SC issues notices to Centre, States on plea to ban lotteries

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and several states which are running lotteries on a petition seeking a ban on lotteries.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agarwal and G S Shingvi issued notices after hearing counsel for the petitioner who contended that families of those belonging to weaker sections of society are being ruined because of these lotteries which lure them through temptation for easy and quick money.

In several cases, workers lose their entire salary in these lotteries and their families have to suffer and many of them find themselves in a debt trap.

The apex court directed the Union government and other states, particularly North eastern states like Nagaland and Sikkim, where online lotteries are still continuing, to respond to the petition.

Many states have, however, banned these lotteries.

Goa politicians condemn violence in north Karnataka

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Panaji, Sep 16 (PTI) Politicians in Goa cutting across their political affiliations have condemned the violence in North Karnataka.

The Congress party condemning the attack on Churches have fired salvo at BJP-led Karnataka government.

“The attacks on minority community shows that they have been well planned in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-run states or where it shares power with others,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President, Fransisco Sardinha said.

Fearing that nation’s secular fabric is being withered, Sardinha said that BJP and its affiliated associations have been systematically spreading the plan of terror.

Sardinha, who addressed a press conference few hours before he was replaced by congressman Subhash Shirodkar as a GPCC chief, hoped that the Chief Ministers of the state would take steps to prevent further violence.

Goa’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denouncing the attacks said that since the incidents have occurred close to Goa, the State Government should ensure that they are not replicated in the state.

“Attempts are being made to create religious disharmony across the country, and there is a possibility of anti social elements exciting the religious sentiments of the people of Goa as was done earlier,” Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said.

Reacting to the GPCC chief’s allegations on BJP-ruled states, Parrikar shot back that the Congress ruled states have failed not only to maintain law and order but also displayed dismal progress in nabbing the culprits.

Andrew Yule to re-launch packet tea during festive season

FROM SINDH TODAY [PAKISTAN]

Kolkata, Sep 16 (IANS) Andrew Yule will re-launch its packet tea during the festive season this year and pump in Rs.600 million over the next 12 years into its tea business for modernization of its gardens, a top company official said here Tuesday.

‘The gardens of our company are amongst the top 50 gardens in the country. But we are facing some problems with productivity at present. We need to do some re-plantation and modernisation to increase the production,’ Kallol Datta, Andrew Yule chairman and managing director said on the sidelines of the company’s annual general meeting.

The company is re-launching two packet tea brands during this festive season – Yule Tea-Gold for the premium segment, and the Yule Tea-Red for the popular segment. Both categories will be blended curl, tear, crush (CTC) variety of tea.

‘I hope the tea division will turn around this year,’ Datta said, adding: ‘We are targeting selling around 500,000 kilograms a year.

The company is targeting smaller towns and semi-urban areas to promote its tea brands.

Spirited Kurseong claim title – Siphir Football Club bow out after 2-0 defeat

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

NEWS SHARED BY Y K SHRESTHA

CEM Cup Soccer

Match Point: A moment from the match between Kurseong and Siphir in Haflong on Wednesday. A Telegraph picture

Nagaon, Sept. 10: Kurseong United Football Club, Darjeeling claimed the title in the 6th CEM Cup Invitation Football Tournament, organised by NC Hills Sports Association, defeating Siphir Football Club, Aizawl 2-0 in the final at Haflong today.

Kurseong striker Amit Tamang’s corner brought the first goal in the 85th minute.

Midfielder Santosh Tamang scored the second goal in the 92nd minute.

Siphir striker Nicky Malsawthanga was awarded Man of the Match. Three Kurseong players, – Songtosh Tamang, C.L. Zarjova and Prasant Tamang – were cautioned with yellow cards for rough tackles.

More than 15,000 football enthusiasts gathered at the NC Hills Sports Association Haflong ground to watch the final. The tournament started in Haflong on August 23 after a gap of six years. A total of 18 teams, including 12 from the hill district, participated in the tournament. Two home teams, Moulhoi Youth Club and Juvenile Youth Club, reached the quarter-final level.

Depulal Hojai, chief executive member of NC Hills Autonomous Council, attended the prize distribution ceremony as special guest.

Kandhamal riots: Return of the menace

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

By D N Singh

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Kandhamal, Sept 16: In the early hours of Tuesday an angry mob of 500 attacked a police in a place called Gochhaguda, in Orissa?s Kandhamal district, and set the police station and a police van on fire. One police jawan from the State Armed Police was killed in the arson, while about 10 personnel are also reported to be missing from a police camp there.

The incident took place at about 4.00 am and the security men deployed at the police station were practically caught unaware and perhaps had no time to defend themselves.

On September 13, in a similar incident in the Tumudiband area four villagers fell to CRPF bullets when the latter was forced to open fire in response to a sudden attack from the villagers. First, it was the villagers who fired at the CRPF personnel on guard and injured one jawan seriously.

These two incidents have negated the official claims about normalcy being restored in the riot-hit district. The situation, in fact, is still very tense and over 40 companies of Central forces, deployed in various locations in the district, are having a tough time to keep the vigil as incidents normally take place in a sporadic manner in different corners.

Smouldering Disquiet

Although the frenzied backlash has stopped for sometime, but normalcy seems far off in the riot-hit district. More than 15,000 people are in the relief camps licking their wounds and the security forces lay siege to half of the district, but the recent firings in the Tumudiband area show no sign of any let up so soon. The incident of last Saturday was like a flame out of the smouldering rubble.

Relations with India crucial and vital: Prachanda

FROM OUTLOOK INDIA

On his maiden visit here after becoming Nepal’s Prime Minister, Prachanda today dispelled perception that his government was tilting more towards China, saying relations with India remain “crucial and vital”.

Prachanda, the first Maoist leader to head Nepalese government, held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said Nepal’s ties with India cannot be compared with its relations with China.

“Due to our specific cultural, historical and tradition of economic inter-dependence, relations with India are crucial and vital. Although we also want to develop relations with China, they cannot be compared right now and there is no question of comparison,” Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said during an interaction with business leaders here.

Soon after becoming the Prime Minister in August, Prachanda had travelled to Beijing that led to speculation about his government moving closer to China.

New Delhi has generally been the first port of call for any new Nepalese head of government.

Singh and Prachanda reviewed the 1950 bilateral Trade and Transit Treaty which the Nepalese leader wants to be replaced by a new one.

Kathmandu feels the Treaty, which governs relationship between the two countries in most of the aspects, is not favourable to the Himalayan nation.

Disco owners fight for right to nude dancing

FROM IOL.CO.ZA

Kathmandu - Hundreds of disco workers protested in Kathmandu on Monday against a government crackdown on “nude dancing”. [Inset: Nude Dancing at a Thamel Club]

Police have raided scores of discos, nightclubs and dance bars in the past two weeks and detained 1 500 people.

They said many of those arrested were running bars here “nude dances” were performed. These are not allowed by law in the Hindu majority society.

There are hundreds of such night spots in the Kathmandu valley, although the country has no specific law to regulate them.

A Maoist-led government, which took power in August, has already ordered the bars should be closed an hour before midnight to halt worsening public security in the capital, home to more than two million people.

Bar and disco operators are protesting the move, which they say will jeopardise their businesses and render 80 000 people jobless.- Reuters

SBYA concerned over distortion of names of places

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 15: A meeting of Sikkimese Bhutia Youth Association (SBYA) under the chairmanship of Vice President, Chung Chung Bhutia. Body was held here today which discussed a number of issues concerning the State, including the distortion of traditional names of places.

The SBYA has regretted the slow but steady distortion in the actual pronunciations of names of places. A press release said that the gradual distortion has led to the names losing its actual pronunciation, identities and significance. For example,¬ Gangtok, is actually Gang-toh meaning hill top, Gyalzing is Gyal-shying meaning King’s orchard, Kewzing-Khyo-Shying meaning wheat fields.

The meeting also discussed the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of great Tibetan scholar, Thumi Shambota, the founder of Tibetan script.

The SBYA has decided to observe the birth anniversary of Thomi Shambota as to preserve the Tibetan language and its antique manuscript. The Association has requested scholars to come forward with valuable suggestions and ideas to rectify the distortion of names of places and to make the birth anniversary of Scholar Thomi Shambota a grand success.

The SBYA has also congratulated the Ravangla Pang Lhabsol Celebration committee for successfully completing 25 years of celebrating this unique festival.

GJM briefs people about tripartite talks Centre must honour the people’s aspiration: Giri

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, September 15: “A separate state of Gorkhaland is not impossible. It has now become possible”, said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) general secretary Roshan Giri today during a public meeting here at old supermarket complex.

Today’s exercise is a part of a public meeting series being conducted by GJM to sensitize people about the September 8 tripartite talks. The first meeting was held at Kalimpong on September 13 and Kurseong on September 14.

“We have clearly spelled out the Gorkhaland issue during the tripartite talks at Delhi. Gorkhaland is the aspiration of the people. The Centre must honour this”, said Mr. Giri who had led a GJM delegation into the meeting.

Claiming that states have been created on basis of language, Mr. Giri said: “Our language is Nepali and we have not yet got our state on the perspective of our language. States like West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have become states on basis on language”.

Highlighting the perennial step motherly treatment from West Bengal government on Darjeeling people, Mr. Giri pointed out one such instance during Kargil episode. “Sankhar Gosh was declared by mistake a martyr on June 11, 1999 during Kargil war. He was not dead at that time. However, as soon as this message came, the West Bengal government passed a condolence resolution in the Assembly. But no word was spoken by them when five of our Gorkha soldiers died in the Kargil war”, he said.

Bonus packages for 9 tea gardens

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, September 15: A three tier bonus packages for nine tea plantations in Darjeeling district was agreed today during a meeting between the DC, labour joint secretary and representatives from Darjeeling Terai Dooars Tea Plantation Labour Union and the owners.

It may be recalled that bonus packages for 68 tea estates out of a total of 87 from this region had been announced on September 8 during a similar meeting.

Today’s bonus package announcement sees Longview, Rongli and Ronglitar falling in the ‘A’ category with 14 percent. Tea garden workers from Oaks and Amboik will get 12 percent bonus in ‘B’ category.

Similarly, Lower Phagu and Singtam tea gardens will get 10.02 percent bonus while Lower Phagu and Mission Hill will receive 10 percent bonus after these gardens were accredited ‘D’ status.

All these gardens are not affiliated with Darjeeling Terai Dooars Tea Plantation Labour Union.

The labour union general secretary Suraj Subba informed that a meeting will be conducted tomorrow with the management of Khangchen View tea garden regarding the bonus package for the garden employees.

Bimal Gurung’s maiden address in Rangpo today

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

RANGPO, September 15: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung will make his maiden address to the people residing along the West Bengal side of Rangpo NH 31 A here tomorrow.

According to in-charge of Rangpo GJM unit Lokesh Chettri, a full contingent of GJM central executive committee will be accompanying the party president. The public gathering to listen to the GJM leaders is expected to around 15000, he said.

The unit is working tirelessly to ensure that the meeting is conducted smoothly and in an organized manner. Meanwhile, political eyes from Sikkim have set their sight on this GJM public meeting which is being conducted right next to the State’s border.

With Sikkim right next to the venue of GJM meeting, it is being expected that many issues relating to the State may crop up in the meeting.

While many people from Sikkim are expected to attend, presence of some political leaders in the meeting are being speculated.

Pang Lhabsol festival concludes The world will knows Ravangla through Pang Lhabsol festival: CM

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY YISHEY D with SUREN MOHRA

RAVANGLA, September 15: The fortnightly revelries of the Silver Jubilee Pang Lhabsol celebrations at Ravangla culminated today on a high note with several important functions simultaneously concluding.

The event was already accorded a State level function. Ravangla is celebrating this festival since 1984.

As there were several important functions lined out for today, the celebrations began from early morning with the inauguration of ‘Rabong Karma Thekchenling Donkun Duppai Gatsal’ here by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

The much awaited Pang Lhabsol rituals at Mani Choekerling monastery followed the inauguration.

Gyaltsab Rinpoche consecrated the worrier dancers called the Pangtoedpas who performed the famous Pangtoed Chaam dance in honour of Mount Khangchendzonga, the guardian deity of Sikkim every year on the 15th day of the 7th Buddhist month.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister spelled out the importance of the Pang Lhabsol festival.

“Pang Labsol is the identity of Sikkim and Sikkimese people, which reflects the rich culture and tradition of the people of state. It is the festival of our State which brings all the ethnic groups of people under one platform to conserve the tradition and the culture of Sikkim. This festival is related with the nature worship and also gives a message that Sikkimese people is always worshippers of Mother Nature”, said the Chief Minister.

Pangtoed Chaam

Gompu deity performs during the Pangtoed Chaam at Ravangla

A Sikkim Express Photo

For God’s Sake

THE TIMES OF INDIA EDITORIAL

The fire is spreading. First it was Orissa, then Madhya Pradesh. Now, Karnataka has emerged as the new battleground for the sangh parivar. Twelve Christian prayer halls in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts of Karnataka were targeted by mobs on Sunday.

These attacks could not have come at a worse time. The serial bomb blasts, first in Jaipur, then in Bangalore and Ahmedabad and now in Delhi, have created a climate of uncertainty and fear. We need to set aside our political differences and stand together to fight forces that threaten to weaken the secular fabric of this country.

A new arena of communal violence is the last thing this country needs now. State governments should realise the gravity of the situation and act accordingly.

The Orissa government was slow in reacting to the sangh parivar-led mobs that indulged in murder and arson after the murder of one of its senior leaders in the state. The minuscule Christian community in the tribal pockets of the state was blamed by the sangh parivar for the murder despite Maoists claiming responsibility for the killing.

Victims of the violence continue to live in a state of fear. As in Orissa, the sangh parivar has blamed religious conversion as the provocation for targeting the prayer halls. Religious conversion is legal in India. At the same time, legal measures are available to prevent forced conversion, or for that matter, forced reconversions. No religious group or political body can subvert the rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution or the legal system and force its writ on the people.

Tea offerings for previous week slightly low

FROM DNA

KOLKATA: The total tea offerings in the last week were slightly low at 1,11,200 packages comprising 64,465 packages of CTC, 39,552 packages of Orthodox and 7,183 packages of Darjeeling teas.

There was a good general demand for CTC offerings where Assams was sold at fairly firm rates. Bolder brokens firm to dearer following better demand. Dooars was around last levels. HUL, Tata Tea and Western Indian exporters actively gave good support. Good support came from local dealers for CTC teas.

Orthodox offerings also saw a good demand at the sale. Whole leaf grades were barely steady and tended lower following quality. Smaller brokens were around last levels. Larger sorts were barely steady. Fannings were around last level and occasionally tended easier. Good support came from ME, CIS and HUL operator.

Darjeeling teas met with good demand. Better Whole leaf barely steady but remainder was lower. Brokens followed a similar trend. Fannings were around last levels. Traditional exporters and picketers picked up good quality Darjeeling teas followed by some support from UK.

GORKHA SAANJH

FROM BHARATIYA GORKHA WELFARE ASSOCIATION

A cultural event “Gorkha Saanjh” was organized in Bangalore, Karnataka by the Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association on the evening of 14 September at the St. Johns Auditorium, Koramangala. Around 2000 Gorkhas working and living in Bangalore attended the event that included Gorkhas performing Nepali songs, traditional dances, fashion show and a Nepali play “Ani Bhaleymungro Runchha”. The audiences cheered lustily to each of the performances and thus sounded the true rising of the Gorkha pride all over the world. The mood reached a crescendo when the popular songs “Gorkhali Ko Choro Mo” and “Mero Maan Ta Nepali Ho” were performed. The event, first of its kind in Bangalore, succeeded in bringing together all Gorkhas from all walks of life on a common platform. The entire production of the meet was done in-house with artistes (students and working professionals) using all their spare time to contribute to the organizing of the show. Though away from home they still have the sense of belonging and carry the fragrance of the hills.

It is estimated that there are around 60,000 Gorkhas in Bangalore studying and working, a substantial number coming from the hills of Darjeeling. There is an increasingly large number of young educated Gorkhas who are working in various professional spheres and the corporate sector in this Silicon Valley of India. The Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association is a non-profit non-political body established 27 years ago in Bangalore and is driven by the vision statement – a united and progressive Gorkhali community and a mission statement of welfare, advancement and socio-cultural fosterage of Bharatiya Gorkhas.

Securing information a major challenge

From CyberMedia India Online Ltd
Shared by Aardee
————————————————————

Lt Col (Retd) Shankar Gurkha, Chief Manager IT of Gujarat Industries Power Co Ltd. says that the recent popularization of virtualized environments adds a new layer of complexity to the security picture

The writing’s on the wall for CIOs: A security breach in the organization could cost him his job. Any information security breach, people shoot at CIOs instantly. That’s the culture across all verticals in today’s business.

Need for Security

Securing the information and IT infrastructure in today’s computing environment may well be the biggest challenge faced by organizations. Not only must organizations ensure the integrity of their systems and data, but often they must also prove that their security processes and policies measure up against standards and regulations established and enforced by national standards-developing entities. In addition, the recent popularization of virtualized environments adds a new layer of complexity to the security picture.
Businesses are just beginning to comprehend the security implications of these environments

To tackle these security issues, many organizations adopt a security approach that addresses vulnerabilities through security policy and systems designed to protect the integrity of the IT infrastructure. This approach recognizes that the integrity of the IT infrastructure may be easily compromised by malicious attacks from external sources, but often lacks a means of addressing compromises that originate from within the organization through both intentional and inadvertent employee actions. And ironically, the very systems responsible for providing security-the firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and others-often go unmonitored.

Assam Orthodox tea set to get coveted GI status

FROM EXPRESS INDIA

The Orthodox variety of Assam tea will get geographical indication (GI) status by December 2004, according to Union minister of state for commerce and power, Jai Ram Ramesh. A geographical indication is a name or a sign used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. “The GI process for Assam orthodox tea is finally on the move. Within three months, it will get GI status,” Ramesh said.

The Patent Information Center (PIC) of the Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and the Tea Board of India started separate ventures last year to secure GI rights for Assam tea with the GI registry in Chennai. The Tocklai experimental station supplied information to the PIC on the specifics of getting geographical indication. In India, after Darjeeling Tea, the Orthodox variety of Assam Tea will get the GI status, Ramesh said.

Ramesh said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would sign the Indo-Asean FTA in December. The negotiation on goods has provided adequate safeguards to sensitive agri-products although the tariff line for a number of products has been eliminated. “For tea, the import duty has been brought down from 100%, to 45%,” Ramesh said.

He said that Indian tea has started gaining its share of market in Egypt and Iraq. Exports to Pakistan and Iran are already on the increase. India is expected to export 15 million kg of tea to Egypt, 20 million kg to Iraq as against 2 million kg in 2007. Tea exports will rise to 15 million kg to Pakistan in 2008 as against 10 million kg in 2007, and in Iran this will go up to 5-7 million kg in 2008 from 3 million kg exported in 2007, Ramesh said.

Restaurant boys, girls protest

FROM GORKHAPATRA SANSTHAN

Kathmandu, September 15: Around two thousand youths- both boys and girls working with night restaurants including dance, dohari, disco, gajal and pub resorted to demonstration Monday in the heart of Kathmandu demanding withdrawal of the government’s decision debarring them from running their business beyond 11:00 p.m. at night.

“If the government declines to lift the restrictions within the next 72 hours we will wage a strong agitation,” said Samir Gurung, chairman of Night Industry Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal (NIEAN) after he handed over a memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam this afternoon.

“I will go through your demands and decide accordingly,” entrepreneurs quoted Gautam as saying.

The demonstration of the protesting entrepreneurs had started from Ratnapark and ended at Maitighar Mandala after organising a corner meeting.

The entrepreneurs came together to defend their cause after the new government decided to close the night restaurants after 11:00 p.m. two weeks back. The government has said that its decision aimed at maintaining peace and order and remove the perversions that emanate from late night pubs and dance bars.

“Either let us to do our work or provide us with employment,” read the placards, they were holding during the demonstration. The demonstrators even chanted anti-government slogans and demanded the resignation of minister Gautam.

Some of the lady demonstrators involved in dance restaurants and bars were seen covering their faces and were in erotic attire.

Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Makes Historic Visit to India

Nepal’s new prime minister, who led a Maoist rebellion against the government, is on a five-day visit to India. Ahead of talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the former guerilla sounded very much like the capitalist in calling for India to make significant investments in Nepal. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.

Nepal’s prime minister speaking to Indian business leaders at Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, 15 Sep 2008

Accompanied by cabinet ministers and business leaders, Nepal’s new prime minister is in India for what is termed a “goodwill” visit.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known by his fighting alias, “Prachanda,” made clandestine visits to India when he headed Nepal’s Maoist insurgency. It was a very different sort of appearance Monday during a session with Indian business leaders in a five-star hotel in New Delhi. The former guerilla leader looked and sounded very much like a pro-business politician, wearing suit and tie, while calling for massive external investment in Nepal’s hydro-electric sector.

“I am thinking that today I am in the discussion with the leadership here in India that big projects should be undertaken, not petty and small projects, in the hydro sector,” he said.

Energy-hungry India is eager to tap Nepal’s water resources to generate electricity for its booming economy. Only a fraction of Nepal’s water resources, a potential total of 83,000 megawatts of electricity, is now being exploited.

A related matter being discussed is what to do about the Kosi River. Originating in Nepal, the river breached its embankment, last month, submerging much of the Indian state, Bihar. The two countries have traded blame for the disaster, which has left millions of Indians destitute.

In response to a question on building ties with China, the Maoist leader said the Indo-Nepali relationship will not suffer as Kathmandu builds ties with the Communist government in Beijing.

“The relation with India is crucial and vital although we also want to develop the relation with China. But it can not be compared right now. There is no question of comparison,” said Mr. Dahal.

Officials from both countries acknowledge that another key item on the agenda for this week’s talks is the 1950 Trade and Transit Treaty between the two neighbors. It governs most aspects of relations between India and Nepal, including security.

During the decade-long Maoist insurgency against Nepal’s government, Prachanda repeatedly called for abrogation of the treaty, contending it is unfair to Nepal.

Nepal-India ties enter the Prachanda era

FROM ASIA TIMES

By Dhruba Adhiakry

KATHMANDU - Arriving in the Indian capital just a day after it was rocked by deadly serial blasts that claimed dozens of lives might be unnerving for a visiting head of government from a neighboring country. But this is exactly what Prachanda, Nepal’s prime minister since August 18, faced on Sunday.

He probably could have called off the mission, but his flinty image as the revolutionary leader of a decades-long insurgency apparently does not allow for shaky nerves over safety issues.

Manmohan Singh, Prachanda’s opposite number in India, also might have cited the bombings as reason enough to postpone the visit. But such a move might have sent the wrong message across India – and the world – that his country was unstable.

In fact, Prachanda needed to meet Singh on a priority basis because the Indian leader had made the rare gesture of congratulating him within an hour of his election as prime minister. With the congratulatory message came Singh’s wish “to meet you in the near future and would be happy to receive you in India as our guest at your earliest convenience”.

The invitation could not, however, pre-empt Prachanda’s plan first to fly to Beijing for the closing ceremony of the Olympics. In China, he developed a quick rapport with the Chinese leaders, and President Hu Jintao praised his Nepali guest for attaching great importance to relations with China.

While officially India did not comment on the trip to Beijing, hawkish elements in New Delhi chose to express their displeasure through certain media outlets, ignoring the fact that the Olympics were not something the leaders of China’s neighbors would want to miss. Even Sonia Gandhi, India’s Congress president, was at the opening along with her son, Rahul.

Miss Nepal pageant blocked by ruling Maoists

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

Kathmandu, Sept.15 : The new Maoist regime in Nepal, it seems, does not take kindly to beauty pageants or modeling.

Communists believe that their brave new world is being debased by such activities, which they describe as tawdry and bourgeois.

Organizers of the Miss Nepal competition here have had to cancel their show after the Maoists simply made it impossible for them to go ahead with it.

From the moment the Maoists secured a surprise victory in the April’s elections, the organizers of the competition have been in trouble, with their traditional venue being used as a temporary home for the country’s new parliament.

Now they are desperately searching for somewhere else to hold the contest, after being forced to postpone the show for a second time in the face of a concerted campaign against them.

The contestants were hoping to compete for the honor of representing their country at the Miss World finals in Ukraine on October 4, the Scotsman reports.

Vertical split in SHRP calls for an analysis

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

A crisis of top leadership becomes manifest when a loose conglomerate fashioned as a political party starts disintegrating due to its inherent incoherence and heterogeneity. The goings-on in Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRP), especially its vertical split only months before the Assembly election is a case in point. An analysis of this development, in a broader perspective of other opposition outfits in the State, may help the people to examine which opposition party they can consider as a democratic choice against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front in the 2009 election.

Biraj Adhikari and Bharat Basnet, two of the SHRP leaders who quit the party last Friday, along with others, have told media why they think that the party headed by its president Dr. A. D. Subba has no future. Significantly, none of them attributed SHRP’s disintegration to “lack of democracy” in the State – a plea with which the State Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari earlier made a bid to form a “Joint Action Committee” (JAC) of the opposition parties, including SHRP. The move proved futile as the parties in JAC could not remain united on any issue excepting in playing a blame game against the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his SDF government.

Mr. Adhikari has mentioned “ideological incompatibility” and confinement to “cheap issues” as the reasons of his differences with the party leader. Mr. Basnet, on the other hand, explained his disillusionment with Dr. Subba’s party saying, “SHRP cannot do anything for the welfare of Sikkim and Sikkimese people”.

“Sena spewing venom on Indian Nepalis”

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: Sikkim Democratic Front has strongly condemned the protest rally of Shiva Sena in Siliguri reported in a daily as “anti-national and anti-Nepali”. A press release issued by SDF general secretary Mr. Bhim Dahal said, four days ago in Siliguri an an-anti Nepali group of Shiva Sena made a “travesty of truth” by making hue and cry about nationality of the most esteemed chief minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling. SDF thinks it is a pre-planned conspiracy. Blaming a respected national leader “is out and out anti-national”. Some anti-Nepali elements are spewing venom towards Indian Nepalis in Siliguri, the release said.

The release further said this is not an isolated incidence. There have been so many unsuccessful “sponsored” attempts to distort the spotless transparent image of SDF president and chief minister. “SDF party demands that Siliguri administration should be on the vigil against such anti-national activities”, the release said, adding, “Nobody is above the Constitution of Indian Republic”.

Tourism industry will be boosted for job opportunities in Namchi

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Namchi: Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling while addressing as the chairman of South district Tourism Awareness Meet, held on 13th September, said, tourism is an important industry in Sikkim. A good geographical and a climatic condition with a abundance of tourist sites are the resources that make the State an ideal place for tourism which benefits the local population he said. [Inset: Pawan Chamling, Sikkimese Chief Minister]

He said, that his vision is to make South District, especially Namchi town, “an international tourist destination and a vibrant industry” for employment opportunities to the youths. “The youths should understand the importance of tourism as their participation in this sector is the need of the hour”, he said.
He observed, only government’s participation is not sufficient for success of Tourism Developing Mission in Sikkim; people should also show equal interest. He said man power is lacking in the State, people here should change their mindset and should understand the dignity of labour.

He said beautification of towns of Sikkim is to project Sikkim and its people in an exemplary way. Talking of village tourism he said that government is giving equal priority to village tourism. He wants rural people to come forward and put their full effort in this sector. Later he informed that the name of Sikkim State is also included in the global list of Bio-Diversity Spot. He said inflow of both domestic and foreign tourist is rising in Sikkim and expected the trend to continue.

Chief Minister directed the tourism secretary to update the brochures adding some important rural places of South District and also advised him to arrange training programme in tourism-related fields for guides, hoteliers and other stakeholders of this sector. He also directed the officials to support those interested in doing tourism related enterprises.