OPINION: Nationality, Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal

BY DIRGHA RAJ PRASAI

After the movement (I) of 1990, Nepal became dirty playground of foreigners. The movement (II) of 2006 was not for democracy but for making Nepal confused and failed state. The so-called leaders of Congress, UML, and Maoists were never clear whether the movement was for improvement of parliamentary democracy or for communism. The leaders are so confused. They sometimes unite and sometimes quarrel for nothing. Unhealthy alliances run in similar way. Due to their notorious activities, the corrupted leaders of so-called big party leaders are being trapped in their own grand designs. In Nepalese politics, what is the aim or objective of Congress, UML, Maoists, and Madhesis ? The answer is not clear that the traitors do not have any capacity direct the country in right pathway. Now there is no doubt that the leaders of above stated parties are guided by foreigners. Therefore they do not deserve any right to claim as leaders of the country.

Few years ago, they (culprit leaders of Congress & UML) believed that the constitution of Kingdom of Nepal, 1990 was the best constitution of world because they used to say they were committed to constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. In present, it seems they forgot it just as a dream. What were pitfalls of the Constitution of 1990? Why was it suspended without reason? What kind of new constitution they require? Even they are reluctant to justify it in front of Nepalese people. Maoists used to claim them nationalist. But they are completely exposed as they signed 12 point agreement on Indian direction In Delhi. Now there is painful confusion about the forward direction to be taken by Nepal. ‘Crows are never the white for washing.’ They are satanic but not political man. Now, a traitor and opportunist Mr. Madhav Nepal, the nonsense leader of UML, has been appointed prime minister. It seems the country may face disastrous civil war.

NATIONAL: UPA’s stance on Tibet meek – Mankotia

FROM THE TRIBUNE

BY LALIT MOHAN

NEWS SHARED BY JTM

Dharamsala:  With the the Dalai Lama turning 74 tomorrow, sympathisers have started efforts to celebrate the occasion by highlighting the Tibet issue.

Former senior Congress leader and ex-president of the state ex-servicemen forum Vijay Singh Mankotia, while taking to The Tribune, said Jawahar Lal Nehru had welcomed the Dalai Lama and his followers in the country 50 years ago. He had maintained the stance for rights of the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama.

However, the stance of the present UPA government over the issue of Tibet had gone meek. The Indian government should support the middle path proposed by the Dalai Lama at the international level, he added. He said the government was maintaining a meek stance over the issue of Tibet despite the fact that China had been openly maintaining aggressive foreign policy against India.

The Air Chief Marshal had recently stated openly that India faced more threat from China than Pakistan.

NEW DELHI: 21-yr-old Nepalese woman gangraped

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY JTM

NEW DELHI: A young Nepalese woman was allegedly raped by three persons in the national capital after the man who promised her a job abroad abandoned her, police said today.

“The 21-year-old woman was raped allegedly by three persons in east Delhi’s Mandavli last night after an auto driver Vinod (24) dropped her there though she had asked him to take her to Mukherjee Nagar,” a senior police official said.

The woman hailing from Kathmandu had reached the capital on July two with one Manoj (24) who promised her a job in Kuwait and took her to Indira Gandhi International Airport yesterday and abandoned her there.

Manoj had taken her to Mukherjee Nagar on her arrival and on Saturday, he took her to the airport saying she can board the midnight flight to Kuwait. However, he disappeared soon after they reached the airport.

The woman could neither find her name in the list of passengers nor she was in possession of a ticket, the official said adding that she then took the autorickshaw of Vinod and asked him to take her to Mukherjee Nagar.

OPINION: Netas and babus can outsmart smart cards

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

By Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar

Shared by Sailendra Dewan

Dear Nandan Nilekani

Nobody is better qualified than you to head the government’s project to create an identification number for every citizen, buttressed with a smart card that allows governments, banks and other institutions to interact with every citizen. In theory this could transform the quality of governance, weed out corruption and waste, and end poverty by helping target the poor. I wish you luck.

Smart ministers (like you) are better than dumb ministers. Yet low-level netas and babus have long outwitted smart ministers. Your book Imagining India cites Rajiv and Rahul Gandhi as saying that only 5-15% of programme funds reach beneficiaries. Sadly, implementing officials are unaccountable and unsackable. So, your challenge is not to create smart cards so much as to outsmart the saboteurs along the line.

The government already issues ration cards, PAN cards, voter cards, and job cards. All are riddled with leakages and gaps. All suffer from ghosting (cards issued to non-eligible or non-existent persons) and missing out (deserving people do not get cards, especially the poor and illiterate).

The government has issued 223 million ration cards, but India has only 200 million households. It has issued 80 million BPL (below poverty line) ration cards although the number of poor households is under 65 million.

SIKKIM: Freedom is not a license for journalists, says CJ

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY DB RAI

Sikkim High Court Justice A H Saikia

Gangtok: Journalists are different from general citizens but they are not free to write anything they like, said Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court Justice A. H. Saikia. He was speaking as chief guest at a programme to observe Media Solidarity Day on the theme “Role of state in safeguarding media”, which was organized by Press Club of Sikkim at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhavan on Sunday.

Mentioning Article 19(1) A of Indian Constitution which gives the right to freedom of speech and expression Chief Justice said, “this (freedom) is not a license”. He pointed out the limitations as stipulated in Article 19(2).

According to Justice Saikia, a media person should be well educated and “should have some basic knowledge of Constitution”, laws and media ethics. He said media is the fourth pillar of democracy. So journalists should be vigilant about the state action. To do that role, they should be well aware of the system (of governance). Otherwise, how they can rightly point out where the government is going wrong, he asked. When judiciary becomes strong the rights of the citizens and the press freedom are ensured, he said, adding, Indian judiciary is one of the best judiciaries in the world.

CJ advised young journalists not to meddle with subjudice in order not to attract contempt of court. He stressed the need of giving training to journalists on court reporting so that there would not be any misreporting in the papers. He assured that some training programme would be arranged for journalists on court reporting.

SIKKIM: World highest cyber café out of service for past 3 months

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

World's highest cybercafe. Photo by Sikkim Express

GANGTOK, July 05: The Sherathang Community Information Centre (CIC) endorsed by the Limca Book of Records in 2007 as the world highest permanent cyber café has been out of service for the past three months.

The present inactiveness of the CIC is attributed to erratic power supply to its four computers and lack of proper management.

The CIC is located in the Sherathang trade mart complex along the JN Marg at an altitude of 13600 ft above sea level and is 50 kms away from the State Capital. The CIC had started functioning around the time when the Nathu La border trade between Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region was revived in 2006.

A tourist attraction, the Sherathang CIC used to offer the tourists an opportunity to send an e-mail card from world highest cyber café. The café was also important to the army personnel and local people to stay tuned with the world outside the perpetual mist enveloping the Sherathang-Nathu La mountainous corridor.

Going back to the past years, the Sherathang CIC had stood firm despite snowfall of 10 feet during harsh winters and had managed its operations smoothly.

The two operators of the CIC recounted to the media that many tourists visit the cyber café after reading the signboard outside which proudly claims the CIC as world highest café and invites the people to send an email post from the world highest cyber café.

However, the story inside the café is different and the tourists return disappointed as the computers and other equipments have turned cold since the past 3 months. Even the educated children of the local residents who used to learn computers from this CIC have no other place to go.

The Sherathang CIC was part of the CIC project launched by the Government of India for Northeastern States including Sikkim to bridge the digital gap between the northeast region and rest of the country besides building human resources of the region in IT sector. The State Information & Technology department of each NE State had been tasked to run the CICs.

INTERVIEW: If I had done Sholay, we would have missed a fantastic actor in Amjad Khan’ – Danny Denzongpa

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

SHARED BY AARDEE

With four new films in his kitty, Danny Denzongpa chats about his years in Bollywood, playback singing and his ‘different’ looks

After Frozen, you have three films in quick succession—Luck, Acid Factory and Rajnikanth’s Endhiran. How come this sudden festival of releases?

It wasn’t planned like that. Normally, I do two films a year. Even at my peak, I never tried to do more than three films at a time. As an artiste who’s been here for about 40 years, I have a responsibility towards my fans who expect a certain kind of work from me. They have an image about me and to keep that going, I do selective work.

The buzz is that you follow a long list of commandments while signing a film, like you don’t work on Sundays or shoot in summer. True?

Oh, yes. No Sundays, only single shifts and no work in summer. I also only shoot outdoors in October. I made these rules in the beginning of my career after learning some hard lessons.

In 1971, I hit the big time with Mere Apne, Zaroorat and Dhund. I was totally unprepared for what followed next. I signed 48 films at one go. And then, the producers came to collect. I used to do three shifts—I’d shoot for one film at 7 a.m., go for another film’s shoot at 2 p.m. and then report for the third film at 7 p.m. I would be home at midnight, take my girlfriend to the disco, sleep for a couple of hours and then report to work. After six months of this hectic cycle, I collapsed. I was admitted in the hospital with a liver infection and was advised three months of bed rest.

NATIONAL: Young India falling prey to party drugs – UN official

FROM IANS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

NEW DELHI: Youth in India and China face huge risks from party drugs like Ecstasy and Adam because of their large populations and increasing disposable income, a senior UN official has warned.

Besides, these synthetic drugs are easily available as they can be produced in the kitchen unlike heroine or cocaine, says Christina Albertin, who heads the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for South Asia.

“If we look at the ATS (amphetamine-type stimulants) situation, the world drugs report points out that there are fears the ATS has become a bigger problem in the developing world, including India and China,” Albertin said.

Synthetic drugs or ATS like Ephedrine, amphetamines and Methaqualone are known by many names such as Ecstasy, MDMA, Adam, XTC, love drug and hug. They are often abused at parties.

India and China are particularly vulnerable to ATS owing to their large populations and increasing disposable incomes, says the recently released world drugs report.

Albertin says making these drugs is not rocket science, as you can go to internet sites and download recipes on how to produce them.

“If you want to produce heroine or cocaine, you need to have poppy plantations in some parts of the world. You need to have contact with the farmers and need to get the whole production done on the basis of the plants,” says Albertin.

“Then you have the whole chemical process, you need to go near the poppy fields, get all the chemicals there, put up the laboratories there at great risk, making yourself vulnerable to the discovery.

“That does not happen with ATS because synthetic drugs can be produced in the kitchen, they’re just chemicals. There are a lot of chemicals that you can buy easily because they may not be under control or they are being deeply neglected,” she says.

According to the world drugs report, there are no prevalent estimates of ATS consumption in India or China. These gaps are major, given the size of the population aged 15-65 years in these countries – 0.73 billion and 0.95 billion respectively in India and China.

“Furthermore, with an increase in both the population and disposable income, their position next to several significant manufacturing countries and expanding domestic manufacture, both countries face substantial risks related to growing ATS use,” says the report.

ASSAM: One killed, 400,000 displaced in Assam floods

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

GUWAHATI: One person was swept away in Majuli islands as the flood situation in Assam turned critical with river Brahmputra and its tributaries

crossing the danger mark, affecting over five lakh people in ten districts.

Normal life was crippled as large parts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh districts, Jorhat in upper Assam, Morigaon in central Assam and Barpeta, Kamrup (Guwahati), Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Baksa in lower Assam were submerged by the swollen rivers due to incessant rains in catchment areas.

In world’s largest river island Majuli, almost the entire island got flooded and a villager was swept away.

The situation in the districts of Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Baksa was grim with flood waters submerging nearly 50 villages and affecting more than one lakh people.

In worst-hit districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Jorhat, vast tracts of land remained under water following embankment breaches caused by heavy rainfall in the foothills of Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh.

In Dhemaji district, water of river Semen has inundated vast tracts of land in Jonai sub-division while water of rivers Gai and Jiadhol was also in spate.

NAGALAND: AGBCN/YD leadership seminar held

FROM MORUNG EXPRESS

Participants at the two-day AGBCN youth leadership seminar along with resource persons and officials of the AGBCN Youth Department.

Dimapur, July 4 (MExN): The Association of Gorkha Baptist Church Nagaland, Youth Department (AGBCN/YD) held its first leadership seminar at Singrijan Headquarters, Dimapur from June 27 to 28, last under the theme “Discover and exercise your gift” based from 1 Corinthians 12:4.

The resource persons at the seminar were B. Vinod Rai, Executive Secretary AGBCN, Rudra Ramauli, Mission Secretary AGBCN and Robert Aley, Youth Secretary AGBCN.

NEPAL: U.N. fears for staff as Nepal strikes continue

FROM REUTERS

By Nita Bhalla

Shared by Aardee

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – More frequent and violent strike action in Nepal is threatening the security of United Nations staff and undermining their humanitarian operations, the head of the U.N. operation said on Friday.

In recent years, the impoverished Himalayan nation has seen a sharp rise in the number of strikes where everything including transport, government offices, private businesses, schools, hospitals and markets are completely shut down.

Last year, there were 254 days of strikes or “bandhs” in the country, according to Nepalbandh.com, a Nepali website that monitors strikes around the country. In the last three months, there have been more than 200 strikes, according to the site.

Robert Piper, resident and humanitarian coordinator for the U.N. team in Nepal, said strike action was seriously impacting the organisation’s work while a rise in intimidation and violence during the strikes were of great concern.

“Our people are moving around the country – doing activities such as food distributions or human rights monitoring – and they are constantly being stopped by road blockages, burning tyres and mobs of people who are increasingly refusing to let them pass,” he told AlertNet in an interview.

“As a result, the U.N.’s work is dramatically curtailed on bandh days and as the bandhs become more violent, we are getting more concerned about staff security.” 

NORTH EAST: Are Northeast citizens victims of Racism in India?

A MORUNG EXPRESS POLL

Some of those who voted yes had this to say:

• All I want is to let some of these local Goons and self made Bosses in Kohima and Dimapur to land up in Bihar and get bash up by these Coolies and Miyas they bully around here.

• Just like we treat the Biharis and Miyas with much disdain, we are too treated the same when we go outside. If we want them to treat us good, we must learn to respect them no matter what status they belong to while they are here in our place.

• Yes, racism exists in India and I am sorry to say that northeast students are one of the main targets in places like Delhi. Northeast students are badly treated and looked down upon and are called all kinds of names. Some may even say that the lifestyle of those from northeast may warrant such name callings, but racism is not justified, no matter what.

• Yes there is racism in India against the people of the northeast. Every day one has to live with the humiliation meted out on northeast students in Delhi university.

OUT OF THE BOX: Shocking! Rape case settled for Rs 25,000

FROM MORUNG EXPRESS

Dimapur, July 5 (MExN): In a shocking twist to the April 11 Zunheboto rape case, the uncle of the victim has resolved to settle the case for a sum of Rs 25,000 with the parents of the five accused; including the main accused in the rape case. The ‘resolution’ was made by the uncle on May 5, 2009; however the matter has come to the notice of the public only now. The victim involved in the April 11 rape case as reported in the media earlier is an orphan and a minor.

The settlement paper, which was provided to The Morung Express by the Sumi Totomi Hoho (Zunheboto) president, K Atoli Sumi and the Dimapur Lizutomi Union president, Vihoshe Awomi revealed that the uncle of the victim, Kahovi Awomi resolved to accept a sum of Rs 25,000 to settle the case in accordance with the “Sumi Customary Law”.

Translating the settlement paper (which was written in Sumi), the STH Zunheboto and the Dimapur Lizutomi Union presidents (the village hails from Lizuto village, Zunheboto) the two leaders disclosed that that the paper states Kahovi Awomi (the younger brother of the victim’s father) as making a declaration that he is the “father” of the victim since the biological father of the victim is deceased. The victim was raised under his care since her father had passed away and the mother had since remarried.

Kahovi Awomi in the paper – as translated by the STH and DLU presidents – stated that on April 11, 2009, the ‘following persons’ Tito Kiba, Samuel, Thoro, Aloto, Mughaho’ took the victim on a ride and “later on it was found clearly that Tito Kiba” had “shikuputha (raped)” the victim.

ASSAM: Harmonica maestro thrills Guwahati at music society launch

FROM ASSAM TIMES

BY AIYUSHMAN DUTTA

In a defining moment for the regional music scene, the Rockarolla Music Society – the first comprehensive music and Art society of Northeast India – was officially launched at Hotel Landmark on Sunday with an international concert. The highlight of the show was a performance by New York-based Chinese Harmonica virtuoso JIA-YI HE, besides performances by ABIOGENESIS and STRANGE FREQUENCY. While ABIOGENESIS is the only Indian experimental rock band to have been nominated for the prestigious Grammy Awards, STRANGE FREQUENCY is a new musical concept from the hills of Shillong.

The crowd at Hotel Landmark that day was kept spellbound after witnessing Jia’s exploits with the harmonica. Armed with an array of harmonicas of different shapes and sizes, Jia amply showed the immense potentialities of the harmonica as a musical instrument, which till now, had been languishing in the shadows. Not surprisingly, a number of Harmonica players appeared from several nooks and crannies of the State. One such enterprising harmonica player Dr. Angshuman Bhagowati, who came all the way from Tinsukia to attend the concert, said, “I had never expected to witness a harmonica player of Jia’s stature in the State. But when the Yahoo harmonica group (India) posted a scrap on the upcoming festival and I got in touch with Aiyushman of the Rockarolla Music Society, I knew the moment had indeed arrived. Hats off to Jia for a fabulous concert!”

A very humble and unassuming man, Jia-Yi He has received numerous awards in international festivals and competitions in England, Germany, Israel, Japan and United States. He has served as a member of the judging committees in the Asia-Pacific Harmonica Competition in Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Besides appearing as a soloist with the China National Symphony Orchestra, China National Ballet Symphonic Orchestra and the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, Mr. He has recorded harmonica music for a number of movies, radio stations and CDs. While he was invited to perform in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations, the New York Mets had also chosen him to perform a pre-game show at Shea Stadium in 2007. Currently, Mr. He is a harmonica teacher at the Turtle Bay Music School in New York City. 

GARHWAL: Snake God Temple in Garhwal Himalayas

FROM GARHWAL POST

By Devendra Kumar Budakoti

The Himalayan region is called the abode of gods and one generally sees many temples of various gods and goddess all over the region. While the temples of lord Shiva can be seen in various shape and sizes all over the region, the temple of snake god- Nag Devta was new to me and to my information not routinely seen in the region. A health awareness programme, led me to visit Untar village in the winter of 2008. Untar village is in the Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district. I had no knowledge that I was by default visiting a place with immense scenic beauty and the temple of Naga Devata. I choose this village, just to see the interior of Tehri Garhwal. Besides the official programme and agenda, I also went round the village to meet the people and visited their homes. What attracted me was the huge Naga Devta Temple of the village, made of big stone blocks and wooden planks.

On inquiry, the village elders could not tell much about the time when their ancestral came down to this village. I did photographs some writings in the wooden blocks and metal plates shown to me by the villagers. Archeologist and historians can throw some light on the construction and the settlement of the village.

They also informed that while the past earthquakes in the region had made cracks in their homes, the majestic temple has stood the test of time. The Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991 and that of Chamoli in the year 1999, has created awareness not only amongst the educated but also to the laymen that the Himalayan region is seismically highly vulnerable to earthquakes.

SPORTS WATCH: 6/8 Gorkha Rifles register victory in opener, Doon Valley wins

FROM GARHWAL POST

Dehradun: The 6/8 Gorkha Rifles began their campaign at the District Football League with a 4-2 win against young and inexperienced Junior Vijay Cantt here on Friday. Doon Valley managed to register a close 1-0 win against Western Boys in the second match of the day.

Playing their first match in the league, the 6/8 Gorkha Rifles gained lead early in the match. Narender Chettri (9th minute) found the target to put the army outfit 1-0 up. Nine minutes later Sandeep extended the lead 2-0. Agile Zigmilla Bhutiya, who was declared the best forward of the championship of the recently concluded Narendra Singh Kharola Memorial Football, exhibited his brilliant skills to give the Gorkha Rifles 3-0 lead in the first half.

After taking a 3-0 lead in the first half, the army team looked a relaxed in the second half. Tika Prashad of the Junior Vijay Cantt surprised their rival by scoring a brace (5th and 6th minute). The score was now 3-2 and all of a sudden the Vijay Cantt boys changed the complexion of the game totally. The young Junior Vijay Cantt side put on a spirited performance to give a stiff competition to the army men. Nar Prashad scored the last goal for the winning team to make the final score 4-2.

EDITORIAL: Nepal Madesh continues to be neglected

FROM GARHWAL POST

Nepal and India sharing open boarder with each other is the cause of a number of problems for both the nations. However, an open border also has few positive aspects as well. In the recent times, the open boarder is allowing groups of criminals to flourish. They commit crime in one country and then cross the boarder before being caught. Many armed groups are operating actively in both the countries but more so in Nepal due to the poor security management and political instability there. This is affecting the lives of thousands of people in the Tarai Madesh area, which is largely occupied by the Nepalese of Indian origin.

According to a study there are above 70 groups that seek to be recognised as ‘armed groups’ and most of them do not have any political background. Some groups are made up of as small as 3 or 4 number of people and taking up arms with the sole purpose of looting the people for survival. Around 30 groups are pro active in such activities. While it is affecting the whole country, the direct victims are the people living in the districts along the boarder sides.

After the Maoists ended their decade long insurgency and joined mainstream politics two years ago, this had had immediate impact upon social life of the people. This totally changed the picture of the then Nepal, which was soaked in blood. Tourism flourished once again, number of students going abroad also reduced as the local educational institutions began to come to the track and the people displaced from villages started returning to their place. The economy was prevented from further deterioration though it was taking time to rise up significantly. Overall, the Maoists joining the mainstream politics was a very big relief to the people of Nepal and they thought that it was the end of violence in their country.

DARJEELING HILLS: Landslides disrupt traffic in Darjeeling

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

Regular traffic movement has been affected on NH-31 here following a series of landslides. “The Border Task Force are cleaning the debris,” Darjeeling District Magistrate Surendra Gupta said.

At present, only light vehicles are being allowed to move towards the Dooars, Kalimpong and Sikkim, he said.

The services of toy trains, a major tourist attraction of Darjeeling, has also been suspended after the earth underneath the tracks got removed as a result of the landslides, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway sources said.

“It is still uncertain when would the services be restored,” they said.

NEPAL: Nepali gov’t committed to one-China policy

FROM XINHUANET – CHINA

KATHMANDU, July 5 (Xinhua) — The Nepali government Sunday reiterated its commitment to the one-China policy, after some Nepali lawmakers’ meeting with the Dalai Lama in India recently.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs expressed Nepal’s commitment towards maintaining friendly ties with neighboring nations and not allowing its territory as a venue of protests against them.

“The reports of organized activities affecting Nepal-China relations have drawn the ministry’s attention,” it said.

The ministry has called on the public not to get involved in any activities that may harm the relations between Nepal and neighboring nations, and warned of possible punishment for such activities.

It was recently revealed that a team of Nepali lawmakers of Madhes-origin visited Dharamshala in India to meet the Dalai Lama. The team was led by Madhesi Janadhikar Forum leader B P Yadav.

On Sunday, the Nepali government prohibited anti-China activities in the country. The government’s move came just a day before the birthday of the Dalai Lama. 

NEPAL: CA members threaten to expose PM

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: A few Constituent Assembly (CA) members, who were reprimanded by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal for meeting Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in India, have threatened to reveal the details of their conversation with the PM amid a press conference.

Six CA members led by Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) leader BP Yadav recently met the Dalai Lama in India. Rajkishor Yadav and Asha Kumari Sardar of MPRF, Ishwardayal Mishra of the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), Bishwendra Paswan of Dalit Janjati Party and Rukmini Chaudhary of the Loktantrik Rastriya Munch were among those who met the Dalai Lama.

In a conversation with Paswan and Chaudhary, the Prime Minister had strongly objected to their meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Nepal reportedly compared the Nobel laureate with Biren Shrestha (Pradhan), the main accused in the brutal murder of Khyati Shrestha.

“You all have committed a serious crime. It´s a crime just like meeting and shaking hands warmly with the main accused in Khyati´s murder (Biren Shrestha),” CA member Raj Kumar Limbu, who was present in the meeting between Paswan, Chaudhary and the PM.

According to Paswan, only a small portion of their conversation with the prime minister has come out. “There are many things we want to make public. We are planning a press meet within a day or two to expose the PM,” he said. Limbu echoed him. 

NEPAL: UML chief stresses unity among big 3

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal has said that the party is in favor of further consolidating the present government and making it a government of national consensus.

“This cabinet led by Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML itself will be further consolidated and converted into a government of national consensus,” Khanal said at a press meet organized at the party´s head office in Balkhu.

He stressed the need for further strengthening the unity among the three largest parties in the Constituent Assembly — Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML.

“These three parties must come together collaborate by forgetting their differences,” he said, adding, “This is the only right thing left for us for completing the crucial tasks of writing a new constitution and concluding the peace process on time.”

He said his party wants to improve relations with the Unified CPN (Maoist) and reach an agreement with the Maoists for ending the parliamentary obstruction.

Dismissing intra-party feud within CPN-UML over joining and forming the government, Khanal said the party would not tolerate if anyone speaks against the government.

KURSEONG: Fear of cobras grips Kurseong

FROM THE STATESMAN

KURSEONG, 5 JULY: For the past few days the residents of Subedar Bustee under Kurseong subdivision seem to be spending sleepless nights as a pair of the dreaded king cobras, around 9 feet in length, have been roaming about the area.

Mr Saku Gurung said that they have been unable to close their eyes in the nights as cobra panic has gripped the residents. “As per our experience, a cobra can sneak into the residence even through a narrow gaps,” he added.

Echoing the panic, another local, Mrs Geeta Lama said that several people were on the alert looking for the cobras. “Our normal chores remains almost paralysed in fear of the dreaded serpents,” she said.

They are also dithering as to whether they should inform the forest officials. “We believe any harm done to the cobras might bring about our destruction by way of divine retribution. These serpents are worshipped as gods,” the residents said in unison.

SILIGURI: New SMP board by 24 July

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 5 JULY: The new board of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP) will be formed on or before 24 July.

According to official sources, by next Friday, the state panchayat and rural development ministry would issue the mandatory notification detailing the names of winning candidates in the just concluded three-tier pachayat polls in Siliguri.

“Once the notification is out, the local administration would fix a date for the formation of new boards of the SMP, the four panchayat samities and the 22 gram panchayats in the sub-division. The process will have to be completed within 21 days of the notification been issued,” said Mr Shakeel Ahmed, the additional executive officer of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad.

According to Mr Ahmed, given that in the previous occasion the panchayati boards were formed on 24 July, this time too the formation would take place either on the same date or a few days in advance considering the administrative convenience.

Going by protocol, the SDO Siliguri would administer the SMP board formation, BDOs would administer the formation of panchayat samities in their respective jurisdiction and the block level extension officers would handle the gram panchayats.

SILIGURI: 200 people extend loyalty to Congress

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 5 JULY: Around 200 residents of Ward no. 43 and no. 44 under Siliguri Municipal Corporation today extended their loyalty to the Congress here. The Darjeeling district Intuc president, Mr Alok Chakraborty, along with other party leaders, handed over the party flag to these new entrants into the party rank and file at a programme organised by Congress committee of Ward no. 44.

Welcoming the people the Congress Mr Chakravarty said that the residents, previously loyal to the CPI-M, had understood the real face of the Marxists and no longer wanted to extend their support to the party. “The support of the 200 people, mostly youths, ahead of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation election, would boost the morale of the party workers,” said Mr Chakraborty. However, the Darjeeling district Congress president, Mr Sankar Malakar was unaware of such programme. “I do not know anything about the development,” he said. The CPI-M state committee member, Mr Jibesh Sarkar, ridiculed the claim saying, “This has become a regular feature of the Congress and we do not bother,” he said.

DARJEELING HILLS: Health camp treats 800 hill people

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

An army doctor attends to a patient at the Aila-affected Sunderbans

A free medical camp and an Armed Forces Veterans’ Rally were organised by the Trishakti Corps at Mirik on June 20 and 21. Specialist doctors attended to approximate 800 patients of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik.

A blood donation camp was held in co-ordination with the local unit of the Red Cross. Maj. Gen. V.K. Pillai, General-Officer-Commanding, Striking Lion Division, inaugurated it and donated blood along with his wife Usha.

The GOC also felicitated war widows. A large number of elderly ex-servicemen affected by Cyclone Aila were provided with financial assistance.

Change of guard

Maj. Gen. Sanjiv Chachra, GOC, Black Cat Division, has handed over charge to Maj. Gen. Ravinder Singh Chopra. An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Chopra was commissioned into an artillery regiment. He is a post-graduate from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and has also attended higher course at Army War College, Mhow.