India as a Poll Issue in Nepal

By J. Sri Raman

India figures prominently as an issue in Nepal’s forthcoming elections. The Himalayan nation has always figured in India’s politics, too, and is likely to do so in a larger manner over the next few months.

The issue, which has showed varying degrees of visibility, has been particularly important for the far right. To the Bharatiya Janata Party and the parivar (the far right family), Nepal has not been a mere neighbor to the north. To them, it was the only “Hindu state,” so long as it was a mountain kingdom under an unpopular monarchy, and it remains the only other Hindu-majority nation.

Consequently, the BJP and the parivar have been strongly opposed to the anti-monarchy or democratic movement in Nepal and its constituents, particularly the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). In the current context, they are staunchly opposed to the major section of the movement that does not trust the deposed king enough even to retain him as a figurehead in a constitutional monarchy.

The Nepal policy of India’s far right is tied to its national politics aimed at making the BJP and the parivar the representative of the country’s religious majority. The policy has an international prop as well. In terms of the US-India “strategic partnership,” inaugurated by the BJP while in power during 1998-2004, Nepal is not only a “buffer state” between India and China, but a bulwark against the latter for South and South-East Asia.

The BJP and its band, in any case, cannot remain benign observers of the Nepal scene after the CPN(M) came out with its manifesto for the elections to a proposed Constituent Assembly (CA) to be held on April 10 (if the polls are not put off for a third time). The manifesto does make a major issue of India, especially the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed on July 31, 1950.

India’s Relations with Nepal and Bhutan

Nepal

Relations between India and Nepal are close yet fraught with difficulties stemming from geography, economics, the problems inherent in big power-small power relations, and common ethnic and linguistic identities that overlap the two countries’ borders. In 1950 New Delhi and Kathmandu initiated their intertwined relationship with the Treaty of Peace and Friendship and accompanying letters that defined security relations between the two countries, and an agreement governing both bilateral trade and trade transiting Indian soil. The 1950 treaty and letters stated that “neither government shall tolerate any threat to the security of the other by a foreign aggressor” and obligated both sides “to inform each other of any serious friction or misunderstanding with any neighboring state likely to cause any breach in the friendly relations subsisting between the two governments.” These accords cemented a “special relationship” between India and Nepal that granted Nepal preferential economic treatment and provided Nepalese in India the same economic and educational opportunities as Indian citizens.

In the 1950s, Nepal welcomed close relations with India, but as the number of Nepalese living and working in India increased and the involvement of India in Nepal’s economy deepened in the 1960s and after, so too did Nepalese discomfort with the special relationship. Tensions came to a head in the mid-1970s, when Nepal pressed for substantial amendments in its favor in the trade and transit treaty and openly criticized India’s 1975 annexation of Sikkim as an Indian state. In 1975 King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev proposed that Nepal be recognized internationally as a zone of peace; he received support from China and Pakistan. In New Delhi’s view, if the king’s proposal did not contradict the 1950 treaty and was merely an extension of nonalignment, it was unnecessary; if it was a repudiation of the special relationship, it represented a possible threat to India’s security and could not be endorsed. In 1984 Nepal repeated the proposal, but there was no reaction from India. Nepal continually promoted the proposal in international forums, with Chinese support; by 1990 it had won the support of 112 countries.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Rally in New Delhi

All Photos by Bishal Rai

Maoist leader Prachanda wants Indo-Nepal Friendship treaty scrapped

Kathmandu, Apr.25: Ties between India and Nepal are unlikely to get off to a positive start with the coming of a Maoist-led coalition government in Nepal, as Maoist leader Prachanda has upped the ante and demanded the scrapping of the 1950 India-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty.

Prachanda told reporters here that several other treaties with India also needed to be revisited and reviewed, but added that he was all for a positive and constructive relationship with New Delhi.

Prachanda, who is a frontrunner to be Nepal’s next Prime Minister, said agreements like the India-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty needed to be consigned to the dustbin of history, as it has been deemed to be unequal from a security relations point of view.

The Maoists, he said, are also likely to demand the scrapping, or the review of the 1996 Mahakali Treaty, which governs the sharing of waters of the Mahakali of Sharda River for irrigation and generation of hydel power.

He also ruled out immediate chances of the Maoists renouncing their arms, but added that reactionary violence would be halted.

The Maoists, who have won a general election in Nepal after remaining political pariahs since 1996, also want to stop a 200-year-old tradition of allowing members of their Gurkha community enrolling with the British and Indian armies.

Terming this practice as humiliating and mercenary, Pranchanda and other Maoist and Left leaders are of the view that the Gurkhas should serve the Nepal Army. They have promised to look after them economically.

Protest Rally in Delhi by GJJM

By Bishal Rai

For decades now, the people of Darjeeling and adjoining areas of Dooars and Siliguri have been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland within the constitution of India. The demand, through peaceful and democratic means, is not only just and fair, but it will go a long way in fulfilling the true aspirations of the people of Darjeeling and surrounding areas, also known as Gorkhas, who have laid down their lives at every occasion for the country. However, the CPIM led West Bengal government has stoutly refused to accept the popular sentiments in support of the demand for Gorkhaland state to be carved out of West Bengal and has repeatedly resorted to undemocratic means to suppress the demand.

It is with a grave sense of injustice that we seek the Central government’s intervention on our just demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The ham handed approach of the West Bengal government was evident earlier this month when it demonstrated the brute strength of the state administration and launched an unprovoked attack on a peaceful rally by Indian Gorkha ex-servicemen Morcha in Siliguri in support of the demand for Gorkhaland. On April 9, the Indian Gorkhas ex-servicemen Morcha took out a peaceful and democratic rally in Siliguri over the demand for separate state of Gorkhaland, permission for which had been sought more than a month ago. However, on the said day, the CPIM led West Bengal government chose to deny and instead used brutal police force to prevent the ex servicemen from taking part in the  rally.

As a result of the unprecedented police action, over 50 ex-servicemen personnel were injured, three of them seriously who are still hospitalized.  The brutality of the West Bengal government was such that they did not even spare senior ex-servicemen, some of whom were over 70 years old. Three media persons were also injured by the police action.

GJM rally at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: [Bishal Rai] The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s Delhi and NCR region chapter organised a massive rally in Jantar Mantar on April 24th 2008 demanding a sperate state of Gorkhaland within the constituion of India comprising areas of Darjeeling and Terai region of dooars and Siliguri.

The rally, attended by over 1000 supporters and members of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha headed by President Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Delhi also condemened the unprovoked attac on senior Ex-servicemen at a rally in Siliguri on April 09, 2008..

Over 50 Ex-servicemen were injured, three of them seriously injured.

The attack by the West Bengal Police on the senior Ex-servicemen who laid down their lives for the country is reprehensible and demostrates the manhandled approach of the CPIM led Government against the just demand of Gorkhaland.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is demanding an inquiry by the Central Government into the unprovoked attack by the West Bengal Police.

The following are the speakers of the meeting:

1. P.T. Ola President, Darjeeling Municipality, West Bengal.

2. Col. K.K. Subba, Indian Army,

3. Nelson Jung Rana, President, GJJM, Delhi

4. Raju Chettri, Secretary, GJJM, Delhi.

DEMOCRACY IN DARJEELING

By Ichamani Chettri

Democracy defines “Govt. By the People, for the People and to the People”

Well dear citizens of Darjeeling, as we belong to the nation where Democratic were conceived, nurtured in the blood of every citizen and which delivered freedom from the shackles of British. So Dear citizens of Darjeeling, I don’t have to remind or give any explanation for the definition of Democracy, because everybody is familiar with this definition, If we make a survey of our Dist Darjeeling more than 80% of graduate degree holder are mainly form Arts Stream - Political Science as a major Subject. But it is heart aching and tear rolls down from my eyes when in practical life we fail to understand the true meaning of democracy.

When G.N.L.F was taking care of D.G.H.C, the definition of Democracy in Darjeeling indirectly meant “Kingdom of Ghisingh, for the people of G.N.L.F and to the people of G.N.L.F”.

Mr.Ghising was ruling as it came to his mind and nobody dare to question him or put a word of correction in his ruling and moreover everybody were looking for their own and their kinship survival.During the rule of Mr. Ghising, he employed the people, who walked or spoke accordingly to his order,”If he said, at night the sun shines each of his party member will nod the head. If any member tries to correct, the outcome was – they were thrown out from the party or Job.

Now we can see the downfall of G.N.L.F and the reign of Mr.Ghishing, but the question arises here what is the meaning of Democracy in Darjeeling at present???????????.

I would like to inform all the people of my Dist, that if you want to keep alive the Definition of Democracy meaningful in our Dist.Darjeeling later on which will be known as Gorkhaland.Then don’t forget that you are the citizens of Democratic and Secular India by birth,You have the right to vote and elect the right candidate. You are not forced by any people or any political leader if you choose the right things at the beginning of our Statehood. It will bring not only prosperity but also a blessing for us and our forthcoming generation.

CPRM foregoes food for Gorkhaland, villagers for electricity

DARJEELING, April 24: The Communist Party Revolutionary Marxists launched a hunger strike in the Darjeeling hills to press for a three-point charter of demands with Gorkhaland being the prime.
“The agitation is mainly for the achievement of Gorkhaland,” said Ms Bindiya Dukpa, vice-president, Democratic Revolutionary Women’s Front.

The hunger strike is being observed in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, Bijanbari, Gorubathan and Kalimpong at the CPRM’s women and youth wings.

Apart from the main demand of Gorkhaland, the other two demands include a fair trial of Chattrey Subba and five others in Jalpaiguri jail, arrested in connection with the assassination attempt on GNLF chief Mr Subash Ghisingh in 2001 near Kurseong and an increase in the compensation of the martyrs of the Gorkhaland agitation of 1986.  Condemning the “step-motherly” attitude of the state government towards
the Gorkha martyrs of the 1986 agitation, the CPRM leadership compared the agitation to the carnage of Nandigram. “The agitation was similar to the violence at Nandigram. Yet while the victims of Nandigram received Rs 5 lakh each, the families of the Gorkhaland martyrs received a paltry sum of Rs 8,000 each,” Ms Dukpa said. [The Statesman]

Modern museum at Nathu la

GANGTOK, April 24: The Sikkim state government is planning to set up a modern museum at Nathu La. The museum would house photographs, articles, documents, artefacts, archive materials, memoirs of Sir Young Husband, who was the political officer of Sikkim during the monarchy.  The Sikkim chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling located the spot for the museum at Sherathang near the Nathu La and held a meeting with army officials in this regard during his recent visit to the border. The state government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakhs for the project to be set upat an altitude of 14,000 ft. “All these would help in making Nathu La a major tourist attraction, besides being the nodal point of the proposed trade corridor,” Mr Chamling said. “We may seek the support of experts and professionals from UNESCO for the museum,” he added.
The project was recommended by the Nathu La Trade Route Study Team after a survey of the border in 2005. “The museum would be an attraction for the tourists as they would get to know the history of Sikkim during the monarchy,” said a tour operator.  The state culture and heritage affairs department would look into the project through the Nathu La Trade Route Museum Projects Committee. [The Statesman]

10 per cent rise in Sikkim visitors

GANGTOK, April 24: Sikkim has witnessed about 10 per cent rise in tourist inflow in 2007.
An estimated 3.51 lakh visitors visited the picturesque state in 2007 compared to 3.22 lakh in 2006, a rise of about 10 per cent, tourism department sources said today. Of them, 3.31 lakh were domestic visitors and 19,844 were from overseas.  This was against 3.02 lakh domestic tourists and 20,005 foreigners visiting the state in 2006. The figures showed while the number of domestic tourists visiting the Himalayan state jumped by about ten per cent last year, the corresponding figure of the foreign tourists dipped marginally. April and May last year saw a significant increase in the number of domestic tourists, with as many as 51,231 and 59,621 visiting, respectively.

Foreigners though preferred cooler months, a majority of them visiting in October and November. A cursory analysis of the tourists’ inflow in Sikkim in past three years indicated a consistent growth in the number of domestic tourists at 2.51 lakh in 2005, 3.02 lakh in 2006 and 3.31 lakh in 2007. The number of foreign visitors though has remained stagnant. The Pawan Kumar Chamling government has proposed to develop tourism-related infrastructure to lure visitors. On the cards are pilgrimage centres, a Buddhist circuit, temples and religious structures. A war memorial at Sherathang near the Sino-Indian border at Nathu La, Saramsa Garden, and sports activities such as mountain biking, ice skating and trekking are already in place. The tourism ministry is touted as the core of the state’s economy, with visitors spending about Rs. 50 crore annually. [Press Trust of India]

Morcha chief sticks to Siliguri rally plan- Off to baghajatin park on april 27

Birpara (Alipurduar), April 24: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today declared at a public meeting here that his party’s rally on April 27 at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri would go ahead as planned.

Yesterday, Bengal chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb had said the situation was “tense” in Siliguri and no permission would probably be given for the rally. The situation needed to improve before such permission could be granted to the Morcha. [Inset: Bimal Gurung addresses the crowd. Picture by Anirban Choudhuri]

Deb had cited the September 28 violence last year. Street riots triggered by rumours that Indian Idol supporters had resorted to hooliganism prompted police firing, curfew and army deployment on the day.

“We will hold the meeting under any circumstance, even if the state government denies us permission. If there is violence, the government will be responsible,” Gurung told reporters after the meeting held 66km from Alipurduar town.

More than 5,000 people had gathered at the grounds of the Nepali Hindi High School, where Gurung addressed the crowd. This was Gurung’s third rally in the Dooars following those at Bagrakote and Samsing on April 20 and 22

Tanker yields cannabis

Siliguri, April 24: The preventive wing of the Naxalbari customs seized 2,260kg of cannabis from an LPG tanker at Bidhannagar last night.

Documents seized from the tanker suggest the contraband was headed towards Calcutta. The cannabis is worth Rs 90.4 lakh in the grey market, a customs official said. Nobody has been arrested.

Last week, 51kg of ganja was seized from a parcel at the Siliguri head post office. “But this is one of the largest hauls in a single operation in recent times,” said Harinarayan Meena, the assistant commissioner of Siliguri customs.

Last night’s raid was based on a tip-off. The tanker with the registration number NL07-1516 was parked along NH31 at Bidhannagar, about 40km west of Siliguri. A search of the absent driver’s cabin revealed another number plate, NL05-1827. Both are Nagaland numbers. “We are trying to find out which one is the original and who the owner of the vehicle is,” Meena said.

At first the officials thought the tanker was empty. But a close examination of the valve of the tank, supposed to contain fuel, showed that it had been loosely fixed with bolts. “Had there been LPG, the valve would have been sealed,” said an official.

Hill tea in first flush slump

Darjeeling, April 24: The Darjeeling Tea Industry has been dealt a blow in the first flush with inclement weather reducing total yield of most gardens to half of what it was last year.

Tealeaves plucked in the first flush, which marks the start of a new season after winter, fetch the highest price in the market.

“The first flush was delayed by almost 15 days this year and about 80 per cent of the gardens have reported 50 per cent drop in production compared to 2007. This is largely because of a prolonged winter and heavy rainfall resulting in very few days of sunshine,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, secretary, Darjeeling Tea Association. Sunshine is needed for the tealeaves to grow.

This year’s first flush yield is the lowest in three years (see chart).

The bad news for planters is that according to tea brokers in Calcutta, the price of first flush tea is not expected to skyrocket despite the low production.

“It is too early to predict the price, but initial indications suggest that it will not be good despite low production,” said a broker.

On an average, the first flush comprises around 20 per cent of total annual production and commands an average price of Rs 600-700 a kilo at the auctions. The rest of the yield is sold at Rs 200-275 a kilo.

“Even if the first flush does fetch slightly higher prices in the next few days, it will not make a difference because production has been hit really hard this year,” the secretary of the tea association said.

Fast to speed up Subba trial

Darjeeling, April 24: Members of the CPRM have begun a two-day hunger strike in the hills to demand speedy trial of Chattrey Subba, the prime accused in the Subash Ghisingh assassination attempt seven years ago.

The party has also demanded Rs 5 lakh as compensation for all those who were killed fighting for a new hill state during the Gorkhaland agitation of the 1980s.

The fast began in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik, Bijanbari and Gorubathan, among other places.

“Although Subba has been in jail for seven years, his trial is not over yet. If he is found guilty, we have nothing to say, but the trial must be completed soon,” said Shekar Chhetri, the president of the CPRM’s youth wing, the Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front.

Plea to dissolve rural bodies

Darjeeling, April 24: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants the Bengal government to dissolve the 114 gram panchayats in the Darjeeling hills and nominate a board, taking the party into confidence, to speed up development work in the region.

Following a constitutional amendment in 1997, the DGHC area has a two-tier panchayat system. However, elections to the panchayat samities (upper tier) have never been held in the hills and even the gram panchayats are defunct since 2005 when the last term ended.

The state government did not push for the elections because the former caretaker administrator of the DGHC, Subash Ghisingh, had insisted on waiting till the Sixth Schedule status was granted to the hills.

Morcha leaders, however, said they were “not talking about elections”.

“We want the present panchayats to be dissolved and a board nominated in their place, taking the Morcha into confidence,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the party, after holding talks with the state government in Calcutta yesterday. The Morcha has already announced that it would not contest any elections until the demand for a new state of Gorkhaland was met.

Army spreads peace on wheels

Siliguri, April 24: An Indian army team today started for a “cycle-motorcycle” trekking expedition to Sikkim’s Nathu-la and Gurudongmar Lake to spread the message of national integrity, promote the culture of the Himalayan state and strengthen ties with residents of the border areas.

The 16-member team of the Kripan Division, posted at Jalpaiguri’s Binnaguri, was flagged off by Maj. Gen. P.S. Bhalla, the general officer commanding of the division. [Inset: The army expedition team starts for Kalimpong on bicycles from the Binnaguri cantonment on Thursday. Picture by Biplab Basak]

“The intention of the expedition is to promote national integrity and strengthen the close relationship the Indian Army shares with the residents,” Bhalla said. “It is a 21-day expedition during which the team will visit many historic sites on the India-China border.”

Hill guardians seek quality education

Kalimpong, April 24: The Guardians’ Forum for Education has decided to launch a vigorous campaign to pressure the Bengal government to set up a District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) here for improving the standard of basic education in the hills.

Although DIET s have been set up in almost all the districts of the country on the recommendation of the National Education Policy, 1986, Darjeeling is yet to have one. The state government had once toyed with the idea of setting up a DIET at the Basic Teachers’ Training Institute in Darjeeling but the project did not materialise.

“We have come to know that the government has dropped the idea of setting up a Diet in the hills on grounds of inadequate infrastructure. However, we believe the institute can easily come up on the campus of the Basic Teachers’ Training Institute, spread across 9.5 acres here” said Tara Sundas, the convener of the