दलीय अनेकता नै घिसिङ प्रवेशको कारण-क्रामाकपा...Gurung reels off JAKS scores - Job regularisation a priority: morcha chief... Assam ‘fraud’ tracked to hills साहित्य परिषद अमूल्य निधी हो दलालहरूले बेच्न पाउँदैनः छेत्री... भ्रष्ट्राचार विरूद्ध 3 मईको दि

दलीय अनेकता नै घिसिङ प्रवेशको कारण-क्रामाकपा

मनोज वोगटी, कामलिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 29 अप्रेल। गोर्खा राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चाले गोर्खाल्याण्ड छोड़ेर छैटौं अनुसूची(जो जनताको आकांक्षा होइन)को वकालती गरेर जनतालाई धोका दियो भन्दै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले गोरामुमोको अस्तित्व नै नष्ट गर्दै यसका नेताहरूलाई पहाड़बाट खेदाउन कार्य गरेपनि अहिले खेदाइएका गोरामुमो नेताहरू छैटौं अनुसूचीकै वकालती गर्न पहाड़ फर्किएका छन्‌। यसो हुनुको प्रमुख कारण नै दलीय एकता रहेको गोजमुमोबाहेक अर्को ठूलो दल भनिएको क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीले बताएको छ। चुनावी समिक्षासितै राजनैतिक परिस्थितिमाथि पनि समिक्षा गरिएको बताउँदै क्रामाकपा आञ्चलिक सचिव किशोर प्रधानले आज भने, जब गोरामुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्ड छोड़ेर छैटौं अनुसूचीको वकालत गर्न थाल्यो, गोरामुमो पनि आफ्नै कार्यचरित्रको कारण केन्द्र र राज्यले थापेको बल्छिमा परेर जनाकांक्षा विरोधी कुरामा राजनैतिक सम्झौता गर्न बाध्य भएको क्रामाकपाले बुझेको थियो।
त्यससमय पनि यदि छैटौं अनुसूची नै माग्न गोरामुमो बाध्य बन्छ भने यस्तो किसिमको छैटौं अनुसूची हुनुपर्छ भन्ने दाबी राख्दै गोरामुमोलाई बीस सूत्री सुझाव राखेको थियो। गोरामुमोले पत्तो दिएन। यसकारण गोरामुमोले दाबी गरिरहेकोे छैटौं अनुसूचीलाई स्ट्याण्डिङ कमिटिद्वारा खारेज गराउन पहाड़का सबै दलहरू एक हुनपरेको थियो। दलहरू एक त्यसकारण एक भएका थिए कि गोरामुमोले छैटौं अनुसूची जनताको आकांक्षाको विरोधमा बहाली गर्ने सोंचेको थियो। तर त्यसबेला छैटौं अनुसूचीको कारण एक भएका दलहरू अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कारण फुटेर अलग अलग बनेको छ। यसको फाइदा राज्य र केन्द्रले मात्र होइन सुवास घिसिङले पनि लिइरहेको छ। प्रधानले छैटौं अनुसूची खारेज गर्न एक भएका दलहरू नै फुटेपछि फेरि खेदिएका गोरामुमो नेताहरू छैटौं अनुसूचीको मुद्दा बोकेर आएको अनि यसमा सबै दलहरूको भूल रहेको जनाए।
तिनले गोरामुमोले झैं गोजमुमोले पनि अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको वकालती गरिरहेको अनि केन्द्र र राज्यले मोर्चालाई पनि आफ्नो बल्छिमा पारेको बताउँदै राज्य र केन्द्रको बल्छि थपाईबाट बॉंच्नकै निम्ति क्रामाकपाले सर्वदलीय एकताद्वारा सामुहिकरूपले चुनाउलाई आफ्नो फाइदाकोरूपमा लिएर गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति नै जनता र दलहरू एकमत रहेको देखाउने प्रयास गरेको बताउँदै भने, तर क्रामकापाको प्रयास विफल बनाउन गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाममा अन्य कुराहरूको वकालती गर्नेहरूले षड़यन्त्र गर्न सफल बन्यो। मोर्चालाई पनि क्रामकपाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको निम्ति दइसुत्री सुझाव दिएको भए पनि कुनै पत्तो नदिएको पनि तिनले थपे।अहिले क्रामाकपा मई दिवस मनाउन कार्यक्रमको तयारीमा जुटिरहेको पनि तिनले बताए। तिनले गतवर्ष झैं भव्यरूपले हुन नसकेपनि मई दिवसलाई क्रामाकपाका अध्यक्ष अनि महासचिव लगायत अन्य नेतृत्ववर्गले सम्बोधन गर्ने बताउँदै मुख्यरूपले पहाड़बाहिर दलीय क्रार्यक्रम बनाउन क्रामाकपा व्यस्त रहेको तिनले जनाए।
गत वर्ष क्रामाकपाले मई दिवसको दिन गतिलो शक्ति प्रदर्शन नै गरेर क्रामाकपामा रहेको जनसमर्थन सबै दललाई मात्र होइन राज्य र केन्द्रलाई पनि देखाएको थियो। क्रामाकपाको कार्यक्रममा उपस्थिति यही विशाल भीड़लाई हेरेर नै मोर्चापछिको बलियो दलकोरूपमा क्रामाकपालाई हेर्न थालिएको थियो। चुनाउलाई दलीय एकताकोरूपमा प्रयोग गर्ने प्रयास गरेपनि गोर्खाल्याण्डपन्थी विचारधारा विपरित कार्य गर्ने गलहरूको स्वार्थको कारण दलीय एकताको परिस्थिति र एउटै मुद्दाको निम्ति सम्पूर्ण जनमत देखाउने अवसर नरहेकोले  चुनाउलाई क्रामाकपाले महत्व नदिएको बताउँदै तिनले भने, चुनाउको परिणाम के हुन्छ भन्ने कुरामा क्रामाकपा जॉंदैन किन भने यसको परिणाम क्रामाकपालाई थाहा छ। चुनाउको परिणाम भनेकै गोर्खाल्याण्डको जनमत विभाजित हुनु हो। तिनल भने, क्रामाकपा अहिले दिल्ली र कोलकातामा त्यहॉंका विभिन्न समुदायका बुद्दिजीवी, वरिष्ट नागरिक अनि दल प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई लिएर गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति कार्यक्रम बनाउने दिशामा सक्रिय छ। जेएनयुमा कार्यक्रम गर्ने तय भइसकेको छ। कोलकातामा पनि कार्यक्रम हुनेछ। अब क्षेत्रीय कार्यक्रमलाई धिमा गर्दै राष्ट्रिय कार्यक्रमहरूमा क्रामाकपाले तीब्रता दिने छ।
नेपाली साहित्य परिषद भवन विवाद
साहित्य परिषद अमूल्य निधी हो दलालहरूले बेच्न पाउँदैनः छेत्री
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 29 अप्रेल। सिक्किमेली नेपाली साहित्य र संस्कृतिको एकमात्र शिर्षस्थ संस्थान नेपाली साहित्य परिषद् भवनलाई लीजमा दिएको घटनाको विरोध राज्यभरि ड़ढेलो सक्लेसरी शुरु भएको छ। साहित्यकार, कलाकार, साधरण नागरिक सितै अब राजनैतिक व्यक्तिहरूले पनि परिषद्को कार्यकारी समितिको निर्णय गलत बताउँदै विरोधमा उत्रिएका छन्। भारतीय जनता पार्टीका राज्य अध्यक्ष पदम बहादुर छेत्रीले परिषद्को कार्यकारी समितिको खोइरो उतारे। उनले भने, म आज राजनैतिक मञ्चबाट होइन तऱ साहित्यको इमान्दार पाठक र कविताको मर्म बुझ्ने व्यक्तिको रूपमा उभिएर यसको विरोध गर्दैछु। उनले भने, राज्यमा एकमात्र यस्तो संस्थान छ जसमा नेपाली साहित्यको विकास सम्बर्धन र स्याहार हुन सक्छ त्यसलाई पनि दलालहरू लगाएर बन्दकी राख्ने कार्य गर्नु कहाँसम्मको न्याया संगत हो। नेपाली साहित्य परिषदमा बुद्धिजिवी साहित्यकारहरू भेला भएर चिन्तन गर्ने ठाउँमा अब परमिशन लिए पस्नुपर्ने बाध्यता सिर्जना गरिन्दैछन् । 

उनले कार्यकारी समितिसित प्रश्न तेर्साउँदै भने, परिषद घाटामा परेको कुरा गरेर पन्साउऩे काम हुँदैछ के परिषद्को भवन बनिन्दा किराय उठाउने निधो गरिएको थियो, पैसाले साहित्यलाई जोख्ने कमिशन र भ्रष्ट्राचारले कमाएको पैसाले पुरस्कार किनेर साहित्यकार भइटोबल्नेहरूले साहित्यको मुल्य बुझ्दैनन्। उनले भने साहित्य परिषद व्यावसायीक संस्थान होइन यसलाई पैसाको खाँचो पऱ्यो भने सबै सिक्किमेले पेट काटेर पनि पैसा दिन्छन् तर यसको मूल्य लगाउने काम हुँदैछ तर कार्यकारी समितिले बुझ्नुपर्छ साहित्य परिषद अमूल्य चिज हो यसको तुलना पैसासित गरिनु हुँदैन्। उनले कडा शब्दमा भने गैर साहित्यिक र कुमिशनले कमाएको धनले किनेको पुरस्कार हत्याएर कार्यकारी समितिको पदमा बसेर दलालीको काम गर्दै साहित्य परिषद् जस्तो गरीमामय भवनलाई बन्दकी हाल्ने निच कार्य गरिन्दैछ। यसमा पुराना कार्यकारी समिति र वर्तमान कार्यकारी समितिका सदस्यहरूले नै गलत नियतले गरेको कार्यको प्रतिफल अहिले फलेको बताए। उनले अबिलम्ब साहित्य परिषद भवनालाई कला र साहित्यको विकासको निम्ति निःशुल्क प्रयोग गर्न साहित्यकारहरूको निम्ति खुल्ला राखिनुपर्ने माग गरेका छन्। यसमा कुनै हस्तक्षेप नहुनु पर्ने उनले अडान राखेका छन्। उनले परिषदमा गैर साहित्यकहरूको अतिक्रमण र धलिमलिकै परिणतिको रूपमा अहिलेको स्थिति सिर्जना भएको बताउँदै कार्यकारी समिति भङ्ग गर्ने माग पनि उठाएका छन्। 
भ्रष्ट्राचार विरूद्ध 3 मईको दिन गान्तोकमा धरना
सिक्किममा खपिनसक्नुको भ्रष्टाचार भएको छः पदम बहादुर
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 29 अप्रेल। सिक्किमका खोला-नाला, डाँडा-काँडा, किरा-फटेङ्ग्रा, झारपात र अब त साहित्यिक संस्थान, अन्नबाली फल्ने टारीखेत र गरीब लाटा-सोझा र शान्तिप्रिय सिक्किमेली जनसमुदायको भावना र आत्मसम्मानको पनि बेचविखन हुने थालेको बताउँदै भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) सिक्किम राज्य समितिले आगामी 3 मईको दिन गान्तोक बजारमा धरना प्रदर्शन गर्ने घोषणा गरेको छ। पत्रकारहरूसित कुराकानी गर्दै भाजपा राज्य अध्यक्ष पदम बहादुर छेत्रीले भने, नियन्त्रक महालेखापालको प्रतिवेदन (सीएजी रिपोर्ट) 2010-मा राज्य सरकारले निजी विद्युत कारखाना बनाउन कम्पनी निमन्त्रण गर्दा सिक्किम सरकारलाई ग्यारेन्टर राखेर हजारौं करोड रूपियाँको ऋण बोकाएर नाफा कमाएर चम्पट कसेको छ। सीएजीले गरेको खुलासामा 6 हजार 254 करोड रूपियाँको घाटा भएको छ,यसैको विरोधमा हामीले धरना प्रदर्शन गर्ने निधों गरेका हौं, उनले भने। विकासको नाममा जनतालाई न्यायो थाङ्ग्नामा सुताएर करोडौं रुपियाँको घोटला गरेको तुलना केन्द्रिय मंत्री ए राजाले गरेको घोटला भन्दा पनि ठूलो देखिन आएको उनले बताए।
अर्कोतिर यस धरना प्रदर्शनमा भाजपाका सांसद र सिक्किम प्रभारीहरूले पनि सहभागि हुने निश्चय भएको उनले बताए। जसमा संसदीय मामिला प्रभारी तथा लोरसभा सांसद निखिल चौधरी, डा दिलिप जयसवाल अनि भाजपा सिक्किम राज्य प्रभारी इन्द्रसेन रेड्डीको उपस्थिति रहने उनले बताए। उनले उक्त धरनाको दिन राज्यका सबै बुद्धिजिवी, बेरोजगार, विभिन्न सामाजिक संस्थानका सदस्य, भ्रष्ट्राचार विरोधी व्यक्तित्व अनि राजनैतिक दललाई सामेल भइदिने आह्वान गरेका छन्। उनले भने, यो धरना सिक्किममा भएको खपिनसक्नु भ्रष्ट्राचारक विरोध गर्दै भ्रष्ट्राचारीहरू विरूद्ध कानुनी कार्वाही र सीबीआई जाँचको मागमा गरिएको हो। यसैगरि उनले उक्त दिन संसदमा भाजपाको तर्फबाट उठाउनुपर्ने मुद्दाहरूको सम्बन्धमा चर्चा तथा अनुरोध गर्न चहाने सबै जातगोष्ठी का प्रतिनिधि, राजनैतिक दल, गैर राजनैतिक संगठनका सदस्यहरू संसदीय मामिला प्रभारी तथा लोकसभा सांसद चौधरीलाई भेटेर सोझै कुराकानी गर्न सक्ने तथा सुझाउहरू प्रदान गर्न सक्ने भएकोले यसको निम्ति अपेक्षा गरिने उनले बताए।
बसमा गान्तोक दर्शन गराइऩे - एसएनटी बसमा पाँचवटा पर्यटकीय स्थल भ्रमणको व्यवस्था
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 29 अप्रेल। राज्य सरकारको परिवहन विभागका सिक्किम राष्ट्रकृत परिहवन (एसएनटी) प्रभागले आगामी मई महिनाको पहिलो सप्ताहदेखि गान्तोक वरिपरिका पाँचवटा पर्यटकीय स्थलहरूको भ्रमणको निम्ति गान्तोक दर्शन बस सेवा शुरू गर्ने निधो गरेको छ। ट्रावल एजेंट एसोसिएशन अफ सिक्किम(टास) सित मिलेर राज्यमा परिवारै भेलाभएर घुम्न आउऩे तथा एउटै वाहनमा जहानै घुम्नन चहाने पर्यटकहरूको निम्ति राजधानीको वरिपरिरहेको पाँचवाट पर्यटकीय स्थलमा 30 सिट्टर बसमा गाइडको व्याख्यान सुन्दै आनन्दले घुम्ने व्यवस्था गरिनेछ। चार घण्टाको यात्रमा पुरा गरिने गान्तोक दर्शन बस सेवाको निम्ति राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्री कार्यालय द्वारा 30 विभागलाई जारी गरिएको कार्य निर्देशिकामा एसएनटी विभागको निम्ति यो जिम्मा पनि दिइएको छ। जसलाई कार्यरूपमा परिणत गरेर सेवा शुरु गरिने भएको छ। गान्तोकको एसएनटी टर्मिनसबाट बिहान 8 बजी दैनिकरूपमा बस छुट्ने छ जसले सबै भन्दा पहिले 7 किलोमिटरमाथि पर्ने गणेशटोक स्थित गणेशमन्दिरको दर्शन गराउऩे छ। त्यसपचि हिमालयन जुलोजिकल पार्कको भ्रमण गराइऩे छ। एसएनटी प्रभागका संयुक्त सचिव नवीन छेत्रीले बताएअनुसार बसले जुलोजिकल पार्कको भ्रमण पछि बस टासी भ्यु पोइन्ट तिर गुड्ने छ त्यहाँ पुगेर 20 मिनट रोकिने छ। गणेश टोकबाट टासी भ्यु पोइन्टको दुरी 20 किलोमिटर रहेको छ भने 20 मिटनमा त्यहाँ बिताएपछि सेलेप ट्याङ्क स्थित जल प्रसोधन प्लान्टको भ्रमण दश मिनटभित्रमा गराइऩे छ।
त्यसैगरि बस बाकथाङ झरनामा पुगेर 15 मिनटसम्म रोकिने छ। यसपछि सोझै राङ्कास्थित बन झाँक्री झरना तथा पार्कको भ्रमणको निम्ति गुड्नेछ। राज्य सरकारद्वारा यहाँ पूर्ण कदको बन झाँक्री र ल्याम ल्यामेंको प्रतिमा बनाएर परम्परागत झाँक्री परम्परा र त्यसले बोकेको लोक संस्कृतिलाई छर्लङ्ग पारिएको छ। पार्कमा 45 मिनटसम्म पर्यटकहरूले किराँती परम्परा र लोक गाथाको इतिहास बुझ्न सक्नेछन्। यो गान्तोक दर्शनको व्यवस्थापनमा टासले पर्यटन व्यावसायीहरूलाई साइट सिइङको निम्ति आफ्नो भूमिका निर्वाह गर्ने छ। अर्कोतिर संयुक्त सचिव छेत्रीले भने, अहिलेलाई केवल एउटा बस शुरु गर्ने निर्णय लिएका छौं तर यो योजना सफल भएमा माग अनुसार बस विभिन्न समय तालिकमा चलाइऩे छ।उनले यो योजना देशका अन्य ठूल-ठूला शहरहरूमा रहेको जस्तै सेवाको रूपमा शुरु गरिएको बताए। 
उनले राज्य सरकारले परिवारमा आउने पर्यटकहरूको सुविधाको निम्ति यस्तो सेवा शुरु गर्ने योजना बताएको जानकारी गराए।यसका साथै टुर अपरेटरहरूले पनि ठूला दललाई घुमाउन वाहनहरूको कठीनाईको समाना गर्नुपर्ने हुनाले पनि यसले फाइदा हुने बताए। अर्कोतिर पर्यटकीय मौसममा राज्यमा वाहनहरूको व्यापक समस्या हुने गरेकोले यसलाई निधानको निम्ति पनि यो सेवाले मद्दत पुऱ्याउने सम्भावन देखिएको छ। गान्तोकमा भीडको साथमा चल्ने अप्रेल देखि जुन महिनासम्मको पर्यटन मौसममा ट्याक्सीको व्यापक समस्या हुने गर्छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा भाडा धेरै लिइऩ्छ भने यो योजनाले पर्यटनकहरूलाई पनि उत्तिकै लाभ हुने ठानिएको छ। 
अर्कोतिर टासका अध्यक्ष लुकेन्द्र रसाईलीले भने, हामी गान्तोक दर्शन सेवालाई व्यापक रूपमा शुरु गर्नेछौं। उनले भने, यसको निम्ति सबै आधारभूत सुविधा पनि पर्यटकहरूले उपभोग गर्न पाउने छन्, जसमा गाइड द्वारा स्थानीय जानकारी, पैक्ड लंच, मिनिरल वाटर तथा अन्य पर्यटकीय सुविधा पनि सेवामा उपलब्ध गराउऩे छौं। यसैगरि उनले पर्यटकहरूलाई वाहनको अभावमा अधिक भाडा भुक्तान गर्नुपर्ने समस्याबाट पनि मुक्ति मिल्ने बताए। पर्यटकहरूलाई वस सेवाको उपयोग गराउन टासका सदस्यहरूले पनि कार्य गर्ने अध्यक्ष रसाईलीले बताए।
विश्वले हेरेको एउटा बिहे

Salokya, April 29th, 2011, mysansar. com: आज विश्व एउटा बिहे हेर्नमा व्यस्त भयो। अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मिडियाले प्राथमिकताका साथ प्रसारण गरेका हुनाले इच्छा हुनेले होस् कि नहुनेले, यो बिहे नहेरी सुखै पाएनन्। बेलायती गद्दीका उत्तराधिकारीको लाइनमा दोस्रो नम्बरमा रहेका नवयुवराज विलियम्सको बिहे थियो त्यो। 

तर एउटा देशको हैन, पूरै विश्वकै राजपरिवारको बिहे हो कि जस्तो झल्को पाइन्थ्यो। बेलायत र उसले इतिहासमा उपनिवेश बनाएका देशहरुमा मात्र हैन, अरु देशमा पनि यो बिहेलाई उत्सुकतापूर्वक हेरियो। अमेरिकी मिडियामासमेत यही बिहे छाएको थियो।
र, यो एउटा त्यस्तो महत्त्वपूर्ण दृश्य, जुन भोलि विश्वभरका पत्रपत्रिकामा प्राथमिकताका साथ छापिनेछ। बकिङ्घम राजदरबारको बरण्डामा दुलाहादुलही विलियम र केटले गरेको यो चुम्बनलाई विश्वभरका अर्बौँले प्रत्यक्ष हेरे।

औँठी लगाइदिँदै दुलाहा विलियम।

William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor of Wales and Catherine Elizabeth Middleton declared "I will" to the wedding vows pronounced by the Archbishop of Canterbury. "You look beautiful," William told Kate a few minutes earlier, according to Ruth Press, who has been deaf since birth and works as a forensic lip reader.

अहिले नेपाल गणतन्त्रात्मक देश भइसकेको छ। तर राजतन्त्र रहँदा पनि हाम्रो पुस्ताले युवराजको बिहे देख्‍न पाएन। अघिल्लो पुस्ताले तत्कालीन युवराजका रुपमा वीरेन्द्रको बिहे देखेको होला, तर त्यतिबेला अहिलेको जस्तो टेलिभिजन र इन्टरनेटको प्रयोग व्यापक भइसकेको थिएन। युवराजका रुपमा दीपेन्द्रको बिहे हुन सकेन। उनकै बिहे दरबार हत्याकान्डको कारक रहेको भनियो। हत्याकान्डपछि युवराज बनेका पारसको बिहे शाहज्यादा हुँदा नै भइसकेकोले युवराजको बिहे यो पुस्ताले हेर्न पाएन। नेपालमा राजतन्त्र नभएकोले होला, यहाँका पूर्व राजपरिवारलाई बेलायती बिहेमा निम्तो दिएको देखिएन।

विश्वभरका दुई अर्बले टेलिभिजन र इन्टरनेटबाट प्रत्यक्ष हेरिरहेका थिए बकिङ्घम दरबारको बरन्डामा सार्वजनिक रुपमा प्रेम प्रदर्शन गर्दै दुलाहादुलहीले दुई पटक चुम्बन गरेको यो दृश्य।

सबभन्दा पुरानो राजतन्त्रात्मक देशको रुपमा परिचित बेलायतको परम्परा भने फरक छ। त्यहाँ राजपरिवारले सामान्य नागरिकसित पनि बिहे गर्न पाउँछ। यहाँ जस्तो राणा खलक कै बिहे गर्नुपर्ने नभए भारततिरको खान्दानको बिहे गर्नुपर्ने चलन उतातिर छैन। विलियमको बिहे पनि उनीसँगै पढेकी सामान्य परिवारकी केट मिडलटनसित भएको हो। इन्टरनेटको व्यापक प्रयोग भएको पुस्तामा भएको यो पहिलो बिहे हो।

दुलहीको यो ड्रेसको निकै प्रतीक्षा भएको थियो। यो आइभोरी गाउन सराह बर्टनले अलेक्ज्यान्डर म्याकक्विनमा बनाएकी हुन्। अनि पछाडि यो गाउन समात्ने चाहिँ दुलहीकी बहिनी हुन्।

उनीहरु पाले पुण्य मारे पाप त भन्दैनन्। तर केही न केही चाहिँ भन्छन् होला। दुलहा, दुलही र दुलहीका बाबु।

सफल भयो प्रेमः दुलही दुलाहालाई हेर्दै।

बेलायतका भावी राजा र रानी बग्घी चढेर दरबारतिर जाँदै।

पितासँग विवाह हुने ठाउँमा आउँदै।

लुगा लामो र राम्रो, तर भर्‍याङ चढ्दा अप्ठेरो।

बिहे हेर्न सडकमा भेला भएको भीड।

पाँच हप्ता लगाएर बिहेको लागि बनाइएको आठ तले केक।

Gurung reels off JAKS scores - Job regularisation a priority: morcha chief

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, April 29: A rattled Bimal Gurung today said "one of the first jobs of his party" — or rather its would-be representatives — will be to pursue in the Assembly the issue of regularisation of the jobs of casual workers, a section of whom has accused his outfit of taking them for a ride over the years.

The dissenting workers broke away from the Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan (JAKS), an affiliate of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, on Wednesday to form their own apolitical organisation, as they did not "want to be a tool in the hands of vested interests".

The formation of the new unit prompted Morcha-affiliate JAKS to hold a media conference, highlighting its "achievements" in the past three years.

The spokesperson for the new outfit, Anil Rai, had said on Wednesday: "We (the temporary employees) were only being used as tools but our grievances remain unaddressed."

Although Gurung made light of the new outfit saying they had been formed by people who were always with the GNLF, he tried to reassure the audience of the role that the JAKS has played in the interest of the casual workers.

"Once we win the Assembly elections, one of the party's first jobs, apart from achieving Gorkhaland, would be to work for the regularisation of these workers. I have been part of their sufferings since the time I was a councillor (in the DGHC)," the Morcha president said at Singmari, where he handed over a party flag to former ABGL leader Narayan Chhetri. The ex-ABGL spokesperson joined the Morcha today.

At the JAKS office in the Darjeeling Super Market, its president Machendra Subba rattled off a list of achievements that "undid" the wrongs of GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh.

"We were always used as a political tool by Subash Ghisingh, who was earlier the chairman and later the administrator of the DGHC," said Subba. The breakaway faction, too, had levelled a similar allegation against the Morcha.

"The state government had sent a clear direction to Ghisingh in 1994, following it up by framing recruitment rules for the council to absorb us. He never did it but only used us as a political tool and even made us ban a local daily in Darjeeling (in the late 1990s)," said Subba.

"We were also asked to organise meetings and rallies for 32 days to ensure that he became the administrator of the council (in 2005), a post which is usually occupied by an administrative official and not by a political figure."

Reeling off another list of goals achieved, Subba said: "In 2002, Ghisingh changed our status from casual workers to contractual workers. Under this category, we had to get our jobs approved by him every six months. However, on June 30, 2008, we managed to get an order after which we no longer needed to apply for our jobs every six months."

The JAKS was formed months after the birth of the Morcha in October 2007. Its main focus was getting the jobs of over 6,000 contractual workers regularised. Following an indefinite hunger strike by the workers, the state government on September 17, 2009, gave a written assurance to start the process to make them permanent.

Similar assurance was subsequently given by B.L. Meena, the then acting administrator of the DGHC. However, nothing concrete has emerged from those assurances yet.

Today, JAKS president Subba said: "Even on December 22, 2010, an order was issued by the state government stating that those who had completed 10 years of service in the Group-D category would receive Rs 6,600 with an increment of 5 per cent dearness allowance every three years.

"We have, however, demanded that the government should include all the council workers and not just the Group D workers who have worked for 10 years."

The JAKS said it would start negotiations with the new state government as well. "If nothing works out, we will again start a peaceful agitation," said Subba.

Assam 'fraud' tracked to hills

TT, Darjeeling/Guwahati April 29: A 40-year-old Assam resident absconding since March after allegedly duping investors of lakhs of rupees was arrested from Darjeeling today. Keshab Kanti Sarma, an employee of the Assam State Electricity Board, is wanted by the Bureau of Investigation of Economic Offences. But he was picked up today after his wife lodged a police complaint in Noonmati, Guwahati, saying he had been kidnapped.

Police said Sarma had faked his own abduction and had also made a ransom call.

Sources said Sarma and another person, Pranab Jyoti Barman, have been accused of collected lakhs of rupees in the name of a non-banking finance company, Uni Pay2U.

"A case is registered with us against the two and according to complaints they had collected lakhs of rupees from the public promising to double the amount in 10 months but failed to keep the promise. They have an office at Christanbasti. We received information that Sarma had escaped to Darjeeling. Hence, we suspect it was a ploy to fool the police with this abduction drama. As soon as they reach Guwahati, we will arrest Sarma," said an official of the Bureau of Investigation of Economic Offences in Guwahati.

Sharma had been operating through certain websites from Assam before he shifted to Darjeeling and then to Nepal. A few days ago, he had again come back to Darjeeling.

Darjeeling police chief D.P. Singh said: "This seems to be a case of cyber laundering with people running various websites promising investors double the amount within a short span of time.

"People who are staying outside the country seem to be running such websites. There are three-four such sites which are probably being operated by one person in Malaysia. The middlemen out here tell the investors that since returns are not being regular they should invest in another website but all of them seems to be operated by the same person."

An investor in Darjeeling said he had deposited Rs 28,000 with a local agent of the company. "Of the amount invested, Rs 3,000 was deducted as (processing) charges and I was to get Rs 5,000 a month for the next 10 months (total Rs 50,000). So far I have received Rs 20,000. Once the payment became irregular they told me to submit my PAN number. For the past two-three months I haven't got any returns," said the investor.

LIC agent shot dead, bike, cash missing

TT, Jalpaiguri, April 29: An insurance agent was shot dead last night a few metres from his home and the killers are suspected to have fled with his motorcycle and cash that he had collected from his clients.

An investigating officer of the Kotwali police station said Santosh Barman, 32, was shot point-blank on the forehead around 11.30pm.

Sukurbala Rehman, who was the first to come out of his home in Berubari's Srirampara after he heard the gunshot, said: "I saw Santosh lying on the roadside. He had been shot through the forehead and his bike was missing. I immediately informed his brother. We took him to the district hospital in Jalpaiguri where he was pronounced dead."

Police sources said LIC agent Santosh had purchased petrol from a filling station in the area and was returning home, 400 metres from where he had been gunned down. The police recovered Rs 1,600 in cash from his trouser pockets.

In the morning, residents of Berubari, 5km from the border with Bangladesh, demonstrated before the Kotwali police station demanding the arrest of Santosh's murderers within 72 hours.

"For the past one year, there have been numerous cases of bike thefts and even snatching, but the police have done nothing. It is a well-know practice in Bangladesh to use motorcycle engines to propel country-made boats," said Mistu Chakrabarty, a resident of the area. Jalpaiguri police chief Anand Kumar said: "We have a suspicion that the attackers were from outside the Berubari area."

The victim's elder brother, Naresh, said the bag in which Santosh kept the cash he collected from clients was missing. "We were four brothers and our widowed mother is in shock after we broke the news to her. We were supposed to take Santosh to Falakata today where we wanted him to meet the family of his prospective bride," Naresh, an employee of the Food Corporation of India, said. Mohammad Masimuddin, Santosh's neighbour, claimed that just before the murder he had seen three youths being chased by three others on motorcycles. "The three managed to flee but Santosh was shot dead a few minutes later," he said.

The district secretary of the LIC Agents' Association of India, Sudip Chanda, said Santosh had been working as an agent for the past 10 years or so. "He was a hard worker."

Headmaster abducted on way to school

TT, Alipurduar, April 29: The colleagues of a headmaster here have complained that he was kidnapped today on his way to school with the abductors demanding Rs 50 lakh from his wife by tomorrow for his release.

Debadipti Acharjee, his wife Kakoli said, had as usual left for Phoshkardanga Swarno Adibashi High School at 10.30am on his bike.

Like the other days, he was supposed to have taken NH31C for the 17km journey to school from his home in Chechakhata.

In the afternoon, his colleagues tried to contact him, as Acharjee is known not to absent himself without prior intimation, but failed.

Till the ransom call came around 6pm, Kakoli said she was unaware that her husband had been abducted.

"Usually, he comes home around 5.30pm. But since there was an exam in school today and he is the headmaster, it is not unusual for him to be a bit late…The caller spoke in a Hindi accent and told me to arrange for Rs 50 lakh, if I wanted to ever see my husband alive. He threatened me not to tell the police or else my husband would be killed," she told the police.

At 9pm, Bidyut Sarkar, the assistant teacher of the same school as well as secretary of the Alipurduar west zone of Nikhil Bango Shikshak Samiti — a Left organisation of teachers — filed an FIR, alleging abduction with the Alipurduar police station.

Kakoli, Acharjee's colleagues, said was too upset to visit the police station.

Following the complaint, subdivisional police officer David Lepcha visited the Acahrjee household to get more details.

"About 7pm, Kakoli called me up to say that a man who identified himself as 'a militant', had said Acharjee has been kidnapped. She also told me that he spoke in Hindi. In the morning, I had tried to call up Acharjee but found his cellphone was switched off. I was worried because he does not miss school without intimation. Today, we had exams and we were busy," Bidyut Sarkar said.

Another teacher of the school said he had been able to contact Acharjee once in the evening, but he was too scared to speak and said he was surrounded by the gang.

Anup Jaiswal, additional superintendent of police, Alipurduar said: "We are hopeful we will be able to reach the gang soon."

Puff ban fury in Siliguri jail

TT, Siliguri, April 29: A group of prisoners at the Siliguri special jail threw stones at the superintendent's office this afternoon when the authorities refused to let them smoke inside the prison premises.

Jail sources said around 1.45pm, 30-odd prisoners arrived at the office of jail superintendent P. R. Bhutia and demanded that they should be allowed to smoke.

"When the authorities denied permission, they threatened the authorities saying they would face consequences for refusing them permission," said Kamal Kumar Mukherjee, the additional inspector general (north) of correctional services.

"The inmates then went out of the office and instigated some others. They then started throwing stones and bricks, dumped in a courtyard inside the jail compound, at the superintendent's office and the inmates' barracks. The attack led to tension and caused damage furniture," he added.

Smoking in prison has been banned since 2008 when restrictions were imposed on taking a puff in a public place.

"The situation was brought under control within 10-15 minutes," Mukherjee said.

There are 50 guards posted on the jail premises that houses around 250 prisoners.

Wish list for tea planters

TT, Jaigaon, April 29: Members of the Progressive Tea Workers' Union today submitted a memorandum with 15 demands to the managers of the tea estates in the Terai and the Dooars.

Union president Sukra Munda said the demands include revision of the daily wages of the workers to Rs 250 and conferment of land rights. Tomorrow, supporters of the PTWU, the labour wing of the Adivasi Vikas Parishad, will assemble at the tea gardens to discuss the same list of demands. Munda said the union will also write to the administration and the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations, the apex body of tea planters in India, for their intervention.

Trio arrested

TT, Islampur: Three youths were arrested from Kishanganj on Friday after the father of a girl filed a complaint that she had eloped with one of them. Police said Amit Das had an affair with a girl, allegedly a minor, of College More and had eloped to Kishanganj with her three days ago. Sahid Ahmed and Vicky Kanti had accompanied them. The trio was produced at the local court and have been remanded in jail custody for 14 days. The girl has been sent back to her parents.

Leopard caged

TT, Jalpaiguri: A leopard that had entered Lakkhipara Tea Estate at Banarhat was trapped by the foresters of Binnaguri wildlife squad on Thursday night. The nine-year-old male leopard had been roaming in the garden for the past few weeks and had injured at least three people. The animal was released in the Gorumara National Park on Friday.

बाटो खन्दा भेटियो प्रागैतिहासिक हड्डी...HUGE DENTURE FOUND...Split in Morcha casual staff union... Trapped, man dies in fire

बाटो खन्दा भेटियो प्रागैतिहासिक हड्डी- सबैमा जिज्ञासा-के को दॉंत?

मनोज वोगटी,कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 28 अप्रेल। एउटै दॉंत यत्रो? के को दॉंत होला यो? कतै डाइनोसरको दॉंत त होइन? हो, बाटो खन्दा अत्यन्तै पुरानो अनि दॉंतको आकारको हड्डी भेटेपछि अहिले सबैले यस्तै प्रश्नहरू गरिरहेका छन्‌। सिटोङ-3 ग्राम पञ्चायतको रोलकमा सयदिने बाटो खनन्‌ कार्यको अवधी भेटिएको पौराणिक हड्डीले सबैमा यस्तो जिज्ञासा उत्पन्न गरेको छ, जसले कालेबुङ क्षेत्रमा पौराणिक कालमा डाइनोसर जस्ता अति विशाल प्राणी थियो भन्ने कुरालाई इङ्गित गरिरहेको छ। 15दिन अघि भेटिएको यो हड्डी कुनै यस्तो प्राणीको दॉंत जस्तो देखिन्छ, जो अहिलेसम्म संसारमा रहेका विशाल प्राणीहरूभन्दा पनि अति नै विशाल थियो।

 केवल एउटा दॉंत जस्तो देखिने यो हड्डी दुइकिलो दुइसय ग्रामको रहेको छ। यसको लमाई 23 सेन्टिमिटर रहेको छ भने  चौडाई 15 सेन्टिमिटर छ। कुनै विशाल प्राणीको एउटा दॉंत यत्रो भेटिएपछि त्यो प्राणी कति विशाल थियो होला भन्ने अनुमान सबैले लगाइरहेका छन्‌। यो हड्डी ढुङ्गा होइन, दॉंत नै हो-हड्डीलाई 15 दिनदेखि आफूसित राख्दै आएका रोलकका डुपछिरिङ लेप्चा बताउँछन्‌। मैले यसलाई जलाएँ, यो जल्यो अनि धुँवा पनि निस्कियो। हेर्दा यो कुनै विशाल घॉंस खाने प्राणीको दॉंत जस्तो देखिन्छ। घॉंस खाने प्राणीको दॉंत यस्तो च्याप्टो हुन्छ- तिनले थपे। मासुमा गाड़िएको भाग निक्कै कुहिसकेको तर चपाउने दॉंतको भाग भने अझ पनि चम्किलो र कड़ा रहेकोले हेर्नेहरू सबैले यसलाई दॉंत नै हुनुपर्ने अनुमान त लगाइरहेका छन्‌ तर यो के को दॉंत हुनसक्छ भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तर कसैसित छैन।

रोलक भनेको लेप्चा भाषाको रतलोकको अपभ्रँश हो। यसको अर्थ पैह्रो गएर बॉंचेको ठाउँ हुन्छ। रोलकको अहिलेको जुन चित्र छ, आज भन्दा पचासवर्ष अघि यस्तो नरहेको बुढ़ापाका बताउँछन्‌, डुपछिरिङ रहस्य खोल्दै जान्छन्‌। तिनी भन्छन्‌, पहिले रोलक सम्म परेको मालभूमि थियो, अहिले डॉंड़ा-कॉंड़ा भएको छ। 

यस्तो भएको कारण पैह्रो नै हो। डुपछिरिङको भनाइको आशय पौराणिक कालमा रोलकमा कुनै विशाल प्राणीहरूको बास हुनसक्थ्यो भन्ने हो, जो पैह्रोको कारण विलुप्त बनेको हुनसक्छ। अनि उनीहरूको हाडखोड़ जमीनमुनि छ, जो यसरी अहिले निस्कन थालेको छ। डुपछिरिङको भनाइलाई नकार्ने ठाउँ किन छैन भने कालेबुङको अहिलेको जनमुक्ति पार्कमा अहिले पनि यस्तो रूख जिँउदै छ जो विश्वभरिमा रहेको दुइवटा रूखमध्ये एउटा रहेको भनिन्छ। यो जीवित जिवाश्म हो जसको नाम गिङ्‌को वाइलोबा हो भने यो यस्तो रूख हो जसको घॉंस शाकाहारी डाइनोसरले खाने गरेको पत्तो लागेको छ।

 डाइनोसरले घॉंस खाने रूख कालेबुङको पार्कमा अझ पनि जिउँदै हुनुले यही कुराको पुष्टी गरिरहेको छ कि यो क्षेत्रमा कुनै पनि समय डाइनोसरको अस्तित्व थियो।  

तर यस विषयमा कसैले पनि गहिरिएर अध्ययन नगरेको वा डाइनोसर वा विशाल प्राणीहरूको अस्तित्व खोज्ने कार्य नभएकोले अहिलेसम्म सबै कुरा रहस्यमा नै लुकेको छ। रोलकमा भेटिएको यो दॉंत र कालेबुङको पार्कमा रहेको जिङ्‌को वायोलोबाको के कुनै सम्बन्ध छ त? यो प्रश्नको उत्तर खोज्न सक्छन्‌ भने कुनै पत्रकार वा आम मानिसले होइन खप्पिस भुतत्ववेत्ताले नै सक्नेछन्‌। दॉंत हड्डी नै हो होइन, हो भने यो कति वर्ष पुरानो हो, के को हो? भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तर पनि यसको कार्बन डेटिङ गरिएमात्र पत्तो लाग्नेछ। प्रागैतिहासिककालमा यो क्षेत्रमा कुनै विशाल प्राणीहरूको अस्तित्व थियो थिएन, यो दॉंत वा हड्डीले त्यसको सम्पूर्ण रहस्य खोल्न सक्छ सक्दैन न त डुप छिरिङलाई थाहा छ न त कुनै पत्रकारलाई। तरैपनि पाइएको हड्डीले पौराणिककालको गतिलो रहस्य बोकेको हुनसक्ने सबैले अनुमान गरिरहेका छन्‌। 

Gingko tree in autumn

Gingko leaves

KalimNews: A denture like object is found in Rolak  above Lohapul under Sittong Gram Panchayat- 3, while digging a road under 100 days work. Workers found it about 15 days ago which weighs about 2 kg 200 gm and measures 23 cm X 15 cm and is now under the custody of Dup Tshering Lepcha. Lepcha said that he tried to burn it and it burnt a little producing smoke. 

The denture is supposed to be of a grass eating huge animal. It is recalled that in the Janmukti Park area near Arts and Crafts center exists a Gingko biloba tree which is called the living fossil found very rarely in other parts of the world like China and cultivated in North America. Gingko is called maidenhair tree. Darjeeling hills is supposed to contain huge number of fossils and remains of fossils.

Free Tibet plea to China

Dalai Lama, Lobsang Sangay

PTI, Washington/Boston, April 28 : The newly elected Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, has said his top priority is to restore freedom in Tibet and asked China to review its "hard-line" policy.

Sangay said the 76-year-old Dalai Lama would return during his lifetime to the Potala Palace he fled nearly 50 years ago.

The 43-year-old Harvard law researcher, with roots in Darjeeling, won 55 per cent votes in the March 20 election held around the world for the selection of the Prime Minister. Sangay's nearest rival was Tethong Tenzin Namgyal, who also went to a Darjeeling school.

Sangay who was born in Lamhatta in Darjeeling, had attended the Central school for Tibetans in Sonada followed by a stint in St Joseph's College. The third contender for the post of Prime Minister was Tashi Wangdi.

"We are already facing immense challenges including a critical situation in Nags and Andi with Tibetans being killed and arrested by the Chinese government. I urge every Tibetan and friends of Tibet to join me in our common cause to alleviate the suffering of Tibetans in occupied Tibet and to return His Holiness to his rightful place in the Potable Palace," Sangay said in a statement after the election results were announced yesterday in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Asking Beijing to review its "hard-line" Tibet policy and take a "more moderate and liberal approach", he said if China wanted to become a new world superpower, it could not do so through economic or military might but would need to exercise moral authority in how it treats people. He said the decision of the Dalai Lama to transfer his political powers needs to be respected. "The Dalai Lama has decided to transfer political power to the Tibetan people by entrusting whom they have magnanimously chosen as the head of their exiled government," Sangay said in an interview to the Tibetan service of Radio Free Asia.

"We must respect the wishes and wisdom of His Holiness and find ways to implement his decision," he said in his first ever interview after he was declared the Prime Minister. In an address at Harvard two days before the election result was announced, Sangay had said his "number one priority is always and will always remain to restore freedom in Tibet...Domestically, improving education will be my number one priority".

On the issue of Chinese rule of Tibet, Sangay said he advocates a "middle way," or autonomy for Tibet within Chinese sovereignty."That is the Tibetan government's policy, and if I get elected, I must abide by the policy, and I will do so," Sangay had said in a Harvard release.

Sangay believes the election will give him legitimacy on the world stage as a Tibetan leader in a now-secular government, but China is unlikely to recognise his authority with some Chinese newspapers even labelling him a "terrorist". Sangay said he expects the Dalai Lama, who will "always be my spiritual leader and source of inspiration", to play the role of an "elder statesman".

"It's not so much to replace him, but rather to live up to his expectation and fulfill his vision which is that when elected, I should be the head of the government and become the political face and spokesman for the Tibetan people."

Sangay, who is currently in the US, will relocate in May to Dharamsala. He is expected to select his cabinet and hold office from August 15.

Split in Morcha casual staff union - New unit says it will not be a tool in hands of vested interest
TT, Kalimpong, April 28: A section of casual workers has broken away from a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-affiliated union to form their own apolitical organisation, accusing Bimal Gurung's party of taking them for a ride over the years and doing nothing to regularise their jobs.
The desertion was not unexpected was evident as many Morcha supporters had been spotted in GNLF rallies before the election and the party had already issued a deadline for its straying lot to come back into the fold.
The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Karmachari Sangathan, which has broken away from the Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan (JAKS), claimed that its priority would be the regularisation of the jobs of its members.
The split of the JAKS, which claims that all 6,000 casual workers of the DGHC are its members, took place in Kurseong yesterday where the subdivisional committee of the new faction was formed. The breakaway unit said it was splitting from the JAKS as the latter had failed to get the jobs of DGHC temporary employees regularised.
"We (the temporary employees) were only being used as tools but our grievances remained unaddressed," said Anil Rai, the spokesperson for the breakaway faction.
Rai said the new DGHC Sangathan would strive to become an apolitical organisation as past experiences has shown that all political parties used the casual employees as tools for their vested interest. "Our number one priority would remain the regularisation of our jobs. However, till that happens we want a hike in our salaries," he added.
The Morcha said it was not unduly worried by the split engineered by a handful of individuals with questionable credibility.
"In any case, we had already expelled Anil Rai from the party. As far as the job regularisation is concerned, the party remains fully committed to getting the job done. The government has already agreed to regularise the jobs and we will pursue the matter with the next government as well with our mandate reinforced (by the results of the Assembly election)," said Morcha spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri.
The DGHC Sangathan dared the JAKS to act against its members.
Earlier, JAKS president Machendra Subba had set May 13 as the deadline for the return of contractual workers who had deserted the organisation.
A number of them had been seen supporting the GNLF during the recent election campaign.
Today, Subba sought to make light of the new faction. "We knew all along that these people are GNLF sympathisers," he said, claiming that only a handful of 200 employees was its members.
Rai said the strength of the DGHC Sangathan would grow in the coming days. "We will be forming our Kalimpong branch committee next, followed by the Darjeeling branch committee. Once we have all three branches in place, we will form our central committee," he added.
The 21-member Kurseong executive committee of the DGHC Sangathan is headed by Mitra Gurung as its president.
Observers said the formation of the breakaway faction of the JAKS could well turn out to be more than an embarrassment for the Morcha if a significant number of DGHC employees joined it.
"We still do not know the strength of the new organisation. Till then, we will have to wait and watch," said an observer.
The JAKS was formed months after the birth of the Morcha in October 2007. Its main focus was getting the jobs of over 6000 contractual workers regularised. Following an indefinite hunger strike by the workers, the state government had on September 17, 2009, given a written assurance to start the process to make them permanent. Similar assurance was subsequently given by B.L. Meena, the then acting administrator of the DGHC. However, nothing concrete has emerged from those assurances yet.
Morcha president Gurung had said during the campaign that the first priority of the three MLAs the party hoped to send from the hills would be to get the jobs regularised.
The spokesperson for the DGHC Sangathan, however, said there was too much political interference in the affairs of the temporary workers. "The JAKS used us only to carry the party (read Morcha) flag," he said.

Trapped, man dies in fire

Devraj Gurung

TT, Kalimpong, April 28:A 52-year-old man was burnt alive last night when he could not move out of his burning house on time because of his polio-affected limbs.
Mani Kumar Gurung said his family of nine, including his brother Devraj who died, was fast asleep, unaware that their house had caught fire. They were awakened around 11.30pm by the shouts of their neighbours in Ging tea estate, 10km from Darjeeling town.
"When I woke up I saw my house engulfed in flames. All of us rushed out immediately. We unfortunately could not save my brother. He could not walk and moved around only by dragging himself on his haunches," Gurung said.
The neighbours said the Gurungs had no inkling they their house was on fire.
"We were the first to notice the flames. It was only after we raised the alarm that they became aware and rushed out. By the time we realised that Devraj was still inside, the flames had engulfed almost the entire house," said a neighbour.
The villagers took more than two hours to douse the fire. After the blaze was put out the family members rushed in and took Devraj to the Darjeeling Sadar Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Gurung said Devraj, who had suffered 80 per cent burns, could not move out of the house because of his handicap. "The material loss I suffered does not bother me at all. What is causing me unbearable pain is the loss of my elder brother," he said.
Sources in the fire department in Darjeeling said they were not informed about the blaze.
Darjeeling bids adieu to Everester
TNN, DARJEELING, April 29: Nawang Gombu, 79, the first person in the world to scale Mt Everest twice, was cremated with full honors at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling on Thursday afternoon amidst a drizzle. Family, friends and well-wishers, including prominent personalities of the Hills, reached Gombu's residence near HMI in the morning to pay their last respects to the legendary figure. The hearse carrying the Everester's body was decorated with flowers and a procession, led by Darjeeling police band, accompanied it to HMI.
"We not only shared a professional relationship but he was more like a father figure to me. Besides being a great mountaineer, he was also an explorer. His death is a great loss to the nation," said Bachendri Pal --close friend and India's first woman to climb the world's highest peak in 1984 -- who arrived in Darjeeling to attend the last rites. The divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri was present on behalf of the government along with Darjeeling district magistrate for the cremation ceremony.
"He was a source of inspiration for the rest of us. His grit in the field and humility off it inspired a large number of the present generation to take up mountaineering and adventure activities," said Everester and brother-in-law Dorjee Lhatoo.
Even a sudden downpour could not prevent people from gathering on the basketball court, where the body was kept. The chief justice of Sikkim and representatives of the Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF) were also present for the funeral. Besides, representatives of various political organizations attended the ceremony to pay their homage to the great climber. Gombu, at age 16, was the youngest Sherpa in the team that helped his uncle Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillaryto reach the summit of Mt Everest in 1953. After Norgay, Gombu was the face of the Sherpa community world-wide. He breathed his last following a brief illness on April 24.
Any Claim of Control over Rumtek Monastery is Unfounded and Misleading

New Delhi, Karmapa Charitable Trust (KCT), the legal administrative body established during the time of 16^thGyalwa Karmapa which supports the 17^th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje,does not approve the statement made by the spokesperson of Uygen Trinley Dorje which trickled in media regarding the control of Uygen Trinley Dorje's camp on the Rumtek Monastery. As there is a court case pending on the real claimant of the Rumtek Monastery since 1993 so any claims made in this regard do not hold ground.

Lodreu Rabsel Rinpoche, General Secretary to His Holiness the 17^th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, says, "The statement from the spokesperson of Uygen Trinley Dorje is totally unfounded and misleading as the court case concerning the eviction of the unlawful occupants of Rumtek Monastery and recovery of the valuable sacred objects of the late 16^th Karmapa which was filed in 1997 is still pending before the Court. Hence, Ugyen Trinley Dorje's administration cannot make any such statement, as they have no legal control over the monastery. KCT has full faith in the legal system and we are confident concerning its positive outcome and KCT does not approve of commenting on the subject that is pending before the highest judiciary in India."

Rumtek, the seat of the Karmapa lamas since the 1960s, has been the subject of dispute for more than a decade. At the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981, the KCT assumed management of Rumtek, following the late Karmapa's stated wishes. This body which supported 17^thGyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje. But on 2^nd August 1993, Situ Rinpoche and Gyaltsap Rinpoche with the help of their followers, including Dekila Chungyalpa and a few hundred armed troops supported by then the State Government of Sikkim attacked Rumtek Monastery and physically evicted all the residents, Trustees, as well as Rinpoches and Monks from there and confiscated the Monastery. The court case was filed by the KCT against Gyaltsab Rinpoche and the Sikkim State officials who were involved in this illegal act so that Rumtek Monastery could be returned to its rightful administration. Situ Rinpoche was not named in the suit because he had been banned to enter India at that point of time.

"The High Court of Sikkim in 2003 ruled that KCT is the legal administration established by the 16^th Karmapa has full legal authority over Karmapa's estate, belongings, including Rumtek Monastery. In 2004, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Special Leave to Appeal filed by Gyaltsab Rinpoche and his secretary Tenzin Namgyal of the opponent camp, thus confirming the earlier decision of the High Court of Sikkim. The court denied the appeal on the grounds of significant contradictions in Tenzin's petition that Tenzin could not explain, and also on the grounds that Tenzin's group could produce no documents to show its management of Rumtek," confirms Lodreu Rabsel Rinpoche,General Secretary of 17^th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje.

Karma Kagyu, or Kamtsang, is the largest lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu is the Gyalwa Karmapa. The Karma Kagyu was founded by the first Karmapa, Jetsun Dusum Khyenpa. It is headed by the Gyalwa Karmapa, a reincarnate lama (tulku). Followers believe that the Karmapa's appearance as the first historical consciously reincarnate teacher was predicted by the Buddha in the Samadhiraja Sutra. The Karma Kagyu School belongs to the Vajrayana branch of Mahayana Buddhism.

The central teaching of the Karma Kagyu is the doctrine of Mahamudra, also known as the "Great Seal". This doctrine focuses on four principal stages of meditative practice.

About the 17^th Karmapa His Holiness the 17^th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley (meaning Buddha activity) Thaye (limitless) Dorje (unchanging), was born in Lhasa (Tibet) on the 6^th May in 1983. He is regarded as the highest authority in all religious matters of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. The transmission of the Kagyu Lineage originated with the great yogi Tilopa who lived in Northern India sometime around the 10th century AD. The Karma Kagyu Lineage was founded by the first Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa, who was the first consciously reborn master in Tibet. The lineage of the Karmapas is thus the oldest lineage of reincarnate masters in Tibetan Buddhism. According to a nearly 1000-year-old tradition of the Karma Kagyu Lineage successive incarnations of Karmapas and Shamarpas recognise each other. The present Karmapa was recognised by the Shamarpa at the age of 11, in accordance with the tradition.

Search and rescue squad for Siliguri

The Siliguri fire station. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, April 28: The state fire services department will form three 60-member teams for Siliguri, Calcutta and Durgapur to intensify search and rescue operations in emergency situations .

"We got a sanction for the new rescue teams in December last year. But because of the Assembly polls, the recruitment process got delayed. It will commence once the elections are over," said Udaynarayan Adhikary, the deputy director (north Bengal), state fire services department.

In all, 180 members will be recruited for the search and rescue teams (SRTs) in Siliguri, Calcutta and Durgapur.

"The areas have been chosen on the basis of importance. Calcutta being the state capital its importance cannot be questioned. Siliguri is a rapidly growing city that has emerged as one of the busiest commercial hubs of the state and has been recognised as the gateway of north Bengal as well as the northeastern region of the country. Durgapur is an industrial area, where emergency services are often required. After considering these aspects, the department chose the locations where the SRTs would be posted," said Adhikary.

The fire official said the members of the team will be appointed under different categories, like fire station officers, fire operators, sub-officers and leaders.

He added, the basic objective behind forming the units is to utilise the staff in different rescue operations by providing them training so that apart from dousing flames, they can also act quickly in case of disasters.

"There are different types of natural calamities like landslides and earthquakes and specific training is required to conduct rescue operations in such situations. But the fire officials have certain limitations. They are only trained to douse flames. Keeping this in mind we have decided to form the SRTs," Adhikary said.

According to the deputy director, once the recruitment process is complete, the department will arrange for training programmes for the selected candidates through the help of different agencies like the army, police and the BSF.
Mob assaults cop team
TT, Malda, April 28: A mob in Bulbulchandi assaulted four policemen today after they allegedly beat up a trader of the locality in a drunken state.
Malda police chief Bhuban Mondal, however, said the policemen who were on their way to Pakua on motorcycles, had accidentally rammed into the trader at Bulbulchandi More. They were then beaten up by the local people who locked them up inside the panchayat office. They were rescued by the Habibpur police an hour later. Sushil Biswas, the trader, has lodged a complaint with the police against the four men in khaki.
Special train
TT, Siliguri: The Northeast Frontier Railway announced on Thursday that it will run a special train between Guwahati and New Delhi to clear the rush of passengers stranded in the Assam capital because of the strike by Air India pilots. The 05635 train will leave Guwahati at 6pm on May 1 to reach New Delhi at 1.45pm the next day. The 05636 train will leave New Delhi at 9.30am on May 4 and arrive in Guwahati at 7pm on May 5. The trains will have general second class, sleeper class and AC three-tier coaches and will stop at New Bongaigaon, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri, Kishanganj, Katihar, Barauni, Chhapra, Varanasi and Lucknow.
Poll notice
TT, Raiganj: Forty poll officials in North Dinajpur have been showcaused for attending the training sessions and then not turning up for election duty despite having accepted stipends. The district administration issued the letters to the presiding and polling officers on April 25 asking them to return the money and to reply to the notices within a week. North Dinajpur district magistrate Sunil Dandapat said if any of them could not come up with a satisfactory explanation, action would be taken under the Election Commission rules.
Girl dead
TT, Malda: A 17-year-old girl of Mahananda Colony died at her home on Thursday after allegedly committing suicide. Police said Shilpi Pramanik had hanged herself after she was scolded by her parents.