मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 5 जुलाई। दार्जीलिङ पहाड़मा लागु हुनलागेको व्यवस्थाबारे बुझाउन 8 जुलाई शुक्रवारको दिन कालेबुङका विभिन्न राजनैतिक दलका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई लिएर मोर्चाले अन्तरक्रियात्मक कार्यक्रम गर्ने भएको छ। साङ्गठनिक कार्यक्रम लिएर मंगलबार बेलुकी डुवर्सबाट सोझै कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले आज पत्रकारहरूलाई यसप्रकार जानकारी गराएका हुन्।व्यवस्थाबारे विपक्षका दलहरूले मोर्चामाथि लगाइरहेको आरोप अनि जनतामा देखापरेको अन्योलतालाई स्पष्ट रूपमा बुझाउन नै मोर्चाले उक्त अन्तरक्रियात्मक कार्यक्रमको आयोजना गरेको हो। यसैले अन्य दलहरूलाई पनि मोर्चाले स्पष्ट रूपमा बुझाउने प्रयास गर्ने बताउँदै मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले भने, यहॉंको अन्य दलहरूका प्रतिनिधि, वुद्धिजिवी अनि अन्यहरूलाई लिएर हामी 8 जुलाईको दिन अन्तरक्रियात्मक कार्यक्रम गर्नेछौं। अन्य दलहरूलाई पनि यो विषयमा स्पष्ट रूपमा बुझाउन चाहन्छौं। हामी हाम्रो पक्षबाट उनीहरूलाई भरपूर बुझाउने कोशिश गर्नेछौं। उनीहरूले चाहे मानोस् या नमानोस् व्यवस्थावारे बुझाउनु हाम्रो कर्तव्य हो।
तिनले अहिले केही राम्रो कुरा पाएको अनि जनताले पनि यसलाई राम्रो दृष्टिले हेरिरहेको बताए। बङ्गालमा अहिले नयॉं सरकार आएकोले मोर्चाले अहिले कुनै प्रकारको उत्तेजित पार्ने किसिमको आन्दोलन नगरेको बताउँदै तिनले भने, 34 वर्षसम्म बामफ्रण्टको शासनकाल अवधि सम्पूर्ण बङ्गाल नै शोषित भएको छ। नयॉं सरकारले अहिले सही दिशा निर्देश गर्ने काम गरिरहेको छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा नयॉं सरकारले मोर्चाको आन्दोलनलाई सकरात्मक दृष्टिकोणले हेरिरहेकोले अहिले नै कुनै उत्तेजित पार्ने किसिमको आन्दोलन गर्न चॉंहदैनौं। नयॉं सरकारले अहिले राम्रो निर्णय लिएको छ। हामी खुशी छौं। यद्यपी तिनले नयॉं व्यवस्थाले गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनलाई भने कुनै असर नपार्ने बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन भने यथावत रहने जनाए।तराई-डुवर्सको भूभागहरूको अन्तरभुक्तिकरण विषयमा बोल्दै तिनले भने, सिमाङ्कनको निम्ति हाइ पावर कमिटि बनिनुनै हाम्रो निम्ति ठूलो कुरा हो। कमिटिले निरिक्षण गरेर तराइ-डुवर्सको गोर्खाबहुल क्षेत्रहरू व्यवस्थाभित्र गाभिने छ। मोर्चाले डुवर्सको 196 वटा मौजाहरू मागेको छ तर मोर्चाले मागेको तराई-डुवर्सको कतिपय क्षेत्रहरू नगाभिए ति क्षेत्रहरूको निम्ति मोर्चाले पार्टीगत विचार-विमर्ष गरेर ति क्षेत्रहरूलाई लिएर कुनै ठोस निर्णय अथवा सहूलियत सम्बन्धि सरकारसँग कुरा गर्ने पनि गुरूङले जनाए।
नयॉं व्यवस्था चलाउनको निम्ति दार्जीलिङको 4 वटा खण्डलाई विभाजन गरेर 24 वटा बनाउने अनि 28 वटा समष्टिलाई बढ़ाएर 45 वटा बनाउनपर्ने विषयमा पनि सरकारसँग कुरा गरेको जनाए। बोर्ड अफ एडमिन्सट्रेसनले हाल अस्थायी रूपमा काम गर्ने भएपनि हाइ पावर कमिटिले सिमाङ्कनको रिपोर्ट बुझाएपछि चुनाव प्रक्रियाद्वारा नै चेयरमेन नियुक्त गरिने बताउँदै तिनले भने, म चेयरमेन हुँदिन। जाहे जोसुकै बसोस्। मेरो लक्ष्य छ, म त्यसैको निम्ति अघि बढ्छु।तेलेङ्गनाका विधायकहरूले अनि मन्त्रीहरूले छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति आन्दोलन चर्काइरहेको सम्बन्धमा तिनले जब कुनै राम्रो कुरा पाउन लागेको हुन्छ तब थुप्रै अड्चनहरू आउने गरेको भएपनि यसपल्ट भने पहाड़को मूलभूत समस्याहरूको समाधानको निम्ति तराई-डुवर्सको भूभाग गाभिए स्वीकार गर्ने बताएका छन्। मंगलबार् सॉंझ साङ्गठनिक कार्यक्रम लिएर कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मोर्चा अध्यक्ष गुरूङल डेलो टुरिस्ट लजमा नै हाल रहिरहेका छन्। भोलि तिनले सिप्सु काण्डमा शहीद भएकी खानी निवासी स्व.विमला राइको परिवारसित पनि भेट गर्ने भएको छ।
Morcha invites rivals to discuss hill deal - Opponents not keen on attending July 8 meet
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Deolo (Kalimpong), July 6: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has invited its rivals to a meeting here on July 8 to exchange opinions on the proposed memorandum of understanding it hopes to sign with the Centre and the state on an administrative arrangement for the hills.
Morcha president Bimal Gurung said representatives of all political parties were free to attend the meeting where they would be briefed on the draft agreement and could give their opinions. “We (read party) and the people are happy with the proposed settlement. We want to know from them whether or not they share our views,” he told reporters here after holding a series of meetings with the subdivisional units of the Morcha and its various frontal organisations.
Gurung said barring a couple of issues that is yet to be thrashed out, the party was happy with the overall contents of the settlement. He, however, did not reveal the points of disagreement. “We will reach a settlement within the next four-five days,” he said. Asked if the date had been finalised, he retorted: “It will happen tomorrow if I want. We are not in a hurry. The draft is almost ready. There are a couple of points that need to be rectified.”
Morcha rivals, however, are not too enthused about Friday’s meet. “We will take a decision on whether or not to attend the meeting after we receive a formal invitation. We will first have to know and discuss what are the issues they want to talk about,” said Gobind Chhetri, the spokesperson for the CPRM. ABGL president Bharati Tamang said she wouldn’t want to comment on the Morcha invite.
Asked if the agreement would be signed without thrashing out the territory issue of territorial jurisdiction of the new authority, Gurung said the proposed high-powered committee to identify the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Dooars and Terai would be formed the moment the agreement was signed. The Morcha wants the Gorkha dominated pockets of the Dooars and the Terai to be brought under the proposed hill council, a demand that has met with stiff opposition from many outfits in the plains. The Mamata Banerjee-led government has assured the Morcha that a committee would be formed to look into the demand.
“Within six months of its formation, the high-powered committee will submit its report. Till then, a board of administrators will be running the DGHC. Once the territory issue is settled, we will have the election (for the new administrative set-up),” he said. Gurung reiterated that some of the mouzas each from the Dooars and Terai that the party wants included in the new set-up may not eventually fall in its ambit, but the Morcha would ensure that even those areas were well looked after. He also asserted that he will not be holding any office in the new arrangement. “Our vice-president or the secretary may hold the post. I will remain where I am,” he said.
Gurung was responding to a query that cited his earlier pronouncements that none of the party leaders would hold any chair in any administrative arrangement for the hills. Asked how his three MLAs would work under the bureaucrats like the principal secretary and district magistrate in the board of administrators in the DGHC, Gurung said egos should not come in the way of governance. Earlier in the day, Col (retd) D.K. Pradhan, the GNLF-C president, had raised the issue of protocol and wondered how elected representatives could take orders from the bureaucrats in the DGHC. “Look at the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority which is headed by the MLA from Siliguri and where the DMs and ADMs are under him.
Why can’t the same be done in the DGHC? Furthermore, instead of the DGHC, the Morcha should ask the body to be named the Darjeeling-Dooars Development Authority so that development activities are taken up simultaneously in the hills and the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Dooars and Terai,” he said.
नशालु पदार्थसहित दुइजना पक्राउ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 5 जुलाई। सिक्किम अनि पश्चिम बङ्गाल सिमाना क्षेत्र मल्लिबाट आज दुइजनालाई मल्लि पुलिस प्रशासनले पक्राउ गरि कालेबुङ महकुमा थानालाई सुम्पिएको छ। ड्रग्स सेवन गर्ने व्यक्ति कैलास दर्जी (18) अनि विक्रेता नजाम मन्सारी(28) दुवै मल्ली निवासी हुन्। स्थानीय युवा मोर्चा कार्यकर्ताहरूले कैलाश दर्जीले ड्रग्स सेवन गर्ने गरेको थाहा पाएर छानविन गर्दा नशालु पदार्थहरू पनि साथमा भेटाइएपछि आरोपीलाई थानामा सुम्पिएको थियो।
पुसिलले आरोपीमाथि गरेको सोधपुछपछि त्यसैको आधारमा स्थानीय युवा कार्यकर्ता अनि प्रशासनले मल्ली पुल मुनिबाट नशालु पदार्थ वेचविखन गर्ने व्यक्ति नजाम मन्सारीलाई पनि पक्राउ गर्न सक्षम बन्यो।
पुलिस प्रशासन अनि युवा कार्यकर्ताहरूको सक्रियतामा पक्रा परेका नजाम अन्सारीबाट 17 फाइल प्रोक्सिवन अनि 25 बोतल रेकोडेक्स फेला परेको छ। आज ति दुवै आरोपीहरूलाई 2.30 बजेतिर महकुमा थाना ल्याइएको थियो। मल्ली थानाका प्रभारी एनसी वर्मनले दिएको जानकारी अनुसार दुवै आरोपीहरूमाथि ड्रग अनि कसमेटिक एक्ट अनुसार मुद्दा दर्ता गरिएको छ। मल्ली युवा कार्यकर्ताहरूको विशेष सक्रियतामा ड्रग्सखोरहरूलाई प्रशासनले पक्राउ गरेपछि आज मल्ली युवा मोर्चाका उपसभापति विष्णु राईले मल्ली क्षेत्रमा दिनोदिनको बढ्दो ड्रग्स सेवन अनि वेचबिखन कार्य रोक्न अनिवार्य रहेको बताउँदै धेरै अघिदेखिनै क्षेत्रमा ड्रग्स बेच विखन कार्य भएरहेको थाहा लागेको भएपनि आज पक्रन सक्षम बनेको बताएका छन्।
साङ्गठानिक कार्यक्रम लिएर कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मोर्चा महासचिव रोशन गिरीसँगको एक भेटघाटमा तेलेङ्गनामा छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति विधायकहरूले दिइरहेको राजिनामाले यदि केन्द्र सरकार छुट्टै राज्य दिने पक्षमा भए मोर्चाको रणनीति कस्तो हुनेछ भनी सोधीएको प्रश्नमा तिनले यसो भनेका हुन्। यद्यपी तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिति अलग्गै रहेको बताए। तिनले भने, गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिति बेग्लै रहेको छ। तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिबारे भनिरहन पर्दैन। तर यदि तेलेङ्गना राज्य गठन भए गोर्खाल्याण्ड पनि गठन भएकै हुनपर्छ।
तिनले, भोलिको दिनमा तेलेङ्गनामाथि सरकारले लिने पदक्षेपलाई मोर्चाले नजिकबाट हेरिरहेको बताए। तिनले मोर्चाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई नत्यागेको बताउँदै भने, मोर्चा गोर्खाल्याण्डको मागमा अडिग छ। यदि हामीले गोर्खाल्यण्डको मुद्दा त्यागेको भए तीन वर्षसम्म वार्ता गरिरहन आवश्यकता थिएन। हाल मोर्चाको मूल लक्ष्य प्रस्वावित व्यवस्थाभित्र तराइ-डुवर्सको अन्तरभूक्तिकरण रहेको तिनले जनाए। तराई र डुवर्सको भूभाग गाभिएको वयवस्था मात्र मोर्चाले स्वीकार्ने तर यसको निम्ति केही समय लाग्नसक्ने बताए। वर्तमान तृणमूल सरकारले मोर्चाको मागलाई गम्भिरतापूर्वक हेरेको बताउँदै विगत वामप्रण्ट सरकारले तराइ-डुवर्सलाई लिएर अनदेखा गर्ने गरेको पनि तिनले आरोप लगाए। अहिले नयॉं व्यवस्थालाई लिएर विपक्षकाहरूले लगाइरहेका आरोपबारे तिनले टिप्पणी गर्नेहरूले केही पनि नजानी, नबुझी केवल मोर्चाले गरेको काममा टिप्पणी मात्र गर्ने गरेको बताए। यद्यपी तिनले उक्त व्यवस्था गोर्खाल्याण्डको घड़ेरीको रूपमा रहेको कुरा पनि पुनःदोहोर्याए।
Go Green for Sikkim wheels
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, July 6: Vehicles moving around in Sikkim will now have to compulsorily sport a ‘Go Green’ sticker in their front window as part of the activities undertaken by State forest department to spread awareness on proper ecotourism practices.
The ‘Go Green’ stickers, 15000 of which have been printed for this year, bear four simple messages from the Forest department and WWF-India for the drivers and passengers. The messages are ‘Do no feed wild animals’, ‘Do not pluck flowers or damage plants’, ‘Do not litter. Dispose trash properly in garbage bins’ and ‘Respect local culture. Do not urinate in public places’ and are full visibility to the passengers inside the vehicles when pasted in the front screen.
Twenty one such stickers were pasted in taxis in the Deorali mainline taxi stand by representatives from forest department, East district administration, police, hoteliers, tour agents and Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
“The forest department is conducting a series of awareness programmes on environment conservation. The ‘Go Green’ sticker is an important part of such series as it targets the persons coming from outside”, said Pradeep Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Land Use).
According to the forest officials, vehicles in Sikkim have to compulsory have the ‘Go Green’ sticker in the left side of the front screen shields.
“The formal notification for such compulsory stickers in all types of vehicles is under process. While we wait for the notification to be issued soon, we are going ahead with the drive of sensitizing and pasting the ‘Go Green’ stickers. All our officers at each district will be pasting such stickers in the vehicles in a phase manner for the next six months”, said Conservator of Forests YP Gurung.
Gurung explained the stickers contain a list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ and having been pasted in the front screen on the left side, the front and back row tourists and locals can read the practices to be followed while touring Sikkim. “We cannot do it alone and will be seeking help of police and tourism related organizations in this drive. We don’t want to strictly tell the drivers to paste the stickers but try to convince them. After six months, we may be firm and after one year, all vehicles must have such stickers and we exploring possibilities like to check such stickers when vehicles are checked annually by the Motor Vehicle Division”, said the Conservator of Forests.
Gurung said that such drive will not be extended to vehicles coming from outside to Sikkim. “But when our vehicles go outside Sikkim with ‘Go Green’ stickers, people will get message that we are doing our best for protecting environment in Sikkim”, he said. WWF-India Sikkim coordinator Priyadarshani Shrestha said that the WWF-India and State forest department had last December undertaken a pilot project of providing environment awareness through stickers for vehicles taking tourists to Tsogmo Lake in East Sikkim.
“After a few months, we interviewed drivers and tourists about the sticker campaign and we got a positive response. When tourists read the messages printed in the sticker while travelling, they ask drivers about it, get sensitized and start looking for garbage bins when they have to discard their wastes”, said Ms Shrestha.
Taxi drivers said that they have no object to such stickers as it does not disturb their visibility while driving.
CID session on Sibchu
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Sibchu police firing, today gave an account of the incident before an additional director general of police of the CID and decided to submit “materials” collected by the party to the investigators in a week.
Three Morcha supporters had been killed when police opened fire at Sibchu on February 8. Even though the Left Front government had initiated a one-man probe by the divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri, the Morcha did not co-operate with the inquiry as the party wanted the case to be handed over to the CBI.
The Morcha, however, agreed to the CID probe on June 6 after meeting Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the party had faith in the investigating agency after the change of guard in the state.
Morcha assistant secretary Binay Tamang, vice- president Kalyan Dewan and another leader Norden Lama were closeted with the ADGP, C.V. Muralidhar, at Gorubathan in Kalimpong subdivision for about two hours today.
“Fourteen eye-witnesses to the firing from the Jhaldhaka area also met the police officer and narrated the incident. Our party leaders also interacted with the official and we have decided to submit our materials (read evidences) to the CID team within seven days. We will send everything we have to the CID headquarters in Calcutta,” said Tamang.
Asked about the “materials” in the possession of the Morcha, Tamang refused to reveal the details. “We have quite a few materials,” he said.
“We have given the names of all police officers and the magistrates who were present at the site and their role in the incident,” said Tamang.
The Morcha leadership claimed that another high-powered team of the CID would visit the area after a week as part of the investigation.
However, when contacted over the phone, the ADGP refused to say anything on the visit of another high-powered team. “Since the CID has taken over the investigation, I have come over to oversee the case,” he said.
On June 28, the special superintendent of the CID, Debashis Boral had also visited Sibchu, which lies on the edge of the Dooars and had questioned several people who claimed to have witnessed the firing.
The firing occurred when hundreds of Morcha supporters led by party president Bimal Gurung were on their way from Kumani in Kalimpong to Khunia. The procession was taken out to stake claim to the Dooars, which the Morcha wanted to be a part of the new state it had been demanding.
The marchers were at first stopped by a police barricade at Sibchu. But they tried to force their way through and allegedly attacked the security forces, including a lady constable.
The police opened fire and Bimla Rai and Vicky Lama died on the spot.
Nita Khawash, who suffered bullet injuries, breathed her last a few days later at a private nursing home in Siliguri.
Award for Rural journalist
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, July 6: With an aim to encourage the journalists more on rural reporting the Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh has committed of instituting an award for the best reporter in rural journalism. The newly elected members of the club today morning called on the Governor at his official residence at RajBhavan. The Governor informed that the award would be given every year to one such reporter who covers the rural based news and stories on the occasion of an Independence Day in a function that would be held at Raj Bhavan. The Governor also accepted the invitation of gracing the 9th Foundation day celebration of PCS as the chief guest on July 17. He will be also presenting the Kanchandzonga Kalam Pursakar to the senior journalist Bijay Bantwa on the occasion.During the meeting the Governor also told that the reporters should write more on drug abuse issues and other social matters.
Expansion plans for Dooars hotspots
TT, Jalpaiguri, July 6: The state forest and tourism departments have decided to add more tourist facilities and improve the existing once in the Dooars before the Pujas. The departments have also asked private investors to develop places outside the forest areas in the region to attract visitors.
Forest minister Hiten Barman met tourism minister Rachhpal Singh in Calcutta last week and it was decided that a private consultant would be pressed into service to determine the areas in the Dooars that need to be developed.
Barman said cottages would come up at Chulsa, Metelli, Lataguri, Baikunthapur, Oodlabari, Gajoldoba and Kathambari. “We have not yet decided on the number of cottages at these places but our officials have already started planning along with the tourism department. We are also going to renovate the existing bungalows wherever necessary. Our bungalows in the hills are in a bad shape and some of them, like the one in Jaldhaka, have been damaged during agitation. These will be repaired,” he said.
The minister added that the survey to identify the places would be completed by this month so that work can begin by August and completed before the Pujas.
“Last year a large number of tourists avoided Darjeeling because of the agitation in the hills and instead flocked to the Dooars. We could not accommodate many visitors as we did not have facilities. The hills are quiet now but even then, we will get tourists in the Dooars this year as well. We are going to engage a consultant to conduct a survey of the Dooars, areas around Siliguri and Cooch Behar, to take a count of the government facilities available and how many more are required,” said Barman.
He said the forest department website and the online booking facilities will be improved. The website would contain updated information on availability of rooms in government lodges across the Dooars. It would also have information on various tourist destinations in the region, ways to reach there and facilities available in each of them. “We are also thinking of introducing religious and heritage tourism in these areas,” Barman added.
Barman said steps would be taken to ensure that the environment of the forest is not spoilt while constructing and upgrading facilities.
“Extra care will be taken to ensure that wildlife is not disturbed and the forests are not polluted. We will ensure a sustainable development model.”
Kamal Bhowmik, secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association, said: “We will suggest that spots like Gajoledoba where lot of birds come in winter also be developed and accommodation provided.”
Nepal woes for Darjeeling Tibetans
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, July 06: A cloud of anxiety hung heavy on the commemoration of the 76th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Darjeeling, West Bengal, with the crackdown by security forces on Tibetans in neighbouing Nepal. The Himalayan country Nepal on Wednesday prevented exiled Tibetans from commemorating
the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary anticipating that the crowds would finally turn the commemorations into anti-Chinese demonstration platforms.
“We have our kin in Nepal. We fail to understand why the Nepalese Government has suddenly adopted such an undemocratic stance. Just to appease China they are shunning away the contribution of the Tibetans who have lived in the country and have contributed towards its growth. Nepal should understand that the Tibetans are non-violent and that we adhere to the middle path of HH the Dalai Lama” stated Nima, a Free Tibet activist of Darjeeling talking to HT.
Hundreds of riot police blocked the Tibetans from entering a school in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where the Tibetans were scheduled to hold anniversary celebrations. Police kept close tab on areas populated by Tibetans along with high security at the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Visa Office in Kathmandu.
The Chief Government Administrator of Kathmandu issued a notice stating that police would not tolerate anti-Chinese demonstrations thereby banning all Tibetan public celebrations. Reports state that the Nepal police detained three Tibetans who were trying to hold a prayer meeting in the streets.
Even the “Kashag” – Advisory board or Cabinet of the Tibetan Government in Exile has expressed concern at the prevailing conditions in Nepal. A Kashag release on the occasion of HH the Dalai Lama’s 76th birth anniversary stated “Our desperate effort to relocate Tibetans in Nepal to other places in order to downsize the population has miserably failed.”
The release further states that due to recent political situation in Nepal, the Central Tibetan Administration has not been able to provide necessary support or to look after the welfare of the Tibetans living there. Nepal is home to around 20,000 Tibetans living in exile.
“Now that HH the Dalai Lama has relinquished his political powers handing it over to the Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) elected directly, he is a Religious Head. Despite this we fail to understand why China and now Nepal see him as a threat?” questioned Dawa, a Tibetan student.
Unlike Nepal, HH the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary was observed in different parts of India along with the rest of the world. Darjeeling having a large Tibetan population the important event was marked with prayers, cultural shows and speeches.
Along with Long Life prayer ceremony (Gyalwe Shabten) offered in all the monasteries dotting Darjeeling, cultural functions were organized at the Central Schools for Tibetans in the District and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre in Darjeeling town. All Tibetan business establishments remained closed today.
Darjeeling has a strong connection with the Dalai Lama. He has visited this important seat of Vajrayana Buddhism (Darjeeling) in 1956, 1975, 1983, 1993 and 2003.
HH the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso was born on the 6th July 1935 to a farming family in a village called Taktser in north-eastern Tibet. Dalai Lama is a Mongolian Title meaning “Ocean of Wisdom.”
He is believed to be manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion known in Tibetan as Chenrezig. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth to serve humanity.
In 1950 the Dalai Lama was called upon to assume political responsibility after China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949. In 1959 with brutal suppression ofthe Tibetan National uprising in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile and since then living in Dharmasala- India.
He won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy on Universal responsibility in 1989. His Holiness has authored more than 56 books in English.
“This year the Tibetan Welfare Office has requested for a two day commemoration of HH birth anniversary. We have guests from Dharmasala including the former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Karma Cheopel attending the commemorations in Darjeeling” stated Lakpa, Secretary of the Tibetan Freedom Movement, Darjeeling.
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 5 जुलाई। सिक्किम अनि पश्चिम बङ्गाल सिमाना क्षेत्र मल्लिबाट आज दुइजनालाई मल्लि पुलिस प्रशासनले पक्राउ गरि कालेबुङ महकुमा थानालाई सुम्पिएको छ। ड्रग्स सेवन गर्ने व्यक्ति कैलास दर्जी (18) अनि विक्रेता नजाम मन्सारी(28) दुवै मल्ली निवासी हुन्। स्थानीय युवा मोर्चा कार्यकर्ताहरूले कैलाश दर्जीले ड्रग्स सेवन गर्ने गरेको थाहा पाएर छानविन गर्दा नशालु पदार्थहरू पनि साथमा भेटाइएपछि आरोपीलाई थानामा सुम्पिएको थियो।पुसिलले आरोपीमाथि गरेको सोधपुछपछि त्यसैको आधारमा स्थानीय युवा कार्यकर्ता अनि प्रशासनले मल्ली पुल मुनिबाट नशालु पदार्थ वेचविखन गर्ने व्यक्ति नजाम मन्सारीलाई पनि पक्राउ गर्न सक्षम बन्यो।
पुलिस प्रशासन अनि युवा कार्यकर्ताहरूको सक्रियतामा पक्रा परेका नजाम अन्सारीबाट 17 फाइल प्रोक्सिवन अनि 25 बोतल रेकोडेक्स फेला परेको छ। आज ति दुवै आरोपीहरूलाई 2.30 बजेतिर महकुमा थाना ल्याइएको थियो। मल्ली थानाका प्रभारी एनसी वर्मनले दिएको जानकारी अनुसार दुवै आरोपीहरूमाथि ड्रग अनि कसमेटिक एक्ट अनुसार मुद्दा दर्ता गरिएको छ। मल्ली युवा कार्यकर्ताहरूको विशेष सक्रियतामा ड्रग्सखोरहरूलाई प्रशासनले पक्राउ गरेपछि आज मल्ली युवा मोर्चाका उपसभापति विष्णु राईले मल्ली क्षेत्रमा दिनोदिनको बढ्दो ड्रग्स सेवन अनि वेचबिखन कार्य रोक्न अनिवार्य रहेको बताउँदै धेरै अघिदेखिनै क्षेत्रमा ड्रग्स बेच विखन कार्य भएरहेको थाहा लागेको भएपनि आज पक्रन सक्षम बनेको बताएका छन्।तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थितिलाई हामीले नजिकबाट हेरिरहेका छौं-रोशन गिरी
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 5 जुलाई। तेलङ्गनाको परिस्थितिलाई हामीले राम्ररी नजिकबाट हेरिरहेका छौं। जब मोर्चा अनि सरकारवीच अन्तरिम व्यवस्थामाथि चर्चा भइरहेको थियो त्यससमय चिदम्वरमले गरेको तेलेङ्गनाको निम्ति आयोग गठन गरिने घोषणाको लगत्तैपछि हामीले यदि कुनै राज्य गठन हुन्छ भने गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई पनि प्रमुखतासाथ प्राथमिकता दिनुपर्छ भनेर अघिबाटै स्पष्टरूपमा भनिदिएका छौं। उक्त कुरा आज मोर्चा केन्द्रिय समितिका महासचिव रोशन गिरीले भनेका हुन्।साङ्गठानिक कार्यक्रम लिएर कालेबुङ आइपुगेका मोर्चा महासचिव रोशन गिरीसँगको एक भेटघाटमा तेलेङ्गनामा छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति विधायकहरूले दिइरहेको राजिनामाले यदि केन्द्र सरकार छुट्टै राज्य दिने पक्षमा भए मोर्चाको रणनीति कस्तो हुनेछ भनी सोधीएको प्रश्नमा तिनले यसो भनेका हुन्। यद्यपी तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिति अलग्गै रहेको बताए। तिनले भने, गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिति बेग्लै रहेको छ। तेलेङ्गनाको परिस्थिबारे भनिरहन पर्दैन। तर यदि तेलेङ्गना राज्य गठन भए गोर्खाल्याण्ड पनि गठन भएकै हुनपर्छ।
तिनले, भोलिको दिनमा तेलेङ्गनामाथि सरकारले लिने पदक्षेपलाई मोर्चाले नजिकबाट हेरिरहेको बताए। तिनले मोर्चाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई नत्यागेको बताउँदै भने, मोर्चा गोर्खाल्याण्डको मागमा अडिग छ। यदि हामीले गोर्खाल्यण्डको मुद्दा त्यागेको भए तीन वर्षसम्म वार्ता गरिरहन आवश्यकता थिएन। हाल मोर्चाको मूल लक्ष्य प्रस्वावित व्यवस्थाभित्र तराइ-डुवर्सको अन्तरभूक्तिकरण रहेको तिनले जनाए। तराई र डुवर्सको भूभाग गाभिएको वयवस्था मात्र मोर्चाले स्वीकार्ने तर यसको निम्ति केही समय लाग्नसक्ने बताए। वर्तमान तृणमूल सरकारले मोर्चाको मागलाई गम्भिरतापूर्वक हेरेको बताउँदै विगत वामप्रण्ट सरकारले तराइ-डुवर्सलाई लिएर अनदेखा गर्ने गरेको पनि तिनले आरोप लगाए। अहिले नयॉं व्यवस्थालाई लिएर विपक्षकाहरूले लगाइरहेका आरोपबारे तिनले टिप्पणी गर्नेहरूले केही पनि नजानी, नबुझी केवल मोर्चाले गरेको काममा टिप्पणी मात्र गर्ने गरेको बताए। यद्यपी तिनले उक्त व्यवस्था गोर्खाल्याण्डको घड़ेरीको रूपमा रहेको कुरा पनि पुनःदोहोर्याए।
Go Green for Sikkim wheels
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, July 6: Vehicles moving around in Sikkim will now have to compulsorily sport a ‘Go Green’ sticker in their front window as part of the activities undertaken by State forest department to spread awareness on proper ecotourism practices.
The ‘Go Green’ stickers, 15000 of which have been printed for this year, bear four simple messages from the Forest department and WWF-India for the drivers and passengers. The messages are ‘Do no feed wild animals’, ‘Do not pluck flowers or damage plants’, ‘Do not litter. Dispose trash properly in garbage bins’ and ‘Respect local culture. Do not urinate in public places’ and are full visibility to the passengers inside the vehicles when pasted in the front screen.
Twenty one such stickers were pasted in taxis in the Deorali mainline taxi stand by representatives from forest department, East district administration, police, hoteliers, tour agents and Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
“The forest department is conducting a series of awareness programmes on environment conservation. The ‘Go Green’ sticker is an important part of such series as it targets the persons coming from outside”, said Pradeep Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Land Use).
According to the forest officials, vehicles in Sikkim have to compulsory have the ‘Go Green’ sticker in the left side of the front screen shields.
“The formal notification for such compulsory stickers in all types of vehicles is under process. While we wait for the notification to be issued soon, we are going ahead with the drive of sensitizing and pasting the ‘Go Green’ stickers. All our officers at each district will be pasting such stickers in the vehicles in a phase manner for the next six months”, said Conservator of Forests YP Gurung.
Gurung explained the stickers contain a list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ and having been pasted in the front screen on the left side, the front and back row tourists and locals can read the practices to be followed while touring Sikkim. “We cannot do it alone and will be seeking help of police and tourism related organizations in this drive. We don’t want to strictly tell the drivers to paste the stickers but try to convince them. After six months, we may be firm and after one year, all vehicles must have such stickers and we exploring possibilities like to check such stickers when vehicles are checked annually by the Motor Vehicle Division”, said the Conservator of Forests.
Gurung said that such drive will not be extended to vehicles coming from outside to Sikkim. “But when our vehicles go outside Sikkim with ‘Go Green’ stickers, people will get message that we are doing our best for protecting environment in Sikkim”, he said. WWF-India Sikkim coordinator Priyadarshani Shrestha said that the WWF-India and State forest department had last December undertaken a pilot project of providing environment awareness through stickers for vehicles taking tourists to Tsogmo Lake in East Sikkim.
“After a few months, we interviewed drivers and tourists about the sticker campaign and we got a positive response. When tourists read the messages printed in the sticker while travelling, they ask drivers about it, get sensitized and start looking for garbage bins when they have to discard their wastes”, said Ms Shrestha.
Taxi drivers said that they have no object to such stickers as it does not disturb their visibility while driving.
CID session on Sibchu
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Sibchu police firing, today gave an account of the incident before an additional director general of police of the CID and decided to submit “materials” collected by the party to the investigators in a week.
Three Morcha supporters had been killed when police opened fire at Sibchu on February 8. Even though the Left Front government had initiated a one-man probe by the divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri, the Morcha did not co-operate with the inquiry as the party wanted the case to be handed over to the CBI.
The Morcha, however, agreed to the CID probe on June 6 after meeting Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the party had faith in the investigating agency after the change of guard in the state.
Morcha assistant secretary Binay Tamang, vice- president Kalyan Dewan and another leader Norden Lama were closeted with the ADGP, C.V. Muralidhar, at Gorubathan in Kalimpong subdivision for about two hours today.
“Fourteen eye-witnesses to the firing from the Jhaldhaka area also met the police officer and narrated the incident. Our party leaders also interacted with the official and we have decided to submit our materials (read evidences) to the CID team within seven days. We will send everything we have to the CID headquarters in Calcutta,” said Tamang.
Asked about the “materials” in the possession of the Morcha, Tamang refused to reveal the details. “We have quite a few materials,” he said.
“We have given the names of all police officers and the magistrates who were present at the site and their role in the incident,” said Tamang.
The Morcha leadership claimed that another high-powered team of the CID would visit the area after a week as part of the investigation.
However, when contacted over the phone, the ADGP refused to say anything on the visit of another high-powered team. “Since the CID has taken over the investigation, I have come over to oversee the case,” he said.
On June 28, the special superintendent of the CID, Debashis Boral had also visited Sibchu, which lies on the edge of the Dooars and had questioned several people who claimed to have witnessed the firing.
The firing occurred when hundreds of Morcha supporters led by party president Bimal Gurung were on their way from Kumani in Kalimpong to Khunia. The procession was taken out to stake claim to the Dooars, which the Morcha wanted to be a part of the new state it had been demanding.
The marchers were at first stopped by a police barricade at Sibchu. But they tried to force their way through and allegedly attacked the security forces, including a lady constable.
The police opened fire and Bimla Rai and Vicky Lama died on the spot.
Nita Khawash, who suffered bullet injuries, breathed her last a few days later at a private nursing home in Siliguri.
Award for Rural journalist
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, July 6: With an aim to encourage the journalists more on rural reporting the Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh has committed of instituting an award for the best reporter in rural journalism. The newly elected members of the club today morning called on the Governor at his official residence at RajBhavan. The Governor informed that the award would be given every year to one such reporter who covers the rural based news and stories on the occasion of an Independence Day in a function that would be held at Raj Bhavan. The Governor also accepted the invitation of gracing the 9th Foundation day celebration of PCS as the chief guest on July 17. He will be also presenting the Kanchandzonga Kalam Pursakar to the senior journalist Bijay Bantwa on the occasion.During the meeting the Governor also told that the reporters should write more on drug abuse issues and other social matters.
Expansion plans for Dooars hotspots
TT, Jalpaiguri, July 6: The state forest and tourism departments have decided to add more tourist facilities and improve the existing once in the Dooars before the Pujas. The departments have also asked private investors to develop places outside the forest areas in the region to attract visitors.Forest minister Hiten Barman met tourism minister Rachhpal Singh in Calcutta last week and it was decided that a private consultant would be pressed into service to determine the areas in the Dooars that need to be developed.
Barman said cottages would come up at Chulsa, Metelli, Lataguri, Baikunthapur, Oodlabari, Gajoldoba and Kathambari. “We have not yet decided on the number of cottages at these places but our officials have already started planning along with the tourism department. We are also going to renovate the existing bungalows wherever necessary. Our bungalows in the hills are in a bad shape and some of them, like the one in Jaldhaka, have been damaged during agitation. These will be repaired,” he said.
The minister added that the survey to identify the places would be completed by this month so that work can begin by August and completed before the Pujas.
“Last year a large number of tourists avoided Darjeeling because of the agitation in the hills and instead flocked to the Dooars. We could not accommodate many visitors as we did not have facilities. The hills are quiet now but even then, we will get tourists in the Dooars this year as well. We are going to engage a consultant to conduct a survey of the Dooars, areas around Siliguri and Cooch Behar, to take a count of the government facilities available and how many more are required,” said Barman.
He said the forest department website and the online booking facilities will be improved. The website would contain updated information on availability of rooms in government lodges across the Dooars. It would also have information on various tourist destinations in the region, ways to reach there and facilities available in each of them. “We are also thinking of introducing religious and heritage tourism in these areas,” Barman added.
Barman said steps would be taken to ensure that the environment of the forest is not spoilt while constructing and upgrading facilities.
“Extra care will be taken to ensure that wildlife is not disturbed and the forests are not polluted. We will ensure a sustainable development model.”
Kamal Bhowmik, secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association, said: “We will suggest that spots like Gajoledoba where lot of birds come in winter also be developed and accommodation provided.”
Nepal woes for Darjeeling Tibetans
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, July 06: A cloud of anxiety hung heavy on the commemoration of the 76th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Darjeeling, West Bengal, with the crackdown by security forces on Tibetans in neighbouing Nepal. The Himalayan country Nepal on Wednesday prevented exiled Tibetans from commemorating
the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary anticipating that the crowds would finally turn the commemorations into anti-Chinese demonstration platforms.
“We have our kin in Nepal. We fail to understand why the Nepalese Government has suddenly adopted such an undemocratic stance. Just to appease China they are shunning away the contribution of the Tibetans who have lived in the country and have contributed towards its growth. Nepal should understand that the Tibetans are non-violent and that we adhere to the middle path of HH the Dalai Lama” stated Nima, a Free Tibet activist of Darjeeling talking to HT.
Hundreds of riot police blocked the Tibetans from entering a school in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where the Tibetans were scheduled to hold anniversary celebrations. Police kept close tab on areas populated by Tibetans along with high security at the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Visa Office in Kathmandu.
The Chief Government Administrator of Kathmandu issued a notice stating that police would not tolerate anti-Chinese demonstrations thereby banning all Tibetan public celebrations. Reports state that the Nepal police detained three Tibetans who were trying to hold a prayer meeting in the streets.
Even the “Kashag” – Advisory board or Cabinet of the Tibetan Government in Exile has expressed concern at the prevailing conditions in Nepal. A Kashag release on the occasion of HH the Dalai Lama’s 76th birth anniversary stated “Our desperate effort to relocate Tibetans in Nepal to other places in order to downsize the population has miserably failed.”
The release further states that due to recent political situation in Nepal, the Central Tibetan Administration has not been able to provide necessary support or to look after the welfare of the Tibetans living there. Nepal is home to around 20,000 Tibetans living in exile.
“Now that HH the Dalai Lama has relinquished his political powers handing it over to the Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) elected directly, he is a Religious Head. Despite this we fail to understand why China and now Nepal see him as a threat?” questioned Dawa, a Tibetan student.
Unlike Nepal, HH the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary was observed in different parts of India along with the rest of the world. Darjeeling having a large Tibetan population the important event was marked with prayers, cultural shows and speeches.
Along with Long Life prayer ceremony (Gyalwe Shabten) offered in all the monasteries dotting Darjeeling, cultural functions were organized at the Central Schools for Tibetans in the District and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre in Darjeeling town. All Tibetan business establishments remained closed today.
Darjeeling has a strong connection with the Dalai Lama. He has visited this important seat of Vajrayana Buddhism (Darjeeling) in 1956, 1975, 1983, 1993 and 2003.
HH the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso was born on the 6th July 1935 to a farming family in a village called Taktser in north-eastern Tibet. Dalai Lama is a Mongolian Title meaning “Ocean of Wisdom.”
He is believed to be manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion known in Tibetan as Chenrezig. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth to serve humanity.
In 1950 the Dalai Lama was called upon to assume political responsibility after China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949. In 1959 with brutal suppression ofthe Tibetan National uprising in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile and since then living in Dharmasala- India.
He won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy on Universal responsibility in 1989. His Holiness has authored more than 56 books in English.
“This year the Tibetan Welfare Office has requested for a two day commemoration of HH birth anniversary. We have guests from Dharmasala including the former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Karma Cheopel attending the commemorations in Darjeeling” stated Lakpa, Secretary of the Tibetan Freedom Movement, Darjeeling.
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