SIKKIM OBSERVER  Jan 8, 2012

China denies visa to pilot from Arunachal

New Delhi, Jan 7: Sino-Indian relations are under strain again after the proposed visit of a 30-member Indian military tri-services delegation to China starting Sunday was put on hold on Friday evening following China’s alleged refusal to grant a visa to an IAF fighter pilot from Arunachal Pradesh who was part of the delegation.

China allegedly refused to grant the visa to Group Captain M. Panging, an IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter pilot posted at Tezpur, Assam, sources in the armed forces said.

But there appeared to be another twist in the tale of the visas for the 30-member delegation. Other sources, however, blamed the armed forces for reportedly not taking the mandatory approval of the screening committee of secretaries comprising the Cabinet Secretary and the secretary (expenditure) in the finance ministry. They said the delegation submitted their passports for visas without this approval. On realising this, they decided to withdraw the passport applications of all 30 members.

The claim, however, was disputed by sources in the armed forces who maintained that there were no procedural glitches and that there were problems in obtaining the Chinese visa only for the IAF officer from Arunachal.

The frontline Sukhoi squadrons in the Northeast have significantly bolstered India’s defence preparedness. China has been maintaining for long that Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory which it considers as south Tibet. The Chinese do not grant visas to anyone from Arunachal due to the Chinese claim that the people of Arunachal are Chinese citizens. India considers Arunachal Pradesh an integral part of its territory.

  Sources said the Indian military delegation was to visit Beijing and Shanghai and that the visit was a reciprocal one.

This is the second time in the recent past that China has denied a visa to an Indian military officer. Two years ago, China had denied a visa to the then Indian Army Northern Command chief, Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal, following which defence exchanges between the two countries were suspended but later restored last year.

NIT to set up disaster management centre in Sikkim

Allahabad, Jan 7: The upcoming National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Sikkim will set up a disaster management centre to carry rescue operation in times of natural disasters, revealed the newly appointed director of NIT-Sikkim, Prof AB Samaddar.

Prof Samaddar, who till recently headed the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, was in the city on Saturday. The decision, he said, has been taken in wake of the powerful earthquake that hit the Himalayan state last year, The Times of India reported.

He said the Ministry of Human Resource and Development has given nod to the centre and the Sikkim government too has pledged support for it.

The eco-friendly campus of NIT-Sikkim is being developed with an initial budget of Rs 150 crore on an area of 300 acres.

Prof Samaddar said Sikkim has immense potential for tourism and in the wake of this MHRD will try to develop NIT-Sikkim on Education -Tourism policy. This would pave the way to attract foreign students vying to get admission in NITs, he added.

Prof Samaddar said the institute would focus on inter-disciplinary studies along with special emphasis on research activities.

Besides, the institute is also planning to set up an Intellectual Property Cell to help locals and tribes preserve and safeguard their traditional knowledge in the field of medicines and other crafts.

RS seat: Aspirants remain mum

Gangtok, Jan 7: Former ministers and several founder-members of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) are hoping to become the State’s next Rajya Sabha member.

The term of the present Rajya Sabha MP OT Lepcha expires next month on February 23.

The notification for the election would be issued on January 13 and the last date for making nominations is January 20.

While the scrutiny of nominations would be done on January 21, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures has been fixed as January 23 for polling to be held on January 30, 2012. Counting of votes would be held the same day.

Though the lone RS seat has been unofficially reserved for minority Bhutia-Lepcha tribals the possibility of the vacancy being filled up a member of the majority Nepalese community cannot be ruled out.

The Election Commission has declared that the poll process has to be completed by February 3.

A staunch senior member of the SDF from south district who is hoping to get the nomination said, “It is up to the Chief Minister to decide on the matter.”

Hermonites back Jigme Kazi for post of Mt. Hermon School Principal

Gangtok, Jan 7: Author and journalist Jigme N Kazi is likely to say “yes” if he is asked to be the next Principal of his alma mater Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling.

George Fernandes, the present Principal of the school, retires in March 2012 and Hermonites all over the world want a “Hermonite” to head the school to pull through this very difficult period for the school.

The Sikkim Hermonites Association headed by Karma Bhutia, presently Secretary, Sports Department, has urged global Hermonite fraternity to support Kazi’s candidature. The Association has passed a resolution urging the authorities to make Kazi the next Principal of the school and also to nominate two Hermonites in the school’s Managing Committee, which not only appoints the principal but also frames all policies of the school.

While most alumni bodies in India and abroad are likely to back Kazi’s candidature the decision to appoint the new principal lies with the Committee, whose members belong to the Methodist Church of India.

Kazi not only did his schooling in Mt. Hermon he also did his teachers’ training at the school and also taught there for four years.

Prominent among the former principals who are likely to back Kazi are Rev. DG Stewart, Mr. GA Murray (New Zealand), Rev JA Johnston (Australia) and Mr. Jeff Gardner (India). Apart from ex-students of the school Kazi will also have the backing of influential former teachers of the school.

While Kazi edits two English weeklies owned by him, Sikkim Observer and Himalayan Guardian, his wife TT Namgyal is a senior teacher at the prestigeous Tashi Namgyal Academy.

Editorial

CONG-TMC RIFT

Regain Mamata’s Confidence

The Congress party cannot afford to annoy the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) particularly when Assembly elections in several key states, including Uttar Pradesh, are round the corner. Realizing that the Samajwadi Party (SP) cannot be trusted to ally with it the Congress party is trying to play down the rift between its close ally Trinamool saying it is open to having a UPA co-ordination committee, a suggestion mooted by Banerjee. This indication when the Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the “disagreements between both parties” are part of a “coalition politics” and the Congress was ready to “solve this problem by discussions.”

Apart from disagreement between the two parties on key issues – Lokpal and FDI for instance – Banerjee has alleged the Congress of working in collaboration with Communist Party of India (Marxists) against TMC in the West Bengal. Banerjee’s outbursts against Congress should not be taken lightly: "If Congress feels they can go with CPI-M, they can do it. (The) Door is open for them," she threatened. The Congress may improve its tally in UP polls but it has a long way to go in forming its government there. Therefore, it must regain TMC’s confidence as early as possible.

RAJYA SABHA SEAT

Wanted: Competent & Credible Candidate

If Chief Minister Pawan Chamling wants to win back the support of the Bhutia-Lepcha tribals of Sikkim he must choose a competent and credible person to represent the minority community for the lone Rajya Sabha seat. The present Rajya Sabha MP OT Lepcha comes from the Lepcha community and it is expected that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front opts from someone from the “Sikkimese Bhutia” community this time. However, if the candidate is a “Bhutia” as per the definition of the Scheduled Tribes Order of 1978 and not a “Sikkimese Bhutia” then Chamling is likely to face the wrath of the Bhutias of Sikkimese origin in the next Assembly polls.

Sikkimese people in general are acutely aware of the manner in which “non-Sikkimese” have been given party tickets and elected to the Assembly/Parliament. The minority community have always been demanding “genuine representation” of their community in the Assembly as well as in the Parliament. Though most people expect Chamling to opt for a pliable person for the RS seat he may also surprise his critics and choose a credible candidate to represent Sikkim in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Sikkim Lotteries banned in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 7: Though the ban on Sikkim Lotteries is a victory of the State’s long-drawn efforts, it is unlikely to have any effect on the lottery market in the state.

Following the state government’s refusal to collect advance sales tax from Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries in 2009, the agents of both the lotteries had allegedly been carrying out illegal trade in the Kerala market.

A couple of police cases were also registered in various parts of the state on the illegal two-digit and three-digit draws carried out by some leading agents based on the Sikkim and Bhutan lottery results.

The State Lotteries Department had recently cancelled the agency of one of its leading agents after it was found carrying out the illegal trade of other-state lotteries.

Some also suspect that the Centre’s move is to give a clean chit to the agents of Sikkim Lotteries.

It is also to be noted that the Centre has not taken any such measure against Bhutan Lotteries which is also alleged of violating rules in the State.

A solution to the current violations is by strengthening of the Lottery Monitoring Cell which became inactive after the cases related to lottery rule violations were transferred to the CBI. It is learnt that the proposal submitted by the State Lotteries Department is being considered by the Taxes and Home Departments. "The new cell which will have senior-level police officials will help the government clamp down on the illegal trade,’’ said a senior official of the Lotteries Department.

The state government had started to put pressure on the Centre for a ban on other-state lotteries as early as in 2004. In 2006, only Bhutan and Sikkim Lotteries applied for sales tax registration in the State. Later, following widespread complaints of violations of Central Lotteries (Regulation) Act, the State Government refused to collect advance sales tax from both the lotteries.

Karmapa calls for Tibetan unity in Bodhgaya

“Preserve Tibetan culture and religion”

Bodhgaya, Jan 7: His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has called for unity among Tibetans to preserve their religion and culture.

Addressing more than 8,000 Buddhist devotees, including Tibetans, here today the Tibetan spiritual leader said “We received the Buddhadharma that is so precious to us directly from India. Now, many of us have settled here in exile. Therefore, I do not need to tell you how close and profound this relationship between Tibet and India is. From the hardships you yourselves were willing to undertake to come here to this holy place of Bodhgaya, you can perceive this directly. This alone shows very clearly the deep sense of devotion and affection that we Tibetans feel for India.”

The Karmapa described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the sole person for uniting the Tibetan people. He praised His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his activities and the vast scope of his vision in leading the Tibetan people.

“The main job of you Tibetans within Tibet is to guard and preserve Tibetan culture and religion,” the Karmapa said. “It is the job of us Tibetans in India and other free countries to let the world know what is going on within Tibet.”

He went on to stress, “I want you to know that we here in exile are well aware of the sufferings and problems you face in Tibet. Do not despair, please think long term and seek out skillful means to guard the Tibetan religion and culture.”