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“Madan Tamang’s is West Bengal Government’s Agent” Roshan Giri

BY BARUN ROY

Darjeeling: “Madan Tamang is West Bengal Government’s agent because he is the first one to know about Bengal’s conspiracies in Darjeeling Hills. Whenever someone tries in earnest to work towards the betterment of the people of the hills, then Madan Tamang starts his tirade of protest attempting to disrupt popular movements and create confusion among the people. Giving fire to the dead Sixth Schedule Bill and speaking of Gorkhaland Territorial Council, Madan Tamang is playing in the hands of the opposition party mainly Communist Party of India Marxists. If West Bengal Government is to place either the Sixth Schedule Bill or  the offer of establishing Gorkhaland Territorial Council we can be sure that it is all Madan Tamang’s doing. Which will be forcibly resisted by the people of the hills,” said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri speaking to the press. [Inset: Roshan Giri, Bimal Gurung and Benoy Tamang (L to R). Photo by Barun Roy | Beacon Online archive]

Stressing that all the allegations made by Madan Tamang were outright scandalous and malicious, Giri said, “We strongly condemn Madan Tamang’s remark made against our party. Of the 99 per cent people who are in favour of Gorkhaland do not even want to hear about Sixth Schedule or Autonomous Territorial Council. Then why is it that Madan Tamang is harping about these issues continuously. We have initiated a dialogue on Gorkhaland with the Central and the State Governments. If Madan Tamang wants to derail this dialogue then Madan Tamang must be solely responsible for whatever that follows. Madan Tamang being West Bengal Government’s agent is initiating distructive schemes as ordered by the Government. Looking at his activities it seems that he has been working in allegiance with the Communist Party of India Marxist. Madan Tamang has no right speaking against the aspirations of the people. Gorkha Janmutki Morcha is a political party. There is nothing else beside Gorkhaland that is written in our Party Constitution. If he comes before the democratic aspirations of the people of the hills then certainly it must be accepted that he is indulging in undemocratic and anti-people activities. Does the Gorkha League Constitution even has the word Gorkhaland enshrined in it?”

Alleging that the All India Gorkha League representative who was present during the Tripartite Meeting at New Delhi, Giri said, “All India Gorkha League representative Laxman Pradhan did not even utter the G of Gorkhaland during the meeting. Gorkha League is trying to cheat the people and people should beware of Madan Tamang.”

Ethnomedicinal plant use by Lepcha tribe of Dzongu valley, bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, in North Sikkim, India

Author: Bharat K Pradhan and Hemant K Badola
Credits/Source: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2008

Lepcha is the most primitive tribe of Sikkim, India; majority of its population inhabiting in Dzongu valley, an officially demarcated reserve for Lepcha community, bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, in north district. Lepchas of Dzongu are known for their retention of cultural primitiveness.

In view of the on-going cultural and economic changes brought in by the process of globalization, the immediate need was felt to document in details the under-explored ethnomedicinal practices of Lepchas of Dzongu valley. This paper reports 118 species, belonging to 71 families and 108 genera, under ethnomedicinal utility by the Lepchas for curing approximately 66 ailments, which could be grouped under 14 broad categories.

Zingiberaceae appeared as the most used family (8 species and 5 genera). As per use pattern, maximum of 30.50% species are to cure stomach related disorders/ ailments, followed by 19.49% for curing cut, wounds, inflammation, sprains and joint pains.

Administration of medicine orally is recorded in 75% cases. Root and rhizome harvesting targeted 30 species.

The changing scenario over time both at socio-cultural front and passing traditional knowledge interests from older to younger generation and rich ethnomedicinal wealth of the oldest tribe of Sikkim are discussed in the light of conservation strategies and techniques to adopt.

GJM exempts power bills non payment from its non cooperative movement Darjeeling people will pay bills from October

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, September 30: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) which is spreading the Gorkhaland demand has exempted non payment of electricity bills from its non cooperative movement against the West Bengal government.

From October month, people from Darjeeling will pay their electricity bills to the West Bengal Electricity Board, said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri. He however added that the pending bills from the month of April to September will not be paid.

It may be added here that consumers from Darjeeling hills had stopped paying electricity bills to the West Bengal government from April as a part of the GJM’s non-cooperative movement.

Bills amounting to Rs. 9.36 crores had accumulated from the Darjeeling hills before the West Bengal State Electricity Board forcing the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to request the GJM president Bimal Gurung for paying the bills.

According to Mr. Giri, the Gorkhaland movement is heading towards a positive direction presently and the power bills payment is in accordance to this direction.

Meanwhile, preparations are going on in Darjeeling for grand celebrations of the first foundation day of GJM on October 7.

Similar preparations are also being planned in New Delhi.

A revamped football calendar from 2009 National level LD Kazi Memorial football tournament for women in August

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 30: The football crazy state of Sikkim will enjoy a more eventful football calendar from next year with Sikkim Football Association (SFA) adding a revamped Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial football tournament and LD Kazi Memorial football tournament to the showpiece events of the State, Governor’s Gold Cup and Chief Minister’s Gold Cup.

SFA executive members Tempo Bhutia (president), BK Roka (working president), Menla Ethenpa (general secretary) and Shyam Thapa (spokesperson) announced the revamped football calendar for Sikkim today during a press meet here at Press Club of Sikkim premises.

The Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial football tournament which is annually held during the August month will be shifted to April-May months and LD Kazi Memorial football tournament will be held during the August month.

The latter tournament will be a national football event exclusively for women, SFA said. This tournament will be gradually converted into an international football event for women.

During the months of April and May, most of the big football teams are not occupied in other tournaments and we hope to bring some of these big football teams for the Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial football tournament, said SFA president Tempo Bhutia on the objective behind the shifting of the tournament to April-May. We are trying to promote this tournament as a mini Gold Cup, he said.

While football lovers in Sikkim will be delight over the new additions, the SFA also highlighted the harsh realities in organizing such national level tournaments. The lack of more football infrastructures in Sikkim has been view as an impendent to the development of football in the State that has given Bhaichung Bhutia to the nation.

Sikkim has only one football field of Pajor Stadium that meets the required criteria while organizing big tournaments. Technically, three grounds are required to host a big tournament-one main playing field and the other two for practise ground for the participating teams.

GJM decree evokes strong resentment among other political parties

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, September 30: The recent announcement of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) not to allow any other political parties from holding public meetings in Darjeeling hills has been panned down by several intellectuals, political leaders and social organizations.

GJM had on September 27 publicly decreed that no other political parties will be allowed to hold public meetings in Darjeeling hills.

Barring GJM and its sympathizers, the general response to the above decree was that it was an attempt to gag democracy and freedom of speech in the hills.

Is it a Gandhian announcement or a Godse type announcement?, questioned former MP and present general secretary of CRPM party, RB Rai. The CRPM party has been supporting GJM for the Gorkhaland movement.

Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) president Madan Tamang termed GJM as an avatar of Subash Ghisingh.
On the other hand, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said: “Our party believes in democracy. Everybody had right to freedom of expression but people themselves will not allow anti-Gorkhaland forces to speak”. He accused the ABGL president to be an agent of West Bengal. Madan Tamang has tied up with West Bengal to impose Sixth Schedule in Darjeeling, the GJM general secretary said.

Dilemma of the Indian Nepalese

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

By Nawin Kiran & Hem Kumar Pradhan

Confusion has always surrounded the Indian Nepalese community of India. We, being referred as Nepalese Citizen lent to more confusion and dilemma among us. “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, then he is either lying or he is a Gorkha.” These were the words said to the Gorkhas by the first Field Marshall of India, General Manekshaw.

Call us Gorkha or call us Nepali, our Nationality has always been made a debatable issue. The Indian Nepalese are yet to be considered as a true Indian despite achieving various national heights, honours and sacrifices made by us for our country.

The recent incident of burning of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s effigy by the so called Yuva Sena of Siliguri stating him as Nepalese Citizen and yet another humiliating word uttered to the Swar Sikkim Group by “COSMOS” Management is totally condemnable and an indigestible issue.

We, the whole Sikkimese as well as Nepalese from all over the country totally condemn and oppose these cowardly acts by these cowards, especially their intention to state Mr. Chamling as a foreign national. At this juncture, we would rather ask for cross checking of the nationality of most of the Bengalis residing in Siliguri.

However, these acts have left so many confusing questions in our mind regarding our status. Are we (Indian Nepalese) considered as a triumph card when the question arises of the security of the border? Just load us at stallion (army truck) and dispatch us towards border. Or, are we taken as joker card, put us any where you like?

“True Indian”: When it comes to the National security.

“Foreign National”: When it comes to honour an individual or when we put altogether a genuine demand.

Is our place only at the borders and not inside the house (India)? Yes, we accept without any hesitation, that our history runs closely with Nepal. However, perception among some of the people to see us as a Nepalese citizen is totally wrong and the very same perception that the Indian Nepalese have had to repeatedly and wrongly face all throughout the history is “All Nepalese are from Nepal”. The answer lies in simple fact that the Indian Nepalese did not come to India. In fact, the land (especially Darjeeling and surrounding) to which we belong was ceded to British India after that defeat of Nepal in the Gurkha War and under the Treaty of Segouli.

Governor’s Gold Cup kick off from Oct 14 15 teams confirmed, negotiations on for a Malaysian or Thai club

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, September 30: The 30th All India Governor’s Gold Cup football tournament is slated to begin in Sikkim from October 14 after the Dusshera festivities ends, announced the organizers, Sikkim Football Association (SFA) today.

Fifteen teams including one each from Nepal and Bhutan are lined up to participate in this prestigious tournament that dates back to 1978.

The football teams are drawn from all parts of the country, said SFA general secretary Menla Ethenpa.

Indian football teams likely to draw much response from the crowd during this annual football tournament are Army XI, BSF and Tata Football Academy. Mohan Bagan SAIL, Railway FC and BNR are the three teams participating from Kolkata.

Mohan Bagan SAIL is coached by football legend and popular figure in the hills, Shyam Thapa. Sikkim is represented by Sikkim Police and United Sikkim Club in this tournament.

Top players from different football clubs in Sikkim have been roped in for the United Sikkim Club to represent the State in this prestigious tournament, said Mr. Ethenpa.

The tournament will also see the debut of the top two football clubs from New Delhi who has been branded as dark horses.

We have very high expectations from New Delhi Heroes and Simla Youngs, Delhi, said Mr. Ethenpa. New Delhi Heroes is coached by former football star Chima Oekari and the club has recently bagged the Delhi football league.

1st Nima Tshering Lepcha Memorial Gold Cup Football Tournament Sikkim Football Academy enters final

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

RANGPO, September 30: Sikkim Football Academy (Gangtok) defeated Anmol Bro IX by five goals to two and entered the finals of the 1st Nima Tshering Lepcha Memorial Gold Cup Football Tournament held today at Golitar, Singtam.

SFA player Dawa Lepcha bagged the Man of the Match trophy.

According to the spokesperson Mohan Pradhan ‘Niraj’, 14 teams have participated in the tournament, which started on September 15. Teams from outside Sikkim also took part in the event, he said.

The final match will be kicked off on October 2. A cash prize of Rs 20, 000 and Rs 10, 000 along with attractive trophies will be awarded to the winners and the runner up team respectively.

Politics and Women’s Plight in Nepal

FROM GROUND REPORT

Monarchy in varied forms ruled in Nepal since the beginning era. The hereditary rule of the Ranas remained in the country for 104 years (1846 to 1950). The Ranas privatized the whole country for their familial luxuries and treated the Nepalis as their mere domestic workers. They made deliberate attempts to keep men and women away from education, knowledge and consciousness. They, instead, trained people to flatter, beg and behave in servile manner. They formatted people’s thinking and behaving patterns accordingly.

The deep-rooted influence of feudalistic mindset can be seen among all in Nepal even today to varying degrees. Although more people have become educated in Nepal compared to earlier decades, the level of discrimination against women in the country has not declined notably. Despite business-oriented glamorization and cosmeticization of women, the level of women consciousness itself has not gone up to an expected degree.

Besides, the state is the burning symbol of gender discrimination in Nepal. State mechanisms have nominal representation of women.They have maintained their view that women do not deserve more than a subordinate role.

Such a prejudiced mindset of men has further complicated the management of women issues. The unrefined mindset of educated men has still maintained women in overshadowed positions in spite of their high level potential and productivity.

Nepal has abundance of gossipy and ad hoc political activists. Ordinary people in villages think doing politics is tantamount to doing land brokering land brokering is an undefined industry in Nepal. One has the unlimited right to defraud anybody at any time in the name of land brokering. So many illiterate and straightforward-minded villagers change into homeless victims overnight because of land brokering untouched and ignored by the laws. Linking to land brokering activities, people generally do have a negative attitude towards politicians. Thus, unless political activists can by their practical work convince people that politics is people’s well-being science, people are not likely to change their opinion that politics is like land brokering.

Because of such gossipy and land brokering type of politics, there has been no psychological revolution in Nepal’s political philosophy. Some universities teach political philosophy and theories but the political fields have a different environment in which man-eat-man enterprises are awarded while political exercises devoted to people are punished.

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Prashant Tamang, Nepali Aamako Chhoro, Speaks His Heart

By Ravi Adhikari

No one rocked the entertainment world the way Prashant Tamang rocked. Nepal, India and the South Asian communities all over the world, came to its feet when he won title of Indian Idol-III. The humble son of a Nepali mother from Darjeeling hill, at some point, was termed as a unifier and goodwill ambassador between India and Nepal. His ethnic origin, however, was also a matter of controversy for some critics in India, especially when Nepalis all over the world poured their resource and strength for Prashant’s victory. He, however, gives credit to his karma for the sudden fame. Prashant was in San Francisco Bay area recently for a concert. In a one-on-one interview with Ravi Adhikari, the humble and plain-speaking singer spoke right from the core of his heart, about being a Nepali of Indian origin, the fame, politics and many more. Following is the excerpts of the interview:

You were a junior police officer in Kolkata, are you still working with the state of West Bengal or …?
No, I’ve not left my job yet. I just completed a 6-month leave and it has been extended for another 6 months. This will go on until I complete my works (related to Indian Idol).

How much are you enjoying your life in Mumbai, the entertainment capital of India?
So far, Mumbai so good to me. In fact, I don’t get much to live in Mumbai. We keep moving all over (India and outside India) for the shows.

You came from a small village in Darjeeling Hill, then to Kolkata, next to big Indian cities and now all over the world. How are you coping with the sudden changes?
I like to call this karma. I had never thought that I would work in a big place like Kolkata. I came here, slowly got to understand the things and was adjusted. This was a kind of hands-on training to me on city life. After this, I came to Mumbai for the auditions of Indian Idol and you all know what happened afterward.

All of sudden you got noticed by billions of people in India and all over the world. Has this name and fame changed the typical Prashant Tamang, the one you love to call yourself, Nepali Aamako Chhoro (son of a Nepali mother)?
Till now, I’ve not felt anything like that. If I tell you frankly, it will not happen – I’ll not change myself — even in the future. The reason for that is, I’ve come to this place after a hard struggle. It was not an easy ride to be on the place where I’m today. I never felt that I’m on the top of the world. It all happened because of love and blessings from everyone. They still love me and bless me, thus the things are going well.
I don’t think anything has changed, except for learning the new things I’ve never exposed to, meeting with new people, doing the work I’ve never done before, going to the places I’ve never gone. If you call all this a change, I also admit this is a change. I’m so happy with what is happening.

Sikkim’s last date to file income tax returns is Oct 31

FROM NEWS TRACK INDIA

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) The last date for filing income tax returns in the northeastern state of Sikkim has been extended to Oct 31 this year, the central government said here Tuesday.

‘The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the last date of filing of income tax returns to Oct 31 this year from July 31,’ the finance ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the date has been extended in Sikkim in view of the delay in issuing instructions about the filing of income tax returns by non-Sikkimese residing in the northeastern state.

Sikkim’s annual plan budget for the current fiscal is pegged at Rs.8.52 billion ($185 million).

On Gurkhas

FROM KETOSIS

The Gurkhas have history of bravery, loyalty and honor amount the British. They have served with distinction and honor since 1817. In short, these people who have nothing have fought with bravery and honor for the British.

I have meet and conversed with a few Gurkhas in my travels abroad. I have to say, they strike me as smallish, friendly people, very quick to smile and were proud of their service.

Gurkha soldiers have been awarded 13 Victoria Crosses, all but one (Rambahadur Limbu) were awarded when all Gurkha regiments were still part of the Indian Army. An additional 13 VCs have been awarded to British Officers in Gurkha regiments. Since Indian independence, Gurkhas have also been awarded 3 Param Vir Chakras.

Ethnically, Gurkhas who are presently serving in the British armed forces are Indo-Tibeto-Mongolians. Gurkhas serving in the Indian Armed Forces are of both groups, Indo-Tibeto-Mongolian and ethnic Rajput. Gurkhas of Indo-Tibeto-Mongolian origin mostly belong to the Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Khasa and Kiranti origin, many of whom are adherents of Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism.

All Gurkhas, regardless of ethnic origin, speak Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language. They are also famous for their large knife called the khukuri, which is featured in an X shaped congifuration on their emblem. Tradition has it that whenever a Gurkha draws their khukuri for any reason, the blade must taste blood.

Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha, are people from Nepal , who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. His disciple Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj/Prince Shailadhish, founded the house of Mewar, Rajasthan (Rajputana). Later descendants of Bappa Rawal moved further east to found the house of Gorkha, which in turn founded the Kingdom of Nepal.

Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas and the Indian Army’s Gorkha regiments.

Gorkha is one of the 75 districts of modern Nepal.

Gurkhas celebrate court win for right to settle in Britain

FROM TIMES ONLINE

By Philippe Naughton

News shared by Ratan Thapa and Jyoti Thapa Mani

Hundreds of Gurkhas celebrated on the steps of the High Court today after winning an historic legal battle for the right to settle in Britain. [Inset: Joanna Lumley celebrates with British Gurkhas: the actress's father served with the unit in the Second World War]

Celebrating alongside them was the actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the Brigade of Gurkhas during the Second World War and who has become the public face of the campaign to deliver them justice.

The Gurkhas, recruited in Nepal, have fought alongside British troops since 1815 after being designated as a “martial race” of the British Empire. In that time they have become renowned for their courage and loyalty.

Six claimants brought a test case against the Government, challenging what has now been declared an unlawful immigration policy which excluded veteran Gurkhas who retired before 1997 from the United Kingdom. [Inset:

The six, including a wounded Falklands War veteran, a Gulf War veteran and a Gurkha widow, represented approximately 2,000 others who were refused entry to the UK because the Government said they had failed to demonstrate “strong ties” to the UK.

The judge, Mr Justice Blake, made clear that the long military service of the five men, their wounds sustained in battle, their conspicuous acts of bravery, their acts of gallantry and their commitment and loyalty to the Crown all point to an unquestionable historic “moral debt of honour” and gratitude which the ordinary people of Britain embrace and celebrate.

Welcoming the decision, Lumley said: “It gives our country a chance to right a great wrong and to wipe out a national shame that has stained us all.

She added: “Today means that we can at last have this unlawful ruling overturned – but it’s not over yet … until the laws are rewritten.”

The campaign will now focus on pushing for legislation to give all Gurkha veterans the same settlement rights as any other British soldiers.

Nepal’s Terai party wrests tax relief for Indian transporters

FROM INDIA ENEWS

Nepal’s debutant Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), which emerged as the fifth largest party in the April general election, has been able to wrest a major tax relief for Indian vehicle owners, especially transporters, plying along the border.

The TMLP, formed by former ministers and lawmakers from national parties to espouse the cause of Madhesis – people of Indian origin living in the Terai plains, paralysed the interim parliament Monday and relented only after Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai agreed to withdraw the new cess imposed on Indian vehicles entering Nepal even for a very brief period.

Last year, the then finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat had waived tax on Indian vehicles that entered Nepal provided they returned within 24 hours. India also reciprocates the gesture for Nepali vehicles entering India for a day.

However, this month, the first Maoist budget unveiled by Bhattarai slashed the waiver, partly in a bid to raise funds for the ambitious budget and partly to regulate traffic in the border areas.

Soon after the diktat, protests erupted on the Indian side of the border, with the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of India’s Uttar Pradesh state and other Indian organisations demonstrating against it.

The TMLP took up cudgels on behalf of the protesters, obstructing the constituent assembly – Nepal’s interim parliament – and demanding that the decision be revoked.

Hridyesh Tripathi, a former minister and powerful Terai MP, said the tax would hit the passage of goods from India and would affect people living along the border, creating red tape and additional complexities.

Also, people living in the border areas have relatives in both countries and are wont to travel across the border for education, work and medical treatment oftener than travelling to Kathmandu.

‘Anti-Gorkha parties misleading people should be forbidden’

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 30: Faced with strong resistance from the Opposition, the GJMM today revised its stand of prohibiting other parties from organising political activities in the Hills.

“The GJMM believes in democracy. Our party’s stand is that all anti-Gorkhaland parties misleading the people with wrong information should be forbidden,” clarified party general secretary Mr. Roshan Giri.

Contradicting the ‘Gandhian principles’ on which his party is based, the GJMM vice-president Mr Pradeep Pradhan had recently issued the directive at a public meeting organised to counter an AIGL allegation.

The AIGL, a pro-Gorkhaland party, has accused the GJMM of compromising the Gorkhaland demand with an alternative form of administration within West Bengal instead of a separate state.

“The Sixth Schedule Bill has not been revoked as the GJMM claims. The threat looms large over the Hills until it is formally withdrawn from the Parliament by the Union home minister,” AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang has said a number of times recently.

The GJMM differs. “There is no trace of the Bill today due to the GJMM’s efforts. The subject will be debated in the Parliament before decisions are taekn. Even if the Bill is passed it is against the people’s aspirations and there are no takers in the Hills,”" Mr Giri countered.

The GJMM dubbed the AIGL chief Mr Tamang a state government agent trying to impose the Sixth Schedule status in the Hills. “The GJMM’s constitution registered with the Election Commission has the separate state demand as its objective. Whereas, the AIGL in the past always allied with the CPI, Congress and CPI-M in favour of regional autonomy,” Mr Giri pointed out.

GL number plate from 7 October

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 30: All vehicles going to the Darjeeling Hills from other parts of West Bengal would have to sport GL number plates from 7 October according to an All Transport Joint Action Committee (ATJAC) directive.

“This is our home rule so all vehicles from the plains would sport GL plates while plying through the three Hill sub-divisions,” said ATJAC president Mr Narbu Lama, who is overseeing the GL plate implementation. Vehicles from other states are not bound by the rule though. Asked about the reason of omission Mr Lama said: “The non-cooperation movement is against the West Bengal government. Therefore it is applicable only to vehicles with WB registration.”

The switch from WB to GL plates is applicable from Darjeeling More for those vehicles coming to Kurseong and Darjeeling and from Sevoke More for those plying to Kalimpong.

“The rule is applicable from Darjeeling and Sevoke More onwards because we want to avoid confrontation,” Mr Lama, said.

The phase wise implementation of the GL number plates started with the GJMM central committee members followed by government and private vehicles in the Hills.

Celebration knows no religion…

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 30: On any festival, be it a Hindu or a Muslim festival the intrinsic strength of the Indian civilization comes to fore. Communal harmony is not a theoretical concept in the Indian context. It is a way of life peculiar to our land, which not merely accepts and tolerates but celebrates diversity.

With Id round the corner, the Muslims in Siliguri are gearing up to celebrate the festival with great pomp and show. They would break their month long fast and offer prayer to the Almighty.

But what is refreshingly novel is that the Muslims in general are looking forward to the coming Durga Puja with equal enthusiam. “Do you know the real meaning of Islam? It is humanism in its pristine form. No barrier between man and man on the basis of one’s professed faith exists in the true body of Islam. Love of humanity matters and God is one, however, differently we might approach it,” said Md Hasim Ansari, the secretary of the Siliguri Jama Masjid management committee.

He further said that the Indian civilization in its truest form was perennial. “It, in course of its five thousand years long career, has transcended the limitations of religious bigotry and transformed itself into an ocean with an incredible depth where all the streams, big and small, gleefully merge while keeping their peculiar identities intact,” Mr Ansari said.

Dwelling on the significance of Id the Muslim theologian and social worker said that Id meant surrender of self to the Almighty through purification and penance. “Fasting purifies the soul and helps one to calm down the vital passions ceaselessly gnawing at life,” he added.

GJMM directive on GL plate draws flak

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 30: Bangla Morcha ~ a newly formed little known Bengali nationalist body today burnt Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha chief Mr Bimal Gurung in effigy in Siliguri denouncing the Hill party’s imposition of ‘GL’ number plates on West Bengal vehicles across the Darjeeling Hills.

As part of its ongoing movement for a separate Gorkhaland state, the GJMM has changed the vehicle number plates in the Hills to ‘GL’ ~ indicative of the demanded Gorkhaland.

Activists of the Bangla Morcha gathered near the Siliguri court this afternoon and burnt Mr Gurung’s in effigy. Later, the activists also served a memorandum to the SDO Siliguri, demanding stringent action if any vehicle enters into Siliguri by sporting ‘GL’ number.

Jana Jagaran ~ another Siliguri based pressure group opposed to the Gorkhaland demand served a separate memorandum to the ADM Siliguri on the same issue.

Hunger-strike called off

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Sept. 30: The Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union has withdrawn its indefinite hunger strike after the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation agreed to increase puja bonus for the workers. “They have agreed to raise the bonus from 8.33 per cent to 10.25 per cent for the tea workers,” said the union president Mr PT Sherpa.

Siliguri residents want strict implementation of smoking ban

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Sept. 30: The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the Centre’s notification on imposing a ban on smoking in public places from 2 October has evoked mixed response from the people in Siliguri and its outskirts.

While a large section of people in the rural areas welcomed the decision, many residents of Siliguri felt that the Centre must adopt strict measures to ensure that its “Mission No Smoking” in public places is implemented properly to make the country pollution-free.

“It is an excellent decision but the government must ensure that it is implemented properly, especially in restaurants, auditoriums and amusement parks,” Mr Pradip Roy, a resident of Matigara said.

He also pointed out that many mutton and chicken stalls remain open on Gandhi Jayanti, even though the sale of meat and poultry on the day is officially banned in India.

Mrs Jayashree Das, a resident of Vivekananda Pally in Siliguri suggested that the Centre should also implement the use of compressed natural gas and reduce the prices of battery-operated vehicles, while increasing the subsidies on them to save our environment.

Mr Shankar Mani, a senior teacher at the Kalaram High School in Ranidanga, where smoking was banned in 1984, appealed to the Centre to proscribe the consumption of liquor and tobacco in any form in public places.

Meet fails to end tea wage deadlock

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kurseong, Sept. 30: Labourers of Jog Maya Tea Estate, situated 16km from here, have refused to resume work, although the management has assured them at a meeting that Rs 5 lakh will be released to pay their dues and bonus by October 4.

The workers under the banner of Darjeeling Tea Plantation Labour Union, affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, have been on strike since September 25, demanding that the wages due to 70 casual labourers and bonus for the rest be paid immediately.

The meeting was convened by assistant labour commissioner and attended by the manager of the estate and the representatives of the union in Darjeeling yesterday.

“The garden owner was contacted on the phone during the meeting and he promised to send Rs 5 lakh for paying the dues and bonus of the workers by October 4. However, the labourers are not willing to join the work till the payment is made,” Purna Tamang, the manager of the estate, said today.

The workers had gheraoed Tamang on September 23 to protest against the non-payment of the dues and the bonus. The dues to the 70 casual labourers come around Rs 80,000, said a union leader.

Another meeting was held on September 24 and as it had failed to solve the crisis, the workers declared a strike from the next day.

“The labourers will continue to stay away from the work. We expected yesterday’s meeting to resolve the problem to some extent. If things do not improve by October 4, we will call a meeting to decide on the future course of agitation,” said Rajen Pradhan, the zonal president of the union.

ABGL leader car smashed

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong, Sept. 30: Some unidentified persons smashed the windscreen of a car owned by an ABGL leader in Damber Chowk this afternoon. The vehicle was found lying on its side.

However, Tribhuwan Rai, the ABGL secretary and the owner of the car, has in his complaint with police held senior Morcha leaders, including its Kalimpong unit president Kalyan Dewan, responsible for the incident.

The others who have been named are the party’s central committee members Bijay Sundas and Pravin Rahapal. Eyewitnesses said the incident happened around 12.20pm when about four or five youths appeared at the spot on the under-construction approach road to Industrial Park, where Rai had parked his Maruti Alto. The gang struck at the windscreen with iron bars.

“I heard a sound like glass breaking and looked out of the window. The alley is sort of deserted and dingy and I saw this group hitting away. Some nearby windows had opened too, but that was all. Nobody came out,” one of the eyewitness said.

Before leaving the spot, the youths turned the car on its side.

Police said efforts were on to trace the culprits.

The ABGL secretary, who arrived at the spot one-and-a-half hours later, said the incident was the handiwork of Morcha supporters, who had been instigated by their leaders.

“This was done because of our campaign to bring into the open what had transpired at the recently held tripartite talks in Delhi. We will protest against this incident (the smashing of windscreen) too,” Rai said.