Municipal Commissioner directed to leave home

A BEACON ONLINE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON] EXCLUSIVE

FROM BARUN ROY

Darjeeling: In what can only be termed as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s relentless move to oust Gorkha National Liberation Front physically from the hills, the most recent GNLF leader to be directed to live the Hills is Municipal Commissioner of Ward number 12, Deviki Tamang. However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha office bearers have given the statement that no such direction have been issued by the party and that it has been the verdict of the people. “Gorkha Janmukti Party can never resort to such unlawful and undemocratic activities”, said one of the leaders. Deviki Tamang has however speaking of a letter given to her three days ago by the people of ward number 12 said, “I had resigned from my party [GNLF] the day Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was formed. I resigned from the post of Municipal Ward Commissioner on the 7th of August. I have been asked to leave my house within three days. ” Crying as she spoke over the phone, she said, “I am not against anyone, I am not against the soil. I can never be against Gorkhas and Gorkhaland. But for last six months I and my family have been socially boycotted. No body speaks with us nor visits us.” She further added, “I am not a politician. In 2004, these very people had forced me to run for the Municipal Election and elected me. People who forced me into become their ward commissioner are now against me. The people from the ward has threatened me to leave the house but I have nowhere to go. Where will I live if I am forced to leave my home? I have been asked to lock the home and leave? What am I to do now?”

Deviki Tamang lives with her husband and their college going son. Deviki’s elder unmarried sister also lives with her. When the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Town Committee Convernor Pasang Lama [Mama] was asked about the same, he responded by saying that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will never do such things. “The people have been crying for the traitors and anti-people elements to leave Darjeeling Hills. Now it is upon Deviki Tamang to leave her house or not. These leaders might be receiving such threats because of the wrong deed they did when they were in power. These things has nothing to do with our party.” When the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Press and Publicity Secretary Binay Tamang was inquired about the ultimatum made to Deviki Tamang, he said, “The Central Committee does not interfere with the activities of its branches and sub-branches. If there is a problem arising due to the activities of a resident of a neighbourhood or a village the residents of that very neighbourhood or village will have to solve the problem by coming together.”

Readers might be reminded that these kind of ultimatum is not a new happening. The Municipal Commission of Ward No 23 Anjali Thapa has already left her Darjeeling leaving behind her house. It is not known where she has been forced to relocate.

Kingdom of Nepal

By Bob Hilkens

KINGDOM OF NEPAL

The Kingdom of Nepal was founded in the second part of the 18th century when the Kings of the Gurkha Principality – founded in 1559 – gradually conquered all existing polities and unified them into one state. (1)

(1) The traditional year given for the founding of the Kingdom is 1768 when King Prithivi Narayan Shah of Gurkha (1722 – 1775 ; r. 1743 – 1768 in Gurkha) conquered Kathmandu where he then ruled until 1775.

Situation before unification

(only three major tribal authorities included, but many others existed all over the country)

- In Central Nepal :

- the Newar Kingdoms of Bhatgaon, Kathmandu and Patan (considered as the predecessors of present-day Nepal, although they only controlled a very small portion of its territory)

- the Caubisi (“Twenty-Four”) a losse confederation of several – traditionally 24, but exact number subject to discussion – Kha Kingdoms (Gurkha, Kaski, Lamjang, …) – the Kha Kingdom of Makwampur

- In Eastern Nepal :

- the Kha Kingdoms of Bijayapur and Chaudandi
- the Limbu and Rai tribal authorities

- In Western Nepal :

- the Baisi (“Twenty-Two”), a losse confederation of several – traditionally 22, but exact number subject to discussion – Kha Kingdoms (Achham, Dullu, Jumla, …)
- the Magar tribal authorities

Unification

1744 : conquest of Makwampur
1768 – 1769 : conquest of the Newar Kingdoms
1769 – 1775 : conquest of the Eastern Nepalese polities
1782 – 1790 : conquest of the Baisi, Caubisi and Magar polities

Expansion outside present-day Nepal

1788 : first intervention in Tibet. A second one in 1791 was followed by a war with China in 1792 and the signing of the Treaty of Kathmandu.
1790 : conquest of Kumaon. The start of the expansion into the Indian territories, which would eventually cause a war with the British (1814 – 1816) and the signing of the Treaty of Segauli
1793 : conquest of Sikkim (until 1816)
1856 : a third intervention in Tibet ended with the signing of a treaty which forced Tibet to pay a yearly tribute, broke off the last links between the Kingdom of Mustang and Tibet and gave the Nepalese total freedom of trade (in this way legalising an old trade monopoly which would last until 1888) and extraterritorial rights. It also gave them the right to post a Resident (Vakil) in Lhassa.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Bengal tea workers to go on strike over wage revision

FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS

BY ROHIT KHANNA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Kolkata, Aug 8:North Bengal’s famed tea industry will be shut for one-day on August 11 as the tripartite meeting between tea workers, planters and the state labour department on wage revision of garden workers remained inconclusive.

The workers have threatened to intensify their agitation and go on indefinite strike from August 18 if their demands are not met immediately.

Unions representing the Darjeeling Hill Workers’ Union have softened their stand and agreed to a wage increase of Rs 5 per year for daily labourers, one rupee less than their earlier demand for the next three years. But planters feel this will be difficult to accept, as even a one rupee increase in wage per year translates into 70 paise increase in the cost of tea production.

According to sources, although workers’ unions have asked for an increase of Rs 5 per year for next three years at the meeting held on Thursday, planters are only willing to an increase of Rs 3.70 per year for next three years for the daily wage earners.

Manohar Tirkey, general secretary of the Dooars Cha Bagan (tea estates) Workers’ Union, (UTUC) said, “We will go for an indefinite strike from 18th August if the management does not agree to our demands and will be joined by other trade unions like CITU and INTUC.”

The present tri-partite wage agreement signed on July 2005, for tea garden workers in West Bengal expired on 31st March 2008.

AFC Challenge Cup final, Delhi likely venue on Aug 13

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

By Philem Dipak Singh

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Hyderabad (PTI) Unsuitable ground conditions following incessant rains in the city today forced the Asian Football Confederation to postpone and shift the AFC Challenge Cup final between India and Tajikistan scheduled for tomorrow here and New Delhi is likely to host the game on August 13. An AFC delegation will fly down to New Delhi tomorrow morning to inspect the Ambedkar stadium and decide whether it is suitable to host the final and the third-place play-off between Myanmar and DPR Korea. “The AFC Challenge Cup Organising Committee inspected the Gachibowli Stadium today and found the pitch unplayable after incessant rains deteriorated the ground surface. AFC will conduct an inspection of New Delhi’s Ambedkar stadium on Sunday. Both these matches would be played on August 13, if AFC finds the Ambedkar stadium suitable to host the games,” an AFC media statement said.

Heavy rains which lashed the city for the past eight days made Gachibowli and Lal Bahadur stadiums unsuitable for the final match of the eight-nation tournament whose winners qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup. AFC media officer Steve Tae Kim told PTI that the AFC delegation will fly down to New Delhi tomorrow morning and All India Football Federation General Secretary Alberto Colaco will also accompany them.

Playing in Hyderabad after a few days was not considered an option because of uncertainty. Delhi was also in the running to host the July 30-August 10 elite tournament but Hyderabad had pipped the country’s capital city which had hosted the Nehru Cup last August in which India came out victorious

“The ground at Gachibowli was also unplayable and with the kind of rain here, it will be worse tomorrow. The match then will not be decided by football skills. It will be a shame if a final match of such an important tournament is decided by factors not connected to football,” said Houghton. “Lal Bahadur stadium was no better than Gachibowli. It will be an embarassment for the AFC and AIFF if the final is played at LBS which is a cricket ground,” he said at a press conference.

Everestiers from Darjeeling being felictated during the Darjeeling Carnival

Everestiers from Darjeeling being felicitated during Darjeeling Carnival. Everestiers seen are Kunga Bhutia, Jamling Sherpa, Lathoo Sherpa among others. Darjeeling Carnival had was one of the most successful social integration programme in the history of Darjeeling Hills. Photo by Barun Roy

Hitler’s Telescope in Darjeeling?

A powerful Veb Carl Zeiss Jena telescope capable of astronomical observation installed at HMI is of great interest to the visitors. One can view the beautiful Kanchenjunga range through this telescope. It was presented by Adolf Hitler to Maharaja Judh Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, Commander-in-chief of Royal Nepal Army. It was passed down to his son General Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana who presented it to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute on 7th 1961.

Second World War veterans from Darjeeling

Second World War Veterans from Darjeeling. Photo by Barun Roy

Kunga Bhutia – Mount Everest Summiteer from Darjeeling

Kunga Bhutia scale Mt. Everest on the 22nd of May 1993. Photo by Barun Roy

First independence day celebration in Darjeeling

Source: Fallen Cicada – Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills by Barun Roy

Prakriti Giri felicitated by Delhi Public School

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Tea Gardens in Darjeeling Hills to shut down in protest

Tea Gardens in Darjeeling hills to shut down to protest against the anti-workers policies of the Tea Company.

The plying of vehicles to and from Tea Estates to be disallowed including all work on the Tea garden.

Agitational Programmes so far beside complete shut down

13 August – 24 hour relay hunger strike

16 August – Fast unto death

16 August – Total embargo on the transport tea outside Darjeeling Hills

Height of Neglect – Syringes used to test HIV dumped outside Hospital

In what can only be labeled as the Height of negligence, syringes used in the testing of HIV were found dumped outside the Darjeeling District Hospital with packets of food. It is evident from the photograph that most of the syringes were not even been destroyed. Blood can be still seen inside them. Drug abusers are also known to use syringes like this for injection of drugs. This kind of negligence by Medical Authorities is in gross violation of life and security. It remains unknown how many individuals have been infected with diseases including HIV by such reckless practices of these medical workers. Medical workers found neglecting their duties should be summarily suspended.

The Queen of Hills – The dustbin of the future?

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Darjeeling Municipality once again contemplates on stopping the construction of high rises but isn’t it already too late? Darjeeling Today is an epitome of physical decay. Photo by Barun Roy

Home Ministry in a tizzy over fake currency notes

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

Rattled by reports of recovery of fake currency notes, which could have linkages with terror outfits, the Union Home Ministry wants better coordination among the Ministries of Finance and External Affairs, security agencies and RBI to tackle the problem.

Seizures of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from time to time show that most of the security features in various denominations have been replicated.

This has rung alarm bells in the Home Ministry, which apprehends that the counterfeit notes recovered recently could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Against this backdrop, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta chaired a high-level meeting recently to review steps being taken to deal with the menace and favoured setting up of a nodal cell in all states.

A senior Home Ministry official said there was a need to streamline various processes related to detection and seizure of fake currency notes, reporting, analysis, information sharing, monitoring, registration and investigation of cases.

Protester sets himself on fire

FROM SUN HERALD

A PROTESTER set himself on fire outside the Chinese embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara and thousands of Tibetan exiles took to the streets in Nepal as anti-Chinese demonstrations worldwide coincided with the start of the Olympics.

In Ankara, a 35-year-old man suffered second-degree burns after setting himself on fire during a rally by several hundred Uighurs, an ethnic minority in China who are seeking independence or greater autonomy.

In Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, thousands of Tibetan exiles demonstrated at the Chinese embassy, shouting, “China, thief. Leave our country. Stop killing in Tibet.”

In India, more than 2000 protesters marched in Dharmsala, home to the Tibetan government in exile and the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader.

Followers of Falun Gong – a spiritual movement banned in China – rallied at Sydney’s Darling Harbour and in Melbourne’s City Square yesterday.

Maoists again fail to form consensus govt in Nepal

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KATHMANDU: After the drubbing they received in the presidential election last month, Nepal’s former Maoist guerrillas suffered yet another setback on Friday when, for the second time this week, they failed to meet the deadline set by President Ram Baran Yadav for coming up with a consensus government.

Despite emerging as the largest party in the April election, the ex-insurgents failed to carry caretaker PM Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress party along with them. Even after a marathon five-hour dialogue on Friday with the NC as well as the other major parties – the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum – Maoist chief Prachanda’s ambition to become the next PM of Nepal was destined to remain unfulfilled.

Though the parties said they would hold yet another round of parleys on Saturday, the indications are that the Maoists and Koirala may part ways now and both try to persuade the other parties to support them. With the failure to reach a consensus government, the president may now call Koirala, the leader of the second-largest party, to form the new government. The other option is that the newly elected constituent assembly, will now hold a vote to elect the new PM.

RCPD And Nepal

A GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN EDITORIAL

By Hira Bahadur Thapa

The Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (RCPD) in Asia and the Pacific is an institution created by the General Assembly of the United Nations about two decades ago. To be headquartered in Kathmandu, it was meant to promote regional disarmament. This is a centre that was born during the period when Nepal was privileged to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the second time. It is a fact that Nepal has so far served in the UN Security Council for two terms.

The first time it was serving in the most prestigious and powerful body of the United Nations was during 1969-70. Nepal had to wait until 1988 to get a second chance to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is a happy coincidence to recall that Nepal lobbied quite persuasively to convince the UN membership to accept the generous offer of the government to play host to the RCPD. Consequent upon this and also keeping in view the contributions made by Nepal to world peace, especially through its continuous participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish the RCPD in Kathmandu unanimously.

Relocation to Kathmandu

The passage of a relevant resolution by the General Assembly was not that difficult compared to Nepal’s persistent efforts to relocate the RCPD to Kathmandu, which is the centre’s rightful place. None should be surprised to learn that the RCPD, since its establishment in 1989, has been operating from the UN headquarters in New York. The centre was set up following a decision by the international community about 20 years ago to promote the cause of world disarmament through regional endeavours.

Disarmament is an ideal situation where nations give up rivalry in armament. This means that they voluntarily decide to reduce their stockpiles – both nuclear and conventional. Moreover, disarmament would require nations to abide by international norms of non-proliferation by not flouting the provisions of NPT (Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons). Looked at from this perspective, achieving disarmament seems to be an utopian goal. However, the global community should not give up hopes of seeing countries in favour of reducing arms. One of the most pressing objectives of the RCPD is to encourage members to honour international commitments under the arms reduction-related treaties and to enter into new agreements that will create a conducive environment for disarmament in the broader region of Asia and the Pacific.

740 Tibetans held in Nepal for anti-China protests

FROM EXPRESS INDIA

Kathmandu, Aug 8: Nepali police detained hundreds of angry Tibetan refugees who tried to storm a Chinese consular office in Kathmandu on Friday, in protests only hours before the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Police said the Tibetans, who arrived in busloads, and included nuns and monks, had begun a march towards the walled premises of the consular office.

They said at least 740 protesters, mostly refugees, had been detained and more were expected to be rounded up as the protests continued outside the office. On Thursday, at least 513 demonstrators were detained.

“We want that the Tibetans should stop protesting, taking into consideration the long lasting relations of friendship with China,” Nepali Home Ministry spokesman Modraj Dotel said.

China is an influential neighbour, donor and trade partner of impoverished Nepal which considers Tibet a part of China.

“Stop killing in Tibet,” some protesters shouted, with red and blue ribbons emblazoned with “Free Tibet” around their heads.

Protesters were quickly overpowered by hundreds of riot police who hauled them into iron-meshed blue vans and open trucks and took them to detention centres.

Friday’s protests in Nepal followed one of the biggest anti-China demonstrations in recent months on Thursday, which saw thousands of Tibetans take to the streets in Delhi and Nepal, protesting against the Olympics in China.

Tea workers’ strike on Monday

FROM THE STATESMAN

Protesting against the failure of the state government and the captains of the tea industry to settle tea workers’ wages even after several round of tripartite talks on the subject, the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, which is the GJMM’s tea workers’ union, has decided to launch an agitation in the Darjeeling plantations.

According to Mr TC Roka, legal secretary, DTDPLU, a token strike would be observed in the hill plantations on 11 August followed by a relay hunger strike by the tea workers on 13 August. “If the state government or the industry captains continue to frustrate the workers’ rights still, the DTDPLU would launch a fast unto death and block despatch of tea from the Darjeeling hills from 16 August,” Mr Roka, said.

Indian Railways: A mixed bag

FROM CENTRAL CHRONICLE

By Shibani Dasgupta

It is story of thrills and valor, of coping with masses and engineering skills for a significant tool of mobility that has only expanded in the 150 years or more of its existence.

For the Indian Railways development has been the watch word, and yet there have been glaring glitches that have left a scar. It had to face many challenges, some of which have remained unsolved or partially solved.

Two years after the 11 July 2006 on suburban railway network in Mumbai, by suspected extremists of minority cadres, there is no change for the commuters in terms of security as the Ministry is yet to take a decision on an integrated security plan for important railway stations across the country, including the suburban network – are a reality that nearly seven million people who commute by the local trains.

The tragedy that snuffed out at least 187 innocent lives, still has victims who need and take treatment at local hospitals, thankfully paid for by the Railways. For these unfortunate victims, Railways have already reimbursed more than Rs. 65 lakhs on hospital and treatment bills.

For the Railways it has been an uphill task, form putting five of the seven blown up coaches back on the rails to disbursing compensations that total upto Rs. 25 crores to the blast victims and their families, and also absorbing 69 people from the affected families into railway jobs, however it has falled in executing effective security system at the 28 suburban stations of Western Railways, despite installing more than 500 CCTVs, 71 metal detectors and hiring 12 dog squads in addition to the five of its own.

A proposal to engage private parties on a Build Own Operate and Transfer basis to provide equipment for security and explosive detection and disposal is still hanging fire in Rail Bhavan. Officials unofficially concede that private parties are lining up, keen to install, operate and maintain the security set-up. But as yet there has been no policy decision (till mid-July).

On the energy saving front in Railways, there has finally been some movement – Indian Railways ambitious and innovative plan to replace 26 lakh incandescent lamps with energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) in 6.5 lakh railway households and earn carbon credits has finally moved. A consortium of three companies Philips Goldman Sachs and IRG bidding jointly for the project.

15,000km trip follows the history of tea across world

FROM THE NORTHERN ECHO

By Lauren Pyrah »

A GRADUATE has embarked on a 15,000km journey across 15 countries in a motorised rickshaw for a film tracing the cultural roots of tea.

Cambridge graduate Andrew Daynes, from Crathorne, near Yarm, is part of the Tracing Tea film crew, which will track tea’s ancient trading routes, along with stories linked to the drink, across Asia and Europe from Darjeeling, in India, to London.

The film will trace tea’s involvement with all aspect of culture, including espionage, warfare, philosophy and medicine, as the team follows the roots of tea through India, Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Holland, before returning to the UK.

The documentary, being made by Maximum Exposure Productions, will interview Hundreds play at summer school HUNDREDS of musicians will play at a folk summer school.

The three Folkworks Summer Schools, covering junior, youth and adult classes, will give musicians of all abilities the chance to broaden their knowledge.

The events, in Durham City, will be rounded off by the Durham Gathering, featuring three days of performances.

A Folkworks spokesman said: “The three-day festival includes something for everyone, with concerts, ceilidhs, outdoor events and sessions across Durham, with a wealth of talent drawn from the Folkworks Summer Schools and beyond.”

The festival will run from Thursday to Saturday.

On Thursday, there will be a teatime squeeze at the Gala Theatre, from 5.30pm, featuring Freeland Barbour, Alistair Anderson, Julian Sutton and Robert Harbron, followed by a Scottish night with Catriona Macdonald, Sarah- Jane Summers, Ian Lowthian, Lillias Kinsman-Blake, Alyth Mc- Cormack and Janet Russell.

Friday’s performances at the Gala Theatre will include The Short Story Club and The Seriously Advanced Band and Folkworks Youth Summer School’s Showcase. There will also be music in Millennium Place and a folk picnic in the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery, Aykley Heads.

On Saturday, there will be a concert from 7.45pm at the Gala.

No Govt vehicle plying with GL number plate’

FROM THE HINDU

Siliguri (PTI): No government vehicle in Darjeeling was plying with GL (Gorkhaland) number plate from Saturday morning, said District Magistrate Surendra Gupta. Some government vehicles were on Friday spotted plying in Darjeeling with ‘GL’ number plates after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which is spearheading an agitation for Gorkhaland asked all government vehicles to change their number plates to GL.

Gupta told PTI over phone that many government vehicles were kept in garages and all the officers including Additional District Magistrate’s (ADMs) asked to hire private vehicles without GL number plate. The DM said that if there was any further pressure to affix GL number plate, he would ask all government vehicles to stop plying and garage those till a solution to the problem was found.

When asked that the government vehicles were not using GL number plate, the GJM press secretary, Benoy Tamang said that the GJM leadership was observing the situation. “If it was found that government officials were hiring private vehicles the GJM would chase the vehicles carrying government officials and ask them to change the number plate to GL,” Tamang said.

“We have also asked the private vehicle owners to change the number plates but it was not not mandatory”. In the first phase GJM had affixed GL number plates to around 40 vehicles used by GJM and its leaders on July 7.

Guru Rinpoche’s B-day celebration

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: Maha Guru Padmashambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, or the Precious Master is the Supreme Tantric Master who had exhibited mystic feats in subduing evil spirits and demons in reforming them to guard the religion and protect the followers of the Dharma. Guru Rinpoche is profoundly venerated in Tibet for establishing Buddhism there and also in Sikkim for consecrating the hidden land as most sacred and holy. 10th day of the 6th lunar month is Guru Rinpoche’s birth date and observed as Guru Trhungkar Tshechu; a gazetted holiday in Sikkim.

Guru Rinpoche has a very special relation with the land of Sikkim known as Bayyul Dremojong (Dremoshong) or Ne Mayal Lyang. On way to Tibet , Guru Rinpoche had a sojourn in this land. To celebrate Guru Rinpoche Trhungkar Tshechu on August 11, the statue of Guru Rinpoche specially maintained by Dodrupchen Rinpoche at Chorten Lakhang would be carried in Guru Chyendren procession with the chanting of Vajra Guru Mantra from Chorten Gonpa at 9am. The procession route will be Deorali, NH 31A, Metro Point, Zero Point, Bhanupath, Sonam Tshering Marg, Namnang to Deorali and back to Chorten Gonpa. The procession and celebration will be organized jointly by different Buddhist associations of Sikkim.

“We won’t tolerate humiliation of bandhs anymore”, says CM

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: “Man developed many things and became so advanced that it lost its own roots. Now they are worrying and thinking to go back in their original roots. I have read in a book “The Roots” written by one black writer on this issue. Man, now, is searching for purity. World, now, is emphasizing on low carbon economy. They are now thinking that the strategy of their forefathers was right”. This was said by Chief Minster Dr. Pawan Chamling. He was speaking as chief guest at “Tendong Loh Rum Faat” celebration of Lepcha community held at Sikkim Government College auditorium on Friday.

“A strategy of low carbon economy had been adopted 12/13 years back by state government”, CM said, “with the launching of organic farming, along with a green mission, and now the world is following it”. CM assured Lepchas that construction of “Swarga Janey Sidi” (stairs to go to heaven) at Daramdin, West Sikkim, will be completed. He said Lepcha is culturally the richest primitive tribe in the country and wanted to see Lepcha became richer than the Red Indian of USA. He advised Lepchas not to listen to such Lepcha association which misled them. “You people should avoid such anti-people elements who blackmail you by exploiting your emotion,” he said.

CM briefly outlined the manifold development of the state, including rise in gross domestic product and per capita income, since Sikkim Democratic Front headed by him came in power. Mentioning “recurring road blockade by some Gorkhaland supporters, CM said, “We are fed up with such bandhs. We will not tolerate such humiliation and further. We are first class citizens of the country, who have given country to merge with India. We want due respect and not humiliation”.

SCWC congratulates Manju Khati for her directorial venture; also appeals people to vote for Rohit Sunar

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 08: The Scheduled Caste Welfare Committee (SCWC) of Rabongla, South Sikkim has congratulated Manju Khati for her directorial venture. According to Binay Gazmer, president, SCWC, the Muhuart for the English movie “Cash Card” directed by Manju was held on August 7 at Hanuman Tok, Gangtok.
She has become the first ever female director from Sikkim under the banner of Cine Vision Private Limited. Manju has also written the story of the movie thus proving that the local women are as capable as their male counterparts.

“Manju is not only the pride of the film industry of Sikkim but the whole Scheduled Caste Fraternity is proud of her achievement,” Mr. Gazmer said in a press release.

The SCWC has also wished her luck for her future venture and hoped that she gives the State more of her talents in days to come. The SCWC has also appealed all to vote for Rohit Sunar, a contestant of the TV Reality show, Voice of India. Rohit is an Indian Nepalese based in Assam.