अनशन तोडे पछि इरोम चानु शर्मिलाले जुन अवस्थामा आफूलाई पाइन् त्यो अवस्थाको शायद उनले कल्पना पनि गरेकी थिइनन्। उनलाई उनकै वरिपरिकाहरूले दुत्कारे, परिवारका सदस्यहरूले घरमा पस्न दिएनन्, आफ्नो प्रेमी जसको भरोसामा नयाँ जीवन शुरू गर्ने आशा साँचेकी थिइन् उनले पनि साथ दिएनन्। शर्मिला आज घरबार विहीन, आत्मीयजन विहीन, सान्त्वना विहीन आफू उभिएको माटोमा नितान्त एक्ली छन् । सत्ताको विरोधमा होस् वा सामाजिक मानसिकताको विरोधमा होस् उनको सङ्घर्ष अझ सकिएको छैन । न सत्ताले न समाजले, न व्यवस्थाले मान्छेलाई मान्छे जस्तै बाँच्न दिन्छ। ऊ जब पनि भीडको विरूद्ध हुन्छ भीड नै उसको घोर शत्रु बन्छ। यो कविता उनैलाई नै समर्पित छ।

जलना तो मुझे अब भी है।

कवियत्री : पवित्रा लामा

मैं फिर उसी मोड पर खडी रह गई
जिस मोड पर आकर करवट ली थी
जिन्दगी की इक नई हसरत ने
कुछ कसमें, कुछ वादे, कुछ सपने
मेरी झोली में डाले थे वक्त ने
मैं उसी मोड पर खडी रह गई ।

क्या हुआ कि मुस्कुराती कलियों पर गिरी है गाज
क्या हुआ कि फिर से मैं अकेली हूँ आज
मेरे साथ चलने वाले वो लोग कहाँ हैं ?
मेरे रूह में साँस भरने वाली वो आह कहाँ हैं ?
जिनके कदमों की आहट मुझे रखती थी हरपल जिन्दा
जिनके दम पर मौत भी होती थी शर्मिन्दा !

कहाँ हैं वो हाथ जो पोंछते थे कभी मेरे आँसू !
वो लोरियाँ वो जलती मशालें कहाँ हैं ?
जब कभी भूख से काँपती थी मेरी अँतडियाँ
मुझे थपकी देकर सुलाते हाथ कहाँ हैं?
क्या अर्थ कुरेदूँ इन सन्नाटों का मैं
क्या मतलब लगाऊँ इन आभासों का मैं
कि मुझे मेरी मिट्टी ने दुत्कार दिया है
मेरी उपस्थिति को सिरे से नकार दिया है

मेरा होना, होना और बस होना
मेरी काया और मेरा साया भी मेरा न होना
क्या सत्ता के नारों के बगैर मैं कुछ भी नहीं
क्या विरोधी उद्गारों के बगैर मैं कुछ भी नहीं
मैंने तो माँगा था हक एक एक भूमिहर के लिए
मैंने चाहा हर कोई जिए तो सर उठा के जिए
  

जिस भूख की आग में सरहदें बिक जाया करती हैं
अस्मत, इज्जत, इमान दाँव पर लग जाया करती हैं
उस भूख की आँच पर भी मैं जिन्दा थी हवाओं के दम पर
मैं थी जिन्दा, थी खडी, बस दुवाओं के बल पर
मैं थी तो टिमटिमाते थे तारे, खुली आसमानों पर
मैं थी तो रोशन थे उम्मीद हर आँखों पर

मैं तो देह हूँ जलती तो मैं तब भी थी
मैं बस देह ही हूँ जलना तो मुझे अब भी है ।

अँगारों भरी राहों में
चलना तो मुझे अब भी है
देह हूँ,
जलना तो मुझे अब भी है।
जलना तो मुझे अब भी है ।

WE MOURN YOUR LOSS OFFICERS - 3 Army Officers Killed in Heli Crash in Sukna

Three Indian Army officers died when a helicopter on a routine sortie crashed at Sukna in Darjeeling district yesterday.

A jawan, who too was in the Cheetah chopper, suffered serious injuries in the crash close to the helipad of the Trishakti Corps in Sukna, 10km from Siliguri.

"Around 11.20am today, an army helicopter crashed while approaching to land at the Sukna Military Station. Three officers were injured fatally and one jawan has been critically wounded in the accident. The Cheetah helicopter had gone on an operational reconnaissance of the forward areas. A court of inquiry has been ordered by the army authorities to ascertain the cause of the incident," the army said in a media release yesterday evening.

Sources said that yesterday morning, two choppers of the Army Aviation Corps had taken off from Sukna to survey the bordering areas as part of a routine exercise.

One of the helicopters crashed, apparently because of a snag, while returning.

The deceased have been identified as Major Sanjeev Lathar, who was the pilot, Major Arvind Bazala, the co-pilot, and Lt Col Rajneesh Kumar.

The injured jawan has been admitted to the army hospital in Bengdubi, near Bagdogra.

The army has started a probe. Police and officials from multiple intelligence agencies visited Sukna to gather information on the crash.

The Cheetah is a single-engine helicopter and is of 1970s vintage and derived from the French Alouette.

A Darjeeling police officer said: "Our officers had been to Sukna after the incident. But we are yet to get more details. As of now, only the basic information is available with us."

This is the first time in five years that an army helicopter has crashed in north Bengal. On April 21, 2011, a Dhruv helicopter carrying two majors and two technical assistants, had crashed in north Sikkim close to the India-China border after taking off from the Sevoke air force station killing all four.

Multiple MiG crashes have, however, been reported in the region.

#RIP #JaiHind

[Via: Telegraph, In Pic: (From left) Lt Col Rajneesh Kumar; Major Arvind Bazala and Major Sanjeev Lathar]

#JAP scoffs at Gurung, Questions His Leadership Ability

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

The Jana Andolan Party yesterday questioned Bimal Gurung's capability to lead the Gorkhaland agitation, picking out lines from his old speeches to hint that he lacked vision and made illogical statements.

Bishal Rai, the president of Jana Andolan's youth wing, yesterday said: "Not long ago, Bimal Gurung had raised an illogical issue of no-man's land and lease-hold land and said Kalimpong could not be upgraded to a district. Now the Calcutta High Court has cleared the proposal of the state government to create the Kalimpong district."

Two days ago, Calcutta High Court had given its nod to set up courts in three proposed areas to be carved out as districts - Kalimpong, Burdwan (industrial) and Jhargram.

Before chief minister Mamata Banerjee started criticising Gurung for not bolstering development in the region, the Morcha ran a one-party show. Of late, the Jana Andolan too has started taking on the biggest party in Darjeeling.

Rai yesterday said: "The country does not question the ability of the common people (of the hills) but with the kind of speeches Bimal Gurung has delivered in the past, I think the country does have questions on the vision and leadership of the political leaders who are currently leading us."

On January 28, the Morcha had organised a show-of-strength rally in Kalimpong, a day after the Jana Andolan was formed. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who had quit the Morcha to form the party, had started campaigning for a separate district of Kalimpong.

During a public meeting on the Mela Grounds in Kalimpong on January 28, Gurung thundered about the Kalimpong district campaign, saying: "Let the central government understand this. I don't have to make the state government understand. First the central government must understand. This is a no man's land, lease-hold land. You first show by incorporating this area inside your own Bharat.... Let Bengal's Miss Mamata Banerjee not boast that this is your place. You can never lay claim to it. For this, we will talk to the Indian government, otherwise at the international level."

Gurung hinted that Kalimpong had not been integrated into India from Bhutan, a claim which was rubbished by Bengal officials later.

When told about the Jana Andolan's criticism, Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: "They are just trying to use it as a political tool."

Rai yesterday said: "We would also appeal to the people to stop listening to such illogical speeches. People with logic should join us."

The Jana Andolan leadership, which held a closed-door meeting at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall in Darjeeling yesterday, scoffed at Gurung's deadline for Gorkhaland.

"Earlier, Gurung had repeatedly talked about a March 10 deadline. Everyone knows what has happened. We would like to tell Gurung that politics and astrology are two different things," Rai said.

From 2008 onwards, Gurung repeatedly said he would form a Gorkhaland state by March 10, 2010, failing which he would shoot himself.

On March 10, 2010, at a public meeting in Kalimpong, Gurung tried to grab a suitcase but was prevented by leaders on stage. It was speculated he was trying to take out a weapon kept in the suitcase.

[Via: Telegraph, file pic]

#GORKHA PRIDE: Congrats Bivek Joshi of #Haflong #Assam

We sends our warmest 'SHOUT OUT" to Mr. Bivek Joshi of Haflong, Assam who has made our community very proud by securing All India Rank (AIR) #2 in Civil Engineering section of the Indian Engineering Service (IES) Exam, 2016.

Through his grit, determination and dedication Bivek has shown that - we the Gorkhas can stand as an equal with anyone across the world, in any field, including academics.

We are hopeful that his success will inspire thousands of our youngsters to believe in themselves and their dreams, and encourages them to strive for achieving the same.

We are so very PROUD OF YOU...

Take a bow Bivek!! You have earned it!!

Nathula, November 30: (Sikkim) The Indo-China Border Trade through Nathula for the year 2016 has formally come to an end with effect from today

.

A formal closing function was organised today at Nathula overseen by officials from Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Sikkim, officials from Central agencies such as Indian Customs, ITBP and Immigration and stakeholders.

Deputy Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department Mr L.N. Nepal on behalf of the State Government declared the trade to be closed for this trading season of the year 2016.

The Indo-China Border Trade through Nathula for the next trading season will resume from 1st of May 2017.

Army Copter Crashes in #Sukna Military Base, 3 Reportedly Killed

An Army helicopter crashed at Sukna earlier today leading to the death of killing three officers onboard.

According to the Army's Eastern Command, "an Army Cheetah helicopter crashed at Sukna at 11.45 am today. Three officers killed. One injured soldier evacuated." Sources have revealed that Maj Sanjeev Lathar, Maj Arvind Bazala, Lt Col Rajneesh Kumar were killed when a Cheetah helicopter crashed after its engine failed at 100 ft.

The condition of a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) remains critical, an Army spokesperson said.

According to army sources, the incident occurred inside Sukna military base, when the chopper was descending after a routine mission.

[Further details of the incident are awaited, File pic from 2010 crash of another Cheeta Helicopter for representative purposes only]

Manoj Tiwari to head Delhi BJP unit, Nityanand Rai new chief of Bihar

Manoj Tiwari will replace Satish Upadhyay in the Delhi BJP unit

BJP chief Amit Shah today appointed party MPs Manoj Tiwari and Nityanand Rai as party’s Delhi and Bihar unit presidents respectively. While Tiwari replaces Satish Upadhyay, Rai replaces Mangal Pandey. Their tenures were long over and new appointments were awaited for the past few months.

Rai is a Yadav, a community over which RJD chief Lalu Prasad has a strong hold. His appointment is seen as an effort by the BJP to go beyond the upper castes, its traditional voters, and reach out to the OBCs in the caste-conscious state where it lost to JDU-RJD combine in the last assembly polls.(PTI)

PM Narendra Modi asks BJP MPs, MLAs to submit details of their bank account transactions between November 8 and December 31 to BJP President Amit Shah.

PM Narendra Modi asks BJP MPs, MLAs to submit details of their bank account transactions between November 8 and December 31 to BJP President Amit Shah.

Newar Development Board to be Headquartered in #Kurseong - TMC Functionaries Made Board Members

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

Kurseong yesterday got its first hill cultural board backed by the state government in a move indicative of Trinamul's aspiration to spread its wings wider in the region.

Hill cultural develop-ment boards are the vehicle using which Trinamul has made some inroads in Darjeeling, much to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's annoyance.

Nine of the 12 development boards for various hill communities that were notified by the state government are headquartered in Kalimpong. Boards for the Sherpa and the Bhutia communities are headquartered in Darjeeling.

Yesterday, Sunil Pradhan, who was yesterday made the chairperson of West Bengal Newar Development Board under the backward classes welfare department, said the board would be headquartered in Kurseong.

"We have been told that the board will be headquartered in Kurseong. We are 200 percent sure of the board functioning from Kurseong. This is the first time that a development board will be functioning from Kurseong," Sunil said.

Sunil said that the demand for a Newar board was raised in 2015 and community members had submitted 18 memorandums and met Mamata 42 times with their demand.

Dipak Pradhan has been made the vice-chairperson of the board.

The board will have Shekar Chandra Pradhan, Prem Kumar Pradhan, Gita Pradhan and Nita Pradhan as executive members in a 24-member general body.

Sunil, who was the president of the Kurseong based Newar (Pradhan) Kalyan Sangathan, has handed over the baton to Shekar following his appointment as the chairperson of the board.

He said the total population of the Newar community in the three hill subdivisions was around 55,000.

"The membership of our Sangathan is growing and we have 7,200 registered members as of now," Sunil added.

A political observer said: "The boards are mostly headquartered in Kalimpong and this gave a feeling that all the boards were predominately being administered from there. However, the government seems to be forming boards in other places such as Kurseong.

"The official stand of the government is that the largest organisation of a particular community would be involved in running the board and that particular organisation could be headquarted in any of the three subdivision of the hills."

Kalimpong is set to be declared a new district soon.

Shekar admitted that he is a Trinamul functionary. "I was the president of the TMC Kurseong block and now I have been made the general secretary of the party's trade union. We admit we are with the TMC," he said.

Asked about the Morcha's allegation of a divide-and-rule policy of the state government, Shekar said: "We do not believe in the allegation."

The development board members did not give a direct answer when asked if various communities were propelled to demand boards for themselves because they felt the GTA had been a failure. "When everyone is demanding and getting a board, it would have been foolish not to demand a Newar board for the uplift of our community," Shekar said.

[Via: Telegraph]

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital

.

The Congress leader was admitted to the hospital for viral fever.

Earlier in August, the 69-year-old leader was admitted to the same hospital after being taken ill during a roadshow in Varanasi

TRAGIC: 76 Killed in #Colombia Plane Crash

Seventy-six people are confirmed dead in chartered plane crash, which was carrying members of a Brazilian soccer club on the outskirts of Medellín, Colombia, the authorities said.

Five of the 81 people onboard survived the crash, according to Brig. Gen. José Gerardo Acevedo, the police commander for the area surrounding Medellín, news agencies reported.

Colombia’s civil aviation agency said the flight was operated by a small airline, LaMia, and carried the soccer club Chapecoense de Brasil.

The team was traveling from Bolivia to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana tournament when the plane crashed about 10 p.m. on Monday.

The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members, according to a statement issued by the Medellín airport. The search was being hampered by low visibility and the rescue crews’ difficulty in reaching the site.

The authorities said the plane had reported electrical problems as it flew near the towns of La Ceja and La Unión in the mountainous stretches around Medellín.

We have posted some final pics taken by the Brazilian footballers as they made their way to a fairytale cup final before a plane crash that claimed 76 lives and left just five survivors.

Defender Alan Ruschel and goalkeeper Danilo Padilha from the top Brazilian side Chapecoense posed for a short video on board a passenger plane with Ruschel, 27, telling fans: 'We’re coming Colombia.'

But their journey from Brazil to the Colombian city of Medellin - ahead of the Copa Sudamerica final - came to a devastating end when a jet they were on crashed down in remote mountains.

#RIP

JUST IN: Calcutta High Court Approves the Formation of Three New Districts, #Kalimpong Included

Calcutta High Court today approved the proposal to care out the three districts of Kalimpong, Burdwan (industrial) and Jhargram.

The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to use guesthouses of various departments as residences of district judges and top district administrative officials to make three proposed districts.

"The proposal for the new districts was approved.... The three new districts will start functioning in April next year," the chief minister said in Nabanna today.

The chief minister also informed that chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee would visit Kalimpong and home secretary Malay De would visit Asansol soon to hold discussions over the preparatory work needed before these areas emerge as new districts.

A section of officials in Nabanna said the chief minister was in a hurry to kick off the new districts.

"This is evident as the chief minister has approved a proposal of using guesthouses of various departments as residences of district judges, district magistrates and police superintendents. Construction of residences for district judges and administrative officials usually take about three years. The chief minister wants to cut down on the time," said a senior official.

Sources in the state administration said the chief minister is in a hurry to make the districts functional as important elections are lined up in the next few years. "In July or August next year the elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would be held," said a source.

According to a minister, the chief minister wants to make Jhargram and Burdwan (industrial) functional ahead of the 2018 panchayat polls.

[Via: Telegraph]

BREAKING: Plane Carrying Brazil's Chapecoense Football Team Has Reportedly Crashed in Colombia

A plane carrying the Brazil's Chapecoense football team has reportedly crashed in Colombia. It was reportedly carrying 72 passengers.

Brazil's Chapecoense football team had reached the final of Copa Sudaamericana 2016 and the team was on their way to the finals.

The plane crashed due to lack of fuel at around 10:15pm local time in Cerro Gordo in the municipality of La Union, according to Mi Oriente a local site.

At least 10 people have been injured and are being evacuated from the scene, the commander of La Union fire department said, according to the local media.

According to reports, a state of emergency has been declared in the region to trace the passengers.

[This is a developing news story, Pic via: RussiaTV]

Left Front Left Red-faced After Demonetization Bandh Fails in Bengal

The Left Front was left red-faced as its 12-hour strike to protest the Centre's demonetization of high-denomination currency notes failed to evoke much response from the people, with front chairman Biman Bose acknowledging that the "thought" behind it was wrong.

"We thought that the people would understand the reason behind the strike. The thought we had was not right; it was wrong. We have understood this. We will take lessons from it in the future. We will discuss it at the party meetings," he candidly told reporters. However, Bose argued that the strike was called at a "very short notice".

Sikkim Government Forms Panel to Examine Lake Formed After a Landslide on Kanaka River

The state government has set up a five-member committee to examine the lake that was formed over the Kanaka river in North Sikkim after a landslide.

The panel visited the spot last week for "primary investigations".

On August 13, a slide at Mantam village in Dzongu had resulted in the formation of the lake and 23 houses had submerged in it. The water body called Thekong Thek Lake is 300m long, 100m wide and 70m deep.

On November 21, the state government issued a notification about the committee that would examine technical reports submitted by various agencies on the stability of the area and recommend measures to ensure that places below it do not have any risk.

"We visited the site on November 25, along with technical experts, and started primary investigations," said the state relief commissioner and the secretary of the land revenue department, Tsegyal Tashi.

The committee is headed by the additional chief secretary, S.C. Gupta, and Tashi is the member secretary. The panel has secretaries of forest, mines and geology and water resource and river development departments as members.

An official in the land revenue department said, if the lake overflows or in case of a lake burst, Singtam, Dikchu, Rangpo, Melli and Makha areas might get affected.

Local people had demanded that the water body should be converted to a tourist spot.

[Via: Telegraph]

Morcha sets Dec 5 deadline for meeting with central govt

Writes : Pramod Giri

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung has set December 5 deadline for the centre to call a meeting to form a committee to look into the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state.

Else, the party will launch fast unto death in Delhi. Addressing a rally at Kurseong on Sunday, Gurung who is also the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) said that he has suggested S S Ahluwalia the Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling to convene a meeting by December 5. If the meeting does of happen, we will stage a hunger strike in Delhi. The hunger strike could last till death, Gurung said.

It may be recalled that the GJM claimed that during Gurung’s last meeting with union home minister Rajnath Singh on November 20, Singh asked Ahluwalia, who is the union minister of state for agriculture and parliamentary affairs, to fix a date for the meeting to set up the committee.

The formation of the committee and the recognition of 11 hill communities as Schedules Tribes are two main demands of the GJM.

Sunday’s meeting in Kurseong was crucial because the GJM suffered a jolt after Bhupendra Pradhan alias Pradip the party’s vice president and the chairman of GTA left the party and joined the TMC on August 24.

Gurung said, “There is no opposition party in the hills other than the Gorkha National Liberation Front.”

Few are joining the TMC with the support of the administration and police, Gurung said adding Pradhan who has already been removed from the post of GTA chairman is still using red light in his car. “We will move to the court against it.”

The GTA will take up Rs 5 crore drinking water project for Kurseong, Gurung announced on Sunday.

[Source:Hindustan Times]

कालेबुङ बिज्ञान केन्द्रको आयोजनामा पावर पोइन्ट प्रेजेन्टेसन सम्पन्न

डी.के.वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 27 नोभेम्बर। । ‘२१ औँ शताब्दीमा भारतमा विज्ञान’ विषय सम्बन्धि कालेबुङ बिज्ञान केन्द्रको आयोजनामा अन्तर महाविद्यालय पावर पोइन्ट प्रेजेन्टेसन प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भएको थियो। प्रतियोगितामा दार्जिलिङबाट सन्त जोसेफ महाविद्यालय, खरसाङबाट खरसाङ महाविद्यालय, पेदोङबाट पेदोङ सरकारी महाविद्यालय अनि कालेबुङबाट कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयले सहभागिता जनाएको थियो।
कार्यक्रममा प्रमुख अतिथिको रूपमा कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाको कार्यकारी अधिकारी के.के. लोहार उपस्थित रहेका थिए भने विशिष्ट अतिथिहरूमा क्रमैले कालेबुङ सरकारी बीटी कलेजका प्राचार्य मनिन्द्र भुजेल, रामलाल दाहाल उच्च विद्यालयका प्रधानाध्यापक पावल सिमिक, चन्द्रमाया उच्च विद्यालयका प्रभारी दुर्गाप्रशाद राई अनि कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयका सह-प्राध्यापक सञ्जय विष्ट उपस्थित थिए।
अन्तर महाविद्यालय प्रतियोगिता कार्यक्रमको निर्णायकहरूमा कालेबुङका उत्तर बङ्ग कृषि विज्ञान केन्द्रबाट क्रमैले डा. साजिद अली, एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर, डा. बी. आर. शर्मा, एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर अनि डा. शरद गुरूङ, एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर थिए। केन्द्रद्वारा आयोजित उक्त प्रतियोगितामा सन्त जोसेफ महाविद्यालयबाट अभिषेक अनि राकेश रामले आफ्नो प्रस्तुति दिएका थिए भने क्रमैले खरसाङ महाविद्यालयबाट सूर्यप्रताप सिङ्गह र जैनब बानु, पेदोङ सरकारी महाविद्यालयबाट शुधाङशु तिवारी र तनद्रिम पुरकैट अनि कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयबाट नुजोङ्ग लेप्चा र अनिशा थापाले आ-आफ्ना प्रस्तुति दिएका थिए।
प्रतियोगितामा कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयले सबैलाई उछिनेर प्रथम स्थान ओगट्न सफल बन्यो भने दोस्रो र तेस्रो स्थानमा क्रमैले खरसाङ महाविद्यालय र पेदोङ महाविद्यालय बनेको थियो। विजयी प्रतियोगीहरूलाई प्रमुख अतिथि लगायत विशिष्ट अतिथिहरूको बाहुलीबाट प्रमाण पत्र, मेडल अनि विजयी ट्रफी प्रदान गरियो। कार्यक्रमा आमन्त्रित सम्पूर्ण अतिथिहरूलाई कृतज्ञतास्वरूप स्मृति-चिन्ह केन्द्रको तर्फबाट केन्द्र प्रमुख डा. बीबी गुरुङले प्रदान गरे। वक्तव्यको क्रममा प्रमुख अतिथि के.के. लोहारले केन्द्रको यस प्रकारको कार्यको खुलेर प्रशंसा गरे।
कार्यक्रमको दोस्रो चरणमा केन्द्रको स्थापना कालदेखिनै केन्द्रद्वारा आयोजित अधिकांश कार्यक्रममा सहयोग दिदैँ आइरहेका अनि क्षेत्रमा तर्क प्रतियोगिता लगायत हाजिरी जवाब प्रतियोगिता प्रति नानीहरूमा जागरूकता जगाउन नि:स्वार्थ सहयोग प्रदान गर्दै आइरहेका क्वीज मास्टर सुरजमणि प्रधान,तकनिकी अनि विज्ञान प्रसारमा अमूल्य योगदान दिने सोनाम योगेल भुटिया अनि सफ्टवेयर इन्जिनियर सुमन राईलाई कार्यक्रममा सम्मान जनाइएको थियो।

[स्रोत: कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ।]

कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयमा इग्नुको स्वागत समारोह सम्पन्न

डी.के.वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 27 नोभेम्बर। कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयमा सञ्चालित इग्नुको अध्ययन केन्द्र ४५०१९ मा जुलाई २०१६ को शैक्षिक सत्रमा भर्ना लिने विद्यार्थीका निम्ति स्वागत कार्यक्रम आज सम्पन्न गरियो। कार्यक्रममा यस शैक्षिक सत्रमा भर्ना लिने मोठ ७६ विद्यार्थीहरूमध्ये अधिकांशको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।
महाविद्यालयकै प्राचार्य डा. राजेन्द्रप्रसाद ढकालको प्रमुख आतिथ्यमा सम्पन्न सो कार्यक्रममा केन्द्रका समन्वयकर्ता सञ्जय छेत्रीले स्वागत भाषण राखेका थिए। यस क्रममा उनले दूरशिक्षा प्रणाली अर्थात् डिस्टेन्स एडुकेसनका रूपमा १९८५ मा सुरु भएको इन्दिरा गान्धी राष्ट्रिय मुक्त विश्वविद्यालयले ग्रहण गरेको उद्देश्य, यसको शैक्षिक पद्धति र परीक्षा पद्धतिबारे प्रकाश पारे। इन्दिरा गान्धी राष्ट्रिय मुक्तविश्वविद्यालयमा रहेको ‘मुक्त’ शब्दको फलस्वरूप धेरैले यसलाई हलुका ठान्ने भए तापनि दूरशिक्षा प्रणालीलाई स्तरीय बनाउने इग्नुको परम् उद्देश्य रहेको र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्तरमा समेत यसको वैधता रहने उनले बताए।
आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा उनले अधिकांश स्थानीय विद्यार्थीहरूले इग्नुमा पनि परम्परागत विषय लिने गरेका र तुलनात्मक दृष्टिमा अधिक उपयोगी विषयहरूमा हाम्रा विद्यार्थीहरू रुचि नरहेकोमा दुखसमेत प्रकट गरे। इग्नुमा अनेक समयोपयोगी र काम लाग्ने विषयहरू रहेकाले हाम्रा विद्यार्थीहरूको रुचि त्यतातिर पनि हुनु पर्ने उनले बताए। आजको कार्यक्रममा इग्नु ४५०१९ अध्ययन केन्द्रका निम्ति इग्नु, नयाँ दिल्लीले अनुमोदन गरेका विषय परामर्शदाता (Programme Counsellors)-हरूको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो र ती विषय परामर्शदाताहरूले पनि कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गरेका थिए।
कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने विषय परामर्शदाताहरूमा महाविद्यालयका भूगोल विभागका प्रमुख श्री देवदत्त राई, वाणिज्य विभागका प्रमुख मनोजित दासगुप्त, अर्थशास्त्र विभागका श्री गोपालचन्द्र मण्डल अनि इतिहास विभागका डा. प्रभात रोय प्रमुख थिए। यी विषय परामर्शदाताहरूले विद्यार्थीहरूले आफ्नो अध्ययनलाई कसरी अघि बढाउनु पर्ने, इग्नुमा भर्ना लिने विद्यार्थीवर्गका निम्ति प्रत्येक विषयका प्रत्येक पत्रमा गर्नु पर्ने एसाइनमेन्टको के कति महत्त्व रहेको छ र सो एसाइन्मेन्ट कसरी तयार पार्नु पर्ने भन्ने विषयमा जानकारी गराए। इग्नुले आफ्ना विद्यार्थीहरूका निम्ति तयार गरेका पाठ्यपुस्तकहरू अति स्तरीय रहेकाले सही ढङ्गमा अध्ययन गर्ने विद्यार्थीले आफ्नो विषयमा दक्षता हासिल गर्ने कुरो निर्विवाद रहेको पनि यी विषय परामर्शदाताहरूले जनाए। इग्नुमा भर्ना लिने विद्यार्थीहरूका निम्ति शनिबार र आइतबार मात्रै परामर्श कक्षा सञ्चालन हुने भए तापनि आफूहरू आवश्यक परेको खण्डमा हप्तैभरि तिनीहरूका निम्ति उपलब्ध हुने पनि यी विषय परामर्शदाताहरूले विद्यार्थीवर्गलाई अवगत गराए।
कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथि कालेबुङ महाविद्यालयका प्राचार्य डा. राजेन्द्रप्रसाद ढकालले आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा विभिन्न व्यक्तिगत कारणले आफ्नो पढाइलाई बिचमा छाड्न बाध्य विद्यार्थीलगायत उच्च शिक्षा प्राप्त गर्न चाहने विभिन्न पेशामा रहेका पहाडवासीकै हितमा महाविद्यालयले इग्नुको अध्ययन केन्द्र स्थापना गरेको हुँदा हाम्रा मानिसहरूले यसको लाभ लिनु पर्ने बताए।
यस स्वागत कार्यक्रममा महाविद्यालयका नेपाली विभागका प्रमुख सुधा गुरुङ, उद्भिद शास्त्र विभागका प्रमुख डा. जयश्री प्रधान अनि अर्थ शास्त्र विभागका प्रमुख डा. दुलालचन्द्र रोयको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। कार्यक्रमलाई इग्नुकै समन्वयकर्ता सञ्जय छेत्रीले सञ्चालन गरेका थिए।

[स्रोत: कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ ।]

गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति काम नगर्ने सांसद अनि विधायकहरूले राजीनामा दिनुपर्छ – डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्री

डी.के.वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 27 नोभेम्बर। गोजमुमो पार्टीका विधायक अनि सांसदले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति काम गर्न सक्दैन भने जनताको आकाङ्क्षालाई कदर गर्दै राजीनामा दिनुपर्ने जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले माग गरेको छ। जाप सर्वोच्च नीति निर्धारण समितिको बैठक पछि पत्रकारहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै जाप अध्यक्ष डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले विधायक अनि सांसदको राजीनामाको माग गरेका हुन्।
जाप पार्टी कार्यलयमा सम्पन्न भएको सभामा अध्यक्ष डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्री, महासचिव नयन प्रधान, सर्वोच्च नीति निर्धारण समितिका सदस्य अधिवक्ता अमर लामा, अनमोल प्रसाद, युसुफ सिमिक आदि उपस्थित रहेका थिए। सभामा जापले घोषणा गरेको कार्यक्रमहरूलाई लिएर चर्चा परिचर्चा सम्पन्न भएको थियो भने पूर्वघोषित संसद घेराउ गर्ने कार्यक्रम अनि देशमा चलिरहेको नोटबन्दीको समस्या र यसबाट सृजित् राजनैतिक सङ्कटबारे पनि चर्चा गरिएको थियो। यसक्रममा जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले गोजमुमो समर्थित भाजपा सांसदलाई विधानसभा चुनाव अघि छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील दिँदै संसदमा पेश गर्ने चुनौति दिएपछि सांसदले विधानसभामा पहिला पारित गर्नु भनेको डा. छेत्रीले बताए।
‘विधानसभामा गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति चुनाव जितेर बिधायक पठाएको छ। अब उनीहरूले नै त्यस बीललाई बिधानसभामा पारित गर्नुपर्ने हो। यतिका दिनसम्म उनीहरूले केहि काम गरेनन। बिधायक अनि सांसद दुवैले काम गरेको छैन। यसकारण अब जनताको भावनालाई कदर गर्दै सांसद अनि विधायकहरू सबैले राजीनामा दिनुपर्नेछ’ डा. छेत्रीले माग गरे। जापले तयार पारेको छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील अब जापले चाँडै संसद घेराऊ गर्ने कार्यमा पुन: सांसद अनि भाजपालाई दिने बताउँदै ‘काम गर्न सक्दैन भने उनीहरूले सक्दिन भन्नुपर्छ’ भने।
यसक्रममा उनले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति काम गर्छु भन्ने गोजमुमोले आजसम्म काम नगरेको अनि सांसदलाई समेत यसबारे काम गराउनका निम्ति दबाउ बनाउन नसकेको डा. छेत्रीले आरोप लगाएका छन्। ‘जापले छुट्टै राज्यको निम्ति सरकारलाई दबाउ बनाउने कार्य गर्नेछ। हामी पूर्वघोषित कार्यक्रम अनुसार प्रमुखरूपले संसद घेराऊ गर्नेछौँ। अहिलेघरी नोटबन्दीको कारण देशको राजनीति बद्लिएको छ। हामी ठिक समय मिलाएर निश्चितरूपले संसद घेराऊको कार्यक्रम बनाउनेछौँ’ डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले भने। यसक्रममा आफुहरूले गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील सरकारलाई दिएर उनीहरूको अवधारणा स्पष्ट बुझ्नको साथै गोजमुमोले गर्दै आएको गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा सम्बन्धि पनि जनतालाई ढाँटॆको उजागर गर्नेछौँ’ डा. छेत्रीले अझ भने।
अर्कोतर्फ डा. छेत्रीले आज कालेबुङमा पिउने पानीको सर्वराहलाई केन्द्र गर्दै सड़कमा आउने, जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले दार्जीलिङ खरसाङका जनताले भोगिरहेको पिउने पानीको समस्यालाई पनि केन्द्र गरेर आन्दोलन शुरू गर्ने घोषणा गरेको छ। जसको फलस्वरूप खरसाङका जनताको निम्ति पिउने पानीको योजनामाथि के कस्ता काम भयो ? सो बुझ्नलाई जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले 5 नोभेम्बरको दिन आरटीआइ पत्र जीटीए पीएचइ विभाग खरसाङलाई पठाएको थियो। यद्यपि उक्त पत्र ग्रहण गर्नधरि विभागले अस्वीकार गरेको भन्दै त्योफर्केर आएपछि नयाँ विवाद शुरू भएको छ।
पीएचइ विभागले राइट टू इन्फरमेशन एक्ट (आरटीआई) 2005लाई पूर्ण उल्लंघन गरेको आरोप लगाउँदै जापले कानूनको ढोका ढकढकाउने घोषणा गरेको छ। ‘खर्साङका जनताले पिउने पानी पाएका छैनन्। यसबारे पीएचई विभागले सूचनाको अधिकार मार्फत जवाब पनि दिन अस्वीकार गरेको छ। यो पानीको घोटाला हो। अब हामी कानुनी कार्वाही गर्नेछौँ’ डा. छेत्रीले भने।

[स्रोत: कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ।]

Civil society, commoners join Mamata in massive protest rally

With film personalities, writers, musicians, sportspersons, and other eminent persons matching steps, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday led a massive rally here to protest the union government's demonetisation initiative.

Middle-class housewives, youths, industrial workers and common people from all other strata of the society joined the civil society and professionals like lawyers, doctors and others in the rally as Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee herself raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.

Taking a hand-held mike, Banerjee, draped in her usual white cotton saree, shouted "Narendra Modi hai hai, Modi Sarkar hai hai" and "Tanashahi nehi cholegal" as the rallyists did a loud encore.

Throughout the 2.8-km march that saw mammoth crowds lining up both sides of the roads, Banerjee responded to the people's greetings with "namaskar" and egged on the participants.

Ministers and senior Trinamool leaders all took part in the march that began from College Street at noon and culminated at Dorina Crossing an hour later.

Matinee idols Dev and Soham, filmmaker Arindam Sil, other leading figures of the Bengali cine world, painters, singers Indranil Sen, Parikshit Bala, Gautam Ghosh, football stars and theatre personalities participated in the march.

It was part of the serial protests organised by the Trinamool against the Modi government's decision to scrap Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes, ostensibly to curb black money and terrorist funding.

Adding colour to the rally were a number of innovative tableaux, banners, placards and posters decrying demonetisation and underscoring its harmful impact on the people

(IAN'S)

8 Crores Worth of Ganja Seized From Siliguri

The Sashastra Seema Bal yesterday seized cannabis weighing over 1,000kg and worth around Rs 8 crore from an abandoned truck at Fulbari on NH31D.

No one has been arrested.

D.K. Singh, the second-in-command of the 41st battalion of the SSB, said: "We got information that a vehicle from Manipur loaded with cannabis will move through Fulbari bypass area this morning. Our men had been waiting but they could not trace the truck as the registration number that we got from our sources didn't match with any vehicle."

Later, a truck with an Assam number plate was spotted at Fulbari on the outskirts of Siliguri."We contacted New Jalpaiguri police and searched the vehicle," Singh said.

Sources in the SSB said 1,009kg of ganja packed in 97 packets had been seized and the smugglers were taking it to Bihar.

Singh said the cannabis was worth Rs 7.9 crore.

"The cannabis had been smuggled from Manipur. The ganja was wrapped in plastic packets. The packets were hidden in a compartment inside the truck," he said.

Many fake number plates were found in the truck, SSB sources said.

[Via: Telegraph, Pic: Passang Yolmo]

"Central Government Must Respond Positively by December 5th" - says Bimal

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha rally in #Kurseong yesterday, saw massive participation of its supporters. The rally, which is a part of previously declared program of conducting a series of Public meetings on #Gorkhaland issue, did not seem to be effected by demonetization drive.

Speaking to the people, GJM Chief Bimal Gurung said, "if I wanted to ditch the Gorkhaland demand, I would be rolling in money today... if I wanted to give up on our dreams, I would be Mamata's favourite... but I refused to compromise and I will continue with our struggle for Gorkhaland till my last breath...."

He reminded the people, "when we formed GJM, I had sworn by Mahakal Baba and Sinchel Devi Maa that I won't give up unless Gorkhaland is formed, and I am living that promise..."

Speaking about center's response so far, Mr. Gurung said, "We have repeatedly appraised the Central Government about our demand, recently when I met with Home Minister Rajnath Singh I requested him to form a committee to examine the demand for Gorkhaland at the earliest, he has assured me that he will call for a meeting soon in this regard... we are waiting, and we expect the Central government to respond positively by December 5th... else we are heading to Delhi with our protests... we won't trouble the common people in our region... but we will take our protests to Delhi... the protest can take any form, and I do not rule out an indefinite Hunger Strike as well..."

Taking a dig at former GJM leader Pradip Pradhan, who has now joined TMC, Mr. Gurung said, "The shamelessness of some people has crossed all limits... GTA Sabha removed Pradip Pradhan from the post of Chairman, yet he travels around in a red-beacon fitted vehicle... in what capacity is he travelling thus?"

He added, "some people say Trinmool Congress is spreading in the hills... I refuse to believe that... Yes GNLF is present in the hills... I agree... but not TMC... a political party is comprised of cadres with ideology... what TMC has in the hills is group of addicts, drug pushers, wife beaters and criminals... they don't comprise a political party... so time has come for the people of our region to realize that supporting them is

to burying the demand for Gorkhaland..."

The public meeting was attended by Kurseong MLA Dr Rohit Sharma, GJM Study Forum member P Arjun and all the Kurseong Sabhasads among others.

-TheDC

BUSTING THE #DEMONETISATION MYTH: 4.62% More Rabi Crops Planted So Far As Compared to A Year Earlier, 36% More Over Past Week

Rabi, or winter crop, planting increased 36% over the past week, in contrast to expectations in some quarters that the scrapping of high-denomination currency notes would adversely affect sowing.

Winter crops were planted on 327.62 lakh hectares as of Friday, compared with 241.73 lakh hectares on November 18, according to data from the agriculture ministry. The acreage planted is 4.62% higher than a year earlier, when crops covered 313.17 lakh hectares.

The area under pulses, oilseeds and wheat increased from a year earlier, while planting of coarse cereals and rice fell. The government has set a rabi season crop planting target of 638.09 lakh hectares                       

Expectations that farmers would run out of cash to buy seeds and fertilisers after the government withdrew 86% of the currency in circulation had fuelled concerns that agricultural productivity would be adversely affected. India had a normal monsoon in 2016 after two years of deficient rainfall, raising prospects for a bumper harvest.

Water levels in key reservoirs were higher, improving the prospects of planting crops after the four-month monsoon season ended in September.                       

India’s 91 major reservoirs held 105.2 billion cubic metres of water, or 25% more than at the same time last year, as of Thursday, suggesting better availability for winter crops. However, the level was 3% less than the 10-year average, according to data on the Central Water Commission website.

The agriculture ministry said wheat had been sown or transplanted on 127.15 lakh hectares, a 60% increase over the previous week and 8.38% higher than a year ago. Planting was marginally delayed in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The area under rice cultivation shrank 25.06% from the previous year to 6.82 lakh hectares. The area under pulses—gram, lentil, field pea, kulthi, urad bean, moong bean and lathyrus—covered 95.09 lakh hectares, an increase of 27.55% over the previous week and 7.92% from a year ago.

Planting of oilseeds, predominantly mustard and groundnut, was done on 64.21 lakh hectares, a rise of 14.33% over the previous week and 14.12% over 2015.

Planting of coarse cereals – jowar, bajra, ragi and maize – increased 32.2% over the previous week to 34.35 lakh hectares, although it was 18.9% lower than the previous year.

[Via: Economic Times, file pic]