SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday Sept 6-12, 2014

Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

TEACHERS’ DAY AWARD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani with Sikkim’s Tashi Namgyal Academy (TNA) Principal Kuldip Singh Heran (back row right) and other teachers on the eve of Teachers’ Day (Sept 5) in New Delhi. The teachers/principals have been selected for National Award on Teachers’ Day.

Battle between ‘people power’ and ‘money power’ has begun, says RN Chamling

PK Chamling

Gangtok, Sept 5: Unfazed by his brother and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s threats, Rup Narayan Chamling, says the ensuing by-polls in the Assembly constituency of Rangang-Yangang in South Sikkim, is a battle between dhan shakti (money power) and jan shakti (people power).

   The Chief Minister reiterated during his election campaign in Yangang on Wednesday that his younger brother did not have his “blessings”, that he never discussed about contesting the by-polls with him,  and that if he wins he would not be taken into the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF). Chamling, instead, urged the people to vote for SDF candidate Kumari Mangar.

    “SDF will not take Rup Narayan should he win. The doors of SDF are closed forever for him”, Chamling said and added, “My brother does not have my blessings. He is also my opponent, do not be fooled by his misleading statements.”

In response to this RN Chamling reacted, “This is a fight between money power and people power. The SDF umbrella is almost broken and rusted. It needs to be changed.”

 “I have been forced to contest after seeing SDF using all its power against the innocent people. SDF has brought in all its ministers, MLAs and senior leaders here to trample the aspirations of the people of Rangang Yangang,” he said at a public meeting in his constituency.

RN Chamling

If the SDF succeeds in convincing the people that its real candidate is Mangar and not RN Chamling, locally known as ‘Rupen’, then the fight would be between Chamling’s brother and his party’s official candidate.

However, BJP’s candidate Bikash Basnet is likely to put up a tough fight given the fact that he is backed by both the BJP and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) to which he belonged before he switched over  to BJP just before the by-poll process began. In fact, Basnet gave a tough fight to Chamling from Rangang-Yangang during the recent Assembly polls.

The seat remained vacant as the Chief Minister retained the Namchi constituency. The Chief Minister is originally from Yangang, where members of his family still reside.

Sikkim Lokayukta to probe corruption allegations against SDF ministers: Subba

Gangtok, Sept 5:   The Lokayukta will inquire into all allegations of corruption against 18 former ministers of Sikkim afresh, despite the clean chit given to them by the Justice R K Patra Inquiry Commission.

Law Minister R B Subba told the Assembly that the cases automatically stood transferred to the Lokayukta as the Lokayukta Act was now in force in Sikkim, PTI reported.

The State unit of the Congress had levelled allegations of corruption against 22 former ministers of the SDF government in 2010. A commission of inquiry, headed by Justice (retd) R K Patra, was set up by the State Government to look into the allegations.

The commission's report was tabled in the Sikkim Assembly this week. Of the 22, the commission had "not fully accepted the explanations furnished" by four former ministers - Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, N K Pradhan, T T Bhutia and Menlom Lepcha. These are all ex-ministers of the ruling party.

Law Minister RB Subba

The commission had directed the state government to "inquire into certain aspects" of allegations levelled against them. Subba told the Assembly that the Lokayukta would look into the allegations against these four ministers separately.

"In effect, allegations against all the 22 have been forwarded to the Lokayukta for further inquiry," he explained.

The Law minister said he himself had received summons from the Lokayukta to appear before him on September 16.

No talks being held with Beijing: Tibetan PM

Dharamsala, Sept 5: The head of Tibet's government-in-exile has rejected a claim by Chinese authorities that the Dalai Lama is in talks with Beijing through his envoys about the possibility of his return to Tibet.

"As we have always been transparent, right now there isn’t any official contact or dialogue taking place [with the Chinese leadership]," Tibet’s Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay told  Radio Free Asia.

"If dialogues are to take place, as we stressed earlier, it would be between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and representatives of the new Chinese leadership," he said. "It has been like this before and will remain like this in the future."

China’s government in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) claimed last week that the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, was in discussions with Beijing through his “personal envoys” but the talks were only about the possibility of his return to Tibet.

Wu Yingjie, the deputy secretary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's Committee for Tibet, had told a group of Indian journalists on a special visit to the TAR capital Lhasa that the talks with the Dalai Lama were “ongoing and always smooth, but we are discussing only his future, not Tibet’s.”

Talks held on Tibet’s status between envoys of the Dalai Lama and Beijing were stalled in January 2010. There has been no progress in the discussions since then despite calls from U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders for a resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue.

Sangay, a Harvard-educated lawyer, was elected Tibet’s exile political leader in 2011 after the Dalai Lama relinquished his political role as the leader of the government-in-exile, ending a tradition spanning centuries of the Dalai Lamas holding both spiritual and political authority.

MM Rasaily hailed as a ‘Great Son of Sikkim’

Gangtok, Sept 5: Forty years after he was sidelined and punished by anti-Sikkim, pro-India authorities in Gangtok  for his principle stand against Sikkim’s ‘merger’ , Madan Mohan Rasaily, who passed away here on Wednesday, is being hailed as an “upright person”  and a “great son of Sikkim”.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling described Rasaily (89) as “an upright person with impeccable integrity”. He said Rasaily’s demise is “an irreparable loss” to Sikkim.

Recipient of Denzong Thu ki Norbu (The Jewel of Sikkim), the highest civilian award of the then Kingdom of Sikkim, and Pema Dorjee (for dedicated service), conferred by the Late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal in 1974, Rasaily studied in Mt. Hermon School and completed his Senior Cambridge (class 11) in 1943.

He held many posts in the State Government, including Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary. He was with the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front for a brief while in the 1990s after his retirement from service in 1988.

He is survived by his wife Rani Mala Rasaily, two sons and two daughters.

Editorial

SIKKIM BY-POLLS

Drama Or Revolt?

Hardly anyone takes Pawan Kumar Chamling seriously these days. And he knows it and yet he carries on with his usual bluff. Fortunately or unfortunately, no one believes Chamling when he says his younger brother does not have his blessings and is not his ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s candidate for the up-coming by-polls. Rup Narayan Chamling himself says he is not the ruling party’s candidate for the Rangang-Yangang Assembly constituency by-polls in South Sikkim.  ‘Rupen’, as he is known locally, will find it very difficult to convince the voters that he is not with his brother and the ruling party. Because of these factors the ruling party’s official candidate Kumari Mangar is facing a difficult situation.

The Chief Minister has openly declared that ‘Rupen’ will not be taking into the ruling party even if he wins. While skeptics will have to wait for the polls to be over to find the truth there is a section who believes that CM’s younger brother has revolted against him and his party which has been ruling Sikkim for over two decades. Chamling has sent a full brigade of his party workers to camp in Yangang for the by-polls. Come what may he has to win the seat which he has vacated. Otherwise the ruling party may see a further division of its support base. Already PS Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), which has 10 of the 32 seats in the Assembly, is waiting in the wings to wage another assault on the ruling dispensation. SKM’s former candidate of this Assembly seat, Bikash Basnet, who is now the BJP’s candidate for the by-polls, may be lucky if SDF votes get divided and his own vote share remains intact.

Mamata to set up CMO in Darj, thrust on development

Darjeeling, Sept 5: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would set up a small office in the Darjeeling hills to facilitate administrative work for the people of the region.

“I have decided to set up a small office in the hills to be manned by an official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO),”  Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to Darjeeling hills told reporters in Kalimpong.

She said the office in Darjeeling would help in disbursing funds from the Chief Minister’s Relief fund to the people of the hills.

“The Uttarkanya office (secretariat in north Bengal) in Siliguri is functioning well and will continue,” she said.

Banerjee also announced that four hydel power units would come up in the region, while one medical college would be set up under the PPP model in Kurseong.

The chief minister also held a meeting with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders over the transfer of departments to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha, senior GJM leader Roshan Giri said.

Giri, who was present at the meeting along with five other GJM leaders, said the issue of disbursement of funds from the state to the GTA Sabha also came up for discussion.

Emphasising on exploiting the unexplored areas in Kalimpong for increasing tourism in the district, Banerjee said that thrust would be given on developing new tourist spots in the region for boosting the local economy. "Darjeeling is becoming saturated. There are a lot of unexplored areas in Kalimpong. We have already set up Lamahatta eco-tourism. We are giving stress on home tourism." she told a meeting in Kalimpong on Wednesday.

Chinese TV satellite targets PoK, Sikkim

New Delhi, Sept 5: Indian telecom operators and broadcasters have raised concern over the latest satellite Asiasat-8 launched recently by China which has been designed to keep the border areas of the country away from signals being beamed by these operators and broadcasters.

The operators and the broadcasters point out that the Chinese satellite is not only the most powerful launched so far, but has been designed to take the northern border of India and North East territories out of India beam., agencies reported.

These have been made a part of the China beam as if these are a part of the Chinese territory. The territories, which have been earmarked as part of the China beam include the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. The satellite was launched by China on August 5.

Reports suggest that the move from China came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the possible SAARC satellite by India to bring the SAARC countries closer.

Asiasat-8 has been designed as a commercial satellite offering VSAT/DTH, Internet and telecommunications capacity for various users in India and China. However,  hidden in its design is to establish its signals on Indian territory, which China has been disputing and claiming as its own.

Lok Sabha member of Parliament from Maharashtra Hansraj Gangaram Ahir has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the perils of the satellite to India.

In his letter Ahir has urged the Home Minister to come out with a notification banning the use of this satellite by any Indian Telecom, VSAT or DTH operator.

Ahir has pointed out that the new Chinese satellite will allow anyone in PoK, Ladakh, Leh, Nepal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and all along the northern border of India and North East to use this high-powered satellite to establish two-way communications from India which will be inaccessible to Indian security agencies and poses grave security threat to the country.

OBITUARY Madan Mohan Rasaily

The Jewel of Sikkim

Born on 22nd September 1928, the fourth son of Manbir Singh Rasaily, Finance Secretary to His Highness, the Maharaja of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal,  Madan Mohan Rasaily studied upto Class IV at Sir Tashi Namgyal High School, Gangtok,  and went to join Mt. Hermon School, Darjeeling,  as a boarder, from where he completed his Senior Cambridge in 1943.

 He pursued his B.Sc. at St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, and later shifted to the Government College, Darjeeling, when they introduced the subject Botany. Before going for his higher studies he taught Science and Geography at Sir Tashi Namgyal High School for sometime as there was no subject teacher available at that time.

From the year 1955-58 he underwent Higher Forestry training at Indian Forest College, Dehradun. After successful completion of his training he came back and joined the Sikkim Forest Department as Assistant Conservator of Forest on 1st of March 1960. He became DFO, East when Arjan Singh was the Conservator of Forest on deputation from Punjab. He took the charge as Head of Forest Department as Conservator of Forest after the tenure of Dakman Lama.

He served as a bureaucrat for 35 years. Working in tandem with the vision of the 12th Chogyal of Sikkim, His Highness, Palden Thondup Namgyal, he helped to set up the State Trading Corporation of Sikkim, the State Lottery (for aiding Development Plans), the Sikkim Jewels, the Sikkim Time Corporation and the Sikkim Supreme Factory at Singtam. At the time of Chinese invasion in 1962 he was entrusted with the work of Civil Defence Commissioner.

He was also the Auditor General of Sikkim till 1974. During his tenure he held the responsibilities of Auditor General as well as Secretaries of different Departments like Trade, Industries and Commerce, Tourism, Education, Motor Vehicle, Home and also as Director Vigilance. He retired from the service in 1988 when he was posted as Home Secretary. Apart from the committed service to Sikkim, he was also involved in other activities. He was one of the founding members of the Rotary Club in Sikkim.

He was an avid footballer and played for the school team, college team and also the town team which consisted of officers serving the Chogyal of Sikkim. He accompanied the Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal in his visits to Switzerland, UK and also Birendra of Nepal.

 He also helped strengthen the Sri Satya Sai organization of Sikkim as its President and also helped in designing and completion of the Sai Mandir at Baluwakhani, Gangtok. He was conferred the Denzong Thu ki Norbu (The Jewel of Sikkim), the highest civilian award of the then Kingdom of Sikkim. He received this award in the year 1974 from His Highness, the Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal. He also conferred the Pema Dorjee medal, for his dedicated service. He retired from Government service in 1988 when he was Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary.

Tributes to a true and loyal ‘Son of Sikkim’

Rasaily was an upright man: Chief Minister

The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his condolence message said that MM Rasaily, who held the high esteemed post of Secretary Home and many other departments in his service career, was known for his professionalism and his able administration.

“Shri Rasaily was an upright person with impeccable integrity and his demise is an irreparable loss to the state” the Chief Minister said.

He was loyal to his motherland Sikkim

With all respect and veneration, we the monks of Sikkim remember great son of Sikkim, Madan Mohan Rasaily on his passing away, early morning today.

The monks and people of Sikkim shall always remember late MM Rasaily with fond memory of his love for Sikkim. We believe he preceded every Sikkimese official, both amongst his contemporaries and present as far as loyalty and love for the motherland is concerned.

 Sherab Tenzing Lepcha

 General Secretary

 Monks of Sikkim

His love and loyalty for Sikkim inspires us

“On the passing away of Shri Madan Mohan Rasaily (Denzong Thuki Norbu’ and ‘Pema Dorje’), former Home Secretary of Sikkim and Ven Dorje Loben Sonam Angay Lama of Sumin Monastery early morning today, I express my heartfelt condolences to the members of the family of the deceased.

Shri MM Rasaily’s contribution and sincerity towards the delivery of his duties are legends in our Sikkimese society. A blue-eyed figure of Sikkim, his loyalty to his duty and motherland shall surely become a source of inspiration for all of us.”

 Sonam Lama

 Sangha MLA

He stood firm, we salute him

“The passing away of Mr. MM Rasaily has left an irreparable vacuum in the Sikkimese society, particularly the one who loves Sikkim. The conferring of Sikkim’s highest Civilian Award of Sikkim ‘Denzong Thuki Norbu’ and others as ‘Pema Dorje’ simply speaks the volume of the very principles and ordeals with which he delivered his responsibilities in high public office, officially and socially.

We particularly appreciate his love for the Sikkim and the Sikkimese people by means of never accepting the coveted IAS which otherwise would have had invited three more non-Sikkimese officials, an exemplary act which abundantly lacks amongst all his contemporaries as well as that of today’s.

We salute the pious stand that he undertook as Sikkim’s Home Secretary during the hour of her trials in the mid-1970s.

On the passing away of Mr. MM Rasaily, ‘Denzong Thuki Norbu’ and ‘Pema Dorje’, this organization bow it’s held in high veneration and respect.

Pintso Bhutia

 President

National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO)

FESTIVALS

Indra Jatra: A festival in honour of Lord Indra

Indra Jatra celebrations in Kathmandu.

Indra Jatra: This festival named after Lord Indra - the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. It is the biggest religious festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal.

This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare.

 On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers to spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during this festival. People get to enjoy various classical dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular dance of a man with a mask.

The celebrations consist of two events. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. The other event is Kumāri Jātrā, the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

Family members deceased in the past year are also remembered during the festival. The main venue of the festivities is Kathmandu Durbar Square. The celebrations last for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight of Yanlā, the eleventh month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.

Indra Jatra was started by king Gunakamadeva to commemorate the founding of the city of Kathmandu in the 10th century. Kumari Jatra began in the mid-18th century.

Since 2010, this festival is also celebrated in Sikkim by the Newar community.

Pang Lhabsol: A religious festival unique to Sikkim

Pang Lhabsol festival at Tsuklhakhang Monastery, Gangtok.

Pang Lhabsol, a festival commemorating the conservation of Mt. Kanchenjunga as the guardian deity of the State, is unique to Sikkim. It has its origin in the Lepcha people's belief that the mountain is their place of origin. It is also believed that the festival has its roots in Lhatsun Chenpo's (the propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim) vision.

It also commemorate the treaty of brotherhood between the Lepchas and Bhutias, where Kye Bumsa the then Bhutia leader signed the brotherhood treaty with the Lepcha Chieftain Thekong Tek at Kabi Lunstok in North Sikkim in the 13^th century.

Subsequently, after the formation of the Namgyal Dynasty in Sikkim Chador Namgyal, the third Chogyal of Sikkim, introduced the "pangtoed" dance and dedicated it to Kanchenjunga as a war deity. The spectacular Pangtoed or warrior dance was choreographed by Chogyal Chador Namgyal, which is said to have appeared to him in a vision.

Khangchendzonga, Sikkim’s Guardian Deity. (file pix by Late Yarpa Paljor Tashi)

Pang Lhabsol combines masked dance with warrior dance, giving the festival an inherent drama, which surpasses that found in other Buddhist festivals. There are resplendent costumes and colorful masks, and the choreography is spectacular. Kanchenjunga itself is represented by a dancer wearing a red mask mounted with five human skulls, on top of which are mounted flags.

Mahakala, Kanchenjunga's Supreme Commander, wears a black mask, while the warriors who accompany them are attired in the traditional Sikkimese battle dress, complete with helmets, swords and shields. The dramatic entry of Mahakala, the protector of the dharma, or faith, is one of the highlights of the dance. It is Mahakala who commands Kanchenjunga and Yabdu to defend the faith and bring peace and prosperity to Sikkim.

Mahakala chham during Pang Lhabsol celebrations.

A week prior to the dance, the lamas of Pemayangtse monastery in west Sikkim, where the festival takes place, offer prayers, invoking Dzonga - the popular local name for Kanchenjunga - to protect the land and look after the people.

Pang Lhabsol celebrations in Rabong, South Sikkim.

To this day the mountain god is invoked and prayed upon at Pang Lhabsol to continue protecting Sikkim. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Tibetan calendar corresponding to late August/early September.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Aug 30-Sept 5, 2014

Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

BJP-SKM alliance to take on SDF for Assembly by-polls

Its RN Chamling vs Bikash Basnet

SKM President PS Golay with BJP President Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday.

Even before the electoral battle has begun the Opposition has scored a major victory. In a move that is likely to set the agenda for future politics in the State, the BJP has forged an alliance with the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), which has 10 MLAs in the 32-member House.

Bikash Basnet

SKM’s Bikash Basnet is now the BJP’s candidate for the Rangang-Yangang by-polls of the Assembly seat vacated by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who contested and won from two seats in the recent Assembly polls.

Basnet’s main contender is Chamling’s younger brother RN Chamling, who is contesting as an independent. Most people believe that the ruling party’s bid to field Kumari Mangar as its official candidate is “a drama.”

RN Chamling

Former Lok Sabha MP Nakul Rai has questioned Chamling’s failure to take disciplinary action against his brother for filing his paper. Rai says Rup Narayan “is an integral part of SDF.”

Significantly, SKM chief and MLA PS Goley along with his MLAs on Wednesday met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi, where the two parties discussed ways to “root out corruption” and fight for “restoration of democracy” in the State.

Basnet is expected to give a tough fight to Chamling’s brother. In any case, for the BJP-SKM combine its a “heads I win, tails you lose” kind of a situation.

Election to Rangang-Yangang constituency is slated for September 13.

Talks on for Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet: China

China’s government in Tibet claims that the Dalai Lama is in talks with Beijing through “personal envoys”, but the talks are only about the possibility of his return to Tibet.

Wu Yingjie, the Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee for Tibet, told a group of Indian journalists in Lhasa on Sunday that the talks with the Dalai were “ongoing and always smooth, but we are discussing only his future, not Tibet’s.”

Wu said many Tibetan leaders had chosen to return to Tibet in recent years, giving the example of a senior Lama in Chengdu who returned from Switzerland, The Hindu reported.

“All Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama and the people around him, can return if they accept Tibet and Taiwan as part of China, and give up ‘splittist’ efforts,” he said.

When asked about the political talks with envoys from Dharamsala, that broke down after nine rounds in 2010, he termed their demands unacceptable. “How can the Dalai Lama demand that China withdraw its army from Tibet?” asked  Wu. “The army is a symbol of our state. Will India agree to withdraw its Army from Arunachal Pradesh?” he said.

Wu also rejected the proposal by the Prime Minister of the self-styled “Tibetan government in exile”, Lobsang Sangay, for a larger region to be included in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Himalayan Airlines plans maiden Kathmandu-Lhasa flight in October

Himalayan Airlines, a company newly forged by China's Tibet Airlines and two Nepali companies, is scheduled to launch its maiden flight on October 28, said the Chinese shareholder here on Wednesday.

The joint venture will launch direct flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa and Kathmandu to Chengdu using aircraft including Airbus 319 and Airbus 320.

The new airline was set up in partnership with Nepal's HIF (Himalaya Infrastructure Fund) Aviation Investment Company and Yeti World Investment Company, with the two firms jointly holding 51% of the stakes in the joint venture and the rest owned by Tibet Airlines, Xinhua reported.

The agreement among the three companies was signed here on Monday. Cheng Yiru, chairman of Himalayan Airlines, said the new company has plans to buy 15 Airbus 320 in the next five years. It is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in Nepal.

Nepal has been Tibet's biggest trade partner since 2006, accounting for 58.5% of Tibet's total US$3.3 billion in foreign trade in 2013.

A train comes to Shigatse from Lhasa for the first time

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway has formally opened its Lhasa-Shigatse track to passengers. With the inauguration of the 253-kilometer track recently, the high-elevation railway has reached closer to Nepal. “We plan to extend the line up to Kerung in the long run,” said Yang Chu Lin, an official at the Shigatse Railway Service.

The second largest Tibetan city of Shigatse is about 540 kilometers from Kerung (Kyirong), the nearest Chinese town from Nepal, while the bordering Nepali district of Rasuwa is 35 kilometers away from there. Kathmandu is 110 kilometers from the district.

Carrying 800 passengers and two dozen journalists, the first train that departed from Lhasa at 9 a.m. on Saturday arrived in Shigatse at noon, traveling at an average speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

“The train service saves time and money of passengers,” said Chhedung, an official at the Shigatse Foreign Affairs Department. “The service will prove a boon for the Shigatse prefecture in boosting tourism and economic development.”

The new train has cut travel time between the two cities by half. A bus takes six hours to travel the distance. The train fare, 45 yuan, is half that of a bus.

“The extension of the railway further to Kerung and to the Nepali Capital could benefit Nepal hugely,” said Hari Prasad Basyal, Nepali Consular in Lhasa. “Nepali leadership should consider seriously about constructing railways in the country.”

‘Wonder Herb’ discovered in Ladakh

In the high hostile peaks of the Himalayas where sustaining life is a challenge in itself, Indian scientists say they have found a "wonder herb" which can regulate the immune system, help adapt to the mountain environment and, above all, protect from radioactivity.

Rhodiola, a herb found in the cold and highland climate, has led India's leading scientists to wonder if it is the end to the quest for "Sanjeevani", the mythical herb that gave renewed life to Ram's brother Lakshman in the epic Ramayana.

Locally called 'Solo' in Ladakh, the qualities of Rhodiola were largely unknown so far. The leafy parts of the plant were used as vegetable by locals. However, research by the Leh-based Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) is exploring the therapeutic values of the herb that shows it can do wonders for the troops posted in difficult high altitude areas like the 5,400-metres-high Siachen glacier.

"Rhodiola is a wonder plant that has immunomodulatory (enhancing immune), adaptogenic (adapting to difficult climatic condition) and radio-protecting abilities due to presence of secondary metabolites and phytoactive compounds unique to the plant," R.B. Srivastava, Director, DIHAR, told IANS.

Srivastava said the herb can mitigate the effects of gamma radiation used in bombs in biochemical warfare.

"A concerted effort involving conservation, propagation and sustainable utilisation of this unique medicinal herb will surely result in rediscovery of Sanjeevani for the troops deployed in extreme climatic condition along Himalayan frontiers," said the director.

The Leh-based lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the world's highest agro-animal research laboratory, has been researching on this wonder plant for more than a decade.

"While its adaptogenic qualities can help the soldiers in adjusting to the low pressure-low oxygen environment, the plant has also been found to have anti-depressant and appetizer properties," said Srivastava.

Editorial

ARMY TAKEOVER

Junta Raj In Neighbourhood

The army chief  General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who deposed Thailand’s civilian government three months ago, has been selected as the kingdom’s prime minister. A handpicked legislature stacked with military officers held a vote on Thursday to select the country’s prime minister. This week, Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif intervened publicly in the country's political crisis, agreeing to mediate between the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and protesters demanding his resignation. The move follows a backroom political deal that government officials privately said ceded important powers over defense and foreign policy from the government to the military. The military's political intervention underscored the weakness of Pakistan's democracy just 16 months after the country's first democratic transition raised hopes that the civilian authorities would assert themselves over the country's long dominant military. In Burma, Shwe Mann, leader of the army-backed ruling party, is unlikely to yield easily to the demand that Aung San Suu Kyi be allowed to contest the ensuing parliamentary polls that people looking forward to. Presently, Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from becoming president.

Nationalised banks organise camps for Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana scheme

 As part of the financial inclusion mission that was launched throughout the country yesterday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , the State Bank of India, the Lead Bank in the State of Sikkim,  organised a Mega Camp  here yesterday for opening Savings bank Accounts.

Similar Mega Camps were also organized at Singtam and the District headquarters at Namchi, Gyalshing and Mangan. These camps are being organized by Canara Bank, HDFC, Central Bank of India and SBI respectively, according to Convener, State Level Banker's Committee of the SBI’s Regional Office.

While Chief Minister Pawan Chamling launched the programme here in the morning, in the evening Governor Shrinivas Patil was the chief guest at the mega camp function.

 The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana lies at the core of the Prime Minister's development philosophy of  “Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas”.  As the nation move rapidly forward in this knowledge era with modern banking and financial systems, it is untenable that a large majority of  population is deprived of basic banking facilities, a release of the SBI said.

The vast majority of the poor and the marginalized who are trapped in a perpetual cycle of exclusion and deprivation need to be addressed. In order to break that cycle - the Jan Dhan Yojana is envisaged as the first step in that direction. With a bank account, every household gains access to banking and credit facilities. This will enable them to come out of the grip of moneylenders, manage to keep away from financial crises caused by emergent needs, and most importantly, benefit from a range of financial products.

Under the Jan Dhan Yojana, every account holder gets a RuPay debit card with a Rs 1,00,000/- accident cover and will be covered by insurance and pension products at later stage, the release added.

OPEN LETTER TO CM ON FAKE ‘SIKKIM SUBJECTS’ ISSUE

To

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim

Mintokgang

Gangtok-737101

East Sikkim

Dated: 25/08/2014

Sub:   Open Memorandum vis-à-vis Purification of Sikkim Subject

          Certificate / COIs

Hon’ble Sir,

Purify Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) Register:
The sacred document which was submitted / surrendered to Home Ministry, Govt. of India during the time of Sikkim annexation/merger in 1975 was Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) register on the basis of which, all the Sikkimese had become Indian.  Hope a copy of the same SSC register is lying with the Government of Sikkim today.

“As per estimates published by a local paper, in Sikkim we have:"

1. Fake Certificate of Identification (C.O.I) holders = 1, 19, 289
2. Fake Sikkim Subject certificate (S.S.C) holders    =     31, 180
                                                                           Total  =1, 50, 469
Total of 1, 50, 469 “fraudster” or illegal and fake documents.

What we think today is;

       It is not only important but sense urgent and need of the hour to purify the SSC register in the interest of our future generation, else talking big about protection and safeguard of Sikkim and the Sikkimese will become a futile exercise that would imminently jeopardise our own posterity.

 This further becomes most urgent, significant and relevant given the present government of Sikkim’s priorities and insistence to the Sikkim Subject Certificate /COI on all its policies and programmes as being announced or formulated particularly with the inauguration of its present term of governance, which is most appreciable gesture on its part.

In fact, every State and government has the sacred responsibility of safeguarding its native people. The stand taken by the Government if really implemented both in letter and spirit, it will rejuvenate the effect and significance of SSC and COI and would go a long way in ensuring the socio-politico and economic state of the Sikkimese at-large. This shall certainly curtail the ever increasing influx thereby establishing a sense of pride and security amongst our Sikkimese people. If not, the illegal SSC/COI holders will get multiplied and one fine day original Sikkimese will be kicking out from their home land. So it’s now or never.

Therefore, we appeal the political parties of Sikkim to rise above politics. We don’t mind to come out openly in support of the Government if it’s really committed and wanted to eliminate, reject or withdraw the illegal Sikkim Subject Certificate/C.O.I. issued so far.

Political parties in Sikkim should understand that unless this is realized, whatever programmes/policies they come out with will never achieve its target which would only then be meant for securing a mere vote bank and accompanying politics.

Let’s accomplish this and posterity shall salute you and our generation with awe & veneration.

Submitted in the interest of Sikkim and the Sikkimese please

Yours Sincerely

 Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Ex-MLA

TNA Principal to get national award from Prez

Tashi Namgyal Academy Principal, Kuldip Singh Heran, has been selected for this year's National Award. The prestigious award will be presented to the TNA Principal by President Pranab Mukherjee on Teachers'Day in New Delhi on September 5.
This reward and recognition of the school, named after Sikkim's former King, Chogyal Tashi Namgyal, comes at a time when TNA is preparing for the celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Kuldip Singh Heran

Sikkim’s unique festival of Pang Lhabsol

This year’s traditional Pang Lhabsol is being observed at Tsuklakhang monastery in Gangtok. Lamas of Pemayangtse monastery and some lay people will take part in the celebrations of the worship of Sikkim Guardian Deities, which include Sikkim’s unique pangtoed dance.

This unique festival is also being observed all over the State with pomp and gaiety, particularly at Rabong in South Sikkim.(pix below)

FASHION

Vanity Fair honours Bhutan’s fashionable monarch

The 2014 Vanity Fair International Best-Dressed List includes all the usual suspects: Kate Middleton, Cate Blanchett and Pharrell Williams, to name a few. But among all the obvious choices, there's at least one name on there that we didn't expect to see.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan made this year's cut under the "Originals" category. And upon further investigation, he's actually a pretty obvious choice. From mixing prints to incorporating bold color, it's no wonder Bhutan is one of the happiest countries on earth: their 31-year-old king has got it going on.In fact, the glossy has been privy to his majesty's style for a while. He made the list back in 2011, too.

Pang Lhabsol celebrations down the years

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Saturday Aug 23-29, 2014

Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT: PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Gangtok (Sikkim) in 2009. He is seen with members of the local business community. (Pix: Babulal Malu)

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Sikkim Governor Shrinivas Patil involved in multi-crore Pune land scam: BJP

CBI PROBE DEMANDED BY MAHARASHTRA BJP

Gangtok, Aug 22: Is Sikkim Governor Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil involved in a multi-crore Pune land deal racket that began in 1989 when he was Pune’s District Collector?

Prominent builders and businessmen have been named in a First Information Report or FIR filed by the Pune police in a case relating to a massive land scam allegedly worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Among those named in the FIR are KM Goenka and 2G spectrum allocation scandal accused Vinod Goenka and Shahid Balwa of DB Realty and builder Atul Chordia of the Panchshil Realty Group, The Hindustan Times and NDTV reported recently.

The 326-acre land at the heart of the dispute is located in the city's prime Yerawada area, near the Pune airport.

The Goenkas, who claimed the land was gifted to their family by Peshwa rulers in 1952, had fought a decades-long battle with the government over it. In 1989, they approached the then Chief Minister Sharad Pawar to settle the dispute.

Patil, who was then Pune District Collector, subsequently granted the land, worth an estimated Rs 300 crore in 1989, to Mukund Bhavan Trust. The Trust, run by the Goenkas, handed over developmental rights to Chordia's company Panchshil Realty Group. Panchshil Tech Park, a company floated by Chordiya, constructed towering high-rises on the disputed land.

Patil later opted for voluntary retirement and joined Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He won the Lok Sabha election in 1999 and 2004 from Maharashtra's Karad and is currently serving as the Governor of Sikkim. Patil (73) was appointed Sikkim Governor on July 4, 2013.

    Ravi Barhate, a Right to Information activist, has since established via documents obtained under the Act that forged papers were used to grab the government land, the report said.

Some crucial documents, including confidential letters exchanged between senior state government officials, clearly show that the prime land was handed over to the Trust after the State Government drastically changed its stand on the issue in 1989.

In a confidential letter written to the then Pune Divisional Commissioner on January 1, 1992, Navin Kumar, the then settlement commissioner and director, wrote, "The change of government stand needs to be investigated to find out who had taken the decision to grant 326 acres of land to the trust".

NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and her husband Sadanand Sule also had stakes in Panchshil Tech Park. After Balwa and Goenka's name cropped up in connection to the 2G scam, they had surrendered their share and exited the company.

In April 2011, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse (BJP) had demanded a thorough probe into questionable land deals in Maharashtra. In the wake of his demand, the state director general of police had asked for a detailed report on the status of investigations and complaints into major land scams.

Following the police complaints, Khadse demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigations in the land allotments. He said the state police would not do any progress in the investigations because the FIRs were filed four years after the matter was raised by him in the legislature. “The cover-up has already started. I request the state government to recommend a CBI probe in this matter and other 115 cases of similar nature that together caused a loss of Rs. 70000 crore to the state exchequer.”

The BJP leader said he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for seeking CBI investigations. “The Union government can very well ask CBI to probe the deals of defence-related land in Pune. The state government, if willing, may also recommend a CBI probe,” he said.

School, college education free for ‘Sikkimese’ students

Gangtok, Aug 22: From now on school and college education for bonafide Sikkimese students possessing Sikkim Subjects Certificate (SSC) will be free.

This was announced by Chief Minsiter Pawan Chamling this week following the State Cabinet’s approval.

Sikkimese student has been defined as bona fide Sikkimese having valid documents like the Sikkim Subject Certificate or their descendents with identification certificates.

Bona fide Sikkimese students having already submitted their tuition fees will receive a refund as per a recent Human Resources Development Department (HRDD) proposal.

A press note issued by the Home Department said students who do not possess such documentation and are enrolled at government colleges and schools will have to pay the prescribed fees.

This proposal of the Human Resource Development Department was approved by the cabinet at its last sitting held on August 12 last, chaired by the Chief Minister, PTI reported.   

This waiver of fees will be applicable with retrospective effect from the current academic session 2014 and the cabinet has also sanctioned and approved the proposal of the HRDD to "refund" the fees already deposited by Sikkimese students.

This announcement follows a four-fold increase in college fees imposed by the HRDD from the current academic session, which had triggerred protest by the students. The fee was initially rolled back followed by the Chief Minister's announcement that all fees would be waived for Sikkimese students up to college level.

BL organizations support Chamling on free education for Sikkimese students

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) and National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO) have welcomed the Chamling Government’s decision to make school and college education free for bonafide Sikkimese students in the State.

SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia has urged the State Government to consider extending social, economic and political benefits, facilities and safeguards to all Sikkimese possessing genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate  (SSC) and Certificate of Identification (CoI), a release of the organization said.

Referring to former Chief Secretary Sonam Wangdi’s claim published in a local daily that there were 31,180 fake SSC holders and 1,19,289 CoI  fake holders in the State, SIBLAC Convenor has asked the State Government to probe into the allegations and come out with a White Paper.

He said if the allegation is true then at least 25% of the State’s population possess fake identity documents.

In a statement after its meeting held here on Wednesday, NASBO President Pintso Bhutia said, “This decision of the government is something of which we feel proud of. We look forward for such positive approach on the part of the government which is more conducive of Article 371F of the Indian Constitution.”

It added, “We support this decision of the State…this kind of governance is something which is surely welcomed by our Sikkimese people.”

Chinese troops enter Indian territory, India denies

A file photo of Chinese soldiers holding a flags reading "you've crossed the border, please go back" in their hands.

Leh/New Delhi, Aug 22:  The Indian Army has denied reports that Chinese troops have entered deep into Indian territory in Depsang, the same area in Ladakh where they had pitched tents in April last year, leading to a tense three-week stand-off.

Chinese troops had entered 25 to 30 km into Indian territory in the Burtse area of north Ladakh, pitched tents and held up flags that read, "This is Chinese territory, go back," PTI reported.

The area is at an altitude of 17,000 feet.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Tuesday dismissed reports that Chinese troops had entered 25 to 30 km deep into Indian territory in Burtse area in Ladakh. “There is nothing like that,” he said in reply to a question.

Sources said Chinese troops had indeed entered Indian territory on Sunday and pitched four tents with flags on them claiming that this was their territory. They were there for about 24 hours before returning, the sources said.

"No incursion or encroachment of Indian Territory by China has taken place along the India-China border," an Army spokesperson said.

He, however, said that because there is a difference in the way the two countries perceive the disputed border called the Line of Actual Control or LAC, "transgressions do occur" from time to time.

A Quick Reaction Team that had accompanied the Indian team failed to make any headway with the Chinese, who refused to budge from their position, the agency reported. It said the Indian troops finally returned to their base and informed senior officers.

The Burtse area, which is adjacent to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), forms part of the huge Depsang plains which India says is its territory. But the Chinese dispute this. The area includes an air field which was operationalised by the Indian Air Force last year for a short while.

In April last year, the stand-off over the Chinese troops pitching tents for 21 days here led to diplomatic tension. The Chinese returned only after four flag meetings between the two sides.

To deal with such incidents, India and China signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement or BDCA in October last year.

J&K’s Article 370 challenged in Supreme Court

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Centre on a plea which challenged the provisions of Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The plea, filed by a Delhi-based NGO, asks why a law passed by the J&K Assembly "deprives people from other parts of the country from acquiring immovable assets or seek employment in the state."

The plea also questions the "inability to challenge any law made by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly" even if it is allegedly "unconstitutional".

Revocation of Article 370 has been a long-standing demand of the right-wing groups in the country, including some affiliated to the ruling BJP.

Though the Modi government has not taken any position on Article 370, a remark made shortly after coming to power by Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, on the Centre being open to debate on the contentious provision, had evoked sharp responses.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had warned that any attempt to reopen the debate on Article 370 would force the state to revisit its terms of accession to the Indian Union.

In its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had said it is in favour of abrogating Article 370, but said the issue will be discussed with all stakeholders before a decision is made.

In December last year at a rally in Jammu, Narendra Modi had suggested that it should be probed whether Article 370 has indeed benefited the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Former Sikkim CM NB Bhandari being felicitated by GJM chief Bimal Gurung for his contribution for constitutional recognition of Nepali language in Darjeeling on Wednesday. (Pix: The Telegraph)

Editorial

SOUL OF SIKKIM

Preserve It, Cherish It

The Bhutias of Sikkimese origin in Sikkim have been on the receiving end for a long time stretching back to early 1970s when India fomented communal politics to take over the former kingdom. And yet bravehearts of this community despite encountering countless trials and tribulations refuses to give up and bow down to the diktats of those in power. For them the values  they uphold and their love and devotion to all things Sikkimese are top priorities.

It is time that the Sikkimese people understood how they live their lives and why. The late Sikkimese writer Lal Bahadur Basnet once wrote this on one of the most outstanding Bhutia rulers of Sikkim: “During the hour of his trial, when his very throne was at stake, Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal stood like a rock and sacrificed petty considerations for the lofty ideal he had espoused. He lost, but in the very process of losing his throne and status, he rose to his full stature.” This is the spirit that moves the world. It is the spirit of Sikkim. Preserve it for posterity even if the prevailing situation doesn’t allow it. For one day Sikkim will surely rise to its full stature and preserve Sikkim for Sikkimese.

Northeast CMs' meet to decide roadmap for development

Modi to meet Northeast CMs soon

Union Minister VK Singh with Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling in New Delhi recently. (Right)

Agartala, Aug 22: DoNER Minister Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh would meet the chief ministers of all eight northeastern states in Guwahati Aug 21-22 to decide a roadmap for the development of the region, an official said here Monday.

This would be the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) minister's first meeting with the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim, IANS reported.

"The meeting would discuss and resolve various strategies and plans on agriculture, roadways, education, power, transport, tourism, industries and health sectors of the region," an official of the North Eastern Council (NEC) said.

He said various expert groups and specialists would also make presentations highlighting the scope and available resources of the region.

The meeting would also discuss the ongoing projects of the NEC.

After assuming office in May, V.K. Singh held several meetings with top officials of both the DoNER ministry and the NEC in New Delhi and Guwahati to familiarise himself about the northeastern states and functioning of his ministry and the council.

A Tripura government official said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also agreed to convene a meeting soon of the eight chief ministers to resolve various problems of the region.

Modi's assurance came on Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's request when he met the prime minister in New Delhi recently.

The official said Sarkar and Modi discussed issues such as connectivity, policy intervention, infrastructure, agricultural, educational, health service and tourism.

Sikkim BJP to be revived, to contribute to the tallest statue in the world: Khangsarpa

Sikkim BJP meet in Gangtok recently (pix: sikkimnow)

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Sikkim unit of the BJP has decided that Sikkim would contribute towards the construction of the proposed 182 metre tall Statue of Unity, a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to be constructed in Gujarat.

It has also decided to revamp its party unit in the State. As per suggestions from the party at the centre it was decided that party cadres would fan out across the State and make appeals to farmers and other rustic people to contribute ploughshare tips and other used iron-made farm implements that would be melted and added to the ores collected from across the nation that would go into the making of the statue, Sikkim BJP President Palden Wangchuk Khangsarpa said.

During its meeting held here this week the party also thrashed out details and a strategy related to the upcoming bye-election at 15 Yangang-Rangang Constituency for which, the last the last date of filing of candidature is 27 August 2014. Voting is to take place on 13 September and counting is to be concluded on 16 September 2014, a party release said.

 However, a final decision as to the candidate representing the party and other details will be declared only after the green light from the party high command at the centre.

The Sikkim BJP will also be undertaking a mass membership drive, in both the urban and rural areas of, in accordance with the instructions of the new President  Amit Shah.

Other points discussed during its meeting were the matter of setting up of a state head office at Gangtok, as well as district offices at the district-level.

Matters regarding formation of  office bearers at the district and ward levels were also discussed.

FASHION

Sikkim’s Anandita Tamang walks the ramp at Lakme fashion show

The Lakme Fashion Week has seen models and Bollywood stars walking the ramp, but this time even children joined them for a special show. World’s famous toy shops – Hamley’s and Mattel hosted the first kids fashion show at the Lakme Fashion Week.

After a city-wise audition and workshops held across the country, Anandita Tamang of Sikkim was selected to walk the ramp. Anandita is daughter of Suresh Tamang and Neelam Rasaily and a class 8 student of Delhi Public School. Her mother Neelam Rasaily is in-charge of looking after the patients at DKK Bhawan, New Delhi.

“It was great fun and I got to meet so many people and make new friends,” said an excited Anandita. (Talk Sikkim)

One more reward for Sikkimese writer Yishey Doma

Gangtok, Aug 22: The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s ‘In-Residence Programme’ will feature two artists and two writers in September next month.

The writers and artists selected by an expert committee on the basis of a nation-wide application process are Yishey Doma from Sikkim and Dr. Vempalli Gangadhar from Andhra Pradesh, Rahool Saksena from Tamil Nadu and Pratap Sudhir Morey from Maharashtra. They will stay at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from September 8 to 26 next month.

Yishey Doma, winner of the “Sikkim Sahitya Samman 2013” is a journalist and writer and works for Sikkim Express.  She is the author of several books, including Legends of the Lepchas: Folktales from Sikki,  Sikkim: the Hidden Fruitful Valley, Sikkim: A Traveller's Companion and The Legacy Maker: Pawan Chamling's Ideas that Shaped Sikkim.

The ‘In-Residence’ Programme for writers, artists was launched by the President of India on December 11, 2013 with a view to encourage young and upcoming writers and artists by facilitating them to stay close to nature in the picturesque and serene surroundings of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Programme seeks to provide an environment which will inspire creative thinking and rejuvenate artistic impulses.