Uniform anger

FROM THE TELEGRAPH & EXPLORING MAYEL LYANG

Sir – It is outrageous for the Lepchas of the Darjeeling hills to be asked to wear ‘traditional’ attire during the festive season starting from October 7 (“Gurung bid to clear dress code air”, Sept 11). The president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bimal Gurung, has said that “members of the Sherpa, Lepcha, Yolmo and Tamang communities should… sport the daura sural”. The daura sural is the traditional dress of the Gorkhas and not of the other communities mentioned by Gurung. As such, they cannot be made to wear a costume that is not a part of their culture.

Whatever the GJM leaders might say, the Lepchas are the original inhabitants of the Darjeeling hills. It is they who have accommodated and assimilated the Gorkhas into their culture rather than things being the other way round. It is sad for the Lepchas to know that their ‘guests’ have now become so powerful as to force the ‘hosts’ to wear the Gorkha dress. Making all the hill tribes wear similar costumes is an ethnocentric move by Gurung, who clearly wants to dominate the indigenous people. This is nothing but cultural annexation – an unwarranted attempt at control that should not be tolerated.

Yours faithfully, Charisma K. Lepcha, Shillong

Sir – There can be no argument on the fact that the original natives of the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim are the Lepchas. This can be proved, among other things, by the names of the places, rivers or valleys in the region. Unfortunately, the Lepchas have lived as underdogs in their own land for a long time. Things have come to such a pass now that they are being ordered by Bimal Gurung to dress like the Gorkhas while Bengalis or Marwaris are allowed to wear their own attires. Gurung owes the Lepchas an apology for issuing this outrageous diktat.

Yours faithfully, Romong Lepcha, San Francisco, US

Sir – GJM members have threatened those who do not want to accept Bimal Gurung’s dress code with unpleasant consequences. This has created an atmosphere of fear in the hills. Many are resentful but are scared to speak up. Perhaps not surprisingly, Gorkhas are almost as annoyed with the command as those from the other hill communities. This is because the majority of the hill people lead a hand-to-mouth existence. They can ill afford a set of traditional dresses. Gurung’s command is especially burdensome because of the time of the year when it has been imposed. The period of Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali – popularly known as dasai and tauhar in the hills and Dooars – is a time of extra expenses on gifts and new clothes for family and friends.

Gurung’s tyranny ironically reminds one of Subash Ghisingh, the leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front whom Gurung ousted. Ghisingh had also suppressed the voice of the people by formulating autocratic rules. This finally brought about his downfall. If Gurung does not want to go the Ghisingh way, he and his party should be careful not to hurt the sentiments of the people.
Yours faithfully, Bisham Lamichanay, Darjeeling

Tamangs to wear their own traditional costumes

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

DARJEELING, SEPTEMBER 22: All India Tamang Boudha Association in a meeting held at Sukna has decided to wear their own traditional costumes during the one month ‘Cultural Revolution’ declared by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The association’s International President M. S. Bomzan said, “The decision is taken keeping in mind that we will have to wear our own traditional costumes and stick with our own customs. We must protect our own customs and our own traditions.”

Readers might be reminded that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had requested everyone to wear ‘Daura Suruwal and Choubandi Cholo’ from 7th of October to 7 of November to mark the ‘Cultural Revolution’ in the Hills and to offer to visitors and tourists the ethnicity of the people of the Hills. So far Tamang community have become the first community to imply that they will not accept Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s verdict and wear ‘Daura Suruwal’.

Yesterday’s national level meeting held at Sukna was presided over by the assoication’s working President Y. D. Lama.

M. S. Bomzan, the association’s International President said, “Every individual in our community has decided to wear our own traditional customes and not Daura Suruwal or Choubandi Cholo. This decision has been taken by the entire 1.6 Million Tamangs from all over the nation. We are however, also ready to give our life in the pursuit of Gorkhaland.”

Melamine Poisoning in Chinese Food Products sold in Darjeeling Hills

Mr. Bharat Mani Pradhan has brought about a case of contaminated food products. The following correspondence that he has had with authorities are self explanatory. On further research it has been found that the product in question is found easily all over the Hills. Please lobby authorities and civil societies to have the product removed from all shops until further research. We thank and applaud Mr. Bharat Mani Pradhan for his dedication and concern for the safety of the society. Kudos to you, Sir! The Himalayan Beacon

Mr Bharati Mani Pradhan is associated with The Rotary Club of Kalimpong

The following correspondence has been reproduce to effective portray the issue:

Dr. Sangay Zimba,

Public Health Officer,

Kalimpong Municipality.

Dear Dr. Zimba,

Following forwarded message is self-explanatory. Perhaps, it would be appropriate for Kalimpong Municipality through your good offices to take immediate necessary action to make the public aware of the dangers of consuming White Rabbit Creamy Candies imported from China and easily available in and around Kalimpong just for Rs.35/= per packet of 114gms. I bought one packet just now from a provision store in 10th Mile and I hereby attach the scanned image of the same.

Yours truly

Bharat Mani Pradhan

_______________________

_____________________

Hi Bharat,

Yup! I am from Kalimpong. I was a bit concerned about this as i am working with Almarai, one of the biggest Dairy in Middle East (Saudi Arabia) and have been working in this project for a few days now. The findings each day i am getting from internet is alarming. The issue is something like this: Melamine as we all know is used for making of crokeries as it is a a very durable thermosetting plastic. But there has been this malpractice going on in China for some time where it was added in milk to increase the Nitrogen level in Milk. Protein content in milk is normally estimated by its nitrogen level and when you are adding more nitrogen it is reflected as more protein. As the cost of milk in China is adjusted with respect to protein content milk producers were adding this toxic chemical to get more money from their milk. This was something not new but have been going on for some time and it was only this September that it was brought before media. Ingestion of melamine may lead to reproductive damage, or bladder or kidney stones, which can lead to bladder cancer. Children are more susceptible to this. Some of the past incidence in China: In 2007 a pet food recall was initiated by Menu Foods and other pet food manufacturers who had found their products had been contaminated and caused serious illnesses or deaths in some of the animals that had eaten them. On 30 March 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration reported finding white granular melamine in the pet food, in samples of white granular wheat gluten imported from a single source in China, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology as well as in crystalline form in the kidneys and in urine of affected animals. The practice of adding “melamine scrap” to animal feed is reported to be widespread in China in order to give the appearance of increased protein content in animal feed.

In September 2008 Sanlu (One of the leading brands manufacturing Children Foods) recalled all powdered milk in the north-west China’s Gansu province where melamine was reported to have been used in 22 brands of infant formula, making more than 53,000 infants ill and hospitalizing almost 12,900. Melamine has also been found in products produced by Yili Industrial Group Co, and Mengniu Dairy Co. As of 18 September 2008 there had been four confirmed infant deaths from the contamination of powdered milk with melamine with a number of survivors diagnosed with acute kidney failure.

Melamine may have been added to fool government quality tests after water was added to fraudulently increase the milk’s volume. The adulterant melamine was added to the milk to allow the company to dilute the milk with water and circumvent government regulations, since melamine will cause a false increase in the measurement of protein by increasing the nitrogen levels in the milk. Officials estimate that about 20 percent of the dairy companies tested in China sell products tainted with melamine.

Todat itself i was able to see that melamine was found in “White Rabbit Creamy Candy” from China (Very popular in our part) in Singapore. Other dairy products like Yoghurts flavoured Milks and Icecreams have already been detected with melamine. Donno if  I am becoming too sceptical about things but my concern is that we all know that the influx of chinese goods  is something we cannot do much about. There is such a widespread use of chinese products at our part of India and donno if these products have reached our markets too. I suppose organisation like yours need to proacively be involved and find out the risks. Further i suggest that the Rotary Club of Kalimpong keeds to do some research over the net and probably send the message across the local channel to all the residents of Kalimpong about the potential risk.May be we need to look into our hospital records of potential kidney failures in children over past few months and relate with their feeding habits. May be this needs to be discussed with the local Chamber of Commerce and ban Chinese made food products for a while. Note that the method of melamine analyis is not well developed and we too are having a hard time here to find a standard method for analysis. Please revert back for any assistance.   Cheers!

Pankaj Chettri is Team Manager (Systems), Almarai Company, Riyadh, Kingdom of South Arabia

PHASE II OF INCOME TAX PROTEST LAUNCHED IN SIKKIM

SIKKIM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
M.G.MARG, GANGTOK, SIKKIM

Dated:22nd SEPT.08

PRESS RELEASE

ANNOUNCING PHASE II OF PROTEST ON INCOME TAX ISSUE

Under the aegis of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce a packed gathering of about 300 delegates of business enterprises and old settlers assembled at Gangtok on 22 Sept 2008 and approved going in for Phase II of the Protest on Central Income Tax Issue.

It is important to recall here that on 27th August 2008, more than 800 delegates of business enterprises, small and big and old settlers from all over Sikkim had assembled at the Newly Opened Income Tax Office at Gangtok and submitted a copy of memorandum addressed to Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram seeking implementation of Income Tax Act from a future date and consideration of exemption from income tax for old settlers residing in Sikkim prior to date of merger i.e., 26th April 1975 .

The meeting noted with deep concern that even after passage of a reasonable time period from date of submission to the Ministry of Finance, nothing conclusive has emerged from Government of India and delay on this account would simply add difficulties both for the prospective tax payers and the administrator.

SCC in its memorandum had drawn attention of the Hon’ble Finance Minister to the difficulties that would be faced in compliance of Direct taxes in the State of Sikkim, if made applicable retrospectively from 1.4.2007.

The Chamber drew the attention of the Hon’ble Finance Minister to his speech made in Lok Sabha on 29th April 2008 wherein he had promised that:

“This( Income Tax Act 1961) will apply only prospectively”

Delhi blasts: Arrested militant taken to Manipal

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Manipal (KTK), September 22: One of the suspected militants arrested by Delhi police in connection with the recent serial blasts in the capital has been brought to Manipal for investigations.

Police refused to disclose the name of the accused saying “it would hamper investigations”.

However, they said, a four-member police team from Delhi visited some places in Manipal as part of the on-going probe.

The militant was believed to be a student of Sikkim-Manipal Open University which provides education through correspondence. It is yet to be ascertained whether the accused had stayed in Manipal, said the police.

Thatal to perform at Paleti for the second time

FROM NEPAL NEWS

Darjeeling (India) based singer/composer Shanti Thatal has arrived in Kathmandu to perform at the September Paleti.

Known for her timeless classics like Samhalera Rakha and her music for films like Paralko Aago and Bancha Chahne Haru to name some, Shanti Thatal is a scholar of Rabindra Sangeet and a Shanti Niketan graduate, a statement by Nepalaya reads.

From singing songs for composer Amber Gurung during early 60s to composing music for films and other singers, Thatal has dedicated more than five decades of her life to music.

“Thatal has a very strong and dedicated following. We at Paleti are extremely grateful to her for accepting our request for the second time,” Nepalaya coordinator Avaas said.

“The earlier Paleti had somehow re-instigated motivation within me to do more music. When I went back to Darjeeling after performing here in May 2006, I started to collect old compositions and create some new music as well” says Thatal. “This Paleti I will sing some unheard songs to the audience. I hope they will like it.”

Kalimpong’s Amber Thakur, Guardian Angel of dogs

BY JYOTI THAPA MANI

Ramesh and Amber Thakur with Leo, Sundari and family 2001

Address: Cloud Nine, Sohna Road, Gurgaon, Haryana

Inmates: Ramesh and Amber Thakur, daughter Nyano, Snowball age 5, Junior age 9, Chhotu age 9, Gorgeous age 9, Silly age 7, Rusty age 5, Nakley age 4, Snoopy age 3, Max age 9 months, Shera 9 months, Sweety age 8, Chutki age 9 months, Tiny age 7 months and Rani age 9 months.

Date: 20^th September 2008

When Ramesh Thakur, second son of acclaimed INA music composer Captain Ram Singh Thakur married Amber Chhetri from 9^th Mile, Kalimpong, they never imagined their family one day would consist of fifteen members. Their only daughter, Nyano, never dreamt that she would have 15 to 20 adopted doggy siblings at any given point of time.

Tiny, found as a little pup with his intestines out

The story began the day little Leo came home. An adorable black and white Springer Spaniel pup Leo was a birthday gift for Nyano. As he grew up, Leo was gifted a pretty wife golden Springer beauty called Sundari and soon litters of the cutest baby spaniels began. The love story with man or woman’s best friends began. Soon Amber’s life would be move into dedication to saving dogs in need- a saga of total commitment and devotion towards caring for them. Whether it is driving for hours daily to vets for one dog or another who is ill, or driving all of them 300 kilometres to the mountains to protect them from the vagaries of Delhi summer, nothing stops Amber.

Tiny was a very small stray puppy lying at a mandir gate with its guts spilling out, painfully breathing his last, when Amber saw him. The guts were out because of severe worm infestation. It took 2 and ½ hours with the vet to tuck his intestines in. Amber spent almost a month saving the poor mite’s life tucked under her sweater. Today Tiny is a healthy 7 years old. Nakley was another pup on the roadside whining in pain with one of its legs crushed by a passing vehicle. He was lucky to catch Amber’s eye. Today he is 4 years old, has a limp, but where Amber is concerned he is a very handsome dandy so he was named ‘Nakley‘, the stylish one.

Formation of National level Gorkha Human Rights body in New Delhi

I  would like to inform you that we  the  Gorkha  Advocates  from  New Delhi   with the help of  Gorkha  advocate and  human  rights  activist   residing in  all   over  India  had formed a National  level  Human  Rights  organization  for  the  2  Crores  Indian  Gorkha community  residing  in  India.

Its  central  office  of the  organization  is  located in the premises  of the Supreme  Court  of India which  is the  guardian  of  the  constitution  of  India  as  well  as the highest  seat to adjudicate  in  case of violation of any  fundamental  rights.

As  there  are  many   human  rights  organization of  Gorkha  community  are  present in  the  hill  district of  Darjeeling  and other  parts of India  but  none  are  effective  in the  National  level  because they  have  no pressure  group   present  in  New  Delhi and  there  is nobody  for  their  co-ordination   with  the   judicial   and quasi-judicial  bodies  and  hence   therefore  their  voice  are  lost  in  the  vaccum. Therefore  there  is the urgent  need  for the formation  of  the  National  level  Human  rights  body  which  not only focus  in Darjeeling   but  cover  all  over  India  whether   the  complaint  comes from  Kerala or Jammu  or  from   Darjeeling   dosen’t   matter.It  will  represent  the  human  rights  issue  of  the  2 Crores  Gorkha  community.

The  organization  is the  associate organization  of the  Bharatiya   Gorkha  Parisangh [BGP] . Initially  the  office  barrier  of  Parisangh is the  ex-officio of this  organization but  later on  it  official  will  be different  from the  Parisangh.

The  organization  is  non-political  and  non-profitable  organization.

Presently  the  theme  of  this  organization  is networking. As  soon  as  any  complaint  comes to  district  it  will  pass  on  the  central  office  and then  according to the  problem  the  remedy  will  be  given  within  24  hrs   from  the time  of receiving  the  complaint  from  the  internet. we  are  also  planning   to  set up  the  help  line   with  call  centre  facility which  will  give  immediate  relief   in  case  of  emergency.

For  any  queries  or  submission   of   complaint   please  forward  it  to :-

gorkhahumanrights@gmail.com

or

Amrit  Singh, Advocate

228,M.C.Setalvad  Block,

Supreme  Court  of  India,

Bhagwan  Das  Marg,

New  Delhi- 110001

Mobile :-  9990763557 / 9873549534

‘Best of luck, Ram, Shyam and Rita’

BY AMAR SHRESTHA

There is this Bruce Lee film where he comes across a restaurant in some town in Japanese occupied China that reads, ‘ Chinese and dogs not allowed’. Bruce Lee was after all Bruce Lee, so what does he do? At first his faces contorts in fury as he looks at the sign and then with a blood-curdling yell he jumps high into the air and smashes the signboard with a terrific kick.

That is exactly how I would like to destroy any signboards put up in Nepal that reads ‘Nepalese are not allowed’. So maybe I shouldn’t go near any casinos then, right? Because a daily has recently reported that all casinos in Nepal have been requested to keep such a sign outside their establishments. If that’s not all, all casinos have been instructed to keep records of visitors’ names, addresses, nationality and passport numbers. Now this is something that’s just not done in this day and age. Visiting a casino, and a licensed one at that, is no crime, so what is the logic behind such record keeping?

If this is to make doubly sure that Nepalese citizens do not enter the hallowed portals of casinos, then one can only pity the ones who make such rules, their inane brains. Of course before we do that one has to ask why? Why cannot Nepalese visit casinos? I remember once telling an Indian friend, “Your country is losing much by prohibition on drinking. Imagine the effect on your economy if liquor laws in India with its 100 million population were to be as liberal as ours?” To his routine apprehension about the problems of excessive drinking to family and society and blah, blah, blah, I had a one-line answer, ” How many drunks have you seen in Nepal?” He had no answer to that and he was well acquainted with the fact that liquor was available in every second shop in the country.

So my question remains. Why cannot Nepalese go play their luck in casinos? It is a truth of life that water finds its own level. In gambling you need money, and for serious gambling you need serious money. Most of us don’t have that so even if one were to try out one’s luck once in a while, the stakes would be severely limited to what one can afford. Which of course, to repeat, isn’t much. So, water will find its own level. Of course those that can afford to play big, they will anyway, signboard or no signboard. For others it’s a few hours of fun, no more. So why should Nepalese be deprived of their right to have fun sometimes. Especially in such places that give so much excitement.

Having got that out of my system, and knowing well that my reasoning might have its holes, and the authorities’ some logic, let us see what casinos are all about. Before going into that however, a sincere request to those concerned not to put such offensive aforementioned signs anywhere in this country. There might be a Bruce Lee in some of us.

There are seven casinos in the country. Kathmandu has six: Casino Nepal in Soaltee Crown Plaza, Casino Anna in Hotel Annapurna, Casino Royale in Yak and Yeti, Casino Everest in Everest Hotel, Casino RAD in Radisson Hotel and Casino Tara in Hyatt Regency. The seventh is in Fulbari Resort in Pokhara. All casinos are lavishly designed and furnished in such a way as to encourage guests to feel as much at home as is possible. Lots of young and personable staff (guest relation officers) hover around as inconspicuously as practicable trying to be helpful without intruding. It’s a fine art let me tell you and I guess they are so trained. Of course its tough to stop ogling at all those pretty hostesses in short skirts.

GJM mollified after talks with Centre, may scale down ops

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Kolkata, September 21 Following the first round of tripartite talks in New Delhi, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has indicated that it could scale down its ongoing “non-cooperation movement” in the Darjeeling Hills.

Senior GJM leader Amar Lama told The Indian Express that the first round of talks had lent them confidence that their demands will be considered by the Central government.

“Though the West Bengal Government has ruled out any possibility of a separate Gorkhaland, the matter is now with the Centre. Their response during the talks (on September 8 ) was good, so we want to create an atmosphere conducive to talks,” Lama said. To facilitate this, the GJM is planning to relax the non-cooperation movement.

The areas of the movement to be reviewed is to be decided at a meeting later this week, he said. “We have met the Union home secretary and submitted a booklet explaining our stand and case history. We have also explained why we don’t want to enter into talks with the Bengal government. The Centre has said they will meet us again in November for the next round of talks,” Lama said.

Launched in June, the movement has reduced government revenue to a trickle, as the GJM has issued a diktat forbidding residents to pay taxes, telephone and electricity bills.

“The Motor Vehicles Department is losing nearly Rs 45 lakh per month by way of unpaid road tax and registration fees. The Land Reforms department is suffering losses of around Rs 1 crore as no one is paying land taxes, including property tax. The electricity department is also earning Rs 1.5 crore less than usual. The lotteries have been closed down,” said a source.

Appeal to all Secular Peace loving Citizens

Weeklong sit in Dharna at Jantar Mantar by all Christians supported by all communities  – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs Jains in Delhi starts  from Friday 26 September, 2008 at 10 A.M.  and concludes on Thrusday, 02 October 2002 at  Raj Ghat at 5PM.

This is in protest of Government of India and all Constitutional bodies failure to protect Indian Citizens called Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and to demand a BAN on VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal.

Please pass this message on to all peace loving Citizensof Delhi to participate.

For friends that are not in Delhi a sincere request please log on to the newspapers & electronic media news websites and register your solidarity with Christians. Vote and raise your voice for secularism.

Bhattarai jumps the Supreme Court gun

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: The government seems to have taken a unilateral decision as far as the expansion of the Supreme Court benches outside the Valley is concerned. Plans are afoot to set up benches in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj.

“However, the government never consulted the apex court on this matter,” said Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena, registrar, Supreme Court.

In fact, the government’s decision came to light thanks to the budget speech.

Lawyers, too, took exception to the move. They accused the Maoist-led government of impinging on the independence of the judiciary.

“Improvements in the judiciary will be accentuated while giving due emphasis on the policy of respecting a free judiciary, Rule of Law and human rights and to make justice accessible. I have allocated necessary budget to establish Supreme Court benches in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj after reforming existing laws and arranging necessary infrastructure,” Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai pledged in the budget speech on Friday.

Hari Krishna Karki, an advocate, said the move raised questions whether the government could expand the existing structure without holding any discussion with the judiciary.

“This is clearly against the concept of independence of the judiciary.

Besides, the government needs to uphold the spirit of the constitution. It cannot go against the statute,” Karki explained.

Prachanda to visit Marx’s birthplace

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS

Kathmandu, Sept 21: Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda will visit the birthplace of Karl Marx, whose writings have inspired communist revolutions all over the world on September 30.

The house where Marx was born in 1818 was turned into the Museum-Karl-Marx-Haus in 1947 by Germany’s Social Democratic Party.

The museum houses a study centre with 80,000 volumes including the works of Marx and the spectrum of his reading, the history of socialism, socialist and workers’ movement as well as the social and economic history of the 19th century.

According to the website of the museum, the exhibition in the Museum-Karl-Marx-Haus will inform you about the person Karl Marx, his life, his work, his allies and his adversaries.

According to Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, In Frankfurt, Prachanda will release a book in German whose title translates in English as Revolution in Nepal.

In New York, Prachanda will participate in separate receptions to be hosted by US President George W. Bush and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. He will address the General Assembly on September 26.

During his ten-day visit, Prachanda will also meet Minister for International Development of Norway Erik Solheim and US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher.

Nepal’s secular budget triggers unholy row

FROM THE PENINSULA

Kathmandu: Riot police were called to restore order as violence, arson and looting erupted yesterday in the heart of Nepal’s capital as its Newar community went on the rampage, protesting the secular budget unveiled on Friday that slashed allocations for religious festivals.

Kathmandu’s famous Basantapur Durbar Square, a Unesco-declared world cultural heritage site that boasts of the old palace of the deposed Shah kings and the palace of the Kumari, Nepal’s living deity, turned into a battlefield early yesterday as hundreds of youths went on the warpath smashing metal road dividers, torching billboards and police posts and hurling bricks as police tried to intervene.

The New Road area, one of the busiest shopping centres in the capital, and its adjoining Sundhara and Ratna Park, two major bus stations, simmered with tension as mobs wielding batons and wooden poles swarmed over the area, raising angry slogans against the Maoist-led government.

The lines of shops downed shutters hastily after crowds began looting some of the open ones and the car of a lawmaker was vandalised.

Prachanda to leave for United States today

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS

Kathmandu, Sept 20 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias ‘Prachanda’ will leave for the United States today where he will address the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I am leaving for the US visit where I will address the UN General Assembly. I have also just received an invitation to attend a reception to be hosted there by the US president George Bush,” said Prachanda in his address to the Constituent Assembly last night.

This will be a landmark visit for Prime Minister Prachanda who is the chairman of the CPN-Maoists that was labeled as a terrorist organisation by the American Government.

During his visit, he is also scheduled to attend programmes organised by The Asia Society and India China Institute, nepalnews reported.

Government decision not to fund animal sacrifice stops festival

FROM EARTH TIMES

Kathmandu – Parts of Kathmandu were tense on Saturday after one of the major festivals was halted over a government decision not to give money for animal sacrifice which is part of centuries-old tradition. Thousands of people from Newar community, considered the original inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, gathered outside the royal palace in old part of the city early Saturday morning accusing the government of trying to wipe out their culture. The heightened tension stopped Indra Jatra festival and halted the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

It is the first time that the procession was halted since the tradition began more than four centuries ago. The tensions and scuffles overnight also prevented President Ram Baran Yadav from receiving a blessing from the living goddess. As part of tradition, the head of state receives blessing during the five-day festival in a symbolic gesture to rule the country for another year.

Until last year, the blessing was received by the king, but the president as the head of state took up the cultural duties as the country abolished the monarchy earlier this year. On Friday, Nepal’s Maoist led government announced it would not give money to fund animal sacrifice during Hindu festival as part of its efforts to cut government spending.

“The government is trying to wipe out our culture,” Deepak Maskey said as he watched the abandoned chariot of Goddess Kumar. “If they really want to cut cost, the minister could stop travelling in luxury cars which costs millions of rupees…stopping our tradition is not a good sign”"We will not involve the government in the festival from now on,” said Manik Shakya, who comes from the community of people from which the Kumari is chosen. Nepalese media reports said the government decision to stop giving money for animal sacrifice would affect all major festivals across Nepal. Last year, the Nepalese government spent nearly 12.3 million rupees (166,000 dollars ) on animal sacrifices.

GJMM to decide next step after November talks

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 21: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha’s decision to relax its non-cooperation movement which involves non-payment of taxes in all forms to Centre and state governments will depend upon the next round of tripartite talks in November.

“We will sit for talks with government officials of different departments regarding this issue. But the outcome of the forthcoming tripartite meeting in November will determine our decision,” said party spokesperson Mr Binay Tamang.

Senior GJMM leaders had expressed a probability of slackening the party’s tax non-payment drive that began in April at public meetings held in three Hill sub-divisions last week.

A two-member GJMM delegation comprising of Mr Amar Lama and Mr Anmol Prasad met chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on 11 September regarding the issue. The CM had requested GJMM president to withdraw the agitation of not paying electricity bills as it incurred a loss of Rs 1.5 crore every month.

Jawans on flood mission – The triumphant team

ARMY LIVE

The winners of Eastern Command Cambrian Patrol Competition

Jawans of the Trishakti Corps have been providing relief material to the flood-affected people of north Bihar for over 20 days. A contingent of nearly 1,500 personnel have rescued over 10,000 people and proffered relief material to the marooned inhabitants of nearly 100 villages in Madhepura, Purnea and Saharsa districts.

The medical teams are working round the clock in providing treatment to over 20,000 people, including children, for gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and skin diseases. The humanitarian approach and dedication shown by the jawans of the corps have won them the sobriquet “the saviours of Purnea and Madhepura”.

Patrol contest

Eastern Command Cambrian Patrol Competition, modelled on an annual event conducted at Wales in the UK, was held from September 1 to 8 under the aegis of the Kripan Division. The competition was organised in an area around Gorubathan by a unit of the division.

The event involved a mission-oriented small scale tactical patrol in semi mountainous terrain during inclement weather and concentrated on aspects of leadership, teamwork, physical fitness, patrolling, casualty evacuation and handling of prisoners of war.

Two teams from each formation of Trishakti Corps participated in the command-level competition. The winner and runner-up will take part in the army-level competition scheduled to be held at Belgaum (Karnataka) in October and November this year.

Funds for urban projects

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Sept. 21: The central urban development ministry has sanctioned Rs 236 crore for three major Calcutta projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

At a meeting in New Delhi on Friday, it was decided that Rs 153 crore would be allocated for the first phase of the Vivekananda Flyover, connecting the Howrah Bridge approach with Girish Park on Central Avenue.

“This project will ultimately go up to the airport and entails a total cost of Rs 970 crore,” Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya said here today.

He, along with his department officials and R.K. Vats, the Union joint secretary coordinating projects in the state, also discussed other pending schemes for Calcutta under the urban renewal mission.

“For another flyover at Nagerbazar, which will connect Dum Dum, Rs 49 crore will be released. For all the projects, the Centre will bear 35 per cent of the total cost while the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority the rest,” the minister said.

The third project to get fund clearance was the development and management of a water supply and sewerage system in Salt Lake’s Sector V being set up under the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority.

“For this, Rs 34 crore will be made available,” Bhattacharya said.

Work will commence on all three new projects after Puja.

At the meeting it was also decided that the second instalment of funds for five other projects would be released.

National stipend for Sikkim boy

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Deepak Tamang. Picture by Pema Leyda Shangderpa

Gangtok, Sept. 21: A Class VIII student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Pakyong, has bagged a scholarship in the National Talent Search Examination conducted by the National Council of Educational Research Training.

Deepak Tamang is the only student from Sikkim and among the two from the North-east to get the national-level scholarship. He will be awarded Rs 500 every month till Class X, Rs 700 during his Plus Two course, Rs 2,000 at the graduation and Rs 5,000 at the post graduation level.

“I worked for three to four hours everyday studying from various state-level textbooks. I also got huge help from my schoolteachers and principal for the mental ability test and the final interview,” Deepak told The Telegraph.

Principal C. Ammal said the school was happy with Deepak’s achievement. “This is a great opportunity for him. He is an all rounder, excelling both in studies and co-curricular activities,” she said.

Grassroots top Morcha list – Small sessions & music for a cause

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Sudhir Rai at a studio in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Sept. 21: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in recent times has been laying more stress on small interactive sessions on Gorkhaland than big rallies or meetings to involve the grassroots in the movement for a separate state.

Music is another mode that has been used successfully to whip up the fervour, although not always by the outfit which was formed in October.

Ever since the first album titled Aba ta Jaga (Time to Rise) was brought out by the Morcha early this year, the music market in the hills has been flooded by similar tracks.

“In Aba ta Jaga, I had teamed up with Thupten Bhutia for the song, Samaya ko Mang (Need of the Hour). But since then, I have recorded almost 10 songs for various albums being produced by different people,” said Sudhir Rai, a singer from the hills.

While Kundan Raj Subba from Singmari has released Anthim Lakshya (The Last Destiny), Ajay Thapa from Badamtamg brought out Anthim Ladhai (The Last Battle). Singers like Karma Yonzone and Kumar Subba, along with Rai, have also brought out an album, Mathoo (Land), based on the lyrics of the late Gopal Yonzone.

“I have sung in all these albums and because we believe that every one of us should contribute to the cause,” said Rai.

BSNL bills: to pay or not to

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong, Sept. 21: The subscribers to the BSNL’s telephone and Internet services have been caught in a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-induced dilemma following a pay-up notice served on them by the government-owned telecom major.

The Morcha has urged residents of the Darjeeling hills not to pay any central or state revenue as part of their “civil disobedience” movement in their agitation for the separate state of Gorkhaland.

The boycott, since April this year, has had an effect on the revenue earnings of government agencies.

Matters had come to such a pass that earlier this month chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had called Morcha representatives to Calcutta, and according to sources in the party, requested them to see to it that power bills were paid.

The power department was losing Rs 1.5 crore per month as revenue from the hills because of non-payment of bills, the chief minister was said to have told the delegation. Both Lama and Prasad had left the meeting saying that they would convey Bhattacharjee’s message to Morcha chief Bimal Gurung.

After remaining silent for months, the BSNL, for the past fortnight has started serving pay-up-or-face-action notices to its subscribers across the hills.

In letters signed by the accounts officer in the BSNL general manager’s office in Siliguri, the company has threatened to cut off connections and initiate legal action against defaulters

Subscribers, however, have accused the BSNL of double standards.