SIKKIM OBSERVER  Saturday Aug 23-29, 2014

Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT: PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Gangtok (Sikkim) in 2009. He is seen with members of the local business community. (Pix: Babulal Malu)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Sikkim Governor Shrinivas Patil involved in multi-crore Pune land scam: BJP

CBI PROBE DEMANDED BY MAHARASHTRA BJP

Gangtok, Aug 22: Is Sikkim Governor Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil involved in a multi-crore Pune land deal racket that began in 1989 when he was Pune’s District Collector?

Prominent builders and businessmen have been named in a First Information Report or FIR filed by the Pune police in a case relating to a massive land scam allegedly worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Among those named in the FIR are KM Goenka and 2G spectrum allocation scandal accused Vinod Goenka and Shahid Balwa of DB Realty and builder Atul Chordia of the Panchshil Realty Group, The Hindustan Times and NDTV reported recently.

The 326-acre land at the heart of the dispute is located in the city's prime Yerawada area, near the Pune airport.

The Goenkas, who claimed the land was gifted to their family by Peshwa rulers in 1952, had fought a decades-long battle with the government over it. In 1989, they approached the then Chief Minister Sharad Pawar to settle the dispute.

Patil, who was then Pune District Collector, subsequently granted the land, worth an estimated Rs 300 crore in 1989, to Mukund Bhavan Trust. The Trust, run by the Goenkas, handed over developmental rights to Chordia's company Panchshil Realty Group. Panchshil Tech Park, a company floated by Chordiya, constructed towering high-rises on the disputed land.

Patil later opted for voluntary retirement and joined Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He won the Lok Sabha election in 1999 and 2004 from Maharashtra's Karad and is currently serving as the Governor of Sikkim. Patil (73) was appointed Sikkim Governor on July 4, 2013.

    Ravi Barhate, a Right to Information activist, has since established via documents obtained under the Act that forged papers were used to grab the government land, the report said.

Some crucial documents, including confidential letters exchanged between senior state government officials, clearly show that the prime land was handed over to the Trust after the State Government drastically changed its stand on the issue in 1989.

In a confidential letter written to the then Pune Divisional Commissioner on January 1, 1992, Navin Kumar, the then settlement commissioner and director, wrote, "The change of government stand needs to be investigated to find out who had taken the decision to grant 326 acres of land to the trust".

NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and her husband Sadanand Sule also had stakes in Panchshil Tech Park. After Balwa and Goenka's name cropped up in connection to the 2G scam, they had surrendered their share and exited the company.

In April 2011, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse (BJP) had demanded a thorough probe into questionable land deals in Maharashtra. In the wake of his demand, the state director general of police had asked for a detailed report on the status of investigations and complaints into major land scams.

Following the police complaints, Khadse demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigations in the land allotments. He said the state police would not do any progress in the investigations because the FIRs were filed four years after the matter was raised by him in the legislature. “The cover-up has already started. I request the state government to recommend a CBI probe in this matter and other 115 cases of similar nature that together caused a loss of Rs. 70000 crore to the state exchequer.”

The BJP leader said he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for seeking CBI investigations. “The Union government can very well ask CBI to probe the deals of defence-related land in Pune. The state government, if willing, may also recommend a CBI probe,” he said.

School, college education free for ‘Sikkimese’ students

Gangtok, Aug 22: From now on school and college education for bonafide Sikkimese students possessing Sikkim Subjects Certificate (SSC) will be free.

This was announced by Chief Minsiter Pawan Chamling this week following the State Cabinet’s approval.

Sikkimese student has been defined as bona fide Sikkimese having valid documents like the Sikkim Subject Certificate or their descendents with identification certificates.

Bona fide Sikkimese students having already submitted their tuition fees will receive a refund as per a recent Human Resources Development Department (HRDD) proposal.

A press note issued by the Home Department said students who do not possess such documentation and are enrolled at government colleges and schools will have to pay the prescribed fees.

This proposal of the Human Resource Development Department was approved by the cabinet at its last sitting held on August 12 last, chaired by the Chief Minister, PTI reported.   

This waiver of fees will be applicable with retrospective effect from the current academic session 2014 and the cabinet has also sanctioned and approved the proposal of the HRDD to "refund" the fees already deposited by Sikkimese students.

This announcement follows a four-fold increase in college fees imposed by the HRDD from the current academic session, which had triggerred protest by the students. The fee was initially rolled back followed by the Chief Minister's announcement that all fees would be waived for Sikkimese students up to college level.

BL organizations support Chamling on free education for Sikkimese students

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) and National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO) have welcomed the Chamling Government’s decision to make school and college education free for bonafide Sikkimese students in the State.

SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia has urged the State Government to consider extending social, economic and political benefits, facilities and safeguards to all Sikkimese possessing genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate  (SSC) and Certificate of Identification (CoI), a release of the organization said.

Referring to former Chief Secretary Sonam Wangdi’s claim published in a local daily that there were 31,180 fake SSC holders and 1,19,289 CoI  fake holders in the State, SIBLAC Convenor has asked the State Government to probe into the allegations and come out with a White Paper.

He said if the allegation is true then at least 25% of the State’s population possess fake identity documents.

In a statement after its meeting held here on Wednesday, NASBO President Pintso Bhutia said, “This decision of the government is something of which we feel proud of. We look forward for such positive approach on the part of the government which is more conducive of Article 371F of the Indian Constitution.”

It added, “We support this decision of the State…this kind of governance is something which is surely welcomed by our Sikkimese people.”

Chinese troops enter Indian territory, India denies

A file photo of Chinese soldiers holding a flags reading "you've crossed the border, please go back" in their hands.

Leh/New Delhi, Aug 22:  The Indian Army has denied reports that Chinese troops have entered deep into Indian territory in Depsang, the same area in Ladakh where they had pitched tents in April last year, leading to a tense three-week stand-off.

Chinese troops had entered 25 to 30 km into Indian territory in the Burtse area of north Ladakh, pitched tents and held up flags that read, "This is Chinese territory, go back," PTI reported.

The area is at an altitude of 17,000 feet.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Tuesday dismissed reports that Chinese troops had entered 25 to 30 km deep into Indian territory in Burtse area in Ladakh. “There is nothing like that,” he said in reply to a question.

Sources said Chinese troops had indeed entered Indian territory on Sunday and pitched four tents with flags on them claiming that this was their territory. They were there for about 24 hours before returning, the sources said.

"No incursion or encroachment of Indian Territory by China has taken place along the India-China border," an Army spokesperson said.

He, however, said that because there is a difference in the way the two countries perceive the disputed border called the Line of Actual Control or LAC, "transgressions do occur" from time to time.

A Quick Reaction Team that had accompanied the Indian team failed to make any headway with the Chinese, who refused to budge from their position, the agency reported. It said the Indian troops finally returned to their base and informed senior officers.

The Burtse area, which is adjacent to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), forms part of the huge Depsang plains which India says is its territory. But the Chinese dispute this. The area includes an air field which was operationalised by the Indian Air Force last year for a short while.

In April last year, the stand-off over the Chinese troops pitching tents for 21 days here led to diplomatic tension. The Chinese returned only after four flag meetings between the two sides.

To deal with such incidents, India and China signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement or BDCA in October last year.

J&K’s Article 370 challenged in Supreme Court

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Centre on a plea which challenged the provisions of Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The plea, filed by a Delhi-based NGO, asks why a law passed by the J&K Assembly "deprives people from other parts of the country from acquiring immovable assets or seek employment in the state."

The plea also questions the "inability to challenge any law made by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly" even if it is allegedly "unconstitutional".

Revocation of Article 370 has been a long-standing demand of the right-wing groups in the country, including some affiliated to the ruling BJP.

Though the Modi government has not taken any position on Article 370, a remark made shortly after coming to power by Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, on the Centre being open to debate on the contentious provision, had evoked sharp responses.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had warned that any attempt to reopen the debate on Article 370 would force the state to revisit its terms of accession to the Indian Union.

In its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had said it is in favour of abrogating Article 370, but said the issue will be discussed with all stakeholders before a decision is made.

In December last year at a rally in Jammu, Narendra Modi had suggested that it should be probed whether Article 370 has indeed benefited the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Former Sikkim CM NB Bhandari being felicitated by GJM chief Bimal Gurung for his contribution for constitutional recognition of Nepali language in Darjeeling on Wednesday. (Pix: The Telegraph)

Editorial

SOUL OF SIKKIM

Preserve It, Cherish It

The Bhutias of Sikkimese origin in Sikkim have been on the receiving end for a long time stretching back to early 1970s when India fomented communal politics to take over the former kingdom. And yet bravehearts of this community despite encountering countless trials and tribulations refuses to give up and bow down to the diktats of those in power. For them the values  they uphold and their love and devotion to all things Sikkimese are top priorities.

It is time that the Sikkimese people understood how they live their lives and why. The late Sikkimese writer Lal Bahadur Basnet once wrote this on one of the most outstanding Bhutia rulers of Sikkim: “During the hour of his trial, when his very throne was at stake, Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal stood like a rock and sacrificed petty considerations for the lofty ideal he had espoused. He lost, but in the very process of losing his throne and status, he rose to his full stature.” This is the spirit that moves the world. It is the spirit of Sikkim. Preserve it for posterity even if the prevailing situation doesn’t allow it. For one day Sikkim will surely rise to its full stature and preserve Sikkim for Sikkimese.

Northeast CMs' meet to decide roadmap for development

Modi to meet Northeast CMs soon

Union Minister VK Singh with Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling in New Delhi recently. (Right)

Agartala, Aug 22: DoNER Minister Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh would meet the chief ministers of all eight northeastern states in Guwahati Aug 21-22 to decide a roadmap for the development of the region, an official said here Monday.

This would be the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) minister's first meeting with the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim, IANS reported.

"The meeting would discuss and resolve various strategies and plans on agriculture, roadways, education, power, transport, tourism, industries and health sectors of the region," an official of the North Eastern Council (NEC) said.

He said various expert groups and specialists would also make presentations highlighting the scope and available resources of the region.

The meeting would also discuss the ongoing projects of the NEC.

After assuming office in May, V.K. Singh held several meetings with top officials of both the DoNER ministry and the NEC in New Delhi and Guwahati to familiarise himself about the northeastern states and functioning of his ministry and the council.

A Tripura government official said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also agreed to convene a meeting soon of the eight chief ministers to resolve various problems of the region.

Modi's assurance came on Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's request when he met the prime minister in New Delhi recently.

The official said Sarkar and Modi discussed issues such as connectivity, policy intervention, infrastructure, agricultural, educational, health service and tourism.

Sikkim BJP to be revived, to contribute to the tallest statue in the world: Khangsarpa

Sikkim BJP meet in Gangtok recently (pix: sikkimnow)

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Sikkim unit of the BJP has decided that Sikkim would contribute towards the construction of the proposed 182 metre tall Statue of Unity, a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to be constructed in Gujarat.

It has also decided to revamp its party unit in the State. As per suggestions from the party at the centre it was decided that party cadres would fan out across the State and make appeals to farmers and other rustic people to contribute ploughshare tips and other used iron-made farm implements that would be melted and added to the ores collected from across the nation that would go into the making of the statue, Sikkim BJP President Palden Wangchuk Khangsarpa said.

During its meeting held here this week the party also thrashed out details and a strategy related to the upcoming bye-election at 15 Yangang-Rangang Constituency for which, the last the last date of filing of candidature is 27 August 2014. Voting is to take place on 13 September and counting is to be concluded on 16 September 2014, a party release said.

 However, a final decision as to the candidate representing the party and other details will be declared only after the green light from the party high command at the centre.

The Sikkim BJP will also be undertaking a mass membership drive, in both the urban and rural areas of, in accordance with the instructions of the new President  Amit Shah.

Other points discussed during its meeting were the matter of setting up of a state head office at Gangtok, as well as district offices at the district-level.

Matters regarding formation of  office bearers at the district and ward levels were also discussed.

FASHION

Sikkim’s Anandita Tamang walks the ramp at Lakme fashion show

The Lakme Fashion Week has seen models and Bollywood stars walking the ramp, but this time even children joined them for a special show. World’s famous toy shops – Hamley’s and Mattel hosted the first kids fashion show at the Lakme Fashion Week.

After a city-wise audition and workshops held across the country, Anandita Tamang of Sikkim was selected to walk the ramp. Anandita is daughter of Suresh Tamang and Neelam Rasaily and a class 8 student of Delhi Public School. Her mother Neelam Rasaily is in-charge of looking after the patients at DKK Bhawan, New Delhi.

“It was great fun and I got to meet so many people and make new friends,” said an excited Anandita. (Talk Sikkim)

One more reward for Sikkimese writer Yishey Doma

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s ‘In-Residence Programme’ will feature two artists and two writers in September next month.

The writers and artists selected by an expert committee on the basis of a nation-wide application process are Yishey Doma from Sikkim and Dr. Vempalli Gangadhar from Andhra Pradesh, Rahool Saksena from Tamil Nadu and Pratap Sudhir Morey from Maharashtra. They will stay at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from September 8 to 26 next month.

Yishey Doma, winner of the “Sikkim Sahitya Samman 2013” is a journalist and writer and works for Sikkim Express.  She is the author of several books, including Legends of the Lepchas: Folktales from Sikki,  Sikkim: the Hidden Fruitful Valley, Sikkim: A Traveller's Companion and The Legacy Maker: Pawan Chamling's Ideas that Shaped Sikkim.

The ‘In-Residence’ Programme for writers, artists was launched by the President of India on December 11, 2013 with a view to encourage young and upcoming writers and artists by facilitating them to stay close to nature in the picturesque and serene surroundings of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Programme seeks to provide an environment which will inspire creative thinking and rejuvenate artistic impulses.