पहाड़मा मुख्य मंत्री ममता बेनर्जीले गोर्खाहरुको 15 वटा बोर्ड़लाई 96 कड़ोर अनि जिटिएलाई 705.58 प्रदान

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कालेबुङ 29 मई ।114 दिन बन्द भएपछि पहाडमा गणतन्त्र स्थापित गर्न बंगालका मुख्यमन्त्री ममता 
व्यानर्जीले आफ्नो राजनैति चलाए पछि पहाडमा एउटा नयाँ मोड लिएको छ ।

जसको साटो अहिले वर्तमान पहाडमा विभिन्न साहरुख आफ्नो आफ्नो बोर्ड गठन गरेपछि पहाडमा राजनीतिक मोड कतातिर मोडिने हो देश माथि जनताको ध्यान आकर्षण भएको छ। अर्कोतिर भन्ने हो भने पहाडमा बस्ने सिंगो गोर्खा जातिहरु अहिले बेग्लै बेग्लै आफ्नै आफ्नै जातका बोर्डहरु लिएर प्रमुख मुद्दा गोर्खाल्यण्ड  अलग राज्यको मागलाई कतातिर विषयलाई लिएर जनताको आफ्नो नजर टिकेको छ । यस्तै क्रममा हाल भारतीय गोर्खाहरुको पहाडमा बसोबास गरिरहेका जातिहरुलाई विभिन्न जातीहरु मुख्य बोडहरुलाई  प्रदान गर्ने क्रममा हाल 96 करोड रुपियाप्रदान गरिएको छ यसैक्रममा तिनले भनेका छन् मलाई साहारा आठ जति विलम्भ  भएतापनि कहिले पहाडको बिकासको निम्ति योजना सोचिरहेको छु ।

जसको निम्ति मैले आज तेह्रौ योजनाको उद्घाटन गर्ने क्रम लिएर आज कालेबुङ आइपुगे हो भन्दै गोर्खा जातिहरुलाई आगामी तृणमूल काग्रेसको समर्थन गरिदिन रुपमा संभाषण राखे। 

तीनले यसरी भाषण क्रममा भनेकी छिन् कि पहाड   विलम्ब भएको मुख्य कारण पहाडमा अशान्तीको मावल  थियो जसले कारणले पहाडी क्षेत्रलाई धेरै ठूलो रुपमा कति पुगेको छ  । तर म उपहारमा जबसम्म शान्ति बहाली गर्न सक्दैन तबसम्म बारम्बार पहाड़मा आइरहने स्मरण गराइन।.राम्रो अनि अझ राम्रो काम गर्नेछ त्यस बोर्डलाई म धेरै सहयोग गर्नेछु। यदि जीटीएले रामो भन्दा राम्रो काम गर्छ भने म धेरै सहयोग गर्नेछु। हिजका दिनमा जे भयो भयो, आउनुहोस् एउटा परिवार भएर काम गरौँ। म देख्न चाहन्छु हाम्रो कञ्चनजङ्घा हाँसोस्, चियाबारी हाँसोस्’ – उक्त कुरा मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले भनेकी हुन्।

उनी आज कालेबुङमा अल बोर्ड को-अर्डिनेसन कमिटिको आयोजनामा सम्पन्न कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथिका रूपमा उपस्थित बनेकी थिइन्।पाँच दिवसीय कालेबुङ भ्रमणमा आएकी मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले बिभिन्न बिकास बोर्डहरूलाई मोठ 96 करोड रूपियाँको चेक प्रदान गरिन्। यसका साथै उनले विभिन्न बिकास बोर्डका 66 जना उपभोक्ताहरूलाई पनि चेक दिइन्। यस अवसरमा उनले 24 वटा बिकास कार्यहरूको पनि रिमोटद्वारा शिल्यान्यास गरेकी छन्।

‘तपाईँहरू कस्तो हुनुहुन्छ?’ भनेर नेपाली भाषामा सम्बोधन गर्ने मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले भनिन्-‘धेरै दिनपछि तपाईँहरूसग भेट्ने मौका मिल्यो। म वर्षभरी पहाडमा आउन चाहन्छु तर 8 महिना आउन सकिन। किनभने यहाँ केही समस्या थियो।’ यसक्रममा उनले सधैँ आफुले पहाडको बिकास गर्न चाहेको कुरा दोहोर्‍याइन्।  यसक्रममा उनले तेञ्जिङ शेर्पालाई पनि सम्झना गर्न पछि परिनन्। तेञ्जिङ शेर्पाको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भनिन्-‘तेञ्जिङ भारतका गौरव हुन्।’लगभग 18 मिनटको सम्बोधनमा उनले बिगतमा भएका कुराहरूलाई सम्झना गर्न नचाहेको पनि बताए। ‘जे भयो भयो म त्यसलाई भुल्न चाहन्छु। यदि मेरो पक्षबाट पनि केही गल्ति भएका छन् भने त्यस गल्तिलाई सुधार्न चाहन्छु। जे भयो भयो म त्यसलाई दोहोर्‍याउँदै बोल्न चाहन्न। तर म यति चाहन्छु कि पहाडले अघाडी बडोस्’ ममता ब्यानर्जीले भनिन्। उनले विगतवर्ष भएको बन्दबारे साङ्केतिक कुरा गर्दै अझ भने-‘यदि कुनै नेताले 5-6 महिना अथवा 8 महिना बन्द गर्छन्। त्यसले जनताको दिल पनि बन्द हुन्छ। बेरोजगारी बड्छ, खाना पाउँदैनन्। जनताले समस्याको सामना गर्न पर्छ। सरकारको बिकासको काम पनि रोकिन्छ। हामी आठमहिना जति अघि बड्न सक्नेथियौँ त्यो रोकिदिएको छ। यसकारण यस आठमहिना पछि परेकोलाई पुरा गर्न धेरै राम्रोसँग कार्य गर्नुपर्नेछ।’उनले दार्जीलिङ, कालेबुङको पर्यटन देख्नका निम्ति पर्यटकहरू धेरै आउँछन्  भन्दै उक्त पर्यटकहरू पहाडवासीका निम्ति लक्ष्मी हुन् भनिन्। ‘यो तपाईँहरूको लक्ष्मी हो। लक्ष्मीलाई स्वागत गर्नुहोस्। यहाँको पर्यटनलाई अझै बिकास गर्नेछौँ’ ममता ब्यानर्जीले थपिन्। कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै उनले पहाडवासीको पनि उत्तिकै प्रशंसा गरिन्। ‘दार्जीलिङ पहाडको संस्कृति साह्रै राम्रो छ। यहाँका छोरा-छोरीहरू राम्रा छन्। उनीहरूले राम्रा काम गर्छन्। त्यसलाई प्रोत्साहन दिने हाम्रो काम हो। हामी अघि बड्नका निम्ति सहयोग गर्छौँ’ मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले पहाडवासीको प्रशंसा गर्दै पर्यटन बिकासको निम्ति सहयोग गर्ने बताइन्।‘मलाई दार्जीलिङमा इन्डस्ट्रियल मिट हुँदा बिनय तामाङले दार्जीलिङमा आफ्नै स्टेट युनिभर्सिटी हुनपर्छ भनेका थिए। धेरै दिनसम्म तपाईँहरूले केन्द्रिय विश्वविद्यालय माग्नु भयो, तर केन्द्रले दिएन। यसैले तपाईँहरूको मागलाई मैले पुरा गरेर मङ्पूमा जमीन हेरेका छौँ। मङ्पूमा तपाईँहरूका निम्ति स्टेट युनिभर्सिटी  बनिनेछ’ मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले स्टेट युनिभर्सिटि निर्माणको घोषणा गर्दै भने। यसैक्रममा उनले बनबासीहरूका निम्ति पर्जा पट्टा दिने घोषणा पनि गरिन्।‘फरेस्टमा बस्नेहरूलाई हामी पट्टा दिनेछौँ। यहाँबाट प्रस्थान हुन अघि 3 सयजनालाई पट्टा दिनेछौँ। एउटा कार्यक्रम आयोजना गरेर उनीहरूलाई पट्टा दिनेछौँ’ मुख्यमन्त्रीले भनिन्।‘आज बिकास बोर्डहरूलाई यहाँ 96 करोड रूपियाँ दिएका छौँ। बोर्डहरूमार्फत् अहिलेसम्म 47 हजार मानिसहरूले लाभ पाएका छन्। 19 हजार शौचालय बनियो अनि 70 झोडा बनि सकेको छ। होस्टेल बनायौँ। कम्युनिटी डेभलपमेन्टको काम गर्‍यौँ। धेरै मानिसहरूलाई घर बनाइदियौँ। बिकास बोर्डहरूले जनताको निम्ति राम्रा काम गरिरहेका छन्’ मुख्यमन्त्री ब्यानर्जीले बिकास बोर्डहरूको प्रशंसा गर्दै भनिन्। उनले जीटीएको पहिलो बोर्डले राजीनामा दिएकै कारण मनोनित गरेर जनताको हितमा कार्यहरू गरेको दाबी गरेकी छन्। ‘पहिलेको जीटीएले राजीनामा गरेर गयो। त्यसपछि जीटीएको काम रोकियो। हामीले जनताको निम्ति मनोनित गरेर जीटीए नयाँ बनायौँ। चुनावको परिस्थिति थिएन यसकारण नोमिनेट गरेर बनायौँ’ उनले अझ भनिन्- ‘पहिलेको जीटीएलाई हामीले 3,804.17 करोड दिएका थियौँ अनि अहिलेको नयाँ जीटीएलाई 705.58 करोड दिएका छौँ। जम्मा 4,509.75 करोड दिइसकेका छौँ।’

मुख्यमन्त्रीले बिकासका निम्ति सरकारले दिएका सम्पूर्ण पैसालाई बिकास बोर्ड अनि जीटीएले ठिकसँग प्रयोग गर्नु भनि निर्देश दिँदै जति राम्रो काम गर्छ त्यतिनै सरकारले सहयोग गर्ने आश्वासन पनि दिइन। ‘हाम्रो जति बोर्डहरू छन् अनि जीटीए छ यसले ठिकसँग काम गरोस् भन्ने चाहन्छु। सबैले ठिकसँग अडिट पनि गर्नुपर्छ। फिनान्सियल पोजिसन ठिक राख्न पनि आवश्यक छ। हामी जसरी सरकारमा काम गर्छौँ। यो जनताको पैसा हो। जनताको पैसा बोर्डमा पनि ठिकसम्म हिसाब राख्नुपर्छ। जसले पछिबाट कुनै दुख नहोस्’ ब्यानर्जीले थपिन।तीनले आफ्नो भाषाको क्रममा गोर्खाजातीलाई आफ्नो पक्षलाई प्रभावित पार्नको निम्ति  नेपाली भाषामा बोल्दैन तिनले भने कि गोर्खाहरुको तिनको हेर्दैमा छन् तिमीहरु विकास गर विकास गर्छु भने ममतादिदी तिमीहरुसँग रहेको आफ्नो संभाषण क्रममा राखेका छन्। यसरी नै तिनले आफ्नो सम्भाषणमा पहाडमा रहेको भारतीय जनता पार्टीको सांसद लाई हटाउनु पर्ने संकेत दिदै नाम उच्चारण नगरीकन भारतीय जनता पार्टीलाई अब गोर्खाहरुले पखाल्नुपर्छ त्यहाँ तृणमूल कांग्रेस को झण्डा फेर्नुपर्छ भनेर आज सम्भाषणमा गोर्खाहरुलाई अपिलको रुपमा गोर्खा जातिहरूको बोड तिनको पार्टी यसै उद्देश्यले दिएको संकेतको रुपमा सम्भाषणमा जनसमुदायलाई बताएका छन्। कालेबुङ शहरदेखि लगभग 5 किलोमिटर टाडामा अवस्थित डा. ग्राह्म होम्स ग्राउण्डमा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा मुख्यमन्त्रीसँगै जीटीए अध्यक्ष बिनय तामाङको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। यसका साथै कार्यक्रममा मन्त्री अरूप विश्वास, मन्त्री इन्द्रनिल सेन, मन्त्री गौतम देव, राज्यसभा सांसद शान्ता छेत्री, जीटीए उपाध्यक्ष अनित थापा, गोरामुमो अध्यक्ष मन घिसिङ लगायत राज्यका शिर्षस्थ अधिकारीवर्ग उपस्थित रहेका थिए। कार्यक्रमलाई विभिन्न बिकास बोर्डका अध्यक्षहरूले पनि सम्बोधन गरेका थिए भने 15 वटा बिकास बोर्डका कलाकारहरूले मुख्यमन्त्रीद्वारा रचित राष्ट्रभक्ति गीत एकसाथ प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए। कार्यक्रमको ट्राफीक बेवस्थाले  मानिसहरुलाई कालेबुङमा हिड़-डुल गर्नू असुविधाको सामना गर्न परेको थियो जस्तै उदाहरणको निम्ति मानिसहरुले दुख पोख्दै भनेका छन् कि ट्राफिक व्यवस्था भने बेहाल रहेको एकातिर विकास बोर्डलाई पैसा बाडेर विकासको नाम त होइन भोट बटुल्ने काम गरिरहेका छन् भनी मन्तव्य राजीले आरोप लगाउँदै जनताले भने  व्यवस्थालाई सुधार्ने को काममा विकास गरेको भए यस्तो समस्या नहुने बताएका छन् ।

Nipah virus death toll reaches 13 in Kerala, state govts issue advisories

Nipah was first detected in Malaysia in 1998, followed by Bangladesh in 2001 and annual outbreaks have occurred in that country since, with the disease also occurring periodically in eastern India, making it the third country.

In pic : Medical staff wearing protective suit to avoid contacting Nipah virus. (Photo: IANS/File)

Even as Nipah virus death toll in Kerala reached 13 with the death of a 62-year-old woman, who was under treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital, various state governments have issued directives and advisories. Government agencies from different sates have urged people to take immediate measures in case they experience symptoms of the virus, and refrain from travelling to Kerala.

Nipah virus symptoms are not specific and include flu-like illness and hence can be confused with any respiratory illness.

Nipah was first detected in Malaysia in 1998, followed by Bangladesh in 2001 and annual outbreaks have occurred in that country since, with the disease also occurring periodically in eastern India, making it the third country.

The fourth country reporting Nipah virus infection is the Philippines.

The natural host of the virus are fruit bats. Human infections can result from contacts with infected pigs. Humans become infected with Nipah as a result of consuming food products contaminated by secretions of infected fruit bats.

In some cases human-to-human transmission has also been documented.

A majority of the deaths have been reported from Kozhikode in Kerala, while the others from nearby Malappuram district.

Telangana

K Shankar, director, Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) said that people should postpone their plans to visit Kerala in view of the situation there. He said people should avoid visiting affected areas.

Officials of Medical and Health Department also said that they were advising people not to visit Kerala at least till the situation comes under control.

The authorities are conducting campaigns in residential colonies to create awareness among people about Nipah virus and also to advise them against visiting Kerala.

They were also screening people at airport, railway and bus stations for suspected symptoms of the dreaded virus.

Sikkim

The Sikkim health department has issued an advisory urging the people of the state to take precaution against Nipah virus.

“Though there is minimal possibility of Nipah virus in Sikkim, but the people need to take precaution,” it said in an advisory in the wake of Nipah outbreak in Kerala.

The symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, vomiting and fainting. Some may show symptoms of epilepsy. The symptoms may last 10-12 days followed by unconsciousness and death as a result of brain fever, the advisory said.

It is advised to the people that they should not eat fruits and vegetables bitten by birds, bats and animals, wash their hands properly after contacting infected person and monitor fever cases with history of travel to the affected areas i.e. Kerala.

Bihar

The Bihar government issued Nipah virus alert, asking people to take precautions, an official said.

“The government has issued an alert of Nipah virus (NiV) in view of its outbreak in Kerala that has claimed 10 lives and created panic,” said health department official RD Ranjan.

An advisory has also been issued to people with the dos and don’ts as preventive measures, said Ranjan.

“People have been advised to keep distance from bats and pigs. They have been asked not to consume fruits without washing them.”

According to health experts, Nipah symptoms are not specific and include flu-like illness and hence can be confused with any respiratory illness.

The natural host of the virus are fruit bats. Human infections can result from contacts with infected pigs.

Madhya Pradesh

In the wake of the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala which claimed many lives, Madhya Pradesh Health Ministry also issued an advisory.

Health Services Director BN Chouhan, however, said there was no reason to worry as the virus is generally limited to a place.

He advised against eating fruits that are fallen on the ground or appear to have animal teeth or claw marks. “People should avoid going to areas that might have bats. Stay away from suspected infected persons.”

Those living in areas with a bat population or where travellers from Kerala are staying should contact the nearest government hospital if any symptoms of Nipah are found.

According to Chouhan, Nipah virus spreads to humans after direct contact with infected bats or pigs. Its symptoms are headaches, fever, bodyache, cough, problems in breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, laziness and others.

UAE issues Kerala travel warning

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has asked people to put off unnecessary travel to Kerala where a Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak has claimed lives of at least 12 people.

“The Mohap alerts the people travelling to Kerala to be aware of contracting the infection and advises them to postpone unnecessary travel till the situation is controlled,” the Khaleej Times quoted a Ministry statement.

“The Ministry works with its strategic partners to assess the risk of importation of Nipah cases to the country and put the necessary control measures. Also, Mohap is in continuous coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to implement the global recommendations,” it added.

Dubai-based Emirates airlines said that they were monitoring the situation closely.

“With regards to preventive or other measures, we will take guidance from the WHO and other international bodies. At this time, there are no recommended actions for airlines,” it said.

The WHO has not issued any specific advice to countries that have not been affected by the Nipah but has asked them to enhance the level of preparedness.

Among the advisories given, the world body has advised countries to enhance surveillance at healthcare facilities including at points of entry and give case definitions among healthcare workers.

Himachal Pradesh

Tests in the National Institute of Virology in Pune have ruled out that the dead bats found dead in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district were carrying the Nipah virus. The institute said the bats died of some other reason.

Panic spread as several bats were found dead at Government Senior Secondary School in Barmapapri this week.

Samples from dead bats in Sirmaur were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology for testing and all the samples were reported negative for the Nipah virus, according to an official statement quoting Additional Chief Secretary BK Agarwal.

Source : The Statesman

Affairs of state and culture mix

Writes : Devadeep Purohit 

IF WE CAN FIGHT, WE CAN LAUGH TOO

Santiniketan: Three leaders of the subcontinent were in Tagore's abode on a cultural mission on Friday but they left the picturesque Visva-Bharati fulfilling their respective political agendas.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee came together at Santiniketan for the formal inauguration of Bangladesh Bhavana, built with a Rs 25-crore grant from Dhaka.

The programme that lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes, followed by a summit between Hasina and Modi, were much more than celebrating common cultural heritage.

Hasina's homework

Among the three, the programme was undoubtedly more important for Hasina, which she used to serve multiple purposes: seeking to strengthen her position in domestic politics, giving a push to pending bilateral issues and reaching out to the international community.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister's speech was steeped in emotion as she explained how her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, led the fight to restore the pride of their mother tongue. Mid-way through her speech, Hasina choked and narrated how almost the entire family was eliminated on August 15, 1975, and how she was offered refuge in a friendly India.

She eloquently recollected the family's association with Tagore before staking a claim to the bard. "He wrote several of his poems while he was in Bangladesh.... He is more ours than yours," she said, before switching to Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh.

The rounds of applause that followed each time she mentioned Tagore and Nazrul are likely to resonate beyond the borders as over 100 eminent personalities from the world of culture and academia were among the audience at the Bangladesh Bhavana auditorium.

The timing suits Hasina, whose country heads to its next general election this December. "Nothing binds Bangladesh like culture and the love for the language. Those in the audience will take her message back and it will help her," said an observer of Bangladeshi politics.

In the past few years, the pressures of realpolitik had often pushed Hasina to negotiate with Islamist pressure groups like the Hefazat-e-Islam. Although this was billed a tactical move, secularists -- who form the core support base of the ruling Awami League - felt betrayed.

"The secularists can now heave a sigh of relief and that's good news for her," said a source.

Hasina obliquely referred to the elephant in the room and resisted the temptation of uttering the T-word . "There are some pending issues between the two countries.... But on an occasion like this, I don't want to talk about them," said Hasina as she shared the dais with Mamata, whose resistance has come in the way of the Teesta water-sharing deal.

Hasina mentioned the problem of Rohingya refugees settled in camps in Bangladesh. "We extended humanitarian assistance to them. Now, pressure has to be created on Myanmar so that they take back these people," she said, trying to draw international attention to the refugee crisis.

Modi's mission

In his 18-minute speech, the Indian Prime Minister iterated how India stood committed to friendship with Bangladesh. He started his speech in Bengali and Hasina broke into laughter. Modi described how the relationship has reached a " sonali addhyay (golden chapter)" in recent years.

Not only was his speech peppered with praise for Bangladesh for its achievements, it also held out a promise. "The Prime Minister has a vision to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041 and India will do everything possible to help her realise this dream," said Modi, who later met Hasina for a one-to-one meeting.

A source later said that the Bangladesh Prime Minister was very pleased with the outcome of the summit meeting.

What they discussed was kept under the wraps but the "informal summit meeting" was good news for New Delhi.

Against the backdrop of murmurs that India is losing some of its trusted friends like Bangladesh and Bhutan to China, the summit promised the beginning of a new era.

Mamata's messages

In September 2011, Mamata had dropped out of the team that accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his maiden Bangladesh visit. But on Saturday, the chief minister, who has been keeping a keen eye on national issues, played an active role as Singh's successor tried to engage with his Bangladesh counterpart.

When Hasina and Modi posed for the cameras after the ceremonial inauguration of Bangladesh Bhavana, Mamata wasn't just another bystander. Hasina called her to step forward, probably realising that the picture looked incomplete without her.

The shutterbugs clicked but the shoot was far from over. All of a sudden, Hasina prodded Mamata to come by her side and the chief minister did so with alacrity.

"Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very dear to us," she started her speech to a round of applause.

"We have plans to set up a Bangabandhu Bhavana," Mamata said.

As Mamata was the first speaker, she probably tried to pre-empt Hasina on the sensitive topic river water-sharing.

"A lot of water has flown down the Padma-Jamuna-Meghna rivers and a lot of water will flow in future as well," Mamata said, which some interpreted as a suggestion that the Teesta issue could be a work in progress.

OTHER MESSAGES

Modi: The relationship with Bangladesh has reached a “sonali adhyay (golden chapter)” in recent years. Prime Minister Hasina has a vision to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041 and India will do everything possible to help her realise this dream

Mamata: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very dear to us. A lot of water has flown down the Padma-Jamuna-Meghna rivers and a lot of water will flow in future as well

In pic : Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi could not help breaking out in laughter when Hasina requested Mamata, who was standing  behind, to step forward and join the Prime Ministers for a photo session in Santiniketan on Friday. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Source :Telegraph

PM Modi apologises for water paucity at Visva Bharati University

A youth of Chandannagar in Hooghly district allegedly broke the security cordon for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give him a portrait of Rabindranath Tagore at the podium of the convocation ceremony of Visva Bharati University (VBU) in Amrakunja here on Friday.

The incident occurred after the convocation ceremony got over and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed along with state chief minister Mamata Banerjee had left the podium.

Mr Modi was visibly surprised as the person tried to give him a portrait of Rabindranath Tagore. The Special Protection Group (SPG) commandoes caught him and removed him from the dias, only to hand him over to the local police. He was interrogated at Santiniketan police station later.

The incident raised a question on the security arrangements put in place by SPG personnel from New Delhi. When contacted, officiating V-C of VBU, Mr Sabujkali Sen, said: “I have seen the incident, I was present on the dias then. I don’t know the person.”

The police said that the incident is being probed. Besides the Prime Ministers of Indian and Bangladesh, state governor, state chief minister and other VVIP dignitaries were present at Santiniketan on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mr Modi apologised to the students of the university as its vice-chancellor. PM Modi said, he learnt about the paucity of drinking water at Santiniketan while coming to the institution.

“As I was coming by car, some children gestured to me that they don’t even have drinking water. As the chancellor, I tender my apology,” Mr Modi said as he started his speech at the university.

Six-tier security arrangement system had been put in place in Amrakunja on Friday, as a result of which students were not allowed to carry water bottles. Due to extreme humidity, students faced problems.

Many of them did not receive any pouch and some of them even fainted due to excessive heat and dearth of drinking water. VBU had sought 6000 water pouches , while the total number of attendees went beyond 10,000, leading to such a crisis. Several youths protested outside the convocation ceremony venue over non-availability of drinking water.

IN pic : Prime Minister Narendra Modi in convocation ceremony of Visva Bharati University. (Photo: Twitter)

Source : The Statesman

Fever, diarrhoea stalk S Dinajpur villages; 80 ill

Mystery fever and diarrhoea that have spread in two villages in Gobindapur and Daudpur under the Banshihari block in South Dinajpur have so far affected 80 villagers. Twenty of them have been admitted in the Rashidpur hospital, while a medical team led by the Banshihari BDO, has visited the villages and taken samples of the drinking water source there.

According to officials of the district health department, they have already taken up preventive measures in the entire area. Local people said that 20 villagers were initially admitted in the Rashidpur hospital with diarrhoea on Wednesday night after they attended an Iftar party and ate there on Tuesday.

Later, fever started affecting the villagers. “Eighty persons are presently suffering from diarrhoea and fever. The symptoms are high fever, headache and vomiting. A total of 20 villagers are undergoing treatment in the Rashidpur hospital. A medical team has visited the village,” health department sources said.

The block administration, in the meantime, has arranged for purified drinking water for the villagers. A medical team led by the health department has started an awareness campaign in the villages too, while special care is being taken to look after the sources of drinking water in the villages, mainly water bodies and hand pumps, it is learnt.

“We had attended an Iftar party in our village. Later, some villagers fell ill with symptoms of vomiting and fever. They were admitted to the Rashidpur hospital. The number of patients suffering from diarrhoea and the unknown fever is increasing. Not only in Gabindapur, people living in Daudpur are also experiencing similar symptoms,” said one of the villagers, Md Mubarak Hussain.

According to Banshihari BDO Subhajit Das, the process of disinfecting water sources in the village has begun. “The block administration has put in all its effort to contain the situation as quickly as possible. There are no reports of new patients. Medicines are being distributed across the village and we are monitoring the situation,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer, South Dinajpur, Sukumar Dey said, “I visited both the villages yesterday(Thursday). The health department has collected food and water samples from the villages. Health staffs are trying hard to detect the infecting agent. We hope that the infection will soon go away. The situation is under control.”

Source : The Statesman

Ayodhya is incomplete without Janaki, says PM Modi referring to India-Nepal relation

SNS Web | New Delhi | 

On his third visit to Nepal since he became the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi chose Janakpur, the birthplace of Goddess Sita, to connect with the people of the Himalayan nation.

Speaking at a reception held in his honour in the holy city located in Dhanusa district of Nepal’s Province-2, the PM began with an apology.

“When I became the PM of India in 2014, I had announced in the constitutional meeting that I will soon visit Janakpur. I apologise for the delay in arrival,” he said to thousands of people who had gathered at the venue to catch a glimpse of Modi.

The PM then hailed the relation between India and Nepal likening it to the relation between Ayodhya and Janakpur under King Dashrath and King Janak.

“India and Nepal are two nations who are tied by a history spanning eras. Raja Dasdhrath and Raja Janak not only tied Ayodhya and Janakpur but also India and Nepal in a bond of friendship,” said Modi.

The PM said that the bond of friendship between the two countries is like the “bond Ram and Sita, of Buddha and Mahavira”.

“This bond brings a devotee from Rameshwaram to Pashupatinath,” said the PM, adding “This bond takes the one in Lumbini to Bodh Gaya. It is this attachment, this faith, this love that has brought me to Janakpur.”

Highlighting the religious significance of Janakpur, the PM said that Ayodhya would be incomplete without Janaki – a reference to Sita.

“Janakpuri shows how to respect women. Women have made the greatest contribution towards popularising the Mithila painting, in which we see the concern for nature and environment,” the PM said.

In the region which has a strong Madhesi population speaking Bhojpuri and Maithili besides Nepali, the PM praised Mithila’s culture as well as the contribution of women in its progression.

“Mithila’s culture has a very high place in the world,” he said while specifically mentioning folk art and hospitality.

It is noteworthy that the PM’s visit is being seen as an attempt at “resetting ties” with Nepal following the 2015 Madhesi crisis which soured the ties between the two neighbours.

“India and Nepal are tied to each other with the language of faith, bonding, food and daughter,” the PM stressed.

He said that the relationship between the two countries was beyond strategic, diplomatic and political. “We are tied by Dev-niti. People and governments will come and go but this relation will remain forever,” he emphasised.

The PM reminded the people of Janakpur that India and Nepal have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to face problems while adding that Nepal comes first in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

Congratulating the people and the government for conducting successful elections in 2017, PM Modi expressed hope in democracy acting as a guiding light for the two nations.

He praised Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s vision of a happy and prosperous Nepal adding that India, too, has always wanted the same for the Himalayan nation nestled between India and China.

“When I talk about ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’,” the PM said referring to his most popular slogan, “I also hope for the development of our neighbourhood.”

Earlier today, the PM along with his Nepalese counterpart flagged off a bus from Janakpur to Ayodhya after offering prayers at the Janaki temple.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM expressed confidence that the bus service will contribute to the strengthening of tourism ties between the two countries.

“Ramayan Circuit will prove to be a stellar example for tourism ties between the two nations in a time when tourism is developing across the world at a rapid pace,” said PM Modi.

“The circuit will pave the way for a strong foundation economic growth, cultural strength and people-to-people contact between India and Nepal,” he added before ending his short address by thanking PM Oli, the Nepalese government and local officials for the warm welcome.

- The Statesman

When free rail WiFi becomes boon for a Kerala porter

In Pic Sreenath K, a porter at Ernakulum junction in Kerala's Kochi

Sreenath K, a porter at Ernakulumjunction in Kerala's Kochi, has qualified for Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) with help of free WiFi at Railway station.

Speaking to ANI, Sreenath said, "'I downloaded free question papers of KPSC and saw videos to prepare for it. Google, WiFi changed my life."

For the past five years, Sreenath has been earning his livelihood carrying heavy luggage at Kerala's Ernakulam Junction.

He is a high school pass-out, who takes advantage of the free WiFi Internet service available at the station to learn.
In 2016, as part of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's Digital Indiainitiative, the WiFi service was launched that provides free Internet to passengers under Railwire, the retail broadband distribution model of RailTel Corporation of India Limited.

Reportedly, at least 685 railway stations have been equipped with WiFi technology across the country as of May 2018.
Indian Railways has also set a target of providing this facility at all 8,500 stations by March 2019. (ANI)

Cable-car ripples near Changu - Ropeway adds to list of attractions for tourists near Sikkim lake

Writes : Rajeev Ravidas 
 

Tsomgo (East Sikkim): A cable car that climbs to 14,500 feet on the snow-covered slopes near Changu Lake is fast becoming a major attraction for tourists to Sikkim.

Built after an almost a decade-long struggle, the Tsomgo Passenger Ropeway started operation in July 2017.

In a short span of less than a year, the ropeway has become an added attraction for tourists visiting Tsomgo Lake, which over the years has become a tourism hotspot of the Himalayan state.

Tsomgo is about 40 kilometres from Gangtok and 15 kilometres short of Nathula, the border pass between India and China, which has become a must-visit for tourists in Sikkim.

Given the fact that Tsomgo -Nathula is designated as a sensitive nature area, tourists need a special permit to visit the rugged mountain terrain which for better part of the year is covered with snow.

K. B. Gurung, the local partner of the company that built and operates the ropeway, said people are drawn to the cable car service because of what they get to see on the upper station of the ropeway. "The upper station opens up to a flattish hillock from where you, on a clear day, can get a majestic view of the Kanchenjungha mountain. Even if the weather is not clear, the visitors have a whale of a time playing with the snowflakes. The Tsomgo ropeway at its upper point is the highest ropeway in Asia," he said.

On Saturday, scores of people were seen taking a ride on the ropeway. "We feel like we are in Europe. This is incredibly beautiful," said Tribhuvan Prakash Dubey, a visitor from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

" Aisa jaga hamara India may hai (such a place exist in our country)," chimed Ashok Purohit. Both Dubey and Purohit are police officers from Gujarat and were in Sikkim to spend their holidays with their families.

"To set foot on snow after descending from the cable car is incredible. We have a ropeway in Nepal that takes you to the Manokamana temple (in Gorkha district), but this short ride is wonderful," said Ram Kesar Bogati, the president of Nepal Film Artistes' Association.

Source : The Telegraph

Hill youth shares Everest honour

Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, a youth from Darjeeling who is into travel trade, took an Australian paraplegic youth to base camp of Mount Everest.

Scott Doolan, the youth from New Castle, is the first paraplegic person who could reach the base camp of the highest mountain peak of the world.

Sherpa, who had helped the Australian youth to achieve the unique feat, is a member of Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association (EHTTOA) and was felicitated here on Saturday for his success.

According to Sherpa, the youth from Australia paralysed his both the legs after he faced an accident when he was 17. But his quest for adventure led him to reach the base camp of highest mountain peak.

"I took month long preparation to organise the expedition, as there was a physically challenged part of it. Though the journey usually takes 15 days to complete, but we had taken 18 days to complete it," Sherpa said.

The youth of Darjeeling started the expedition on March 16 with his seven-member expedition team and reached the camp on March 25 at around 9.45am.

The 29-year-old youth from Darjeeling was the only Indian who got the opportunity to help the youth of Newcastle to achieve his target.

Among the rest of the members five were from Australia and one from Nepal.

"We have felicitated him (Sherpa) for his unique achievement. We will support him in future expeditions. We would also appeal to the government and all concerned to extend their cooperation to achieve his goal in future," Sandipan Ghosh, the general secretary of EHTTOA, said.

In Pic : Sherpa (centre) being felicitated by EHTTOA representatives in Siliguri on Saturday. (Passang Yolmo)

Source : The Telegraph

दार्जिलिंग के विवादित आइसी को मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड

एसपी और शहीद अमिताभ मलिक के नामों की भी घोषणा

दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के विवादित आइसी सौम्यजीत राय को मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड के लिए चयनित किया गया है. हाल ही में सौम्यजीत राय के खिलाफ एक गोजमुमो कार्यकर्ता के साथ फोन पर गाली-गलौज करने व उसकी मां-बहनों के संबंध में धमकी देने का मामला सामने आया था. 

उन्होंने पुलिस अधिकारी सौम्यजीत राय के साथ मोबाइल पर हुई बातचीत की ऑडियो रिकार्डिंग सोशल मीडिया पर अपलोड कर दी थी. इस मामले को लेकर सौम्यजीत राय के खिलाफ विभागीय जांच का आश्वासन भी दार्जिलिंग पुलिस अधीक्षक अखीलेश कुमार चतुर्वेदी ने दिया था. 

लेकिन जांच की अभी क्या स्थिति, यह अब तक रहस्य है. मुख्यमंत्री वीरता अवार्ड के लिए सौम्यजीत राय के साथ दार्जिलिंग जिला पुलिस अधीक्षक अखिलेश कुमार चतुर्वेदी, अलग राज्य गोरखालैंड आंदोलन में शहीद हुए दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के एसआइ अमिताभ मलिक व दार्जिलिंग सदर थाने के एसआइ अभिजीत विश्वास का चयन किया गया है.

Courtesy : Prabhat khabar

ढिकी

ए ! दाज्यू, उठ ! धान  कुट्नु पर्छ
घान  हाॅले  है मैलै -उठ ।
भन्थिन्  मेरी आमा!

चार  बजे बिहानै उठिन्थ्यो कठ्याङग्रिने जाडोमा सबेरै।।
ट्वाङ ट्वाङ ढिकीको  आवाज कानभरी ।।

आज  ढिकी  पनि  छैन्, आमा  पनि  छैनन्
धानबारी  खलेगरोमा रूजीभिजी काम गर्ने
मेरो  मेहनती  पिता  पनि  छैनन् ।।
ढिकी  पनि  छैन, खलेगरो ,धान-खेत  पनि  छैन।।
एक्ले  ढेडु  जस्तो आज  घरमा एक्लो  भईयो
घरभरी  भाई  बहिनाहरू ,कहिले बाझो ,कहिले  रमाईलो
आॅधीमा  बालुवाको  थुप्रो  तहसनहस भए  झै छरपस्ट भए  सबै ।।

हेर्छु  नित्य  आँगनको  डीलवाट म--
मकै  बारी, कोदोवारी  ,धानबारी
आमाको  कोठेवारी, हलगोरू  बाॅधिने गोठ, माली  गाईको  थला- बाख्राको खोर
डिकीसार, दाउरा  कटेको सबै  खण्डहर भए ।।
चौडादार  सडक  बनियो  खलेगरोवाट -प्रगति  भो भन्छन्  नयाॅ  पुस्ताकाहरू।।

गाउॅ  सुनसान छ -- सबै पलायन भए, बन्धु -वंशहरू ।।
घरको  माथि आमाको  मसियाम, करेला, पिँडालु  ,सकरखण्ड फल्ने  घुमाउने  डाँडो ,होम  स्टे पो  भा 'छ ।
मधिसे बन्धुहरू छन्  डाॅडाभरी, हाम्रो  भाईहरू  गाउँका  कुखुरो  ,निगुरो  ,सिमरायो इत्यादि खोजेर  होम स्टेमा  मालिकलाई  पुर्याउॅनु  ब्यस्त  छन् ।।

ट्वाङ ट्वाङ कुटिने ढिकी,  होम  स्टेको  बाहिर सजाएर  राखिएको छ ।
भतिजोहरू सोध्छन्  मलाई--बड़ावाबा  यो के  हो भनेर  ढिकी  देखाउदै ।।
म  भनि  दिन्छु  ठट्टा गर्दै - यो  हजुर 'बा  ,हजुर 'मा को जमानाको धान  पेल्ने  मेसिन,
कोदो, फापर  फल्ने  (भूस  उप्काउॅने ),गुन्द्रुक  बनाउॅने  साग कुट्ने
दशैँमा  धानको चिउरा  कुट्ने, सेलरोटीको  पिठो  कुट्ने यो हाम्रो जिजु  हजुर 'बाहरूले  आविष्कार गरेको मेसिन  हो! !
मलाई  हेरेर -निच्च  हासें - भतिजोहरू ।।

कवि : अर्जुन शर्मा /गीतखोला

Alipurduar TMC leader makes Congress switch

Alipurduar Trinamul Congress leader Anirban Banerjee, along with 100 other workers, joined hands with the Congress party here on Friday. A programme was organized by the Congress to mark the occasion at the ‘Alipurduar District Congress Karyalaya’ in College Halt in the town on Friday.

Alipurduar district Congress president, Biswaranjan Sarkar, handed over the party flag to the new comers at the programme. “Anirban Banerjee, a PHD scholar associated with Hyderabad Central University is a popular leader in the district.

He is a candidate for Booth No- 12/110 and he switched over to our party along with his followers of the Banchukamari gram panchayat under Alipurduar block-1 in the district. The Congress will now become stronger in the district after Mr Banerjee’s inclusion,” Mr Sarkar said.

The booth was once dominated by the Congress. Later with Mr Banerjee’s efforts, the ruling Trinamul Congress became stronger there by working for the Adivasi and Rava people living in the area, political observers said.

“I have lost my faith in the Trinamul Congress. I was abused by my partymen two days back. Trinamul Congress is not giving importance to local development and that is the reason why I, along with my supporters, joined the Congress on Friday,” said Mr Banerjee.

“I don’t have any information regarding the shuffle. I will be looking into the matter and will talk to them regarding their grievances,” said the district president of the Trinamul Congress, Mohan Sharma.

Source : The Statesman

गुन्द्रुक

- अर्जुन शर्मा, गीतखोला /लाभा

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झोल बनाएर खाएॅ नि  हुने
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