Bandh hits life in Darjeeling district

Siliguri, Jun 9 (PTI) Life in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district was hit in the 24-hour bandh called by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) today to protest yesterday’s police lathicharge on its supporters.

Shops, markets and offices remained closed in the shutdown that began at 6 am. However, transport and tea gardens were exempted from the purview of the bandh. Clash at Bagdogra ensued when supporters of GJM, which is pressing for a separate state, put up a road blockade demanding permission from the district authority to hold a public meeting at Naxalbari, Janachetna Manch press and publicity chief Benoy Tamang said.

The agitators had gathered at Bagdogra and Naxalbari under the aegis of ‘Janachetna Manch’ and clashed with the police, who had to wield sticks and burst tear gas shells to disperse them, Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey told PTI. There were no instruction yet allowing GJM to hold the rally and prohibitory orders under section 144 were clamped at Bagdogra and Naxalbari, he said adding it would be in force till June 15. GJM president Bimal Gurung at a rally at Kalimpong yesterday asked the hill people to be prepared for a final movement for an autonomous state and keep a stock of food and essentials at their homes to tide over at least two months.

Tourists told to leave Darjeeling as bandh becomes indefinite

Created on : 06/09/2008 17:32 (PRI)

Siliguri, June 9 (PTI) Tourists in Darjeeling were today asked to leave the hills by today by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha which called a 24-hour bandh and then changed it into an indefinite one.

“We have told the tourists to leave. Though we allowed vehicles to run today, transport will not be allowed from tomorrow,” GJM president Bimal Gurung told PTI from Darjeeling. Tourists, who were unable to leave today, could be assisted by the GJM to leave Darjeeling, he said.

“We have also told tourist operators in Kolkata not to send tourists from tomorrow because of the indefinite bandh which will inconvenience them,” he said. The bandh was called by GJM to protest the police lathicharge on its supporters yesterday after a clash with supporters of two organisations Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetna which Gurung alleges were backed by the state’s ruling CPI(M).

“The Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetna have been propped up by CPI(M) which they are using against us and attacking our supporters and also those on hunger strike to demand permission for holding a rally at Naxalbari, which the administration has turned down,” he said.

He demanded the Centre’s intervention. “Our movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland is democratic, which is sought to be suppressed.”

Meanwhile, Urban Development minister Ashok Bhattacherjee said in Kolkata that the indefinite bandh would cause immense loss to the tourism industry in Darjeeling and urged the GJM to withdraw it.

“If tourism in Darjeeling is affected, then it will cause harm to all those connected to it. I appeal to them (GJM) to withdraw their indefinite bandh,” Bhattacherjee, who is also the Hill Affairs minister and a CPI(M) legislator from Siliguri, said.

The Politics of Self Infliction will lead nowhere!

By Barun Roy

It seems sadly, that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has begun to falter. The strong waves of Gandhian resolve that had ousted Subash Ghisingh humbled Gorkha National Liberation Front and seemingly the Indian Parliament has started showing bankruptcy of imagination and ideas. What began with Bimal Gurung’s resolve to achieve Gorkhaland within March 2010 has lead to isolation of public opinion and steady conversion of GJM into yet another GNLF.

GJM’s Accomplishments

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and indeed its President Bimal Gurung’s enigmatic rise were due to the fact that it successfully humbled Subash Ghisingh and Gorkha National Liberation Front. The reluctant Subash Ghisingh who was ultimately forced to resign by both the State Government and multitude of the hill people that rose against him shook every one making Gorkha Janmukti Morcha a force to reckon with. The subsequent shelving of the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill was another of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s accomplishments though there were other factors regionally and nationally which led to the BJP chaired Standing Committee for Parliamentary (Home) Affairs to ask the Government to reconsider the clauses of Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill. Yet, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has managed in these seven months of its existence to virtually sweep the entire Hills and Dooars Terai.

GJM Philosophy

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s resolve to implement Gandhian Philosophies and Methods of Non Violent Civil Disobedience was welcome and greatly appreciated. To the extent that the GJM President’s declaration at Lebong asking people not to pay taxes to the Government was welcomed as a Civilized and Practical Political modus operandi. Similarly, mass participation and acceptance was offered to GJM’s Gandhian ‘satyagarh’ of fasting unto death. Young and old participated willingly. Both the State Government and the Central Government were humbled. Subash Ghisingh resigned and the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill shelved.

GJM Blunders thereafter!

1. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s resolve to bring down Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) will also bring down the 8000 plus Darjeeling Gorkha Hills Council contractual and temporary workers.

2. The Gorkhaland Vehicle Registration Plates is fraught with impracticality. Removing of vehicle registration plates will lead to legal implications. While the same may be changed at Darjeeling More (Siliguri-DGHC Area Border), it may still not work. Even if it is implemented, it remains unknown as to who will keep the records of more than 20,000 vehicle owners in the Hills.

3. Indefinite strikes, closures, national highway obstructions have lead to more hardship for the hill people. Prices of essential goods have soared up and people having tight budget have started finding themselves pushed to the wall. The people who earn livelihood for an entire year through one tourist season have lost 50 per cent of their earnings due to forced tourist desertion and cancellations.

4. Fast Unto Death is being used too often and at the slightest of reasons. The other political parties including the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists have picked on the GJM specialization and started their own ‘one day’ fast unto deaths. The political weapon which should have been used sparingly has started losing its potency due to overuse.

GJM Declares Yet Another Indefinite Shut Down!

By Barun Roy

Darjeeling 9 June: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has declared an indefinite shut down protesting against the alleged high handedness of the West Bengal Government and the officials of the District Administration. A clash which took place yesterday at Bagdogra between the supporters of GJM and Jana Chetana had led to the immediate declaration for 24 hours strike in the Hills by the GJM. However, a hastily called political meeting by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha at the Gitange Dara called for indefinite strike in the Gorkhaland Region starting today. When a GJM Central Committee member was inquired about the sudden call for indefinite strike he confessed that, people may be allowed to stock up by allowing the market to be opened for a few hours in the coming days. He however, refused to divulge more information. All tourists have been asked to leave Darjeeling Hills as soon as possible and those planning a trip to the Hills to reconsider. The town had been witnessing a bumper tourist season yet all of a sudden there have been a serious reversal of fortune. Hotels are all of a sudden deserted. “March started with a great hope for all of us. But now we have lost a major chunk of our earnings as almost everyone have started canceling their bookings,” a hotel owner requesting anonymity said. A housewife further confessed that no matter what, such moves would only lead to major hardship for the people in the Hills. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has included almost everything inside the purview of the Strike leaving only emergency services.

Gazette Notification on issue of Citizenship of Gorkhas

(Published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary Part – I
Section 1 dated the 23rd August 1988 )
No. 26011/6/88-ICI
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
New Delhi the 23rd August, 1988

NOTIFICATION

Whereas it has come to the notice of the Central Government that there have been some misconception about the citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution of India of certain classes of person commonly known as Gorkhas, who had settled in India at such commencement.

And whereas it is considered necessary to clear such misconception it is hereby clarified as follows:

(1) As from the commencement of the Constitution, that is as from 26-1-1950, every Gorkha who had his domicile in the territory of India, as defined in Article 1 (2) of the Constitution of India and

a. Who was born in the territory of India or

b. Either of whose parents was born in the territory of India.

c. Who had been ordinarily resident in the territory of India for not less than five years before such commencement shall b e a citizen of India as provided in Article 5 of the Constitution of India

(2) No such person as is referred to in paragraph (1) above shall be a citizen of India or be deemed to be a citizen of India if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign State, as provided in Article 9of the Constitution of India.

(3) Every person who is citizen of India at the commencement of the Constitution as aforesaid shall continue to be such a citizen subject to the provision of any law that may be made Parliament as provided in Article 10 of the Constitution of India.

(4) The provisions of the Citizenship Act 1965 and the Rules and orders made there-under shall apply to the persons referred to in paragraph (1) after the commencement of Constitution.

Sd/-

(INDRA MISRA)

Joint Secretary to the Government of India

An open letter to Mr. Bimal Gurung, President Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

Dear Barun,

I am writing this open letter to Mr. Bimal Gurung, President Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and I hope you will publish it in your esteemed website.

Yours faithfully,

A. P.

———————————————————————

Dear Mr. Bimal Gurung,

President,

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha,

Namaste! I would like to thank you for everything that you have done for us. I have always dedicated myself to the cause of Gorkhaland and I have applied myself, my family and any resources available to me for the same. However, I write to you today, for some clarification because I have no where else to go. You have declared that all the contract and temporary workers of DGHC resign for the cause of Gorkhaland. You have also declared that we will have to fight to close down DGHC. We have accepted your call and all given up on our jobs and benefits. Today, we have no salary and basically no hope. I have two children to send to school, which I now can’t. I have an ailing mother, who medical checkups and medicines I can’t bear. I can’t reach out to any and say that all I had was the meager salary that I received from DGHC. Whatever Subash Ghisingh did or GNLF did, we grass root people neither initiated them nor enforced them. We were merely victims. You were yourself part of that once.

Now you have asked us to fill up our stores and kitchens brace ourselves for hard days to come. I wonder how should I do that…How do I buy rations, pay for LPG, stock up every necessity of life, when I neither have a job or any other source of income. My wife marches day in and day out shouting your name in the processions and so do I? My children may no longer be able to go to schools.

When you came out voicing our aspirations for a separate statehood, we had all celebrated. But I think today, I have lost all hope. What kind of Statehood are we talking about? The one where we will have no freedom! No rights! Where speaking up one’s mind will invite machete welding hooligans from Singla Tukver Valley! I will drench every drop of my blood for Gorkhaland but I can’t see tears in my wife’s eye, when my children go to sleep hungry. I can see my mother suffer when she can’t get her medications. Why are you strangulating your own people, when you are supposed to champion them. If this is the way you want to get Gorkhaland before 2010, there might be many left to celebrate except for a few rich people and politicians like you.

I am sorry to say, I want Gorkhaland where my children will have a future, not a Gorkhaland where we will be ruled upon by a Monarch. I beg you, let us have freedom of thought and expression. Please do things after achieving consensus. Please do not be come down on the people. Please do not let us down. The strikes, calls for mass resignation, donations, social boycott for people who disagree with GJM’s policies are killing us all.

your faithfully worshipper,

A. P.

Jai Gorkha! Jai Gorkhaland!

Police lathicharge, teargas GJM activists

Siliguri (PTI): The police lathicharged and teargassed a violent group of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activists who put up a road blockade on NH 31 at Bagdogra, about 12 km from here, on Sunday.

The GJM activists blocked the arterial highway connecting the Darjeeling Hills with the rest of the country at Bagdogra. permission from the local administration to hold a public rally at Naxalbari, police sources said.

The GJM has been demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas.

When police asked the GJM activists to lift the blockade, they refused after which the police used lathis and burst tear gas shells, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Smita Pandey said.

Meanwhile, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri claimed that more than 20 party activists were injured when some CPI-M youths calling themselves members of a so-called apolitical forum ‘Jana Jagaran Manch’ threw stones on their supporters and during police lathicharge.

Siliguri backlash on Gorkhaland picket

Bagdogra, June 8: Siliguri residents opposed to Gorkhaland rained stones on picketing Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters this afternoon, turning the highway to Bagdogra airport into a battlefield and prompting the state home secretary to change the travel plan usually followed by top officials.

Supporters of the Jana Chetana, an “apolitical” organisation formed to combat the Morcha’s statehood demand, also attacked police who fought back with tear gas. At least 16 people were injured.

Home secretary Asoke Mohan Chakrabarti, who was on his way back to Calcutta from Kalimpong, took the Darjeeling Mail in the evening, police sources confirmed.

Other sources said senior officials from Calcutta usually travel to Siliguri by night train but return by flight.

Officially, the police didn’t confirm any change of plan. “Why do you want to know how the home secretary will travel, we have made many alternative arrangements for him,” said K.L. Tamta, inspector-general of police, north Bengal. Most air passengers took an alternative route to the airport.

The Morcha has called a 24-hour hills bandh from 6am tomorrow but spared transport and tea gardens.

GJM calls for bandh in Darjeeling district

KOLKATA: The leadership of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) that is demanding the creation of a separate State comprising the Darjeeling Hills and certain areas contiguous to it has called for a 24-hour bandh in the hill areas of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district on Monday.

“The bandh has been called in protest against attacks by workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on GJM supporters in the Bagdogra area near Siliguri on Sunday,” Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary, told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling later in the evening. There was tension in the Bagdogra area when GJM activists tried to place barricades on the national highway passing through there renewing their demand that the party be allowed to hold a rally in Naxalbari to highlight its demand for a separate State.

Local residents opposed to the Statehood demand protested against attempts by the GJM activists, who included several women, to disrupt normality in the area. This resulted in clashes in which brickbats were exchanged. The police used batons to disperse the troublemakers.

The GJM supporters have been on hunger strike outside the office of the block divisional officer in Naxalbari since last week demanding party leaders be allowed to hold a public meeting there. The authorities had denied them permission on the ground that it could lead to law and order problems. “The police colluded with CPI (M) activists who attacked the GJM supporters staging a peaceful protest there. More than 20 of our supporters were hurt in the violence,” Mr. Giri said. [The Hindu]

Head to the Himalayas

By RUPAYAN BASU

Scenic view From Batasia Loop Every summer, the New Jalpaiguri Station in Northern Bengal becomes the site of a small exodus.

Tourists arrive from across the country with a single minded purpose — to escape the heat and head for the mighty Himalayas. And what better destination than Darjeeling, nestled amidst the mountains at a height of some 7000 ft.

As soon as I stepped out of the station, still groggy with sleep, I was swept into the general commotion of honking jeeps and their drivers, hollering out the names of various mountain destinations.

It was raining lightly when I arrived. For some time, I mused over my bad luck. What would become of my plans to see the sunrise at Tiger Hill, that breathtaking moment when the Upper Himalayas light up in seven colours and Mt Kanchenjunga is revealed in all its snow-capped splendour? But Darjeeling, with its myriad charm, quickly dispels any disappointments.

In the mornings, with the mist still clinging to the trees, I head for the Mall, a popular public square. At the Mall one can spend a lazy hour sipping tea or observing people.

Darjeeling, dubbed ‘Queen of the Hills’ by the British in the mid 1800s, still retains some of its colonial flavour.

Monsoon in 24 hrs – Residents fear waterlogging

The monsoon is set to hit the city in the next 24 hours, though it made little progress on Sunday. “The monsoon has covered Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and parts of Sikkim. We expect it to cover the rest of Bengal in the next 24 hours,” said G.C. Debnath, the director of the weather section at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore, on Sunday.

“Substantial pre-monsoon showers” are likely to herald the monsoon to the city. “A low-pressure trough over Gangetic Bengal is sucking in a large quantity of moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The trough is helping in the development of thunderclouds,” a Met official said

“A cyclonic circulation (anti-clockwise movement of air) over Bihar and the adjoining sub-Himalayan districts also brought in moisture from the sea,” added the official.

Two booked under Section 420

GANGTOK, June 6: Two persons were booked by the Police on a cheating case at the Sadar Police Station here. The Manager of Union Bank of Indian (UBI), Gangtok Branch, and one Binod Kumar Tamang were booked on the compliant of HK Das, Branch Manager, UBI Bank, Gangtok Branch.

According to the complainant, Ashok Kumar, Manager of the same bank fraudulently activated the saving bank accounts of the Gangtok branch standing in the names of Man Kumari Tamang and Raj Kumar Gupta which were lying dormant for the past 8-9 years with zero balance and thereafter unscrupulously credited cash amounting Rs. 2,35,272 and Rs. 2, 93, 659 respectively from the expenditure budget of the UBI Gangtok branch and Jorethang branch to the dormant accounts.

The amount credited into aforesaid accounts were later withdrawn from ATM machines of UBI and Syndicate Bank at Gangtok by using ATM cum Debit cards which were issued by the accused himself at Gangtok without following due procedure and without keeping any record of the same. The accused managed to withdraw Rs. 2, 30, 200 from the account of Man Kumari Tamang and Rs. 2, 69, 000 from the account of Raj Kumar Gupta at different phases.

HC STAYS RBI BAN ON SAHARA DEPOSITS SAHARA ASSURE INVESTORS ON RBI ORDER “Your money is safe”

By KARMA SAMTEN YANGZOM

GANGTOK, June 6: The depositors of the Sahara India Financial Corporation (SIFCL) in the State are worried and confused about the fate of their money, although the company has assured the public that there is nothing to worry about. On Wednesday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had banned SIFCL from taking fresh deposits or renewing the existing deposits following violation of regulatory norms. The RBI had also said that the company should repay depositors on maturity.

In the latest turn of events, the company today obtained a Court stay on the ban. Various reports appearing in the national TV news channels and the Internet said that the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has granted a stay against the RBI ban. The SIFCL had not officially confirmed it, reports indicated. SIFCL is a popular non -banking company with a depositor base of about 5 crore in the entire country. There are more than 5000 depositors from Sikkim. The net worth of the deposits with SIFCL is reported to exceed Rs 20,000 crore.

However, for the people who have deposited their hard-earned money with SIFCL, it was two days of confusion and uncertainty over the fate of their deposits. Here in the Capital, anxious depositors thronged the office of Sahara at Deorali and demanded explanation from the officials. “I was saving Rs 20 everyday with Sahara for almost three years now thinking the money would come in use at the time of need,” a distraught depositor from Lall Market here. “Is the company really closed down?” she enquired.

To make matters worse, the recent financial fraud involving the Bharosa and Tina Finlease companies in the State have left the people wary and very worried.  “The frauds committed by these companies recently in the State have caused our depositors to panic. We want to clarify that we are a national company with a very clean track record and excellent performances till date. The RBI directive was just a minor hitch, which has been stayed by the Court. We are still receiving deposits and also issuing matured amounts to our depositors,” said Heera Lal Gupta, Chief Manager (Field), Gangtok.

Protectors of the mountains gather at Barsey to mark World Environment Day

GANGTOK, June 6: Located at a height of 10,000 feet and surrounded by pristine forests and a panoramic view of the Khangchendzonga range, Barsey is a natural wonder. Best known for the varied species of Rhododendron, Barsey, has over the years, become a popular trekking destination and a major tourist attraction in the State. It was the most ideal destination to observe the World Environment Day. Organized by the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Sindrabong Kachendzonga Eco Friendly Society, the event was funded by India Development Market Place, 2007, World Bank.

To mark the occasion, one-day training on Himal Rakshak Biodiversity monitoring was also conducted in coordination with various NGOs including the Pokhari Sangrakchan Samiti, Tsomgo and Barsey Rhododendron Societies.  TB Subba, Range Officer, Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary presided over the programme with Jagat Rai, advocate, as the chief guest. The programme was also attended by participants from across the State, including those from the Eco Development Committee from Ribdi, Dentam, Sombaria, Uttarey and Soreng, The Mountaineering Institute, local trekkers as well as volunteers from the South District.

Himal Rakshaks are independent individuals recognized by the Forest Department, practicing subsistence livelihood in the high altitudes of the Himalayas, in conservation management and having sound knowledge on the local floara and fauna. Such villagers who choose themselves to be Himal Rakshaks are autonomous body of men working fully in their capacity to protect the environment and wild life, these men are not liable to any Government salaries but exercises full legal power entrusted by the departments.

Highlighting on various Wild Life Acts the chief guest called for a collective action among the HRs and urged them to exercise their powers efficiently and strictly as far as wildlife crimes are concerned. He also detailed on important ordinances concerning wildlife offences and its implementation in a right manner.
Mr. Subba appreciated the efforts of every individuals in their contribution to preserve and protect wild life and environment. He said that the prime role of every organization and HRs should be to protect environment and preserve non renewable resources in any forms.

Loosing Pacheykhani tribals benefit from Milch cows

PAKYONG, June 6: The local tribal community from the Loosing Pacheykhani Constituency in East Sikkim has been provided with Milch Cows in order to add another means to their income sources. This scheme is initiated for the tribal peoples of the rural areas by the State Government and undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry. A total of ten Jersey Cross Breed (JCB) Milch Cows along with calfs were distributed to the tribal peoples of the belt in a function held at Veterinary Office here today.

Area MLA, Ms. Manita Manger, Joint Director, Dr. RK Tamang, Deputy Director, East MB Chettri, Chief Veterinary Officer, Pakyong, Zilla Panchayat, Ms Nimchukki Sherpa and Ex-Panchayats were present in the function. Another ten such cows were also allotted for Assam Lingzey and nine for Barapathing belt which will be later distributed in their respective areas.

CABINET MEETING HELD – State expresses gratitude towards Centre for Income Tax exemption for locals

GANGTOK, June 6: The State Cabinet, which met here on June 2, has approved and sanctioned a number of proposals and projects. On the onset, the Cabinet expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of India for providing exemption from the purview of Income Tax Act, 1961 to Sikkim Subject Certificate holders and their descendants and Sikkimese women married to Non-Sikkim Subject Certificate holders on or before 1 April 2008. [Inset: Petrol pump at Gangtok]

The Cabinet also approved the Draft Resolution that is to be placed in the forthcoming sitting of the State Legislative Assembly, as submitted by the Finance Department. A proposal pertaining to the implementation of Direct Tax Law in Sikkim after passing of the Finance Act 2008 was unanimously confirmed and approved.

A proposal seeking approval and financial sanction of Rs. 96.81 lakhs to take up various restoration works of ancient Buddhist Heritage sites at Tashiding Monastery under Tribal Sub-Plan was taken up which was duly approved and sanctioned. The proposal include construction of Toong-Choe Lhakhang, library, store and Yabring, construction of Maney Lakhang and andscaping in and around Chorten Thongwarangdo

Under the Tribal Sub Plan, Health department has been allocated Rs. 200.00 lakhs during 2008-09. Out of this allocation Rs. 145.00 lakhs will be utilized for completing the ongoing work of construction of Primary Health Centre at Dikchu which was sanctioned during 2007-08 at a cost of Rs. 214.73 lakhs. The remaining Rs. 55.00 lakhs is proposed to be utilized for establishment of ST Cell in Health Secretariat, Deworming and Vitamin Supplementation Programme, Promotion of Institutional Deliveries, Meetings and Workshops, Health Camps, Printing of Service Delivery Register, Mobility support and Documentary films.

Similarly, under the Schedule Castes Sub Plan, Rs. 32.30 lakhs has been allocated. Out of this allocation Rs. 11.85 lakhs will be utilized for completing the ongoing work of construction of sub- centre building and staff quarter at Bimbong in South Sikkim which was sanctioned during 2007-08 at a cost of Rs. 16.85. The remaining Rs. 20.45 lakhs is proposed to be utilized for Strengthening of SC Cell in health Secretariat, Deworming and Vitamin Supplementation Programme, Promotion of Institutional Deliveries, meetings and Workshops and Workshops, health Camps, Printing Service Delivery Registers. The Cabinet approved and sanctioned the proposals.

The Irrigation and Food control Department’s proposal seeking ex-post facto approval for regularization of two schemes-River training and anti-erosion schemes at Tiffin Dara (Namchi) and Maji gaon (Jorethang) in South Sikkim and approval and sanction of Rs. 8620.94 lakhs for taking up of 24 schemes under “Flood Control Management Programme” was also approved.

A proposal to enforce the Sikkim Irrigation Water Tax Rules, 2007 w.e.f. 1st April 2010 and make amendments in the Sikkim Irrigation Water Tax Rules, 2007 was also approved, along with the proposal to incorporate, provision for participatory Irrigation management (PIM) in the existing Sikkim Irrigation Water Tax Act, 2002 in the following manner.

The Cabinet also decided that there shall be participatory role stakeholders/farmers in the overall development of water resources by constituting water users Association/Committee for assigning responsibilities of Water Management, organizing regular orientation awareness programmes for functionaries of Irrigation/ Command Area Development Department and farmers, increasing water use efficiency through proper coordination between the agriculture and irrigation Departments, and forming appropriate Committee at State Level for Monitoring and Evaluation.

The Forest Environment and Wildlife Management Department’s proposal seeking financial sanction and approval to transfer Rs. 28.70 lakhs to Zilla Panchayats/ Gram Panchayats was approved. The Cabinet also approved and sanctioned the Rural Management & Development Department’s proposal seeking approval to transfer Rs. 41,41,313 to land the Revenue and Disaster management Department for the purpose of acquisition of land and standing properties for construction of PMGSY road from Gom Busty to Kitam, South Sikkim.

The proposal seeking approval to transfer Rs. 26,91.905 land Revenue and Disaster management Department for the purpose of acquisition of land and standing properties for construction of PMGSY road from Phong SPWD Road to Bikmat, South Sikkim was also approved and sanctioned, along with Rs. 34,96,304 for construction of PMGSY road at Leema and Tilling under Lachung Block North Sikkim under the same scheme.

An amount of Rs. 91.90 lakhs for improvement and modification of Sonam Tshering Marg at Gangtok was sanctioned to the Urban Development and Housing Department, which will include improvement of the sharp turning below Dukit Pan Dokan, improvement and upgradation of the existing drainage system along with strengthening and improvement of road surface with premixed bituminous macadam base course and semi dense bituminous concrete wearing coat etc.

The Department of Personnel’s proposal to provide a Law to regulate promotion of employment of the local people in different organizations and the Draft “The Sikkim Local Employment Bill” 2008 to be placed in the ensuing Legislative Assembly was also approved.

The proposal of the Law Department to frame a bill for regulating the functioning of different societies, associations and voluntary association etc. in the State and the draft “The Sikkim Regulation of Societies, Associations and Other Voluntary Organization Bill” 2008 to be placed in the ensuing Legislative Assembly was also given the nod by the Cabinet, along with the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s proposal seeking approval to place the draft “Sikkim Land Tenancy Bill” 2008 in the forthcoming Legislative Assembly.

Parties slam officials for Bagdogra violence

SILIGURI, June 8: Several political parties today slammed the administration for the violence at Bagdogra and demanded immediate permission for the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s intended rally at Naxalbari. Barring the Opposition Congress, Trinamul Congress and the CPI-ML (Liberation) the Left Front constituent, RSP also raised its voice against what they called ‘callous tackling of the situation by the district administration at the behest of the CPI-M leadership’.

The RSP state committee member Mr Binay Chakravarty warned that if the district administration continued to treat the sensitive issue in such a ham handed manner, the situation in the hills would leap out of the state’s grip before long. “The administration’s actions are flabbergasting. Its callousness seems to have reached its zenith.  We are at a loss thinking over the ‘logic’ behind the administration’s adhering to its obstinacy in not permitting an intended GJMM rally at Naxalbari,” Mr Chakravarty said.

‘Education is the backbone of development’

By Parag Biswas

GANGTOK, June 8: The Statesman Sikkim International Career and Educational Fair 2008, which is being jointly organised by The Statesman and Barry Tourism Management Company (BTMC), was today inaugurated by the Mr GM Gurung, state minister of human resource development, current affairs and heritage department at the Guards Ground here today. Inaugurating the fair, which signaled the start of the fortnight-long celebration to mark the arrival of The Statesman in the region, Mr Gurung said: “Education is the backbone of development.”

The minister stressed the need to develop skills, which will help students in their professional careers.  Recollecting that The Statesman was the first national daily to launch an edition from Siliguri and the first daily in the region to organise a career scope at Siliguri about seven years back, the general manager of The Statesman, Mr KK Chaudhury said: “The most unique attribute of knowledge is that the more you spend it, the more you earn it.”

GCDP may lift fast today

COOCH BEHAR, June 8: The indefinite hunger strike of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) entered its fourth day on Sunday. The GCDP started the hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar from Thursday morning demanding unconditional release of the fifty-six undertrial prisoners including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman who are staying inside the Cooch Behar District Correctional Home since 2005.

GCDP president, Mr Ashutosh Barma, claimed that initially 101 supporters started fasting. Later, the number rose to 198. As health condition of 15 strikers turned worse, eight were shifted to hospital yesterday and five more were shifted today. He alleged that the police prevented new ones to join the hunger strike programme since yesterday.

GCDP general secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Roy made it clear that they will not lift the hunger strike till receiving of any clear assurance from the government over their demand. On the other hand, reliable sources said that the GCDP might lift their stir tomorrow considering the helplessness of the district administration to fulfil their demand of releasing 56 undertrial prisoners. Prior to that, the district administration will have to admit their limitations and assure that they would convey the demand to the government.

Asok flays GJMM

SILIGURI, 8 June: The state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya today criticized the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leadership for inciting violence in the plains of the Darjeeling district. Referring to today’s violent incidents at Bagdogra, Mr Bhattacharya said that the GJMM was responsible for these. “The police exercised utmost restraint given the trying situation,” he asserted.  He further alleged that the GJMM was trying its utmost to create an ethnic divide between the hills and the plains for sensationalizing its agitation. “Divisive and provocative slogans are being raised at the fasting sites. The local people have been provoked into reacting to its incessant sectarian statements against other communities,” the state minister said. [The Statesman]

JAC protests police ‘favouritism’

GANGTOK, June 8: The joint body formed by all the opposition political parties of the state has strongly denounced what it describes as police bias against them. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which includes the Congress, BJP, CPI-M, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) and Gorkha Prajatantric Party (GPP), accused the police of being biased towards the government and against the opposition.

Dr AD Subba, representing the SHRP referred to a recent incident in which two persons had died after falling from a government made ropeway in Dzongu recently. “No FIR was lodged and no investigation and action were taken by the police. Not even any autopsy was done. This clearly shows police are negligent in their duties and have biased attitude,” Dr Subba said. “Police should work according to the law,” he added.  In many other recent cases where presses were damaged, and vehicles of the opposition were burned, no action was taken by the police and administration, the JAC alleged.

“Not all the police officials, but few of them are biased towards the ruling government who always prevent us from taking up our political activities freely, which is not fair” said Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari of the Congress, a former chief minister and chief convener of the JAC. “Police should always be independent and should work for the public not for the administration” he said.  JAC has prepared pamphlets against the ruling government and plans to distribute to the public from tomorrow. “We’ll distribute all this pamphlets to the mass public at Titanic Park (the heart of the town) tomorrow to make the public aware about the ruling government and its work” said Mr HR Pradhan representing the state unit of BJP.

“Stock-up ladder for months! Gorkha Police will monitor people! Vehicles must bear GL plate” Bimal Gurung

Gurung addresses the gathering at Kalimpong’s Town Hall. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)

Kalimpong, June 8: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is planning a fresh round of agitation for which the people of the hills have been asked to stock up their larder by June 15 with enough food to last two months.

Promising to bring Gorkhaland by 2010, Morcha president Bimal Gurung said: “I finished off Ghisingh in three months. I achieved 100 per cent success with the (stalling of) the Sixth Schedule status. They were the only stumbling blocks on the way to (achieve) Gorkhaland.”

“If no development took place for 21 years (from the time the DGHC accord was signed in 1988), another two years will not hurt much,” Gurung added.

The Morcha also announced that it would go ahead with its programme of changing the number plates of vehicles in the hills from WB as in West Bengal to GL or Gorkhaland. A force of the “Gorkhaland Police” too will be raised soon.

Gurung who was addressing the members of the Janmukti Chalak Mahasangh, an organisation of drivers, at Town Hall here today said it was important to send across the message that “this is our homeland and we are free to make our own choices”.

Night trip turns fatal for four – Tragedy strikes after party

The Bolero after it had come to rest at the bottom of the gorge. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Gangtok, June 8: Four persons died and three were injured when a car taking a group of young men and women home from a party at a night club in the capital skidded off the road in Tadong and fell 300ft below around 12.30am on Sunday.

The Mahindra Bolero (registration number SK 02 A1090) was negotiating a turn when it went off the road and tumbled down the hillside at M.P. Golai, 4km from here. The victims are all aged between 20 and 25.

The four who died have been identified as Passang Tshering Bhutia (21), Anu Pradhan (22), Rajni Tamang (23) and Raveena Tamang (20). Police said Bhutia, a student, was a resident of Dikling near Pakyong in East Sikkim. The other three — all of them women — hailed from Jalipool near Ranipul, around 10km from Gangtok. Rajni and Raveena were sisters.

The three men who were injured — Khagendra Khulal, Sameer Chettri and Manju Pradhan — have been admitted to Central Referral Hospital at 5th Mile, Tadong, in serious condition. Sameer Chettri was reportedly driving the vehicle when the mishap took place. The vehicle belonged to a relative of the dead man.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Bhutia, Khulal, Chettri and Pradhan met the women at the night club and offered to drop them home. They were on their way to Jalipool when the mishap occurred.

Apathy slur on cops

Alipurduar, June 8: The family members of a 22-year-old here have alleged that police are indifferent about arresting the abductor of the woman who has been missing for the past three weeks. The case is currently with the district enforcement branch (DEB).

On May 16, the woman, a resident of Chechakhata in Alipurduar, had stepped out of the house around 11am. Rana Dhali, her elder brother, lodged a missing person’s diary at 4pm the same day when she failed to return.

Within a few hours, news about her sister being sighted with Suroj Biswas, a petty trader, in the morning reached Rana. The brother then filed an FIR accusing Biswas who stays in the same locality.

“The next day, Suroj rang up one of our relatives from a PCO and demanded Rs 5 lakh for my sister’s release. I repeatedly told him that I want to talk to my sister but he did not allow me. He just gave a bank account number, which the police traced to one Jayanto Das of Pelling in Sikkim,” Rana said. “I met senior police officials of Alipurduar, but they have not done anything appreciable to find my sister.”

Famished big cats go low on diet

hungry

Jaigaon, June 8: Eleven Royal Bengal Tigers rehabilitated at a rescue centre after their performance in circus shows was banned are being fed less than their daily quota of meat.

That the tigers kept at the centre in South Khayerbari in Alipurduar subdivision were being fed short of a total of 10 kilos of beef daily first came to the notice of the veterinary surgeon from Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Proloy Mondol.

“I had gone to South Khairbari on June 4 and when I looked at the meat that would be distributed to the tigers I sensed that it was less than the prescribed amount. When I told the staff to weigh the meat, it was found that the food was 10kg less,” Mondol said.

According to forest department sources, each tiger has to be given eight kilos of beef a day. However, the supply fell 10kg short of the 88kg of meat sent by a supplier in Falakata.