“We will walk out if Gorkhaland is not discussed in the Tripartite Meeting” Hill Parties

12 Party delegations to demand Gorkhaland at Tripartite Meeting

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

Darjeeling, 2 September: “Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is ready to proceed to New Delhi for the Tripartite Meeting with the representatives of West Bengal State Government and the Central Government,” said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha General Secretary, Roshan Giri. Speaking to Beacon Online, Giri further said, “The successful meeting of all the pro-Gorkhaland parties at Gymkhana has been a positive development. We will sit together again on the 4^th of September where the names of the delegation going to New Delhi will be announced. All parties have come together leaving aside their personal prejudice to work collectively for the good of the people of Darjeeling Hills and Dooars Terai and most specifically towards the formation of Gokhaland.”

When asked about the leaders attending the all party meeting called by Gorkha Janmutki Morcha, Giri said, “All the parties that we had invited attended. Communist Party of India was represented by Mohan Dukhun, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist by Sawan Rai and J. B. Rai, All India Congress by Nakul Chandra Chettri and Chabi ChandraRai, All India Gorkha League by Lakshman Pradhan and Pratap Khati, Bharatiya Janata Party by Dr. G. S. Yonzan, Trinamul Congress by Gopal Singh Chettri, Gorkha National (Rastirya) Congress by D. K. Bomzan, Sikkim National Front by R. Moktan and representatives of Indian Union Muslim League and All India Racial Unity Committee Minority Cell.”

Inquired about rumours of the State Government proposing a revamped Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in the name of Gorkhaland Autonomous Council, Giri said, “We will immediately walk out if such proposals are made. We have told both the State and the Central Governments that we will participate in the Tripartite Meeting only on the condition that there is a faithful discussion on Gorkhaland. We will accept nothing besides the State of Gorkhaland.”

Nepal PM to visit India in the third week of September

FROM UNI

Kathmandu, Sep 3 : Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal will pay an official visit to India at the invitation of Dr Manmohan Singh in the third week of September.

‘I am going to attend the U N General Assembly. I will travel to India before that,’ Nepal Prime Minister who is known as comrade Prachand told the BBC Nepali service.

Though he did not specify the date, officials here said the visit would be before September 20. Prachand is scheduled to attend the U N session and will stop over in London to inaugurate the Nepali trade festival there.

Prachand visited China immediately after he became the Prime Minister of Nepal said on return from China his first political visit would be to India. There are reports that India was unhappy about his visit to China as Dr Singh was the first head of the state to congratulate Prachand and invite him to visit India within half an hour of his election to the post.

Lalu to hold talks with Nepalese leaders on Saptakoshi floods

FROM NEPAL NEWS

Indian Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav will visit Kathmandu to hold talks with Nepalese leaders on the issue of floods in Saptakoshi, which has displaced millions of people in Bihar.

Kathmandu, Sep 3 : Indian Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav will visit Kathmandu to hold talks with Nepalese leaders on the issue of floods in Saptakoshi, which has displaced millions of people in Bihar.

Yadav is likely to seek Nepal’s cooperation in solving the flood problem, which has hit both the countries.

He will meet President Dr. Rambaran Yadav and Prime Minister Prachanda.

Yadav had stated that the Bihar Government was negligent in dealing with flood problem.

Ethnic Gorkha students Rally for Gorkhaland

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Kolkata: Student activists of ethnic Gorkha community held a march here to demand a separate state of “Gorkhaland” be carved out of West Bengal. Around 500 youths of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) joined the rally.

GJM’s students’ wing, Gorkha Janamukti Vidyarthi Morcha (GJVM) said the march was part of their agitation in the struggle for a separate homeland. “We have come here for our very old demand of Gorkhaland,” said Kismat Chettri, president of GJVM.

Students from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Dooars parts of the state sporting T-shirts with “We Want Gorkhaland” inscribed on them, participated in the rally.

6400 LPG connections during Janta Mela

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 2: A total of 6,400 new LPG connections will be distributed among the selected beneficiaries from rural areas of Sikkim by the State government during the upcoming Janta Mela series this September.

A press release from SDF party hailed this decision of the government as an effective measure towards protection of trees and environment by encouraging rural people to use gas instead of firewood.

The government will be spending a sum of Rs.3.03 crores in the free distribution of LPG cylinders. The ruling party also informed about the State government has always been giving road connections due importance for development. Works for new road connections for remote areas and repair of existing roads are being done in a war footing, the party said.

The recent Cabinet meeting has passed a proposal for carpeting of Ravangla-Ralang road (1 to 13 km) and upgradation of Tarku-Damthang road, the release informs.

The Cabinet has also passed the proposal for construction of Cultural Gram at Tarpu in West Sikkim and agreed to acquire land for tourism development in East Sikkim. Money for the above two proposals was allocated by the Cabinet.

IT confusion not only limited to non-exempted category Assessee stares at penalties, TDS anther headache

As Central Income Tax Act has introduced recently none of the assessee in the state of Sikkim have deducted tax under the Act and depositing the same to the credit of Central government one has to obtain a Tax Deduction Number (TAN) and a PAN, which no one has obtained.

By Amalendu Kundu

GANGTOK, September 2: Although the Centre has implemented the Central Income Tax Act (1961) into Sikkim after a gap of 18 years, all the stakeholders including the state government seems to be confused over the assurances made by the Union Finance Minister for ‘prospective implementation’ of the order for assessing the non Sikkimese from the accounting year 2007-08.

The state government has already ceased its Sikkim Income Tax Manual 1948 on June 16 this year. As per the amendments made in the Central Income Tax Act, Sikkim Subject holders have been exempted from paying Direct Taxes.

The confusion among those non-exempted people stems from the amendments made in the Central Act itself and assurances given by Union Finance Minister himself in the Parliament.

Enacted section 10 (26 AAA) is not in conformity with the Finance Minister’s statement that the Central Act would be applicable here with ‘Prospective Effect’ since the enacted section suggest that the tax is applicable from April 1, 1991.

After various representations, Central Board of Direct Tax (CBDT) issued a notification on July 29 this year in which it clarified that the Act would be applicable from April 1, 2007.

Unfortunately again one has to understand here complications which would arise by virtue of the aforesaid notification.

Problem seen here is that the financial year 2007-08 (period from which tax has been levied) has already concluded on March 31, 2008. The last date of submitting Income Tax returns for assesees not covered by statutory provisions of ‘AUDIT’ being July 31, 2008 has already lapsed and the assessees covered by Audit is fast approaching on September 30 this year.

Defaulters will have to face penalties under various provisions of Central Income Tax Act.

Secondly, as per the provisions of the Act, tax has to be deducted at source (TDS) while making payments to employee (salary), contractors, freight, commission, rents, royalty, interest and others. The said TDS has to be deposited with the Central Government within the due date, latest by the end of the financial year.

In case no TDS is made or if made but not deposited by the end of the financial year, then the entire expenditure is to be disallowed u/s 40(a) (ia) of the Central Income Tax Act and the assessee (if govt or non govt) is liable to pay tax to the same.

As Central Income Tax Act has introduced recently none of the assessee in the state of Sikkim have deducted tax under the Act and depositing the same to the credit of Central government one has to obtain a Tax Deduction Number (TAN) and a PAN, which no one has obtained.

Now the question raised is whether the entire claim of such expenditure will be disallowed and the assessee would be asked to pay tax and penalties?

SHRP condemns Law Secretary’s behaviour

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 2: Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) party has strongly condemned the alleged misbehaviour of the Law Secretary on advocate Dinku Khati.

Stating that the above incident is amounts to harassing a woman from the Schedule Caste community, the party has accused the State government of being least bothered in this matter. It is very unfortunate that such an incident happened, the party said.

It is not only injustice to Miss Khati but an injustice to all the women in the State, said SHRP in a press release.

It may be recalled that Miss Khati had filed a complaint with the police alleging the Law Secretary of passing derogatory remarks on her being from the SC community.

SHRP has demanded actions as per the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused.

Subarna Int’l makes presentation on ‘Strategic Urban Planning for Sikkim’

Sikkim would be developed into an eco city State within 10 years: Chamling

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 02: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that Sikkim would be developed into an eco city State if the people of the State seriously devote next 10 years in the effort.

Addressing a presentation programme on Strategic Urban Planning at Chintan Bhawan here today, the Chief Minister said that the entire State will be like a city with the concept of city state planning.

“In the context of framing urban planning, we truly feel that this concept of harmonized approach to development should be incorporated by the experts and the department,” he said adding that the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of urban centers in Sikkim should be assessed and analyzed before the creation of any development plan.

He also notified that the inter city and the intra city linkages such as creation of new roads and up gradation of existing road network should be studied and suitable solutions for efficient traffic management should be reflected in the plans. In the same vein, he stressed on the need to consider the strength of geography and the natural resources to locate different facilities in a particular zone.

Mr. Chamling further suggested few of the planning with environmental considerations which in major includes solid waste management for the South and West Districts, to design more compost and sewerage plants, adoption of National Urban Transport Policy, reframing of motor vehicles, construction of localized car parks, terminal facilities and many more.

The presentation was made by Subarna International Consultancy Private Limited, a Singapore based company on the topics such as decongesting capital, beautification works and many more.

SC directs Orissa to submit report on Kandhamal

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Orissa government to place by tomorrow its report relating to steps taken to protect lives of people belonging to the Christian community in riot-hit Kandhamal district.

The apex court also asked the state government to put on affidavit whether any permission was granted to VHP leader Praveen Togadia for his proposed Yatra carrying the ash of slain leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan posted the matter for further hearing for tomorrow.

The petitioner, Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath, alleged that after this matter was taken up on Tuesday , more violence was reported and a church was destroyed while around 100 families belonging to the community were completely uprooted in one of riot-hit villages.

His counsel Colin Gonsalves sought a stop on the proposed yatra by Togadia saying it will further foment trouble in the area, which is witnessing a tense situation.

Normalcy returning to violence-hit Orissa

FROM INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

NEWS SHARED AARDEE

Life is limping back to normalcy in Orissa where communal strife has claimed 16 lives, the police said on Wednesday.

Inspector General of Police Pradeep Kapur said that the worst-hit Kandhamal and Koraput districts had reported no breach of law and order on Tuesday and early Wednesday.

“But the possibility of fresh violence can never be ruled out. We are here to intervene promptly if such things happen,” Kapur, camping in Kandhamal, told IANS over telephone.

The violence erupted after Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and four others were killed by unidentified gunmen at his ashram in Kandhamal Aug 23.

Patil reviews communal situation in Kandhamal

FROM INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Union Home minister Shivraj Patil on Wednesday reviewed the situation in Orissa’s riot-hit Kandhamal district and held talks with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and leaders of different parties on the matter in Bhubaneswar.

“We had a long discussion with the chief minister, state government officials, leader of the opposition and leaders of other parties,” Patil told reporters after a marathon review meeting before leaving for the riot-hit Kandhamal district.

Patil said he would be able to say something to the media after meeting the affected people in Kandhamal district.

Besides the Chief Minister, leader of opposition JB Patnaik and others from Congress party were present at the meeting.

Kaziranga submerged, three rhinos dead

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, September 2: Brahmaputra has already submerged 60 per cent of Kaziranga National Park. However, thanks to the efforts of the conservation and protection staff and volunteers, the world-famous rhino habitat has been able to put up a brave fight against floods.

“A large number of animals have shifted to the highlands, located south of National Highway 37, with our staff and volunteers keeping a watch over the heavy traffic on the highway,” said Dibyadhar Gogoi, Divisional Forest Officer of Kaziranga.

On Monday morning, traffic came to a grinding halt on the highway when a herd of 50 elephants took its own time to shift from the park to Karbi Anglong highlands; a large number of hog deer and swamp deer also crossed over to safer places. However, one hog deer was run over by a speeding vehicle near Bagori.
This happened despite the forest and district authorities putting up seven barricades so that the park’s animals are able to safely cross the highway through the natural corridor.

Nepali speaking Congolese

Link Shared by Y K Shrestha

Source: http://asherchan.blogspot.com

Teez festival Celebrated

FROM ASSAM TIMES

NEWS SHARED BY Y K SHRESTHA

Teez festival by the Gorkhas community is celebrated with funfair through out the state. The event in Guwahati was held in Nepali Mandir, Paltan Bazar. Hundreds of women were seen singing, dancing  & giggling in groups in Gorkha High School premises. In Hindu mythology during this time young Parvati had fasten till Lord Shiva accepted her love and married her.

Thus Kurseong was born…..

Shared by Shital Pradhan

By Philip Rai, Kurseong

According to Iman Sigh Chemjong in his Brief History of Kirat Period Bijaypur, a Kiranti Pradesh called Bijapur once ran from the Trishuli River to the Teesta including Western Sikkim. It included the present day Darjeeling District and the sub division of Siliguri. Darjeeling then fell into Pallo Kirant As the decades rolled by, the kingdom broke up and the present day Darjeeling tract fell under Sikkim till it was conquered by the Gorkhas of Nepal. The Gorkhas held this tract of land for thirty years. They finally surrendered it to the Britishers after the Sigauli Treaty of 1815. There after in 1817 Darjeeling was again given back to Sikkim under the Titaliya Treaty of 1817. Sikkim held it till 1835 when Col. Loyd under suspicious circumstances got the Deed of Darjeeling Tract from the Rajah of Sikkim. Against this deed the Britishers paid an annual rent to the Rajah of Sikkim.

Kharsang, Kurseongguree and now Kurseong, connotes three different explanations. Kharsang, home of the Lepchas, for them Kurseong was the land of the White Orchids that hangs from every moss covered branch. Kurseongguree for the Gurkhas of Nepal a frontier post in the Far East and Kurseong the anglicized version of the native name by the first white colonials.

Prachanda plans big scheme

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today said the government would chart the course of the peace process, formulate a new constitution and also provide relief to the common people during the honeymoon period.

Right beginnings will be made as far as the peace process is concerned and a special committee will work out the modality on the integration of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the PM told BBC Nepali Service in a recorded interview that was broadcast tonight. “Besides, a new constitution is on the anvil. While the first budget, to be tabled in three months, will give relief to the people,” he said.

Prachanda also rejected speculations that he would quit the party post. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the interim constitution will guide the PLA’s integration, Prachanda said. While all PLA combatants verified by United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) are eligible for adjustment and rehabilitation in the army, individuals will also be given other options if they want, he said.

Prachanda evaded answer to a question whether he would have visited China first irrespective of the Olympic Games. “That is a hypothetical question,” said the PM, who is preparing for his “first political visit” to New Delhi later this month.

Prachanda said his party would make all efforts to make a pro-People’s Republic constitution as far as possible. Prachanda called upon a clear review of the ‘50 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Nepal and India. He, however, did not elaborate. He also dismissed speculations that he would sack the army chief, Rookmangud Katawal.

“As long as the army, police or public servants work honestly for the nation, the people’s mandate, democracy, peace and change, they need not feel insecure. We will not be prejudiced against anyone. No one would be treated unfairly and nothing like that will happen.”

Teej celebrated by Gorkhas worldwide

Kathmandu, Darjeeling, Dehradun

Floods likely to ravage east Sunsari

FROM GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN

ITAHARI, Sept 1: A spur with 13.60 km length at the northern part of the place Koshi entered Susnari is being eroded day by day. However, no notable initiative has been taken to control the erosion.

If this spur is eroded, the river will jeopardize the places in the eastern part as well. The technicians come from India began works yesterday but it is a meager effort to control the water flow. Rather, they dug the soil nearby the spur which spurred further erosion.

Exacerbating efforts, the river has been sweeping away the sand-packed sacks placed to control the flow.

This scanty process has also been halted today as there is no place to bring the soil.

It is learnt that the Indian side is not serious to this critical matter because few sacks and some dozens of gabion wires are placed in the spur which is negligible work to control the wild flood.

In Lamjung, a woman was killed when she was swept away by landslide at Ward Number 7, Bhatswanra of Tarkughat Village Development Committee in Lamjung district last night.

The woman, 33-year-old Madhumaya Nepali, wife of Ram Bahadur Nepali, was buried in the landslide when she had gone to check the floodwater flowing down above her house.

Toy Train services from today

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 2: Normal train services between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR) will resume from 3 September. Train services of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways had to be suspended since 7 June due to the political turmoil in the Hills and also for landslide in some places. The service between Kurseong and Darjeeling started on 2 July, an NFR release, said.

All hill parties name representatives for Delhi talks, GJMM to decide today

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 2: All hill parties have declared the names of representatives who would accompany the GJMM leadership for the proposed tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland to New Delhi on 8 September.

The GJMM had announced at the all party meeting yesterday that one representative from each party would accompany the delegation to New Delhi and had requested the parties to submit the names of their representatives by today.

The AIGL general secretary Mr Laxman Pradhan, CPRM central secretariat member Mr JB Rai, Mr GS Yonzon BJP president (Hill unit) and District Congress Committee (Hill) joint secretary Mr Chabi Rai are the ones who would represent their organisations in the New Delhi talks.

GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri informed that his party would announce the names of its representatives tomorrow

‘Tourism to get a filip this festive season’

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 2: The state tourism minister, tourism department officials and tour operators sounded expectant of a tourism revival in Darjeeling with the festive season approaching. All expressed the view that a satisfactory formula might come out of the ensuing tripartite dialogue on the Darjeeling tangle and restoration of peace in the Hills would rejuvenate tourism prospects.

The state tourism minister Mr Manab Mukherjee, said that the state government was optimistic of a breakthrough in course of the proposed tripartite dialogue and with peace restored in the Hills it would do everything to boost up the long- flagging tourism prospects in the Hills. “Pujas is imminent and we want to see Darjeeling Hills brimming again with tourists from far and near. We do not want this tourist season to be wasted away like the previous years because of the political turmoil,” he said.

“The state government is pinning hopes on the approaching tripartite dialogue and if a breakthrough is achieved, the state tourism department would step in immediately to boost up the sagging tourism sector in the hills,” the minister said.

Asked whether the state government was contemplating any special incentive for the Hill tourists, the minister said that peace must be restored first and only then the government would be in a position to think of any package.

Morcha movement affects hill hydel plants

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Sept. 2: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s movement for a separate state has stalled work in at least five small hydel projects in the Kalimpong subdivision, officials of the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation said today.

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency had earlier sought expression of interest from private entrepreneurs to set up micro and small hydel projects that would harness streams in the Darjeeling hills and generate anything between 10kw and 6mw of power. The Green Energy Development Corporation was later given charge of the small plants.

“Work has come to a halt in at least five small hydel projects, all in Kalimpong, because of the ongoing movement,” S.P Gon Chaudhuri, the managing director of the Corporation, said over the phone from Calcutta. “We are told that construction at the sites was disrupted which prompted the private investors to keep their activities on hold.”

According to Gon Chaudhuri, three of the small plants will be set up on the Chel river, while the other two will be on the Naxalkhola and the Pedong. “There is, however, no disruption in the four small hydel projects that have already been commissioned. But we are concerned over the sudden disruption in these five plants,” the MD said.

Mom knocks at court door to get back child

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Seema at the SDO’s court in Jalpaiguri on Tuesday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, Sept. 2: A woman has gone to court to get back her four-month-old son from a foster-mother.

Seema Mondal, a resident of Raikatpara of Jalpaiguri who works in a tailoring shop, claimed to have given birth to the boy. But Ratna Roy Biswas, an employee of the regional provident fund office, said she had “taken Babu from Seema through an arrangement”.

When Seema, the wife of Rampukar, a salesman at a garments shop, conceived for the second time, she was approached by Ratna who does not have any children. The Raikatpara resident has a three-year-old daughter.

“I came to know from Shakuntala, who serves in our office canteen, that Seema was worried about her would-be child’s future,” Ratna said. “I told her that I was ready to take the child after birth to which she agreed.”

Ratna said since then, she had started taking care of Seema during her pregnancy.

Meditation classes for Gorkhaland volunteers

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong, Sept. 2: About 400 volunteers of the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) underwent a day-long session of mental exercise as part of their training here today.

The programme was conducted in two parts with the first one being devoted to educating the young volunteers on the hazards of HIV/AIDS. The session was conducted by the members of Project Saheyta, an organisation engaged in spreading awareness on AIDS. The second part was a meditation conducted by the experts in the field.

The training programme was organised by Bharatiya Gorkha Bhotpurwa Sainik Morcha, the former servicemen’s wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which had also recruited the GLP volunteers from among the thousands of people who had attended recruitment drives that were conducted at various places across the hills and the Dooars.

The president of the Sainik Morcha, Ramesh Alley, said the purpose of organising the exercise was to make the youngsters mentally strong and aware citizens.