गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाले गर्यो दाबी
निकोललाई स्वास्थ कोर्ट उभ्याउ, सीआईडीमाथि सीबीआई जॉंच गर
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 1 जून। मदन तामङ हत्याकाण्डसित जोड़ेर पक्राउ गरेको गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको केन्द्रिय कमिटी सदस्य निकोल तामङलाई निखोज बनाएकोमा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाले निकोललाई जीवीत नराखेको हुनसक्ने कुरामा शंका गरेको छ। यसैकारण नै युवा मोर्चाले निकोललाई जिउँदै मात्र होइन स्वास्थ नै कोर्टमा उभ्याउनुपर्ने माग न्यायपालिकासित गरेको छ। जब सीआईडीले बुझाएको 519 पन्ने चार्जसिटमा नाम नभएको युवा मोर्चा प्रवक्ता दीपेन मालेलाई सीबीआईले मदन तामङको हत्याको मामिलामा सोधपुछ गर्न पक्राउ गरेकोमा युवा मोर्चा सीबीआईप्रति रुष्ट बनेको छ।युवा मोर्चालाई निर्दोषहरूलाई आतङि्कत गर्ने प्रशासनिक पहल मनपरेको छैन। यसैक्रममा सीआईडीले निकोल तामङलाई लापत्त पार्नु पनि मोर्चालाई दखल पुर्याउने प्रशासनिक चलखेलकोरूपमा लिएको छ। दीपेन मालेलाई सीबीआईले पक्राउ गर्ने वित्तिकै युवा मोर्चाले यसको विरोधमा होइन सही प्रशासनिक पहलको माग गर्दै आन्दोलन नै थालेको छ। यसैक्रममा आज कालेबुङमा युवा मोर्चाले जुलूस प्रदर्शन अनि पथसभाको आयोजना गर्यो। युवा मोर्चा साङ्गाठानिक सचिव सिद्धान्त राईले भने,हामीले सीबीआईलाई मदन तामङ हत्याकाण्डको मामिलामा काम नगर भनेका होइनौं, तर काम सहीरूपले गर भनेका हौं। निर्दोषहरूलाई पक्राउ गरेर वास्तवमा के प्रमाणित गर्न खोजेको हो? तिनले अझ भने, मदन तामङ हत्याको नाममा मोर्चाका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई सताउने काम गर्नु हुँदैन।
जो दोषी हो उसलाई दण्ड देउ, निर्दोषलाई सताउने काम नगर। तिनले निर्दोषहरूलाई पक्रेर प्रशासनले आतङ्क सिर्जना गरिरहेको छ। हाम्रा मान्छे जङ्गल पसिरहेका छन्। उनीहरूले नै जङ्गल पसाएका हुन्, पछि हतियार उठायो, मोर्चा अगणतान्त्रिक भयो भन्न पाइने छैन। तिनले प्रशासनिक पहलमा युवा मोर्चालाई शंका लागेको बताउँदै निकोल तामङलाई स्वस्थ नै कोर्टमा उपस्थित गराउनुपर्ने माग गरे। तिनले भने, यदि दिइएको मियादभित्र हाम्रो माग पुरा नगरे, त्यसपछि हुने आन्दोलनको जिम्मा पनि प्रशासनले नै लिनुपर्छ। हामीले भनिसकेका छौं, पहाड़ तहस नहस पार्नेछौं। पहाड़मा शान्ति राख्न चहान्छ भने सहीरूपले काम गर।डम्बरचोकमा भएको जनसभालाई नारी मोर्चा कोर कमिटी सदस्य ननिता गौतम, बारूद थापा, पासङ शेर्पा, दिपेन गुरूङ, समिरदीप गुरूङ अनि देशभक्त सुब्बाले पनि सम्बोधन गरेका थिए। मोर्चा केन्द्रिय कमिटी सदस्य देशभक्त सुब्बाले भने, जसरी निकोललाई लापत्ता पारियो, यसमा हामीलाई शंका लागेको छ। सीआईडीले वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको निर्देशमा त काम गरेको छैन? नत्र पक्रिएको मान्छेलाई सजिलैसित कसरी उम्काउँछ? यसकारण सीआईडीमाथि पनि सीबीआई जॉंच हुनुपर्ने मोर्चाको माग छ। अर्कोतिर तिनले ममता व्यानर्जी र गोर्खाले एकै तानाशाह भोगेको बताउँदै भुक्तभोगी ममताले भुक्तभोगी गोर्खाहरूको परिस्थिति बुझ्नपर्ने पनि बताए। तिनले भने, ललिपप होइन, जनता गोर्खाल्याण्ड चहान्छन्। मोर्चाले ललिपप होइन गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति लड़िरहेको छ। गणतन्त्रमा गणतान्त्रिक र संवैधानिकरूपले गरिएको दाबीलाई ममताले सुनवाई गर्नुपर्छ।
Gurung sets out for meeting with PC- Delhi parleys key to settlement of hill imbroglio, talks with Pranab on cards
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| A Morcha meeting in Kalimpong on Wednesday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha |
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, June 1: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and other senior party leaders today left for New Delhi for a meeting with the Union home minister, a move which is indicative of an early solution to the imbroglio in the Darjeeling hills
The leaders have departed for the capital, two days after their talks with Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta.
“We will leave for Delhi this evening and we are expecting to meet the Union home minister either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said over the phone from Calcutta.
Other Morcha leaders who were accompanying Gurung said they had no prior information of the team’s Delhi trip. “Our party president informed us last evening that we would be leaving for Delhi. When we left Darjeeling for Calcutta on Sunday, there was no talk of a meeting with P. Chidambaram,” said a senior Morcha leader.
He added that the there was a possibility of even a meeting between Gurung and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee during the stay in Delhi.
The unfolding events suggest that the central and state governments and the Morcha could reach on a deal as early as possible to put in place an administrative mechanism for the hills. After his talks with Mamata on Monday, Gurung had said he was “very happy” with the chief minister’s plans for the hills.
Observers believe Gurung left for Delhi to understand the Centre’s point of view before firming up the Morcha’s decision at the meeting between the party leaders and state officials in Calcutta on June 6.
“Ultimately, the Centre’s nod is needed before settling for anything. The Morcha leaders probably want to understand the Centre’s stand before taking a final call on the issue,” said an observer.
Trinamul sources in Calcutta say the chief minister is willing to transfer almost all departments, except home, to a new body to administer the hills. “The talks on interim set-up for the hills had collapsed over issues regarding the transfer of departments. The new chief minister is willing to transfer almost all the departments,” said a source. It is also learnt that the government is willing to look into the Morcha’s earlier demand for transfer of tauzi department and providing legislative powers to the new body, sources said.
However, the state government’s stand is not clear on the territory, which will come under the jurisdiction of the new body, be it the separate state or an interim council.
The Morcha while discussing the interim set-up had earlier demanded that the territorial jurisdiction of the new body should include Nepali-dominated areas of the Terai and the Dooars.
“There was no scope for a detailed discussion on intricate issues and that is why another meeting was slated for June 6,” said the source.
On the territory, the Morcha had suggested the formation of a joint verification committee to look into the matter.
The observers are also curious to know how the Morcha will justify its likely decision to accept the new arrangement, other than the statehood. “Earlier, they had sold the interim set-up, saying the then state government could not take any decision because of the impending Assembly elections. It needs to be seen with what kind of justification the Morcha will come up if they settle for something less than the statehood,” said an observer.
Headlines,
KalimNews: GJM delegation led by its chief Bimal Gurung met Pranab Mukherjee, Union Finance Minister late in the night.
One Nilesh Dukpa stabbed Utam Rai with sharp weapon in Gumbahatta of Kalimpong. Rai is admitted in Sun Divisional Hospital with severe injury. It is said that both of them were drug addicts and had an altercation.
CM's Legship visit The leaders have departed for the capital, two days after their talks with Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta.
“We will leave for Delhi this evening and we are expecting to meet the Union home minister either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said over the phone from Calcutta.
Other Morcha leaders who were accompanying Gurung said they had no prior information of the team’s Delhi trip. “Our party president informed us last evening that we would be leaving for Delhi. When we left Darjeeling for Calcutta on Sunday, there was no talk of a meeting with P. Chidambaram,” said a senior Morcha leader.
He added that the there was a possibility of even a meeting between Gurung and Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee during the stay in Delhi.
The unfolding events suggest that the central and state governments and the Morcha could reach on a deal as early as possible to put in place an administrative mechanism for the hills. After his talks with Mamata on Monday, Gurung had said he was “very happy” with the chief minister’s plans for the hills.
Observers believe Gurung left for Delhi to understand the Centre’s point of view before firming up the Morcha’s decision at the meeting between the party leaders and state officials in Calcutta on June 6.
“Ultimately, the Centre’s nod is needed before settling for anything. The Morcha leaders probably want to understand the Centre’s stand before taking a final call on the issue,” said an observer.
Trinamul sources in Calcutta say the chief minister is willing to transfer almost all departments, except home, to a new body to administer the hills. “The talks on interim set-up for the hills had collapsed over issues regarding the transfer of departments. The new chief minister is willing to transfer almost all the departments,” said a source. It is also learnt that the government is willing to look into the Morcha’s earlier demand for transfer of tauzi department and providing legislative powers to the new body, sources said.
However, the state government’s stand is not clear on the territory, which will come under the jurisdiction of the new body, be it the separate state or an interim council.
The Morcha while discussing the interim set-up had earlier demanded that the territorial jurisdiction of the new body should include Nepali-dominated areas of the Terai and the Dooars.
“There was no scope for a detailed discussion on intricate issues and that is why another meeting was slated for June 6,” said the source.
On the territory, the Morcha had suggested the formation of a joint verification committee to look into the matter.
The observers are also curious to know how the Morcha will justify its likely decision to accept the new arrangement, other than the statehood. “Earlier, they had sold the interim set-up, saying the then state government could not take any decision because of the impending Assembly elections. It needs to be seen with what kind of justification the Morcha will come up if they settle for something less than the statehood,” said an observer.
Headlines,
KalimNews: GJM delegation led by its chief Bimal Gurung met Pranab Mukherjee, Union Finance Minister late in the night.
One Nilesh Dukpa stabbed Utam Rai with sharp weapon in Gumbahatta of Kalimpong. Rai is admitted in Sun Divisional Hospital with severe injury. It is said that both of them were drug addicts and had an altercation.
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok 1st June: The eighth day village to village tour of the Chief Minister along with the state administration started from Legship Gram Prasashan Kendra above Legship bazaar today. While mentioning about the main objective behind such a programme of the government the Chief Minister said that such a programme will help the officials to get a first hand view of the problems faced by the people and their requirements at the rural areas which in long run definitely help to strengthen the administrative machinery and expedite the delivery mechanism of the state.
Interacting with the people about the various programmes and policies of the government for the socio-economic upliftment of the people and the society the Chief Minister said that the government has done everything possible to usher sustainable development in the state. The government has created various opportunities in various fields and now it is the stake holders turn to contribute. Development is a two way process, he said and added that Sikkim lacks stake holders contribution. Facilities from the government has increased manifold but contribution from the stake holders has not increased. Talking about the second generation development programme of the government the Chief Minister said that the government has almost completed infrastructural development and is turning towards economic development through the created infrastructure.
But this will be possible only with Stake holder’s contribution, he added. Unless and until the stake holders react positively, rise above petty individual requirements and give their contribution development will not be possible, the Chief Minister said.
Talking about the Land Bank Scheme of the government for providing land to the landless the Chief Minister directed the district officials to prepare a list of land less people, identify the land and prepare a holistic proposal by incorporating the financial involvement for the Scheme and submit it to the Land Revenue Department immediately. He assured the people to cover the entire state and provide land to all the landless people of Sikkim within two years. He directed the panchayats and the district administration to coordinate with each other for successful implementation of the scheme.
At Bering, South Sikkim where the Chief Minister interacted with the people of Jarong, Barfung, dethang and adjoining areas the people thanked the Chief Minister for the government policy of encouraging cooperative societies in the state. One person also came forward and thanked the Chief Minister for the CM Meritorious Scholorship Programme as his child got scholarship under the scheme and is presently studying at Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok.
Article
Interacting with the people about the various programmes and policies of the government for the socio-economic upliftment of the people and the society the Chief Minister said that the government has done everything possible to usher sustainable development in the state. The government has created various opportunities in various fields and now it is the stake holders turn to contribute. Development is a two way process, he said and added that Sikkim lacks stake holders contribution. Facilities from the government has increased manifold but contribution from the stake holders has not increased. Talking about the second generation development programme of the government the Chief Minister said that the government has almost completed infrastructural development and is turning towards economic development through the created infrastructure.
But this will be possible only with Stake holder’s contribution, he added. Unless and until the stake holders react positively, rise above petty individual requirements and give their contribution development will not be possible, the Chief Minister said.
Talking about the Land Bank Scheme of the government for providing land to the landless the Chief Minister directed the district officials to prepare a list of land less people, identify the land and prepare a holistic proposal by incorporating the financial involvement for the Scheme and submit it to the Land Revenue Department immediately. He assured the people to cover the entire state and provide land to all the landless people of Sikkim within two years. He directed the panchayats and the district administration to coordinate with each other for successful implementation of the scheme.
At Bering, South Sikkim where the Chief Minister interacted with the people of Jarong, Barfung, dethang and adjoining areas the people thanked the Chief Minister for the government policy of encouraging cooperative societies in the state. One person also came forward and thanked the Chief Minister for the CM Meritorious Scholorship Programme as his child got scholarship under the scheme and is presently studying at Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok.
Article
Fasting for corruption or Fasting for power
For Indian urban middle class who have variety of foods, cuisine from all parts of the world, a vast list of snacks and numerous drinks, fasting is beyond conception or imagination or experience. If a person undertakes a fast, he becomes a hero for he does something that urban elites cannot do. Now, another guru Ramdev has scheduled indefinite fasting in the month of June. His agenda is also similar, to eradicate corruption and bring back Black Money stacked in various countries around the world. He has a noble desire to use that money equally allotted for each district in India. However, he is not clear how he would implement such mammoth plan, when the delivery apparatus, the Indian bureaucracy is corrupt
Guru Ramdev claims to teach over 2 lakh people through his television audience daily and has an army of one crore (10 million) volunteers. This is a mind boggling number. Corruption is no doubt a socially tolerated evil. This demon has to be exorcised. Instead of focussing on the Black money in foreign countries, Ramdev should use his volunteers to fight the evil of black money, black market, corruption, bribery and nepotism.
Here are some constructive steps/projects/programmes Guru Ramdev could execute:
1. Literacy: Over 30 per cent of Indian population is illiterate. An army of one crore volunteers can teach 10 people to read and write or become functionally literate. It may take three months. That means within three months the volunteers of Ramdev could make 10 crore (100 million) people literate. If they repeat it three times, 30 crore illiterate Indian could become literate within one year time. Instead of teaching yoga to villagers, Ramdev volunteers could make India literate nation. With literacy comes hygiene, awareness of rights and poor people cannot be cheated and they need not pay bribes.
2. Sex ratio: Let Ramdev advise and ask his one crore volunteers to take an oath against discrimination of girl child. They should decide not to do sex determination tests or abort girl child or commit infanticide of girl child. This would be a great service to our nation.
3. Dowry: Another social evil is dowry that batters young brides and many of them are burnt alive throughout the country. Let the volunteers of Ramdev take an oath not to receive or give dowry. It is a known fact that dowry transaction happens in cash which is mostly black money.
4. Tax evasion: India has the greatest number of tax evaders or search loop holes in the law and pay less tax. A good example is Sachin Tendulkar who claimed himself as ‘Actor’ instead of ‘cricketer’ and paid less tax. He saved Rs. 2 crore but the country lost Rs. 2 crore. Guru Ramdev could urge his huge followers to honestly, willingly and joyfully pay the taxes that is due.
5. Real estate: Most transaction of real estate happens with black money. Only part of the cost is registered while the rest is paid as cash, so less tax is paid. It is a normal practice throughout the country. Guru Ramdev can challenge his followers not to pay any cash but do cheque transaction only when they buy any property. That would curb corruption.
6. Political parties: Guru Ramdev could request his lawyer followers to file a case in the Supreme Court for making it mandatory for all registered political parties to have accounts that are audited every year. It should become a public document.
7. Public Distribution System: Tonnes of grains are rotting or burnt or eaten by rats in Food Corporation of India godowns. The storage facilities are insufficient or inadequate. The Government gives an excuse that it does not have facilities to distribute the grains as it is expensive to transport those grains to needy areas. Guru Ramdev could challenge his volunteers to take responsibility to transport these grains and distribute through PDS.
8. Public Education: The root cause for corruption is lack of awareness and education. For example, the banks are supposed to provide loan for students who pursue higher education and the loan could be paid back when they start earning. However, many banks do not give this information and harass students who apply for education loans. Information of public importance that would reduce ignorance and reduce corrupt practices, general civic health campaigns, traffic common sense, safety measures...etc could be provided to public through the volunteers. Even Television should be used to dissimilate such ideas and information.
9. Karseva: Volunteers with guru Ramdev would like to be involved in worthy projects that would make difference in the lives of the people. Girls in rural areas drop out of schools for lack of toilets. Is it possible for guru to call his followers to construct toilets, install black boards, white wash all rural schools in India.
10. Urban traffic chaos: Traffic in Indian cities are dangerous and deadly. There is no guarantee a person would return home safely after going through the daily harassment. Adding flyovers has helped vehicles to reach traffic jams faster. Pedestrians are at peril every day. Guru Ramdev should provide creative solution through his volunteers.
There are many constructive means and methods to transform India with a volunteer force of one crore people. Instead of making a gimmick of fast, let the respected guru show a different way of transforming India. If he can think of creative projects like this, with his clout and committed volunteers he can make a remarkable difference. Will he? Only time would tell.
Expert lists butterflies- 3-year survey on Sikkim species
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| A Paris Peacock |
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| A Bhutan Sergeant |
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| Kunte at the presentation in Gangtok on Monday. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
TT, Gangtok, May 31: A Pune-based lepideptorist has taken up a project to update the database on butterflies found in Sikkim.
Krushnamegh Kunte, who did his masters degree in wildlife sciences from the Wildlife Institute of India, said according to the records, 650 species of butterflies have been found in Sikkim since the 1850’s.
But most of the data were collected at a time when the territory of the state extended up to Darjeeling in the south and Chumbi Valley in the north. Today the area of Sikkim is smaller and hence the figures need to be updated.
“According to historical records built up from the 1850’s, when the first work to survey the species began, there are around 650 butterflies in this region. There is no systematic data today about how many of them are still found in Sikkim because areas where the butterflies were found previously are not part of the state anymore. One major reason for my research is that I want to come up with an updated figure of how many species are found here,” said Kunte.
The researcher, who is a postdoctoral fellow with the FAS Centre for Systems Biology in Harvard University and the president of the Indian Foundation for Butterflies, finished a month-long survey recently.
The project was part of the three-year study that he intends to complete by 2013.
“We want to do a habitat mapping and population census which will be very handy for the state forest department for conservation and management plans,” said Kunte.
The researcher shared the findings of the survey with members of the Sikkim Ornithological Society and the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim in Gangtok yesterday.
Kunte showed the participants several pictures taken by the members of his team who went to Rolep and Rongli in the East district, Pabung Khola in the South district, Dentam in the West and Dzongu in the North district.
Around 200 species were found during the survey. The team spotted several highly endangered species listed in the Schedule I and II of the Wildlife Protection Act during the trip and some of them were the Scarce Jester, Eastern Courtier, Bhutan sergeant, Krishna Peacock and Scarce White Commodore.
“Eco-tourism and the concept of homestays can be promoted for conservation of butterflies and other wildlife species. Once the local community starts benefiting from tourists who come to see these species, naturally they will protect the wildlife species found in their surroundings,” he said.
Usha Lachungpa, senior research officer (wildlife) of the forest department, said the survey would be of great help as the government needs updated information.
“It will help us in habitat mapping and forest management,” she said.
Krushnamegh Kunte, who did his masters degree in wildlife sciences from the Wildlife Institute of India, said according to the records, 650 species of butterflies have been found in Sikkim since the 1850’s.
But most of the data were collected at a time when the territory of the state extended up to Darjeeling in the south and Chumbi Valley in the north. Today the area of Sikkim is smaller and hence the figures need to be updated.
“According to historical records built up from the 1850’s, when the first work to survey the species began, there are around 650 butterflies in this region. There is no systematic data today about how many of them are still found in Sikkim because areas where the butterflies were found previously are not part of the state anymore. One major reason for my research is that I want to come up with an updated figure of how many species are found here,” said Kunte.
The researcher, who is a postdoctoral fellow with the FAS Centre for Systems Biology in Harvard University and the president of the Indian Foundation for Butterflies, finished a month-long survey recently.
The project was part of the three-year study that he intends to complete by 2013.
“We want to do a habitat mapping and population census which will be very handy for the state forest department for conservation and management plans,” said Kunte.
The researcher shared the findings of the survey with members of the Sikkim Ornithological Society and the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim in Gangtok yesterday.
Kunte showed the participants several pictures taken by the members of his team who went to Rolep and Rongli in the East district, Pabung Khola in the South district, Dentam in the West and Dzongu in the North district.
Around 200 species were found during the survey. The team spotted several highly endangered species listed in the Schedule I and II of the Wildlife Protection Act during the trip and some of them were the Scarce Jester, Eastern Courtier, Bhutan sergeant, Krishna Peacock and Scarce White Commodore.
“Eco-tourism and the concept of homestays can be promoted for conservation of butterflies and other wildlife species. Once the local community starts benefiting from tourists who come to see these species, naturally they will protect the wildlife species found in their surroundings,” he said.
Usha Lachungpa, senior research officer (wildlife) of the forest department, said the survey would be of great help as the government needs updated information.
“It will help us in habitat mapping and forest management,” she said.
Where is the state, rivals ask Morcha
- Flak for not broaching gorkhaland at CM meet Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, May 31: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s rivals in the hills today parroted the I-told-you-so line and launched a scathing attack on the party, alleging that Bimal Gurung’s statehood promise before the Assembly elections was a public posturing for votes.
The general secretary of the CPRM and former Darjeeling MP R.B. Rai said: “If Bimal Gurung is saying that he is happy with the meeting with Mamata Banerjee, who is staunchly opposed to the division of Bengal, it is evident what is going on.”
Rai was referring to yesterday’s meeting between a Morcha delegation led by party president Gurung and the chief minister.
Gurung had said after the meeting that he was “very happy” with Mamata’s plans for the hills, adding that his team had come to congratulate her on her historic win.
Asked if the demand for Gorkhaland featured in the meeting, Gurung had yesterday said: “Gorkhaland talks can come later. This was more of a courtesy visit.”
Morcha rivals like the CPRM alleged that the “later” would never come.
“The Morcha had engaged itself with the state and the Centre on the interim set-up issue and they will continue to carry on the same dialogue when they meet again on June 6. The people of the hills had voted for the Morcha and they must seek an answer from the party,” said Rai.
“After eleven rounds of talks they will again start negotiations on the interim set-up (on a clean slate). The meetings are like climbing a slippery pole. The Morcha could never reach the top of such a pole,” said Rai.
The CPRM was also not satisfied with the chief minister holding talks with a party accused of masterminding the murder of ABGL leader Madan Tamang.
“The government should only start talks once they come clean through the legal process,” said Rai.
Tamang’s widow and the current president of the ABGL, Bharati Tamang, however, said she would not comment on yesterday’s meeting. “It was a meeting between them (Morcha) and the chief minister and we have nothing to say. The people must understand and I think they do,” she said, hinting that the Morcha’s tactics and its “false statehood” demand have been exposed.
Bharati said she would seek an appointment with Mamata in June.
Reacting to the allegations, Kurseong MLA and Morcha spokesperson Rohit Sharma today said the Gorkhaland issue had not been raised at Writers’ yesterday as it was the first meeting of the party with the chief minister.
“Since it was the first meeting and a courtesy call, we thought it was best not to talk about it. We will not budge from our statehood demand.”
Since Mamata’s victory, the hill party has been stressing that the new government will be given time to settle down before the Gorkhaland issue is broached.
In Darjeeling today, Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha brought out a rally followed by a public meeting to demand the immediate production of Nickole Tamang, a central committee member of the Morcha who had “disappeared” from CID custody in Pintail Village on August 22, 2010. Nickole is an accused in the Madan murder case.
A central committee member of the Morcha, D.B. Gurung, who addressed the rally said: “We wanted the CBI inquiry but they are arresting people left and right without evidence and merely on suspicious. If Dipen Mallay had been involved he would have fled long time back. He told the CBI that he was not involved in the Madan Tamang murder case and that he was at Pokhriabong (about 30km from Darjeeling) on the day of the murder. But the team arrested him merely on suspicion.”
Mallay, the media and publicity secretary of the Yuva Morcha, was arrested by the CBI last week and has been taken to Calcutta for further interrogation on a 10-day remand.
The Morcha had been demanding a CBI inquiry into the murder. But Mallay’s arrest, the first by the central agency, has made the party wary.
On Friday, a day after Mallay’s arrest, the Morcha had set a 10-day deadline for the government to produce Nickole in court.
Hill observers said the move was aimed at deflecting the focus of the murder probe.
The general secretary of the CPRM and former Darjeeling MP R.B. Rai said: “If Bimal Gurung is saying that he is happy with the meeting with Mamata Banerjee, who is staunchly opposed to the division of Bengal, it is evident what is going on.”
Rai was referring to yesterday’s meeting between a Morcha delegation led by party president Gurung and the chief minister.
Gurung had said after the meeting that he was “very happy” with Mamata’s plans for the hills, adding that his team had come to congratulate her on her historic win.
Asked if the demand for Gorkhaland featured in the meeting, Gurung had yesterday said: “Gorkhaland talks can come later. This was more of a courtesy visit.”
Morcha rivals like the CPRM alleged that the “later” would never come.
“The Morcha had engaged itself with the state and the Centre on the interim set-up issue and they will continue to carry on the same dialogue when they meet again on June 6. The people of the hills had voted for the Morcha and they must seek an answer from the party,” said Rai.
“After eleven rounds of talks they will again start negotiations on the interim set-up (on a clean slate). The meetings are like climbing a slippery pole. The Morcha could never reach the top of such a pole,” said Rai.
The CPRM was also not satisfied with the chief minister holding talks with a party accused of masterminding the murder of ABGL leader Madan Tamang.
“The government should only start talks once they come clean through the legal process,” said Rai.
Tamang’s widow and the current president of the ABGL, Bharati Tamang, however, said she would not comment on yesterday’s meeting. “It was a meeting between them (Morcha) and the chief minister and we have nothing to say. The people must understand and I think they do,” she said, hinting that the Morcha’s tactics and its “false statehood” demand have been exposed.
Bharati said she would seek an appointment with Mamata in June.
Reacting to the allegations, Kurseong MLA and Morcha spokesperson Rohit Sharma today said the Gorkhaland issue had not been raised at Writers’ yesterday as it was the first meeting of the party with the chief minister.
“Since it was the first meeting and a courtesy call, we thought it was best not to talk about it. We will not budge from our statehood demand.”
Since Mamata’s victory, the hill party has been stressing that the new government will be given time to settle down before the Gorkhaland issue is broached.
In Darjeeling today, Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha brought out a rally followed by a public meeting to demand the immediate production of Nickole Tamang, a central committee member of the Morcha who had “disappeared” from CID custody in Pintail Village on August 22, 2010. Nickole is an accused in the Madan murder case.
A central committee member of the Morcha, D.B. Gurung, who addressed the rally said: “We wanted the CBI inquiry but they are arresting people left and right without evidence and merely on suspicious. If Dipen Mallay had been involved he would have fled long time back. He told the CBI that he was not involved in the Madan Tamang murder case and that he was at Pokhriabong (about 30km from Darjeeling) on the day of the murder. But the team arrested him merely on suspicion.”
Mallay, the media and publicity secretary of the Yuva Morcha, was arrested by the CBI last week and has been taken to Calcutta for further interrogation on a 10-day remand.
The Morcha had been demanding a CBI inquiry into the murder. But Mallay’s arrest, the first by the central agency, has made the party wary.
On Friday, a day after Mallay’s arrest, the Morcha had set a 10-day deadline for the government to produce Nickole in court.
Hill observers said the move was aimed at deflecting the focus of the murder probe.
Short showers till June 5
TT, Siliguri, May 31: The monsoon is expected to hit sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim around June 5 and till then, short showers followed by clear skies will be the order of the day.
“The onset of the monsoon can be accelerated by the formation of low pressure system or depression over a region. As of now, no such system has formed here and this means that the monsoon will travel at its normal pace and arrive in the region on or after June 5,” said Indranil Sengupta, the assistant meteorological officer at the Regional Meteorological Office in Jalpaiguri.
“At present, there is an upper air cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh but that is not strong enough to speed up the arrival of the monsoon,” he added.
The south-west monsoon hit Kerala on May 29 and since then, it has advanced over most parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bay of Bengal.
“The monsoon is moving northwards and we can expect it to reach the sub-Himalayan Bengal between June 5 and 10,” he said.
However, data available with the Regional Meteorological Office suggest that the speed at which the monsoon has set over the region after it reached Kerala has varied in the past five years.
“In some years, we experienced monsoon within two days of its arrival in Kerala, while at other times, it has set in 20 days after it reached the southern state,” said Sengupta.
The data show that in 2005, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 5 and it reached the region 12 days later on June 17. In 2006, the monsoon hit the region two days after its onset in Kerala on May 26.
Next year, the monsoon arrived in sub-Himalayan Bengal on June 9, 20 days after its onset in Kerala on May 20.
It took seven days for the monsoon to hit the region in 2008 after its onset in Kerala on May 31. While in 2009, the rainy season began in north Bengal two days after the monsoon’s arrival in Kerala on May 23.
Last year, the monsoon reached the region two days after its onset in Kerala on May 31.
“In some years, the monsoon hit fast as there were marked low pressure systems over the region. It took a long time for the rainy season to begin in some years because of the absence of the depression. For example, in 2009, a sharp low pressure zone formed over the region, that caused the cyclone Aila, bringing the monsoon to the region on May 25, two days after it hit Kerala,” said Sengupta.
“So far, there is no indication that the monsoon has set in and we are still receiving scattered showers or pre-monsoon rainfall. There are alternate spells of sudden showers and bright sunlight during the day which will continue till the monsoon arrives,” said the met officer.
Siliguri girl rescued
TT, Siliguri, May 31: Pradhannagar police rescued a minor girl, who was trafficked in April, from Bihar’s Motihari last night.
The police said the girl was trafficked along with her sister from their house at Coolipara, near here. Sonu Bihari and her husband Dilip had came to the girls’ house on April 5 and had offered them jobs as domestic helps at their home in Bihar’s Chakia. But instead of doing domestic chores, the girls were forced to perform at private functions. The elder among the two somehow managed to escape. She filed a complaint with police on May 26. On the basis of the complaint, a team went to Bihar and with the help of their counterparts rescued the other sister from the house. The couple, however, were not found.
Road death
TT, Balurghat: A 52-year-old man was killed when a truck hit him on State Highway 10 on Tuesday. Police said Jiban Sarkar, a resident of Dhumsadangi near Bansihari, died on spot. The driver fled.
Timber haul
TT, Jaigaon: Foresters of Jalpaiguri division seized five trucks loaded with illegal timber worth around Rs 3 lakh from near Bamandanga-Tondu Tea Estate in Nagrakata block on Tuesday.
Resignation
TT, Siliguri: Biswajit Bhowmik, the chairperson of the District Primary Teachers’ Council of Siliguri, resigned from his post on Tuesday. Bhowmik forwarded his resignation to the secretary of state school education department.
Office locked
TT, Malda: Congress supporters locked up the office of the CPM-controlled Pirganj gram panchayat in Ratua II on Tuesday demanding that the office be open on time and not after 1pm. Block Congress president Shakeel Alam said elderly people had to wait for long to collect their pension because the office opens late everyday. The protesters also demonstrated near the office from 11am. The protest was lifted after 2pm when BDO Sanjay Biswas assured the agitators that matter would be sorted out. Pradhan Shibani Mahaldar, however, said the office functions normally on all days.
“The onset of the monsoon can be accelerated by the formation of low pressure system or depression over a region. As of now, no such system has formed here and this means that the monsoon will travel at its normal pace and arrive in the region on or after June 5,” said Indranil Sengupta, the assistant meteorological officer at the Regional Meteorological Office in Jalpaiguri.
“At present, there is an upper air cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh but that is not strong enough to speed up the arrival of the monsoon,” he added.
The south-west monsoon hit Kerala on May 29 and since then, it has advanced over most parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bay of Bengal.
“The monsoon is moving northwards and we can expect it to reach the sub-Himalayan Bengal between June 5 and 10,” he said.
However, data available with the Regional Meteorological Office suggest that the speed at which the monsoon has set over the region after it reached Kerala has varied in the past five years.
“In some years, we experienced monsoon within two days of its arrival in Kerala, while at other times, it has set in 20 days after it reached the southern state,” said Sengupta.
The data show that in 2005, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 5 and it reached the region 12 days later on June 17. In 2006, the monsoon hit the region two days after its onset in Kerala on May 26.
Next year, the monsoon arrived in sub-Himalayan Bengal on June 9, 20 days after its onset in Kerala on May 20.
It took seven days for the monsoon to hit the region in 2008 after its onset in Kerala on May 31. While in 2009, the rainy season began in north Bengal two days after the monsoon’s arrival in Kerala on May 23.
Last year, the monsoon reached the region two days after its onset in Kerala on May 31.
“In some years, the monsoon hit fast as there were marked low pressure systems over the region. It took a long time for the rainy season to begin in some years because of the absence of the depression. For example, in 2009, a sharp low pressure zone formed over the region, that caused the cyclone Aila, bringing the monsoon to the region on May 25, two days after it hit Kerala,” said Sengupta.
“So far, there is no indication that the monsoon has set in and we are still receiving scattered showers or pre-monsoon rainfall. There are alternate spells of sudden showers and bright sunlight during the day which will continue till the monsoon arrives,” said the met officer.
Siliguri girl rescued
TT, Siliguri, May 31: Pradhannagar police rescued a minor girl, who was trafficked in April, from Bihar’s Motihari last night.
The police said the girl was trafficked along with her sister from their house at Coolipara, near here. Sonu Bihari and her husband Dilip had came to the girls’ house on April 5 and had offered them jobs as domestic helps at their home in Bihar’s Chakia. But instead of doing domestic chores, the girls were forced to perform at private functions. The elder among the two somehow managed to escape. She filed a complaint with police on May 26. On the basis of the complaint, a team went to Bihar and with the help of their counterparts rescued the other sister from the house. The couple, however, were not found.
Road death
TT, Balurghat: A 52-year-old man was killed when a truck hit him on State Highway 10 on Tuesday. Police said Jiban Sarkar, a resident of Dhumsadangi near Bansihari, died on spot. The driver fled.
Timber haul
TT, Jaigaon: Foresters of Jalpaiguri division seized five trucks loaded with illegal timber worth around Rs 3 lakh from near Bamandanga-Tondu Tea Estate in Nagrakata block on Tuesday.
Resignation
TT, Siliguri: Biswajit Bhowmik, the chairperson of the District Primary Teachers’ Council of Siliguri, resigned from his post on Tuesday. Bhowmik forwarded his resignation to the secretary of state school education department.
Office locked
TT, Malda: Congress supporters locked up the office of the CPM-controlled Pirganj gram panchayat in Ratua II on Tuesday demanding that the office be open on time and not after 1pm. Block Congress president Shakeel Alam said elderly people had to wait for long to collect their pension because the office opens late everyday. The protesters also demonstrated near the office from 11am. The protest was lifted after 2pm when BDO Sanjay Biswas assured the agitators that matter would be sorted out. Pradhan Shibani Mahaldar, however, said the office functions normally on all days.
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