Day’s Round Up

1. Students from different schools participate on 24 hour relay hunger strike all over the hills and Dooars Terai

2. Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists’ Youth and Women Wing Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front and Democratic Revolutionary Women’s Front called for All Party Movement. Speaking at a party rally held at Gitangee Dara, Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling, Amrit Ghatani called for Collective Leadership and Collective Cadres.

3. MOST CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT OF THE DAY: “WE HAVE MORE THAN 10,000 ARMED CADRES…” LEADER AND MEMBER CENTRAL COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH FRONT.

4. The West Bengal Government has agreed to pave the way for the tripartite dialogue at New Delhi however, sources at the Writers Building confirmed that the issue on the agenda will be autonomy and not Gorkhaland.

Via Darjeeling – Don’t Forget to Watch it (Sponsored Feature)

This time Gorkhaland movement more democratic, say veterans

By Soudhriti Bhabani. India, 11:31 AM IST India eNews

As the Darjeeling hills throb with the demand for statehood, many prominent Gorkhas feel this time the movement is truly democratic and mass-based unlike the violent campaign led by Subhash Ghising in the 1980s.

Veterans of the Gorkhaland movement of 1986-88 say the ongoing campaign for a separate state is far more consolidated and people-oriented. The region is part of West Bengal.

‘The Gorkhaland demand has now blossomed into a mass movement, compared to the protests in the 1980s. There has been no incident of bloodshed in the hills over the issue,’ Amar Singh Rai, one of the frontrunners of Ghising’s Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s, told IANS.

According to reports, at least 1,200 people, including police personnel, had died at that time.

Rai said the Gorkhas are now united and want a separate state under the single umbrella of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM).

‘There is no racial or communal conflict in the movement. We believe in the concept of composite culture and Darjeeling has been a great example of being the melting pot of so many religions,’ he said.

Ghising, a former armyman, led a prolonged violent struggle in the 1980s for a Gorkhaland state before signing an agreement Aug 22, 1988, with the central and state governments for the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) – an autonomous governing body for the hills.

He remained an uncrowned king of hill politics, heading the DGHC for two decades till March this year when he was forced to step down after most of his men deserted him to join the GJM led by Bimal Gurung.

Rai said: ‘We were with Ghising in the movement but suddenly we heard that he signed the Sixth Schedule keeping the entire Gorkha population in the dark. People vehemently protested that decision, but nothing happened after that.’

The central government in 2005 announced the Sixth Schedule status for the GNLF-led DGHC that ensures greater autonomy to the governing body.

But the GJM, led by party president Gurung, opposed the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling. Gurung, who was expelled from the GNLF for anti-party activity, has been spearheading the movement in the hills for a separate state.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Engine Shed is in Shreds for last one year but no one cares!

Photos by Barun Roy

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Engine Shed near Darjeeling Railway Station has been in this condition for more than 1 years. Beacon Online has along with other newspapers tried enormously to call upon the authorities to take care of the situation but nothing has so far happened. The questions thus arises what are the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Authorities including the Ministry of Railway doing?

“We want Mr. Bimal Gurung to herald an all party revolution”, Arun Ghatani Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON]

BY BARUN ROY

Darjeeling 28^th June 2008 (5:04 PM): The Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front has called for the need to start an all party Gorkhaland Agitation, speaking at a political meeting organized jointly by Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front (DRYF) and Democratic Revolutionary Women’s Movement, Arun Ghatani, General Secretary, DRYF said, “We are working towards an intellectual revolution. We have to learn from the 1986 Gorkhaland Movement that violence and armed confrontation will lead no where. Hence, we will have to fight this battle on intellectual grounds and base our demands on facts. We, the Gorkhas came with the land and we need not beg for sympathy, Bengal need not give us Gorkhaland for it is not for Bengal to give. We seek this because it is our right. As Bengalis have Bengal, Biharis Bihar, Punjabis Punjab so should Gorkhas have Gorkhaland. We believe that there must be a collective revolution and I would like to take this occasion to request the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President to herald a new era of an all party movement. If he does this then I declare today, that DRYF will whole hearted plunge in the movement. We must learn from the All Party Revolution that threw over the Monarchy in Nepal. At the present we are collectively and individually pursuing different agitational programmes. [Inset: Arun  Ghatani  addressing the meeting. Photo by Barun Roy]

DGHC casual workers go on fast

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Siliguri (PTI): Seven casual workers of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) were on a ‘fast unto death’, under the banner of ‘Janamukti Asthayee Karmachari Sangathan’, in front of the office of District Magistrate, Darjeeling.

Casual employees from Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong and Mirik were taking part in the fast, organised by the affiliate union of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), demanding regularisation of service of around 8,000 DGHC workers employed by DGHC on six month renewable contracts for years.

Two employees each from Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong and one from Mirik were taking part in the fast, a union spokesman said.

‘Keep Darjeeling tea industry out of purview of agitation’

FROM THE HINDU

Stress on stepping up R&D on Darjeeling tea

GI registration for Assam Orthodox mooted

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KOLKATA: Basudeb Banerjee, Chairman, Tea Board of India, the regulatory body for the Indian tea industry, has urged the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to keep the Darjeeling tea industry out of the purview of the agitation.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), he said: “we hope that good sense will prevail on the leaders of the GJM to keep the industry outside the purview of the turmoil.” This year, the meeting was being held here instead of Darjeeling due to the political problems rocking the hills.

“I would urge the GJM not to carry out activities that affect the livelihood of so many people,” Mr. Banerjee said, adding that the tea industry was the identity of the Darjeeling hills and tourism followed it.

“It is a flagship brand and much has been achieved over the years, we have taken several initiatives and all had begun to bear fruit,” he said. DTA sources told The Hindu that while 55,000 were employed in the gardens, another 45,000 worked in the factories and in ancillary activities. Earlier, DTA Vice-Chairman R. K. Babaycon said that the industry had already suffered a 30 per cent drop in production due to the vagaries of weather in its best season between March and June when 50 per cent of the crop was harvested.

Darjeeling Everesters ride through the town on Land Rover Series II

Darjeeling Everesters ride through the town on Land Rover Series II

The Everesters seen here are Nawang Gombu and Ang Phurba

Photo by Barun Roy

A May 16 2004 cartoon on Mero Serofero – a Nepali weekly published from Darjeeling

A May 16 2004 cartoon on Mero Serofero – a Nepali weekly published from Darjeeling

Darjeeling’s friends pitch in to clean Darjeeling!

Photo by Barun Roy

A Land Rover Series II at a Darjeeling Rally

A Land Rover Series II at a Darjeeling Rally

Photo by Barun Roy

Time not ripe for tri-partite talks on Gorkhaland’

FROM INDIA GAZETTE

The West Bengal government Friday told the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is seeking a separate Gorkhaland state, that time was not yet ripe for tri-partite talks with the central government, and favoured more powers for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).

Briefing reporters after an hour-long meeting with GJM leaders at the state secretariat, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee urged the hill organisation to withdraw the demand for Gorkhaland and suggested more rounds of bi-partite talks to prepare the ground for tri-partite parleys.

Amar Lama, GJM central committee member and leader of the four member delegation rejected the chief minister’s proposal for granting more powers to the DGHC. But he expressed happiness at the chief minister agreeing in principle to tri-partite talks.

Bhattacharjee told the delegation: ‘We can live together in West Bengal. There is no need to separate.’

However, he admitted steps were needed for economic and social development of Darjeeling, and suggested more powers for the DGHC.

‘We can have several rounds of talks on providing more powers to the hills within the framework of the constitution. We need a political solution,’ he said.

Bhattacharjee said he had no objection to tri-partite talks, but felt no fruitful results would be achieved by holding such discussions immediately.

‘I feel we should first arrive at some common ground, and on that basis we can go to Delhi and talk. Then the discussions can be successful.

Darjeeling stir takes flavour off tea industry

Saturday , June 28, 2008 at 2346 hrs The uncertainty surrounding Darjeeling Tea Estates continues to jeopardise production of premium tea varieties from the hills as representatives from the West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha failed to reach an agreement on homeland issue.

Darjeeling Tea, often termed as champagne of teas by tea connoisseurs, was on a recovery path, but is anticipating loss now. Tea growers in Darjeeling have already suffered loss to the extent of 30% in the present season due to adverse weather.

RK Babycon, vice chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) said: “It is a political issue and the government will have to handle that.”

Referring to the meeting at the Writers Building, Basudeb Banerjee, chairman of the Tea Board said, “I believe something is going happen today and good sense will prevail over the agitators. But tea industry should be kept out of the agitation.”

According to members of the DTA, ongoing political unrest in Darjeeling and Siliguri has already impacted the production in the 87 tea estates.

Forum raps power officials

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, June 27: The district consumer disputes redressal forum in Siliguri has imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on three officials of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd for violating its order and disconnecting power supply to a government residential flat.

Forum president Himadri K. Guha Roy on Wednesday gave the assistant engineer, station manager and circle grievance redressal officer of the Hakimpara sector office of the WBSEDCL a month’s time to pay the fine.

Dilip Biswas, the occupant of Flat A-5, Kutcherie Road Government Quarters, had filed a petition on May 28 after the power company served him a notice on May 14, asking him to pay the revised rates for electricity consumed by the previous occupant.

“The earlier occupant, Ajit Goldar of the state cooperative department, stayed at the flat between 2003 and March 2006. He had cleared his dues, but the revised rates, fixed by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission, were imposed after he was transferred to Calcutta,” Biswas said today.

“The WBSEDCL notice asked me to pay Rs 201 as the revised arrears for a period that Mr Goldar was the occupant, giving me two weeks’ time, after which they would cut off supply. The amount may have been insignificant, but I refused to pay on principle and took the matter to the forum so that others are not harassed by the power company,” Biswas added.

The employee of the consumer department filed the petition under Section 13(3B) of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, seeking a stay on the notice. Considering the urgency of the situation, the forum had in an ex-parte interim order on May 28, restrained the power company from disconnecting the line.

“A date (June 13) was fixed for a hearing as to why the interim order should not be made absolute. But, owing to a local bandh on that date, the hearing was deferred to June 20,” Guha Roy said. But the petitioner filed an affidavit that day saying the company had cut off power supply to the flat on June 19.

SC seeks Bengal views on highway

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

New Delhi, June 27: The Supreme Court today sought the Bengal government’s views on a petition that wanted the state to keep away protestors clamouring for Gorkhaland from National Highway 31A, the lifeline to Sikkim.

A resident of the Himalayan state, O.P. Bhandari, had moved the apex court on Wednesday, urging it to intervene to get the Centre and the state government to keep the sole road link to Sikkim clear. Bhandari is an officer on special duty (legal) to Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling, although he filed the case in his personal capacity.

In recent times, pro-and anti-Gorkhaland agitation has often disrupted traffic on the Bengal section of NH31A so that essential supplies could not reach land-locked Sikkim.

The notice will have to be served by tomorrow on the state’s standing counsel in the Supreme Court.

A vacation bench directed that the matter be listed on July 3 for hearing, two days before the Gorkha janmukti Morcha’s indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills resumes. Currently, the Morcha, which is spearheading the protest for Gorkhaland, has declared a breather and NH31A is open.

“A part of the country cannot be blocked. This highway is the only link with Sikkim,” the bench said. It refused to pass any orders in the absence of the Bengal government’s view on the sensitivity of the situation.

Asok slams Priya on hills

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, June 27: Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya today trained his guns at PCC president and Union minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi for “maligning” the state’s image with regard to Darjeeling. [Inset: Asok Bhattacharya. Photo: The Telegraph Archives. Below: Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. Photo: India Zone]

“The way Das Munshi attempted to malign our government in public is unbecoming of a central minister. His claim that the state had advocated the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling hills is not true,” Bhattacharya said at a news conference here. “The state had asked for regional autonomy and constitutional status for the DGHC area under Article 371 in 2005. But when the Centre said this can be granted under the Sixth Schedule, we had agreed to the proposal,” he clarified.

The CPM leader also read out a letter of the chief minister written in 2005. “In the letter, besides advocating for regional autonomy, Bhattacharjee had also asked for a tripartite meeting to resolve the problem,” he added.

The Bengal minister also took a dig at the PCC chief for criticising the state government for its alleged failure to obtain funds from the Centre for development of civic bodies.

“These (Das Munshi’s comments) are far from truth as the urban development department has been working on drinking water, slum and infrastructure development, housing, education and health schemes and has allocated crores of rupees to civic bodies. Many of these are central schemes,” he said.

On the other hand, the Opposition leader in the Bengal Assembly, Partha Chatterjee, has termed the movement for Gorkhaland “democratic”, but said the Trinamul Congress was against the further division of the state.

Growth first on minds of civic voters

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

June 27: Five municipalities in north Bengal go to the polls on Sunday and by all indications, issues that supposedly swayed the votes against the Left during the panchayat polls, like Singur and Nandigram, are unlikely to have any impact on voting trends this time.

After talking to a cross-section of voters in the civic areas, it seems that a lack of development in infrastructure is foremost on the minds of the electorate. “North Bengal towns lack several civic amenities and we are still waiting for overall improvements to be made on the lines of larger municipalities,” said Rumki Saha of Balurghat.

In North Dinajpur’s Dalkhola (see chart) for instance, two wards of the fledgling municipality, formed in 2003, are yet to get power connection. “There is no filtered water supply in Dalkhola, and during the monsoon, we suffer from water-borne diseases. There is no bus terminus and traffic congestion is unending during rush hours,” said Durga Prasad Jain, a local businessman.

Himadri Mukherjee, the CPM chairman of the municipality, however, is still hopeful of retaining his seat. “During our maiden term (this is the second election of the civic body), we have done whatever we could for Dalkhola with our limited resources. And we expect the people to vote us back to power so that we can do more,” said Mukherjee.

Residents of two small municipal towns of Mekhliganj and Haldibari in Cooch Behar district, both located close to the border with Bangladesh, complain of a total absence of civic amenities. “We are too small to generate revenue by ourselves and are heavily dependent on government funding,” said Rathis Dasgupta, a CPM leader in Haldibari. But he promises that if the Left Front wins, it will do more work than the previous board. “The Congress-led board failed to utilise central and state funds for development,” Dasgupta added.

I will not betray the cause: Gurung – Morcha wants teachers on ‘fight’ front

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Gurung addresses the teachers. (Suman Tamang)

Darjeeling, June 27: The president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bimal Gurung, wants the “intellect” of hill teachers to be one of the engines that will drive forward the movement for a separate state.

During his first ever interaction with teachers from across the hills at Gymkhana Club here today, Gurung said it was time for “intellectuals” to “contribute in every possible way”.

“There are many who are learned and well educated, but intellectuals are those people who can understand the feelings of the common people and help them achieve their goals,” the Morcha chief said, before reiterating that he was “101 per cent confident of attaining statehood”.

“The separate state is for our coming generation,” said Gurung, whose followers have used the same argument to justify the participation of students in the Gorkhaland movement. Batches of seven school students will continue to be on a relay hunger strike in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik till July 5, when the Morcha’s indefinite shutdown resumes in the hills.

“I am totally committed to the cause and am not interested in the sops that are being offered by the Bengal government. I still believe that Gorkhaland will be a reality by March 2010. I am not interested in any kind of talks other than Gorkhaland,” Gurung added.

SAP observes Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, June 26: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed by the Sikkim Armed Police at the SAP cantonment at Pangthang this morning. Attending the occasion as the chief guest, DIG Range, Akshay Sachdeva in his address to the gathering highlighted the legalities of state police force as a law enforcing agency under NDPS Act of 1950 and Sikkim Anti Drugs Act of 2006 passed by the Indian government and Sikkim government.

In his deliberation, Mr. Sachdeva also informed the gathered police personnel about the legal punishment obligatory in nature as is enforceable under section 9 of Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act-2006, for people involved in selling drugs in an illicit manner and for the drug addicts found consuming drugs without the medical prescription of doctor. While in the former punishment, the accused will be put behind the bars for about six months alongside a fine of Rs 20,000 followed by cancellation of a business license, the latter punishment would mean that the guilty will have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 and will have to undergo a compulsory detoxification and treatment at rehabilitation and treatment centers across the State.

The DIG Range also briefed the gathering about the enforceable lawful punishment for government employees found guilty of illicit consumption of drugs, for vehicles used in drug trafficking, for people arrested for selling high quantity of banned substances and drugs. His talk also informed of the constitution of a special court headed by a session’s judge under section 17 to look into cases of drug abuse and drug trafficking and the legal punishment for police personnel as a law enforcing agency whenever they fail to arrest the accused in drug abuse and drug trafficking.

Senior citizens of Pakyong apprise officials of improper drainage

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

PAKYONG, June 26: Senior citizens of Pakyong has apprised the officials of the Subdivision about the improper drainage system in and around Pakyong Bazaar and surrounding areas such as Kartok Road, Pachey Nob Gaon, New Market, Namcheybong and up to Adheri Khola. A joint delegation comprising of 20 senior citizens of Namcheybong block and New Market yesterday placed their grievances before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jyotsna Mary Karthak.

According to them, the water, which flows to Andheri Khola via Namcheybong has damaged the culvert below the house of Kishore Pradhan of Namcheybong, which has also affected transportation.  The situation is worse during rains, the delegation said. Further, the land near the jhora is supposedly swept away by the water owing to absence of a proper drainage system.

The SDM assured the public that on July 3, a joint delegation comprising of all the Departmental Officers along with the area MLA will inspect the condition of the places and will take necessary action. She also expressed her happiness with the residents of New Market who kept their area clean.  During the inspection, the SDM assured that old maps of the culvert will be traced and work will be done accordingly so that the flow of water to the Andheri Khola via Namcheybong is reduced. The SDM also expressed her gratitude to the delegation for highlighting issues which are for the welfare of the people and for the future generation.

Sikkim government moves Supreme Court on Gorkhaland issue

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, June 26: The Supreme Court will hear two lawsuits for reopening of National Highway 31 A, the only lifeline to Sikkim tomorrow, which was for the last several days blocked by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland. The two lawsuits, including the one filed by the Sikkim government, has sought the apex court’s direction to the Central and the West Bengal governments to ensure free movement of traffic on NH 31 A. [Inset:Supreme Court of India at New Delhi. Photo Archives]

The other lawsuit has been filed by advocate OP Bhandari. Talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS over the phone from New Delhi, Mr. Bhandari, who is also the Officer on Special Duty (legal) to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, said that the case has been listed due to paucity of time. The two lawsuits will come up for hearing before a vacation bench of Justice Altmas Kabir and Justice GS Singhvi. The two pleas said on account of frequent bandhs called by the Morcha since June 14, the entire stretch of NH-31A from Siliguri to Sikkim came to a grinding halt.

School students support non-violent movement of Gorkhaland, starts hunger strike in Siliguri

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

SILIGURI, June 26: The non-violence movement started by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) for a separate Gorkhaland got a boost on Thursday when school students started relay hunger strikes in various parts of Darjeeling district.

Students from class IX and above launched relay hunger strikes in batches of 7 from 10 am in front of the offices of district magistrate, sub-divisional officer’s office at Kurseong and in front of the office of block development officer at Mirik, Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastab said.  “We are keeping a watch over the situation and handling it carefully as it is an emotional issue,” he said.

GJM Press Secretary Benoy Tamang told that at least 20 batches of students were on hunger strike at many places, including at Nepanea Bustee in the plains of Siliguri in the district.  On the GJM’s decision to affix vehicle number plates with GJ prefix from July, Srivastab said the police had sent an exhaustive report on it to the authorities and was awaiting instructions. Meanwhile, the West Bengal Government today ruled out any discussion with the Morcha on its demand of separate statehood.

Former Home Secretary appointed Sikkim Governor

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, June 26: The former Union Home Secretary, Balmiki Prasad Singh was today appointed new Governor of Sikkim. He will replace Sudarshan Agarwal, whose tenure ended in January, this year but was extended till date. Governor Agarwal was sworn in as the 13th Governor of Sikim on October 25, 2007. [Inset: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama presents the 'Man of Letters' award to former Executive Director of the World Bank Balmiki Prasad Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday for his elegant writing and love for pluralistic culture. A File picture from The Tribune]

Mr. Singh, a former Executive Director of the World Bank has authored four books including “The Problem of Change-A Study of North-East India’ and India’s Culture: the State, the Arts and Beyond.” A veteran bureaucrat, he is also a recipient of several honours including Nehru Fellowship, Queen Elizabeth Fellowship and Gulzarilal Nanda Award for his outstanding public service in India. He is also the Chief Editor of ‘The Millennium Book on New Delhi’ published by Oxford University Press, in 2001.

Mountain delight

Guarded by awesome jagged peaks that rise up in the distant mist, Darjeeling serves as a base for trekkers and mountain climbers, writes Bela Banerjee

Dorje-ling or Darjeeling, the queen of the Himalayan ranges has her charm all over the world. Hindu legend claims that Kanchenjunga is the abode of Lord Shiva, who sits among its windswept peaks in eternal meditation upon the universe he created. Fifty miles south of Kanchenjunga, on a massive curve of mountain ridge, lies Darjeeling. It gets this epithet from the electrical storms that beset the Himalayas and from the dorje or thunderbolt, of tantric worship. For the Hindus and Buddhists, whose temples and monasteries are found in abundance around Darjeeling is a witness to the spiritual power of the Himalayas where Lepchas, Tibetans, Bhutias, Nepalese and Bengalis live in the vast shadow of a range of mountains that has encouraged religious thought and art for a thousand years. It is the vacation spot whose appeal has been its brisk air and grand scenery ever since the British Raj, more than a century ago, headed for the northern tip of West Bengal by palanquin, boat and pony to escape the hot flat sprawl of teeming Calcutta. It is a dream to the people of the plains to have a glance of those snow-capped mountains ranges. I am no exception to that. From New Jalpaiguri I shared a land rover with others. While climbing upward, I felt a little dizzy, mist gathering around, made me feel as if I was floating up and up! The toy train off and on passed our way. It is romantic no doubt but time consuming also. How exciting is to observe the expertise of the drivers on the sharp bends. Fern, moss covered hill with profuse trees on left, vast expanse of void on the right mingled with mist cloud and light, often sunbeams streaking through cloud and mist created a mirage. I remember the saying “abode of lightning”.

Observatory Hill and a mall where local people and visitors congregate in the evening dominate the top level of town. In this commercial area there’s a wide choice of Western and Indian hotels, their number and variety a measure of Darjeeling’s long importance as a hill station. Shops laden with hill crafts are different. Painted and colourful wooden masks, charming hill jewellery create a spell of magic. Bhutia and Nepali craftsmen make their craft vibrant. This is a glorious place blessed with the inner joy of the people of the land. Handicraft is not only a profession but also the expression of beauty inside an artist.

NBCC to close down Siliguri unit

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, June 27: The proprietor of the North Bengal Carrying Corporation (NBCC), a private freight carrier agency, is adamant on closing down amid a continuing strike in the entire carrier sector in Siliguri by the Citu affiliated Carrier Transport Employees Union (CTEU).

According to the NBCC proprietor Mr Niranjan Kr Agarwal, his decision to close down the Siliguri unit was very much in compliance with the related laws and the Citu affiliated union was creating undue pressure on him to keep the unit open. “As being alleged by the Citu, I am not closing the unit as a ploy to retrench the permanent employees and recruit casual staffs in their place. It a fact that the NBCC Siliguri unit is undergoing loss for the past few years and hence, I have decided to close it down from 1 August this year. I still stick to the decision,” Mr Agarwal said. The merchant also accused the Citu union of ‘intimidating’ him on the issue and said that resorting to a strike in the entire carrier sector over the dispute at NBCC was ‘illegitimate and unethical’.