SIKKIM OBSERVER   Jan 19-25, 2013

GJM calls for ‘final battle’ for Gorkhaland

Public meetings in Darjeeling, Kurseong next week

 Darjeeling, Jan 18: Observing that "time had come for the final battle", the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) said it would restart the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state.

"From GJM we want to make it clear that the time has come for Gorkhaland. We will move ahead with our movement for Gorkhaland. Time has come for us to restart our movement," party general secretary Roshan Giri told mediapersons.

"This is our final battle and the time has come for us to come on the front," said Giri, IANS reported.

The GJM has planned a rally and public meeting in Darjeeling (January 20) and Kurseong (January 27) during which it will announce its future course of action regarding the movement.

The GJM's threat to revive the Gorkhaland agitation comes in the wake of union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's remarks after the December 28 all-party meeting in Delhi that a decision on carving out a new state of Telangana would be made within a month.

"We had told Mr Shinde that he should consider the country's oldest demand - Gorkhaland. We welcome the way the centre is going to create Telangana but the demand of Gorkhaland should also be considered," said Giri.

The agitation over a separate state out of the northern West Bengal hills has led to loss of many lives over the past two decades, besides hitting hard the region's tea, timber and tourism sectors.

On July 18 last year, a tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM, and the state and central governments for setting up a new autonomous, elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council formed in the late 1980s.

The GJM now runs the GTA after sweeping its maiden elections last July.

The tough stance of the GJM, ahead of chief minister Mamata Banerjee's proposed visit to Darjeeling on January 29, is also related to its "unhappiness" over the slow pace of transferring powers to the GTA.

"Except the name of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, what else have we got," Giri said.

Chamling behaving like an autocrat:Upreti

Gangtok, Jan 18: Senior Congress leader KN Upreti has alleged that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is behaving like an “autocratic ruler.”

Referring to Chamling’s public speech at Maghe Mela in Jorethang, south Sikkim, on Monday, Upreti said development funds for the State are meant for all those who reside in the State and is not exclusively reserved for supporters of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

In a press statement, Upreti said he condemns the “ Talibani Farman” of the Chief Minister, who reportedly said that all development funds of the State should go only to SDF supporters.

“Such kind of statement from a Head of the government deserves condemnation,” Upreti said.

He added, “Chamling should know that the development fund which is pouring in from the Congress Govt. in the Centre is not meant for the SDF party but for upliftment of poor and downtrodden of the State irrespective of caste, creed and party affiliations.”

“This kind of Hiltarian outburst is not befitting to his chair or position which he holds,” Upreti said while adding “this is a democratic state and he is running a democratic Government. He should not speak like an autocratic ruler.”

BL body supports demand on Assembly seat reservation for Limbu-Tamang community

Sonam Lama Kaloen

Gangtok, Jan 18: The National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO 371F) has supported the reported demand of the Akhil Sikkim Limbu Krantikari Yuva Sangha on reservation of Limbu-Tamang seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly before the next Assembly polls in the State due next year.

Reacting to the Sangha’s demand, NASBO President Sonam Lama Kaloen said his organization “wholeheartedly supports and stands by the decision” taken by the Sangha on the seat reservation issue.

Kaloen said his organization appreciates the Sangha’s stand that the 12 reserved seats of the Bhutia-Lepchas (BL) and 1 seat of the Sangha (monasteries) in the Assembly should not be touched when seats are reserved for the Limbu-Tamang community, who have been declared scheduled tribes in the State.

NASBO noted that during the Chogyal era separate seats in the Assembly/Council were reserved for the Tsongs (Limbus), who have historical and cultural ties with the indigenous Bhutias and Lepchas of the former kingdom.

“This organisation further confirm its keenness to be a part of any such movements or initiatives that aims at rejuvenating our lost Tsongs’ as well as Nepalese seats in the Sikkim Assembly from the remaining 19 general seats,” Kaloen said in a press release.

 Ex-secy Tashi Chhophel passes away

Loss to Sikkim, says CM

Gangtok, Jan 18: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has condoled the demise of Late Tashi Chhophel, Former Secretary to the Government of Sikkim.

Chhopel breathed his last here at the Manipal Central Referrel Hospital  yesterday morning. The Chief Minister visited Late Chhophel’s house and met his family members.

In his condolence to the family members the Chief Minister remembered Late Chhophel as a senior and experienced bureaucrat of the state who was well versed in administrative matters of the State and has said that his loss is a great loss to the State.

Chhophel, son of Late Thinley Bhutia was born at Kewzing, South Sikkim, on July 6, 1929 and joined the state service on  July 8, 1957 as a Dy. Registrar of Cooperative Department. During his government service he served the government as Dy. Magistrate in North Sikkim, Assistant Magistrate in West Sikkim, Managing Director, STCS, Secretary Panchayat, Ecclesiastical, IPR, Press, Establishment (DoP), Industries and many other departments of the Government. After retirement he was nominated as Chairman, SPSC during the year 1986. He is survived by his wife Kunzang Choden, six daughters and two sons.

Editorial

FALLING STANDARDS

Pressman Or ‘PR Man’

Courage in journalism is not all about reporting from war zones or riot-affected areas; most of the time display of courage by journalists are less dramatic. It takes great courage to tell the truth, to stand up against the establishment which wants to plant a story or kill a story. The most disturbing trend in this profession is that many journalists become nothing but ‘PR’ tools for the powers-that-be for a consideration. It is one thing to maintain a distant and yet healthy relationship with the government but quite another thing to masquerade as a journalist when you are actually an informer or doing a ‘PR’ job for your political masters.

These days it has become fashionable for media houses to award powerful persons and even state governments in India. Most of them depend on government handouts and documents to justify their action in felicitating someone. If there is a probe into the nexus between politicians and media houses the public would know the truth. And yet the farce continues and no one seems to take much interest as they have lost complete faith in the system that is supposed to cater to public welfare and convenience.

It is said that people deserve the government they get. The credibility of a government is reflective of those who vote them to power. It can also be said that the people deserve the press they get. In a healthy and thriving democracy there is more interaction between the people and the press. But this is not so in a society where people are either afraid to speak up or not bothered as they know full well that the press will not report on what they say or if it is reported there would be no response from the government. The role of the press in such a society needs to be redefined to ensure that the press stays relevant and remains a vital organ of a democratic set-up.

Constitutional amendment must for GTA Act: Centre

Ghising had challenged validity of GTA

New Delhi, Jan 18: The Centre yesterday informed the Calcutta High Court that a constitutional amendment is essential to validate the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Act and for which it has asked the West Bengal government to hand over the draft of the Bill.

Somnath Basu, representing the Centre, said the constitutional amendment was required for a technical purpose otherwise there was no illegality in the Act. To which, Justice Dipankar Dutta asked whether the GTA Act was introduced before amending the Constitution. Bose said yes.

Subash Ghising, President of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and former chairman of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, had filed a writ petition in June 2012, challenging the legal validity of the GTA Act which was passed in the state Assembly in September 2011.

The Act paved the way for the formation of the GTA as agreed in the tripartite agreement between the Centre, State and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Indian Express reported. The case will come up for hearing next week.

Sikkim bags first prize in global flora show in Delhi

Gangtok, Jan 18: Just a week after hosting a grand Curtain Raiser event in Sikkim House, New Delhi, the State Horticulture Department bagged first prize for best pavilion in the 8th International Flora Expo organized by Mediatoday Group from 11-13 January in New Delhi.

   The Sikkim Stall stood out as one of the most attractive amongst various stalls put up by state governments, private companies and central government organizations. The splendid display of cymbidium orchids in bloom, beautifully arranged cut flowers complimented by green fillers and ornamental kale mesmerized each and every visitor to the stall, an IPR release said.

The show was inaugurated by Transport Minister for Delhi State. The other dignitaries visiting the event included Tariq Anwar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Member of Planning Commission and various senior level officers from Ministry of Agriculture and State departments. 

Besides display of large varieties of flowers and potted plants, various kinds of stalls advertising interrelated products and services like greenhouse manufacturing, tools & equipment, automated irrigation systems, seeds and fertilizers, landscaping materials, disease and pest control systems, books & journals also featured in the exhibition. In total there were more than 100 participants.

This event served as best platform to advertise our upcoming International Flower Show that is being organized at Saramsa Garden in the last week of February. Many visitors have show keen interest to visit the State during the flower show and most of the important states and companies have confirmed their participation.

Catholic youth convention held in Pakyong

Pakyong, Jan 18: A three-day Christian youth convention was held here last week. The convention, organized by the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), was held here at St. Xaviers School.

Youths from eight parishes of Northeast Deanery participated in the event whose main theme was Christ:  Leader and Perfector of Faith.

Prominent among those who participated in the event were Rev. Fr. Marcelleno, youth co-ordinator of NE Deanery and  Bhim Emmanuel Chettri, General Secretary of Sikkim Catholic Association

The Pope has declared ‘Year of Faith’ from October 2012 to 2013, so all the activities was based on this theme, Megdolin Lepcha, Publicity Secretary of the organizers, said. One of the main objectives of the youth convention was to bring the youths of N/E Deanery together, enlighten the youths about their role  in society and their churches and  develop leadership qualities.

Disaster management training essential for Sikkim: Gangtok Mayor

Gangtok Mayor KN Tobgay

Gangtok, Jan 18: A five-day training on Incident Response System and Simulation Exercise is being organized here this week by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in collaboration with Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim, at the conference hall, Election Department.

    The training, which began on Wednesday, is being conducted as part of the Disaster Management Support Project under GOI-United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United States Forest Service (USFS) and is imparted to  officials and councilors of GMC, officials of the district administration, nodal officers of line departments, Army, BRO, ITBP SSB, along with the officials from Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

 Keeping in view the occurrence of disasters on a frequent basis and the difficulties faced in responding to such emergencies, the Government of India has collaborated with USAID for institutionalizing the Incident Command System of America to India which is known as Incident Response System.

Accordingly, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie, was initially designated as the Nodal Training Centre for this purpose and NIDM is the nodal Institution for all training and development on such matters.

Arun Sahadev, Consultant, NIDM, MHA, Col. Supanekar, DM, Head from YASHADA Training Institute Pune, Mr C.Balaji Singh DM Expert and Country Laison US Forest Service,  Steve Heil from US Forest Service, Type one Incident Commander and Rajesh Bhatia, AD, Administration Training Institute, Government of Delhi, were the resource persons who will impart training on the principles and features of IRS,  organization and staffing, incident resource and resource management etc.

The Mayor Gangtok Municipal Corporation,  K.N. Topgay, while speaking on the inaugural session stated that this training is imperative for the State as it is prone to disaster of various calamities. He said preparedness is the solution to reduce the impact of disasters. The Mayor pointed out that the State machinery along with other line departments and paramilitary forces had responded well in the disasters which had occurred in the past but there are  still shortcomings which need to be addressed.

 The Mayor also felt the need of such training in the ground zero so that each and every individual has an important role to play in preparedness initiatives to prevent hazards from turning into disasters.

BRO, officials neglecting North Sikkim Highway: Cong leader

“North district has become ‘Kaala Paani’ of Sikkim”        

Gangtok, Jan 18: Congress leader Ugen Nedup Bhutia has lambasted the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for its negligence and indifferent attitude towards road construction work along North Sikkim Highway.

In a press statement, Bhutia, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member of Kabi-Lungchok, North Sikkim,  said due to the failure of the BRO North Sikkim has become the ‘Kaala Paani’ in the State.

 “I am anguished to bring” to notice “the most apathetic state of the North Sikkim Highway” which is going “from bad to worse,” Bhutia, a Congressman from Phensong, North Sikkim, said.

Bhutia has condemned the haphazard manner in which the BRO is managing the highway. He has strongly urged the BRO to undertake road construction work during dry seasons and not during the rainy season.

 The Congress leader has also criticized the negligence of three MLAs, two Cabinet members and officials of North Sikkim. He said the district administration is least bothered about the condition of road in the tribal-dominated north district.

“These kind of indifferent approach of the State government followed by the failing district administration often compels me to accept what the common people in the State considers the North district as ‘Kaala Paani’,” Bhutia said.

He has also urged the people of North Sikkim to “come together and raise this matter most effectively” and ensure that the concerned authorities take appropriate steps to address the issue.

It may be pointed out that back-cutting of the highway began more than a decade and half back and yet the work is still not complete. As a result many people travelling to north district take the alternate route through Singtam-Samdong-Dikchu.

Karmapa to visit Kagyu centres in Hong Kong

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje with Shamar Rinpoche

Gangtok, Jan 18: His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje will be embarking his first dharma tour of the year abroad from today.

He will be staying in Hong Kong for ten days. He is being invited there by Kagyu centres of Hong Kong, according to official sources.

During the course of his stay, His Holiness would be granting initiation, discourses & dharma lectures and empowerments, apart from conducting designated Amitabha ceremonies and rituals, followed by meeting with the disciples, both monks and lay.