“Dictatorship gaining ground in Darjeeling Hills” Madan Tamang

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

All India Gorkha League President speaking to the people during a public meeting at Darjeeling. Photo by Barun Roy

DARJEELING: “Dicatorship is gaining ground in Darjeeling Hills,” said Madan Tamang, President of All India Gorkha League. Speaking at a public meeting organised by by the party, Tamang said, “We will not accept Dictatorship. No one should be able to force upon the people things that they do not like. Let people wear whatever they wish to. Everyone must be allowed to express themselves and offer their own personal opinion about everything happening in the hills. If this goes on everyone with a different opinion will be chased out from the hills.”

Alleging that All India Gorkha League cadres were attacked while they were returning to Maneybhanjyang from Kalimpong, Tamang said, “Aren’t we living in a democracy? Are we living in China or what? Won’t we be allowed to eat what we like, live however we like? I pray to the Lord Mahakala that these people be given some wisdom.” He said pointing out to the leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Alleging that some parties were trying to uproot All India Gorkha League, Tamang said, “Subash Ghisingh used to say the same things. I will uproot Gorkha League. Look what happened to him. I didn’t have to do anything. People who are trying to uproot Gorkha League should first of all try to make their own foundations strong. By saying that we will uproot Gorkha League we are cursing ourself. We should all learn from what happened to Ghisingh. I have never done politics by seating at the sofa in Pintail village. We are demanding for a separate state of Gorkhaland because we want total development of the hills and Dooars Terai in every field. This includes political, social, economical and cultural development among others. Today a Science College is being inagurated in Siliguri. It have been inagurated in Darjeeling. Are we only supposed to be porters? In Sikkim they have 120 seats reserved for MBBS courses, 180 seats reserved for BE, 125 seats reserved for ME and so on but why aren’t there any seats reserved for more than 1 million people in the Hills? Ghisingh ruled through the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council for 18 years but nothing ever came out of it. Sikkim receives 8700 crores in a year. We receive 5000 crores in a decade. I am not saying that Sikkim is getting more than she deserves. I am only saying that we should also receive our share.”

Address by Rt. Hon. Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Prime Minister of Nepal, to the general debate of the sixty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly

New York , 26 September 2008

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

1. At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on your election as the President of this Assembly and to assure you of my delegation’s full cooperation in discharging your responsibilities. I also thank the UN Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the work of the UN and his positive reference to the situation obtaining in Nepal.

Mr. President,

2. It is indeed a historic opportunity for me to address this august Assembly as the first Prime Minister of Nepal of the newest republic of the world. As I stand here in front of the global leadership, I think of the long struggle that I and my party waged with single mindedness for the liberation of the common man from the clutches of the age-old suppression, deprivation, marginalization and outright negligence of the then existing polity. My fellow countrymen and women, toiling in the mountains and valleys, working day and night in the low lands and the urban areas and yet unable to ensure even the simple necessities of life for his or her family had a hope and expectation that one day they would lead a decent life with equal rights and opportunities and be recognized as respectful citizens of the country. We are at this significant turning point in the political history of Nepal. And I and my party are proud to be the leading force of that positive historical change. Today I see a great hope in the glinting eyes of the dalit boy from the far west, downtrodden women from the indigenous nationality in the east, homeless Tharu girl and landless Madhesi and other peasants from the hills living under the thatched roofs. I intend to lead them with conviction and sincerity towards a new journey of sustainable peace and equitable progress in a modern Nepal. I have therefore the honor and great privilege of bringing with me the greetings and best wishes of the people and Government of that new Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to this august Assembly.

3. Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006 after a decade-long armed struggle, we began our peace process and eventually held elections to the Constituent Assembly in April this year. People have overwhelmingly voted for my party and made us the single largest political party in the Assembly with great hope and expectations. At its first meeting, the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic formally ending the 240-year old monarchy and creating a new opportunity to transform the old feudalistic state into an inclusive and federated ‘new Nepal’. This was in keeping with the long-standing aspirations of the Nepalese people. They voted in favour of change and transformation that my own party had fought for so many years. After the historic political transformations, our agenda now is to bring about equally historic socio-economic transformation of the country. Today I must inform you with all humility that our Constituent Assembly is the most inclusive representative body in which all marginalized, oppressed ethnic communities, indigenous nationalities, dalits, disadvantaged and the people from the backward regions and communities are its members which will herald a new beginning in the country. This may very well be an example of representativeness to the world in the first decade of the twenty first century.

PM Dahal lauds UN role for Nepal peace, defends Maoist armed struggle in his first int’l appearance

FROM NEPAL NEWS

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tried to justify the decade-long armed struggle waged by his party since 1996 during his first speech in an international platform, saying the movement was launched for the liberation of the common man “from the clutches of age-old suppression, deprivation, marginalization and outright negligence by the then existingpolity.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressing the UN General Assembly…

Addressing the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York Friday, PM Dahal said people in Nepal overwhelmingly voted for his party with the hope of change.

“They voted in favour of change and transformation that my own party had fought for so many years,” he said.

PM Dahal also reiterated Nepal’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights of its people under all circumstances, and added that the human rights situation in Nepal has improved significantly after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006.

He said that the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission would preserve the centrality of peace by seeking a balance between peace and justice and lauded the UN for establishing an office of its regional centre for Peace and Disarmament in Kathmandu.

PM Dahal also took the opportunity to make a case for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), saying that LDCs should be ensured dedicated support and cooperation to make the world just and inclusive.

“We want full implementation of the respective global compacts, the Brussels Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Almaty Program of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries.”

He urged the world body to deal with the issues of LDCs separately and also said Nepal is committed to continuing to provide its troops for UN peacekeeping missions.

He called for fulfilling the “solemn” pledges made in 2000, and at the 2002 World Conference on Financing for Development.

Nepal Constituent Assembly is a weapons-free zone, says Nemwang

FROM ANI

Nepal Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nemwang has said that the Constituent Assembly area was weapons-free zone, and no Assembly member needed to bring in bodyguards.

Kathmandu, Sept 27 : Nepal Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nemwang has said that the Constituent Assembly area was ‘weapons-free’ zone, and no Assembly member needed to bring in bodyguards.

“Considering its sensitivity, the government has taken up the responsibility of providing security to Constituent Assembly,” Nemwang said.

He made the statement at Constituent Assembly meeting on Friday, after Nepali Congress (NC) obstructed Assembly proceedings demanding investigation into reports that some Maoist members were bringing in armed bodyguards here.

He said that Home Minister will soon clarify the situation.

Earlier, Nepali Congress leaders Arjun Prasad Joshi and Shobhakhar Parajuli said that some Maoist cadres were entering parliament with AK-47 weapons registered by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), even after formation of the government under their leadership.

President Yadav stresses on Nepaliness

FROM ANI

Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has called on all Party to join hands to build the nation by rising above ethnicity, religion, communalism and geographical boundaries.

Kathmandu, Sept 27 : Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has called on all Party to join hands to build the nation by rising above ethnicity, religion, communalism and geographical boundaries.

After inaugurating a programme on cancer awareness organized by BP Memorial Cancer Hospital here on Friday, Dr. Yadav said, “more than one’s language, caste, being Madhesi or Pahadi… the important thing is that we are all Nepalis.”

He blamed political instability for failed attempts to institutionalize democracy and said that the government needed to immediately address the causes that were instigating violence in Eastern Nepal.

President Yadav also unveiled a statue of late BP Koirala, one of the founding leaders of Nepali Congress who became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal.

Christians are better off in Sikkim, says Minister

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Jorethang: Three days’ Himalayan Peace Festival took off Friday here at Jorethang play ground, South Sikkim. Organized by the Christians of South and West District, the festival was declared open by the chief guest of the inaugural function, Mr. Menlom Lepcha, Minister for Transport and PHED.

According to the organizing committee of the festival, the inaugural function was to be graced by Chief Minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling. But due to a busy schedule Janta Mela, CM was unable to attend and advised Minister Lepcha to represent him in this programme.

Main speaker of this three-day festival will be Dr. Robert Cunville, USA, the assistant of renowned Christian Preacher of the world Dr. Billi Grahm, while Rev. Daniel Chettri from Gangtok will interpret his words of blessings. Addressing the gathering on the first day, the chief guest said that in present situation, when number of antisocial elements were terrifying the Christians and the Churches in various parts of the country, Sikkim has provided full security to Christians which enabled successful organization of this Himalayan Peace Festival. He urged the attending Christians to compare themselves with the Christians of other states of India like Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

ACE channel promoting talents for creative work

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: ACE channel awarded total 26 artists of the State in a Award Function for Performing Artists held at Sikkim Government College auditorium on Thursday.

Mr.N.K.Pradhan, Gangtok MLA and chief guest of the programme, gave away the awards for drama and music.The programme was organized on the occasion of fifth anniversary of the channel.

On the same day, the channel also felicitated 17 persons who are engaged in creativity fields since 60’s. Mr. Chunnilal Ghimirey, Managing Director of the channel, in his address said the main objective to organize such a programme is promotion of the latent talents of the State. A book titled “Kala and Kalakar” was released on the occasion.

Himalayan Peace Festival begins

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

JORETHANG, September 26: The three day long Himalayan Peace Festival kicked off at Jorethang play ground here today.

Organized by the Christians of South and West Districts, the festival was declared open by the State Transport minister Menlom Lepcha.

Dr. Robert Cunville from USA, who is the assistant of the renowned Christian Preacher of the world Dr. Billi Grahm will be the main speaker during the festival while Rev. Daniel Chettri from Gangtok will interpret his words of blessings, the organisors said.

In his address to the gathering, Mr. Lepcha said that Sikkim has been a secure place for the Christians at a time when Christians and the Churches have become targets of anti social elements in the country.

Urging the gathering to compare themselves with the Christians of other states of India like Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, the State transport minister said that the Christians in Sikkim were enjoying a number of government benefits.

“Sikkim is the only state in India where the unique Ecclesiastical department caters to a number of religious institutions including Churches,” he added.

On the occasion, Mr. Lepcha also reminded the people about a number of developmental activities being undertaken by the present Sikkim Democratic Front government.

The chief coordinator of the festival Daya Ratna Pradhan in his introductory speech stated that the main aim of the festival was to provide the right path leading towards peace and righteousness and not to convert anyone’s religion. “We just want to tell the truth to the world that Jesus Christ is the only way and the only path to go to heaven,” he said.

Earlier, the programme was started with the welcome song performed by the choir led by the famous NOMADS band of Kalimpong.

During the inaugural function, the Christian community of South and West Districts felicitated the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for the security and facilities provided by his government to the entire Christians of Sikkim which was received by his representative Minister Menlom Lepcha.

The programme of the first day also featured a number of cultural programmes by the top five winners of ‘Voice of Psalm’ contest, NOMADS and the students of Tendong Educational Institute.

Mha Puja – A Unique Newa Tradition

By Dipak Sunder Shrestha

Mha Puja is the New Year of the Newars. It is celebrated the next day of Diwali. This year Mha Puja falls on the 9th. of November.

Mha puja, the worship of the inner self, is unique to Newa people. Newars believe that one needs to understand and respect oneself before he/she can understand others. Mha puja is purification, strengthening and understanding of oneself. Mha puja carries all the grandeur that a typical Newa festival or ritual possesses. It is also distinct from other Hindu or Buddhist worships in that it is the worship of oneself and not the usual worship of Gods and Goddesses or others. Mha puja exposes the relationship of a person with the surrounding nature and the cosmos.

Understanding of one’s role in life makes him/her more knowledgeable and unselfish. Worshipping and blessing oneself to achieve unselfishness and generosity is unique by itself. Mha puja is also for prosperity and physical well-being. No other Newar festival is solely devoted to enriching oneself both physically and spiritually. The religious and spiritual aspects of Mha Puja fall perfectly in line with the socio- religious nature of Newar festivals. Incidentally, Mha puja is performed and celebrated on the New Year’s Day giving it additional social flavor. This year,

Mha puja is celebrated with as much vigor as any other important festival. According to Hindu religion, soul or the inner self never dies. Only the body which the soul uses as a vehicle dies. The soul gets to be born in a bodily form (human, animal, plant, etc.) according to its performance in the past incarnations. Human life is considered the superior being at the top of the life cycle. It is interesting to note that Mha puja perfectly fits into this popular Hindu mythology and yet it is unique to Newa culture. The worship of the divinity in oneself takes place in a sophisticated, interesting and exhilarating atmosphere. The elaborateness with which Mha puja is performed exemplifies the Newa tradition of well-organized and devoted rituals on a grand scale.

Mha puja is conducted mostly in the evening or the afternoon to make sure that Mha puja of Aagandya (the family Goddess) and Mha puja of Goddess Taleju Bhabani at the three palaces in Khwapa (Bhaktapur), Yen ( Kathmandu ) and Yala (Lalitpur) have been completed by the high Newar priests. These Mha puja ceremonies of the Goddesses are not accessible to the general public. It is said that at the time of Newar Kings, the king, the priests and some high ranking Newars were able to verbally communicate with the Goddesses through tantricism and they helped perform the Mha puja. The regular Mha puja found in every Newar household is usually performed on the floor in the dining area. Newars residing outside Nepal miss this grand event very much and the details seem increasingly interesting. Basic elements of Mha puja are the same for all Newars. Some procedural details may vary from family to family.

Manda (Mandala) is an essential part of Mha puja celebration. First the floor (usually tiled or plastered) is purified by sprinkling holy water collected from a sacred stream. Next Mandalas are created on the floor in front of the row of seats for the family members and elsewhere. The total number of Mandalas exceeds the number of people in the household by three. One at the top of the line, which is usually smaller in size and separate from the rest, is for the House-God. This is followed by one for each and every member of the household and two additional ones at the end that are at right angles to the main row. The last two Mandalas are for the ever-watching Yamaraj and Jamaraj, the ambassadors of Death who are always ready to take sinners to hell. Each Mandala is carefully prepared on the floor by following an elaborate procedure. A set of closely spaced concentric circles are first drawn in each Manda area by employing a mustard oil soaked cloth piece wrapped around a flower plant stem or a pencil. It may be worth mentioning here that Mha puja stresses in strong, long lasting, bright, healthy, fragrant and such other things with positive connotations and only materials that are considered clean are utilized.

Oil marks last longer just as Ita (oiled strand of strings) burns longer. Circles signify completeness.. On the top of the oil rings a beautiful and artistic geometrical shape, which constitutes the core of the Manda, is created. The markings are done in yellow Potaye (yellow mustard powder). On the outside is a large ring enclosing a smaller one within which two squares are overlapped to form eight triangular shapes. Abhir (vermilion powder) is spread along the various Potaye lines. A handful of paddy and rice mixture is placed on each of the four triangles along the north-south and east-west lines with respect to the worshipper (worshipped) and one at the center of the Mandala.

The worship is started the same way as when worshipping God. Except this time each step is carried out first with the House-God followed by the members of the family and then Yamaraj and Jamaraj at the end. Nusala, a few drops of water in the right hand palm thrown into the worshipper’s mouth serves to purify the worshipping body. The pancha patra (pure water vessel) and pujabhu, the plate with worship material such as rice, flowers, taye (popped rice), vermilion powder are first recognized by offering water, rice and vermilion powder. Everybody then worships his or her own Mandala. The Mandala is used as a medium to present the various offerings to the self. Usually a Newar Brahmin or the Nakin (the eldest female in the household) or somebody deputed by the Nakin goes over each step of the worship and also takes care of the worship for the House-God and Yamaraj and Jamaraj. Dhun, Dhupayen (special incense of local variety) lighted and put on each of the five paddy/rice lump in each Manda, spreads the festive fragrance around the worship area. Offer of fragrant incense pleases the soul and hopefully, makes the person’s life successful and fragrant.

DK Bhandari calls for condemnation against torching of CM’s effigy “Gorkhas should unite to ease out problems”

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 26: Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) president Dil Kumari Bhandari today appealed to each and everyone to stand up in condemnation against the torching of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s effigy by the Yuva Sena based in Siliguri. [Inset: Dil Kumari Bhandari. Photo by Sikkim Express]

Condemning the incident, she said that the act has gone on to hurt the sentiments of all the Gorkhas of the country.

Ms Bhandari was addressing a press conference of the Parisangh at the Press Club of Sikkim here today.

“Until and unless the Gorkhas unite among themselves, the persisting problem will continue to remain,” Ms Bhandari said this while highlighting the ‘identity crisis’ of the Gorkhas both in the regional and national level.

BGP president also detailed the role of the Parisangh in the country, particularly in welfare works of the community people. She also voiced against the injustice meted out to the Gorkhas even in the face of their contribution to the country.

Further shifting her course to the issue of Gorkhaland, Ms Bhandari appealed to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to pass a bill in the Assembly regarding the issue of Gorkhaland through which, the ministers of other north eastern States would cooperate as per their assurance.

She also brought to the fore about the sufferings of the Nepali people after the signing of the treaty of 1950.

A new gateway to ease congestion

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

By Passang Norbu

27 Spetember, 2008 – The two governments of Bhutan and West Bengal have agreed to build a new entry and exit point (gate) in Phuentsholing during the 18th Border Coordination meeting, which ended late yesterday evening in Kalimpong.

The new gate, according to officials, was decided to ease both human and vehicular traffic at the border town. The place for the gate is tentatively identified near the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan office in lower Phuentsholing.

Bhutan’s consul in Kolkata, Dasho Tshering Wangda, who led the Bhutanese delegation to the meeting, said that a high level committee had been formed with officials from Chukha dzongkhag and the Jalpaiguri district to survey the location of the gate.

The district magistrate of Darjeeling, Mr S Gupta, said that increased vehicular and human traffic at the present Phuentsholing gate had crowded the area, disrupting smooth flow of vehicles and human traffic. “Regular contacts, exchange of views and ideas and good communication between the two governments is necessary to implement the decision taken,” said the magistrate.

The meeting also decided to widen the clearance area near the Phuentsholing gate on the Indian side. The clearance area will be extended upto the Jaigaon police station.

The meeting also discussed security issues and reviewed decisions taken during the 17th coordination meeting. Following the recent incident in Darjeeling where the Gorkha Jan Mukti (GJM) party attacked a resident building where Bhutanese students lived, the district magistrate said that Bhutanese students would be protected. “There’s no need to worry. Security in Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong will be ensured,” he said.

“51 Page Memorandum to the Central Government will be released on the internet” Bimal Gurung

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

DARJEELING/KALIMPONG: “The 51 page memorandum submitted to the Central Government during the Tripartite Meeting at New Delhi will be released on internet on the eve of the first foundation day of Gorkha Janmutki Morcha on 7th of October. Any one interested can download it from the internet,” said Bimal Gurung replying to the questions from the press. All India Gorkha League President during a public meeting at Darjeeling yesterday had demanded that the 51 page memorandum submitted during the Tripartite Meeting to be released to the people. [Inset: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung at his office. A Beacon Online File Picture. Photo by Barun Roy]

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung reacting to yesterday’s speech by All India Gorkha League President Madan Tamang said, “Madan Tamang never supports anyone trying to do something good for the people. In all the years of Gorkha League’s history when has it ever called for an all party meeting? It is Madan Tamang himself who had brought down to such a level a party started by Damber Singh Gurung. We involved Gorkha League in the Tripartite Meeting and they should have been grateful for that. But then they are instead speaking out against us. If we do not involve them then again they are not happy.”

When inquired about the burning of the effigy of Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling by Shiv Sena activists of Siliguri, Gurung said, “This is all the doings of Asok Bhattacharya. We protest this criminal act strongly. We will be discussing about this in our Central Committee Meeting.”

Asked about his recent tours to the villages in Kalimpong sub-division, he said, “I love going to the villages because I was born in a village. There are so many things to be done in the villages when it comes to infrastructure. Sadly both the State Government and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council has failed drastically in their responsibilities.”

Inquired about the attack on a GL vehicle at the Court precinct in Siliguri, he said, “Things like this will happen. We will soon initiate a programme vis-a-vis the GL vehicle registration numbers.

About the issue of the customers being issued notification by Telecom Public Sector Company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, he said, “If they even want to take their exchange buildings let them take. This is a part of our non-cooperation movement and we will not give it up.”

On the issue of attempts made by the party for the release of Chhatray Subba, he said, “We are working on this issue in a legal manner. Good Lawyers have been engaged for this.”

“I spent 72 hours without food, 48 hours with dead body, crawled 1.5 kms before being rescued by ITBP”

First Person Account

By Lalu Prasad as told to Raju Gusain

Originally Published by Garhwal Post

Impossible situations can become possible miracles. Will power and love for life can save life. Garhwal Post here presents a first person account from the porter who struggled for life for 72 hours without food and in heavy snowfall – nearly dying of hypothermia – when an expedition on the Gangotri-Kalindikha l-Mana trek went wrong. Five porters and a trekker lost their lives in this expedition. A sheer miracle and his will power saved him. He is Lalu Prasad, who works as a porter to make both ends meet. In his own words:

I am a native of Nepal and have been in Uttarakhand for the past two years. I work as a porter in the Uttarkashi market. On 8 September, along with four other porters, I joined a team for the Gangotri-Kalindikhal-Mana trek.

Our trek was one week old and we were moving smoothly as clear weather prevailed. We reached Kalandi base and at around 3 p.m. we were heading for Kalandi Khal when snowfall began. The movement in heavy snow became increasingly difficult. As I was wearing ankle heigh boots for the very first time in my life, the leather footwear began to hurt my legs.

The snowfall was heavy and there was no sign of the weather clearing. Most of our team-mates had reached the base camp, Raj Parao. We were lagging behind. Khem Raj, Nar Bahadur and I, all porters, were making an attempt to reach Raj Parao. We had just taken light breakfast and were all hungry and tired, so we decided to drop all the baggage. In the evening, we took shelter under a cliff. Our clothes were soaked in water. The cliff was protecting us from the snow but the water was seeping in. We spent the night in great despair and misery. At 5 a.m., old Nar Bahadur breathed his last. His demise made us sad and demoralised us in big way.
In the morning, Khem Raj and I had a meeting. The weather was clear and I told him that I would go and try to reach the ITBP camp at Ghastoli for help. But Khem insisted on going instead. Khem was my cousin and young. I allowed Khem to go ahead with the plan. ‘Dear Bhai, Nar Bahadur is gone and I am sitting here. It is like waiting for death. If you reach Ghastoli, try to have me rescued,” I told my cousin.

“Greater Autonomy is the only answer to problems in Hills” CPIM

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY WITH INPUTS FROM ANIL ROY FROM SILIGURI

Rajya Sabha MP Suman Pathak addressing to the people at Milanmore. Photo by Bikram Sashankar [Himalaya Darpan]

DARJEELING / SILIGURI: “Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is trying to usurp political power in order to play with the dreams and aspirations of the Gorkha people,” said Rajya Sabha Member Saman Pathak. Speaking at a political meeting organised by Communist Party of India Marxists, Champasari Local Committee at Milanmore Kariabari School Grounds, Saman Pathak further said, “Smaller states were not possible in the coliation politics that was prevelant in India today. Formation of smaller states will lead to a weak union and ultimately destroy the nation. This is exactly why greater autonomy is the only answer to all the problems faced in the Hills.”

Speaking out on the possibility of the formation of the separate state of Gorkhaland, Rajya Sabha MP said, “Gorkhaland is not possible by any means. This is also known to the leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Even then they are giving false hope to the people.”

Alleging that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was creating chaos and mob rule in the hills, Pathak said, “Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has silenced all free opinions in the hills. The Gorkha people are silent. Subash Ghisingh had taken the Hills 50 years back, Bimal Gurung has taken it further 50 years back. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders are the enemies of the Gorkha people.”

Speaking at the political meeting CPIM State Committee Member Jibesh Sarkar said, “The future of Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri will be worse than that of Subash Ghisingh. Subash Ghisingh has been offered protection and refugee at Siliguri even after being chased by Bimal Gurung and his men. But in the case of a new party being formed in the Hills and similiar fate waiting for Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, the peace loving people of Siliguri will not allow them in their land. The attempts being made by the Morcha leaders to create a rift between the people of the Hills and the plains will be fouled by the people themselves. Gorkhaland will not be a reality even in the next 100 years.”

Speaking out on the sitauation rising out of the coming General Elections, Sarkar said, “Lok Sabha MP Dawa Norbula is using Bimal Gurung to garner support for the elections.

Monsoon within normal range: Met Dept

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Sept 27 (PTI) A late spurt in rainfall activity has brought southwest monsoon within normal range with the country as a whole receiving just one per cent deficient rainfall.

The overall deficient rainfall in the country was recorded as one per cent as against last week’s two per cent.

While the country as a whole has received 864.2 mm of rainfall this monsoon season, northwest India recorded 651.2 mm, central India (955.9), south peninsula (690.2mm) and northeast India (1295.3 mm), the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a special update.

Out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, two of them received deficient rainfall in the week ending Thursday.

Compared to last week, the rainfall over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, and West Madhya Pradesh has slightly improved, while these regions continued to receive deficient rains in this season, it said.

A depression formed over north Orissa caused widespread and fairly widespread rainfall along its track. Parts of northwest India also received good rainfall due to interaction of this system with the mid-troposphere westerly trough.

The special update also said that under the influence of another feeble low pressure area over north Bay of Bengal, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall occurred over Orissa, West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during the second half of the week.

The IMD also forecast widespread rainfall over West Bengal and Sikkim and northeastern states during the first half of the next week.

The southwest monsoon is likely to withdraw from parts of northwest India, the special update said. PTI

Tell Me Not…

BY AMAR B SHRESTHA

Tell me not in whispered words

That life is but a passing dream

We were not meant to slumber

While our hearts still do beat

Tell me instead in definite words

‘Life is, yes, an adventure,

I lack not in strength and vigor

So why is it, while awake, I sleep?’

Tell me not in cynical words

That life is just for travelling through

Life’s bounty is for those who seek

You lose much if you aimlessly wander

Tell me now in exuberant words

‘Life is, yes, a precious gift

I receive it with love and grace

And pledge to make the most of it!’

The rosiest paled

BY AMAR B. SHRESTHA

When you are dying

And a lot of people

Feel like crying

You know you got it made

You be proud you lived

A life not in vain

Be happy you succeeded

In making less of

Others’ pain

When it’s time to go

And people don’t want you to

Know and rejoice

You have truly lived

A full and satisfying life

Such as one craved for

By even saints like

Buddha and Jesus Christ

Yes, rejoice. Rejoice.

Tell us sinners too

As well as stupid men

How we can also die

Yet make many cry

Oh, so you told no lie?

Oh, so you gave aid

Where you could?

Oh, so you always lived

Each minute at a time?

Is that all you did

To live a life so revered?

Is that all you did?

Did you not also feed

Those hungry and forsaken men?

Did you also not heed

Teachings of saintly men?

Did you also not weep

At others’ misery and grief?

Small wonder then

Even the strongest shed a tear

Beside your funeral pyre

No wonder then

Even the bravest man wailed

And rosiest of woman paled

When time stopped

To allow your tireless heart

Take its deserved rest.

Maoist MP in arms row

FROM GULF TIMES

KATHMANDU: While Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ sought the international community’s support in New York, the country’s interim parliament saw protests yesterday as MPs cutting across party lines denounced the Maoists for bearing arms in public places including in the House.

Yesterday’s protests, started by the main opposition Nepali Congress of former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, were also taken up by the partners in the ruling coalition, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and People’s Front, debutant ethnic party Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party and the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal.

The shouting lawmakers stormed the rostrum and forced chairman Subhash Nembang to adjourn the session for some time, assenting to calm down only after Nembang directed Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam, who is also the acting prime minister, to furnish an explanation.

The furore is over an incident that may prove to be a major embarrassment for the Maoists, who claim to have returned to mainstream politics and are trying to woo their former arch enemies, the police and army.

Earlier this month, the bodyguard of Maoist MP Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta’, who was also one of the deputy commanders of the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during the 10-year ‘People’s War’ launched by them and commanded some of the major guerrilla operations against the then Royal Nepal Army, was caught entering parliament with sophisticated weapons.

Nearly 250 Nepalis stranded in Kabul

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS NET

Kathmandu, Sept 26 : At least 250 Nepali youths have been left stranded in Kabul after their employment agent allegedly fled without providing them the promised employment.

The victims informed their relatives in Nepal about their agony just few weeks after reaching the Afghan capital.

Bishnu Prasad, one of the victims, told his elder brother Indra Prasain of Satashidham of Jhapa district, that he and many other Nepali youths have been left stranded and finding it difficult to earn a living and often hide themselves to avoid arrest.

“My brother is left with no money for his expenses as he has given it all to the agent and many of them have fallen sick due to lack of food,” ekantipur.com quoted Prasain as saying.

The agent, hailing from Kanchanpur district, took Rs 4.5 lakhs from each youth and promised to provide them jobs that would make them earn Rs. 100,000 a month in Kabul.

Similar views were expressed by relatives of other victims, including many retired Nepal Army servicemen. They have requested the Nepal Government to make arrangements for the repatriation of their kin.

Whip dispute halts formulation of Nepal Constituent Assembly rules

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS NET

Kathmandu, Sept 26 : In Nepal, the dispute on whether a party’s whip will be binding on Constituent Assembly (CA) members during the drafting of Constitution has stalled the process of formulating CA rules.

Smaller parties reiterated their position that CA members be allowed to vote their conscience at a meeting of the drafting committee on Thursday, nepalnews.com reported.

However, the bigger parties said that the right to issue whip or not should be left to the parties.

In party system, political parties are entitled to issue whip whenever required, they added.

“Efforts are on to erase the provision of whip altogether from the rule,” said Narayan Man Bijukchee, Coordinator of the drafting committee.

Nepal President returns Kathmandu after hometown visit

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS NET

Kathmandu, Sept 26 : Nepal’s President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav returned home after completing a four-day visit to his hometown, Janakpur, in Dhanusha district.

It was Yadav’s first visit to his hometown since he was elected as the first President of republican Nepal.

Yadav, who stayed amid tight security, attended several programmes.

Besides visiting several Hindu temples, he also visited Sapahi village, his birthplace, and interacted with the villagers.

The local business community had felicitated him. Nepalnews reported.

Truck Accident in Sikkim

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

A truck from West Bengal after a fatal accident at Mangan in North Sikkim. The driver Ratan Roy died on the spot. Photo by Sikkim Express

Memorandum by ‘Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee’

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 26: The ‘Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee’ (BOBBBC) today served a memorandum to the Don Bosco School authorities in Siliguri opposing the institute’s alleged practice of setting ‘Bengali Language’ question papers in English. The committee demanded that the institute should immediately rectify the ‘absurd practice’. In response, the Don Bosco principal Father MJ Jose, said that keeping in view of the multilingual background of the students, the school set the Bengali Language question paper partially in English and claimed it to be in harmony with the ICSE guideline. He, however, assured the BOBBBC delegation of taking a fresh look the matter.

‘Gorkhas want collective leadership’

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 26: The Opposition parties are for a “united front” as opposed to the GJMM president Mr Bimal Gurung’s declaration yesterday that an all-party effort for the Gorkhaland movement is a closed chapter in the Hills. “They always accuse us of not being transparent in our activities. Under such circumstances we will not be able to cooperate with each other. That is why our president issued the statement in Kalimpong yesterday,” explained GJMM spokesperson Mr Binay Tamang today.

The declaration comes following allegations that the GJMM lacked transparency in proceedings especially when they failed to give a copy of memorandum presented to the Centre on 8 September at the tripartite meeting to the all Hill party delegation.

“United we stand and divided we fall and that is vital for the movement. Mr Gurung’s advisors must have suggested such ideas to him. But I caution that the GNLF chief Mr Subash Ghisingh’s downfall was because of his aides. Collective leadership is the only way to see the movement through,” AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang said in response to the development.

The CPRM stated that a ‘united forum’ is the aspiration of Gorkhas all over and they are duty bound to uphold it. “The CPRM strongly believes in a collective movement for Gorkhaland. The GJMM may not consider it important but that is the aspiration of the entire Gorkha community,” the CPRM general secretary Mr RB Rai commented on the matter.

China longs for a Darjeeling cup

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY AMIT UKIL

The CII team with Chinese trade representatives

Siliguri, Sept. 26: The land that gave tea to the world, produces about 1,000 million kg a year for domestic and international consumption and has over 200 of the green variety. Now, it is looking for the orthodox variety of the brew from India, especially from the Darjeeling hills.

China’s trade organisations have said its markets are ready and willing to go in for black tea. And the demand for orthodox Darjeeling Tea is growing in the high-end segments of these markets. At the moment, the quantity of such premium tea entering China is small.

These are some of the findings that an 18-member Confederation of Indian Industry delegation from its North Bengal Zonal Council has returned with after an eight-day tour.

“The popularity of black tea is growing in China and there is scope for exporting tea bags and packets to the country,” G.S. Hora, the chairman of the zonal council as well as the leader of the team, has said.

The general manager of Shanghai Tea Import & Export Corporation, Huang Han Qing, told the team that the orthodox tea shops in China, which were stocking Jasmine, Olong and hundreds of other varieties of delicately-flavoured green tea, were willing to sell premium Darjeeling Tea as well.

The team, which was also in Beijing, met Cai Jun, the secretary-general of the China Chamber of Commerce of Import/Export of Foodstuff.

“He seemed aware of the geographic indicator (GI) that Darjeeling Tea has, and this has encouraged the neighbouring country’s interest in this variety,” said Ramgopal Jajodia, the vice-chairman of the zonal council.