Indefinite strike cripples Darjeeling, tourist exodus begins

Kolkata/Darjeeling: An indefinite Darjeeling bandh for a separate Gorkhaland state called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) began on Tuesday, commencing a season of woes for the people living on tourism as holidaymakers leave the hill station in thousands.  An exodus of tourists, estimated to be around 40,000, began from the Queen of Hills as the GJM called shutdown took effect.

“We are stuck here with kids. We want to get out earliest but there is no transport,” said a tourist from Darjeeling.  Even hoteliers have asked the tourists to leave as early as possible. The green, white and yellow flags of GJM fly from homes, shops and cars as the supporters of the party thronged the streets with slogans in support of Gorkhaland.

The agitation followed an alleged attack on GJM members by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters and members of other political outfits at Naxalbari in the plains on Sunday. “The shutdown has been peaceful so,” a senior West Bengal police official said in the morning. “We called the indefinite shutdown in three sub-divisions – Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong – demanding a separate Gorkhaland state. Several tourists also started leaving Darjeeling district after they came to know about the strike,” said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri.

The central government in 2005 conferred the Sixth Schedule status on the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) that ensures greater autonomy to the governing body.

Unrest hits Darjeeling hills

By Sujoy Dhar

KOLKATA, India (Reuters):Hundreds of tourists were forced to leave Darjeeling hills on Tuesday after fresh demands for a separate state within India for the Gorkha people shut down the hills and its renowned tea industry. Supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha People’s Liberation Front) have asked tourists, including dozens of foreigners, to leave Darjeeling town to avoid getting caught in the indefinite strike that began on Tuesday.

The Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, have been demanding a separate state called “Gorkhaland” be carved out of the eastern state of West Bengal, to protect their culture and heritage. At least 1,200 people died in an insurgency in the 1980s, but protests fizzled out after a few years when Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy. But politician Bimal Gurung, who heads the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), has raised fresh demands. “We will not settle for anything less than a separate state this time,” Gurung told Reuters by telephone.

Bizarrely, it was a television talent show, India’s version of “American Idol”, that fanned the fire of Gorkhaland last September, after a radio jockey in New Delhi called the ethnic Nepali winner a “chowkidar” or caretaker, a common term of abuse for people from India’s northeast. The radio channel apologised, but Gurung had by then stoked Gorkha pride and almost every house was soon flying his party’s flag.
On Tuesday, thousands of Gurung’s supporters came out in the streets and chanted, “We want Gorkhaland” slogans, many waving the green, white and yellow party flags, witnesses said.

India tea strike sparks clashes

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

At least 15 people have been wounded in clashes between Nepali-speaking Gorkhas and Bengali and Hindi-speakers in India’s tea-producing Darjeeling area.  The clashes occurred during an indefinite strike called by a Gorkha political party. The protest has paralysed life in the region. Tens of thousands of tourists visiting Darjeeling are also stranded. On Monday, the Gorkhas protested saying their supporters had been attacked by workers of the state’s ruling Marxists. The communists have denied the charge.

Darjeeling – in the north of the eastern state of West Bengal – is home to hundreds of tea gardens and produces Darjeeling tea which is coveted for its flavour. The Gorkhas fought for a separate state through the 1980s but later settled for regional autonomy.  The recently-formed Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has revived the struggle for a separate state.  All three areas in the region – Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong – are affected by the strike call.

Darjeeling Today!

All Photos by Barun Roy

Thousands of tourists stranded in “tea country” by ethnic protests

Darjeeling and other districts of western Bengal are paralyzed by a strike of the ethnic Gorkha party. They are asking for the creation of an independent state, and are accusing the ruling Marxists of aggression. There are not even enough vehicles available to take tourists to the airport.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of tourists have been stranded by the sudden strike that has paralysed “tea country”: the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong in the northern part of western Bengal. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) party says that the protest is in response to the aggression committed against some of its members by supporters of the ruling Marxist party.

About 50 supporters of the GJM were occupying a highway leading to Darjeeling, in protest over the ban against holding a public meeting in Naxalbari, when they were allegedly attacked “without provocation”. The GJM also denounces other acts of aggression, while the communists deny any involvement.

Gurkha strike for separate state halts life, tourist trade in eastern India

CALCUTTA, India: Tens of thousands of tourists were stranded in the tea-growing region of eastern India on Tuesday after a Gurkha separatist group called a strike to press its demand for an independent state, shutting down hotels, shops and roads.

The Gurkha Janamukti Morcha wants a state for ethnic Gurkhas in the hill areas around Darjeeling in West Bengal state.

All shops and businesses were closed Tuesday in Darjeeling and nearby towns, an area famous for its tea and cool climate, a strong draw in India’s scorching summer. Roughly 40,000 tourists were rushing to leave the area after the Gurkha group asked them to go home as soon as possible, said Raj Kanojia, a senior state police official.

The newly formed separatist group’s general secretary, Roshan Giri, said it would help with travel arrangements, but prospects appeared difficult with all public transport staying off the roads.

“We are stuck here with our kids,” said Sanjay Singh, an Indian tourist on vacation with his family. “We want to get out earliest but there is no transport.”

There was no reported violence, said Raj Kanojia, a senior state police official.

Giri said the strike would continue until the government “accepts our demand for a separate state.”

The state government dismissed the group’s wishes.

“A separate state is out of the question,” said state minister Asok Bhattacharya. “They need to settle down and agree to discuss and negotiate.”

Gurkhas are an ethnic group in northern India and Nepal who are famed for their fighting prowess and bravery. They began serving as soldiers loyal to Britain in 1815 in India. When India gained independence from Britain in 1947, they became part of the British army and have received accolades for fighting around the world.

Total bandh in Darjeeling

GJM (NATIONAL,GENERAL)
Created on : 06/10/2008 03:31 PM (PRI)
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Siliguri, Jun 10 (PTI) Life came to a grinding halt in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling and in parts of Dooars in Jalpaiguri after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called an indefinite hill bandh from today morning.  The bandh was called in protest against police lathicharge on a GJM supporter at Bagdogra, near here, last Sunday and refusal by the administration of permission to hold public meetings at Naxalbari on May 25 and June 1, GJM president Bimal Gurung said.

The National Highway number 31A, the arterial road linking hills with the Himalayan state of Sikkim, was blocked by the GJM activists cutting off the state from the rest of the country, officials said.

Government vehicles were off the roads in the hills after an emergency meeting of the central committee of GJM in Darjeeling decided not to allow movement of any government vehicle.

“There was some trouble at a few places in Dooars and police officials there were holding talks with the leaders of both the sides,” District Magistrate of Jalpaiguri, R Ranjit, said, adding, “we are doing our best to maintain peace and law and order.” GJM General Secretary Rakesh Giri claimed that at Birpara and Kalchini in Dooars CPI-M supporters beat up GJM supporters and ransacked GJM office and set on fire motor cycles parked there.

“Dooars is included in our proposed Gorkhaland map and people were observing the bandh peacefully. CPI-M is provoking us and the situation may take a serious turn if the cadre of the Marxist party are not restricted,” he warned.

Gurung told PTI that he had asked the district magistrate and the police to quit the hills as they “have surrendered to the CPI-M and failed to do their duties impartially”. “As the police and administration were doing everything to prove their loyalty to the Marxist party, I suggested they had better gone down to Siliguri and oblige the CPI-M freely as the ruling party has no base in the hills,” Gurung said.

The inspector-general (North Bengal), K L Tamta, declined to say anything on Gurung’s assertion and said the situation in Bagdogra and Naxalbari were now peaceful with sufficient police present there to maintain peace.

He said he had asked police officials to arrange a peace meeting with GJM and Jana chetana Manch, an organisation opposing creation of Gorkhaland, in the two places and keep a strict vigil. PTI UBR dd MD RAP 06101537 DEL

“Give up Statehood Demand” Bengal Chief Minister – West Bengal Govt hardens stand on Darjeeling

GJM-CM (NATIONAL,GENERAL)
Created on : 06/10/2008 16:07 (PRI)
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Kolkata, Jun 10 (PTI) As the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) today called an indefinite strike on its demand for creating separate state of Gorkhaland, the West Bengal government asked it to give up the demand and come for talks to sort out the issues.

“Tripartite or bipartite talks are possible only if they give up their demand for a separate state. Until then no talks are possible,” West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters.

Stating that he was keeping the Centre posted about the latest situation in Darjeeling, Bhattacharjee said during his recent talks with GJM leaders in Kolkata he had suggested that more autonomy and administrative and financial powers could be extended to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which runs the administration in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong hill subdivisions.

“Barring the statehood demand, we are prepared to discuss with them any other issue,” he said, adding a majority of the people in Dooars, Terai and Siliguri, which the GJM has demanded be included in ‘Gorkhaland’, were opposed to the statehood demand.

GJM supremo Bimal Gurung has said he would only lift the shutdown if the Centre called for statehood talks.

“We will only lift the strike if the Centre calls us for statehood talks. We are not ready to discuss any other issue. We are not averse to having the state government at the talks,” he had said.

Tourist exodus from Darjeeling, 350 GJM supporters arrested

LD GJM (NATIONAL,GENERAL)
Created on : 06/10/2008 16:58 (PRI)
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Siliguri, June 10 (PTI) The indefinite bandh called in Darjeeling hills by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) led to an exodus of tourists today and leaving over 10,000 stranded in the plains.

Stray violence was reported from neighbouring Jalpaiguri district and at least 350 people were arrested. The GJM had called for the bandh to press their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Authorities said a special train will ply from New Jalpaiguri railway station to Howrah tonight. Darjeeling District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey said most tourists started leaving Darjeeling yesterday.

Transport was off the roads in the hills. The shutdown also cut off Sikkim with GJM supporters blocking the arterial national highway 31A.

Over 350 GJM supporters were arrested from different parts of Jalpaiguri district after clashes with local people and police.

Many were injured when a 1,000-strong mob blocked the road at Nagrakata and forcibly downed shutters of shops. MORE PTI UBR COR PB PC SUA 06101704 DEL

Over 10,000 tourists stranded in Siliguri, Special Train arranged

GJM-TOURISTS (NATIONAL,GENERAL)
Created on : 06/10/2008 16:47 (PRI)
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Siliguri, June 10 (PTI) With the indefinite bandh by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) beginning today in the Darjeeling hills, over 10,000 tourists, including foreigners who left the hill station, were stranded in Siliguri in the plains.

SDO Smita Pandey told PTI the administration was doing everything possible for the stranded tourists since morning.

Arrangements have been made with the Railways to run a special train from the New Jalpaiguri railway station to Howrah tonight to ferry the tourists. The special train is scheduled to leave NJP at 10 pm, she said.

Tour operators have also been asked to run buses today and tomorrow, Pandey said.

Darjeeling District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey said the administration helped tourists in getting vehicles to leave the hills last night and this morning.

Pandey said no tourist was now stranded in the hill station as they had been asked by the GJM leadership to leave the hills by last night. (MORE) PTI UBR DD PC ZMN 06101653 DEL

Railway Ministry asked to arrange tourist departure from hills

GJM-DASMUNSHI (NATIONAL,GENERAL)

Created on : 06/10/2008 17:33 (PRI)

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Kolkata, Jun 10 (PTI) The Railway ministry has been asked to arrange transport for tourists from New Jalpaiguri railway station to Kolkata in view of the indefinite bandh enforced by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling hills from today.

“I have taken up the matter with the Railway ministry to facilitate tourist departure from New Jalpaiguri to Kolkata and other railway stations,” Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunshi said in a statement here.

Dasmunshi, who is also the WBPCC chief, said that the GJM’s call for an indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills has created a law and order problem, specially for tourists.

He appealed to the hill leaders and political parties to cooperate with the state administration to maintain law and order. PTI PB PC RSH 06101740 DEL

Darjeeling In Pictures Today

All photos by Barun Roy

This time, violence could spread to plains

By Arnab Ganguly

SILIGURI/KOLKATA: At the peak of the Gorkhaland movement, Siliguri and the rest of north Bengal plains watched from a safe distance the gory battle in the Hills. Two decades later, with the Gorkhaland demand revived, these plains may no longer be bystanders.

For Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s Bimal Gurung, the indefinite strike call is not just another showdown between GJM and the Left Front government. It is an opportunity to flex muscles in the plains, mobilize supporters as well as arm-twist the government.

The inclusion of Siliguri in the proposed Gorkhaland has only made the situation more tense, making Bengalis living in Siliguri insecure and even ready to fight back.

Insecurity-induced violence is almost imminent. Groups such as Jana Jagran Manch and Jana Chetana Manch have emerged in the plains to oppose GJM and have started targeting Nepali-speaking people.

At least 16 people were injured on Sunday at Bagdogra and Naxalbari. A backlash from Bimal Gurung and his henchmen is only a matter of time. So far none from GJM have spoken against Bengalis and there has been no attack on Bengalis in the Hills. Gorkha Janamukti Morcha has instead tried to go out of its way to appear friendly to Bengalis, bringing in some Bengali-speaking people for a rally near Siliguri on May 7.

Former queen mother allowed to stay in palace

KATHMANDU: While Nepal’s dethroned king Gyanendra has just 72 hours to vacate the royal palace, former queen mother Ratna Shah will stay on. She has wrested permission from the government despite growing public anger against the privileges of the erstwhile royal family. Gyanendra’s 80-year-old stepmother, once the most powerful woman in the kingdom and a resident of the Narayanhity royal palace through the reign of four kings in succession, will not have to quit her quarters inside the sprawling palace, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s government said. [Inset: The former King Gyanendra escorting the Queen Mother. Source Day Life]

Ratna Shah, the iron-fisted second wife who late king Mahendra married despite the disapproval of his father, and who is reported to have been a staunch supporter of Gyanendra’s coup in 2005, will continue to stay in Mahendra Manzil, the mansion inside the palace built by her husband. Not just the former queen mother, but a former royal mistress will also be allowed to stay in the palace, the council of ministers decided on Sunday.

Trouble in Darjeeling, tourists told to leave

By Amitava Banerjee

TURNING THEIR token strike over their demand for Gorkhaland on Monday into an indefinite strike, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has asked all tourists to leave the Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim before 6 am on Tuesday . Starting Tuesday, the three hill sub-divisions will witness an indefinite bandh. However, the tea and cinchona industry will be closed for just two days, and will be open from June 12. “The bandh will continue till the Centre calls us for talks in Delhi and that too for Gorkhaland. We will meet over no other issue except Gorkhaland,” said GJM chief Bimal Gurung. He stated that, henceforth, the GJM would not seek the permission of the administration to hold rallies and meetings anywhere.

Following the GJM’s advisory, tourists were seen trying to make arrangements to leave the hills immediately. The rush for vehicles turned into a stampede-like situation at the bus and taxi stands. With a heavy shortage of vehicles due to the token bandh and lack of fuel (being a Sunday), most tourists could not leave at once. Sarvesh Dikshit of Kanpur, who arrived on Monday, said: “This is very disappointing. We don’t know where to go. There is no food, no transport. Our kids are hungry. We have nothing to do with politics but we should not be given such trouble. I request the administration and political party to come to a settlement and resolve the issue so innocent people don’t suffer.”

Gurung gave the bandh call after sporadic violence in Bagdogra and Naxalbari between the GJM and an apolitical group, Janchetna Manch, opposing the former’s demand. [Hindustan Times]

Ousted Nepal king trying to hang onto crown

Afp, Kathmandu

Nepal’s deposed king is refusing to cooperate with a government committee set up to audit royal property and has still not handed over his crown, an official source told AFP yesterday.

“We realise it’s hard for some people to accept change,” a member of the committee told AFP as he recounted various ways in which ousted king Gyanendra has been trying to stall the dismantling of his 240-year-old monarchy.

“We have not been allowed to look in the residence of the former king. He is not helping us very much in the audit of the crown jewels, valuables and property,” the source told AFP on condition he not be named.

Nepal’s monarchy was abolished on May 28 by a constitutional assembly, which was set up following a peace deal with Maoist insurgents and mainstream political parties.

Gyanendra has until Thursday to vacate the sprawling pink palace in central Kathmandu. The residence will then be turned into a museum.

But the committee member said key items, including the diamond- and ruby-adorned crown — last seen in public during Gyanendra’s coronation in 2001 — had yet to be recovered.

“We have been told informally that the crown and sceptre are still in the palace, but no one has formally given us the location,” he said, adding that palace staff were throwing up “a lot of restrictions in the name of protocol” — even though the last of the king’s privileges were revoked in May.

Nepal’s ‘living goddess’ in limbo

By Charles Haviland
BBC News, Kathmandu

The previous goddess, Sajani Shakya, retired in March

The appointment of a new “living goddess” in Nepal is being held up by the recent abolition of the monarchy, a Nepalese official says.

According to tradition, the king’s priest appoints the girl, who is chosen in her infancy and is treated as a goddess, or Kumari, until puberty.

But the priest no longer has any say in the republic, the head of the trust overseeing the tradition says.

Hindus and Buddhists regard the Kumaris as incarnations of a deity.

‘Unthinkable’

Shreeya Bajracharya, 6, has been selected by a religious panel as the “living goddess” in the town of Bhaktapur, near the capital Kathmandu.

Tourism in Jeopardy

Tourists stranded in Darjeeling Hills. Dream Holiday cut short!

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

“Tourists are requested to leave Darjeeling hills as soon as possibly by whatever means possible” Samuel Gurung

“Tourists are requested to leave Darjeeling hills as soon as possibly by whatever means possible” Samuel Gurung GJM Kalimpong General Secretary in Kalimpong. [Adjacent Photo: People preparing an effigy of Asok Bhattacharya which was later burnt.

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Accident after party 4 killed, 3 injured

By DB RAI

Gangtok: Two accidents took place successively at M.P.Golai on Saturday night at 10 pm and 12 pm leaving four people dead. All the four people who died were in Bolero (No.SK-02/1090) bound to Jalipool. The dead are Miss Rajani Tamang (23),Miss Rabina Tamang (21), Miss Anu Pariwar (23) and Mr. Pasang Sherpa (22). According to Mrs. Manju Pradhan (23), one of the injured now in Central Referral Hospital, the vehicle had four girls, Miss Rajani Tamang (23), Rabina Tamang(21), Anu Pariwar(23) and Mrs. Manju Pradhan(23) and three boys, Mr. Samir Tamang (31), Mr. Khagendra (32) and Mr. Pasang Sherpa (22). They were going to Jalipool, the home of the four girls. Mr. Samir Tamang, owner of the vehicle was driving himself. The girls had a party on Saturday night at a discothèque at Tadong, and coming out of disco they (the girls) asked for a lift to their home. While going toward Jalipool the vehicle fell in a gorge about 500 feet below near M.P. Golai at about 12.15 pm. As to the cause of accident Mrs Pradhan said “the driver had a drink and was driving the vehicle at a high speed resulting the accident”. Mr. Tamang, however, attributed the accident to a “mechanical problem” of the vehicle. He and Khangendra were saved because after falling about 100 ft, they fell out of the vehicle through while the rest died falling with the vehicle. On the same night at the same place, two housr before the Bolero accident, a maruti van fell down. The two occupants, Suresh Tamang (23) and Kumar Mangar (24) were injured. In both the cases, Army men rescued the victims. [Sikkim Reporter]

“Mission Love in Sikkim”

Actress Rushma Rai felicitated at the release of a cassette of the film

“Mission Love in Sikkim” at Sahitya Parishad Bhawan.

Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Sikkim government reduces sales tax on Petrol & Diesel – No reduction on LPG cylinders

GANGTOK, June 8: The Sikkim Government has reduced sales tax on petrol and diesel, providing a much-needed respite to the people following the recent fuel price hike announced by the Central Government. The State Government has revised the retail sale price of Petroleum Products under the provisions of Sikkim Essential Commodities (Price Display & Control of supplies and Distribution) Order of 1977.
According to the notification issued by the State Department of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumers here on June 7, the prices of petrol and diesel have been reduced by Rs. 2 and Rs. 1.40 with immediate effect after slashing of the sales tax on these two fuel products. In the highest ever price raise, the Central Government had last week imposed a Rs. 5 a litre increase in Petrol and Rs. 3 on Diesel.
According to the Notification, Petrol will now cost Rs 50.65/litre as against Rs. 52.55, while the cost of diesel comes to Rs. 35.80.
However, there was no respite to the housewives as the State Government did not reduce the price of LPG cylinders, the cost of which was hiked to Rs. 50 per cylinder by the Centre. LPG cylinders will now cost Rs. 357 in the State. [Sikkim Express]

Press Club of Sikkim to check on rampant misuse of “Press” stickers

GANGTOK, June 8: Those persons not belonging to the media fraternity but using the “Press” stickers in their vehicles in the State will now have to give up this privilege. The Press Club of Sikkim has taken a firm decision to take action against such persons misusing the Press tag. This decision was taken up in a general meeting of the Press Club held here today under the chairmanship of its president, CD Rai.

Misuse of Press stickers on vehicles is rampant across the country and is slowly getting popular in the State. This has prompted the Press Club to check the veracity of the “Press” stickers on vehicles in the State. Recently, the number of vehicles sporting the stickers had increased in the city. It is a well-known fact that some vehicles that have nothing to do with media organisations are also using the stickers.

The Press Club has decided to submit the proposal to the IPR department very soon with the demand that the permission should be granted only to those press persons who hold accreditation cards issued by the Department. The meeting also came up with the decision to start provident benefit fund for the working journalists in the State. The media houses will be asked by the Press Club to start up the Employees Provident Fund.

Earlier, the General Secretary of the Press Club, Bhim Rawat presented the annual report whereas the Treasurer of the club Parasmani Dangal presented the financial report. [Sikkim Express]

CPM slams LF partners

By Romit Bagchi

SILIGURI, June 9: The CPI-M today criticized its partners in the Left Front for the current wave of ethnic violence in Siliguri sub-division and appealed for peace and amity in the charged political atmosphere in Darjeeling district.  Referring to yesterday’s hostilities at Bagdogra and Naxalbari near Siliguri, the Forward Bloc, CPI and RSP state leadership held the inflexible stand of the CPI-M against the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha responsible for the fast deteriorating situation. At the same time they appealed to the GJMM leadership to avoid confrontation with the state.

Terming yesterday’s Bagdogra and Naxalbari incidents as ‘extremely alarming,’ the Forward Bloc general secretary Mr Debabrata Biswas said that the ugly turn of events in the plains of the Darjeeling district could have been avoided had the CPI-M, particularly the Darjeeling district party leadership, opted for flexibility regarding the GJMM rally demand at Naxalbari. “The CPI-M should realise that every political party functioning in the democratic political structure has the right to stage a rally anywhere in the country. An attempt to obstruct amounts to gross suppression of Constitutional rights and may encourage authoritarian penchant in the system of democratic polity,” the FB leader said. He also appealed to the GJMM leadership to avaiod confrontation with the state government and come to an understanding while striving for their legitimate demands within the framework of the Constitution.

High turnout at career fair

GANGTOK, June 9: The Statesman Sikkim International Career and Educational Fair 2008, jointly organised by The Statesman and Barry Tourism Management Company, evoked a tremendous response at the Guards Ground here today. Academicians, students, their guardians and people from different walks of life arrived in large numbers at the exhibition since early morning. Officials of the 26 educational institutions were pleased with the turn out.

The fete ended late in the afternoon today. A colourful presentation by various cultural groups from the state, was the first of its kind exhibition in the hill station. Mr GM Gurung, state minister of human resource development, current affairs and heritage, who visited the stalls at the fair said their objective was to include various institutes of the country to generate awareness among the people about the value of technical skills and higher education.