The multi-taxation system imposed by the different departments of state government, acquit shortage of petroleum gas cylinder and mismanagement of water supply by the department of Public Health, Security and Engineering were the major concerns and complaints of the local hoteliers.
It is informed that the water supply which was provided by the department was washed away by the landslide, is not heard after the several complaints and request were made to the district officials of concerned department. The hoteliers are compelled brought water from other private source through other means of sources.
Garbage management is another issue of concerned Pelling nowadays, and it reflects the planning and management of concerned departments while promoting Sikkim as tourist destination. Pelling, pioneer village destination, tourism department fail to promote into eco-destination in coordination with line departments.
SHRA President Bhanu Pratap Rasaily said Peeling is a ‘pearl’ of Sikkim tourism and reflects Sikkim’s interior tourism quality, thus should be managed with great care. Rich in bio-diversity and culture, tradition and heritage business Sikkim added additional attraction in tourism industries. He also appealed for the stakeholders’ cooperation maintain Pelling’s tourism popularity in Sikkim’s tourism map.
Tibetans vote for post-Dalai govt head
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 20: Tashi Wangdi was a strapping man in his 20s when he left his phayul(fatherland) in 1959 to follow the Dalai Lama out of Tibet.
Today, at the age of 79, Wangdi was expected to take another important decision of his life: to elect the nextkalon tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan government in exile.
With the Dalai Lama firm about relinquishing his political powers, Wangdi is among the 2,000 Tibetans in the Darjeeling hills and among the 1.5 lakh across the world whose votes will determine the future of the Tibetan struggle.
Tibetans vote for post-Dalai govt head
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| Tibetan women queue up with their green books in Darjeeling on Sunday to vote. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Today, at the age of 79, Wangdi was expected to take another important decision of his life: to elect the nextkalon tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan government in exile.
With the Dalai Lama firm about relinquishing his political powers, Wangdi is among the 2,000 Tibetans in the Darjeeling hills and among the 1.5 lakh across the world whose votes will determine the future of the Tibetan struggle.
“I will vote for anyone who follows His Holiness, the Dalai Lama’s path,” said Wangdi, moments before casting his vote at the Tibetan Welfare Centre in Darjeeling.
The kalon tripa election is important in more than one way this time. If the Dalai Lama does give up his post as the head of the Tibetan government in exile (the Tibetan parliament and community members are opposed to the idea), the next prime minister will have to shoulder the responsibility of politically heading the 1.5 lakh Tibetan refuges.
This is also the first time that three candidates, who are not part of the community’s religious hierarchy, are competing for the prime minister’s post.
Direct elections to the prime ministerial post started in 2001 but during the last two terms Samdhong Rinpoche, a highly distinguished monk, had been elected virtually unopposed.
Of the three prime ministerial candidates, Lobsang Sangay and Tenzin Namgyal Tethong have connections with Darjeeling. The third candidate is Kasur Tashi Wangdi.
The new prime minister will appoint the seven-member kashag (cabinet) from among the 47 members of the parliament.
Of the 47 parliament members, 10 will be elected by the Tibetan community from the three Tibetan provinces of U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham. The four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith (nature worshippers) will elect two members each, while four representatives from the West (Europe and North America) have their reserved seats. The Dalai Lama can nominate between one and three members in the parliament.
“Each voter will cast 11 votes, 10 to elect representatives of the province he comes from and one to elect the kalon tripa,” said Dhendup, 68. Most of the older generation is rooting for 62-year-old Tethong. “He is more experienced,” said Dhendup.
Tenzi Dhasel, 18, a first time voter, said all three candidates were capable. “The democratic process initiated by His Holiness must be strengthened and we are ready to respond to any campaign for Free Tibet,” she said. But like most of her generation, Tenzi is also backing 43-year-old Sangay.
“We are hopeful that the next prime minister will forward our cause. We believe Sangay is the right candidate as he is young and capable of taking on China’s challenge,” said Sangay Rinchen, 23, another first time voter.
While Sangay is a senior fellow at the Harvard Law School, Tethong is now a fellow at the Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford University. Wangdi is the Dalai Lama’s representative in the European Union.
A census conducted by the Tibetan Planning Commission in 2009 showed that a little more than 89,000 Tibetan refugees are above 18 and possess the dhanglang chathel(green book showing refugee status), making them eligible to vote.
The counting will start tomorrow at the Tibetan Settlement Office in Darjeeling and the results sent to Dharamsala.
Bird posts on your wall - Found in sikkim and on facebook
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| (From top) Common kestrel, verditer flycatcher and rufous sibia found in Sikkim. Pictures by Prabin Khaling |
TT, Gangtok, March 20: Sikkim’s winged creatures have invaded the cyber world. And tweets or chirps, the account has a steady flow of regular visitors.
A Facebook group on Sikkim birds is now the rendezvous of several tech savvy bird watchers who upload pictures of species they have clicked on the social networking site.
From common-green-backed tit, verditer flycatcher and blue whistling thrush that can be spotted frequently to the exotic hornbill and ruddy shelduck seen on the higher terrain have already made it to Sikkim Birds created by Lukendra Rasaily on November 1.
Sikkim Birds has 332 members now and the number is growing steadily. The members click pictures while touring the rural areas of Sikkim and post them on the Facebook account.
The photos are usually uploaded for identification: “identify this bird” goes the catchline. “Sikkim Birds was created to cater for the needs of bird lovers around the world through Facebook. Avid birdwatchers as well as novices and onlookers are brought under one umbrella. The group is also a one-stop source of information on ornithologists, conservation of birds and books, periodicals and other theses by scholars,” said Rasaily, who is also the secretary of the Sikkim Ornithological Society established in 2005.
“Facebook has a strong presence in the world as a social networking site. Any post given by a member is seen by his friends and friends of the friends. I realised that the quickest way of introducing bird watchers and experts to each other is through the Facebook. People have computers, laptops and cellphones and can access Internet. The Sikkim Birds is definitely a medium for bird lovers to expand their network,” said Rasaily.
The need for a presence on the social networking site arose as it was felt that majority of the people who see birds almost everyday in their locality cannot identify these species. If they post the images of these birds on the site, experts can name them and explain their features. To give the account a local essence, the members are also asked to give the names of the birds in local languages like Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia.
“The idea has generated enthusiasm among the people, especially youths. People are enjoying taking pictures and posting them on Sikkim Birds. They show the pictures to their families and the elders who give local names and narrate, sometimes, folklore attached with these birds,” said Rasaily.
The group is the most important forum of the Sikkim Ornithological Society, which has around 40 members with former Sikkim chief secretary K.C. Pradhan as its chairman.
Sandeep Tambe, a forest officer posted in Sikkim, too, is a member of the group. He said 50 per cent of the birds in India were found in Sikkim and hoped that the group would help in the conservation of the species. “Sikkim Birds is more like an educational group at present but it will evolve into a major platform to talk about threats and conservation of birds.”
Clashes mar Holi in Siliguri
TT, Siliguri, March 20: Two clashes were reported from Matigara and Coolipara in the Siliguri subdivision during Holi celebrations this evening.
A councillor of Siliguri municipal corporation, Sanjay Pathak, suffered head injuries when he went to Coolipara to mediate between the two groups. At Matigara, a police jeep was damaged when two groups pelted each other with stones. Police fired three rounds of tear gas to quell the violence. The police also rounded up 11 people in the past 24 hours as part of preventive arrest during Holi.
One dead
TT, Alipurduar: A 42-year-old man died and his brother suffered injuries in a clash between two groups over a land dispute at Mujnaichar on Sunday evening. Police said Dhananjay Roy and his brother Kushan had been attacked with sharp weapons by an eight-member group in the village, 38km from here. While Dhananjay died on the spot, Kushan has been admitted to Jalpaiguri district hospital in a critical condition.
Glider bail
TT, Gangtok: American paragliders Eric Reed and Brad Sanders, arrested from Uttarey for entering Sikkim without the inner line permits, got bail on Saturday. They had sailed in from Nepal without their ILPs and violating the immigration laws as well.
Gun arrest
TT, Malda: A youth was arrested from near the bungalow of the district magistrate here with a revolver on Saturday night. Police said Babai Sarkar from Gayespur had been loitering at Brindabani ground in front of the DM’s bungalow when he was arrested.
3 injured
TT, Gangtok: Three persons were seriously injured when a trailer truck collided with a car and fell into a 200-feet deep gorge near Singtam on Sunday afternoon. Police said the truck was returning to Singtam, about 35km form here, when the accident took place. The driver of the truck, Ronald Chhetri, and two occupants of the car were admitted to hospitals.
Clashes mar Holi in Siliguri
TT, Siliguri, March 20: Two clashes were reported from Matigara and Coolipara in the Siliguri subdivision during Holi celebrations this evening.
A councillor of Siliguri municipal corporation, Sanjay Pathak, suffered head injuries when he went to Coolipara to mediate between the two groups. At Matigara, a police jeep was damaged when two groups pelted each other with stones. Police fired three rounds of tear gas to quell the violence. The police also rounded up 11 people in the past 24 hours as part of preventive arrest during Holi.
One dead
TT, Alipurduar: A 42-year-old man died and his brother suffered injuries in a clash between two groups over a land dispute at Mujnaichar on Sunday evening. Police said Dhananjay Roy and his brother Kushan had been attacked with sharp weapons by an eight-member group in the village, 38km from here. While Dhananjay died on the spot, Kushan has been admitted to Jalpaiguri district hospital in a critical condition.
Glider bail
TT, Gangtok: American paragliders Eric Reed and Brad Sanders, arrested from Uttarey for entering Sikkim without the inner line permits, got bail on Saturday. They had sailed in from Nepal without their ILPs and violating the immigration laws as well.
Gun arrest
TT, Malda: A youth was arrested from near the bungalow of the district magistrate here with a revolver on Saturday night. Police said Babai Sarkar from Gayespur had been loitering at Brindabani ground in front of the DM’s bungalow when he was arrested.
3 injured
TT, Gangtok: Three persons were seriously injured when a trailer truck collided with a car and fell into a 200-feet deep gorge near Singtam on Sunday afternoon. Police said the truck was returning to Singtam, about 35km form here, when the accident took place. The driver of the truck, Ronald Chhetri, and two occupants of the car were admitted to hospitals.
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