Rai tableau in Republic day parade....Hill land panel term extended by 6 months...17औँ ग्यालवा करमापा थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीको बाहुलीबाट तीन दिवसिय सोनाम लोसारको उदघाटन...17औ करमापा विवाद यथावत...Chhetri statement vital, say cops...Tribal face-off in garden - Parishad rebels’ bid to unveil statue triggers tension

Rai tableau in Republic day parade
PR, KalimNews, Gangtok, January 27: Tableau of Kirat Khambu Rai and Sakewa sili was presented on the occasion of 63rd Republic Day of the Nation with full gusto, representing Sikkim and the Kirat Rai Khambu of Sikkim. Group of 30 participants along with the tableau showcased different identity and tradition of the Kirat Khambu Rai , when crossed the stretch of Rajpath Marg, everyone applauded, the two minutes of walk away was historic event for the Rai community and Sikkim as well.

President of All Kirat Rai Sangathan of Sikkim Dr SK Rai over the telephone said that , it was a very successful event where the whole world was watching the historic moment on the television, he has received numerous SMS from Assam, Delhi, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and neighboring states congratulating over the successful presentation. Dr Rai has also thanked each and everyone for their moral support and assistance from Culture department and Government of Sikkim who has given an opportunity to present the culture and traditional of Rai community to the world. 
The cultural troop met the honorable Prime Minister and Her Excellency the President of India on 24th January and 27th January respectively. It is worth mentioning a group of people was also headed to Delhi to witness the historic event leaded by the political secretary to Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri KN Rai, who not only supported the cause but also was there for the moral boost to the cultural troop which presented the tableau after a month of hard practice and dedication.

17औँ ग्यालवा करमापा थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीको बाहुलीबाट तीन दिवसिय सोनाम लोसारको उदघाटन

डी० के० वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 27 जनवरी :अखील भारतीय तामांग बौद्ध संघको आयोजनामा आज देखि तीन दिन व्यापी तामांग नयाँ वर्ष सोनाम लोशर कफेर जन मैदानमा शुरु भयो | यस अवसरमा मुख्य अतिथिका रुपमा बौद्ध धर्म गुरु १७ औ ग्याल्वा करमापा थिन्ले थाई दोर्जी उपस्थित थिए | बौद्ध धर्म गुरु करमापा थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीको बाहुलीबाट भारतको राष्ट्रिय झण्डा अनि पंचशील झण्डा उत्तोलन गरेपछि दीप जलन गरेर कार्यक्रमको उद्घाटन गरे |

करमापाले कार्यक्रमको विधिवत उद्घाटन गरेपछि गत वर्ष १८ सितम्वरमा आएको विनाशकारी भुँइचालोमाज्यान गुमाउनेहरुको निम्ति पूजा गरेर मौन प्रार्थना गरियो | यस अवसरमा विशिष्ट अतिथिका रुपमा कोलकाता विश्वविधालयका डा० गायत्री भट्टचार्य उपस्थित रहेकी थिइन | तामांग समुदायको परम्परा र संस्कृतिमा शोध कार्य गरिरहेकी डा० गायत्रीले आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा तामांग नयाँ वर्ष सोनाम लोशरको सबैलाई शुभकामना व्यक्त गरिन | 
तिनले वर्तमान समयमा बढ्दो वैज्ञानिक संसाधनहरुको कारण तामांग सेलो र डम्फु जस्ता सांस्कृतिक सामग्री भविष्यमा विलुप्त हुनसक्ने आशंका व्यक्त गर्दै यसको संरक्षण गर्नु पर्ने बताए | तिनले पहाडमा अनेकौ औषधीय पौदाहरु रहेको बताउँदै यस कुरालाई सरकारले ध्यान दिएर मेडिकल कलेज पहाडमा छुट्टै स्थापना गर्न सके धेरै फाइदा हुने बताए | यसै क्रममा पहाडको सौन्दर्य प्रति अनेकौ पर्यटकहरु आकर्षित भैरहेको तर बाटोहरुको अवस्था भने अत्यन्तै सोचनीय रहेको अनि उक्त बाटोहरु सरकारले व्यवस्थित पार्न आवश्यक रहेको बताइन | हाल राज्यका मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यनार्जीले पहाडको बिकाशको निम्ति अनेकौ योजनाहरु घोषणा गरेको बताउँदै उक्त घोषणाहरु पूर्ण भए पहाडको बिकाश राम्रो हुने थियो भन्ने थप बताइन | 
यसरी नै निमा थिंगले मानिसहरुले जात, धर्मको संकीर्णताबाट माथि उठेर मानवताको संदेश विश्वभरी बाड्नुपर्ने आह्वान गरे | 
अर्कोतीर कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथि कै रुपमा उपस्थित रहेका बौद्ध धर्म गुरु १७ औ करमापा थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीले बौद्ध ज्ञान र दर्शन बारे अव्गात गराए | तिनले मानिसहरुले आफ्नो धर्म कहिल्ये भुल्न नहुने बताउँदै धर्मले नै मानिसहरुलाई राम्रो बाटोमा दोहोराउने कार्य गर्ने गरेको बताए | कार्यक्रममा धर्मगुरुबाट आशिर्वाद ग्रहण गर्न भेला भएका भक्तहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मानव जीवनमा राम्रो कार्य गर्न सके मृत्यु पछि निर्वाण प्राप्त गर्न सक्ने बताए | बौद्ध धर्म विज्ञान सम्मत रहेको दाबी गर्दै बौद्ध धर्म दर्शन र व्यवहारिक दुवै मानिसहरुले आफ्नो जीवनमा प्रयोग गर्नुपर्ने तिनले थपे | मानिसहरुले इर्श्या, द्वेष जस्ता भावनाहरु त्यागेर भगवान बुधले देखाएको बाटोमा हिड्न सके जीवन सफल हुने करमापाले बताए | तिनले तामांग नयाँ वर्षको शुभकामना दिंदै भगवान बुद्धका वाणीहरु व्यवहारिक जीवनमा उतार्न पर्ने आह्वान गरे|कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न समुदायका

मानिसहरुले जातीय एवम सांस्कृतिक नृत्यहरु पनि प्रस्तुत गरे | कार्यक्रमको समापन पछि तिनले क्षेत्र कै बौद्ध गुम्बाको परिदर्शन गरेर पुजा पाठ गर्दै क्षेत्रमा शान्तिको कामना गरे |

17औ करमापा विवाद यथावत

डी० के० वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुंग 27 जनवरी: १७ औं करमापा विवादमा यसका एकजना दावेदार थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीले मुख खोलेका छन् | तिनले आज कफेरमा आयोजीत पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा १७ औं करमापा विवाद वारे आफ्नो मन्तब्य प्रकट गरे | बौद्ध धर्म गुरु १७ औं करमापाका रुपमा परिचित थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीले यस विवादले बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बीहरुमा भ्रम सृजना भएको स्वीकार गरे | करमापा विवाद धेरै अघिदेखि नै चद्केको भएतापनि यस विवाद साम्य हुने छाँट भने देखिएको छैन |

करमापाका दावेदार उगेन थिन्ले दोर्जी अनि थिन्ले थाई दोर्जी लगायत सिक्किमका पनि एकजना रहेका छन् | यस विवादलाई साम्य पार्न समयमा करमापा दावेदारीहरु माझ कठोर परिक्षण गराउनु पर्ने चुनौतीहरु करमापाका दावेदारीहरुले नै गरिरहेका छन् | यसै सन्दर्भमा १७ औं करमापाका एकजना दावेदार थिन्ले थाई दोर्जीले आज यदी सम्पूर्ण मानव जातिको कल्याणको निम्ति हो भने कुनै पनि परिक्षण हुन आवश्यक रहेको बताए | तिनले आफू १७ औं करमापा रहेको दाबी गर्दै आफूमाथि लाग्ने आरोपहरु साम्य गर्न कुनै पनि कठोर परिक्षणको चुनौती कसैले पनि दिन्छ भने त्यो परिक्षण गर्न आफू तयार रहेको बताए | यस विवादले मानिसहरुमा नकारात्मक सोच सृजना गरिरहेको बताउँदै करमापा दावेदारीहरु माझ कठोर परिक्षण हुँदा मानव जातिको कल्याण हुन आवश्यक रहेको बताए | हाल समय धेरै गैसकेको बताउँदै करमापा को हुन् भन्ने चिन्न परिक्षण धेरै अघि नै भएको हुनपर्ने पनि तिनले पत्रकारहरुलाई जनाए |
Chhetri statement vital, say cops
TNN, Jan 28, 2012, KOLKATA: Police decided to arrest renowned doctors Mani Chetri and Pronab Dasgupta only after ascertaining their roles in the day-to-day running of AMTI Dhakruria, where a fire killed 91 people last December, a police officer said on Friday.
Investigators hinted that they have statement of Chetri, recorded under Section 161 CrPC, which is crucial to the investigation. Both the doctors, who are on the AMRI board of directors, have admitted to their role in the hospital's daily operation, said an officer.
It was only after ascertaining the role of Chetri and Dasgupta by piecing together their recorded statements and the seized documents that police believed they had enough to move against them, said sources.
The duo had attended every managing committee meeting, and even had a role in two serious lapses - altering a basement car park to an office-cum-warehouse and inability to meet the fire safety regulation stipulations, say police.
In the court on Friday, police produced a statement by Chetri, which reportedly indicated that he was in the know of a few crucial documents that could help unravel the case.
The 93-year-old Chetri was picked up on Friday morning from his Bally High apartment in Ballygunje. Dasgupta was arrested from his Ballygunje Circular Road home a little later. They were first taken to Lalbazar, sent for medical check-up and then produced at the Alipore court police lock-up. The senior doctors will have to stay in Lalbazar central lock-up till February 2, before they're produced in court again.
"The senior doctors were part of the hospital managing committee which had taken key decisions. They were also aware of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the hospital," said Damayanti Sen, joint commissioner of police, crime. The six-week delay in arresting them was primarily because police were collating evidence that would prove their involvement in the day-to-day operations, she said.
Sen denied that police were going slow on the government nominees on the AMRI board. "This is still under investigation. We've sought to understand from the health department the role of its nominee-director (Ashim Kumar Das)," she said.
Police had spoken to both Chetri and Dasgupta on a couple of occasions at Lalbazar and their homes. "These doctors had attended every managing committee meeting as recorded in the minutes. The license of AMRI hospital was issued in the name of Chetri, as the managing director. The hospital pharmacy was also in his name. They were not only paid a monthly salary, but also received commissions and had a stake in the hospital's profits. Their involvement with the hospital affairs is irrefutable. And in their statements (made to police under 161 CrPC), they've also admitted their role," an investigating officer said.
Another officer said they are treading extra cautiously because the police investigation will be scrutinised in Calcutta high court (RS Agarwal and RSGoenka, co-founders of the Rs 3000-crore Emami group, have already moved high court for bail) and maybe even the Supreme Court. "We cannot take any step that won't stand up to judicial scrutiny. Therefore every arrest is backed with documentary evidence on the individual roles - and lapses - of all 13 persons arrested," the officer added.
Police also sought legal opinion on the matter and they were advised that to indict a few directors and leave out others would be a "legal void" if they wanted to charge the board members for collective responsibility in addition to their individual roles. Which is why all the arrested directors have been booked for the same offences, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Hill land panel term extended by 6 months

Justice Shyamal Sen (left) with Morcha leader Roshan Giri at the West Bengal Industrial Development office in Calcutta on Friday. Picture by Bhubaneswarananda Halde

VIVEK CHHETRI, Darjeeling, Jan. 27: The government today extended by six months the tenure of the high-powered committee looking into the territory demands of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which had announced that it would not accept the new arrangement for the hills if it was formed after March 27.
But the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for the hills cannot be formed if the committee does not send its recommendations to the government on the Morcha demand to bring the Gorkha-dominated mouzas of the Dooars and the Terai under the jurisdiction of the new set-up.
The decision on the extension was conveyed to Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri who had been summoned by the 10-member territory committee headed by Justice (retd) Shyamal Sen to hear the party’s submission on the demand.
“The government has extended the tenure of the committee by six more months. We made a submission before the committee demanding the inclusion of the Gorkha dominated areas of the plains — 199 mouzas from the Terai, 196 from the Dooars and three mouzas from the Rajgung block of Jalpaiguri district,” said Giri.
Justice Sen told The Telegraph after the meeting that the term of the committee had been extended till July 28. “The present tenure was to have ended on January 28. However, we are getting submissions on the issue on a regular basis. Today, we received submissions from the CPM and Citu. On February 24, we will hear all the parties concerned,” Sen said.
The extension comes when Morcha chief Bimal Gurung is in no mood to wait beyond March 27 for the formation of the GTA for the hills. “We will not wait beyond March 27,” Gurung had said on January 17.
The GTA cannot be formed before the committee submits its report on the territorial jurisdiction of the set-up.
The current autonomous administrative arrangement, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, does not have territory jurisdiction beyond the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong of the Darjeeling district.
Asked about the implication of the extension, Giri said: “This is the state government’s decision but then we also had made our stand public earlier.”
Although the Morcha had been complaining about the slow pace of work of the territory panel, Giri today said he was hopeful that the process of submitting the recommendations would be expedited. “I made a submission today and the committee has decided to hear all the parties who are in favour and those opposed to the inclusion of the plains area in the GTA on February 24. The meeting will be held in Calcutta from noon till 5pm,” said Giri.
The committee consists of four Morcha representatives, the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, a representative of the state home department, the director of census (representing the Centre) and the administrator of the DGHC, apart from Justice Sen. The committee was supposed to submit its report within six months of its formation in July.
Till now, the panel has received 719 public submissions of which 696 are in favour of being part of the GTA.
Among the rest of the applications which are against inclusion of the plains mouzas in the hill administrative body, eight are from various political parties.
६३ वा गणतत्रं दिवस भूटानमा पनि पालन

राजेश शर्मा, कालिमन्युज, जयगांव २७ जनवरी । भारतको ६३वा गणंतत्रं दिवस भारतमा मात्रै होइन भूटानको राजधानी थिम्पू एंव फुनछोलिंग भूटानमा पनि पालन गरियो । 
भूटानको राजधानीमा भारतको राजदूतवासमा भारतको एम्बासेड्र्र पवन कूमार वर्मा एंव फुन्छोलिंग भूटानको राजदूतवासमा कानसिलेट जनरल जितेन्द्र प्रसाद शर्माले भारतीय राष्टीय गानको साथ भारतको राष्टीय ध्वज भारतीय समय आठ बजेर् तिस मिनट्मा उत्तोलन गरियो । उक्त अवसरमा भारतीय इमट्राडका कर्णल प्रभाकर कुमार लगायत भूटानका जोगदा छेवांग रिंजिंग् औ रोयल भूटान पूलिसका एस पि लगायत धेरै भूटानी उच्चउधिकारीको उपस्थिति थियो । ६३वा गण्तंत्र दिवसमा काउनसुलेट जनरल जितेन प्रसाद शर्माले गणतंत्र दिवसको संबधमा आफ्नो भाषणमा संबोधन गरे।
Tribal face-off in garden - Parishad rebels’ bid to unveil statue triggers tension
TT, Jan. 27: A forcible attempt by the dissident group of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad to unveil the statue of an adivasi leader met with resistance from workers loyal to the official faction in a Dooars tea garden today.

Birsa Tirkey (left) with a Parishad leader in Jalpaiguri on Friday. Picture by Biplab Basak

The statue of Birsa Munda was erected by the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union, a wing of the Parishad, on Beech Tea Estate in Jalpaiguri district. The union had invited Parishad state committee president Birsa Tirkey to unveil the statue tomorrow.
However, a group of rebel leaders led by Raju Bara decided to unveil the statue. The dissidents thought the statue unveiling by Tirkey would lead to the consolidation of the state committee’s base in the Dooars.
But the tea union leaders in the garden got wind of the move and called police.
“All of a sudden, some PTWU leaders who are against Parishad’s state committee, reached the garden this morning and said they would not let Tirkey unveil the statue tomorrow and do it themselves. We opposed the move and said the state president of the Parishad would unveil the statue tomorrow,” said Biren Kuzur, a union leader in the garden.
As an altercation ensued between the groups, Kalchini block development officer and the subdivisional police officer of Alipurduar B.C. Thakur reached the spot. The police asked Bara and his supporters to leave the estate.
“These people (Bara and his followers) did not have the permission to enter the garden or unveil the statue. There were protests from people who had erected the statue. Apprehending a law and order problem, we asked them to leave the place,” said Thakur.
Bara owes his allegiance to John Barla who was dismissed as the president of the Dooars-Terai regional committee of the Parishad. The state committee had taken action against John Barla after he had signed a pact with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to include the entire Dooars and the Terai in the autonomous council proposed for the Darjeeling hills.
As the pressure from the police mounted on Bara to leave the garden, he called up John Barla and other rebel leaders like Sukra Munda and asked them to come to the Beech garden, 70km from Siliguri. But the police pressed for Bara’s retreat and after an hour or so, he left the estate with a passing remark “we will see them at Nagrakata on Sunday”.
The police suspect that the remark was with reference to separate meetings convened by the state president and the rebels in Nagrakata on Sunday. “It is evident that the rebels will try to abort the meeting called by Tirkey to prove that he lacks support in the Dooars,” said a police officer.
Tirkey, who reached New Jalpaiguri by train today, said the rebels were trying to intimidate people by creating tension. “Our programmes will be held as scheduled. The onus is on the police to maintain law and order,” he said.