Chidambaram signals Writers’ route - Morcha asked to find common ground with state govt
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| Chidambaram (fourth from left), Gurung (to the left of the home minister) and other Morcha leaders in Delhi on Thursday |
TT, June 2: The Centre today indicated that with the change of guard at Writers’, it preferred the Gorkhaland issue to be sorted out in Calcutta instead of Delhi.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram asked Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung to “co-operate” with the state government and find common ground with it on as many contentious issues as possible at the scheduled bipartite meeting on Monday, sources said.
The home minister told Gurung, who led a Morcha delegation to him at his North Block office today, that a tripartite meeting between the Centre, state government and the hill party would be held later to build on the June 6 discussions at Writers’. Gurung, however, requested Chidambaram to hold the meeting soon.
Gurung, the sources said, promised the home minister that the Morcha would fully co-operate with the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
“He (Chidambaram) told us that we should sit for meetings stretching over two to three days instead of a single meeting to solve the (Gorkhaland) issue,” said Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the Morcha’s Kalimpong MLA and party spokesperson.
Chhetri said the Morcha had raised the territory issue at today’s meeting. “The home minister told us he was confident that the issue could be resolved through dialogue. He requested us to fast-track the process of solving the contentious issues,” the Morcha MLA said.
While the Morcha wants the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai included in the proposed interim set-up for Darjeeling, the erstwhile Left Front government had not agreed to it.
Gurung assured Chidambaram that the Morcha did “not want to put any pressure on the new government”. Earlier too, the Morcha chief had said he would give Mamata’s government “time to settle down”. “Our movement will remain democratic. The new chief minister has announced a good package for the (development of) the hills,” Gurung said.
After the meeting, he told reporters that the Morcha would not drop its demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. He said the Left government’s stubbornness” had “forced” the Morcha to approach the Centre to resolve the issue. Chhetri said the Morcha’s “mandate is for statehood”.
Besides Gurung and Chhetri, the Morcha MLAs of Darjeeling and Kurseong, and party general secretary Roshan Giri were part of the delegation that met Chidambaram.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram asked Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung to “co-operate” with the state government and find common ground with it on as many contentious issues as possible at the scheduled bipartite meeting on Monday, sources said.
The home minister told Gurung, who led a Morcha delegation to him at his North Block office today, that a tripartite meeting between the Centre, state government and the hill party would be held later to build on the June 6 discussions at Writers’. Gurung, however, requested Chidambaram to hold the meeting soon.
Gurung, the sources said, promised the home minister that the Morcha would fully co-operate with the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
“He (Chidambaram) told us that we should sit for meetings stretching over two to three days instead of a single meeting to solve the (Gorkhaland) issue,” said Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the Morcha’s Kalimpong MLA and party spokesperson.
Chhetri said the Morcha had raised the territory issue at today’s meeting. “The home minister told us he was confident that the issue could be resolved through dialogue. He requested us to fast-track the process of solving the contentious issues,” the Morcha MLA said.
While the Morcha wants the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai included in the proposed interim set-up for Darjeeling, the erstwhile Left Front government had not agreed to it.
Gurung assured Chidambaram that the Morcha did “not want to put any pressure on the new government”. Earlier too, the Morcha chief had said he would give Mamata’s government “time to settle down”. “Our movement will remain democratic. The new chief minister has announced a good package for the (development of) the hills,” Gurung said.
After the meeting, he told reporters that the Morcha would not drop its demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. He said the Left government’s stubbornness” had “forced” the Morcha to approach the Centre to resolve the issue. Chhetri said the Morcha’s “mandate is for statehood”.
Besides Gurung and Chhetri, the Morcha MLAs of Darjeeling and Kurseong, and party general secretary Roshan Giri were part of the delegation that met Chidambaram.
Dooars shutdown
Activists and supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today picketed on national highways, downed shutters and forcibly closed banks and post offices in the Dooars to protest an alleged Intuc attack on the leader of a trade union backed by the tribal outfit. This is the first shutdown in the region in three months.
GJM in no mood to rush Didi
TNN, Jun 3, 2011,NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Thursday advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to hold talks with the Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government, and find a common ground on their demand for a GJM leaders are slated to discuss their demands with the Bengal government on June 6.
After the meeting with home minister P Chidambaram, GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the Bengal government has given them hope to find an amicable solution. "We will talk to the chief minister. We don't want to put the new government under pressure," he said.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said they were very hopeful that Gorkhaland demand would be taken seriously. He said, "We want the new government to settle down. There is no rush." The four GJM MLAs sit on the treasury benches.
Sources said the next meeting will discuss the possibility of setting up of the proposed Darjeeling Regional Authority, comprising the district of Darjeeling and adjoining areas.
GJM has been demanding a separate state and wants to include parts of the plains and Dooars, which has set it in direct confrontation with Adivasis and residents of the plains.
GJM now to focus on territorial jurisdiction
Marcus Dam, TH, Kolkata: Having set aside for now its demand for a separate state, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is likely to focus on issues related to the territorial jurisdiction and legislative powers of a new regional set-up for not just the Darjeeling hills but also, as is being demanded by it, areas with a predominantly Gorkha population in the Terai and Dooars regions of north Bengal at its secretary-level talks with the West Bengal government on June 6
The GJM is seeking the setting up of a joint verification team comprising its representatives, officials of the Centre and the State to identify the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Terai and Dooars regions.
It will be difficult to arrive at any solution to political crisis in the hills without addressing the question of territorial jurisdiction for any set-up that may be considered for the region, GJM president Bimal Gurung said after a meeting with the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on Thursday.
Mr. Chidambaram has advised the GJM leadership to “find as much common ground possible” and “try to be cooperative” with the State Government in attempts to resolve the impasse.
The Centre could arrange for tripartite talks to find a way out of the impasse after the official-level meeting with the State Government, he added.
“Participating in tripartite talks would depend on the outcome of the June 6 talks and on how positive is the West Bengal government's response to our demand”, a senior GJM leader told The Hindu over telephone from the Capital.
Mr. Gurung said that the GJM would co-operate with the new government in West Bengal. He, along with his colleagues, had met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier this week when he had extended to her his party's total support.
Aware of Ms. Banerjee opposition to any division of West Bengal and with her party, the Trinamool Congress, being part of the government at the Centre, the GJM leadership is understandably not pressing for the creation of a separate State. Moreover, it can now politically afford taking such a line, given its runaway success in the hills in the recent Assembly polls.
While pointing out that the GJM has “not denied” the statehood issue, Mr. Gurung said that the party would not “pressurise” the State Government on the matter but instead get Ms. Banerjee to understand its position through dialogue.
“We are very hopeful that the demand for Gorkhaland will get attention and be properly solved” in the course of talks in the future, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri added.
After the meeting with home minister P Chidambaram, GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the Bengal government has given them hope to find an amicable solution. "We will talk to the chief minister. We don't want to put the new government under pressure," he said.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said they were very hopeful that Gorkhaland demand would be taken seriously. He said, "We want the new government to settle down. There is no rush." The four GJM MLAs sit on the treasury benches.
Sources said the next meeting will discuss the possibility of setting up of the proposed Darjeeling Regional Authority, comprising the district of Darjeeling and adjoining areas.
GJM has been demanding a separate state and wants to include parts of the plains and Dooars, which has set it in direct confrontation with Adivasis and residents of the plains.
GJM now to focus on territorial jurisdiction
Marcus Dam, TH, Kolkata: Having set aside for now its demand for a separate state, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is likely to focus on issues related to the territorial jurisdiction and legislative powers of a new regional set-up for not just the Darjeeling hills but also, as is being demanded by it, areas with a predominantly Gorkha population in the Terai and Dooars regions of north Bengal at its secretary-level talks with the West Bengal government on June 6
The GJM is seeking the setting up of a joint verification team comprising its representatives, officials of the Centre and the State to identify the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Terai and Dooars regions.
It will be difficult to arrive at any solution to political crisis in the hills without addressing the question of territorial jurisdiction for any set-up that may be considered for the region, GJM president Bimal Gurung said after a meeting with the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on Thursday.
Mr. Chidambaram has advised the GJM leadership to “find as much common ground possible” and “try to be cooperative” with the State Government in attempts to resolve the impasse.
The Centre could arrange for tripartite talks to find a way out of the impasse after the official-level meeting with the State Government, he added.
“Participating in tripartite talks would depend on the outcome of the June 6 talks and on how positive is the West Bengal government's response to our demand”, a senior GJM leader told The Hindu over telephone from the Capital.
Mr. Gurung said that the GJM would co-operate with the new government in West Bengal. He, along with his colleagues, had met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier this week when he had extended to her his party's total support.
Aware of Ms. Banerjee opposition to any division of West Bengal and with her party, the Trinamool Congress, being part of the government at the Centre, the GJM leadership is understandably not pressing for the creation of a separate State. Moreover, it can now politically afford taking such a line, given its runaway success in the hills in the recent Assembly polls.
While pointing out that the GJM has “not denied” the statehood issue, Mr. Gurung said that the party would not “pressurise” the State Government on the matter but instead get Ms. Banerjee to understand its position through dialogue.
“We are very hopeful that the demand for Gorkhaland will get attention and be properly solved” in the course of talks in the future, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri added.
Back to bandh after 3 months- adivasi leader’s house ransacked, cong blamed
| Parishad supporters block NH31 at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. Picture by Biplab Basak |
TT, Alipurduar, June 2: Supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today picketed on highways, downed shop shutters and forcibly closed banks and post offices to protest the alleged ransacking of the house of a tribal trade union leader last night.
The unannounced strike caught people unawares after an almost three-month lull in bandhs. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had enforced the last shutdown on February 9, a day after three of its supporters were killed in police firing at Sibchu on the outskirts of the Dooars.
Today’s strike was withdrawn by the Parishad around 2.30pm but by then the entire Dooars had shut down for the day. The picketers dispersed after the administration assured the Parishad leaders that those responsible for the attack on Sukra Munda’s house would be arrested. Munda is the chairperson of the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union, the trade union of the Parishad.
Life was affected in Nagrakata, Kalchini, Jaigaon, Birpara and Banarhat, where students, employees and customers were turned away from the schools, banks, markets and post offices.
No vehicles were allowed to ply on busy highways like NH31 and NH31C that connect Siliguri to Bihar and Assam respectively from 8.30am. On a normal day, a few thousand vehicles ply the two highways.
Today’s shutdown was a culmination of a clash between the supporters of the PTWU and those of the Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers on Tuesday. Both the sides blamed each other for the violence on Gathia Tea Estate in Nagrakata, 110km from Alipurduar town.
Intuc leader Mani Darnal said many PTWU members had switched over to the NUPW after the Congress’s Joseph Munda won from Nagrakata. Since then, the PTWU had been nursing a humiliation.
“Around 7pm on Tuesday when the NUPW workers were coming back after hoisting their flag on Gathia Tea Estate, the PTWU members attacked them. Five of our members were injured. Our MLA has lodged an FIR with the Nagrakata police station. As far as last night’s incident is concerned, our members are not involved in the ransacking,” Darnal said.
The president of the Parishad’s Terai-Dooars coordination committee, John Barla, accused Nagrakata block Congress president Amarnath Jha of leading the attack on Munda’s house on the tea estate last night.
“They attacked the PTWU chairperson’s house at 10pm and Munda had a scuffle with the attackers. They broke furniture and ransacked the place. This morning our supporters spontaneously resorted to picketing to protest the incident. But after the administration assured us that they would round up the attackers within a week, the picketers dispersed,” Barla said.
Tapan Kumar Mahanta, a resident of Ethelbari, could not go to Siliguri with his ailing mother because of the strike. “Our bus was stopped by picketers at Banarhat on NH31. I will now have to make a fresh appointment with the doctor,” he said.
Krishnapada Basu Bol, the secretary of the Kalchini Byabsayee Samiti, said the politics of bandh should end as a day’s shutdown means a loss of around Rs 50 crore in one block alone. “The picketers do not understand that such action does not lead to any solution and only result in harassment of the general public,” he said.
The subdivisional police officer of Malbazar, Arindam Sarkar, said the Nagrakata police had received two FIRs in connection with the incidents on Tuesday and last night. “We are investigating the cases and police are patrolling Gathia round the clock. There was no fresh violence today, but there was picketing in some areas,” he said.
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 जून।प्राकृतिक प्रकोपले जापानलाई तहसनहस गरेपछि विश्वलाई नै आहत पार्यो। कसैले पनि जापानले भोग्नुपरेको पीड़ालाई बिर्सन सक्नेछैनन्। जापानमा झैं प्राकृतिक प्रकोपले अब महाविनाश निम्त्याउने सय प्रतिशत सम्भावना दार्जीलिङमा पनि रहेको कुरा खुलाएका छन् मलय मुकुलले। तिनी भारतीय प्रौधोगिकी संस्थान मुम्बईका भू-विज्ञानका प्राध्यापक हुन्। आफ्नो ठाउँथलो कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मलयले भने, दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला नै भू-स्खलनको कारण खतरामा छ। जहिले पनि यहॉं ठूलो भुईँचालो जान सक्छ, जसले पहाड़लाई पूर्णरूपले तहस नहस गर्न सक्छ।
तिनले अहिले पनि पहाड़ बनिने क्रम रहेको यस क्षेत्रमा भारतीय भू-सर्वेक्षण रिपोर्टले पनि खतराको सम्भावनालाई व्यक्त गरेको जनाए। तिनले भने, जिल्लामा धेरे फल्ट जोनहरू छन्, जसले स्पष्ट संकेत दिइरहेको छ कि कुनै पनि बेला यहॉं प्रकोप आउन सक्छ। त्यो भुँइचालो र पैह्रो दुवै थरीको हुनेछ।
तिनले दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको अस्तिव नै खतरा रहेको कुरालाई अझ पक्का गर्ने धेरै आधारहरू रहेको बताउँदै भने, यसै त यो क्षेत्रमा वैज्ञानिकहरूको अध्ययनले जुनबेला पनि प्रकोप आउने बताएका छन्, प्रकोट कति विनाशकारी हुन्छ, त्यसको अनुमान गर्न सकिँदैन। किन भने दार्जीलिङमा बसोबासो बढ़ेदेखि यता अहिलेसम्म कुनै पनि प्राकृतिक प्रकोप भएको छैन। भएको भए खतरा कम हुने थियो, नभएकोले खतरालाई बलियो पारेको छ। तिनले पहाड़मा जाने पैह्रोको रोकथाम गर्न नसकिने स्पष्ट बताए। तिनले भने, यहॉं पहाड़ बनिनेक्रम जारी छ, यो प्रक्रिया रोकिने होइन। यसकारण पैह्रो त गइनै रहनेछ। जब मानिसहरूको बसोबासो थिएन तब पनि पैह्रो जान्थ्यो। समस्या मानिसहरूको बसोबासो भएपछि देखिएको हो। पैह्रो गयो, यसको रोकथाम गरिदेउ भन्नु, जानकारी र ज्ञानको अभाव हो। यदि पैह्रो जॉंदैछ भने, त्यहॉं बस्नु खतरा हुन्छ।
पैह्रो रोकथाम गर्न सकिन्न तर पैह्रोबाट बॉंच्न सकिन्छ। आवश्यक भार बहन गर्ने क्षमता भन्दा धेर भार जमीनलाई बोकाउनाले पनि पैह्रो जाने काम हुन्छ। यसबाट बॉंच्नको निम्ति एउटै उपाय छ, त्यो हो सचेतना। सबैले घर बनाउन अघि त्यो ठाउँ पैह्रोपीडित हो होइन खुट्याउनको निम्ति यससित सम्बन्धित विभाग र अधिकारीहरूसित सम्पर्क स्थापित गर्नुपर्छ। विभागले पनि जहीजहीं घर बनाउने अनुमति दिनु भएन। तिनको कुरा अनुसार जापानपछि अब प्राकृतिक प्रकोप दार्जीलिङमा हुनेछ। यसबाट बॉंचनको निम्ति सिमेन्टका गगनचुम्बी घरहरू होइन, काठका घरहरु बनाइनुपर्छ। तिनले पहाड़मा भुइँचालो र पैह्रोबारे सचेतना गर्न आफूहरूले योजनाहरू तयार पारेको अनि सरकारी गैरसरकारी सहयोगमा ती योजनाहरूलाई पहाड़मा कार्यान्वयन गराइने पनि जनाएका छन्।
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 जून। 10 माइल बस्ने एक्युपङ्चर डाक्टर छना दोर्जीले आफै छुरी हानी आफ्नै हत्या गरेका छन्। प्रत्यक्षदर्शीहरूले हेर्दा दोर्जीले आफ्नै पेटमा छुरी हानेका थिए। जब छना दोर्जीलाई छोरीले दिउँसोको खाना खान कोठामा बोलाउन गए तब तिनलाई पेटमा आफै छुरी हानेको अवस्थामा देखिन्।
घटना अनुसार बिहान रोगीहरू रोग जँचाउन आएका थिए। रोगी जॉंचेर दिउँसो तिनी आराम गर्न कोठामा पसेका थिए। दिउँसोको खाना खान बोलाउँन जॉंदा भित्रबाट कोठा बन्द गरिएको थियो। खिड्कीबाट हेर्दा डाक्टर छना आफै पेटमा छुरी हानेर लड़ेका थिए। तिनले एउटा हातले छुरी पक्रिएका थिए अनि आखॉं चिम्म गरेर अर्कोहातले तीब्ररूपले माला जपिरहेका थिए। धेरै हल्लाखल्ला भए पनि दैलो तोड्न सकिएन। पछि नगर पुलिस घटनास्थलमा पुगेपछि दैलो तोड़ियो अनि तिनलाई तुरून्तै अस्पताल लगियो। लॉंदालॉंदै अस्पताल पुग्न नपाइ तिनले दम तोड़े।
तिनी अहिलेसम्म पनि अविवाहित नै थिए भने तिनले एकजना धर्मपुत्री पालेका थिए। तिनलाई कुन कुरामा पीर थियो र आफ्नै पेटमा छुरी हाने? रहस्य खोतल्न कालेबुङ थानाका पुलिसले जॉंच अभियान शुरू गरिसकेको छ। अचम्म लाग्दो दृश्य के देखियो भने पेटमा छुरी पुरै गाड़िएको थियो अनि रगत बगिरहेको थियो तर आइया आत्था गरेका थिएन्। तिनले दुखेको पीड़मा तीब्ररूपले माला भने जपिरहेका थिए।
Headlines: Social boycott by GJM to 18 families of GNLF in Raghubir Busty of Sonada declared.
House of Ex army Pal Sing Lama ransacked by miscreants in Rock Garden of Darjeeling.
वामफ्रण्टले भनेको मानेन, ममताले भनेको त्यही कुरा मोर्चाले मान्दैछ-पाठक
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2जून। राज्यसभा सांसद समन पाठकले आज कालेबुङको दौडाहा गरे। माकपा नराम्रो घतले हारेपछि तथा बङ्गालमा सीपीएमको सरकार नरहेपछि तिनी पहिलोपल्ट आधिकारिक दौडाहामा कालेबुङ आइपुगेका हुन्। तिनले बङ्गालमा वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको हारलाई ममता र वामविरोधी संयुक्त शक्तिको षड़यन्त्र रहेको जनाए। वास्तवमा बङ्गाल सरकारलाई वामफ्रण्टले आर्थिकरूपले सबल गर्न चहान्थ्यो,त्यसकारण आर्थिक निर्यात र नीजि रोजगारको अवसर निर्माण गर्ने दिशामा काम भइरहेको थियो, यसैको गलत प्रचार भयो-तिनले भने।
तिनले पहाड़को विकासको क्रममा वामफ्रण्ट सरकारले होइन यहीँका राजनैतिक पार्टीलेहरू अवरोध खड़ा गरेको कड़ा र स्पष्ट शब्दमा भने। तिनले भने, पहाड़लाई लिएर धेरै योजना र कार्यसोंच तयार पारिएको हो, तर कुनै पनि काम गर्न यहॉंका आन्दोलनकारी दलहरूले दिएन। अघि गोरामुमोले दिएन अहिले गोजमुमोले दिएन। गोरामुमोलाई पूर्ण क्षमता प्रदान गरे पनि कुनै विकास नगर्नु राज्य सरकारको भूल होइन। पहाड़मा नै राजनैतिक दलहरूले भूल गरिरहेको छ अनि त्यसको दोष वामफ्रण्ट सरकार र सीपीएमलाई दिइरहेको छ, जो नितान्तै गलत हो।
तिनले साना राज्य निर्माण गरेर विकासको प्रक्रिया अघि नबढ्ने भएकोले नै वामफ्रण्ट सरकार छुट्टैराज्यको पक्षमा नरहेको बताउँदै भने, छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति भावनात्मक आन्दोलन भयो। आन्दोलन नै भए पनि त्यो यहीँको विकासको मार्गमा अवरोधक बनाइयो। यी माकपा सरकारलाई असफल बनाउने वा देखाउने षड़यन्त्रहरू थिए। सरकार विकास र कुराकानीबाट समस्या समाधान चहान्थे, यसैकारण मोर्चासित चुनाउ भएको महिनादिनमा पहाड़को समस्या ठामठीम पार्ने सम्झौता भएको थियो।
तिनले अझ भने, राज्य बाहेक स्वायत्ता दिने कुरालाई मोर्चाले पूर्णरूपले अस्वीकार गर्यो। अहिले वामफ्रण्ट सरकारसित जुन सम्झौता भएको थियो त्यही कुरा ममताले भन्दा मानिरहेको छ। तिनले कुनै पनि परिस्थितिमा ममताले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य दिन नसक्ने दाबी गर्दै दागोपाप झै कुनै पनि व्यवस्थामाथि नै कुराकानी हुने र बहाली हुने संकेत पनि दिए। यता माकपाको कार्यालयमा हतियार भेटिएको कुरा अनि मोर्चाले त्यसलाई सियलदासित जोड़ेको सन्दर्भमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले माकपालाई गलत देखाउने षड़यन्त्रको नतिजा बताए। संसारमा कुनै पनि यस्ता हुस्सु कमसेकम अहिले हुँदैनन्, जसले आफ्नो कार्यालयमा हतियार राखोस्। माकपाले हतियारमा विश्वास गर्दैन-तिनले भने।
Our Karmapa must come to Sikkim: Chamling
CM shares firm support to Ugyen Trinley Dorjee
Prabin, KalimNews, RAVANGLA, June 2: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government stands firm with the Sikkimese people on their long pending demand before the Union government to allow ‘17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Tinley Dorjee’ to visit Sikkim where the headquarters of Kagyug school of Tibetan Buddhism lies at Rumtek.
“I have petitioned several times to the Centre for allowing 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Tinley Dorjee to visit Sikkim. I have placed the demands to five Prime Ministers starting from Narshima Rao to Deva Gowda, IK Gujral, Atal Bihari Bajpayee and to the present Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. I am persisting with this demand”, said the Chief Minister while address a gathering of local people and monks at Ralang monastery, 13 kms away from here.
“I am a supporter to the cause of bringing our Karmapa to Sikkim and I shout with you that our Karmapa must be brought to Sikkim. The decision, however, lies with the Centre. All things are moving in a good direction and we are hopeful that he will be granted permission soon to come to Sikkim”, said Chamling on the third day of his second phase ‘village to village’ tour of Sikkim.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned demands placed by the monastery management committee and local people. The demands included electrification of the monastery, village tourism infrastructure, milk collection centre and school building for Ralang Linding school.
Like he has doing earlier, Chamling shared his objectives of his tour with the local crowd.
“I am on a 40-day tour of Sikkim along with ministers, MLAs and departmental heads. In short, the government has come to your doorsteps to inspect the developmental progammes being implemented in the villages. We are here also to understand the ground reality and listen to your grievances and to sanction justified demands at the spot”, said the Chief Minister.
Earlier, the Chief Minister started his day with a visit to Phatam junior high school at Borong Phatam, one of the remotest villages in South district, informs an IPR release.
At Namlung, Chamling expressed his dissatisfaction on the inordinate delay in implementation of carpeting work of Namlung road. He directed the Roads & Bridges secretary to impose penalty and take action against those responsible for the delay and to expedite the work.
Referring to a demand for fencing of Phatam junior high school, Chamling said that people have to provide social fencing to public property instead of focusing on infrastructural fencing. He reminded that the State government is working to provide required basic facilities and opportunities to the people like urban areas so there is no rural-urban divide and migration to urban areas.
The Chief Minister also expressed his disappointment on the failure of civil society to appreciate and to do construction criticism of government policies and programmes.
Nepal girls saved from trafficker
TT, Siliguri, June 2: Five girls from Nepal were rescued by Matigara police last night, hours before they were to be trafficked to Mumbai by a youth on the pretext of providing them with jobs. < The youth, Debesh Tamang, was also arrested from his rented house at Matigara near here and remanded in police custody. < “The 29-year-old Tamang brought the girls, all aged around 20, from the other side of the border and told them that they would be sent to Hong Kong and West Asia to work as domestic helps.
Police received a tip-off that he had brought the girls to his rented house and they would be taken to Mumbai soon. We conducted a raid and rescued all the girls,” said Gaurav Sharma, the additional superintendent of police, Siliguri. Tamang hails from Gorubathan under Kalimpong subdivision and had been staying at the rented house for two years. “Initial interrogation suggests that the girls are from Morang and Sintury in Nepal.
We did not recover passports or any other documents from their possession to show that they have got jobs abroad. A car, a mobile phone and a few contract forms were seized from Tamang,” said the ASP. The police suspect that the youth was a member of a racket that is active in trafficking girls from Nepal. According to police sources, the girls are first brought to India through Panitanki and then taken to Mumbai by train. During interrogation, the police have got hold of the address of a Mumbai-based recruitment agency, which sends girls abroad. “We have contacted the Maharashtra police to verify the arrested man’s statement and his activities in Mumbai. If the Nepal girls are sent abroad through an Indian agency, some valid documents are required to apply for passports and we have not recovered any such papers from the youth or the girls,” said Sharma. Tamang was produced in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate here and remanded in police custody.
Nepali now a must in hills
SNS, DARJEELING, 1 JUNE: Taking cue from Miss Mamata Banerjee’s gesture in asking for public announcements in Nepali at the New Jalpaiguri railway station, the GJMM town committee in Darjeeling has asked the owners of the business establishments and traders to redesign their signboards to ensure that Nepali as well as English are used. “We would also request the government offices to accept applications written in the Nepali,” said the GJMM Darjeeling town committee president, Mr Isha Mani Pakhrin. “We are grateful to the new chief minister for her initiative to make the Nepali one of the languages for public announcement at the NJP station. It is in sync with her policy to consider Nepali as the second language in areas where ten per cent or above of the population is Nepalese. She has also asked the state government departments to carry on official works in the Nepali language in the Nepali-majority areas. We thank her for her bold initiatives in bestowing the recognition on the Nepali language which is one of the constitutionally recognized languages in the country,” he said. He further hoped that the chief minister’s initiatives would go along away in changing the attitude of certain government officers here in Darjeeling who kept refusing to accept applications written in the Nepali.
The unannounced strike caught people unawares after an almost three-month lull in bandhs. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had enforced the last shutdown on February 9, a day after three of its supporters were killed in police firing at Sibchu on the outskirts of the Dooars.
Today’s strike was withdrawn by the Parishad around 2.30pm but by then the entire Dooars had shut down for the day. The picketers dispersed after the administration assured the Parishad leaders that those responsible for the attack on Sukra Munda’s house would be arrested. Munda is the chairperson of the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union, the trade union of the Parishad.
Life was affected in Nagrakata, Kalchini, Jaigaon, Birpara and Banarhat, where students, employees and customers were turned away from the schools, banks, markets and post offices.
No vehicles were allowed to ply on busy highways like NH31 and NH31C that connect Siliguri to Bihar and Assam respectively from 8.30am. On a normal day, a few thousand vehicles ply the two highways.
Today’s shutdown was a culmination of a clash between the supporters of the PTWU and those of the Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers on Tuesday. Both the sides blamed each other for the violence on Gathia Tea Estate in Nagrakata, 110km from Alipurduar town.
Intuc leader Mani Darnal said many PTWU members had switched over to the NUPW after the Congress’s Joseph Munda won from Nagrakata. Since then, the PTWU had been nursing a humiliation.
“Around 7pm on Tuesday when the NUPW workers were coming back after hoisting their flag on Gathia Tea Estate, the PTWU members attacked them. Five of our members were injured. Our MLA has lodged an FIR with the Nagrakata police station. As far as last night’s incident is concerned, our members are not involved in the ransacking,” Darnal said.
The president of the Parishad’s Terai-Dooars coordination committee, John Barla, accused Nagrakata block Congress president Amarnath Jha of leading the attack on Munda’s house on the tea estate last night.
“They attacked the PTWU chairperson’s house at 10pm and Munda had a scuffle with the attackers. They broke furniture and ransacked the place. This morning our supporters spontaneously resorted to picketing to protest the incident. But after the administration assured us that they would round up the attackers within a week, the picketers dispersed,” Barla said.
Tapan Kumar Mahanta, a resident of Ethelbari, could not go to Siliguri with his ailing mother because of the strike. “Our bus was stopped by picketers at Banarhat on NH31. I will now have to make a fresh appointment with the doctor,” he said.
Krishnapada Basu Bol, the secretary of the Kalchini Byabsayee Samiti, said the politics of bandh should end as a day’s shutdown means a loss of around Rs 50 crore in one block alone. “The picketers do not understand that such action does not lead to any solution and only result in harassment of the general public,” he said.
The subdivisional police officer of Malbazar, Arindam Sarkar, said the Nagrakata police had received two FIRs in connection with the incidents on Tuesday and last night. “We are investigating the cases and police are patrolling Gathia round the clock. There was no fresh violence today, but there was picketing in some areas,” he said.
होसियार, अब जापानपछि दार्जीलिङको पालो
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 जून।प्राकृतिक प्रकोपले जापानलाई तहसनहस गरेपछि विश्वलाई नै आहत पार्यो। कसैले पनि जापानले भोग्नुपरेको पीड़ालाई बिर्सन सक्नेछैनन्। जापानमा झैं प्राकृतिक प्रकोपले अब महाविनाश निम्त्याउने सय प्रतिशत सम्भावना दार्जीलिङमा पनि रहेको कुरा खुलाएका छन् मलय मुकुलले। तिनी भारतीय प्रौधोगिकी संस्थान मुम्बईका भू-विज्ञानका प्राध्यापक हुन्। आफ्नो ठाउँथलो कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मलयले भने, दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला नै भू-स्खलनको कारण खतरामा छ। जहिले पनि यहॉं ठूलो भुईँचालो जान सक्छ, जसले पहाड़लाई पूर्णरूपले तहस नहस गर्न सक्छ।तिनले अहिले पनि पहाड़ बनिने क्रम रहेको यस क्षेत्रमा भारतीय भू-सर्वेक्षण रिपोर्टले पनि खतराको सम्भावनालाई व्यक्त गरेको जनाए। तिनले भने, जिल्लामा धेरे फल्ट जोनहरू छन्, जसले स्पष्ट संकेत दिइरहेको छ कि कुनै पनि बेला यहॉं प्रकोप आउन सक्छ। त्यो भुँइचालो र पैह्रो दुवै थरीको हुनेछ।
तिनले दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको अस्तिव नै खतरा रहेको कुरालाई अझ पक्का गर्ने धेरै आधारहरू रहेको बताउँदै भने, यसै त यो क्षेत्रमा वैज्ञानिकहरूको अध्ययनले जुनबेला पनि प्रकोप आउने बताएका छन्, प्रकोट कति विनाशकारी हुन्छ, त्यसको अनुमान गर्न सकिँदैन। किन भने दार्जीलिङमा बसोबासो बढ़ेदेखि यता अहिलेसम्म कुनै पनि प्राकृतिक प्रकोप भएको छैन। भएको भए खतरा कम हुने थियो, नभएकोले खतरालाई बलियो पारेको छ। तिनले पहाड़मा जाने पैह्रोको रोकथाम गर्न नसकिने स्पष्ट बताए। तिनले भने, यहॉं पहाड़ बनिनेक्रम जारी छ, यो प्रक्रिया रोकिने होइन। यसकारण पैह्रो त गइनै रहनेछ। जब मानिसहरूको बसोबासो थिएन तब पनि पैह्रो जान्थ्यो। समस्या मानिसहरूको बसोबासो भएपछि देखिएको हो। पैह्रो गयो, यसको रोकथाम गरिदेउ भन्नु, जानकारी र ज्ञानको अभाव हो। यदि पैह्रो जॉंदैछ भने, त्यहॉं बस्नु खतरा हुन्छ।
पैह्रो रोकथाम गर्न सकिन्न तर पैह्रोबाट बॉंच्न सकिन्छ। आवश्यक भार बहन गर्ने क्षमता भन्दा धेर भार जमीनलाई बोकाउनाले पनि पैह्रो जाने काम हुन्छ। यसबाट बॉंच्नको निम्ति एउटै उपाय छ, त्यो हो सचेतना। सबैले घर बनाउन अघि त्यो ठाउँ पैह्रोपीडित हो होइन खुट्याउनको निम्ति यससित सम्बन्धित विभाग र अधिकारीहरूसित सम्पर्क स्थापित गर्नुपर्छ। विभागले पनि जहीजहीं घर बनाउने अनुमति दिनु भएन। तिनको कुरा अनुसार जापानपछि अब प्राकृतिक प्रकोप दार्जीलिङमा हुनेछ। यसबाट बॉंचनको निम्ति सिमेन्टका गगनचुम्बी घरहरू होइन, काठका घरहरु बनाइनुपर्छ। तिनले पहाड़मा भुइँचालो र पैह्रोबारे सचेतना गर्न आफूहरूले योजनाहरू तयार पारेको अनि सरकारी गैरसरकारी सहयोगमा ती योजनाहरूलाई पहाड़मा कार्यान्वयन गराइने पनि जनाएका छन्।
67-year-old ‘kills’ self
TT, Kalimpong, June 2: A 67-year-old practitioner of acupuncture is suspected to have committed suicide by knifing himself in the stomach at his house at ten-and-a half mile here today.
Police said Chana Dorji Bhutia used to stay with his adopted daughter Karma and did not leave behind any suicide note. After attending to patients Bhutia had entered his room around 12.30pm. Soon after Karma tried to enter the room but found the door bolted from inside. The girl went out of the house to look through a window. She found Bhutia on his bed holding the handle of a knife close to his stomach. He was taken to the subdivisional hospital where he was declared “brought dead”.
Police said Chana Dorji Bhutia used to stay with his adopted daughter Karma and did not leave behind any suicide note. After attending to patients Bhutia had entered his room around 12.30pm. Soon after Karma tried to enter the room but found the door bolted from inside. The girl went out of the house to look through a window. She found Bhutia on his bed holding the handle of a knife close to his stomach. He was taken to the subdivisional hospital where he was declared “brought dead”.
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 जून। 10 माइल बस्ने एक्युपङ्चर डाक्टर छना दोर्जीले आफै छुरी हानी आफ्नै हत्या गरेका छन्। प्रत्यक्षदर्शीहरूले हेर्दा दोर्जीले आफ्नै पेटमा छुरी हानेका थिए। जब छना दोर्जीलाई छोरीले दिउँसोको खाना खान कोठामा बोलाउन गए तब तिनलाई पेटमा आफै छुरी हानेको अवस्थामा देखिन्।घटना अनुसार बिहान रोगीहरू रोग जँचाउन आएका थिए। रोगी जॉंचेर दिउँसो तिनी आराम गर्न कोठामा पसेका थिए। दिउँसोको खाना खान बोलाउँन जॉंदा भित्रबाट कोठा बन्द गरिएको थियो। खिड्कीबाट हेर्दा डाक्टर छना आफै पेटमा छुरी हानेर लड़ेका थिए। तिनले एउटा हातले छुरी पक्रिएका थिए अनि आखॉं चिम्म गरेर अर्कोहातले तीब्ररूपले माला जपिरहेका थिए। धेरै हल्लाखल्ला भए पनि दैलो तोड्न सकिएन। पछि नगर पुलिस घटनास्थलमा पुगेपछि दैलो तोड़ियो अनि तिनलाई तुरून्तै अस्पताल लगियो। लॉंदालॉंदै अस्पताल पुग्न नपाइ तिनले दम तोड़े।
तिनी अहिलेसम्म पनि अविवाहित नै थिए भने तिनले एकजना धर्मपुत्री पालेका थिए। तिनलाई कुन कुरामा पीर थियो र आफ्नै पेटमा छुरी हाने? रहस्य खोतल्न कालेबुङ थानाका पुलिसले जॉंच अभियान शुरू गरिसकेको छ। अचम्म लाग्दो दृश्य के देखियो भने पेटमा छुरी पुरै गाड़िएको थियो अनि रगत बगिरहेको थियो तर आइया आत्था गरेका थिएन्। तिनले दुखेको पीड़मा तीब्ररूपले माला भने जपिरहेका थिए।
Headlines: Social boycott by GJM to 18 families of GNLF in Raghubir Busty of Sonada declared.
House of Ex army Pal Sing Lama ransacked by miscreants in Rock Garden of Darjeeling.
वामफ्रण्टले भनेको मानेन, ममताले भनेको त्यही कुरा मोर्चाले मान्दैछ-पाठक
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2जून। राज्यसभा सांसद समन पाठकले आज कालेबुङको दौडाहा गरे। माकपा नराम्रो घतले हारेपछि तथा बङ्गालमा सीपीएमको सरकार नरहेपछि तिनी पहिलोपल्ट आधिकारिक दौडाहामा कालेबुङ आइपुगेका हुन्। तिनले बङ्गालमा वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको हारलाई ममता र वामविरोधी संयुक्त शक्तिको षड़यन्त्र रहेको जनाए। वास्तवमा बङ्गाल सरकारलाई वामफ्रण्टले आर्थिकरूपले सबल गर्न चहान्थ्यो,त्यसकारण आर्थिक निर्यात र नीजि रोजगारको अवसर निर्माण गर्ने दिशामा काम भइरहेको थियो, यसैको गलत प्रचार भयो-तिनले भने।
तिनले पहाड़को विकासको क्रममा वामफ्रण्ट सरकारले होइन यहीँका राजनैतिक पार्टीलेहरू अवरोध खड़ा गरेको कड़ा र स्पष्ट शब्दमा भने। तिनले भने, पहाड़लाई लिएर धेरै योजना र कार्यसोंच तयार पारिएको हो, तर कुनै पनि काम गर्न यहॉंका आन्दोलनकारी दलहरूले दिएन। अघि गोरामुमोले दिएन अहिले गोजमुमोले दिएन। गोरामुमोलाई पूर्ण क्षमता प्रदान गरे पनि कुनै विकास नगर्नु राज्य सरकारको भूल होइन। पहाड़मा नै राजनैतिक दलहरूले भूल गरिरहेको छ अनि त्यसको दोष वामफ्रण्ट सरकार र सीपीएमलाई दिइरहेको छ, जो नितान्तै गलत हो।
तिनले साना राज्य निर्माण गरेर विकासको प्रक्रिया अघि नबढ्ने भएकोले नै वामफ्रण्ट सरकार छुट्टैराज्यको पक्षमा नरहेको बताउँदै भने, छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति भावनात्मक आन्दोलन भयो। आन्दोलन नै भए पनि त्यो यहीँको विकासको मार्गमा अवरोधक बनाइयो। यी माकपा सरकारलाई असफल बनाउने वा देखाउने षड़यन्त्रहरू थिए। सरकार विकास र कुराकानीबाट समस्या समाधान चहान्थे, यसैकारण मोर्चासित चुनाउ भएको महिनादिनमा पहाड़को समस्या ठामठीम पार्ने सम्झौता भएको थियो।
तिनले अझ भने, राज्य बाहेक स्वायत्ता दिने कुरालाई मोर्चाले पूर्णरूपले अस्वीकार गर्यो। अहिले वामफ्रण्ट सरकारसित जुन सम्झौता भएको थियो त्यही कुरा ममताले भन्दा मानिरहेको छ। तिनले कुनै पनि परिस्थितिमा ममताले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य दिन नसक्ने दाबी गर्दै दागोपाप झै कुनै पनि व्यवस्थामाथि नै कुराकानी हुने र बहाली हुने संकेत पनि दिए। यता माकपाको कार्यालयमा हतियार भेटिएको कुरा अनि मोर्चाले त्यसलाई सियलदासित जोड़ेको सन्दर्भमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले माकपालाई गलत देखाउने षड़यन्त्रको नतिजा बताए। संसारमा कुनै पनि यस्ता हुस्सु कमसेकम अहिले हुँदैनन्, जसले आफ्नो कार्यालयमा हतियार राखोस्। माकपाले हतियारमा विश्वास गर्दैन-तिनले भने।
Our Karmapa must come to Sikkim: Chamling
CM shares firm support to Ugyen Trinley Dorjee
Prabin, KalimNews, RAVANGLA, June 2: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government stands firm with the Sikkimese people on their long pending demand before the Union government to allow ‘17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Tinley Dorjee’ to visit Sikkim where the headquarters of Kagyug school of Tibetan Buddhism lies at Rumtek.
“I have petitioned several times to the Centre for allowing 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Tinley Dorjee to visit Sikkim. I have placed the demands to five Prime Ministers starting from Narshima Rao to Deva Gowda, IK Gujral, Atal Bihari Bajpayee and to the present Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. I am persisting with this demand”, said the Chief Minister while address a gathering of local people and monks at Ralang monastery, 13 kms away from here.
“I am a supporter to the cause of bringing our Karmapa to Sikkim and I shout with you that our Karmapa must be brought to Sikkim. The decision, however, lies with the Centre. All things are moving in a good direction and we are hopeful that he will be granted permission soon to come to Sikkim”, said Chamling on the third day of his second phase ‘village to village’ tour of Sikkim.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned demands placed by the monastery management committee and local people. The demands included electrification of the monastery, village tourism infrastructure, milk collection centre and school building for Ralang Linding school.
Like he has doing earlier, Chamling shared his objectives of his tour with the local crowd.
“I am on a 40-day tour of Sikkim along with ministers, MLAs and departmental heads. In short, the government has come to your doorsteps to inspect the developmental progammes being implemented in the villages. We are here also to understand the ground reality and listen to your grievances and to sanction justified demands at the spot”, said the Chief Minister.
Earlier, the Chief Minister started his day with a visit to Phatam junior high school at Borong Phatam, one of the remotest villages in South district, informs an IPR release.
At Namlung, Chamling expressed his dissatisfaction on the inordinate delay in implementation of carpeting work of Namlung road. He directed the Roads & Bridges secretary to impose penalty and take action against those responsible for the delay and to expedite the work.
Referring to a demand for fencing of Phatam junior high school, Chamling said that people have to provide social fencing to public property instead of focusing on infrastructural fencing. He reminded that the State government is working to provide required basic facilities and opportunities to the people like urban areas so there is no rural-urban divide and migration to urban areas.
The Chief Minister also expressed his disappointment on the failure of civil society to appreciate and to do construction criticism of government policies and programmes.
Nepal girls saved from trafficker
TT, Siliguri, June 2: Five girls from Nepal were rescued by Matigara police last night, hours before they were to be trafficked to Mumbai by a youth on the pretext of providing them with jobs. < The youth, Debesh Tamang, was also arrested from his rented house at Matigara near here and remanded in police custody. < “The 29-year-old Tamang brought the girls, all aged around 20, from the other side of the border and told them that they would be sent to Hong Kong and West Asia to work as domestic helps.
Police received a tip-off that he had brought the girls to his rented house and they would be taken to Mumbai soon. We conducted a raid and rescued all the girls,” said Gaurav Sharma, the additional superintendent of police, Siliguri. Tamang hails from Gorubathan under Kalimpong subdivision and had been staying at the rented house for two years. “Initial interrogation suggests that the girls are from Morang and Sintury in Nepal.
We did not recover passports or any other documents from their possession to show that they have got jobs abroad. A car, a mobile phone and a few contract forms were seized from Tamang,” said the ASP. The police suspect that the youth was a member of a racket that is active in trafficking girls from Nepal. According to police sources, the girls are first brought to India through Panitanki and then taken to Mumbai by train. During interrogation, the police have got hold of the address of a Mumbai-based recruitment agency, which sends girls abroad. “We have contacted the Maharashtra police to verify the arrested man’s statement and his activities in Mumbai. If the Nepal girls are sent abroad through an Indian agency, some valid documents are required to apply for passports and we have not recovered any such papers from the youth or the girls,” said Sharma. Tamang was produced in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate here and remanded in police custody.
Nepali now a must in hills
SNS, DARJEELING, 1 JUNE: Taking cue from Miss Mamata Banerjee’s gesture in asking for public announcements in Nepali at the New Jalpaiguri railway station, the GJMM town committee in Darjeeling has asked the owners of the business establishments and traders to redesign their signboards to ensure that Nepali as well as English are used. “We would also request the government offices to accept applications written in the Nepali,” said the GJMM Darjeeling town committee president, Mr Isha Mani Pakhrin. “We are grateful to the new chief minister for her initiative to make the Nepali one of the languages for public announcement at the NJP station. It is in sync with her policy to consider Nepali as the second language in areas where ten per cent or above of the population is Nepalese. She has also asked the state government departments to carry on official works in the Nepali language in the Nepali-majority areas. We thank her for her bold initiatives in bestowing the recognition on the Nepali language which is one of the constitutionally recognized languages in the country,” he said. He further hoped that the chief minister’s initiatives would go along away in changing the attitude of certain government officers here in Darjeeling who kept refusing to accept applications written in the Nepali.
WWF Conservation projects for Sikkim lakes
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok ,2 June:WWF-India has been working towards biodiversity conservation through participation of the local communities in the state for more than ten years. One of its main focus has been the conservation of myriad high altitude wetlands in the state, fragile environments providing multiple benefits including water security, refuge for wildlife and tourist attractions.
Following a successful conservation model in Tsomgo with conservation issues monitored by the Pokhari Sanrakshan Samity, focus has also been given to Lake Guyrudongmar, one of the highest lakes in the world and a major tourist destination in North Sikkim. Conservation plans have been worked out in collaboration with local governance institutions like the Lachen Dzumsa, organizations like the Lachen Tourism Development Committee to ensure effective protection to the fragile high altitude envirtonment of the lake while continuing sustainable tourism practices.
As part of the ongoing conservation activities in Lachen and Gurudongmar, WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme, in association with Lachen Tourism Development Committee, is organizing a two- day celebration of World Environment Day, 2011 on 4th & 5th June at Lachen and Gurudongmar as part of its High Altitude Wetlands conservation Project inSikkim. The major activities include a garbage cleaning drive in Lachen on June 4th, where Lachen Dzumsa, community members and school children from Lachen will take active part. This will be followed by a second drive at Gurudongmar on the occasion of environment day on 5th June, again with participation from WWF, LTDC and Lachen Dzumsa. It is hoped that these drives will generate major awareness regarding sustainable management of waste in two of the major tourist attractions in the state where huge number of both domestic and international tourists arrive each year.
During the occasion, two notice boards (signage) providing useful information on Gurudongmar and Do’s and Don’t s for the visitors will be put up near the holy lake where the fragile cold desert habitat requires utmost protection from waste and other anthropogenic disturbances. In recent years, the influx of tourists has increased manifold in Gurudongmar and while the cold desert environment restricts many anthropogenic activities with potential to cause disturbances, management of waste and ensuring that the lake environs are clean is a major issue. Dustbins aimed at proper management of wastes will also be distributed for placing at strategic locations in Lachen as part of the programme.
Entrance Examination results announced
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok , 2 June:SIKKIM UNIVERSITY conducted entrance examination for 24 courses on 7th and 8th May 2011 in 32 centres in India including Agartala; Ahmadabad; Aizawl; Allahabad; Bangalore; Bhubaneswar; Chennai; Cochin; Darjeeling; Dehradun; Gangtok, Guwahati; Hyderabad; Imphal; Itanagar; Jammu; Kalimpong; Kohima; Kolkata; Lucknow; Namchi [Sikkim] New Delhi; Patna; Pune; Ranchi; Shillong; Siliguri; Srinagar (J&K); Vishakhapattanam and in foreign locations like Dhaka [Bangladesh]; Kathmandu [Nepal]; Thimphu [Bhutan]. This year University started 8 new programmes including in earth sciences, ethno-botany, management, computer sciences, music, Nepali language and literature, tea development and management.
It is the first Central University in India to conduct entrance examination in Thimphu and Dhaka. It stands second in Central Universities in terms of number of entrance examination centres. In total about 1260 students from all over the country applied for various courses offered by the University. Despite the difficult location and nascent status of the University, it is now becoming one of the most attractive educational destinations among the student
community in India. Over 450 students from Sikkim applied for these programmes. At Gangtok centre alone 388 students sat for the entrance examination as against 64 at Namchi, 109 at Siliguri, 42 in Kalimpong and 97 in Darjeeling centres. As per the schedule announced beforehand, Sikkim University has now announced the admission test results.
The University offered 580 seats in various UG-PG integrated programmes and Post Graduate programmes. About 293 students have now qualified to take admission into these courses. Sikkim University also offers 5 MPhil/ PhD programmes in Microbiology, Sociology, Physical Sciences, Sociology, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies and Management.
List of the selected candidates is available in the University website: www.sikkimuniversity.in
Students who are qualified into various UG-PG integrated and PG programmes can do the registration and other admission formalities between 2nd June to 17th June 2011 at Library Conference hall of the University from 9.30 am to 6 pm. There are provisions for second list in some courses which will be announced on 18th June 2011. Classes for Monsoon Semester (July 2011) will start from Monday, 11 July 2011.
Chamling supported Urgen Thinley Dorjee
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok 2 June: On the day nine of the Chief Ministers village to village tour Pawan Chamling said that he wanted Karmapa Urgen Thinley Dorjee to Rumtek Monastry.
Speaking on the issue of Gyalwa Karmapa Urgen Thinley at Old Ralong Monastery the Chief Minister reiterated that the state government has taken initiative to bring Gyalwa Karmapa Urgen Thinley Dorjee to Rumtek Monastery. We are hopeful that this issue will be solved and he (Urgen Thinley) will take his throne in Rumtek Monastery, the Chief Minister said.
During the day long tour the Chief Minister also visited and offered prayers at Borong Monastery and Old Ralong Monastery started with visit to Phatam Junior High School, Borong Phamtam Gram Panchayat Unit which is one of the remotest village in South District. Admitting that this is the first time that he has visited this place, Phamtam, the Chief Minister said that this programme is a journey to the people where the actual ruler of the state reside.
Introducing his team of ministers and head of departments to the villagers and sanctioning various projects the Chief Minister said that all decisions taken during the tour is to be deemed as decided bythe Cabinet. While at Namlung a remote village below Ralong Monastery the Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the inordinate delay in the implementation of carpeting work of road towards Namlung and directed the Secretary Roads and Bridges to impose penalty and take action against those responsible for the delay and expedite the work.
Referring to demands by the Phamtam JHS with regard to fencing of school area the Chief Minister said that public properties are meant for the people and it is they who have to provide social fencing to the property instead of infrastructural fencing. Assuring the people to fulfill their demands the Chief Minister said that the government wants to provide the required basic amenities and opportunities to the people of the rural areas like that of urban areas so that rural economy gets boost like that of urban economy and people of rural areas do not have to migrate to urban areas in search of greener pastures. During the last 18 years much value addition has been made in the field of Sikkim’s development, he said. But at the same time he added that the state lacks strong civil society to appreciate, defend and do constructive criticism of government policies and programmes.
Hope in Hills
Opinion, TT: Simple gestures of goodwill and mutual trust can go a long way towards resolving seemingly intractable issues. Mamata Banerjee’s first meeting as West Bengal’s chief minister with Bimal Gurung can justifiably raise hopes for a new beginning for Darjeeling. The significant thing about the meeting was the ambience of mutual trust and cooperation. It was in sharp contrast with the air of confrontation that marked the dialogue between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s government. Mr Gurung’s “happiness” over his meeting with Ms Banerjee is also remarkable because she had always made her stand on the Darjeeling imbroglio absolutely clear.
She opposed not only the creation of a separate state comprising the three hill subdivisions but also the inclusion of the adjoining areas in the plains in any new administrative set-up for Darjeeling that the GJM wanted. Even so, Mr Gurung seems hopeful that the new chief minister would give the people of Darjeeling a fair deal that the Left Front government denied them. Such confidence is essential in resolving political and administrative issues.
If the new regime at Writers’ Buildings and the GJM leadership move forward in this spirit, it will be easier for New Delhi also to find an answer to the “Gorkhaland” question that would be acceptable to all sides.
However, there are simpler, but more urgent, issues that the people of Darjeeling would like Ms Banerjee to address. Much of the hill station’s civic infrastructure is in disrepair. Most of the major roads in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong are in a mess. The condition of the roads leading to the tea gardens and villages is even worse. The near-collapse of a tolerable road network has made the transportation of essential goods and services an uphill task. But the worst problem for the people is the scarcity of drinking water. There has been practically no administration in Darjeeling since the term of Subash Ghisingh’s Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council expired three years ago.
The GJM took over the political space vacated by Mr Ghisingh but the administrative vacuum continued, thanks to the Left Front government’s total abdication of authority in the hills. As with so much else in Bengal, Ms Banerjee will have to rebuild many things in Darjeeling. A political-administrative structure replacing the DGHC is the most important among the new initiatives. But it may be even more important to rebuild bridges of understanding between Calcutta and Darjeeling.
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok ,2 June:WWF-India has been working towards biodiversity conservation through participation of the local communities in the state for more than ten years. One of its main focus has been the conservation of myriad high altitude wetlands in the state, fragile environments providing multiple benefits including water security, refuge for wildlife and tourist attractions.
Following a successful conservation model in Tsomgo with conservation issues monitored by the Pokhari Sanrakshan Samity, focus has also been given to Lake Guyrudongmar, one of the highest lakes in the world and a major tourist destination in North Sikkim. Conservation plans have been worked out in collaboration with local governance institutions like the Lachen Dzumsa, organizations like the Lachen Tourism Development Committee to ensure effective protection to the fragile high altitude envirtonment of the lake while continuing sustainable tourism practices.
As part of the ongoing conservation activities in Lachen and Gurudongmar, WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme, in association with Lachen Tourism Development Committee, is organizing a two- day celebration of World Environment Day, 2011 on 4th & 5th June at Lachen and Gurudongmar as part of its High Altitude Wetlands conservation Project inSikkim. The major activities include a garbage cleaning drive in Lachen on June 4th, where Lachen Dzumsa, community members and school children from Lachen will take active part. This will be followed by a second drive at Gurudongmar on the occasion of environment day on 5th June, again with participation from WWF, LTDC and Lachen Dzumsa. It is hoped that these drives will generate major awareness regarding sustainable management of waste in two of the major tourist attractions in the state where huge number of both domestic and international tourists arrive each year.
During the occasion, two notice boards (signage) providing useful information on Gurudongmar and Do’s and Don’t s for the visitors will be put up near the holy lake where the fragile cold desert habitat requires utmost protection from waste and other anthropogenic disturbances. In recent years, the influx of tourists has increased manifold in Gurudongmar and while the cold desert environment restricts many anthropogenic activities with potential to cause disturbances, management of waste and ensuring that the lake environs are clean is a major issue. Dustbins aimed at proper management of wastes will also be distributed for placing at strategic locations in Lachen as part of the programme.
Entrance Examination results announced
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok , 2 June:SIKKIM UNIVERSITY conducted entrance examination for 24 courses on 7th and 8th May 2011 in 32 centres in India including Agartala; Ahmadabad; Aizawl; Allahabad; Bangalore; Bhubaneswar; Chennai; Cochin; Darjeeling; Dehradun; Gangtok, Guwahati; Hyderabad; Imphal; Itanagar; Jammu; Kalimpong; Kohima; Kolkata; Lucknow; Namchi [Sikkim] New Delhi; Patna; Pune; Ranchi; Shillong; Siliguri; Srinagar (J&K); Vishakhapattanam and in foreign locations like Dhaka [Bangladesh]; Kathmandu [Nepal]; Thimphu [Bhutan]. This year University started 8 new programmes including in earth sciences, ethno-botany, management, computer sciences, music, Nepali language and literature, tea development and management.
It is the first Central University in India to conduct entrance examination in Thimphu and Dhaka. It stands second in Central Universities in terms of number of entrance examination centres. In total about 1260 students from all over the country applied for various courses offered by the University. Despite the difficult location and nascent status of the University, it is now becoming one of the most attractive educational destinations among the student
community in India. Over 450 students from Sikkim applied for these programmes. At Gangtok centre alone 388 students sat for the entrance examination as against 64 at Namchi, 109 at Siliguri, 42 in Kalimpong and 97 in Darjeeling centres. As per the schedule announced beforehand, Sikkim University has now announced the admission test results.
The University offered 580 seats in various UG-PG integrated programmes and Post Graduate programmes. About 293 students have now qualified to take admission into these courses. Sikkim University also offers 5 MPhil/ PhD programmes in Microbiology, Sociology, Physical Sciences, Sociology, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies and Management.
List of the selected candidates is available in the University website: www.sikkimuniversity.in
Students who are qualified into various UG-PG integrated and PG programmes can do the registration and other admission formalities between 2nd June to 17th June 2011 at Library Conference hall of the University from 9.30 am to 6 pm. There are provisions for second list in some courses which will be announced on 18th June 2011. Classes for Monsoon Semester (July 2011) will start from Monday, 11 July 2011.
Chamling supported Urgen Thinley Dorjee
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok 2 June: On the day nine of the Chief Ministers village to village tour Pawan Chamling said that he wanted Karmapa Urgen Thinley Dorjee to Rumtek Monastry.
Speaking on the issue of Gyalwa Karmapa Urgen Thinley at Old Ralong Monastery the Chief Minister reiterated that the state government has taken initiative to bring Gyalwa Karmapa Urgen Thinley Dorjee to Rumtek Monastery. We are hopeful that this issue will be solved and he (Urgen Thinley) will take his throne in Rumtek Monastery, the Chief Minister said.
During the day long tour the Chief Minister also visited and offered prayers at Borong Monastery and Old Ralong Monastery started with visit to Phatam Junior High School, Borong Phamtam Gram Panchayat Unit which is one of the remotest village in South District. Admitting that this is the first time that he has visited this place, Phamtam, the Chief Minister said that this programme is a journey to the people where the actual ruler of the state reside.
Introducing his team of ministers and head of departments to the villagers and sanctioning various projects the Chief Minister said that all decisions taken during the tour is to be deemed as decided bythe Cabinet. While at Namlung a remote village below Ralong Monastery the Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the inordinate delay in the implementation of carpeting work of road towards Namlung and directed the Secretary Roads and Bridges to impose penalty and take action against those responsible for the delay and expedite the work.
Referring to demands by the Phamtam JHS with regard to fencing of school area the Chief Minister said that public properties are meant for the people and it is they who have to provide social fencing to the property instead of infrastructural fencing. Assuring the people to fulfill their demands the Chief Minister said that the government wants to provide the required basic amenities and opportunities to the people of the rural areas like that of urban areas so that rural economy gets boost like that of urban economy and people of rural areas do not have to migrate to urban areas in search of greener pastures. During the last 18 years much value addition has been made in the field of Sikkim’s development, he said. But at the same time he added that the state lacks strong civil society to appreciate, defend and do constructive criticism of government policies and programmes.
Hope in Hills
Opinion, TT: Simple gestures of goodwill and mutual trust can go a long way towards resolving seemingly intractable issues. Mamata Banerjee’s first meeting as West Bengal’s chief minister with Bimal Gurung can justifiably raise hopes for a new beginning for Darjeeling. The significant thing about the meeting was the ambience of mutual trust and cooperation. It was in sharp contrast with the air of confrontation that marked the dialogue between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s government. Mr Gurung’s “happiness” over his meeting with Ms Banerjee is also remarkable because she had always made her stand on the Darjeeling imbroglio absolutely clear.
She opposed not only the creation of a separate state comprising the three hill subdivisions but also the inclusion of the adjoining areas in the plains in any new administrative set-up for Darjeeling that the GJM wanted. Even so, Mr Gurung seems hopeful that the new chief minister would give the people of Darjeeling a fair deal that the Left Front government denied them. Such confidence is essential in resolving political and administrative issues.
If the new regime at Writers’ Buildings and the GJM leadership move forward in this spirit, it will be easier for New Delhi also to find an answer to the “Gorkhaland” question that would be acceptable to all sides.
However, there are simpler, but more urgent, issues that the people of Darjeeling would like Ms Banerjee to address. Much of the hill station’s civic infrastructure is in disrepair. Most of the major roads in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong are in a mess. The condition of the roads leading to the tea gardens and villages is even worse. The near-collapse of a tolerable road network has made the transportation of essential goods and services an uphill task. But the worst problem for the people is the scarcity of drinking water. There has been practically no administration in Darjeeling since the term of Subash Ghisingh’s Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council expired three years ago.
The GJM took over the political space vacated by Mr Ghisingh but the administrative vacuum continued, thanks to the Left Front government’s total abdication of authority in the hills. As with so much else in Bengal, Ms Banerjee will have to rebuild many things in Darjeeling. A political-administrative structure replacing the DGHC is the most important among the new initiatives. But it may be even more important to rebuild bridges of understanding between Calcutta and Darjeeling.
I AM REALLY LUCKY TO GET KALIMPONG NEWS, IN DELHI THANKS AND LONG LIVE KN
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