SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   June 8-14,  2013  

MY blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com 

     Teesta river at Gailkhola near Teesta bazaar on national highway that links Sikkim with rest of the country. (Pix: 

     Dhruba Rai)

Chamling supports creation of Gorkhaland state

Siliguri, June 7: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has said, India needs at least 50 small states for proper development.

 Speaking to mediapersons here while attending a mango festival,  Chamling supported the demand for separate statehood to Gorkhaland, but added that the decision rested both with the Centre and state government.

 Chamling, currently in his fourth successive term, on Friday justified the division of Bengal, saying he was in favour of the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Chamling’s remarks come just two days after his government raised the issue of Gorkhaland at the chief ministers’ conference on internal security in New Delhi.

The chief minister, who was here to inaugurate the third Gitanjali Mango Festival, told mediapersons that he believes that the demand for a separate state is justified.

Chamling said, “I believe that India should have at least 50 smaller states, which could then be effectively managed and administered.”

The Sikkim CM’s statement, coming as it does on the soil of Bengal, assumes political significance and would provide moral support to those political parties which are spearheading the movement for Gorkhaland in the Darjeeling Hills.

Saying that his government had always been in favour of Gorkhaland, he added that the creation of smaller states would make the running of the administration more effective as in the US.

It bears recall that Chamling’s urban development minister Dil Bahadur Thapa had raised the issue of creating Gorkhaland at the CMs conclave. Thapa had reportedly said, “The formation of separate states (elsewhere in India) may renew the unrest in the region adjoining Sikkim.”

He had also said, “The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland, is keeping a close watch on the formation of separate states, which may lead to a bigger agitation (for a separate state).”

In 2011, the Sikkim Assembly had passed a resolution supporting the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state comprising Darjeeling.

Chamling had then said the development was ‘vital in ensuring peace, security and the development of Sikkim and for free movement along its only lifeline, the National Highway 31A.’ Sixty percent of this highway falls under the proposed Gorkhaland area and is affected every time the pro-Gorkhaland parties call a strike in Darjeeling hills, which may explain Chamling’s support to the demand.

All construction works awarded to SDF members: SPCC

Gangtok, June 7: The newly-appointed President of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), Kunga Nima Lepcha, while accusing the Stat Government of its “lackadaisical and indifferent attitude” towards poor maintenance of roads in the capital, alleged that “all construction works” in the State are awarded to members of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

In a press statement the SPCC President said Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s “dream of making Sikkim self-reliant by 2015” will not be realized as “all the construction works are awarded to the members of the ruling SDF only”, depriving the supporters of other political parties in developmental activities in the State.

 “While the constitution of India guarantees equal opportunities to all the citizens, this provision is blatantly violated in Sikkim and as such, where is democracy in Sikkim?” Lepcha said.

During its meeting held here on Tuesday, “the members present in the meeting strongly condemned the lackadaisical and indifferent attitude of the SDF government in the implementation of developmental schemes all over Sikkim.”

 The members took strong note of the institutionalisation of the delivery system of the State Government, the release said.

 “In executing its ulterior design to deprive the areas which are branded as opposition dominated areas by the State Government” the authorities neglected areas such as Tathangchen, Chandamari, Ranka and Nam Nang in east district, where road conditions “are so deplorable that the commuters on these roads have to face immense hardships on daily basis.”

“Though the irrigation department carried out Brahmaputra Project in a number of Jhoras, the most vulnerable area falling in Nam Nang area has been totally neglected,” the release said.

Editorial

FIX ACCOUNTABILITY

Our Corrupt Mentality Exposed

'I can resist anything except temptation.' That has been one of Oscar Wilde's more enduring quotes, a quote that reflects the frangibility of the human mind. As viewers, we are a forgiving people, we Indian cricket viewers. For only we can love a tainted captain and usher him into the corridors of administrative offices, only we can forgive our tainted poster boys and let them exhort us about the nuances of cricket in pre-match shows. Our love for drama always vanquishes our abhorrence for nonsense.

We are intolerant to Sachin's dipping form, but we are tolerant towards scandals. We share Facebook status updates supporting Bollywood heroes who have been punished or acquitted for heinous offences. Our attention is promiscuous, unbridled, unrestrained in the absence of principles. It wouldn't be long before, the present spot fixing scandal, that occupies the front page on every newspaper, is slowly pushed aside first to the peripheral columns, then to the special mentions and finally out of the tattered edges. Done and dusted, move on to the next episode, until probably one of the three tainted players, as a friend predicts on Facebook, makes an appearance on a reality show.

Process for payment of scholarships to students cleared: Secy

Gangtok, June 7: Human Resource Development Department (HRDD) Secretary C.S. Rao yesterday said releases of pending scholarships and payment scholarships of the students who have submitted their complete documents have been cleared.

While congratulating teachers for good results during examinations, Rao said there are total of 33 seats for MBBS from state quota out of which 20 seats has been provided in Sikkim Manipal University. He further informed that there are 15 seats for BDS, including 10 from the Himachal Pradesh under state quota. Likewise for Engineering there are 288 seats under state quota in various subjects of engineering, he added.  

The Secretary informed that 644 candidate had appeared for the JEE Test and among them 298 have been selected and those selected candidate will be awarded seats under state quota according to merit selection process, an official release said.

He also informed that the scholarship for other allied courses will be provided through merit lists. He further informed the media that the online registration for the other courses is in process till 15th of June and till date 1972 candidate have filed their registration to the department.  The website of the department is www.sikkim.nic.in/scholorship.

Sikkim Everest heroes meet CM

Gangtok, June 7: The three mountaineers who had scaled Mount Everest headed by  Kazi Sherpa along with Rabindra Kumar, IAS, Sikkim cadre and  Anand Gurung the youngest Everest Climber of Sikkim called on the Chief Minister of Sikkim at his official residence at Mintokgang on Thursday. The team met the Chief Minister along with the Minister Tourism Bhim Dhungel and Secretary Tourism  D. Anandan.

During the meeting Chief Minister congratulated the Mountaineers and informed that the government will be felicitating them by organizing a programme shortly. He also congratulated them on behalf of the people of Sikkim.

During the meet the team also shared their experiences about their

expedition with the Chief Minster and informed how the state of Sikkim and its development are being talked about and appreciated in other parts of the world.

Baluwakhani residents panic after landslide

Gangtok, June 7: As monsoon approaches with regular rainfalls in the hills, there have been regular landslides in the State. The capital, too, is witnessing landslides, raising concerns by its residents.

Due to heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday a landslide at Baluwakhani - Forest Colony has affected Hotel Arjun and other buildings its surrounding area. The landslide in the Sherpa Association’s land alongside the road to Forest Colony at the backside of the Hotel Arjun has caused panic among residents in the area.

The main reason for the landslide is the poor drainage system of the buildings in the either side of the landslide area.

Sikkim opposes formation of smaller states

Gangtok, June 7: After passing a resolution on formation of Gorkhaland state in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly the Sikkim Government has opposed formation of smaller states. This is obviously a setback for the movement of separate state of Gorkhaland despite Chief Minister’s comments that he was for creation of Gorkhaland after having opposed creation of smaller states in New Delhi.

The Sikkim Government has opposed any decision by the Centre to form smaller states saying that any such step would trigger unrest in the hills of Darjeeling as demand for carving out Gorkhaland from West Bengal would become shriller. The Sikkim government's warning to the Centre was made on Wednesday at the Chief Ministers’ conference in New Delhi on internal security.

Referring to the growing demand of the formation of separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim's Urban Development Minister DB Thapa said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is keeping a close watch on formation of separate states and its formation may lead to agitation for such demands in the hills, The Statesman reported.

"This will have an adverse effect in Sikkim too," Thapa added.

Interestingly, two years ago the Sikkim Assembly had passed a resolution supporting the demand of the formation of Gorkhaland from West Bengal — a move that was strongly condemned by then ruling Left Front government of West Bengal and the Trinamool Congress.

In its latest stand, the Sikkim government has apprehended that the GJM would intensify its movement in Darjeeling if Telangana is granted statehood that would lead to frequent strikes and road blockades in the hills.

Knowledge is power: CJI

CJI inaugurates Sikkim Judicial Academy

Gangtok June 7:  Chief Justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir while inaugurating the Sikkim Judicial Academy (SJA) here on Sunday said knowledge is power and the setting up of the institute would empower judicial officials.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Chief Justice of High Court of Sikkim Justice Pius C Kuriakose and Justice SP Wangdi of High Court of Sikkim were present when the institution was inaugurated here in the premises of High Court of Sikkim.

The institute is the only such institution in the North East region apart from the one in Guwahati.

Justice Kabir said information and knowledge is power and he hopes that this sort of institution will empower the Judicial officer and other concerned with knowledge which will ultimately help them in executing their duties properly.

Making his introductory remarks on the occasion Justice Pius C Kuriakose termed the occasion as a momentous one.

“For me this is a moment of great satisfaction. I can go back from Sikkim on demitting office as Chief Justice with a feeling of having done something of everlasting value to the state judiciary and the entire legal fraternity in the state of Sikkim,” Justice Kuriakose said.

Judicial Academies all over the country impart training to judicial officers only, so that they can achieve excellence in the work and also become capable in rendering of quality justice in causes which come before them for adjudication, he said.

However, in view of the peculiar circumstances which presently exist in the state of Sikkim, particularly the smallness of size of the subordinate judiciary, the SJA will extend its benefits to  members of the Bar and also to the final year law students of Government Law College and the Universities in Sikkim.

Justice Kuriakose also thanked the Chief Minister and his government for having made available the building to start the SJA for the time being and also for the 2.92 acres of land at Sokeythang, East Sikkim for the construction of campus of the academy.

The main objectives of the SJA is to develop and deliver educational programmes in order to make them available to judiciary and the legal fraternity in the State.

During the occasion Chamling presented a memento to Justice S.P Wangdi Judge, High Court of Sikkim, and felicitated him on his appointment as Member of National Legal Services Authority.

SIBLAC’s Message to the Members NBWL: 97 MW Tashiding HEP

“Money-power behind Tashiding hydel project”

Respected Sir/Madam,

These are some facts procured through RTI in regard to 97 MW Tashiding HEP

and the dubious man Mr. T. Nagendra Rao, the project proponent:

1. Cabinet approved and sanctioned the proposal seeking administrative

approval for withdrawal of Tashiding HEP from M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd.,

vide Memo No. 201/GoS/E&P/06-07 IN THE CABINET meeting held on

18/01/2008 at 3PM.

2. M/S Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd. and its owner Mr. T. N. Rao’s dubious

intentions was the main reason for withdrawing L.O.I. The following are

the facts:

i) Mr. Rao within 13 days from the date of issue of L.O.I., the capacity

of Tashiding HEP was enhanced from 60 to 80 MW by 29th Nov. 2007,

and again within a short period of less than two and half months, the

capacity enhanced to 88 MW, all done without intimation to

Government of Sikkim and today it is 97 MW officially but for

investors it is again 111.6 MW after 15% overload capacity enhanced

by T. Nagendra Rao.

ii) Mr. Rao being Director of M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd, also applied for

96 MW Jorethang Loop HEP as Director, DANS IT Systems Pvt. Ltd.,

and got allotted to him but without intimation to Government of

Sikkim changed the name to DANS Energy Pvt. Ltd.

iii) Mr. Rao was also the owner of 99 MW Ting Ting HEP by TT Energy

Pvt. Ltd. (scrapped)

Later on again the work awarded to him, therefore you can not rule out

quid pro quo.

3. My RTI reply dated 18/07/2012 reveals that: information on justifying Mr.

T. Nagendra Rao as an expert in the field of Hydro Projects is not available

with the Sikkim Government.

4. Interim stay Order by Delhi High Court was issued against Rao’s DANS

Energy Pvt. Ltd. and Energy Innovation Dubai in their case of arbitration

against Aitreya Ltd., British Virgin Islands.

5. Public Auction Notice was issued for huge defaults in loan repayments by

Foison Chemicals Pvt. Ltd owned by Rao, along with Composite Steel Ltd. and Vini Meta Spin Steel Ltd. (belonging to Rao’s relatives and

acquaintances) on 29/05/2006 by Andhra Bank.

6. RTI reply dated 14/09/2012 reveals that State Government is not aware

of Rangit Valley Hydro Pvt. Ltd, floated by Mr. T.N. Rao and Associates

(TNRA) wherein the sole objectives of Mr. Rao was to invite other stake

holders and to hold equity stake in all three HEPs through special purpose

vehicles.

7. Further, without intimation to Sikkim Government, Mr. Rao inflated the

capacity of all three HEPs under him, by adding 15% overload capacity

thereby enhancing to 111.6 MW from 97 MW Tashiding HEP, 113.9 MW

from 99 MW Ting Ting HEP by TT Energy Pvt. Ltd (now scrapped) and

110.4 MW from 96 MW Jorethang Loop HEP just to impress the investors.

(Source: Project Dept, KPMG India Pvt. Ltd.)

8. My RTI reply dated 18/07/2012 reveals that Sikkim Government does not

have any record of actual expenditure incurred by M/S Shiga Energy Pvt.

Ltd. on 97 MW Tashiding HEP.

9. Equity stake of TNRA in 97 MW Tashiding HEP and 96 MW Jorethang Loop

HEP are not know to State Government according to RTI reply dated

14/09/2012.

10. Subject to strict compliance of Terms and Conditions, MoEF has granted

EC to Mr. T. Nagendra Rao, Director, M/S Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd, on

29/07/2010, but answers to my RTI query dated 09/07/2012 reveal that;

Part A: Condition (i) - Payment for catchment area treatment plan

received by Forest Department but work has not commenced as

yet.

Condition (ii) to (ix) - Information not available.

Part B: Conditions (i) to (vii) - Information not available.

11. After my above RTI query, first time a monitoring report dated

04/10/2012 on the implementation status of conditions of Environmental

Clearance (No. J-12011/66/2006-IA.I dated 29/07/2010) monitored with

Ms Kusum Gurung, DFO (Env. and land use) and Mr. Murugan, DFO (T),

West Sikkim is updated in the web site of Ministry of Environment &

Forests, G.O.I, wherein it is categorically stated in stipulation VIII that

„The proposed site is about 5 km away from the buffer zone of

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), as per Supreme Court order,

clearance from NBWL may be obtained (if required).“ It is stated in status

of compliance report that; NOT Complied with. The project also falls within

10 km from the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary. As such, NBWL clearance

needs to be obtained.

12. Even in the General remarks of the monitoring report, it is categorically

stated that „The NBWL clearance needs to be obtained immediately as

stipulated.“ (Source for 11 and 12: www.moef.nic.in)

13. Cheating in the report submitted to J.D. North-East Regional office, MoEF,

GOI by M/S Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd. duly signed by Karma Norden

Lachungpa, Environment Officer for Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd. It is intentionally and deliberately done that Part A of Specific Conditions VIII

of Environmental Clearance granted is missing in the report which is on

NBWL issue. Out of IX stipulated conditions in Part A only VIII are shown.

(Source: www.moef.nic.in) This also proves the dubious character of M/S

Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd.

14. Sikkim High Court issues contempt notice to Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd. on

carrying out activity on the un-acquired land of petitioners. (Source: PTI,

April 5, 2013)

15. Despite Sikkim High Court Order dated 24/07/2012, which states that, in

the meantime, the execution of the project shall remain subject to the

outcome of the writ petition, “the works at site is in war footing under the

security and protection of Sikkim govt. Project proponent says in court

that they are doing it at their own risk and that is accepted gladly.

16. Even when NBWL team was here in Sikkim, recently, we were not allowed

to meet them. Nobody understands the ground reality. Despite stoppage

order from NBWL nobody is bothered about it.

17. Hon’ble Supreme Court stating that there is local issues in our case, sends

file to Sikkim High Court for early disposal. It’s been more than one year

now, government advocates keep on asking further time thereby

favouring project proponent to complete the job.

18. I am helpless in front of these money power and corrupted administration,

but I will not leave easily.

With warm regards,

Tseten Tashi Bhutia

Convenor

Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC)

Dated: May 31, 2013

SIKKIM SHINES IN NORTHEAST CONTEST

Profile: Sonam Barfungpa

Sikkim’s Sonam Barfungpa recently won the runners up title in the ‘Mega Mr. North East 2013’ held in Guwahati.

Barfungpa (19), youngest son of former Secretary (Govt of Sikkim) late Wangchuk Barfungpa and Dikchungla, who wants to become a model, has won a one-year contract with the organizers.

Two Sikkim girls, Gyurmila Bhutia and Devika Kerongey, have also won subtitles from the ‘Sunsilk Mega Miss North East 2013’. Gyurmila (26) has won the ‘Radian Skin’ title while Devia (24) won the ‘Beautiful Hair’ title.

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   June 1-7,  2013    

Danny back on silver screen, to star in Boss, Mental

Mumbai, May 31: Danny Denzongpa sure knows how to live life at his own pace. When not shooting, and that's for a good part of the year, the actor spends his days at his Sikkim farmhouse, completely switched off from the rest of the world. But when thrown into the hustle and bustle of Bollywood, he also tends to make the right moves.

The latest is he has picked two interesting films - one with Akshay Kumar and the other with Salman Khan. The 65-year-old actor will be seen in an action avatar in Boss and also in Mental respectively, Mumbai Mirror reported.

A source revealed: "Danny will be doing handto-hand combat in Akshay-starrer Boss. Despite his age, his reflexes are like that of a young man. As for Mental, he will start shooting the film soon."

According to the source, "Danny has a fabulous equation with the A-listers in the industry. But he has always opted for roles that suit his character. He has been friends with Akshay and Salman for a long time. They felt he was the best choice for the roles in these films."

Dzongu’s gift for Golay’s SKM: anti-dam activist Dawa Lepcha

Dawa Lepcha during anti-dam hunger strike in Gangtok (right)

Gangtok, May 31: PS Golay’s biggest catch for his recently-formed political outfit Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is undoubtedly the renown social activist Dawa Lepcha who with his friends unsuccessfully fought against mega hydel projects in his native district of North Sikkim.

Golay’s recent trip to North Sikkim, including the Lepcha-dominated region of Dzongu, was successful in a sense that the party managed to convince the people that it was against mega hydel projects in the State.

Golay, infact, informed the people that one of the main reasons for going against the ruling government was on hydel projects. He was against it, he said. This message went down well with the people.

“The Lepchas are with Dawa and Golay did the right thing by choosing him,” a Lepcha leader said.

When he left the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), the organization which headed the anti-dam movement in the State, in February this year to join the SKM, Dawa told his colleagues in the ACT that he would pursue the issue in politics. His friends in the ACT have realized how unresponsive and dubious the Chamling Government is on the issue.

“We have sat on hunger strikes, begged and used other options for a long time (on scrapping hydel power projects proposed in Dzongu) but nothing happen. I believe that social activism has not yielded much and time has come for us to approach a political solution for our demands”, said Dawa when he joined the SKM on February 4 this year.

Without Bhandari Congress is nothing in Sikkim

Gangtok, May 31: The Congress party high command’s reported decision to take Sikkim seriously will not convince anyone in Sikkim. If fact, by removing former chief minister NB Bhandari from SPCC presidentship on the eve of the Assembly elections the Congress party has proved that it is not serious in building up the party and forming the government in the State.

During a meeting of the SPCC held here this week, AICC Secretary K. Jayakumar said the party would take the State seriously. He said every month a union minister would come to the State to campaign for the ensuing Assembly polls.

Ever since Sikkim’s takeover the Congress party, which was chiefly responsible for Sikkim’s ‘merger’ with India, has not been able to win elections to form the government.

It was able to form the government in Sikkim on two occasions: in 1981 and 1994. The Congress party was able to form the government under Bhandari in 1981 when Bhandari’s party – Sikkim Janata Parishad – merged with the Congress in July 1981. After Bhandari’s Sikkim Sangram Parishad – formed on May 24, 1984 – dissidents toppled his government in May 1994 the Congress party was able to form the government for a brief while under Sanchaman Limboo in 1994.

Try as it may the Congress party – without Bhandari – never got more than 4% of the vote share. Under Bhandari, the Congress party’s vote-bank rose to around 30% in the Assembly elections in 2004 and 2009.

So, what is the justification for Bhandari’s removal at this juncture? During the SSP meeting here on May 24, Bhandari said he would reduce the Congress to a ‘zero’ in Sikkim. He does not have to do anything on this now; the party high command did the job.

Central or Congress leaders from Delhi mean nothing to the people of Sikkim as far as electioning is concerned. They can bring money, not votes. Some of them even take money from Sikkim.

Political observers are of the opinion that Congress did a big favour to Pawan Chamling by removing Bhandari as SPPC chief. “Now opposition votes remain divided. This goes in Chamling’s favour,” one observer said. His views may reflect public opinion in days to come.

Union tribal minister does not know Limboos, Tamangs are STs in Sikkim

    (L to R) Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Union Tribal Affairs Minister KC Deo, and Lok Sabha MP PD Rai during the    

    Sakewa celebrations at Saramsara, East Sikkim, on Monday.

Gangtok, May 31: Those who want Assembly seat reservation for the Limbus and Tamangs in the State should note that the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs KC Deo does not even know that the two communities have been enlisted in the ST list in the State.

During the annual Sakewa celebrations at Saramsara Garden near here on Sunday, Deo said he would do his utmost to ensure that Limbus and Tamangs are declared STs in the State. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Sikkim’s lone Lok Sabha MP PD Rai were present on the dais when Deo made the statement.

Justifiably, the Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Tribal Forum has lambasted the Chamling Government for Deo’s lapses. Forum Chairman Birbal Limboo in a press statement said it was unfortunate that the Union Minister does not even know that the two communities were declared tribals way back in 2003.

Even after 10 years the two communities have not got seats reserved in the Assembly, the Forum said and blamed the Chamling Government for its failure to take the matter to the Centre.

POWER CORRUPTS

Quit Gracefully, Mr. Srinivasan

The conspiracy of silence within the BCCI was broken when board heavyweight and Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia publicly said President N Srinivasan should quit.

Realising that there is a conflict of interest as Srinivasan’s own family member is involved in an ongoing investigation, it's in the fitness of things, from a point of view of propriety, that he should step aside until this matter reaches a conclusive end in terms of an inquiry, Scindia rightly said, “We are responsible for the actions of our family members."

Since then many, including eminent citizens, have urged the BCCI chief to tender his resignation.  However, the BCCI boss refuses to budge. His flagrant defiance of public opinion may finally lead to an ignoble exit.  A faction within the Board is planning to initiate suspension proceedings against him if he refuses to step down in the aftermath of the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal that has thrown cricket in the country into disarray.  It is in the best interest of the game that Srinivasan quits gracefully before he is thrown out.

The Mystery of Sikkim’s  Teesta Hydel Project

Private developers, who have got projects through joint venture routes, are enriching themselves at the cost of the people. Indeed, who owns the lucrative hydropower projects in Sikkim?

    The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) went on an indefinite hunger strike against hydropower projects on the sacred 

    Teesta River in Sikkim on June 22, 2007 at BL (Bhutia-Lepcha) House premises, Gangtok. The campaign – supported by 

    monks, students, NGOs and the Sikkimese people – in the spirit of Gandhian Satyagraha was withdrawn after more than   

    two years, on September 27, 2009.

A lot of money is being pumped into companies developing hydropower projects in Sikkim ever since the Central Government allowed 100 per cent FDI in the power sector through the direct route. Ironically, an in-depth analysis of these investments show that the finances are being pumped in from tax haven countries like Singapore, Mauritius, and so on by companies registered in these countries by venture capitalists and hedge funds.

The best case study in this connection is TeestaUrja Limited (TUL), an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) set up by Athena Projects Pvt Ltd for developing the 1200MW Teesta Stage III HEP near Chungthang in North Sikkim. The Singapore-based Asian GencoPvt Ltd is owned by TV Vijaykumar, an erstwhile close aide of the late YSR Reddy (former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh), the late CV Balayogi (former Speaker, LokSabha, also from Andhra), Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSR's son, now in jail) and KVP RamachandraRao (close associate of the Reddys), and is currently the owner of the 1200MW Teesta Stage III being developed by TUL. It holds close to 50 per cent equity in the project.

    Teesta III Hydropower project, Chungthang, North Sikkim: This 1200 MW project is being executed by M/s Teesta Urja 

    Limited, also an Athena Group company.

A clique of investors, led by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, bought close to 49 per cent stake in power generation and engineering services firm Asian Genco for $425 million in 2010, the biggest private equity (PE) transaction in India in the power sector. The deal is also the first one of over $300 million since 2008. The last PE deal of this size was when Providence Equity Partners invested $428 million in Aditya Birla Telecom in 2008.

The group of investors in Asian Genco includes Everstone Capital, General Atlantic, Goldman Sachs Investment Management and Norwest Venture Partners, among others. Asian Genco, to which the former power secretary of Delhi, RV Shahi, is learnt to be a consultant, had earlier raised funds from other investors like power trading firm PTC and its finance offshoot, PTC Financial Services, besides global investors such as Tiger Global Management.

This has been a trend for many of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) developing projects in Sikkim, wherein, as per the clauses in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government, land is mortgaged in lieu of huge project finances picked up by the developers with the state government standing as a guarantor (as per the MoU, the government of Sikkim owns either 26 per cent or 11 per cent equities in these projects).

The best example is TUL, which, in 2008, took Rs 4,500 crore as loan from REC and a consortium of seven nationalised banks and parked the funds in Asian Genco. Lanco projects did the same with investments in coal mines in South Africa, Griffin mines in Australia and a coal mine and a thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh, all with the help of finances from land mortgaged in Sikkim.

Coastal Projects Sikkim has sold shares at a premium to Baring Asia Equity Group at 65 times the face value; such value addition is fully and only attributable to their ownership of the concerned hydropower project they are executing in Sikkim. Had this organisation executed the required Shareholder Agreement (Share Subscription Agreement) and allotted the Sikkim government 26 per cent equity within 180 days of the agreement, the state government, as minority shareholder, would have got first preference to dilute and could have decided to off-load parts of its equity at 65 times the face value. In this way, the state government is denied its dues and gains which the private developers tactfully and wrongfully embezzled (Source: Coastal Annual Report).

Analysis of these investments show that the finances are being pumped in from tax haven countries like Singapore, Mauritius, and so on by companies registered in these countries by venture capitalists and hedge funds

Private developers who have got projects through joint venture (JV) routes, are enriching themselves at the cost of the state and its people. This was the case in Jal Power Corporation Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coastal Projects Private Limited, Hyderabad. In the 75:25 debt equity ratios of Coastal Projects in the JV, the Sikkim government has, at the rate of 26 per cent equity, Rs 50.40 crore.

Likewise, the Luxembourg-based Greenko Energy Ventures Private Limited controls the shares in the 96MW Dikchu Hydropower Project, a JV between the Sikkim government and Sneha Kinetic Power Projects Private Limited (an SPV). The Sikkim government is entitled to 26 per cent equity in it. Greenko has raised $46.3 million in allotting its preference shares (Source: Greenko Annual Report).

In the remand report of Jagan Reddy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has clearly stated that in his Sandur Power Company Limited (SPCL), the Lanco group has purchased considerable shares. Lanco is doing the Teesta Stage VI project in Sikkim.

The Singapore-based River Valley Hydro Venture owns 75 per cent stake in Secunderabad-based AmritJal Ventures (Source: TheEconomic Times), worth Rs 300 crore. AmritJal has floated three SPVs, Gati Infrastructure, Gati Infrastructure Bhasmey and Gati Infrastructure SadaMangder for three projects in Sikkim. According to an Economic Times report (February19, 2009), the owners of AmritJal Ventures were not clearly known.

In TUL, Mauritius-based Varuna Investments Private Limited holds 100 per cent preference shares of Singapore-based Asian Genco, owned by TV Vijay Kumar. Asian Genco owns 50.9 per cent equity of TUL, leaving 49.1 per cent equity for the consortium partners of Athena Power Projects Limited (APPL) and the Sikkim government which is supposed to hold 26 per cent equity in the JV.

The MOU signed by the Sikkim government with every IPP, modelled on the standard agreement it signed with TUL, stipulates on the issue of equity subscription that, "The company shall not change the constitution of the company's board without prior permission from the government." If there is a violation of this clause, the Government of Sikkim (GoS) can unilaterally terminate the agreement. In reality, the GoS under Chief Minister PawanChamling chose not to disturb the status quo, despite gross illegality, violation of the MoU, quid pro quo benefits enjoyed by the troika of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen, not to mention huge losses to the state exchequer.

In reply to an RTI application, the private hydropower developers said that, as a private limited company, they are outside the purview of the RTI Act, 2005, and it is not applicable to them; signatories to the MoU have no rights under the implementation agreement with the company.

From this response it becomes clear that none of the companies that have been awarded projects by the GoS consider themselves to be in a joint venture and thus are not answerable. To top it all, in many cases, the original owners are untraceable or have become minority shareholders, having sold or transferred their equity to third parties who have nothing to do with the MoU or the GoS. Indeed, this raises serious legal issues. (Hard News and HT Syndication)

There can be no peace in Sikkim unless healthy survival is ensured

Despite aggressive changes Sikkim cannot afford to abandon its past

By SUNANDA K. DATTA-DAY

The seminar on "Tibet's Relation with the Himalayas" that the Foundation for Non-Violent Alternatives (FNVA) organised in Gangtok last week recalled Jigdal Densapa who died recently. Descended from Sikkim's ancient Lepcha chiefs and a hereditary Kazi of Barmiok, Densapa was secretary to the last Chogyal of Sikkim. Sir Patrick Shaw, a former Australian high commissioner to India, called him "the only modern man in Sikkim".

That's what I remembered as learned seminar papers by Sangeeta Thapliyal of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses' Col P K Gautam or Nani Bath of Itanagar's Rajiv Gandhi University focussed on threats to national identity in Nepal, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. With modernity run riot in Sikkim, I didn't see a single man in the ankle-length robe called baku or kho, which is the Sikkimese male's traditional attire. Densapa wore it with dignity.

The empty desolation of the Chogyal's palace is as indicative of the new Sikkim as bustling crowds in the wide walkway of Mahatma Gandhi Marg. Its crowded shops and cafes cater mainly to budget tourists whose colloquial Bengali rises stridently above the hubbub. But here and there, pleasant sanctuaries like Baker's Cafe and the just-opened Coffee Shop, offer a touch of more sophisticated leisure. Where smelly, run-down Dewan's in the bazaar was once the only hostelry, hotels now sprout every few yards, ranging from the ostentatious Mayfair and elegant Denzong Residency to hole-in-the-wall hovels. Two boast casinos where locals squander their new-found wealth on the turn of the wheel.

Rajiv Gandhi's calculation that only 15 per cent of development funds reach the target means that 600,000 Sikkimese are making money hand over fist. In their past innocence, my Sikkimese friends didn't think of exploiting the absence of excise duty under the Chogyal. But the shrewd Indian businessmen who flooded Gangtok after the protected kingdom became India's 22nd state quickly grasped they needed only an address in Sikkim, a front man and a dummy company to make a killing from duty-free goods. Soon, greed overcame prudence. Factories elsewhere in India began rolling out manufactures stamped "Made in Sikkim". The exchequer may have lost Rs 3,50 crore on evaded tobacco duty alone.

Despite aggressive changes, however, Sikkim cannot afford to abandon its past. The 300,000 registered "Sikkim subjects" (meaning they or their ancestors were bona fide residents of the kingdom) pay no income tax. About 225,000 of them are ethnic Nepalese. Another 35,000 Nepalese probably have fake certificates. Sikkim's Tibeto-Buddhist ethic has been watered down, and some indigenes complain of existing on sufferance. Kazi Lendhup Dorji, the first chief minister whom many Sikkimese regard as the "country-seller" even while they formally honour his memory, once chided me for not speaking Nepalese. "It's the language of the people," he said.

The monarchy would never have been overthrown and the kingdom merged without Nepalese cooperation. Since they accused the Chogyal and his Bhutiya-Lepcha courtiers of trampling on their Hindu Nepalese identity, you would expect them to make common cause now with West Bengal's militant Nepalese, especially as Darjeeling district once belonged to Sikkim. Gangtok's fairy-tale Assembly even recently passed a resolution supporting Gorkhaland. But do they want to join it? Certainly not. As Kazi's Hindu ethnic Nepalese successor Nar Bahadur Bhandari put it, Sikkim had merged but would not be submerged.

Since they are no longer fighting a durbar that derived its symbols and rituals from Manchu China, the Nepalese who constitute 75 per cent of Sikkim's population don't need to reinvent themselves as Gorkha. They are proudly Sikkimese, masters in their own home. Merger would erode an identity that synthesises the legacy of six centuries of Tibet's cultural influence. Sikkim can be put in India, but Tibet can't be taken out of Sikkim. Merger would also cost the Sikkimese their protected jobs and special privileges.

Uttam Lal, a young idealist who teaches geography and natural resources management at Sikkim University, spoke passionately of the threat that both man and beast face on Sikkim's border with Tibet. He meant mines, barbed wire fencing and other defensive measures. The menace of modernity is no less serious. It is as much in need of the attention of organisations like the FNVA, which calls itself an "institute for developing peace studies". There can be no peace unless healthy survival is ensured. (Business Standard)

Sikkim Scouts will be part of 11^th Gorkha Rifles

Lucknow, May 31: Friday was indeed a historical day for the Indian Army, the Gorkha Brigade, 11 Gorkha Rifles & the state of Sikkim, as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General SK Singh unveiled the flag of Sikkim Scouts. This new battalion will form part of 11 Gorkha Rifles and will be raised at 11 GRRC, Lucknow.

On this historic moment, the VCOAS, who is also the 'President of the Gorkha Brigade' unveiled the flag and handed it over to Colonel Samar Singh Pundir, first commanding officer of the battalion. The battalion will be permanently located in the high altitude and rugged terrain of Sikkim, The Times of India reported.

 This battalion is raised on the concept of 'Sons of Soils' to guard the nation's frontiers. Based on this concept, the Indian Army already has Ladakh Scouts, Dogra Scouts, Garhwal Scouts, Kumaon Scouts & the Arunachal Scouts.

The Singh exhorted all present to work hard and lay a solid foundation. He said that other troops will stay for 2-3 years in these altitudes and then withdraw, but the Scouts will be permanently there.

He also said that the men have been selected since they are locals, they understand the language and are fully acclimatised. He remarked that a new beginning has been made and the Sikkim Scouts must live up to the reputation of the fabled Scouts of Indian Army.

Bhutia Kerab Yargay Tshogpa: how and why it was formed

By Karma  Lhendup  Kaleon (left)

            This  is  in  response  to  the  report  on  the  proposed  election  of  the  governing  body  of  the  Bhutia  Kerab  Yargay  Tshogpa (BKYT)  which appeared in  the  May 10, 2013  issue  of  Sikkim  Now.  This  came  as  a  big  surprise  to  this  Gembo  as  he  is  one  of  the  founder- members  of  this  organization.  The executive body was never  elected  since  its  inception.  As  a  Gembo  I  must  share the  story  of  this  organization with  my  youngsters for  their  information  and  further  necessary  action. It is a story of  deception,  intrigue  and  back- stabbing.

The  BKYT  was  founded  in  around 1982  when  this  Gembo  was  a  restless  young  man  with  sky-rocketing  vision  and  enthusiasm.  He was  much  commented  upon  for  this  reason by  his  adversaries.  Some  said  he  lived  in  a  world  of  his  own  dream  while others  said  he  did  things  without  any  finishing  and  some  said  he  misguided  people.  The  story  of  BKYT  was  about all  these. 

The  concept of  the  language  called  Bhutia was  never  accepted  by  people  that  mattered.  Late Lachen  Gomchhen  was  dead  opposed  to  it.  For  that  matter  it  never  received the  blessings  of  the  chho-keong-srung-mas  yul-lha  shib-dag  of  the  land. 

The  BKYT was  formed  primarily  to  develop  and  promote the  Bhutia language among the  Lomenlas  in  the  first  instance.  It  was  intended  to  hold  workshops  and  training  programmes  for  teaching  the  language  to  the  language  teachers  first.  The  first  meeting  of  the  organization  was  called  in  the  White  Hall  premise  in  open air  beside  the  resting  house  called Hawa-ghar   The  meeting  itself  was  a  kind  of  training  programme  for  the  Lomenlas  on  how  to  conduct a  meeting,  record  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  and adopt  resolutions.  If  the  Minute  Book  is  still  available, you  will  see  how  many  people  attended  that  fateful  meeting.   In  order  to  give  the  language  a  semblance  of   literary  identity  and  entity,  this  Gembo  published  a  monthly  journal  under  the  title  of  ‘De-log’  which  means  resurrection.  This  magazine  served  as  the  backbone  of  the  language   and  the  show  piece of  literary  work  in  the  language. 

There  was  a  text  book  writer appointed  for  writing  books  in  that  language. He  simply  did  not  know  how  to  go  about it.  Writing a book   by  a  person  who  never wrote   was  the  beginning. He  was  a  monk  wedded  deeply  to  the  principle  of  the  Dhamma  which  forbids  the  identification  of  self.   He  never  wrote  books  in  his  own  name.  The  name  of  this  Gembo  too  featured  in  the  books  he  wrote  for  some  time.  I  did  not  like  that  and  he  was  offended  and  was  repenting  later.   I  knew  beforehand  what  was  going  to  happen.  They  happened  to  him.  He  remained  unsung.   The  said  writer should  remember  how  this  Gembo  initiated  him into  the  world  of  creative  writing  with  his  rudimentary  knowledge  of  Bhutia.   This  Gembo  had  a  fascination  for  reducing  the  Sikkimese  language  in  written  form  from  early  days.  He  tried  this in  mixed  Devnagiri  and  Bhutia  font   and  published  a  book  which  later  became  the  reference  book  for  the  writer.

            As  far  as  the  BKYT  was  concerned this   Gembo  had  provided  everything  ready  -made.  The  logo  was  designed with  a motto derived  from  Dhammapadda.  Letter  pads  were  printed  enough for  several  years  as  the  people  mattered  inspired  least  confidence in  the  Gembo.  The  Lomenlas  were  told  that  the  BKYT  shall  be  an  exclusively  Lomenla  forum where  their  problems  regarding  the  language  would  be  discussed and  to continue  the  work  as  shown.  By  Lomenla  I  mean  a  language  teacher.  In  those  days  people  formed  a  society  and  went  around  with  khada  in  hand  in  search  of  a  Gembo  to  be  its  president.  Thereafter, the  society  flopped  because  the  hired  president neither  knew  about  the  purpose  of  the  society  nor  was  he  in  need  of  one.

            The  BKYT  met  with  the  same  fate  and   vanished. It  fell  in  the hands  of  vested  interests  group  who hijacked  it  for  other  purposes.  The  message  of BKYT  never reached the  Lomenlas  as  it  never worked  for  the  objectives  it  was  created  for.  The ‘De-log’,  too,  died. Private  schools  never  accepted  the neo- Bhutia.  As  a  result  today  70 %  of  the  Lomenlas  knew  neither  the  Bhutia  nor  the  Sikkimese  and  the  number  of  admission  in  the  language  dropped  year  by  year.  The  poor  Lomenlas  are  being  withdrawn  from  schools.  A  year  ago  this  Gembo  met  one  heart  broken  Lomenla.  He  said  the  Bhutia  as  such  would  be  extinct  by   2050  at  the  present  rate  of  degeneration.   The  grave  prediction  of  the  Lomenla   least  surprised this  Gembo. 

A  work  done  on  wrong  premise  is  always  fallacious.  The  idea  of  Bhutia  language was  a  fallacy  and  extinction  was  natural.   The  Bhutia  language  was  created  with  malicious intention  by  suppressing  the  Notification  of  1958.  It  was  to  give  legitimacy   to  the  diluted  definition  of  Bhutia.    Where  does the  BKYT   stands  today may  be   summed  up  from  a  press  release it  issued  a  few  years  back.  It  came  out  in  a  local  paper.  It  expressed  sympathy  with the  cause  of  Goukhaland.   It  seems  it  is  now  functioning  more  as a  Bracket  Bhutia  cell of  certain  political  outfit  than as a social  body.  Any  simple  minded  person  would  think  that  the  proposed  election  of  the  BKYT  is  intended  to  unify  the  Lomenlas  for  the  coming  event ?    Bhutia  is  a universal  language.  It  cannot  belong  to  a  community

This  Gembo  regretted  much that  he  did  not know about  the  existence  of  the  Language  Notification  of  1958   and  the  Manual  of  Denjong   Ke  by  Graham  Sandberg  when  he  was  trying  to  develop a  methodology  for  writing  Sikkimese.  Looking  back  on  the  hindsight we  see  how  prophetic  was   Lachen  Gomchen. His  wisdom  stands honoured..

Therefore, in  homage  to  the  great  Lama  this  Gembo  recommended  teaching  of  Bhutia  in  Sambhota  way  and  Sikkimese  in  Graham  Sandberg  way.  The  teaching  of  Bhutia  should  go  back  to  Laptras  in  the  Gumpas and  Sikkimese  be  introduced in  schools  with  teachers  from general  education  background. With  this  in  view  this  Gembo  wrote  to  the  Sangha  MLA  in  2010  about  the  idea  of  a  Laptra  Education  Board  in  the  format  of  Muslim  Madrasa Board  of  Education.  

The  Madrasa  Board  of  education  was  conceived  to  make  the  students  employable  and  earn  a  livelihood.  The  respected  MLA  did  not  respond  to this  Gembo.  I do  not know  whose  interest  he  is  representing.  He  is  a  family  man  and  is  seen  wearing  the  dress  of a  Gelong  shamelessly.   If  the  above  said  Lomenla,  the  prophet  of  doom,  know  all  these  he  would  definitely  advance  the  date  of  extinction  of  the  Bhutia  to  2020.  (Karma  Lhendup  Kaleon is a Founder -Member of Bhutia  Keyrab  Yargay  Tshogpa (BKYT)

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday May 29 –June 4, 2013  

Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

“Sons of the soil to be SSP govt’s policy”

BHANDARI’S BACK

SSP raises May 8^th issue, wants 1970 as cut-off year for old settlers, Karmapa back in Rumtek

Gangtok, May 28: Three-term chief minister and anti-merger veteran politician is back in active politics after nearly a decade as president of the State unit of the Congress party.

Nar Bahadur Bhandari virtually went into poll-mode on May 24 last week when he revived his old regional party – Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) – during the 29^th birth anniversary of his party here at Sangram Bhavan.

After his removal from the post of SPCC President on April 20 by the party high command SSP leaders – Rajendra Upreti, Kamal Rai and NT Lachenpa – welcomed Bhandari back into the party and made him its President.

“May 8, 1973 Agreement and Article 371F of the Constitution will be my party’s manifesto,” Bhandari said during the meeting.

He not only wants restoration of the political rights of the Sikkimese through seat reservation in the Assembly but wants 1970 to be made the cut-off year to identify ‘old settlers’ or purano byaparies of the former kingdom.

Reiterating his earlier stand on the Karmapa controversy, Bhandari said he wants the 17^th Karmapa, Ugyen Thinley Dorjee, back in Rumtek.

“Sons of the soil will continue be my party’s policy when SSP forms the government,” the former chief minister (1979-1994) said.

He favours President’s rule in the State before the Assembly polls due early next year. He said he would hold talks with opposition leaders, including PS Golay, on opposition unity to dislodge Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front chief Pawan Chamling.

 Bhandari’s book on the merger period and Congress party’s “Sikkim Mahaloot” magazine, which details Chamling and his colleagues’ alleged corrupt practices, were also released and distributed during the SSP anniversary.

Bhutan to begin National Assembly voting

Thimphu, May 28: Voters in the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will begin electing their second ever government this week, five years after the country's Buddhist "dragon kings" gave way to democracy.

The electorate of less than 400,000 people will choose from four parties on Friday when the primary round of voting for the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, commences.

The two most popular parties will then contest a run-off round on July 13 to form the next government, AAP reported.

Bhutan, which is landlocked by Asian giants India to the south and China to the north, held its first election in 2008 after the monarchy ceded absolute power and actively led the move to a parliamentary democracy.

Party leaders kicked-off the election season in early May with a televised debate. Bhutan was the last country in the world to introduce TV in 1999 and it remains fiercely protective of its national identity and culture.

Tibet could emerge as trade route for Sino-India commerce

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang with President Pranab Mukherjee (right)

Beijing, May 28:  With Premier Li Keqiang promising to further open up China's huge market to Indian products to bridge the ballooning trade deficit, Tibet could emerge as the trade route between the two countries, a Chinese expert has said.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry is studying a proposal to set up new comprehensive economic cooperation zones in Tibet, to link the two biggest emerging economies and to strive to meet the India-China trade target of $100 billion by 2015, Wang Rui, a researcher at a Commerce Ministry think tank, said.

The biggest obstacle to improving the negotiations is the trade imbalance between the two nations, Wang, researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation told state-run China Daily.

Her comments came as the trade imbalance dominated the just concluded India visit of Li who promised to open up Chinese markets for Indian products.

While Natulla in Sikkim was regarded as one important land route, Indian officials say Jelep-La, through Kalimpong in West Bengal close to the India-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction was also regarded as yet another route that could be explored for cross-border trade.

"There are solutions to helping the two countries maintain rapid growth in bilateral trade and investment," Li was quoted by the media here as saying at a banquet at the China-India Commercial Summit.

China and India are discussing boosting an equal and fair environment to promote two-way trade and investment, he said in Mumbai yesterday.

China will open its market wider and work with India to jointly mitigate the bilateral trade imbalance, Li told business leaders in New Delhi earlier.

He pledged support for Chinese companies stepping up investment in India, and help for Indian products to access the Chinese market.

Never lose hope, Meghalaya Guv tells Tibetan MPs

     Tibetan parliamentry delegation with the Governor of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary

Dharamshala, May 28: Top leaders of the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya met with a Tibetan parliamentary delegation on a multi-state lobbying campaign and pledged political support to resolve the Tibetan issue.

The three-member Tibetan parliamentary delegation, led by former speaker Pema Jugney, were on the eighth and final leg of their North-East zone ‘All India Parliamentary Lobby Campaign.’

On May 24, the Tibetan MPs were received by the Governor of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary at the Raj Bhavan in Shillong, phayul.com reported.

According to Dhardon Shalring, MP and member of the delegation, Mooshahary, after being briefed at length about the current crisis in Tibet, said that Tibetans “must never lose hope.”

“Hope is what will keep you all going and victory will be an eventuality,” Dhardon quoted the Governor, who served as the former Director-General of National Security Gaurds and the Border Security Force as saying.

“The Governor expressed appreciation for the ‘tenacity, arduousness and the resolve of the exile Tibetans’ and referred to them as ‘true crusaders of the movement,’” she added.

The Tibetan delegation met with Deputy Chief Minister of the State, Rowell Lingdo, the incumbent acting Chief Minister. According to Sharling, Lingdo condemned the “atrocious policies of the Chinese Government” and said that China must “realise, respect and respond to the true aspirations of the Tibetan people and the Tibetan leadership’s call for dialogue to resolve the crisis.”

 The Tibetan MPs also called on the Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Sanbor Shullai, who reiterated his support for the Tibetan cause. He noted that the Indian Government “should treat the Tibetan issue as a special issue and raise it during diplomatic engagements with the Chinese leaders.”

The North-East zone ‘All India Parliamentary Lobby Campaign’ concluded their lobbying efforts after a series of successful lobbying campaigns in West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.

Editorial

HILL TOURISM

Avoid Strike Calls

The decision to call for an indefinite strikes in the hills of Darjeeling last weekend to protest against arrest of hill leaders allegedly involved in violence and then withdrawing it could have been avoided. Thousands of tourists in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong abruptly left the hills when the strike was called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). Many tourists could not visit the hills due to the strike call. Fortunately, good sense prevailed and GJM activists resorted to indefinite hunger strike to register their protest. In future politicians should resort to bandhs as a last resort when all avenues to settle their grievances fail. Political agitations in the hills have ruined the hill economy. The people must be given their rightful share in building up their economic base which is basically the tourism industry. It is presently the peak tourism season in the hills and the flow of tourists visiting Darjeeling hills should not be disturbed.

Muivah meets Manipur king for better understanding between Meitis and Nagas

Muivah with Manipur King Leishemba Sanajaoba in Nagaland last week. (left)

Manipur’s titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba had a meeting with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM)’s general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah at Hebron in Dimapur in May third week.

According to a report in the bilingual monthly Pandam, the meeting was also attended by Chingsubam Wangambi Leima, president of Meetei National Front (MNF) and others. During the meeting, King Sanajaoba presented a Meitei khudei (Dhoti) to Ato Kilonser Muivah while Chingsubam Wangambi Leima presented a Leirum cloth (Meetei shawl) to Muivah and other NSCN (IM) leaders in the meeting.

After Oja Akaba expired, the Chingsubam family met Muivah in 2007 and the latest meeting at Hebron was held in accordance with Muivah’s wish that the King of Manipur should join the next meeting, the report added.

Although there was no concrete agreement or commitment during the meeting, it was regarded as the first positive step to clear misunderstandings and promote rapport between the Meiteis and Nagas.

According to the report, Muivah said, “It would be a blunder to believe lndia will solve our Meitei/Naga problem. Meiteis and Nagas should understand each other, not blame anyone. He said that mistake lies with the Meiteis as well as the Nagas and the problem will remain unless there is mutual understanding between the two”.

Muivah further said that “We (Nagas and Meiteis) must decide our own destiny and our future will be the outcome of this decision”.

Muivah further said that since Naga-lndia and Meitei-lndia problems are different, their solutions would also be different.

Nagas will extend any possible help in solving the Meitei problem if a solution to the Naga problem is brought about, the report added.

In the meeting, Leishemba Sanajaoba is reported to have said that there are numerous misunderstandings between the Nagas and Meiteis. And it is high time the Nagas and Meiteis clear up these misunderstandings.

MNF leader Chingsubam Wangambi Leima said that the bond of love and harmony which existed amongst the various ethnic groups living together in the hills and plains of Manipur has been severed by the wedge of Hinduism. She added that we should find a way to enable us live in peace and harmony again. (The Assam Tribune)

Sikkim Rais celebrate Sakewa as communal harmony day

Chamling, Deo and Rai (right) at Sakewa festival celebrations at Saramsara on Monday.
 Gangtok May 28: The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Rural Management Development Department V Kishore C.S Deo, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Sikkim’s lone Lok Sabha MP PD Rai were present yesterday during the celebrations of the annual Sakewa festival of the Rai community at Saramsara Garden, Ranipul, East Sikkim. 

The festival was celebrated as communal harmony day in the State. Both Chamling and Rai belong to the dominant Rai community in the State. Though Hindus by religion the Rais, like most hill tribes, have their own form of nature worship.

Sakewa is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all Rais. One of the oldest festivals in the hills it is celebrated as a big harvest festival with the worship of nature. It is also known as Bhoomi pooja or land worshipping ceremony. Kirat Rais are basically nature worshippers and during the festival prayers are offered to the natural supreme power, the creator of the universe for peace protection and well being of all living and non living things of the universe.

The Sakewa festival is also celebrated with the Sakewa Sili or ceremonial dances, which have their own significance and unique charm. Dances in different postures depicting the behavior of animals, birds, etc are performed to express gratitude to the creator.

Several literary figures of the State from various communities were felicitated during the festival.

Gangyap school holds 1^st basketball tourney in West Sikkim

Gangtok, May 28: Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Gangyap, West Sikkim, organized an invitational basketball for men's and women from the 24th - 26th of this month.

The tournament started on the 24th with PL Subba (MLA, Yangthang) attending as Chief Guest for the opening ceremony. A total of 4 teams, including St. Philomena, Kalimpong, took part in the women's category while there were 6 teams in the men's category, including a team of Bhutanese students.

In the women's category the 'allstars' (senior EMRSteam) lifted the championship defeating St. Philomena, Kalimpong by 4 points 53 - 49. The 3rd position was taken by 'dazzlers' (junior EMRS  team). Fabiana Lepcha of St. Philomena received a trophy for the 'highest scorer' with 60 points in her 3 games while Pema Lhamu Bhutia of 'dazzlers' was selected as the 'Most Valuable Player'.

In the men's category, 'Mustang' of Darjeeling beat 'Hoopsters' of Gangtok (1st Runner Up), 50 -31, in the very exciting final to win the championship. While 'Ballbursters' of Tashiding beat 'Crusaders', Jorethang , 30 -19 to win 3rd position.

Anuj Pradhan of 'Ballbursters', Tashiding was the 'highest scorer' with 57 points in his 4 games while Pala of 'Mustang', darjeeling was adjudged the MVP. Sonam Barfungpa of the 'Hoopsters' also had a great tournament with 56 points in his games.

The Invitational Tournament also had a 'partner shoot-out competition' for both the categories in which St. Philomena, Kalimpong won and 'Dazzlers', emrs stood 2nd. Similarly, 'Mustang', Darjeeling won the partner shoot out while Ball Bursters, Tashiding stood second.

For the closing ceremony on the 26th May, the chief guest was Dawcho Lepcha, MLA of the concerned constituency who praised EMRS for organising such a grand basketball tournament. The final was also attended by BDO, Gyalshing, SK Gurung also member secretary of the school.

 PEOPLE & PLACES Kalimpong

Kalimpong was once known as Daamsaang

By LYANGSONG TAMSANG

This fort is the only fort to the last Lepcha King- Gyabo Achuk. Lepchas are the original natives of this place. Lepchas has to concede this fort to the Bhutanese who then lost it to the British in the Anglo-Bhutanese war of 1864 AD. The fort ever since is in ruins. One can hikes to this fort. Huge fir trees line this place and the view from here is stunning. (left)

Ashley Eden, a British India Government Agent at the Bhutanese Court, on May 7, 1864 wrote to the British India Government from Darjeeling expressing his strong views concerning the adoption of measures to secure the frontier from the Bhutanese aggression.  One of his choices was - ‘ The temporary occupation of the country, to be followed by the withdrawal of the occupying force after destroying the forts and letting the people see and feel our power to reach them at any future time.’

Today’s Kalimpong was then known as “Daamsaang”, a Lepcha word and name meaning ‘fortified’.  A series of Lepcha forts in ruin can still be found around the Kalimpong Sub-Division.  “Daamsaang Fort” was constructed by the Lepcha King, Pano Gaeboo Achyok.  He was assassinated by the Bhutanese at Daalim Fort and his kingdom, “Daamsaang Lyaang” was taken away by the Bhutanese.

The name, “Kalimpong” is derived from three Lepcha syllables; ‘Kaa’ in Lepcha means ours, ‘len’ means to assemble and finally ‘pung’ means a hillock or knoll.  It means a hillock where the Lepchas assemble. 

This particular hillock or knoll can be seen today at Durpin Golf Course just below the Circuit House; a flat site with three pine trees standing.  The oldest Lepcha monastery built in 1691 existed in this very hillock where the Lepchas of Bom, Daanggrao, Sungleepung, Chhyobo, Purbaong, Tasyey Ngaaso, Tasyeyding, Tanek etc.  used to assemble.

 In the name of development, the Lepchas living in an around the monastery and today’s Kalimpong town were evicted and their monastery shifted to ‘Kafyer’ meaning arrow roots in Lepcha, now erroneously called ‘Kafer’, situated on the opposite side of Kalimpong town, in 1903.  Kafyer was infested with leeches and Himalayan black bears; owing to the lack of Lepcha followers of the monastery and thin population at Kafyer, it was once again shifted to the present day site of the monastery at Bom, Kalimpong next to the Lepcha Museum in 1921 by the then Lepcha leader, Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsang. This Lepcha monastery, one of the oldest, is aptly known as ‘Kaalenpung Rong Gomboo’ meaning the Kalimpong Lepcha Monastery in Lepcha.

Captain Perkins bombarded this Daamsaang Fort from ‘Ree Syee Saom’, a commanding position on the opposite and southern side of Daamsaang Fort, and destroyed it.  ‘Ree’ in Lepcha means terrace, ‘Syee’ means to see or view and ‘Saom’ means to take a rest for a little while.  It literally means a terrace like place from where one can see, view, the Daamsaang Fort, Himalayas, Ree Naok Valley in Sikkim, borders of Sikkim and Bhutan and the Tibetan Passes, Nathula and Jelepla, gateways to Tibet and take rest for a little while.  In short, a view point.  The Lepchas have given such appropriate and beautiful names of places but today this name in particular is corruptly pronounced as ‘Rishisum’.

On 10 December 1864, the Daamsaang Fort was surrendered by the Bhutanese to Colonel Haughton.  It was then occupied by a detachment of fifty men of the 17th Native Infantry under the command of Lieutenant Dawes.