SHILLONG: Will MUA Govt remove Pradhan? Countdown to SCAMOD deadline begins today

FROM SHILLONG TIMES

SHILLONG: Will the State Government take action against DGP Anil Pradhan after the administrative inquiry into the arrest and release of Congress MDC Thomas Nongtdu following the Shillong jailbreak found that the DGP was responsible for withdrawal of all the charges against Mr Nongtdu?

The administrative inquiry headed by Principal Secretary in-charge Home (Police) Department PBO Warjri, accused the former for directing his subordinates to drop all charges against Mr Nongtdu despite allegedly financing the escape of dreaded criminal Fullmoon Dhar from Shillong District Jail.

Interestingly Steering Committee Against Murder of Democracy (SCAMOD) on Friday issued a deadline to the Congress-led MUA Government for removal of Mr Pradhan within July 22.

The three-day deadline will begin on July 20 when a delegation of SCAMOD, a conglomerate of over a dozen NGOs, would submit in writing to Chief Minister DD Lapang to remind him of his earlier assurance that Mr Pradhan would be removed from the post only if the enquiry report found him having a hand in the jailbreak case.

“It will be interesting to see whether the State Government will dare to take such a decision since Mr Pradhan is known to be very close to Congress party,” sources said here on Sunday.

Sources in the Police Department said “Mr Lapang is hesitant to remove Mr Pradhan due to his known Congress leaning”.

The latest development could also prove to be acid test for Mr Lapang since the government had recently decided to initiate disciplinary action against former DGP William Richmond Marbaniang in the Rinehskhem Kharsohnoh murder case.

SHILLONG: Nepalis given 15 more days to leave Langpih – Assam rushes addl forces

FROM SHILLONG TIMES

SHILLONG: A day after the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong of Langpih Area (SKRSLA) issued ‘quit notice’ to the Nepali people residing in Langpih and nearby villages, the Assam government on Saturday rushed additional police forces to the area to prevent any kind of untoward incident.

However, the deployment of additional forces by the Assam government created a sense of fear psychosis in minds of the local indigenous population as well as the Nepali population.

“Majority of the people remain awake at night. There is also fear among the Nepalis with the deployment of additional forces by the Assam Government,” SKRSLA president T Nonglang said while speaking to reporters here on Sunday.

“We have decided to give 15 days time with the quit notice to the Nepalese population since they would need sufficient time to pack up and leave our homeland permanently,” Mr Nonglang said.

The SKRSLA president pointed out that if they failed to comply with the demand after the 15 days time then they would not hesitate to use force in order to remove them from the area. He blamed the Nepalis for forcing the local indigenous population to resort to these drastic steps.

“On several occasions they had attempted to forcefully snatch our land. They are on a mission to bring more Nepalis to Langpih area so that they can reduce the local indigenous population to a minority,” Mr Nonglang said.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS: ‘Gorkhaland’ heard in Rajya Sabha but deleted from offical records

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

Q. No. 242 (Contd.) SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY : Mr. Chairman, Sir, my question is related to the North-East. It is a small question to the hon. Minister. Bagdogra Airport, of course, is an international airport apart from being a military airport. It is a gateway to Sikkim; it is a gateway to Gorkhaland; it is a gateway to West Bengal ..(Interruptions)..

SHRIMATI BRINDA KARAT : There is no Gorkhaland. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please use official terminology. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI MOINUL HASSAN : I have a point of order. ..(Interruptions).. This is the third time that my friend has raised this. ..(Interruptions).. Please drop this. ..(Interruptions).. This is intentional. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. CHAIRMAN : The Chair has corrected it and there is no need for any..(Interruptions)..

SHRI TARINI KANTA ROY: You correct your question…(Interruptions)..

Do this. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. CHAIRMAN : The Chair has corrected the question. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI MOINUL HASSAN : This is the third time. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Sir, I will correct it ..(Interruptions)..

MR. CHAIRMAN: You please correct your question. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: I just said the queen of hills which will shortly be called Gorkhaland..(Interruptions)..

MR. CHAIRMAN : No. Please don’t. ..(Interruptions).. No speculative questions. ..(Interruptions)..

___________________________________________

Gorkhaland Not Recorded.

Q. No. 242 (Contd.)

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Okay. I don’t talk about Gorkhaland. I am talking about a particular region. Sir, Bagdogra Airport is a gateway for Sikkim; it is a gateway for Bhutan and it is a gateway for Darjeeling. Is the hon. Minister aware — I am sure if he is not aware he will find out and reply if he wants to do it later — that the Airlines Operating Committee comprises of Air India, Jet, Kingfisher, Indigo, Spicejet and Deccan on 25th May have made a representation to the Airport Authority of India saying that the security area, which is a bottleneck, is almost a chickenneck for a passenger? It takes about three hours for a single passenger to board at Bagdogra Airport. It has been a matter of concern. It has been raised by passengers; it has been raised by operating airlines. Is the Minster aware of the problems faced by passengers boarding from Bagdogra Airport which covers a large geographical area? If the Minister is aware, would he make facilities available at Bagdogra Airport, which has a lot of traffic flowing in and which is spread over a large area?

DARJEELING HILLS/SIKKIM: Govt sends paramilitary to clear National Highway 31 A

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, July 21 (PTI) The government today rushed about 700 Central paramilitary personnel to open the crucial highway (NH 31 A), connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country amid an ongoing indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in support of their demands.

Four companies (about 400 personnel) of Central Reserve Police Force, two companies (about 200 personnel) of Sashastra Seema Bal along with a company of women personnel (comprising about 100) were sent to clear the highway, a senior Home Ministry official said.

The GJM has called for an indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills since July 13 in support of their demands despite the Centre preponing the tripartite meeting on the Gorkhaland issue.

DARJEELING HILLS: Darjeeling crippled again by indefinite bandh

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Siliguri (WB), July 21 (PTI) Normal life in Darjeeling hills was paralysed again today with the resumption of the indefinite bandh by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, after a brief recess to enable the people to stock up essential commodities.

Shops, markets and business establishments downed shutters and vehicles remained off roads after the recess of ten hours.

All schools above class IV were, however, open, while the GJM exempted tea and cinchona gardens from the purview of the shutdown, which had not been granted initially.

The GJM also allowed vehicles from Sikkim on the National Highway 31A that connects this north Bengal town with Gangtok.

Asked whether the GJM had received the Supreme Court’s notice questioning why it had not kept National Highway 31A outside the purview of the bandh earlier, its general secretary Roshan Giri said he would comment only after the party legal cell went through it.

DARJEELING HILLS: GJM exempts schools, tea gardens from bandh

FROM THE HINDU

Kolkata: Schools, tea gardens and cinchona plantations have been exempted from the bandh in Darjeeling called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

The road route to Sikkim through National Highway 31 has also been kept open till July 23.

Roshan Giri, general secretary of GJM, told The Hindu, “We did not want school children and workers in the tea gardens to suffer. Regarding opening of the Sikkim route, we will review the situation after July 23.”

Mr. Giri is now camping in Delhi with four other GJM activists including vice-president R.P. Wiba trying to convince parliamentarians about the need for a separate state. “We have met several MPs to justify our stand and we have also distributed booklets.”

He said the GJM leaders were meeting MPs cutting across party affiliations.

“We have met MPs from the BJP, the Congress, and the Janata Dal (Secular). We have also met the former Prime Minister, Deve Gowda,” he said.

SIKKIM: Sikkim to witness total solar eclipse for one minute

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Gangtok, Jul 21 (PTI) Sikkim will witness total solar eclipse for one minute during the two-hour long cosmic event which will begin at 5.30 am and last till 7.33 am tomorrow.

The eclipse will be visible in the state from 6.28 am to 6.29 am. It will be visible clearly in South, West and East districts, including the state capital, according to a State Council of Science and Technology report.

The cosmic event will begin at 46.2 seconds past 5.30 am and last up to 36.5 seconds past 7.33 am. In between, there will be a most intense phase called total eclipse lasting 1.004 minutes–between 49.9 seconds past 6.28 am and 54.1 seconds past 6.29 am, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Science and Technology department has warned the people against watching the sun with naked eye during the eclipse as it will damage the cornea.

NEW DELHI: Bhanu Jayanti celebrated in Delhi

KalimNews: Three Gorkha Oraganisations of Delhi in a single banner observed the 195th Bhanu Jayanti on Saturday, 18th July 2009 at CNI Bhavan. Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh,along with Delhi Nepali Sahitya Sanskriti Manch and Nepali Sammelan, hosted an evening that was attended by almost all the prominent Gorkhas of Delhi.

The function was presided by Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan with Dr. Jiwan Namdung, Convenor of the Sahitya Akademi Nepali Advisory Committee, as Chief Guest. Shankar Dev Dhakal, Board member of the Akademi, was the Guest of Honour. Members of the Advisory Committee from Assam, Benares, Darjeeling, Dooars, Sikkim were also present. The program was hosted by Vishnu Bahadur Gurung, Gen Sec of Nepali Sammelan.

The function began with the lighting of the traditional lamp and the garlanding of Bhanubhakta’s picture. Slokas of The Ramayana was read by Lalita Chhettri.

L B Rai, Prof Munish Tamang and D M Pradhan spoke on the occasion and talked about the continuing relevance of Bhanubhakta in bringing together all Nepali speaking people.

The Chief Guest commended the three organisations for having organised the function and said that such successful programs in Delhi were a source of inspiration to Gorkhas all over India.

NEPAL: Fakes from India mar Nepal’s once-thriving rudraksha trade

Anuj Chhetri (not his real name) ran two of the most prominent online rudraksha shops from Kathmandu till rising prices and the flood of cheap duplicates forced him to wind up his business, he says. Rudraksha is the seed of the evergreen Elaeocarpus tree that grows in the Gangetic plains as well as Himalayan foothills. It is used for making garlands that are used by Hindu sages and are believed to have supernatural powers to confer riches and bliss. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu trinity, wept on seeing the suffering of mankind and the tree sprang up from his tears. The seed may have one to 21 faces. The 21-faceted seed is the rarest and most expensive writes Sudeshna Sarkar

FROM JAN SAMACHAR

Once the world’s only Hindu kingdom, Nepal used to be famous for its rudrakshas, the berry that is believed to have supernatural powers and is used as a prayer bead. Thanks to the invasion of duplicate beads from India, traders in Nepal today lament that the rudraksha business is fast losing its credibility and authenticity.

Anuj Chhetri (not his real name) ran two of the most prominent online rudraksha shops from Kathmandu till rising prices and the flood of cheap duplicates forced him to wind up his business, he says.

Rudraksha is the seed of the evergreen Elaeocarpus tree that grows in the Gangetic plains as well as Himalayan foothills. It is used for making garlands that are used by Hindu sages and are believed to have supernatural powers to confer riches and bliss.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu trinity, wept on seeing the suffering of mankind and the tree sprang up from his tears.

The seed may have one to 21 faces. The 21-faceted seed is the rarest and most expensive.

“In a year, only one or two 21-mukhi (faceted) rudrakshas grow in nature,” says Chhetri. “But the market is flooded by over 1,000 duplicate ones. At present, a genuine 21-mukhi costs nearly three million Nepali rupees, up from 250,000 just three years ago.

“So obviously buyers opt for the duplicates, which are way cheaper.”

The duplicates are manufactured in India’s holy towns Hardwar and Varanasi as well as Mumbai. Now they are also being made in the neighbourhood of the famous Pashupatinath temple here.

NEW DELHI: Many Congress leaders are in favour of Gorkhaland – GJM

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today responded to Union Finance Minster Pranab Mukherjee’s statements made yesterday at Raigang where he had asserted that there is no possibility of division of West Bengal.

This clearly reflects his (Mukherjee) narrow minded mentality, said GJM Roshan Giri strongly condemning the statements.

“There has been no change in Mr. Mukherjee’s mentality as he had been earlier saying that there will no Gorkhaland which he is repeating now also. The country today has made huge progress and several new States have been formed. Even then, there is no change in his mentality regarding Gorkhaland”, said Mr. Giri.

Stating that Mr. Mukherjee’s statements were his personal views, the GJM general secretary claimed that many Congress leaders were in favour of Gorkhaland. Ninety nine percent of the people are in favour of Gorkhaland and it is the duty of the Centre to respect the people’s aspiration, he said.

Regarding the assertions of Mr. Mukherjee’s towards grant of Sixth Schedule status to Darjeeling hills, Mr. Giri said that that the people of Darjeeling have strongly rejected proposal. GJM has come ahead for Gorkhaland and that is the only alternative, he said.

DARJEELING HILLS/SIKKIM: GJM must review its Gorkhaland strategies – GM Rai

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESSS

GANGTOK: Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP) president GM Rai has suggested to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to review its ongoing strategies towards the Gorkhaland demand in the Darjeeling hills.

Speaking to media, Mr. Gurung said that GJM must take effective decisions in the upcoming strategies.

“Gorkhaland involves the identity issue of all the Gorkhas in the country and this demand must be taken on a national level”, said the SGPP president. He opined that the present strategy of GJM to clamp down the Darjeeling hills will not have any affect on the anti-Gorkhaland forces.

It may be added here that the SGPP president had pressing on the need for taking the Gorkhaland issue to a national level.

Presently the movement is going on with any desired results and the anti-Gorkhaland forces have not taken the Gorkhaland movement seriously, said Mr. Rai adding that there are no gains attained in the hills bandh.

SIKKIM: GJM given two weeks by SC to file its reply over NH 31A bandh issue OP Bhandari files a fresh petition in SC due to recent bandh, also to file a contempt case

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: The Supreme Court today asked the legal counsel of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to file its reply within two weeks in response to the fresh petition filed by advocate OP Bhandari on the blockade of the NH 31 A and on not following the directives of the Supreme Court issued on July 3 last year to keep the highway open from purview of all bandhs.

It may be recalled that Mr. Bhandari had approached the apex Court in 2005 seeking that the NH 31 A should be kept free from all bandhs.

The Supreme Court today directed the GJM’s counsel to file the reply to the petition within two weeks’ time.

During the hearing of the petition, the GJM counsel had asked for four weeks time to give a reply. The request was denied and the respondent was asked to file the reply within two weeks’ time, it is informed.

Speaking to media here over phone New Delhi, Mr. Bhandari’s legal counsel Arjun Garg said that they had filed a fresh petition against the GJM, various other political organizations including the CPI(M), the West Bengal government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Surface Transport who have been made respondents to keep Sikkim’s lifeline insulated from bandhs.

Mr. Garg said they had filed a fresh affidavit due to the bandh called by the GJM from July 13 to 17 recently. “We argued on the urgency on the fresh bandh called by the GJM which had paralyzed Sikkim and not following the Supreme Court directives”, he said.

Mr. Garg had argued that the apex Courts’ orders had not been complied with and notices had been issued to the parties.

BENGAL: Another storm brews in foothills

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

BY CAESAR MANDAL

KOLKATA: Even as the state government grapples with the Gorkhaland agitation, another strife is brewing in the foothills, with ethnic groups from the North Bengal-Lower Assam belt planning a widespread movement for statehood from mid-August. Leaders of various ethnic groups met in New Bongaigaon on Sunday evening and set up the joint forum to give the movement a critical force.

Intelligence agencies, meanwhile, have warned that the forum was attempting to link its movement with the ethnic strife across the North-East. If they succeed in doing so, political analysts warn that the Bengal government could have a bigger problem at hand than the one in Darjeeling.

The united forum, comprising representatives of all major ethnic groups in the region, have threatened to paralyze movement of people and goods along the entire belt unless their demand for a separate state for aboriginals of North Bengal and lower Assam is accepted.

Sunday’s meeting was attended by all factions of the Kamtapur and Greater Cooch Behar movement. Earlier, GJM had also extended their support to the forum and assured active participation.

The forum, which initially surfaced as Rajya Punargathan Dabi Committee (committee demanding state re-organization), nominated 27 members from all participating ethnic groups for their executive council. In the first week of August, the forum leaders will meet again. Some ethnic groups of North-Eastern states are likely to join as they, too, have been fighting for a separate state for long. The forum may thereafter be re-christened North-East Democratic Alliance.

BENGAL: Citizens insecure in political battle

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KOLKATA: Waves of discontent on issues like Mangalkote, Lalgarh, Gorkhaland, pollution and even custody deaths are sweeping through the state, leaving the common man feeling insecure. And angry.

“First you have a bandh and now an indefinite transport strike. They will surely tarnish the image of the state. Whoever is calling the bandh is thinking about his issue alone instead of the greater good of the state. West Bengal already has a tarnished image, thanks to this bandh culture,” fumed painter Jogen Chowdhury. Singer Lopamudra echoed the feeling: “Nothing angers me more than the news of yet another transport strike or bandh.”

The Opposition is cashing in on this discontent. And the ruling CPM looks withdrawn in the midst of this multi-pronged attack. The party and the government it runs are busy rolling back their policies to put the state back on the industrial map. Land acquisition has been dropped to make peace with farmers who have switched loyalties. But Brand Buddha has taken a beating among the urban middle class that strongly wants a change something that is very evident from the Lok Sabha election results.

Even diehard Left personalities, such as former finance minister Ashok Mitra, want CPM to quit the government. But the CPM mandarins in Alimuddin Street are determined to fight till the last, hoping to recover lost ground in the 2011 Assembly elections. But the spirit is lacking among the ranks. They seem to have run out of steam.

MANIPUR: Slain KCP cadres identified

FROM MORUNG EXPRESS

Imphal, July 20: Identities of the three cadres slain in the hand of the combined forces of Bishnupur police commandos and 4/8 Gorkha Rifles at Chini Ingkhol under Bishnupur police station yesterday established today.

One of the three was identified as Wangkhem Prejit alias Korou (27) son of W Heramot of Naran Seina Maning Leikai, commander of the Churachandpur district of the outfit.

He was man running a cosmetic shop at Ema Keithel.

He has left home some two month back, according to the family source.

The other slain were Salam Hemanta alias Inao (25) son of S Tomba of Keibul Makha Leikai.

He had two sons.

He has been staying at his wife’s parental house at Bashikhong some two months back while the last one was identified as ningthoujam Chandra alias Lukok (43) son of Ibomba of Keibul Mamang Leikai.

He has been stayed at a rented house at Sangakpham since around two month back.

DARJEELING: Buying frenzy in bandh breather

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

BY DEEP GAZMER

DARJEELING: It was boom time for vegetable sellers in Darjeeling on Monday, as GJM’s 10-hour relaxation from the indefinite strike caused prices of essential commodities to shoot up in the local market.

In Siliguri near Darjeeling More, on Monday, activists of Aamra Bengali and Bangla O Bangla Bachao Samity (both anti-Gorkhaland associations) tried to stop trucks carrying food items to the Hills. But with timely police intervention, the activists were dispersed.

By 10 am, two hours into the bandh relaxation, food items, including vegetables, disappeared off the shelves even as local anxious shoppers huffed and puffed through the massive human crowd to meet the deadline. Those who managed to get hold of some essentials had to empty their pockets.

Potato was selling for Rs 22 per kilo, up from Rs 16; tomato was Rs 40, up from Rs 30; onion sold for Rs 20, after a Rs 5 hike; cabbage was Rs 16, up by Rs 4; brinjal was Rs 24, a whopping Rs 10 hike.

Thanks to the acute shortage, many had to pay exorbitant rates, even for rotten vegetables. A number of customers complained that the GJM’s women’s wing, the Nari Morcha, or the GLP (Gorkhaland Personnel) were nowhere to be seen. “Where are the Nari Morcha and GLP now? We are paying exorbitant prices for commodities, but there is nobody to check, whereas at other times they are seen everywhere, ostensibly doing social work,” complained Ranjana B K. With the news of rising prices in the market, GJM did deploy some GLPs, but the food items had disappeared by then.

Even rice, oil, pulses and sugar were hard to get. Adding to the woes of the public, retailers said no arrangement had been made to bring in more supplies from Siliguri, as the strike would resume from Tuesday. “We have not ordered fresh supplies. Whatever was there today was leftover items before the strike started,” said a vegetable retailer. Prices of mutton, beef, pork, chicken and fish were not affected, though.

BENGAL: WB govt asks GJM to maintain peace

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) The West Bengal government today welcomed the recess granted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) during its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling hills and appealed to it to maintain peace before the tripartite talks.

“The GJM should create a congenial atmosphere for talks during the tripartite meeting on August 11,” West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said.

Sen thanked the GJM for a 10-hour recess from 8.00 a.m. today and also welcomed its decision of not blocking the Sevoke Road, the sole road link to Sikkim, till July 23.

All tea gardens and cinchona plantation were also kept out of the purview of the bandh during the day.

TODAY’S VIDEO FEATURE: Seventh Sonic – Purkheuli Mato

PHOTO FEATURE: Tourists and Locals take the oppurtunity to leave Darjeeling

FROM HIMALAY DARPAN

Vehicles leaving Darjeeling during the 10 hours respite in the indefinite strike called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Photo from Himalaya Darpan

PHOTO FEATURE: All in a day’s shopping!

A jeep laden with goods makes to a village after a day's shopping. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

NATIONAL: Longest eclipse of the century tomorrow

FROM THE HINDU

CHENNAI: A rare opportunity, to see the corona of the sun, awaits astronomers on July 22, when a total solar eclipse will occur. It will be visible in India.

“This will be the longest eclipse of this century with the maximum phase being 6 minutes 39 seconds. The next total solar eclipse that can be viewed from many parts of India will occur only on June 3, 2114,” according to P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Chennai.

Wednesday’s eclipse will also be visible over some of the Japanese Islands, China and South Pacific Ocean.

On July 22 the path of the moon’s darker shadow (umbra) will extend across India. “The central path will begin in India’s Gulf of Khambhat at 6.23 a.m. . The moon will pass through its closest point to the earth several hours earlier and so the path of totality will be unusually wide.”

This shadow will sweep over cities such as Itarsi, Silvasa, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Ujjain, Mirzapur, Gaya, Patna, Muzzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Siliguri, Darjeeling, Thimpu, Itanagar, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Surat, Bhopal, Indore and Varanasi. Travelling across Bhutan, the umbra will touch Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, before reaching China. South Pacific will experience the greatest eclipse at 8.05 a.m. . In India, the totality will last for different durations at different locations. At Surat, the totality will be for 3 minute 17 seconds, at Varanasi it will be 3 minutes 8 secs, at Itarsi 2 minute 50 seconds. Those in Tamil Nadu would only see a partial eclipse.

DARJEELING HILLS: GJM resumes bandh after 10-hour relaxation

FROM THE HINDU

KOLKATA: The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal in support of its demand for a separate State resumed on Monday evening after a ten-hour relaxation even as the GJM leadership scoffed at a remark of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee ruling out any division of the State.

Mr. Mukherjee had made clear his views on the Statehood demand during a visit to Raiganj in the State’s North Dinajpur district on Sunday.

“It (the remark) makes no difference to us. In a democratic set-up where 99 per cent of the people are for a separate state of Gorkhaland, it is the duty of the government to consider the demand”, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling.

On Mr. Mukherjee’s statement that the Centre could discuss Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling hills to resolve the political impasse in the region, Mr. Giri said: “Granting the hills Sixth Schedule status is a dead chapter. There is no question of accepting such a proposal; there can be no compromise on our Statehood demand.”

The GJM leadership is insisting that the proposed tripartite talks in New Delhi on August 11 be held at a “political level” with the Gorkhaland demand the only issue on the agenda.

“The bandh is continuing,” Mr. Giri said when asked whether the GJM leadership would call it off in view of the Centre’s decision to advance the date of the tripartite talks that had earlier been fixed for August 24.

NEPAL: Diplomats voice concern over security

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: Representatives of Diplomatic corpses based in Kathmandu on Monday voiced their concerns over the worsening law and order situation in Nepal. The diplomats expressed such worry during their meeting with the officials of the Home and Foreign ministry at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu.

During the meeting, Minister for Home Affairs Bhim Rawal said new policy for strengthening the security situation was in the offing.

A team that included over 40 ambassadors and other representatives drew attention of the Home Minister saying that vehicles of the diplomatic missions were also not been spared by the banda activists during the strikes enforced by them.

In response, Minister Rawal said the government is serious towards resolving the problems of road obstruction and curbing the criminal activities.

Spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry Madan Bhattarai said the diplomats raised queries about the government policy to curb the violation of human rights in the new security policy.

Home Minister Rawal said there were altogether 109 different organisations and that the government would hold talks with them after identifying the political and criminal outfits.

High-level officials at the Home and Foreign Ministry including Minister Rawal were present at the meeting.

NEPAL: Hindu women gather at Pashupati temple on 1st Shrawan Somvar

Nepalese Hindu women perform rituals for the Hindu god Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, July 20, 2009. Hundreds of Hindu women gathered at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, the world heritage site, on the first Shrawan Somvar (Monday) of the Nepalese calender Shrawan (July 15 - August 15) to offer holy water to Lord Shiva. Shrawan month is considered as the holiest month of the year and each Somvar (Monday) of this month known as Shrawan Somvar is special day in Shiva temples. Hindu women wear red attire as well as green and yellow bangles, pray for the long and prosperous life for their husbands. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

Nepalese Hindu women light lamp while worshiping Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal on July 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

A Nepalese Hindu woman lights lamp while worshiping Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, at the Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal on July 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

BHUTAN: Breakthrough surgery on baby boy

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

BY SONAM PELDEN

20 July, 2009: Two-week-old infant has birth defect corrected by “queen of all paediatric surgical operations”

A two-week-old boy is recovering well after doctors at the national referral hospital successfully operated and joined an oesophagus (food pipe) malformation.

The baby was born on July 7 with a part of the oesophagus missing. The oesophagus is the food pipe that connects the mouth and throat with the stomach.

Doctors said that the operation was a major breakthrough in Bhutanese medical history, as it was a high-risk operation, which is considered as “the queen of all paediatric surgical operations”. Pediatric surgeon Dr Johannes Meixner, who led the team, said that this birth defect is very rare, with only one in 8,000 healthy newborns suffering from it.

Called oesophagus atresia in medical terms, a newborn with the defect cannot swallow milk or saliva and is prone to getting fluids into the lungs.

“It was an emergency because, without a surgery, there is no hope of survival,” said Dr Meixner. Until now, all such cases were referred to Kolkata, India, as emergency by air but only few babies were able to survive the travelling stress and high-risk operation. They saw two similar cases in the last two years but were not able to operate because the hospital lacked a paediatric anaesthetist. Each such referral case costs about Nu 200,000.

The hospital sees one case of birth malformation every month. About three months ago, a baby was born with all its intestines out. “We covered it with a plastic and slowly pushed it inside. And now the baby is home and doing fine,” said Dr Meixner.

The surgery, with pediatric anaesthetist Dr Deepak Tamang, brother Hem and the operation team, took three and a half hours. “The chest had to be opened and the tiny food pipe had to be neatly stitched with the precision of a watch maker,” explained Dr Meixner.

Repair of this kind of malformation requires excellent and qualified teamwork from anaesthesics, operation and post-operative neonatal care unit, said Dr Meixner.