Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, August 18, 2011In a landmark judgment, sessions judge, Darjeeling awarded capital punishment to a person named Amar Rai guilty of murder. This is for the first time that capital punishment is being pronounced in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. 37 year old Rai was found guilty of murdering his own mother Prem Kumari Rai in cold blood. The Sessions Judge convicted Rai for committing offence under Section 302 IPC (murder).
Pronouncing the sentence at around 1:25pm, Subrata Mitra, sessions judge, Darjeeling stated, "It is cold blooded murder and the convict is not repentant for the acts done by him. If we consider the facts, circumstances of this case and the conduct of the accused person then this case can be treated as rarest of the rare cases. The society will lose faith upon the law if lenient view is taken by the Court in the matter of imposing sentence upon the offender of such type of heinous crime. Maximum punishment should be imposed to prevent recurrence of similar offence. Let him be hanged by the neck till he is dead."
A fine of Rs. 5000/- was also imposed defaulting which rigorous imprisonment of one year was also pronounced. As per Section 366(1) CrPC which states, "When the Court of Session passes a sentence of death, the proceedings shall be submitted to the High Court, and the sentence shall not be executed unless it is confirmed by the High Court". The proceedings of the case will also be submitted to the high court for confirmation.
On November 19, 2006 at around 8.15am the medical officer of Darjeeling district correctional home was informed by two ladies that Prem Kumari Rai, female warden of the correctional home was lying dead in her jail quarters.
The doctor on visiting the spot found Rai lying dead on the floor inside the room. The body was wrapped in a bed sheet and polythene. She had been physically abused also. He immediately informed the police.
n presence of a huge crowd, Amar, son of the victim had confessed his crime. He also brought out a blood stained axe from the kitchen with which he had murdered his mother and handed over the murder weapon to the police.
Amar had stated that after murdering his mother he had wrapped the dead body in a bed sheet and polythene and had gone to fetch wood for the coffin, stated Binod Agarwal, Public Prosecutor (PP,) Darjeeling.
Around 17 witnesses had been examined in this case. "Amar Rai’s father Man Bahadur Rai was an employee at the Darjeeling correctional home. After Man Bahadur Rai's demise his wife Prem Kumari got a job at the correctional home. Amar’s grudge was why he had not got the job instead of his mother" added the PP. However neighbors stated that Amar, allegedly a drug addict, used to beat up his mother and physically abuse her regularly.
"This is for the first time that death sentence is being pronounced in the district" stated the PP. "In my 47 year long profession in the Darjeeling district court I have not heard of capital punishment being awarded in the district. I am not aware of capital punishment in the British days in this region. It truly is a landmark judgment" added Taranga Pundit, senior lawyer, Darjeeling district court.
"As Amar Rai did not have a lawyer to represent him, I was appointed by the Legal aid cell as his defence. Further Rai can appeal at the Honorable Calcutta high court through Legal Aid" stated Narayan Chettri, Rai's defence.
Though Rai had two wives, the wives and relatives are not in touch with him. None of his relatives or friends were present in court today while the death sentence was pronounced.
Death for mom murder - Law-keepers’ son who killed on jail campus
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 18: The Darjeeling sessions court today announced capital punishment for a man who killed his law-keeper mother, a warden of the correctional home where he had been kept since he bludgeoned her to death inside the jail compound four years ago.
Amar Rai, whose father too was an employee of the Darjeeling correctional home, was arrested while he was shopping for a coffin to hide his mother’s body that he had kept wrapped in plastic sheets at the prison staff quarters below Chandmari, 1.5km from here.
The 37-year-old, who police said was into substance abuse, had allegedly wanted his mother’s government job, which she got after his father M.B. Rai died in harness.
Terming the murder as a “rarest of rare” case, the district sessions judge Subrata Mitra today said: “You murdered your mother in cold blood and you have not shown any remorse either. This is a rarest of the rare case and he shall be hanged by neck till death.” The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 or a rigorous imprisonment of one year.
Public prosecutor Vinod Agarwal said unless a higher court commuted the death sentence, the fine would not make any difference to the convict. Lawyers said the sessions court would now forward the judgment to the high court for confirmation of the death sentence. If confirmed, Agarwal said, the execution will take place probably in Calcutta for the Darjeeling prison does not have any gallows. The sentence comes seven years after the hanging of Calcutta convict Dhananjoy Chatterjee. Watchman Dhananjoy, convicted of raping and murdering a Calcutta girl in 1990, was sent to the gallows on August 14, 2004, at the Alipore central jail.
Lawyers in Darjeeling said this was the first capital punishment to be handed over by the district court.
“We cannot say if such a sentence had been handed over before Independence but this is the first such case since then,” said a lawyer.
Public prosecutor Agarwal said Amar was a drug addict and had a grudge against mother Prem Kumari Rai since she got the government job after his father’s death. “The father, too, was an employee of the correctional home. Amar was an unemployed youth,” he said.
Amar had confessed to his crime soon after the murder on November 19, 2006. The body was found by a maid, who had raised the alarm while Amar was away in Chowk Bazaar. “The police picked up Amar from town,” said Agarwal. He was brought to the staff quarters where he confessed to his crime before a crowd and also produced the murder weapon. “Amar himself handed over the blood stained bhamphok (a type of heavy dagger 8-10 inches long) to the police,” said Agarwal.
Amar had been denied bail and had been lodged in the Darjeeling correctional home since then.
The defence lawyer was unavailable for comments and it is not yet known if Amar will appeal against the sentence in the high court.
Amar married twice but both the marriages did not last. “The first wife has a son who must be around 11 years old now but they had separated. The second marriage, too, did not last,” said a neighbour. Amar has a brother who is a jawan in the Indian army.
पूर्व मुख्यमन्त्री दिल्ली प्रस्थान- सिक्कमे जनताको मायाको ऋण फर्किएर तिर्नेछुः भण्डारी
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,18 अगस्त। मैले आफ्नो जीवनकालमा धन सम्पत्ति कमाउन नसके पनि जनताको माया कमाएँको रहेछु, जनताले मलाई यति धेरै माया गरेर ऋण लगाएका छन्। म छिट्टै जाती भएर आएपछि जनताको ऋण तिर्नेछु। यसप्रकारको मन्तव्य पूर्व मुख्यमन्त्री नरबहादुर भण्डारीले उच्च चिकित्साको निम्ति दिल्ली प्रस्थान गर्न अघि आफ्नो मन्तव्य जाहेर गर्दै भनेका हुन्। गत 10 अगस्तदेखि मुटुको रोगको कारण एसटीएनएम अस्पतालमा भर्ना भएका भण्डारीको चिकित्साबारे गठीत पाँचजना चिकित्सकको टोलीले उनको स्वास्थ्य सुधारको निम्ति अझ उच्च चिकित्साको आवश्यक भएको हुनाले दिल्ली रेफर गर्ने सिफारिश गरेको थियो। 9 अगस्तको दिन ग्रामीण पेयजल वितरण मामिलामा भ्रष्टाचार गरिएको आरोप सिद्ध भएपछि एक महिनाको कारावासको दण्ड सुनाइएपछि कारागारको अधिनस्थ रहेर एसटीएनएम अस्पतालमा उपचाराधिन थिए।
आज बिहान ठीक 10-30 बजी एसटीएनएमको एम्बुलेन्समा दुइजना सुरक्षाकर्मी परिवारका एक सदस्य अनि दुइजना पार्टी कार्यकर्तासित भण्डारी उपचारको निम्ति दिल्ली हिँडे।
भण्डारीसित परिवारको पक्षमा जेठी छोरी प्रिमुला भण्डारी गएका छन्। तिनले भनिन्, आज सिलगढी पुगेपछि एसएनटीको गेस्ट हाउसमा बस्ने व्यस्था गरिएको छ भने भोलि 1ः35 बजीको बागडोगराबाट दिल्ली प्रस्थान हुने बताइएको छ। भण्डारीसित सुरक्षाकर्मीको रूपमा सिक्किम पुलिसका एसआई आरएन प्रधान र लेन्स नायक सुरेन प्रधान गएका छन्। यसैगरि भण्डारीको सहयोगीको रूपमा विशाल छेत्री र जीटी भोटिया गएका छन् भने चिकित्सक डॉ डी तामाङ गएका छन्।
भण्डारी दिल्ली प्रस्थान हुन अघि राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले बिहान 8ः50 बजी एसटीएनएमको हृदय रोग उपचार कक्षमा पुगेर भेट गरे। मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङले भण्डारीसित लगभग 10 मिनट अस्पतालमा बिताए। जहाँ तिनले भण्डारीलाई राम्रो उपचार गरेर फर्किने आग्रह गर्दै यदि आवश्यक परेको खण्डमा विदेशमा उपचार गराउन परे पनि सरकारले त्यो उपलब्ध गराउने आश्वासन दिएको पारिवारिक सुत्रले बताएको छ। अर्कोतिर एसटीएनएमको संघन चिकित्सा कक्षमा मुख्यमन्त्रीको भ्रमणको क्रममा पनि बिजुली बत्ती नभएकोले एसटीएनएमको व्यवस्थामाथि उपस्थित मानिसहरूले प्रश्न तेर्साएका छन्। उनीहरूले भने, आइसीयुको कतिवटा मेशिन पनि मैनबत्तीमै चल्छ होला त्यसैले मुख्यमन्त्रीको भ्रमणमा पनि मैनबत्ती बालेर बस्न पऱ्यो।
Bed-bound, rival CM by side
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,18 अगस्त। मैले आफ्नो जीवनकालमा धन सम्पत्ति कमाउन नसके पनि जनताको माया कमाएँको रहेछु, जनताले मलाई यति धेरै माया गरेर ऋण लगाएका छन्। म छिट्टै जाती भएर आएपछि जनताको ऋण तिर्नेछु। यसप्रकारको मन्तव्य पूर्व मुख्यमन्त्री नरबहादुर भण्डारीले उच्च चिकित्साको निम्ति दिल्ली प्रस्थान गर्न अघि आफ्नो मन्तव्य जाहेर गर्दै भनेका हुन्। गत 10 अगस्तदेखि मुटुको रोगको कारण एसटीएनएम अस्पतालमा भर्ना भएका भण्डारीको चिकित्साबारे गठीत पाँचजना चिकित्सकको टोलीले उनको स्वास्थ्य सुधारको निम्ति अझ उच्च चिकित्साको आवश्यक भएको हुनाले दिल्ली रेफर गर्ने सिफारिश गरेको थियो। 9 अगस्तको दिन ग्रामीण पेयजल वितरण मामिलामा भ्रष्टाचार गरिएको आरोप सिद्ध भएपछि एक महिनाको कारावासको दण्ड सुनाइएपछि कारागारको अधिनस्थ रहेर एसटीएनएम अस्पतालमा उपचाराधिन थिए।
आज बिहान ठीक 10-30 बजी एसटीएनएमको एम्बुलेन्समा दुइजना सुरक्षाकर्मी परिवारका एक सदस्य अनि दुइजना पार्टी कार्यकर्तासित भण्डारी उपचारको निम्ति दिल्ली हिँडे।
भण्डारीसित परिवारको पक्षमा जेठी छोरी प्रिमुला भण्डारी गएका छन्। तिनले भनिन्, आज सिलगढी पुगेपछि एसएनटीको गेस्ट हाउसमा बस्ने व्यस्था गरिएको छ भने भोलि 1ः35 बजीको बागडोगराबाट दिल्ली प्रस्थान हुने बताइएको छ। भण्डारीसित सुरक्षाकर्मीको रूपमा सिक्किम पुलिसका एसआई आरएन प्रधान र लेन्स नायक सुरेन प्रधान गएका छन्। यसैगरि भण्डारीको सहयोगीको रूपमा विशाल छेत्री र जीटी भोटिया गएका छन् भने चिकित्सक डॉ डी तामाङ गएका छन्।
भण्डारी दिल्ली प्रस्थान हुन अघि राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले बिहान 8ः50 बजी एसटीएनएमको हृदय रोग उपचार कक्षमा पुगेर भेट गरे। मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङले भण्डारीसित लगभग 10 मिनट अस्पतालमा बिताए। जहाँ तिनले भण्डारीलाई राम्रो उपचार गरेर फर्किने आग्रह गर्दै यदि आवश्यक परेको खण्डमा विदेशमा उपचार गराउन परे पनि सरकारले त्यो उपलब्ध गराउने आश्वासन दिएको पारिवारिक सुत्रले बताएको छ। अर्कोतिर एसटीएनएमको संघन चिकित्सा कक्षमा मुख्यमन्त्रीको भ्रमणको क्रममा पनि बिजुली बत्ती नभएकोले एसटीएनएमको व्यवस्थामाथि उपस्थित मानिसहरूले प्रश्न तेर्साएका छन्। उनीहरूले भने, आइसीयुको कतिवटा मेशिन पनि मैनबत्तीमै चल्छ होला त्यसैले मुख्यमन्त्रीको भ्रमणमा पनि मैनबत्ती बालेर बस्न पऱ्यो।
Bed-bound, rival CM by side
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| Chamling with Bhandari at the STNM Hospital in Gangtok on Thursday. Bhandari’s daughter (left) was also present. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
Gangtok, Aug. 18: Chief minister Pawan Chamling called on his predecessor Nar Bahadur Bhandari in a hospital here this morning, hours before the latter was taken to Siliguri in an ambulance for advanced treatment in New Delhi.
Bhandari was admitted to the cardiology ward of the STNM Hospital here on August 10, the first day of his one-month jail sentence in a corruption case.
A medical board constituted by the state government recommended that the 70-year-old Congress leader be treated at Medanta-The Medicity in Gurgaon for heart problems and hypertension.
Chamling called on his political rival at 8.50am and wished him speedy recovery. The chief minister spent about 10 minutes in the hospital and directed the doctors to provide the best care to Bhandari.
“The chief minister told my father that the government had made adequate arrangements for his treatment at a super-speciality hospital (in Gurgaon). In case of any problem, the chief minister said the government is ready to send him abroad for further treatment,” said Primula Bhandari, the eldest daughter of Bhandari.
The former chief minister will stay put at a Sikkim government guesthouse in Siliguri tonight and go to Gurgaon tomorrow. Primula said her father would fly to New Delhi from Bagdogra at 1.35pm tomorrow.
Apart from her, two Sikkim police personnel — an assistant sub inspector and a constable — will be with Bhandari during his treatment.
“I am being referred to a hospital outside Sikkim as there are no proper facilities for my treatment here. My health is deteriorating day by day and I have dizziness and severe back pain. The treatment provided to me by the doctors here was satisfactory,” Bhandari told reporters before boarding the ambulance.
Then, the man who ruled Sikkim for 14 years broke down and said in tears: “Although I have not acquired wealth and property, I have gained a lot of sympathy and love from the Sikkimese people. I will come back after the treatment and return the favour to my people.”
The Congress thanked all those who had visited Bhandari in the hospital during his stay from August 10.
“We also apologise to those who could not meet him in the hospital because of various reasons. We pray that our party president recover fast and come back to take charge of the SPCC again. Some senior party leaders are already in Delhi to assist him,” said Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary (administration) D.B. Basnett.
Kunga Nima Lepcha will discharge the duties of the SPCC president in Bhandari’s absence.
भ्रष्ट्राचारको मुद्दा लिएर नास गठन -सिक्किममा भ्रष्ट्राचार टुप्पोबाटै शुरु भएको छः नासBhandari was admitted to the cardiology ward of the STNM Hospital here on August 10, the first day of his one-month jail sentence in a corruption case.
A medical board constituted by the state government recommended that the 70-year-old Congress leader be treated at Medanta-The Medicity in Gurgaon for heart problems and hypertension.
Chamling called on his political rival at 8.50am and wished him speedy recovery. The chief minister spent about 10 minutes in the hospital and directed the doctors to provide the best care to Bhandari.
“The chief minister told my father that the government had made adequate arrangements for his treatment at a super-speciality hospital (in Gurgaon). In case of any problem, the chief minister said the government is ready to send him abroad for further treatment,” said Primula Bhandari, the eldest daughter of Bhandari.
The former chief minister will stay put at a Sikkim government guesthouse in Siliguri tonight and go to Gurgaon tomorrow. Primula said her father would fly to New Delhi from Bagdogra at 1.35pm tomorrow.
Apart from her, two Sikkim police personnel — an assistant sub inspector and a constable — will be with Bhandari during his treatment.
“I am being referred to a hospital outside Sikkim as there are no proper facilities for my treatment here. My health is deteriorating day by day and I have dizziness and severe back pain. The treatment provided to me by the doctors here was satisfactory,” Bhandari told reporters before boarding the ambulance.
Then, the man who ruled Sikkim for 14 years broke down and said in tears: “Although I have not acquired wealth and property, I have gained a lot of sympathy and love from the Sikkimese people. I will come back after the treatment and return the favour to my people.”
The Congress thanked all those who had visited Bhandari in the hospital during his stay from August 10.
“We also apologise to those who could not meet him in the hospital because of various reasons. We pray that our party president recover fast and come back to take charge of the SPCC again. Some senior party leaders are already in Delhi to assist him,” said Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary (administration) D.B. Basnett.
Kunga Nima Lepcha will discharge the duties of the SPCC president in Bhandari’s absence.
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,18 अगस्त। भारतको अन्य राज्यको तुलनामा सिक्किम भ्रष्ट्रचारमा धेरै अघि रहेको बताउँदै नवगठित नागरिक अधिकार सुरक्षा संगठन , सिक्किम (नास) ले तिब्र आन्दोलन शुरु गर्ने घोषणा गरेको छ। यहाँको स्थानीय एक होटलमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन आयोजन गरेर संगठनका अध्यक्ष टीएन ढकाल र प्रमुख संयोजक एम एन दाहालले सिक्किम भ्रष्ट्रचारदेखि मुक्त छ भने राज्यको मुख्यमन्त्री पनि अन्ना हजारको जनलोकपाल विधेयकको समर्थन गर्दै खुल्लारूपमा अघि आउनुपर्छ। यसै कुरोलाई ध्यानमा राखेर संगठनले आगामी 24 अगस्तको दिन राजधानीमा शान्ति जुलुस आयोजन गरेर अन्नाको आन्दोलनलाई समर्थन जनाउने तथा विधानसभामा प्रस्तुत जनादेश विधेयकको विरोध दर्ता गर्ने बताए। यो जुलुसमा राज्यका समस्त तहका नागरिकलाई सहभागि भइदिन संगठनले अपिल गरेको छ।
नव गठीत संगठनका मुख्य संयोजक दाहालले हालै मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले सिक्किममा भ्रष्ट्राचारले संस्कृतिको रूप धारण गरेको मन्तव्य जाहेर गरेको बताउँदै यसप्रति विमति जाहेर गरे। तिनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री स्वयंले राज्यमा भ्रष्ट्राचार व्याप्त रहेको स्वीकार गरेका छन्। यसैले सिक्किमे नागरिकलाई भ्रष्ट्राचारबारे सचेत र जागरूक गराउन आवश्यक भएको कुरालाई महशुस गरेर संगठनले नागरिकहरूको हक र मौलिक अधिकार सुनिश्चित अघि आएको बताए। .यस अवसरमा उनले 11 अगस्तको दिन मुख्यमन्त्रीले सिक्किम विधानसभामा प्रस्तुत गरेको सिक्किम लोक व्यवस्था विचलन निषेध तथा नियन्त्रण विधेयक 2011 ले भारतीय संविधानलाई दखल गरेको जनाउँदै यो विधेयक नागरिकको मौलिक अधिकारको सुरक्षामाथि कुठाराघात हुने बताए। तिनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङ स्वयंले मैनबत्ती बालेर ल्याएको प्रजातन्त्रमाथि अहिले आफैले कुठाराघात गर्दैछन्। यो बील सदनमा ल्याउन अघि विशेषज्ञहरूबाट राय लिनु उचित हुने थियो। यो जनविरोधी विधेयक ल्याउन चामलिङ सितै कानुन विभागका सचिव पनि जिम्मेवार छन्, तिनले भने।
आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा अध्यक्ष टीए ढकालले दुइवटा विशेष मुद्दालाई लिएर संगठन गठन भएको जनाए। कालो धनको चलखेलले भारत कलंकित बन्दैछ, भ्रष्टाचार विरूद्ध अन्नाले देश व्यापी आन्दोलन शुरु गर्दा पनि हामीले सहयोग नगरे पशु तुल्य हुनेछौं। तिनले भने, भ्रष्ट्राचारमा सिक्किम पछि छैन तर देशको धेरै राज्यहरूभन्दा अघि छ। सिक्किममा भ्रष्ट्राचार टुप्पोदेखि उँधो फर्केको छ, तिनले भने।
अध्यक्ष ढकालले भने, कालो बील 26 अगस्तको दिन सदनमा फिर्ता भएरमात्र हुँदैन तर मुख्यमन्त्रीले जनताको अधिकार हनन गर्ने प्रयास गरेको हुनाले उनले जनताको अघि माफि माग्नु पर्छ। तिनले भने, 18 वर्षदेखि मुख्यमन्त्री पदमा बसेका चामलिङले नागरिकको सुरक्षालाई ताकमा राखेर यस्तो अप्रजातान्त्रिक विधेयक ल्याउनु अघि एक पल्ट सोच्नु पर्नेथियो । तिनले भने,सजक नागरिकले यस्तो बीललाई स्वीकार गर्ने कुरै छैन, मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई यदि कसैले दिग्भ्रमित गरेको हो भने पनि त्यस व्यक्तिको नाम सार्वजनिक गर्नु पर्छ। तिनले अझ भने, सदनमा 32सै जना विधायक आफ्नो पक्षमा छ भन्दैमा जनताको अधिकारको घाँटी निमोठ्न पाइन्दैन। जनतालाई धोखा दिने बील ल्याएकोमा जनतासितै सार्वजनिक रूपमा माफि माग्नु पर्छ, यस्तो कुकृति फेऱि पनि नदोहोरियोस्।
तिनले चुनौति दिँदै भने, यदी मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङ भ्रष्ट्राचारदेखि मुक्त छन् भने बिहार र गुजरातका मुख्यमन्त्रीले झै अन्ना हजारेको खुल्ला समर्थन गर्नुपर्छ।यसैगरि संगठनले आगामी 24 अगस्तको दिन देउरालीको बिरालो द्वारदेखि विराट शान्ति जुलुस निकाल्ने तथा अन्नाको पक्षमा र कालो बीलको विरोधमा आवाज बुलन्द गर्ने घोषणा गरे। हिजो 17 अगस्तको दिन दक्षिण सिक्किमको मल्ली बजारमा एउटा जमघटपछि गठन भएको यो संगठनमा 25 जनाको कार्यकारी समिति गठन गरिएको जानकारी अध्यक्ष ढकालले दिए। जसमा प्रमुख संयोजक एमएन दाहाल, संयोजक सोनाम भोटिया, अध्यक्ष टीएन ढकाल, उपाध्यक्ष तेञ्जिङ ग्याछो भोटिया, निमा थिङ, विरेन्द्र सुब्बा र हरिदास राई छन् भने महासचिव मिलन राई र संयुक्त सचिवमा श्रीमती कला राई र छिरिङ दोर्जी भोटिया छन्। यसैगरि प्रचार सचिवमा किरण छेत्री र कमल गिरी कोषाध्यक्षमा चिनकाजी श्रेष्ठ समन्वयक दिपेन हाङ सुब्बा (पश्चिम),कृष्ण गुरूङ (दक्षिण),विष्णु शर्मा (पूर्व) र पाल्देन भोटिया (उत्तर) रहेका छन्। समितिमा उपसंयोजकमा अशोक प्रधान र गोपाल गुरुङ (पश्चिम) फूर्तेन लेप्चा र यापछुङ भोटिया (दक्षिण),पवन गुरुङ र सन्तोष प्रधान (पूर्व) तथा छेवाङ नर्बु लेप्चा र आर बी सुब्बा (उत्तर) रहेका छन्। यस लगायत समितिमा 21 जनालाई कार्यकारी सदस्यको रूपमा मनोनित गरिएको बताइएको छ।
क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमबारे अवगत गराउन टास टोली प्रस्थान
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 18 अगस्त। ट्रावल एजेन्ट एसोसिएशन अफ् सिक्किम (टास) का महासचिव सोनाम नोरगे लाचुङपाको अगुवाईमा एक टोली पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका पर्यटक हितधारकहरूलाई क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत प्रशिक्षण दिने योजनाको प्रचार प्रसार गर्न पुर्वोत्तर लागेका छन्। पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्रिय विकास मन्त्रालय (डोनर) को माताहतमा रहेको पूर्वोत्तर परिषदद्वारा प्रायोजित क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमको आयोजन टासले गरिरहेको छ। यसको निम्ति पूर्वोत्तरका सबै राज्यका प्रतिनिधिलाई विभिन्न पर्यटन विषायक मामिलाहरूमा प्रशिक्षित गरिने निश्चित भएको छ। सिक्किमबाट गएको टोलीले पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका सातैवटा राज्यहरू असम, मिजोरम, नागाल्याण्ड, मणिपुर, अरूणाचल प्रदेश, त्रिपुरा, मेघालयको भ्रमण गर्नेछ। टोलीमा टासका कोषाध्यक्ष रणदीप खाति , सचिव (पूर्व) अरूण भगत र सचिव (पश्चिम) बराप नामग्याल रहेका छन्। यो प्रशिक्षण आगामी सितम्बरदेखि शुरु भएर जनवरीसम्म जारी रहने छ। टासको पहललाई पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका सबै राज्यले प्रशंसा गरेको अध्यक्ष लुकेन्द्र रसाईलीले बताएका छन्। सिक्किमबाट गएको टोलीले परिपर्यटनलाई प्रमुखताका साथ उठान गर्नेछ।
ज्ञात रहोस टासका अध्यक्ष रसाईलीले समय समयमा आयोजित हुने कार्याशाला र सम्मेलनमा पूर्वोत्तर राज्यमा पर्यटनको सम्भावनाबारे आफ्नो विचार राख्दैआएका छन्।
टासको टोलीले 14 दिनसम्म पूर्वोत्तरको सबै राज्यभ्रमण गरेर पर्यटन हितधारक र सरकारी प्राधिकरणसित पर्यटनको विकासबारे चर्चा गर्ने छ। यसैपनि टासले पूर्वोत्तर राज्यमा पर्यटन विकासको निम्ति जनचेतना क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमहरू आयोजन गर्दै आइरहेको छ। यसैसन्दर्भमा टासले आगामी दिसम्बरमा सिक्किममा टुर अपरेटरहरूको सम्मेलन आयोजन गर्ने निर्णय लिएको छ।
नव गठीत संगठनका मुख्य संयोजक दाहालले हालै मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङले सिक्किममा भ्रष्ट्राचारले संस्कृतिको रूप धारण गरेको मन्तव्य जाहेर गरेको बताउँदै यसप्रति विमति जाहेर गरे। तिनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री स्वयंले राज्यमा भ्रष्ट्राचार व्याप्त रहेको स्वीकार गरेका छन्। यसैले सिक्किमे नागरिकलाई भ्रष्ट्राचारबारे सचेत र जागरूक गराउन आवश्यक भएको कुरालाई महशुस गरेर संगठनले नागरिकहरूको हक र मौलिक अधिकार सुनिश्चित अघि आएको बताए। .यस अवसरमा उनले 11 अगस्तको दिन मुख्यमन्त्रीले सिक्किम विधानसभामा प्रस्तुत गरेको सिक्किम लोक व्यवस्था विचलन निषेध तथा नियन्त्रण विधेयक 2011 ले भारतीय संविधानलाई दखल गरेको जनाउँदै यो विधेयक नागरिकको मौलिक अधिकारको सुरक्षामाथि कुठाराघात हुने बताए। तिनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङ स्वयंले मैनबत्ती बालेर ल्याएको प्रजातन्त्रमाथि अहिले आफैले कुठाराघात गर्दैछन्। यो बील सदनमा ल्याउन अघि विशेषज्ञहरूबाट राय लिनु उचित हुने थियो। यो जनविरोधी विधेयक ल्याउन चामलिङ सितै कानुन विभागका सचिव पनि जिम्मेवार छन्, तिनले भने।
आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा अध्यक्ष टीए ढकालले दुइवटा विशेष मुद्दालाई लिएर संगठन गठन भएको जनाए। कालो धनको चलखेलले भारत कलंकित बन्दैछ, भ्रष्टाचार विरूद्ध अन्नाले देश व्यापी आन्दोलन शुरु गर्दा पनि हामीले सहयोग नगरे पशु तुल्य हुनेछौं। तिनले भने, भ्रष्ट्राचारमा सिक्किम पछि छैन तर देशको धेरै राज्यहरूभन्दा अघि छ। सिक्किममा भ्रष्ट्राचार टुप्पोदेखि उँधो फर्केको छ, तिनले भने।
अध्यक्ष ढकालले भने, कालो बील 26 अगस्तको दिन सदनमा फिर्ता भएरमात्र हुँदैन तर मुख्यमन्त्रीले जनताको अधिकार हनन गर्ने प्रयास गरेको हुनाले उनले जनताको अघि माफि माग्नु पर्छ। तिनले भने, 18 वर्षदेखि मुख्यमन्त्री पदमा बसेका चामलिङले नागरिकको सुरक्षालाई ताकमा राखेर यस्तो अप्रजातान्त्रिक विधेयक ल्याउनु अघि एक पल्ट सोच्नु पर्नेथियो । तिनले भने,सजक नागरिकले यस्तो बीललाई स्वीकार गर्ने कुरै छैन, मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई यदि कसैले दिग्भ्रमित गरेको हो भने पनि त्यस व्यक्तिको नाम सार्वजनिक गर्नु पर्छ। तिनले अझ भने, सदनमा 32सै जना विधायक आफ्नो पक्षमा छ भन्दैमा जनताको अधिकारको घाँटी निमोठ्न पाइन्दैन। जनतालाई धोखा दिने बील ल्याएकोमा जनतासितै सार्वजनिक रूपमा माफि माग्नु पर्छ, यस्तो कुकृति फेऱि पनि नदोहोरियोस्।
तिनले चुनौति दिँदै भने, यदी मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङ भ्रष्ट्राचारदेखि मुक्त छन् भने बिहार र गुजरातका मुख्यमन्त्रीले झै अन्ना हजारेको खुल्ला समर्थन गर्नुपर्छ।यसैगरि संगठनले आगामी 24 अगस्तको दिन देउरालीको बिरालो द्वारदेखि विराट शान्ति जुलुस निकाल्ने तथा अन्नाको पक्षमा र कालो बीलको विरोधमा आवाज बुलन्द गर्ने घोषणा गरे। हिजो 17 अगस्तको दिन दक्षिण सिक्किमको मल्ली बजारमा एउटा जमघटपछि गठन भएको यो संगठनमा 25 जनाको कार्यकारी समिति गठन गरिएको जानकारी अध्यक्ष ढकालले दिए। जसमा प्रमुख संयोजक एमएन दाहाल, संयोजक सोनाम भोटिया, अध्यक्ष टीएन ढकाल, उपाध्यक्ष तेञ्जिङ ग्याछो भोटिया, निमा थिङ, विरेन्द्र सुब्बा र हरिदास राई छन् भने महासचिव मिलन राई र संयुक्त सचिवमा श्रीमती कला राई र छिरिङ दोर्जी भोटिया छन्। यसैगरि प्रचार सचिवमा किरण छेत्री र कमल गिरी कोषाध्यक्षमा चिनकाजी श्रेष्ठ समन्वयक दिपेन हाङ सुब्बा (पश्चिम),कृष्ण गुरूङ (दक्षिण),विष्णु शर्मा (पूर्व) र पाल्देन भोटिया (उत्तर) रहेका छन्। समितिमा उपसंयोजकमा अशोक प्रधान र गोपाल गुरुङ (पश्चिम) फूर्तेन लेप्चा र यापछुङ भोटिया (दक्षिण),पवन गुरुङ र सन्तोष प्रधान (पूर्व) तथा छेवाङ नर्बु लेप्चा र आर बी सुब्बा (उत्तर) रहेका छन्। यस लगायत समितिमा 21 जनालाई कार्यकारी सदस्यको रूपमा मनोनित गरिएको बताइएको छ।
क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमबारे अवगत गराउन टास टोली प्रस्थान
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 18 अगस्त। ट्रावल एजेन्ट एसोसिएशन अफ् सिक्किम (टास) का महासचिव सोनाम नोरगे लाचुङपाको अगुवाईमा एक टोली पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका पर्यटक हितधारकहरूलाई क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत प्रशिक्षण दिने योजनाको प्रचार प्रसार गर्न पुर्वोत्तर लागेका छन्। पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्रिय विकास मन्त्रालय (डोनर) को माताहतमा रहेको पूर्वोत्तर परिषदद्वारा प्रायोजित क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमको आयोजन टासले गरिरहेको छ। यसको निम्ति पूर्वोत्तरका सबै राज्यका प्रतिनिधिलाई विभिन्न पर्यटन विषायक मामिलाहरूमा प्रशिक्षित गरिने निश्चित भएको छ। सिक्किमबाट गएको टोलीले पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका सातैवटा राज्यहरू असम, मिजोरम, नागाल्याण्ड, मणिपुर, अरूणाचल प्रदेश, त्रिपुरा, मेघालयको भ्रमण गर्नेछ। टोलीमा टासका कोषाध्यक्ष रणदीप खाति , सचिव (पूर्व) अरूण भगत र सचिव (पश्चिम) बराप नामग्याल रहेका छन्। यो प्रशिक्षण आगामी सितम्बरदेखि शुरु भएर जनवरीसम्म जारी रहने छ। टासको पहललाई पूर्वोत्तर राज्यका सबै राज्यले प्रशंसा गरेको अध्यक्ष लुकेन्द्र रसाईलीले बताएका छन्। सिक्किमबाट गएको टोलीले परिपर्यटनलाई प्रमुखताका साथ उठान गर्नेछ।
ज्ञात रहोस टासका अध्यक्ष रसाईलीले समय समयमा आयोजित हुने कार्याशाला र सम्मेलनमा पूर्वोत्तर राज्यमा पर्यटनको सम्भावनाबारे आफ्नो विचार राख्दैआएका छन्।
टासको टोलीले 14 दिनसम्म पूर्वोत्तरको सबै राज्यभ्रमण गरेर पर्यटन हितधारक र सरकारी प्राधिकरणसित पर्यटनको विकासबारे चर्चा गर्ने छ। यसैपनि टासले पूर्वोत्तर राज्यमा पर्यटन विकासको निम्ति जनचेतना क्षमता विकास कार्यक्रमहरू आयोजन गर्दै आइरहेको छ। यसैसन्दर्भमा टासले आगामी दिसम्बरमा सिक्किममा टुर अपरेटरहरूको सम्मेलन आयोजन गर्ने निर्णय लिएको छ।
क्रामाकपाले गर्नै गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति लङमार्च
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 18 अगस्त। गोजमुमोका अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति तराई-डुवर्सको लङ्मार्च गर्दा सिब्सुमा बङ्गाल सरकारका पुलिसले तीनजना आन्दोलनकारीहरूको गोली ठोकेर हत्या गरेको थियो। अहिले गोली ठोख्ने सरकारपनि बङ्गालमा छैन अनि आन्दोलनकारी मोर्चा पनि आन्दोलनमा छैन। आन्दोलनकारी दल गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले आन्दोलनलाई थन्काएर जीटीए ग्रहण गरेको छ। मोर्चाले जीटीए थापेर जनतालाई बोरामा सुताएको मात्र होइन घिसिङले दागोपाप थापेर मुद्दा बेचे झैं गोजमुमोले पनि जीटीए थापेर मुद्दा बेचेको आरोप लगाउँदै पहाड़को दोस्रो बलियो राजनैतिक सङ्गठन क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीले तेस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन गर्दै दिल्लीको कार्यक्रम सकिएपछि अब लङ् मार्चको तयारी गरिरहेको छ।
27 जुलाईदेखि शुरू गरेको क्रामाकपाको तेस्रो चरणको गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन अहिले विशेष अवसरलाई केन्द्र गर्दै अघि बढिरहेको छ। 27 जुलाई अथवा शहीद दिवसको दिन क्रामाकपाले कालेबुङमा रक्तदान शिविर गर्दै साङ्केतिक आन्दोलन शुरू गरेको थियो भने देशमा अन्ना हजारे जस्ता सचेत व्यक्तिहरूले गरिरहेको भ्रष्टचारको विरोधलाई समर्थन गर्दै दिल्लीमा विभिन्न सङ्गठनहरूसित मिलेर भ्रष्टचारको विरोध अनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति धर्ना सकेर प्रतिनिधिहरू पहाड़ फर्किएपछि अब दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको कुना काप्चाबाट गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेमीहरूले सिलगढीसम्म पैदलयात्रा गर्ने भएको छ। क्रामाकपा महासचिव तारामणि राईले सिलगढीसम्मको लङ्मार्चको तयारी भइरहेको बताउँदै भने, भाषा मान्यता दिवस अथवा 20 अगस्तको दिन यो पैदल यात्रा शुरू हुने छ अनि बलिदान दिवस अथवा 25 अगस्तसम्म रहनेछ।
तिनले लङ्मार्चको उद्देश्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको पक्षमा जन सहमति अनि सरकारलाई गोर्खाहरूको समस्या राज्य गठनले मात्र समाधान गर्छ भन्ने कुरा बुझाउनु रहेको तिनले बताएका छन्।
गोर्खापछि अब लेप्चाको पालो - लेप्चालाई डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल देऊ-इल्टा
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 18 अगस्त। देशमा गोर्खाहरूको चिन्हारीको निम्ति छुट्टैराज्य हुनुपर्छ भन्दै अघिल्लोतिर गोर्खा झुण्डिएका धेरैवटा राजनैतिक सङ्गठनहरूले राज्य अनि केन्द्र सरकारलाई दाबी गर्दै आन्दोलन गरेपनि दोस्रोपल्ट दागोपापपछि गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल अथोरिटी गोर्खाहरूलाई राज्य र केन्द्रले थमाइदिएको छ।
छुट्टै राज्यको आन्दोलनले दुइवटा उपलब्धी के हासिल गरेको छ भने गोरामुमोले पहाड़को व्यवस्था अघि गोर्खा शब्द जोड़ेको थियो भने गोजमुमोले ल्याण्ड जोड़ेको छ तर दुवै नै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड भने होइन। अहिले जीटीए थापेर गोर्खाहरूले आन्दोलनलाई शिथिल गरिरहेको बेला पहाड़का आदिवासी लेप्चाहरूले पनि आफ्नो जातीय सुरक्षाको निम्ति छुट्टै पर्षदको दाबी गरिरहेको छ। यसैको निम्ति लेप्चाहरूको सङ्गठन इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल एसोसिएसन एनि इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल फोरमले अहिले कोलकातामा आन्दोलन चर्काइरहेको छ। यसै आन्दोलनलाई बल पुर्याउने उद्देश्यले आज दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाभरि नै लेप्चाहरूले जुलूस र धर्ना प्रदर्शन गर्यो।
कालेबुङमा जुलूस र धर्ना प्रदर्शनको निम्ति सडक ओर्लिएका एसोसिएसनका अध्यक्ष ल्याङसोङ तामसाङले भने, हामी पहाडका मूल आदिवासी हौं तर भारत स्वाधिन भएको 65 वर्ष पुगिसक्दा पनि हामीलाई देशको कुनै पनि विकास नीतिले सम्बोधन गरेन। लेप्चाहरू अझ पनि गोरूको छालामा सुत्न बाध्य छन्। 21 औं शताव्दीमा पनि लेप्चाहरूलाई भने सरकारले 16 औं शताब्दीमा राखेको छ। यसैको विरोध गर्दै अधिकार मागिररहेका छौं। धेरैपल्ट भयो सरकारलाई अधिकार मागेको, हाम्रो कुरा सुनेको छैन।
यसपल्ट पनि सुनेन भने लेप्चा शक्ति देखाउनेछौं। आदिवासी लेप्चाहरूको माग के रहेको छ भने असममा गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति गोर्खा डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल भए जस्तो पहाड़मा पनि लेप्चा डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल हुनुपर्छ। यति मात्र होइन पहाड़का प्राथमिक अनि उच्चतर माध्यमिक विद्यालयमा 2012 देखि लेप्चा भाषामा पठन पाठन हुनुपर्छ। विधानसभा र संसदमा लेप्चा प्रतिनिधिहरूको आरक्षित मनोनयन हुनुपर्छ। यी तीनवटा मूल मागलाई लिएर लेप्चाहरूले कोलकातामा 9 अगस्तदेखि नै तीनभागमा बॉंडिएर धर्ना दिइरहेका छन्। सुबोध मिन्टो पार्क, राइटर्स अनि एसेम्ब्ली अघि भइरहेको धर्नालाई बिथोल्न पुलिस बल राज्य सरकारले तैनाथ गरेको मात्र होइन पक्राउ गर्ने कोशिशमा नै जुटेपछि लेप्चा समुदाय राज्य सरकारसित रुष्ट बनेको हो। तामसाङले भने, लेप्चाहरूलाई अधिकार माग्दा जेल हाल्ने कोशिश गरेर सरकारले गणतन्त्रलाई कुल्चिने काम गरिरहेको छ।
अहिले बङ्गालमा माओवादी, नक्सलीहरू किन जन्मिरहेको छ, त्यो पनि ट्राइबलबाट, त्यो सरकारको यस्तै दमन नीतिको कारण हो। हाम्रो मागलाई पनि दमन गर्ने प्रयास गरे लेप्चाहरूले अहिलेसम्म नदेखाएको शक्ति देखाउनेछ। यता जीटीए भइरहेको सम्बन्धमा तिनलाई प्रश्न गर्दा जीटीए हुन समय लाग्ने अनि प्रशासन अहिले सरकारले नै हेरिरहेकोले सरकारसित दाबी गरिएको बताउँदै भने, सरकारले लेप्चाहरूलाई अत्याचार गर्न पाउँदैन। हाम्रो कुरा सुनेन भने आन्दोलनको स्वरुप परिवर्तन गर्दै सरकारमा चुनौती खड़ा गर्नेछौं। तिनले एउटा महत प्रश्न पनि के तेर्साए भने सरकारले लेप्चाहरूको अस्तित्व मेट्ने षड़यन्त्र गरिरहेको छ। तिनले भने, भारत स्वाधिन भएको यत्रोवर्षसम्म सरकारले हामीलाई संरक्षण नगर्नु अनि नगरेको कारण अधिकारको दाबी गर्दा जुन अत्यचार गर्दैछ, यसले के लेप्चाहरूलाई मेट्ने षड़यन्त्र सरकारको छैन? भन्ने प्रश्न उठिरहेको छ। सहनै नसक्ने जुन अत्यचार गरिरहेको छ यसको जवाब यहॉंको भूमिपुत्र लेप्चाहरूले निश्चय नै दिनेछ।
यता इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल फोरमका सचिव पावल सिमिकले पनि भने, काउन्सिल भयो भने हाम्रो भाषा, संस्कृतिको सुरक्षा हुनेछ। सामाजिक, शैक्षिक, आर्थिक उन्नति हुनेछ। जो संविधानले रैथाने जातिको संरक्षणको निम्ति अधिकार दिएको छ हामीले त्यसैको दाबी गरेका हौं। तिनले जसरी मुख्य मन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले जङ्गल महल र दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान गर्यो उसरी नै लेप्चाहरूको पनि समस्या समाधान गर्नुपर्ने बताउँदै भने, जबसम्म मुख्य मन्त्रीले यसको निम्ति कुनै कदम बढाउने छैनन् तबसम्म हामी आन्दोलन बाट पछि हट्ने छैनौं। मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यनर्जीले नै यस मामिलामा कुनै पदक्षेप नलिएसम्म लेप्चाहरूको आन्दोलन जारी रह्नेछ।
Lepchas hit hill streets for Calcutta protesters
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Aug. 18: About 1,500 Lepchas took out a silent march here today to protest the alleged denial of democratic rights to 300 members of the community who have been agitating in Calcutta since August 9 with a number of demands.
“It is unfortunate that our people are being deprived of their democratic rights. I am getting reports from Calcutta that at this moment our members are being threatened with arrest while taking out a march to the Assembly. Why aren’t we allowed to stage peaceful protest?” asked L.S. Tamsang, the president of the Lepchas Rights Movement.
He told The Telegraph that similar rallies were being held in Darjeeling and Kurseong as well.
The Lepchas have been holding dharnas and rallies in Calcutta to demand the setting up of a development council or board to preserve and promote the community’s culture and language.
The rally in Kalimpong was taken out under the aegis of the movement. Attired in their traditional dresses, the marchers walked through streets before gathering in front of the subdivisional officer’s office. The protesters presented a memorandum to SDO L.N. Sherpa, listing their demands — introduction of Lepcha language in the formal education system and representation in the Assembly and Parliament, besides the development council.
Tamsang said the Lepchas would continue with their protest in Calcutta till chief minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to meet them. “We demand the chief minister’s positive intervention,” he said.
Samden Lepcha, the movement’s public relations officer, said from Calcutta that although around 50 agitators were suffering from various ailments, they were determined to continue the protest till the demand for the development council was met.
The Lepchas are one of the original inhabitants of the Darjeeling hills.
Feeler to planters: Rs 91 will do - Govt says unions will agree to any wage above Rs 90
TT, Siliguri, Aug. 18: The state government has sent a message to planters that some of the trade unions are ready to sign the tripartite agreement if the revised wage of garden workers is fixed at any rate above Rs 90, even if it means Rs 91 a day.
The message, which was informal, said a trade union with considerable clout had agreed to anything above Rs 90 a day, the rate clinched by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for garden workers in the hills and which sparked the face-off in the foothill gardens.
“We have held talks with planters as well as trade unions. One of the unions has agreed (to sign the deal), as long as the wage is above Rs 90. Others are yet to spell out their stands clearly. This development has been intimated to tea planters in an informal manner,” said labour minister Purnendu Bose over the phone from Calcutta today.
The Progressive Tea Workers’ Union backed by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad said it was ready to accept even Rs 91 a day for one year as interim arrangement. “As long as it is above Rs 90,” said Shukra Munda, the chairperson of the union.
Bose said north Bengal development affairs minister Gautam Deb had been entrusted with the responsibility of holding talks with planters and trade unions in Siliguri to help sort out the issue.
Although negotiations to revise wages in the 208 gardens of the Dooars and the Terai had started in March, no decision has been reached so far with planters refusing more than an annual hike of Rs 8 for next three years. The existing wage is Rs 67.
A majority of the trade unions had demanded Rs 165 as revised wage. The PTWU had asked for Rs 250. But all of them had scaled down their demand to Rs 130. The PTWU, in the last meeting with state ministers, had agreed to come down even further. It had said it would agree to any wage above Rs 90.
“During our meeting with the state ministers earlier this month, we had clarified that we were ready to settle for anything above Rs 90. Now if the government is working on our proposed wage rate, we consider it as a positive development,” said Munda.
“If the government succeeds in settling the issue and increasing the wage to Rs 91 even by encouraging a one-year agreement instead of the usual three-year deal, we will agree to it. The government should work on it and suggest a rate to planters and trade unions so that talks can resume,” Munda said.
Citu, which yesterday announced that it would fight for workers wages alone, today said it was waiting for the formal proposal to arrive. The CPM labour wing has considerable clout in the gardens.
The Coordination committee of Tea Plantation Workers — an umbrella body of trade unions — has refused comment on the government message.
“We will hold a joint convention in Siliguri with the Defence Committee for Plantation Workers Rights on August 27. Even if the government starts working on the rate and proposes a new rate, we can comment on it only after holding talks with our constituent unions,” said Chitta Dey, the convener.
Nearly 30 labour organisations, including the Citu and Intuc, are members of the two apex trade unions.
Morcha student rally for Anna
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha that had forced the Darjeeling Civil Society to cancel a rally in support of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption drive two weeks back has now decided to organise a procession tomorrow to support the cause.
Amrit Yonzone, the vice-president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s student wing, said: “We have decided to hold a rally with the students of Darjeeling from Chowrastha tomorrow. We have asked the participants to assemble at the venue around 11am.”
He added that from Chowrastha the rally would go to the district magistrate’s office where a memorandum would be submitted.
On August 6, the Darjeeling Civil Society had to cancel its rally in support of Anna Hazare after the Vidyarthi Morcha protested the involvement of students without its permission.
“It is a well know fact that the Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha is the most active student organisation in the hills and we have continuously held programmes with students in the past. We fully support the fight against corruption but when students are involved, they (the civil society) should have discussed or at least informed us about the rally,” Yonzone had said.
He had also said if any “untoward incident” had occurred during the rally, the people would have blamed the Vidyarthi Morcha because they were the “sole representatives of the students in the hills”. Yonzone said that was why, the civil society members were requested to not go ahead with the programme.
Asked if the Vidyarthi Morcha would invite the Darjeeling Civil Society members to take part in the rally tomorrow, Yonzone said: “Everyone is welcome to join and we are thinking of inviting the members of the civil society.”
The civil society members had said that it was an apolitical organisation and the only reason behind taking out the rally was to educate the people about Hazare’s campaign about the provisions in the Lok Pal bill.
B.K. Pradhan, the president of Darjeeling Civil Society, said: “I heard about the rally today and we might think of attending it tomorrow. For us, the cause is more important.”
Nima Sherpa, the media and publicity secretary of the Vidyarthi Morcha, said students of all schools and colleges in Darjeeling had been asked to take part in the rally and they expected that a large number of people would show their support.
Dad kills two children
TT, Alipurduar, Aug. 18: A resident of Rydak tea estate allegedly killed his two children and then tried to commit suicide last night.
Arvind Tirki was beaten up and handed over to police by the local people when he tried to hang himself. Police said he used to torture his wife Pinky Mahali often. In January, Pinky, a garden worker, left the house with her two children Rahul, 8, and Sana Mahali, 3 and began staying with her uncle. Last night Arvind went to Pinky’s uncle’s house and brought the children to his house. He offered them food and put them to sleep. Later at night, he allegedly strangled them. This morning, neighbours spotted Arvind while he was trying to hang himself. When they rushed into the house to stop him, they saw the bodies of the children. Arvind was beaten up and handed over to the police. He was taken to the Samuktala health centre and later shifted to the subdivisional hospital here.
Student held
TT, Malda: Englishbazar police arrested a Class IX student of a madrasa at Mohanpur on Wednesday night and recovered fake notes with a face value of Rs 2 lakh. Police said the boy had came to Rathbari on Wednesday night to deliver the fake notes when he was arrested.
Gorkha Communities in OBC
KalimNews: Gorkha Community of Uttarakhand has been notified by the Government of India on 16.06.2011 at Entry No. 2 in the Central List of OBCs for the State of Uttarakhand as "Gorkha (excluding Brahmins and Kshatriya)".
Castes/ communities are ordinarily included in the Central List of OBCs on the advice of National Commission for Backward Classes. No advice for inclusion of Brahmins and Khatris under Gorkha community for Uttarakhand, has been received.
Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed the Parliment today.
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 18 अगस्त। गोजमुमोका अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति तराई-डुवर्सको लङ्मार्च गर्दा सिब्सुमा बङ्गाल सरकारका पुलिसले तीनजना आन्दोलनकारीहरूको गोली ठोकेर हत्या गरेको थियो। अहिले गोली ठोख्ने सरकारपनि बङ्गालमा छैन अनि आन्दोलनकारी मोर्चा पनि आन्दोलनमा छैन। आन्दोलनकारी दल गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले आन्दोलनलाई थन्काएर जीटीए ग्रहण गरेको छ। मोर्चाले जीटीए थापेर जनतालाई बोरामा सुताएको मात्र होइन घिसिङले दागोपाप थापेर मुद्दा बेचे झैं गोजमुमोले पनि जीटीए थापेर मुद्दा बेचेको आरोप लगाउँदै पहाड़को दोस्रो बलियो राजनैतिक सङ्गठन क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीले तेस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन गर्दै दिल्लीको कार्यक्रम सकिएपछि अब लङ् मार्चको तयारी गरिरहेको छ।
27 जुलाईदेखि शुरू गरेको क्रामाकपाको तेस्रो चरणको गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन अहिले विशेष अवसरलाई केन्द्र गर्दै अघि बढिरहेको छ। 27 जुलाई अथवा शहीद दिवसको दिन क्रामाकपाले कालेबुङमा रक्तदान शिविर गर्दै साङ्केतिक आन्दोलन शुरू गरेको थियो भने देशमा अन्ना हजारे जस्ता सचेत व्यक्तिहरूले गरिरहेको भ्रष्टचारको विरोधलाई समर्थन गर्दै दिल्लीमा विभिन्न सङ्गठनहरूसित मिलेर भ्रष्टचारको विरोध अनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति धर्ना सकेर प्रतिनिधिहरू पहाड़ फर्किएपछि अब दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाको कुना काप्चाबाट गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्रेमीहरूले सिलगढीसम्म पैदलयात्रा गर्ने भएको छ। क्रामाकपा महासचिव तारामणि राईले सिलगढीसम्मको लङ्मार्चको तयारी भइरहेको बताउँदै भने, भाषा मान्यता दिवस अथवा 20 अगस्तको दिन यो पैदल यात्रा शुरू हुने छ अनि बलिदान दिवस अथवा 25 अगस्तसम्म रहनेछ।
तिनले लङ्मार्चको उद्देश्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको पक्षमा जन सहमति अनि सरकारलाई गोर्खाहरूको समस्या राज्य गठनले मात्र समाधान गर्छ भन्ने कुरा बुझाउनु रहेको तिनले बताएका छन्।
गोर्खापछि अब लेप्चाको पालो - लेप्चालाई डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल देऊ-इल्टा
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 18 अगस्त। देशमा गोर्खाहरूको चिन्हारीको निम्ति छुट्टैराज्य हुनुपर्छ भन्दै अघिल्लोतिर गोर्खा झुण्डिएका धेरैवटा राजनैतिक सङ्गठनहरूले राज्य अनि केन्द्र सरकारलाई दाबी गर्दै आन्दोलन गरेपनि दोस्रोपल्ट दागोपापपछि गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल अथोरिटी गोर्खाहरूलाई राज्य र केन्द्रले थमाइदिएको छ।छुट्टै राज्यको आन्दोलनले दुइवटा उपलब्धी के हासिल गरेको छ भने गोरामुमोले पहाड़को व्यवस्था अघि गोर्खा शब्द जोड़ेको थियो भने गोजमुमोले ल्याण्ड जोड़ेको छ तर दुवै नै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड भने होइन। अहिले जीटीए थापेर गोर्खाहरूले आन्दोलनलाई शिथिल गरिरहेको बेला पहाड़का आदिवासी लेप्चाहरूले पनि आफ्नो जातीय सुरक्षाको निम्ति छुट्टै पर्षदको दाबी गरिरहेको छ। यसैको निम्ति लेप्चाहरूको सङ्गठन इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल एसोसिएसन एनि इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल फोरमले अहिले कोलकातामा आन्दोलन चर्काइरहेको छ। यसै आन्दोलनलाई बल पुर्याउने उद्देश्यले आज दार्जीलिङ जिल्लाभरि नै लेप्चाहरूले जुलूस र धर्ना प्रदर्शन गर्यो।
कालेबुङमा जुलूस र धर्ना प्रदर्शनको निम्ति सडक ओर्लिएका एसोसिएसनका अध्यक्ष ल्याङसोङ तामसाङले भने, हामी पहाडका मूल आदिवासी हौं तर भारत स्वाधिन भएको 65 वर्ष पुगिसक्दा पनि हामीलाई देशको कुनै पनि विकास नीतिले सम्बोधन गरेन। लेप्चाहरू अझ पनि गोरूको छालामा सुत्न बाध्य छन्। 21 औं शताव्दीमा पनि लेप्चाहरूलाई भने सरकारले 16 औं शताब्दीमा राखेको छ। यसैको विरोध गर्दै अधिकार मागिररहेका छौं। धेरैपल्ट भयो सरकारलाई अधिकार मागेको, हाम्रो कुरा सुनेको छैन।यसपल्ट पनि सुनेन भने लेप्चा शक्ति देखाउनेछौं। आदिवासी लेप्चाहरूको माग के रहेको छ भने असममा गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति गोर्खा डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल भए जस्तो पहाड़मा पनि लेप्चा डेभलोपमेन्ट काउन्सिल हुनुपर्छ। यति मात्र होइन पहाड़का प्राथमिक अनि उच्चतर माध्यमिक विद्यालयमा 2012 देखि लेप्चा भाषामा पठन पाठन हुनुपर्छ। विधानसभा र संसदमा लेप्चा प्रतिनिधिहरूको आरक्षित मनोनयन हुनुपर्छ। यी तीनवटा मूल मागलाई लिएर लेप्चाहरूले कोलकातामा 9 अगस्तदेखि नै तीनभागमा बॉंडिएर धर्ना दिइरहेका छन्। सुबोध मिन्टो पार्क, राइटर्स अनि एसेम्ब्ली अघि भइरहेको धर्नालाई बिथोल्न पुलिस बल राज्य सरकारले तैनाथ गरेको मात्र होइन पक्राउ गर्ने कोशिशमा नै जुटेपछि लेप्चा समुदाय राज्य सरकारसित रुष्ट बनेको हो। तामसाङले भने, लेप्चाहरूलाई अधिकार माग्दा जेल हाल्ने कोशिश गरेर सरकारले गणतन्त्रलाई कुल्चिने काम गरिरहेको छ।
अहिले बङ्गालमा माओवादी, नक्सलीहरू किन जन्मिरहेको छ, त्यो पनि ट्राइबलबाट, त्यो सरकारको यस्तै दमन नीतिको कारण हो। हाम्रो मागलाई पनि दमन गर्ने प्रयास गरे लेप्चाहरूले अहिलेसम्म नदेखाएको शक्ति देखाउनेछ। यता जीटीए भइरहेको सम्बन्धमा तिनलाई प्रश्न गर्दा जीटीए हुन समय लाग्ने अनि प्रशासन अहिले सरकारले नै हेरिरहेकोले सरकारसित दाबी गरिएको बताउँदै भने, सरकारले लेप्चाहरूलाई अत्याचार गर्न पाउँदैन। हाम्रो कुरा सुनेन भने आन्दोलनको स्वरुप परिवर्तन गर्दै सरकारमा चुनौती खड़ा गर्नेछौं। तिनले एउटा महत प्रश्न पनि के तेर्साए भने सरकारले लेप्चाहरूको अस्तित्व मेट्ने षड़यन्त्र गरिरहेको छ। तिनले भने, भारत स्वाधिन भएको यत्रोवर्षसम्म सरकारले हामीलाई संरक्षण नगर्नु अनि नगरेको कारण अधिकारको दाबी गर्दा जुन अत्यचार गर्दैछ, यसले के लेप्चाहरूलाई मेट्ने षड़यन्त्र सरकारको छैन? भन्ने प्रश्न उठिरहेको छ। सहनै नसक्ने जुन अत्यचार गरिरहेको छ यसको जवाब यहॉंको भूमिपुत्र लेप्चाहरूले निश्चय नै दिनेछ।यता इण्डिजिनस लेप्चा ट्राइबल फोरमका सचिव पावल सिमिकले पनि भने, काउन्सिल भयो भने हाम्रो भाषा, संस्कृतिको सुरक्षा हुनेछ। सामाजिक, शैक्षिक, आर्थिक उन्नति हुनेछ। जो संविधानले रैथाने जातिको संरक्षणको निम्ति अधिकार दिएको छ हामीले त्यसैको दाबी गरेका हौं। तिनले जसरी मुख्य मन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले जङ्गल महल र दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान गर्यो उसरी नै लेप्चाहरूको पनि समस्या समाधान गर्नुपर्ने बताउँदै भने, जबसम्म मुख्य मन्त्रीले यसको निम्ति कुनै कदम बढाउने छैनन् तबसम्म हामी आन्दोलन बाट पछि हट्ने छैनौं। मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यनर्जीले नै यस मामिलामा कुनै पदक्षेप नलिएसम्म लेप्चाहरूको आन्दोलन जारी रह्नेछ।
Lepchas hit hill streets for Calcutta protesters
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| The Lepchas gathered in front of the SDO’s office in Kalimpong. (C.F. Lepcha) |
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Aug. 18: About 1,500 Lepchas took out a silent march here today to protest the alleged denial of democratic rights to 300 members of the community who have been agitating in Calcutta since August 9 with a number of demands.
“It is unfortunate that our people are being deprived of their democratic rights. I am getting reports from Calcutta that at this moment our members are being threatened with arrest while taking out a march to the Assembly. Why aren’t we allowed to stage peaceful protest?” asked L.S. Tamsang, the president of the Lepchas Rights Movement.
He told The Telegraph that similar rallies were being held in Darjeeling and Kurseong as well.
The Lepchas have been holding dharnas and rallies in Calcutta to demand the setting up of a development council or board to preserve and promote the community’s culture and language.
The rally in Kalimpong was taken out under the aegis of the movement. Attired in their traditional dresses, the marchers walked through streets before gathering in front of the subdivisional officer’s office. The protesters presented a memorandum to SDO L.N. Sherpa, listing their demands — introduction of Lepcha language in the formal education system and representation in the Assembly and Parliament, besides the development council.
Tamsang said the Lepchas would continue with their protest in Calcutta till chief minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to meet them. “We demand the chief minister’s positive intervention,” he said.
Samden Lepcha, the movement’s public relations officer, said from Calcutta that although around 50 agitators were suffering from various ailments, they were determined to continue the protest till the demand for the development council was met.
The Lepchas are one of the original inhabitants of the Darjeeling hills.
Feeler to planters: Rs 91 will do - Govt says unions will agree to any wage above Rs 90
TT, Siliguri, Aug. 18: The state government has sent a message to planters that some of the trade unions are ready to sign the tripartite agreement if the revised wage of garden workers is fixed at any rate above Rs 90, even if it means Rs 91 a day.
The message, which was informal, said a trade union with considerable clout had agreed to anything above Rs 90 a day, the rate clinched by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for garden workers in the hills and which sparked the face-off in the foothill gardens.
“We have held talks with planters as well as trade unions. One of the unions has agreed (to sign the deal), as long as the wage is above Rs 90. Others are yet to spell out their stands clearly. This development has been intimated to tea planters in an informal manner,” said labour minister Purnendu Bose over the phone from Calcutta today.
The Progressive Tea Workers’ Union backed by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad said it was ready to accept even Rs 91 a day for one year as interim arrangement. “As long as it is above Rs 90,” said Shukra Munda, the chairperson of the union.
Bose said north Bengal development affairs minister Gautam Deb had been entrusted with the responsibility of holding talks with planters and trade unions in Siliguri to help sort out the issue.
Although negotiations to revise wages in the 208 gardens of the Dooars and the Terai had started in March, no decision has been reached so far with planters refusing more than an annual hike of Rs 8 for next three years. The existing wage is Rs 67.
A majority of the trade unions had demanded Rs 165 as revised wage. The PTWU had asked for Rs 250. But all of them had scaled down their demand to Rs 130. The PTWU, in the last meeting with state ministers, had agreed to come down even further. It had said it would agree to any wage above Rs 90.
“During our meeting with the state ministers earlier this month, we had clarified that we were ready to settle for anything above Rs 90. Now if the government is working on our proposed wage rate, we consider it as a positive development,” said Munda.
“If the government succeeds in settling the issue and increasing the wage to Rs 91 even by encouraging a one-year agreement instead of the usual three-year deal, we will agree to it. The government should work on it and suggest a rate to planters and trade unions so that talks can resume,” Munda said.
Citu, which yesterday announced that it would fight for workers wages alone, today said it was waiting for the formal proposal to arrive. The CPM labour wing has considerable clout in the gardens.
The Coordination committee of Tea Plantation Workers — an umbrella body of trade unions — has refused comment on the government message.
“We will hold a joint convention in Siliguri with the Defence Committee for Plantation Workers Rights on August 27. Even if the government starts working on the rate and proposes a new rate, we can comment on it only after holding talks with our constituent unions,” said Chitta Dey, the convener.
Nearly 30 labour organisations, including the Citu and Intuc, are members of the two apex trade unions.
Morcha student rally for Anna
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha that had forced the Darjeeling Civil Society to cancel a rally in support of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption drive two weeks back has now decided to organise a procession tomorrow to support the cause.
Amrit Yonzone, the vice-president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s student wing, said: “We have decided to hold a rally with the students of Darjeeling from Chowrastha tomorrow. We have asked the participants to assemble at the venue around 11am.”
He added that from Chowrastha the rally would go to the district magistrate’s office where a memorandum would be submitted.
On August 6, the Darjeeling Civil Society had to cancel its rally in support of Anna Hazare after the Vidyarthi Morcha protested the involvement of students without its permission.
“It is a well know fact that the Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha is the most active student organisation in the hills and we have continuously held programmes with students in the past. We fully support the fight against corruption but when students are involved, they (the civil society) should have discussed or at least informed us about the rally,” Yonzone had said.
He had also said if any “untoward incident” had occurred during the rally, the people would have blamed the Vidyarthi Morcha because they were the “sole representatives of the students in the hills”. Yonzone said that was why, the civil society members were requested to not go ahead with the programme.
Asked if the Vidyarthi Morcha would invite the Darjeeling Civil Society members to take part in the rally tomorrow, Yonzone said: “Everyone is welcome to join and we are thinking of inviting the members of the civil society.”
The civil society members had said that it was an apolitical organisation and the only reason behind taking out the rally was to educate the people about Hazare’s campaign about the provisions in the Lok Pal bill.
B.K. Pradhan, the president of Darjeeling Civil Society, said: “I heard about the rally today and we might think of attending it tomorrow. For us, the cause is more important.”
Nima Sherpa, the media and publicity secretary of the Vidyarthi Morcha, said students of all schools and colleges in Darjeeling had been asked to take part in the rally and they expected that a large number of people would show their support.
Dad kills two children
TT, Alipurduar, Aug. 18: A resident of Rydak tea estate allegedly killed his two children and then tried to commit suicide last night.
Arvind Tirki was beaten up and handed over to police by the local people when he tried to hang himself. Police said he used to torture his wife Pinky Mahali often. In January, Pinky, a garden worker, left the house with her two children Rahul, 8, and Sana Mahali, 3 and began staying with her uncle. Last night Arvind went to Pinky’s uncle’s house and brought the children to his house. He offered them food and put them to sleep. Later at night, he allegedly strangled them. This morning, neighbours spotted Arvind while he was trying to hang himself. When they rushed into the house to stop him, they saw the bodies of the children. Arvind was beaten up and handed over to the police. He was taken to the Samuktala health centre and later shifted to the subdivisional hospital here.
Student held
TT, Malda: Englishbazar police arrested a Class IX student of a madrasa at Mohanpur on Wednesday night and recovered fake notes with a face value of Rs 2 lakh. Police said the boy had came to Rathbari on Wednesday night to deliver the fake notes when he was arrested.
Gorkha Communities in OBC
KalimNews: Gorkha Community of Uttarakhand has been notified by the Government of India on 16.06.2011 at Entry No. 2 in the Central List of OBCs for the State of Uttarakhand as "Gorkha (excluding Brahmins and Kshatriya)".
Castes/ communities are ordinarily included in the Central List of OBCs on the advice of National Commission for Backward Classes. No advice for inclusion of Brahmins and Khatris under Gorkha community for Uttarakhand, has been received.
Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed the Parliment today.
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