SIKKIM OBSERVER Page 1  Saturday   Aug 3-9,  2013    

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Mamata slams Centre over promise of UT status to Darjeeling

Mamata accepts Gurung’s resignation, says no to division of Bengal

Kolkata, Aug 2: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Wednesday that the UPA government had promised some Gorkha leaders that the Centre will convert Darjeeling into an Union Territory and some Union ministers had encouraged Gorkha leaders to renew their movement in Darjeeling demanding a separate state.

"A few days back, some Union minister had summoned one or two Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders and advised them to organise movement in Darjeeling by renewing their old demand for a separate Gorkha state. These ministers had also promised the GJM leaders that the Centre will convert Darjeeling into an Union territory," IndiaWires.com reported.

"The GJM is now holding their agitation in Darjeeling by citing the Centre's move to accept the demand for a separate Telengana state. I condemn that Centre as I feel some Congress ministers are trying to split India into several regions. Demand for a Telengana state is an old issue and the Congress has picked it up just before the next parliamentary elections," the Chief Minister told reporters at Writers' Buildings on Wednesday before leaving Kolkata for Mumbai to attend an industry summit there on Thursday.

Mamata also expressed displeasure over the Centre's reported move to convert Darjeeling into an Union territory. "Is is a fun? How can the Centre assure GJM leaders about converting Darjeeling into an Union terriroty without consulting the state government?" the Chief Minister asked by adding that "our government will never accept the Gorkha's demand for a separate state."

The Chief minister also said that her government has accepted resignation of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive officer (CEO) Bimal Gurung and declared that her government will not allow any split in Bengal by accepting Gurung's demand for a Gorkhaland. "Gurung has sent his resignation letter to the governor and we have accepted the same. Anybody can resign from any position and this is his democratic right. The GTA was formed following a tripartite agreement among the Centre, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and our government. GTA was formed democratically through elections and the development work in Darjeeling has begun. We love Darjeeling and nobody would be able to pose any danger before our government," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Darjeeling has turned violent again following the GJM's decision to go for an indefinite bandh in the Hills from Saturday. The GJM had called a 72-hour bandh in the Hills from Monday and the bandh ended on Wednesday. The GJM has announced a fresh indefinite bandh in the hills from Saturday and has asked the tourists and students to vacate Darjeeling by Friday. The Chief Minister also reacted sharply at the GJM's threat to go for an indefinite bandh in Darjeeling from Saturday.

"We love Darjeeling very much and we consider Darjeeling as an integral party of West Bengal. Our government will not allow any split in West Bengal and we will not accept GJM's demand for a Gorkha state. No one would be able to do any harm to the people of Darjeeling and people living in other parts of our state. We will protect everyone," the chief minister said.

All parties against Gorkhaland demand

Kolkata, Aug 2: The entire opposition in the State on Wednesday stood by the side of the Trinamool Congress government to protest the creation of Gorkhaland.

The state unit of BJP, whose MP from Darjeeling — Jaswant Singh — supported the cause of the separate state in the hills, disassociated itself from the MP and said that it was totally opposed to the creation of Gorkhaland. "We will fight tooth and nail against any further division of Bengal. That will be done on our dead bodies. Economically, politically and geographically Gorkhaland is not possible. The issues of Telangana and Gorkhaland are totally separate," said Rahul Sinha, BJP state unit president, The Indian Express reported.

The Congress, too, vehemently opposed the creation of Gorkhaland. "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the Centre for igniting the fires in the hills but she is absolutely wrong. Telangana has been given statehood keeping in mind the aspirations of the people there," senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia said.

The CPM, however, blamed the Congress, BJP and Trinamool for the situation in the hills. "Mamata said the hills were smiling. Now they are groaning in pain," said CPM's Ashok Bhattacharya.

Meanwhile, Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive officer Bimal Gurung resigned from the post on Tuesday to press for a separate Gorkhaland.

His resignation followed Congress and the UPA coalition unanimously endorsing creation of a separate Telangana state carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

"Bimal Gurung has already sent his resignation to Governor M. K. Narayanan this evening (Tuesday). We have decided to go on a bigger protest in demand of a separate Gorkhaland state carved out of the hill region," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) general secretary Roshan Giri said.

Giri said the party also appealed to the tourists and students who are studying in in Darjeeling to leave immediately. "We have requested them to vacant the hills as early as possible as we are going on an indefinite strike from August 3 in the hills," he added.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit out at the Congress for agreeing to create a Telengana state saying the decision was to win seats in the polls. “The UPA government has created Telangana to gain few seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls,” CNN-IBN reported.

Banerjee also said that there Gorkhaland would not be created and Darjeeling will continue to be a part of West Bengal. “We are not dissolving GTA, Darjeeling will be a part of West Bengal,” she said.

Impose President’s rule in Sikkim to ease communal tension: Bhandari

Gangtok, Aug 2: Former Chief Minister and Sikkim Sangram Parishad President Nar Bahadur Bhandari said the only way to ease the growing communal tension in the State following submission of a controversial writ petition in the Supreme Court on the income tax issue is to immediately impose President’s rule in the State.

He said he would call on the Governor shortly on the issue. If even after the next hearing of the case in the apex court – slated for today – the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties there will be turmoil and tension in the strategic and sensitive border State, Bhandari said during his press conference held here this week.

Bhandari blamed the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front for the present “communal crisis”.  He said the ruling government was responsible for doing away with the old Income Tax Manuel Manual of 1948 and bringing in the central tax laws in the State.

Under the old law, all the three ethnic communities as well as the old business community had to pay income tax to the State Government.

The old settlers in the State feel that while the ethnic communities who possess the Sikkim Subject identity certificate have been exempted from payment of income tax under the central law they have not been exempted.

However, what has hurt the Sikkimese is that the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) in its writ petition has reportedly urged the apex court to annual income tax exemption given to bonafide Sikkimese if the old settlers in the State are not granted tax exemption.

Another worrying part of the petition which has not gone well with the people is labeling Sikkimese Nepalese as ‘foreigners’. Most political parties and social organizations have reacted adversely against this remark. If this allegation is not withdrawn on time there could be a major communal flare up in the State leading to political instability.

I have not withdrawn graft case from SC: Delay

Gangtok, Aug 2: Contrary to popular belief Delay Namgyal said he has not withdrawn his petition from the Supreme Court.

Instead, he has alleged that those who said he has withdrawn his petition had “ulterior motives” and were “connected” with the “respondents” to delay the case. In a press statement, Namgyal said Anand Lama and RK Rai had approached the apex court and alleged that he had submitted an application for withdrawal of the case.

Namgyal said for over a year he had become “victim of a vicious campaign aimed at ruining my reputation”. He said Lama and Rai’s allegation against him were “based on false and fabricated documents” and their main objective is to “delay the case”.

In his latest written submission to the apex court last month Namgyal has asked for an investigation into the conduct of the two applicants in the case. He has also stated that he has never written to his lawyer KV Vijaykumar seeking withdrawal of the case. In his letter dated March 12, 2013 to Namgyal, Vijaykumar has stated that he has never received any letter from the petitioner for withdrawal of the case. Namgyal has submitted the letter to the court.

Last year, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Central and Sikkim governments and the CBI on a plea seeking the quashing of a notification requiring prior sanction of the Sikkim Government for probing complaints of corruption against highly-placed politicians.

A bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale had issued notice on a petition by Delay Namgyal seeking the quashing of July 21, 2010 notification.

The petitioner alleged that this was issued to thwart the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and other ministers for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices.

Prior to the notification there was a general consent under which CBI could proceed against any official of the state or the central government in the State without any sanction.

The petition said that the initial CBI probe has found that Chamling and his legislators “had indulged in various corrupt practices including the commission of criminal misconduct and acquisition of disproportionate assets”.

Minorities feel insecure, forms ‘Bhutia-Lepcha Protection Force’

Seeks restoration of Sikkimese Nepalese’ Assembly seats, protection for old settlers

Gangtok, Aug 2: In a democracy, the majority rules and the minorities are protected. But this certainly is not happening in Sikkim.

Therefore, the minority indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha tribals have formed the ‘Bhutia-Lepcha Protection Force’ (BLPF) to protect themselves and to preserve their natural and cultural heritage.

The new development took place after the ruling elite failed to respond positively to their demand to protect and preserve their rich cultural heritage. This week, Bhutia-Lepcha youths and their leaders have taken upon themselves to play a more assertive role in safeguarding their culture, religion and environment.

The formation of BLPF follows the Chamling Government’s eagerness to develop and beautify the last remnants of Sikkim’s history – the historic and sacred site of Kabi-Longtsok in North Sikkim where the ancestors of the Bhutia-Lepchas (BLs) swore eternal blood-brotherhood in the 13^th century.

The formation of the ‘Protection Force’ took place during a historic meeting of the BLs here at BL House on Tuesday. The meeting took note of numerous ‘attacks’ on issues and sacred areas that are dear to the BLs: Revenue Order No, 1, Tashiding and Dzongu hydel projects, Burman Committee Report, Khechoedpelri Lake, Kabi-Longtsok and failure of 13 BL MLAs, including the lone Sangha MLA, to speak up on behalf of the indigenous communities.

While calling for protection for the BLs under Article 371F of the Constitution, resolution passed by the BLPF demanded restoration of Assembly seats of Sikkimese Nepalese, checking of influx, fight against communalism and casteism and protection of old business community in the State.

The meeting also constituted an Adhoc Committee for BLPF’s  Central Executive Committee. The members of the Committee are: Phigu Tshering Bhutia (President), Ongda Lepcha and Karma Gelay Lepcha (Vice-President), Passsang Namgyal Lepcha and Tseten Dorje Bhutia (General Secretary), Tashi Tshering Bhutia (Secretary – Press & Publicity) and Sonam Tashi Bhutia (Coordinator).

Chewang Rinzing Lepcha was unanimously elected Co-Convenor of SIBLAC during the meeting.

Proment among those who were present at the meeting were: BLPF President Phigu Tshering Bhutia, BLPF Vice-President Chewang Norbu Lepcha,  SIBLAC Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Chewang Rinzing Lepcha, President of Monks of Sikkim Cho Tshering Norby, President of Survival Sikkimese KL Kaloen, NASBO President Sonam Kaloen, ex-directors of Sikkim Government Passang Bhutia and Karma Bhutia and ACT leader Chophel Lepcha and Lama Sherab Tenzing Lepcha.

DRUKAIR agency in Gangtok

Bhutan’s Drukair now has an authorized agent in Sikkim. Based in Gangtok at Observer Building, Nam Nang, Armando Tours & Travels (International) has started operation from today (Friday Aug 2, 2013) after a ceremonial opening of the agency by Nedo Kuchung Rinpoche of Rumtek Monastery (Dharma Chakra Centre). The function was attended by Speaker KT Gyaltsen, Secretary L. Gyaltsen and former Principal of Institute of Hotel Management JT Gyaltsen.

Editorial

STATEHOOD DEMAND REVIVED

Leaders On Agitation Mode

The string of political events that will seize the country immediately with Telangana being allowed to assume statehood, has already started gathering steam. To begin with, security forces have already been alerted in other states which are dealing with demands of separatist movements. The major movements are in states including West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra.

Bimal Gurung, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief who has just resigned from his post to lead the Gorkhaland demand, has already declared that if the UPA forms Telangana, it should also allow Gorkhalanad to be formed. “Our demand for Gorkhaland is older than the demand for Telangana. If the Centre announces a Telangana state then it should also declare a Gorkhaland state,” Gurung had told reporters.

There have been sporadic demands for the new state through the decades, but the momentum picked up in the 1980s with Gorkha leader Subhash Ghising leading a violent agitation seeking autonomy. Consequently in 1988, following sustained protests by Ghising’s party Gorkha National Liberation Front, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, a body with certain administrative powers, was formed. Soon, dissent started pooling against Ghising, and Bimal Gurung, another flamboyant Gorkha leader, broke away away from DGHC to start his new party – Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) - and pursued the statehood agenda.

Another stir is the one for forming a new state of Vidarbha, which has remained considerably low-key for a while now. The activists who demanded several districts that comprise Vidarbha be separated from Maharashtra, have now raised their voices again and planned a series of protests demanding a separate state. Political leaders from Vidarbha, a region plagued by severe droughts and poverty, have argued that holistic development of the region was only possible if a separate state was formed. In Assam as well dissent is also brewing with leaders demanding a separate Bodoland. The Bodoland People’s Front has echoed Gorkhaland’s feelings, reiterating their demand that the government should create Bodoland if Telangana is formed.  The party is organising a mass rally here on August 4 to put pressure on the government on Bodoland.

Arrest culprits, BJP tells Chamling

Gangtok, Aug 2: Sikkim unit of the BJP has reacted strongly against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s allegation that anti-Sikkimese posterings in the State inciting communal sentiments are the handiwork of the opposition in the State.

Reacting to the allegation, Shanti Sharma, President of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha in a press statement challenged the Chamling Government to arrest the culprits if the administration is aware of who were behind the “shameful act” that has caused “communal disharmony” in the State.

“The matter is of great concern and being Sikkimese natives, identity of our people and its protection is our first duty,” Sharma said.

Chief Minister spelt 'Thief Minister' in Sikkim English textbook

Gangtok, Aug 2: Four officials of the State Government have reportedly been suspended over glaring mistakes in Class V textbooks.

In the Elementary Environment Science text book, the Chief Minister is named 'Thief Minister'.

 Four officials have been suspended over the incident, according to CNNIBN report.

Among other howlers, Hectares are 'hectores' and certified is 'cerelified'. The textbook has been published by Delhi-based Tulip Publications. Teachers have been asked to make corrections in textbook. 

Missing sisters found in Sikkim, 3 charged with kidnapping, rape

Gangtok, Aug 2: Three taxi drivers were on Tuesday taken into custody in East Sikkim on charges of wrongful confinement, kidnapping and rape of two minors who were reported missing since Sunday.

The two sisters, aged 16 and 12 years, who had gone missing from Singtam in East Sikkim were also traced, the police said, PTI reported.

The sisters had been taken away by a taxi driver who allegedly sexually assaulted the younger sister while returning from Siliguri on July 22.

The sisters were reported to have been lodged in a hotel at Lall Bazaar in Singtam by two other taxi drivers.

All the three taxi drivers were taken into custody by the police and the initial missing case converted to cover sections for wrongful confinement, kidnapping and rape, the police said.

PEOPLE & PLACES Jamyang Dorjee

Rare Tibetan art exhibition in New York by Sikkim’s Jamyang Dorjee

Jamyang Dorjee with the Dalai Lama

New York, Aug 2: Beginning from next week (Aug 8) and lasting till September 23 next month, Tibet House US will organise the Dharma Art, an exhibition featuring the masterful works and calligraphy art of renowned Tibetan artist Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar for the first time in a solo show.  The exhibition is being held in New York.

Jamyang Dorjee’s calligraphy is a linguistic dance of Buddhist images and elements, encompassing Lord Buddha’s body, spirit and mind. Boldly experimenting with a variety of media and styles, his work is constantly evolving.  The startling beauty and detail in Jamyang’s work comes from his deep devotion to the teachings of Buddha and his love for the Tibetan language. This is his first solo show in the United States, though his works are in private collections worldwide.

Jamyang was born in Lhasa, and later he worked as senior official for the Government of Sikkim, India and the Tibetan Government in Exile. He currently works for an NGO, the Conservancy of Tibetan Arts and Culture, and holds the world record for creating the longest calligraphy scroll.  His calligraphy pieces can be found in the private collections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, Richard Gere, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and others.

Tibet House US, established in 1987 at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a non-profit educational institution and cultural embassy working to preserve, restore and present Tibet's unique cultural and spiritual heritage by means of a permanent cultural center, with a 2,000-square-foot gallery, library, archives, developing traveling exhibitions, print publications and media productions.

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   July 27-Aug 2,  2013    

DN Nepal writes to Home Ministry, seeks asylum in ‘third country’

Gangtok, July 26: Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) chief Duknath Nepal has added another dimension to the controversy generated by old settlers’ petition in the Supreme Court on the income tax issue. He has urged the Centre to allow him to seek asylum in a ‘third country.’

In his latest letter to the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Nepal said he would rather live in a third country than to live in indignity in India.

Nepal, also editor of Shangrila Times, a Nepali daily published in Gangtok, said “I have been the victim of your democracy where I have been tortured, denied of my social, economic and political rights regarding which I have been writing you in several occasions.”

The letter pointed out: “Today when a bunch of economic offenders pointed out to us as foreigners and appealed to the Supreme Court of India to strike down all the provisions carved out for Sikkimese people in the Indian Constitution and your Supreme Court directed not to tender opposition against this left me with no option, but to ask you to relieve me from such humiliation of being true Sikkimese patriotic Indian.”

He added, “I would no longer like to live with the tag of foreigner in India. If government of India is also of the same opinion let me be relieved and given the opportunity to approach the third country.”

In another letter to Director, Vigilance Police Department, Government of Sikkim, Nepal has pointed out that it was “money laundering” in the State involving several businessmen in the State which was chiefly responsible for extension of Central Direct Tax Law in Sikkim.

“On 7th July 2013 we had lodged FIR against seven individuals trying to incite communal rift and divide in the peaceful State of Sikkim. Among the seven individuals, four of them have been found wanting and involved in the illegal business of money laundering, consequent to which attracted the concern of Government of India, ultimately leading to extention of Central Direct Tax Law in the State of Sikkim,” the letter said.

“Because of the illegal and anti national activities of money laundering by these fifty one individuals, Sikkim is about to loose its special privilege along with its peace and tranquility.  It is a well established fact that illegal money laundering activities was the root cause which has led to the present scenario,” the letter added.

Gangtok, July 26: Rebel ruling party legislator PS Golay has not only failed to lead his party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), from the front he is also said to be ‘missing’ for a long time.

Though SKM’s Working President Bharati Sharma seems to be doing a good job the restlessness among the people for Golay’s inability to come out in the open is growing. If Golay fails to formally join the party this month as promised by Sharma earlier people’s disenchantment with the SKM leadership will keep on growing.

Worse still is the fact that many among Golay’s inner circle don’t want prominent individuals to join the SKM for fear of losing their party ticket for the next Assembly polls. However, one SKM insider said about 10-15 prominent ruling party people will join the SKM shortly.

Mahendra Lama gets Gorkha League support for Darjeeling LS seat

Statehood demand to be main poll issue

Darjeeling, July 26: Former Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University Mahendra P Lama has decided to contest the Lok Sabha seat from Darjeeling.

He is being supported by the All India Gorkha League (AIGL), which has already begun campaigning for Lama’s candidature.

Lama (52), presently the Pro Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),

recently announced his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling as an independent candidate.

 A native of Darjeeling, Lama has appealed to political parties to support his candidature.

 “In a Central Committee meeting in Darjeeling we decided that we would support Lama. AIGL has always invited intellectuals and people of good standing to take up the cause of Gorkhaland. Both the agitation of the 80s led by Subash Ghising and the present agitation led by Bimal Gurung betrayed the Hills and the aspirations of the people. We have great faith in Lama that his effort for the creation of a separate state will be sincere,” said Pratap Khati, general secretary, AIGL, The Hindustan Times reported.

The AIGL is also a member party of the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF), which is a conglomeration of political outfits and apolitical organisations with the one-point agenda of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Graft case against ex-Chief Secy revived

Gangtok, July 26:  Six months after his acquittal in a disproportionate assets case former Chief Secretary Sonam Wangdi is being dragged to the court once again.

Though the appeal period expired two months back, the High Court of Sikkim on Wednesday revived the graft case against the former chief secretary when the single bench of Chief Justice Pius C Kuriakose condoned the CBI’s delay in filing its appeal petition.

Wangdi was acquitted by the special CBI designated court at Namchi, South Sikkim, in December. The CBI now wants to appeal against Wangdi’s acquittal. The High Court has given three months’ time to the CBI to submit its papers in the case.

It may be mentioned that Wangdi has been writing a series of articles critical of the ruling elite. These articles have appeared in various local papers in the past so many months.

Breakaway Nepal Maoist calls for alliance with ex-king

Kathmandu, July 26: A call to political parties by a breakaway faction of Nepal's Maoist party to forge an alliance with deposed king Gyanendra Shah "to protect the country's nationality" has alarmed many in the Himalayan nation.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mohan Baidhya, leader of the the CPN-Maoist, said his party would work will all nationalist forces, including Gyanendra, who carries "true feelings of nationalism".

To remove the centuries-old monarchy, the Maoists - including Baidhya - fought a 10-year civil war in Nepal that left over 13,000 dead. It resulted in Nepal becoming a democracy in 2008.

Baidhya's Maoist faction is also opposing the November polls, demanding the resignation of the Khil Raj Regmi-led government and urging an all-party round table conference.

However, though CPN-Maoist may not have much influence in the coming elections, it could disturb electoral equations, analysts say. Many hardcore Maoist cadres are associated with the party, which split from the mother UCPN (Maoist) a year ago.

"This is a ploy to derail the upcoming polls process," Tarai Madeshi Loktantrik Party leader Hyrdesh Tripathi told IANS.

He added that if the polls are not held, monarchists will gain. "No one can imagine what will happen if polls do not take place in November. We must avoid such kinds of political gaffes," he said.

After Baidhay called for an alliance with the deposed king, former prime minister and leader of the UCPN (Maoist) Baburam Bhattarai also held a press conference at his residence in Kathmandu on Tuesday and expressed concern, saying that such a move would put the nation in peril.

The people are also divided over monarchy, with many believing that the king himself was responsible for his ouster. Some feel monarchy was better than democracy.

Gyanendra is trying to regain power by visiting temples and reaching out to the public. He visited western Nepal and distributed relief items to flood victims on Tuesday.

Nepal's Election Commission on Wednesday said former king Gyanendra Shah and his family cannot distribute relief material to the victims of the recent floods in the western part of the country as it may influence voting in the November 19 general election.

SDF condemns ‘communal posters’

Gangtok, July 26: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front said communal posters appearing various parts of the State are aimed at flaring up communal disharmony in the State.

The party spokesperson Bhim Dahal, while condemning the act, alleged that the opposition was trying to capitalize on the income tax issue by creating social disharmony in the State.

Echoing what Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said on the issue earlier, Dahal said the issue was now before the Supreme Court.

He said the issue was now “sub-judice” and was for the court to decide on the matter. The Chief Minister had earlier said the State Government would tackle the issue legally in the court.

Chinese Air Force holds night flying exercises in Tibet

“Border disputes were not created in one day, neither will they be resolved overnight”

Beijing, July 26: China's Air Force has conducted high-altitude night flying exercises at Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet region that borders India.

Photographs of helicopters participating in the exercises at Lhasa airport, located about 500 km from the Indian border, were issued on Wednesday by state-run Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese military regularly holds exercises for its troops in the Himalayan region to get them acclimatised to mountain warfare, PTI reported.

Last year, the People's Liberation Army held its "first ground to air military exercise" in the Tibetan plateau. The wargame involved scores of fighter jets, hundreds of battle tanks and a large number of ground troops.

Amid reports of frequent incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese state media said it was "unwise" to let the "isolated incidents" to affect the "promising" China-India ties.

While the Chinese foreign and defence ministries were yet to respond to queries relating to the fresh reports of incursions in Ladakh sector, a commentary in the state-run Xinhua news agency accused the Indian media of putting out "sensational reports", "harming" the bilateral relations.

"The disputes, a historical hangover, were not created in one day, neither will they be resolved overnight. It is unwise to let isolated incidents along the border to negatively affect the promising China-India relationship," it said.

Observers say "isolated incidents" remark referring to the recurring incidents of incursions is the first comment from Beijing on the issue since the first intrusion reported on April 15 at the Daulat Beig Oldi (DBO) in Ladakh sector.

So far the Chinese foreign ministry's comments on the incident confined to assertions that the Chinese troops are patrolling their side of the border or played down the incidents saying that the over all situation at the border is peaceful and both the countries signed several agreements to maintain peace and trust building between the two militaries.

Indian media traditionally focused heavily on the border disputes between New Delhi and Beijing, are now asserting again that Chinese troops have crossed the "border" between the two countries, it said.

Editorial

MESSAGE FOR MR. GOLAY

Take Your Stand Now

It is right and proper that a man from Pawan Chamling’s camp come out in the open, tell the truth and lead a genuine revolt in the former kingdom of Sikkim. The Sikkimese people have been taken for a ride for far too long. Backed by New Delhi our politicians have continuously betrayed the people, divided them and paved the way for their destruction and eventual death. And yet there are those like Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) who refuses to toe the line and side with the enemies of the people. Golay may not be the ideal person to lead the movement for change in Sikkim; he  may also not have the much-needed vision for creation of the Naya Sikkim of our dream; but his act of defiance and readiness to come out in the open against those who have betrayed the people has been welcomed by the people. What is noteworthy is that many young people from all strata of society have come out openly in Golay’s support.

The next Assembly lections are not very far away and people have the right to know what Golay and his team have to offer. We have seen our past leaders; they make promises they are not able to keep. And yet they continue making tall promises knowing full well that people don’t believe and trust them. People have seen through the veil of deceit, falsehood and lies. There is the need for a fresh new order in Sikkim. If Golay is able to offer a new beginning he must come out now; if not he must allow someone else to show the way. The next elections are crucial for Sikkim. It will decide whether Sikkim lives on or dies in the hands of its treacherous leaders. We must note that there’s no win without a fight. Therefore, we must fight to win.

SC stays criminal proceedings in Gorkha leader Madan Tamang's murder case

New Delhi, July 26:  Supreme Court last Monday stayed trial court proceedings in Gorkha leader Madan Tamang murder case in West Bengal in the wake of allegation that CBI repeatedly failed to appear in court to oppose bail plea of the accused.

 “The proceedings before the trial court (Darjeeling) will be stayed,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and justices F M I Kalifulla and Vikramajit Sen said.

The bench also sought response of the Centre and West Bengal Government on a plea of Bharati Tamang, wife of slain leader Madan Tamang, seeking handing over of the probe from CBI to Special Investigating Team (SIT) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA), PTI reported.

It also sought response within three weeks from CBI on the allegation that due to non-appearance of the agency in the trial court, the accused were granted bail on different occasions.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Bharati, also sought shifting of the trial to a court in neighbouring Assam.  While seeking stay of the proceedings in the trial court, he said it was necessary as the case is in the stage of framing of charges.

“Trial court is in haste in framing the charges,” he submitted and claimed that due to non-appearance of the CBI, trial court in its order has been recording wrong information while granting bail to the accused who have allegedly misrepresented the facts.

Tamang, who was the President of All India Gorkha League, was killed on May 21, 2010 in Darjeeling allegedly by “a group of about four hundred supporters of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) carrying deadly arms” when he was overseeing preparations for a public meeting.

Tamang’s wife had earlier also brought the issue of probe before the apex court which on December 3, 2012, had sought response from the Centre and West Bengal government.

She had alleged that investigation by state police and CBI was “tainted, biased and malafide”.

Bharati, in her plea, had also sought quashing of the charge sheets filed by the CID and the CBI on August 30, 2010 and August 20, 2011 respectively, saying “investigation has suppressed vital information and evidence whilst submitting both the charge sheet and the supplementary chargesheet in order to exclude the same from the materials to be used in prosecution of the co-conspirators.”

She had also sought a direction from the apex court to appoint “an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of senior officers headed by a competent person or authority of impeccable credentials” to conduct a fresh probe into the conspiracy and murder of Tamang on May 21, 2010 at Darjeeling.

Bharati also said that “despite handing over of investigation to the CBI, the same yielded the arraignment of only one more accused whilst keeping quiet about the role of the main persons against whom allegations had been levelled and against whom substantial evidence is already forthcoming.”

She has accused the Centre and the State of trying to protect top leaders of GJMM whom she has arraigned as parties.

GJMM members, who have been made parties in the case, hold posts in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous administrative body for the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal, the petition said.

BGP Sikkim condemns posters inciting communal disharmony in Sikkim

Gangtok, July 26: Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) Sikkim on Wednesday condemned anti-Sikkimese elements in the State trying to disturb its communal harmony.

It said provocative posters in West Sikkim were aimed against the three ethnic communities of the State – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese.

The party has urged the police to probe into the incident, a press release said.

Ban dance bars in govt guest houses: Upreti

Gangtok, July 26: Former minister KN Upreti has urged the authorities to immediately put an end to dance bars in government guest houses in the State.

He said such “illegal activities” has a bad influence among the people, particularly the youths.

Upreti has also urged the government to withdraw “all bar licenses issued in the villages,” stating that “such licenses should be confined within the town area only.”

 “Haphazard issue of bar licenses in village areas and even in some cases near schools and public places is causing threat to a peaceful atmosphere of the village,” Upreti said in a press release.

“I no longer like to live with the tag of foreigner in India”

In reaction to the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS)’s allegation in its writ petition in the Supreme Court that ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’ are ‘foreigners’, writer, political activist and Convenor of Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP), Duknath Nepal, has written to the Union Home Ministry seeking its permission to seek asylum in a third country. “If Government of India is also of the same opinion let me be relieved and given the opportunity to approach the third country,” says the SLP leader in his letter.

Sikkim Observer makes public Nepal’s letter to the Union Home Minister:

To Honorable 

Home Minister of India

Government of India

New Delhi 

Regarding: Status of Sikkimese Nepalese Citizens 

Respected Sir, 

This is to inform you that a group of seven (7) individuals in the name and banner of ‘Old Settlers of Sikkim’ has filed a writ in the Honorable Supreme Court of India. The said writ is registered as 59 of 2012 (Civil). In the said petition the, petitioner has claimed that the four hundreds families including them are the true and real Indian and the rest of the eighty percent of Sikkimese citizens of Nepalese origin are of foreign origin. The concern and the gravity of matter is that the writ has already been accepted by the Honorable Supreme Court and ready for hearing. Consequent upon this, the Honorable Court has also advised the aggrieved parties not to oppose it publicly. (It may be noted that majority of those petitioners are directly or indirectly involved in criminal act of money laundering, and their names published in White Paper on Direct Tax Law by the Government of Sikkim).

Because of the cowardly act of these seven individuals, the ever peaceful State of Sikkim is in the verge of communal rift and tension. It has already reached the stage of volcanic proportion which can erupt anytime which can have wider and greater ramification in the strategic State of Sikkim. Therefore the following points need to be critically analyzed and reviewed.

1. This is simply not a law and order problem and problem of ethnicity. If the people who voted an Independent sovereign Kingdom of Sikkim were of foreign origin then the merger of Sikkim with India is illegal in itself. (Please note that among the fifteen signatories of the Tripartite Agreement of 8th May, 1973, eleven (11) of them belonged to the community whose nationality are being questioned).

2. Those individuals involved in small time business have not dared to act with such audacity and brazenness at their own, but we are of deep belief that there is some sinister force backing them.

3. It is necessary to mention here that when Sikkim was merged it was defined under article 371(F) of Indian Constitution. Under this provision all Indian of Sikkimese origin as defined were exempted from Direct Central Taxes.

4. These individuals who are claiming to be real and patriotic Indian were among the bunch who tried to loot India by exploiting this provision of Income Tax exemption meant for State of Sikkim through anti national activities of money laundering. 

5. Today they have been advised by the anti national people who unfortunately have been the elected representatives of Sikkim in connivance and tacit support of Government of India. These individuals are supported and advised by those leaders on power for whom nation is a market and the government is a medium to exploit it.

6. It is unfortunate from the part of India that it has always supported wrong people to reach in power. 

7. At present the people who are in power in Sikkim are simply bunch of crooks and stooges for whom the state is a business enterprise to loot and nation a big market. 

8. These people view China as big market than India who compelled the Indian Government to open strategic location of Nathula Valley for monetary gain only.

9. The same leadership had advised these individuals to approach Honorable Supreme Court of India to create a situation of hate and mistrust.

In view of the above development and the onslaught of such humiliation has left us in great dismay leaving us no further ground to tolerate such disgrace time and again. Though we are a forced Indian thrust upon, we and our fellow brethren tried to imbibe and adhere it to the best of our sincerity and earnest till date before being woken up by brazen and audacious attack on our bonafide by those involved in serious economic offences. 

Our forefather merged our mother country in India to be a part of greatest democracy of the world as is often claimed only to be tagged and termed foreigners times and again. In a span of nearly four decades of merger [annexation] of Sikkim, the respective government in the helm of power in this part of India has always tried to suppress the voice of concern under the boot. 

To further elucidate, I have been the victim of your democracy where I have been tortured, denied of my social, economic and political rights regarding which I have been writing you in several occasions. Today when a bunch of economic offenders pointed out to us as foreigners and appealed to the Supreme Court of India to strike down all the provisions carved out for Sikkimese people in the Indian Constitution and your Supreme Court directed not to tender opposition against this left me with no option, but to ask you to relieve me from such humiliation of being true Sikkimese patriotic Indian. I would no longer like to live with the tag of foreigner in India. If government of India is also of the same opinion let me be relieved and given the opportunity to approach the third country. Above all, if the definition of Indian patriotism is corruption, anti national activities, illegal money laundering, involvement in anti-national activity and to spit the venom against the people who voted their country to you and who send their sons and daughters in the border to fight for the Country. And if these criminals are true and patriotic Indians I simply do not want to live with them in the same society and country. So let me be given the permission to approach the third country for my honorable living. 

Thanking you 

Sincerely yours 

Duk N. Nepal

Convenor, Sikkim Liberation Party 

Sikkim

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 16-23, 2013  

Abide by SC verdict on IT issue: Chamling

Gangtok, July 16: While stating that the State Government would abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on a petition filed by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS), Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government would, however, contest the issue legally.

This decision came during a meeting of the ruling party’s legislature party held here on Sunday. During the celebrations of Bhanu Jayanti on Saturday, Chamling said the matter regarding income tax exemption for old settlers of the State was in the apex court and would be “dealt legally” and “we should now abide by the court decision,” an IPR release said.

Chamling pointed out that he was in favour of IT exemption for old settlers. However, the Chief Minister’s failure to defend the Sikkimese Nepalese against the AOSS’s allegation in its writ petition that they were ‘foreigners’ has not gone down well with the people. In fact, Chamling said the Opposition had misguided the people on the issue.

Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F have also been sharply criticized by the Opposition. He is supposed to have said that it was up to the Centre if it wants to scrap Art. 371F from the Constitution. This article provides special status to Sikkim.

Opposition parties, including Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), said Art 371F is based on assurances given to Sikkim during the merger in 1975. The SPCC said if the Chief Minister is not able to safeguard bonafide Sikkimese he should step down.

Nepal hurdle: delimitation of constituencies

Kathmandu, July 16: Nepal is facing a constitutional hurdle over delimitation of electoral constituencies as it prepares for November 19 constituent assembly (CA) elections.

According to political leaders, if the problem is not addressed immediately, it will affect the election plan. For delimitating the constituencies under the first-past-the-post election system, the government has formed a constituency delimitation commission (CDC) a month ago but it has not made any progress yet. In 2008 CA elections, there were 240 electoral constituencies but they need to be re-demarcated as per the 2011 national census.

On the one hand constitution calls for increasing the constituencies in line with the population increase, but on the other hand it prohibits increasing the constituencies beyond 240. The CDC held discussion with top leaders of four major parties yesterday for clearing the hurdle.

“The CDC representatives told us about the constitutional difficulties and we are working to remove it,” NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

Parties are also divided on the basis of constituency delimitation.

‘No political intention behind subsidy cut to Bhutan’

PM congratulates Bhutan PDP leaders

Bhutan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Tshering Tobgay

New Delhi, July 16: India said Monday it looks forward to “intensive consultations” as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan and denied there was any political or other intention in the subsidy cut of kerosene and cooking gas to the Himalayan nation.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “We expect intensive consultations as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan.”

To a query on subsidy cut, he clarified that “the issue of subsidy relates to the delivery mechanisms of India’s development partnership with Bhutan, it has no political or other intentions,” IANS reported.

“We will certainly engage with Bhutan on this,” he said.

He also clarified that it was not “the intension of India to in any way adversely impact on the poor in Bhutan or on people in Bhutan in any manner”.

India “looks forward to engaging on this matter with Bhutan as soon as possible”, he said.

India had cut off the kerosene and cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan last month as the 10th Plan, under which India was providing such assistance, expired on June 30.

The spokesperson described the election process in Bhutan, in which the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious, as the “consolidation of democracy” in the Himalayan country.

The PDP won the elections, capturing 32 seats, while the incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa of former Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley could manage just 15 seats in the 47-member National Assembly. The elections were Bhutan’s second parliamentary elections since the country became a democracy in 2008.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday written to PDP leader Tshering Tobgay, congratulating him on his party’s victory and promised India’s “steadfast and unflinching support”.

He also assured that New Delhi will remain “sensitive to Bhutan and its interests” and said he has instructed his officials to “prepare for the discussions on our plan assistance to Bhutan”.

“I would like to avail of this opportunity to assure you of the steadfast and unflinching support of India and its citizens for the steady steps that Bhutan is taking to further strengthen democratic processes and institutions. India is a privileged partner of Bhutan and it’s people in their socio-economic progress and development,” Singh said in a statement.

Citizenship certificates issued to ‘foreigners’: Baidya

Baidya

Kathmandu, July 16: Despite haggling among political parties over the distribution of citizenship certificates, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) gave out over 600,000 national IDs in one month.

With a view to ensuring participation of citizens in the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for November 19, the government had launched two campaigns-one involving mobile teams and the integrated citizenship distribution campaign-across the country in the third week of April.

A Home Ministry source said 181,713 citizenship cards - 107,966 for women and 73,747 for men-were distributed at the local level under the mobile distribution campaign, The Kathmandu Post reported.

A citizenship certificate is mandatory for anyone to be listed in the new voter roll with photo and finger prints. According to Ministry officials, 421,381 citizenship cards-205,744 for females and 16,937 for males-were distributed under the integrated campaign. Records at the Ministry show that the number of certificates acquired by women in both the campaigns was higher than that acquired by men.

However, Madhes-based parties claim that their voters are still deprived of citizenship cards, while other parties like the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Rastriya Janamorcha have been demanding formation of a high-level panel to look into the distribution campaigns. They claim that the ID cards were being distributed "haphazardly."

Baidya has been publicly saying that the campaigns were aimed at distributing citizenship certificates to "foreigners".

"In the name of Citizenship Ordinance, the government has misused the citizenship certificates by distributing them to foreigners. Our party has officially decided to launch a nationwide awareness campaign against the rampant misuse of the national IDs," CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said.

Many Madhes-based parties are saying that the special campaigns have failed to incorporate a significant portion of the population in the Tarai who are without the certificates.

Himalayan Guardian July 17-23, 2013

Editorial

RISKY VENTURE

Bhutan Polls: From 2 to 31

Despite its prompt denial India will find it very difficult to erase the widely-held notion that its last-minute withdrawal of subsidy on kerosene and cooking gas during the election process has not affected the poll results to Bhutan’s National Assembly. The very fact that the ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (PDP) won only 14 of the 47 seats in the Assembly while its rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s poll fortune rose to 31 from the previous 2 makes one doubt about the poll process, particularly when the outgoing Prime Minister Jigme Thinley was doing a good job.

An editorial in Kuensel, Bhutan's English-language daily - in which the government holds 51 per cent shares - wrote: "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections."

New Delhi will have a lot of explaining to do in future and by – knowingly and unknowingly – influencing the outcome of the polls India will find itself in an uncomfortable position in the high Himalayas where China is increasingly becoming militarily and economically more aggressive.

Even powerful western countries are unable to ignore China these days and New Delhi’s discomfort on Thinley’s meeting with the former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of 

a multilateral meeting in Rio in 2012 was unnecessary. Indo-Bhutan’s relations are strong and cannot be easily disturbed. However, China’s dominance in the region cannot also be easily ignored. If Bhutanese leaders wish to learn how New Delhi plays its game in this strategic region they could learn a lot from the two former Himalayan kingdoms – Sikkim and Nepal.

Article 371F is based on 1973 Tripartite Agreement: Upreti

Gangtok, July 16: Former minister KN Upreti while criticizing Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F said this special provision in the Constitution is a product of India’s promises made during the merger as reflected in the historic Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973.

In a press statement, Upreti said it is “absolutely wrong” for the Chief Minister to say that “Article 371F stands at the pleasure or whim and wishes of the Central Government and so long as the Center desires and the Center may take away these privileges at any time if they desire.”

“Chamling should know that Article 371F is the product of pre-merger 8th May tri-partite agreement between the Chogyal, the Government of India and the political parties of Sikkim, which ensured full Constitutional safeguard to the three ethnic sections of the people of Sikkim namely – Sikkimese of Bhutia origins, Sikkimese of Lepcha origins and the Sikkimese of Nepali origins, who enjoyed full local protection right as Sikkim subjects during the pre-merger Chogyal’s Government,” Upreti said.

 “Taking advantage of such weak stand of our leaders and successive Governments a lot of encroachment and dilution has taken place from time to time. The Government with full majority of peoples’ representative in the house is fully responsible for taking strong stand on the matter and at no cost they should surrender or wholly be dependent on the court’s verdict,” Upreti added.

He went on to say, “High Courts or the Supreme Court are not the authority to make laws but their job is only to examine legally whether the laws made by the Parliament or the Assembly are right and is implemented properly.”

 “The Government instead of keeping mum and watching the situation should spell out their clear stand as to what steps they are going to take in the event of any aggression on encroachment on 371F of the Constitution,” the former minister said.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 16-23, 2013  

Abide by SC verdict on IT issue: Chamling

Gangtok, July 16: While stating that the State Government would abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on a petition filed by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS), Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government would, however, contest the issue legally.

This decision came during a meeting of the ruling party’s legislature party held here on Sunday. During the celebrations of Bhanu Jayanti on Saturday, Chamling said the matter regarding income tax exemption for old settlers of the State was in the apex court and would be “dealt legally” and “we should now abide by the court decision,” an IPR release said.

Chamling pointed out that he was in favour of IT exemption for old settlers. However, the Chief Minister’s failure to defend the Sikkimese Nepalese against the AOSS’s allegation in its writ petition that they were ‘foreigners’ has not gone down well with the people. In fact, Chamling said the Opposition had misguided the people on the issue.

Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F have also been sharply criticized by the Opposition. He is supposed to have said that it was up to the Centre if it wants to scrap Art. 371F from the Constitution. This article provides special status to Sikkim.

Opposition parties, including Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), said Art 371F is based on assurances given to Sikkim during the merger in 1975. The SPCC said if the Chief Minister is not able to safeguard bonafide Sikkimese he should step down.

Nepal hurdle: delimitation of constituencies

Kathmandu, July 16: Nepal is facing a constitutional hurdle over delimitation of electoral constituencies as it prepares for November 19 constituent assembly (CA) elections.

According to political leaders, if the problem is not addressed immediately, it will affect the election plan. For delimitating the constituencies under the first-past-the-post election system, the government has formed a constituency delimitation commission (CDC) a month ago but it has not made any progress yet. In 2008 CA elections, there were 240 electoral constituencies but they need to be re-demarcated as per the 2011 national census.

On the one hand constitution calls for increasing the constituencies in line with the population increase, but on the other hand it prohibits increasing the constituencies beyond 240. The CDC held discussion with top leaders of four major parties yesterday for clearing the hurdle.

“The CDC representatives told us about the constitutional difficulties and we are working to remove it,” NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

Parties are also divided on the basis of constituency delimitation.

‘No political intention behind subsidy cut to Bhutan’

PM congratulates Bhutan PDP leaders

Bhutan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Tshering Tobgay

New Delhi, July 16: India said Monday it looks forward to “intensive consultations” as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan and denied there was any political or other intention in the subsidy cut of kerosene and cooking gas to the Himalayan nation.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “We expect intensive consultations as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan.”

To a query on subsidy cut, he clarified that “the issue of subsidy relates to the delivery mechanisms of India’s development partnership with Bhutan, it has no political or other intentions,” IANS reported.

“We will certainly engage with Bhutan on this,” he said.

He also clarified that it was not “the intension of India to in any way adversely impact on the poor in Bhutan or on people in Bhutan in any manner”.

India “looks forward to engaging on this matter with Bhutan as soon as possible”, he said.

India had cut off the kerosene and cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan last month as the 10th Plan, under which India was providing such assistance, expired on June 30.

The spokesperson described the election process in Bhutan, in which the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious, as the “consolidation of democracy” in the Himalayan country.

The PDP won the elections, capturing 32 seats, while the incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa of former Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley could manage just 15 seats in the 47-member National Assembly. The elections were Bhutan’s second parliamentary elections since the country became a democracy in 2008.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday written to PDP leader Tshering Tobgay, congratulating him on his party’s victory and promised India’s “steadfast and unflinching support”.

He also assured that New Delhi will remain “sensitive to Bhutan and its interests” and said he has instructed his officials to “prepare for the discussions on our plan assistance to Bhutan”.

“I would like to avail of this opportunity to assure you of the steadfast and unflinching support of India and its citizens for the steady steps that Bhutan is taking to further strengthen democratic processes and institutions. India is a privileged partner of Bhutan and it’s people in their socio-economic progress and development,” Singh said in a statement.

Citizenship certificates issued to ‘foreigners’: Baidya

Baidya

Kathmandu, July 16: Despite haggling among political parties over the distribution of citizenship certificates, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) gave out over 600,000 national IDs in one month.

With a view to ensuring participation of citizens in the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for November 19, the government had launched two campaigns-one involving mobile teams and the integrated citizenship distribution campaign-across the country in the third week of April.

A Home Ministry source said 181,713 citizenship cards - 107,966 for women and 73,747 for men-were distributed at the local level under the mobile distribution campaign, The Kathmandu Post reported.

A citizenship certificate is mandatory for anyone to be listed in the new voter roll with photo and finger prints. According to Ministry officials, 421,381 citizenship cards-205,744 for females and 16,937 for males-were distributed under the integrated campaign. Records at the Ministry show that the number of certificates acquired by women in both the campaigns was higher than that acquired by men.

However, Madhes-based parties claim that their voters are still deprived of citizenship cards, while other parties like the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Rastriya Janamorcha have been demanding formation of a high-level panel to look into the distribution campaigns. They claim that the ID cards were being distributed "haphazardly."

Baidya has been publicly saying that the campaigns were aimed at distributing citizenship certificates to "foreigners".

"In the name of Citizenship Ordinance, the government has misused the citizenship certificates by distributing them to foreigners. Our party has officially decided to launch a nationwide awareness campaign against the rampant misuse of the national IDs," CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said.

Many Madhes-based parties are saying that the special campaigns have failed to incorporate a significant portion of the population in the Tarai who are without the certificates.

Himalayan Guardian July 17-23, 2013

Editorial

RISKY VENTURE

Bhutan Polls: From 2 to 31

Despite its prompt denial India will find it very difficult to erase the widely-held notion that its last-minute withdrawal of subsidy on kerosene and cooking gas during the election process has not affected the poll results to Bhutan’s National Assembly. The very fact that the ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (PDP) won only 14 of the 47 seats in the Assembly while its rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s poll fortune rose to 31 from the previous 2 makes one doubt about the poll process, particularly when the outgoing Prime Minister Jigme Thinley was doing a good job.

An editorial in Kuensel, Bhutan's English-language daily - in which the government holds 51 per cent shares - wrote: "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections."

New Delhi will have a lot of explaining to do in future and by – knowingly and unknowingly – influencing the outcome of the polls India will find itself in an uncomfortable position in the high Himalayas where China is increasingly becoming militarily and economically more aggressive.

Even powerful western countries are unable to ignore China these days and New Delhi’s discomfort on Thinley’s meeting with the former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of 

a multilateral meeting in Rio in 2012 was unnecessary. Indo-Bhutan’s relations are strong and cannot be easily disturbed. However, China’s dominance in the region cannot also be easily ignored. If Bhutanese leaders wish to learn how New Delhi plays its game in this strategic region they could learn a lot from the two former Himalayan kingdoms – Sikkim and Nepal.

Article 371F is based on 1973 Tripartite Agreement: Upreti

Gangtok, July 16: Former minister KN Upreti while criticizing Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F said this special provision in the Constitution is a product of India’s promises made during the merger as reflected in the historic Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973.

In a press statement, Upreti said it is “absolutely wrong” for the Chief Minister to say that “Article 371F stands at the pleasure or whim and wishes of the Central Government and so long as the Center desires and the Center may take away these privileges at any time if they desire.”

“Chamling should know that Article 371F is the product of pre-merger 8th May tri-partite agreement between the Chogyal, the Government of India and the political parties of Sikkim, which ensured full Constitutional safeguard to the three ethnic sections of the people of Sikkim namely – Sikkimese of Bhutia origins, Sikkimese of Lepcha origins and the Sikkimese of Nepali origins, who enjoyed full local protection right as Sikkim subjects during the pre-merger Chogyal’s Government,” Upreti said.

 “Taking advantage of such weak stand of our leaders and successive Governments a lot of encroachment and dilution has taken place from time to time. The Government with full majority of peoples’ representative in the house is fully responsible for taking strong stand on the matter and at no cost they should surrender or wholly be dependent on the court’s verdict,” Upreti added.

He went on to say, “High Courts or the Supreme Court are not the authority to make laws but their job is only to examine legally whether the laws made by the Parliament or the Assembly are right and is implemented properly.”

 “The Government instead of keeping mum and watching the situation should spell out their clear stand as to what steps they are going to take in the event of any aggression on encroachment on 371F of the Constitution,” the former minister said.