University course under review

The Telegraph, Siliguri, Dec. 18: North Bengal University today resolved to review the nature of degree and subject combinations of the economics honours course.

The decision which was taken at the Undergraduate Council meeting follows a recent proposal from the Board of Undergraduate Studies in Economics. The proposal was that a candidate having honours in economics with mathematics as one of the elective subjects should get a BSc degree, whereas others having honours without elective mathematics should be awarded BA degrees.

The board had also suggested that compulsory mathematics at the 10+2 level should not be mandatory to seek admission to economics honours.

To Delhi with special status plea

Siliguri, Dec. 18: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today re-affirmed that he would urge the Centre to confer the Sixth Schedule on the Darjeeling hills at the earliest, 24 hours after Subash Ghisingh warned the Bengal government against “outbursts of frustration”,

If the bill is delayed, there can be outburst of frustration, Ghisingh had said here yesterday.

GNLF refuses to clear stand on Dec 20 meet

The Telegraph, Darjeeling, Dec. 18: Representatives of most of the Opposition parties in the hills have left for Delhi to attend a hearing on the Sixth Schedule status on Thursday, though Subash Ghisingh’s party, the GNLF, is yet to take a decision.“Let us wait till tomorrow. I don’t know if we are going to attend the meeting convened by the parliamentary Standing Committee,” Deepak Gurung, the president of the GNLF Darjeeling Branch Committee, told The Telegraph today. The bill on the Sixth Schedule, which has to be amended to confer the special status on the Darjeeling hills, was referred to the Standing Committee after the BJP raised objections. The report of the committee could influence the BJP stand. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has already met the party leaders in Delhi to garner support against the special status. The BJP had demanded a threadbare discussion on the bill as, according to senior leader Sushma Swaraj, there were many misgivings about it.

At such a juncture, the GNLF refusal to make its stand clear has surprised political observers. Ghisingh had told reporters in Siliguri yesterday that the “onus” of passing the bill rested with the people/authorities concerned and that he was confident that the BJP would help pass the bill. However, observers believe that in the absence of the GNLF, the Opposition will be able to put forward their argument to the Standing Committee with ease. For the Opposition, the main argument is that the special status would divide the Gorkha community along the tribal-non-tribal line. It will also protest against the exclusion of the Nepali-speaking areas of the Dooars from the Sixth Schedule status.

Following a series of meetings between the Morcha, CPRM, GNLF (C) and the Gorkha Rastriya Congress, the parties have decided to submit a joint memorandum to the parliamentary committee. Madan Tamang, the president of the ABGL, which is not a signatory to the memorandum, will also attend the meeting.

GJM in Happy Valley Tea Garden

Darjeeling, 19th Dec: In another political development the Morcha formed its youth front at Happy Valley Tea Garden yesterday. Alok Kant Thulung, president of the youth front, said: “We now challenge the GNLF to hold a meeting and show us how many supporters they have.”

DARJEELING TIMES Launched!

Darjeeling Times, a monthly English newsmagazine from Darjeeling was launched today. The magazine which already has the popular online edition www.darjeelingtimes.com and www.sikkimtimes.com is edited by Barun Roy with Udhyan Rai, a celebrated entrepreneur as its Chief. Both having deep roots in journalism and IT.

Ghisingh inaugurates electrification ceremony in Rohini

KURSEONG, Dec.18: The DGHC caretaker chief, Mr Subash Ghisingh, inaugurated an electrification ceremony in Rohini yesterday. The programme is expected to provide electricity to five villages in and around Rohini which will benefit about 230 houses in the area. The total cost of this electrification programme has been estimated at around Rs 44 lakh. sns

CM promises funds for Himul

Statesman News Service, SILIGURI, Dec. 18: The Uttar Banga Unnayan Parshad (UBUP) would soon pump money for the revival of the moribund Himalayan Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (HIMUL) in Siliguri, the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here today. On his way back to Kolkata from Siliguri, the chief minister said: “The Unnayan Parshad is meeting on 30 December and funds would be allotted for HIMUL.”

Kurseong Municipality Fund Scam

KURSEONG, Dec. 18: Alleging misutilisation of funds against the Kurseong Municipal(KM) authorities, two councilors have started a campaign against the civic body’s activity regarding the utilisation of funds. The two councillors Mr Balram Chettri of ward number 6 and Mr Krishna Limboo of ward number 2 had also walked out of the civic body’s board meeting regarding the issue yesterday.According to Mr Chhetri, the Kurseong Municipality authorities have developed a practice of diverting development funds from earmarked projects to other usages.