March 24, 2012

Sikkim MPs raise IT exemption for old settlers

Gangtok, March 23: Sikkim’s two MPs, PD Rai (Loka Sabha) and Hishey Lachungpa (Rajya Sabha), have demanded exemption of central service tax and income tax for old settlers in the State.

The proposal was placed before the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is believed to have assured the two Parliamentarians that he was aware of the issue and would look into it, according to informed sources.

The duo submitted a memorandum to the Finance Minister in New Delhi to reiterate the State Government’s demand for income tax exemption for old settlers in the State. They have pointed out that there were around 400 old settlers in the State, who have been denied tax exemption.

The Centre has exempted income tax exemption for ‘Sikkim Subjects’, who possess the Sikkim Subject Certificate and whose names were enlisted in the Sikkim Subjects Registrar maintained by the State Government.

The two MPs also endorsed the memorandum submitted by the Joint Action Committee of All Sikkim Tourism Stakeholders before the Union Finance Minister demanding that the Central Service Tax be applicable in Sikkim from a Prospective date preferably from 1st April, 2012 rather than from retrospective date.

Mukherjee was positive to the demands of the MPs and assured the two members that he would look into the matter and come up with some solution, according to a press release.

‘Black Bill’ to hide ‘black deeds’: BJP

Say no to Destruction of Documents Bill, BJP chief tells Guv

Gangtok, March 23: The State unit of the BJP has reacted strongly against the introduction of the Sikkim Disposal and Destruction of Documents and Records Bill, No 25 of 2102 in the State Legislative Assembly last week. It said the Bill was placed before the Assembly to hide the “black deeds” of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, whose alleged corrupt practices, has been raised in the Supreme Court.

BJP State unit chief Padam Bahadur Chettri in a letter to the President, Prime Minister and Sikkim Governor BP Singh highlighted Chamling’s alleged bid to destroy official documents that would prove that he is guilty of misappropriation of public money and misuse of power.

“If the Bill is signed, democracy in Sikkim will be in great danger and we will have no faith in Indian democracy as practiced in Sikkim,” Chettri said in a press release.

“The Bill is an attempt” by Chamling “to hoodwink the people of Sikkim and to conceal his massive corruption, and misdeed and to save himself from the clutches of the Central Bureau of Investigation,” Chettri added.

“I am told that Dr. Chamling wants to selectively destroy all documents relating to his corruption. Subject to verification, I also understand that already Dr. Chamling has burnt official papers to destroy irrefutable documentary evidence to prove his corruption in a Court of Law beyond any shadow of doubt. But, through RTI, certified true copies of documents allegedly destroyed by Dr. Chamling are already with applicants. In the event of a corruption case being filed in a Court of Law, Dr. Chamling plans to escape conviction on the ground that original documents are not available and that the certified true copies are not valid to convict him,” Chettri said in the letter.

“Last year, the Chief Minister brought a ‘Draconian Bill’ to throttle the voice of Sikkim people. This year, he has brought another Black Public Documents Destruction Bill to erase all traces of his black deeds. But the people of Sikkim will not allow him to destroy the public documents,” Chettri said in his letter.

Referring to Chamling’s 2006 corruption case in the Supreme Court leveled by State Congress leaders, the BJP chief said though the argument of the case was concluded on October 23, 2008 judgement was reserved for a considerable period and after two years the matter was disposed off on October 25, 2010 by court headed by former Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, who is currently facing charges of corruption in the apex court, Chettri said.

Chettri has urged the Governor not to give his assent to the “Black Bill.”

Editorial

TRIVEDI’S DILEMMA

Will Of The People Must Prevail

Former Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi may have placed the best railway budget for the country but in a democracy the will of the people must prevail. Mamata Banerjee did the right thing by replacing Trivedi with Mukul Roy, who has, in line with the Trinamool’s policy, has rolled back fares for lower classes in the railway. In a democracy the people elect you on certain issues and policies and it is the bounden duty of the elected representatives to represent the people in the Parliament, Assembly and in the offices they hold.

Trivedi erred a great deal by failing to consult Mamata, who is not only the Chief Minister and party boss, but also a former union railway minister. After the party has given you the ticket, got you elected and made you a minister can you suddenly become totally independent of the party? Trivedi seems to think this way and in this he is totally wrong. There has to be a fine balance between people’s aspirations and the ground reality. Too many well-meaning politicians fail in moving along the middle path when they are faced with a crisis. Better luck next time, Mr. Trivedi.

TRADE LICENCE MISUSE

A Wake-Up Call

Subletting of trade licences by locals to non-locals to run business and trade in Sikkim has become a regular affair. Most petty shops, including liquor stalls, are run through subletting. This practice not only leads to greater influx but makes the local people lazy and more dependent on others. But in many cases those who actually run the business do not even pay the required tax payments to the government.

This week, the Commercial Tax Division of the State Government, during its search operation, caught M/s Computer India, located at MG Marg, Gangtok, not only running a business through subletting but also failing to pay taxes. While the trade licence was made in the name of Hemu Tshering Lepcha the shop is being run by one Vishnu Gupta. The authorities not only seized the items, including computers, from the shop but warned all trade lincence holders that they are liable to pay for all damages if the operations are found to be illegal. This indeed is a wake-up call for all those indulge in illegal activities.

How Nepal and Sikkim were betrayed to please New Delhi

Koirala, Kazi and Bhattarai are birds of the same feather

By Dirgha Raj Prasai

   Nepal is on the verge of disintegration and loss of its identity. In a short period of time, it has become evident that ideologies of republicanism, federalism and secularism are against the welfare of Nepalese. Should matters continue as they are, it is feared that a divided nation may cease to exist due to instability and lack of peace. In a monarchy, the monarch has to be a nationalist representing the people's wishes. This is necessary if the monarch wishes to maintain his throne and the continuity of his lineage. An elected head of state can always go against the good of the nation and the wishes of his people for short term personal gains. Furthermore, an elected head of state will come from a political party, but a monarch is above partisan politics without party affiliation. Ethnic and provincial affiliations in Nepal will divide the country and will only create warlords and new parasitical elements. Social in fighting will be the sole end result.

    The fact is that secularism will only help entice the impoverished and illiterate Nepali people away from their religion and culture with the mirage of economic benefits. Inter-religious conflict will begin, which will also affect the stability of neighboring countries. We must establish a system which preserves Nepal's stability, development and democracy. The independence, sovereignty and self respect of the Nepali people must be strengthened, thus helping to provide stability, peace and development in neighboring countries also. It is imperative that we Nepali people unite and rise up to prevent the nation's disintegration and death. Efforts to save the country and democracy must be kept in the forefront.

    The party leaders of uprising-2006 reached an agreement with the king to reinstate the parliament On 24 April 2006. As per this pact, the king issued a declaration to reinstate the parliament but Nepali Congress (NC), UML and Maoists driven by their purpose to attain power betrayed the monarch. Their very conspirator role of betrayal was not only fatal for their future but it rendered the nation unstable. What was the spirit of the agreement of 24 April and what came of it? Why did they pretend to reach an accord with the king if their true intention was to betray him? Do such leaders have the right to speak in national politics?

The protesters- 2006 could have launched the uprising under the slogan of establishing republic from the initial phase, but they did not! Nepali Congress leader, the PM- G.P Koirala, who spearheaded the uprising, took oath of Prime Minister’s office from the king in accordance with the 1990 Constitution, but why? Isn’t it suicidal to get entangled in politics that is devoid of cause and effect? The rise of Maoist rebellion is the effect of the corrupt rule under NC and UML. However, the same Maoists joined hands with these parties and participated in the uprising under the direction of India, due to which the nation is in a chaotic position.

    These leaders were backed by Indian intelligence agency. They were under tight grip of the Indian and American agencies. So it is worthless to complain. Had these leaders accepted their past mistakes committed before and after the Constitutional Assembly (CA) election and criticized it, they could have had walked without having to slink. But they do not even have such level of morality due to which today they are known as foreign stooges and traitors. They do what they are told by foreign master. In such a condition India, America, UN, European nations belong to them. Indian concern is to take Nepal under its control, whereas the purpose of western countries is to insinuate Christianity and hit China under its belly in name of Free Tibet.

   Late Girija Prasad was made a stooge to instill disorder in the nation. Now the Maoist leader, the PM Baburam Bhattarai, is being used to destroy Nepal’s identity, prestige and unity. The leaders of NC, UML, Maoists and Madhesi parties have openly accepted foreign slavery. They will not be able to walk showing their face in coming future. Jaya Prakash Gupta became the right hand of Indian intelligence agency and established the so-called Madhesi party. He indulged in corruption and tried to hide it. Under the shelter of his powerful connections he issued threats to hide it and now he is in jail. Tomorrow the leaders of Maoist and Madhesi parties holding the reign of government, the opposition parties that have declared to be secular and republic – NC and UML – will be subjected to same fate.

    There is a proverb- 'a cunning person trips thrice while an innocent trips only once.' Leaders like Girija and Madhav have been fed billions worth of facility and sources under the aegis of Indian intelligence agency. They have been manipulated to destroy Nepal’s stability and identity. On 15 Setember, 2008, an article by S.D Muni, the policy maker of the South Block, was published in Indian newspaper- 'The Hindu’. Muni’s article sheds light on the fact relating to mobilization of billions to institutionalize republic, secularism, ethnic federal states after the uprising in order to disintegrate Nepal so that it can never recover. A concerned person had said that Nepali leaders Krishna Sitaula, Baburam Bhattarai, Shekhar Koirala, Bamdev Gautam were given accommodation during the days preceding the 12-point understanding at Muni’s residence in Delhi. Prachanda used to visit the residence in the afternoon. Amaresh Kumar Singh and Hari Roka were among their reliable messengers.

    At the time when the Indian agency took the initiative for the uprising, NC and UML had no ground to step on and took the support of the Maoists. The Maoists were delighted at the prospect of using their former enemies. In 1975 India had made use of such wrong elements to annex Sikkim in name of Legislative Assembly. Then traitors like Lendup Dorje and Narbahadur Khatiwada were used to absorb the land of Sikkim. It is crystal clear that in Nepal the poisonous tree of Constituent Assembly (CA), ethnic federalism, secularism- ‘One Madhes One State’ are being used to disintegrate Nepal.

    No constitution will be promulgated by throwing ourselves into the Indian sewer of CA. Why did we need a CA when we have the 1990 Constitution? Had not NC, UML and Maoists leaders participated in the drafting of the 1990 Constitution? Can’t we modify it and move forward? If the objective was to create instability why had they need of contriving an agreement with the monarch on 24 April, 2006? Has the 1990 Constitution been dead legally? Can such forceful attitude continue with the threat of Maoist army and foreign agents? So, we should decide the path of safe landing. There is only alternate to reinstate the 1990 constitution with constitutional monarchy. (The International News Magazine - dirgharajprasai@gmail.com)