Many felicitate CM after SC verdict

Gangtok: The Supreme Court on 25th March, 2010, dismissed Writ Petition (Civil) No. 353 of 2006 of Kunga Nima Lepcha & Ors (Petitioners) against State of Sikkiim & Ors. (Respondents).

The verdict was received with much jubilation and celebration from the time the news broke out in Sikkim. Shri Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, Sikkim, was felicitated by offering khada and garlands by large number of people and various associations, namely, Sikkim Tamang Buddhist Association, All Sikkim Sunuwar (Mukhia) Association, All Sikkim Mangar Association, All Rai Kirat Association, Tibetan Association, Limboo Literary Society, Government Employees Association, Drivers' Association, C & D Grade Employees Association, Muslim Association, Bar Council, Degree College Association, Bihari Jagran Manch, Nepali Sahitya Parishad, a number of Self Help Groups, Zilla and Gram Panchayats. (IPR)

Supreme Court dismisses SPCC PIL against CM I carry no grudge against the petitioners: Pawan Chamling

GANGTOK, March 25: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) functionaries seeking CBI probe into the disproportionate assets allegations against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

According to national agency reports, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan directed petitioner Kunga Nima Lepcha, SPCC general secretary, to approach the investigating agencies concerned if he has got any such grievance.

The apex court directed the petitioner that if he feels he has got sufficient material, he can place the same before the probe agencies under relevant provisions of CrPC.

In response, Chamling expressed his satisfaction over the verdict of the Supreme Court.
This has made me more humble and has entrusted on me an even greater responsibility towards the people of the State, said the Chief Minister while addressing the inaugural session of the two day Career-cum-Employment Mela here at Chintan Bhavan.

Breaking the verdict news in his address, Chamling categorically stated that he has no grudge or ill-will against anyone. I have no grudge against anyone, not even against those who filed a case against me, he said.

On the other hand, petitioner Lepcha has claimed that the today’s Supreme Court order implies that the court has ‘not given clean chit’ to Chamling in the disproportionate asset issue as alleged in the petition.

In a press statement, the SPCC general secretary said that the petitioners will decide their next course of action after getting the written order of the Court, in consultation with the legal experts.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had on December 23, 2008 reserved its judgement following the conclusion of the arguments on the petition after nine hearings since August 14, 2006.

Four SPCC functionaries led by Lepcha had filed the petition alleging Chamling of amassing disproportionate assets worth more than Rs. 1538 lakhs following which the apex Court had served notice to the Chief Minister on August 14, 2008. The petitioners had prayed for a CBI probe.

Source: Sikkim Express

Chamling wants Sikkim to become a hub of Buddhist circuit

Gangtok: Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today said that Sikkim has the potential to become a hub of Buddhist circuit to enhance its profile as an international tourism destination.

Sikkim can be developed as a hub connecting all major Bhuddhist destinations in India and its neighbouring countries, he said at the Regional Conference of the Tourism Ministers of the East and North-Eastern states at Chintan Bhawan here inaugurated by Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja.

The Rumtek Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Lumbini in Nepal, Taktsang in Bhutan, Potala and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China present themselves as the unique trail of eco-tourism and pilgrimage tourism, he said.

The development of all these tourism destinations will help regional integration and enhance cross-border religious bonds among the people of these countries, besides presenting a viable economic and commercial opportunities, Chamling said.

On Sikkim's own potential as a key tourist destination in the country, the chief minister asked the Centre to provide more funds and incentives for development of tourism infrastructure and marketing.

PTI

Sikkim CM, Pawan Chamling warns private sector

Gangtok, Oct 12 (PTI) Accusing the private sector with deliberately violating in a "brazen manner" their agreement with the Sikkim government to provide employment to locals in their units, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today threatened to review the terms of agreement with the 'guilty' companies.

"The private companies have been violating in a brazen manner the terms of understanding/agreement with the state government to promote local employment to such an extent that local people employed in the industrial units have been harassed and victimized by the management", he said at an investor's meet here.

The local workers were discriminated by being paid less remuneration than their colleagues from outside while the private companies have gone back on their commitment to provide training for honing their skills for available jobs.

Sikkim: Chamling announces capacity building institutes

Gangtok, 6 OCT: Expressing concern over the lack of enthusiasm among the local people to take up private enterprises, Sikkim chief minister Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling (in picture) today announced that capacity building institutes would be set up in each Assembly segment of the state, by December this year.

Each Assembly segments must have a functional capacity building institutes by the year end and the authorities should hire accommodation on rent for the purpose in the event of unavailability of government premises, he said at the consultative meeting on the capacity building.

Once the capacity building institutes did come up, it should be the endeavour of the area MLAs and the local administration to bring the unemployed people there to take up training to hone their skills in order to make themselves self employed, Mr Chamling said.

Stating that there was abundance of professional opportunities already available in Sikkim and many more in the pipeline in the years to come, the chief minister regretted that the local people were not equipped skill wise to take up such jobs in the private sector.

Observing that unemployment could be one of the reasons behind the spurt in insurgency across the country, Mr Chamling today said the unemployed and unskilled youths of Sikkim will be trained under the capacity-building programmes to make them employable and enterprising so that they reject such separatist ideas.

“It is in the interest of the image of Sikkim as a peaceful and tranquil state that the local youths - unemployed and unskilled ones ~ remain involved in the ongoing development process to keep at bay negative thinking as is the case in other North-Eastern states,” he said referring to the insurgency in this region.

Directing the bureaucracy and the lawmakers to ensure the attendance of the unemployed and unskilled youths during the capacity building programmes in all assembly segments once the institutes become functional there in December end, Mr Chamling said insurgency could be kept at bay only by keeping the youths engaged in positive endeavour.

The key to containing insurgency lies in development and percolation of its fruits among the local people, the youths in particular...the bureaucracy and the lawmakers should take up the responsibility to help the youths to receive training under the ongoing capacity building programmes to reap the benefits of the development and employment opportunities available in Sikkim, he said.

Conference
About 400 participants from across the country will deliberate on “substance abuse and suicide” at the three-day national conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) from October nine.

Hosted by Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) at Tadong, the delegates will dwell on various aspects of (drug) substance abuse and suicide from socio-economic and medical point of views, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) Vice-Chancellor Brigadier (Rtd) SS Pabla said today.

The experts opinion on the twin vices will be relevant for Sikkim in particular, since the state has been dogged by the growth in the number of suicide cases over the years and its youths taking to abuse of banned substances.

Brig Pabla said representative of government hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), NGOs, have been invited to attend the conference to update themselves about various initiatives at the social-medical level against suicide and drug addiction.
Health minister Mr DN Takarpa will inaugurate the conference at the SMIMS premises.

Pawan Chamling focuses on home-made resources

Gangtok, Jan 29: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today announced that a mandatory clause for using produces of the state and employing local residents would be inserted in the legislation that issues and renews trade licences.

Chamling directed chief secretary N.D. Chingapa to frame a proposal and put it before him. The chief minister was addressing a gathering of businessmen, civil society representatives and stakeholders of the tourism industry at a meeting on “development of Gangtok and its cleanliness” at Chintan Bhavan here.

“Every shop and hotel must use local the organic products of Sikkim,” Chamling said.

He appealed to the businessmen (most of whom belong to the Marwari community) to engage local residents in every trade unit.

The meet was organised by the Sikkim urban development and housing department. Its minister, D.D. Bhutia, was present at the meeting. The chief minister directed the department to get the figures on Sikkimese people being employed and produces used in black and white.

“Vehicle owners must employ drivers from Sikkim and that must be verified while renewing permits,” he said.

On the ongoing beautification drive and renovation of M.G. Marg, the main thoroughfare of the town, Chamling asked the businessmen to keep all the shops in Gangtok neat and tidy. This has to be done by February as the international flower show is scheduled for March.

All the shops and private houses in M.G. Marg must have three garbage bins (for degradable, non-degradable and metal wastes) for better disposal of waste, Chamling said.

A satellite township of Gangtok was being planned in Ranka on the adjacent hill to de-congest the capital, Chamling added.

Opposition gearing up in Sikkim against SDF

Elections may still be some distance away in Sikkim, but the Himalayan state's political parties have increased their activities with one target in sight, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. The Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad for instance has accelerated its political process in the rural areas to increase its support base. “Issues like seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang communities, unnecessary power projects coming up in the state without informing people, influx, corruption are our target issues,” said SHRP general secretary Mr Tara Shrestha.

Few other veteran politicians of the state have joined the SHRP recently including former ministers Mr Thukchuk Lachungpa and Mr Tsetan Tashi Lepcha, former Rajya Sabha MP Mr PT Gyamtso, president of ‘Ekta Manch’ and former secretary for power and energy Mr LP Tiwari and former Congress leader Mr Biraj Adhikari. “Our slogan is ‘Chamling Hatao Sikkim Bachao,’ the SHRP leadership, said.“People were searching for a new avenue, which made us join the SHRP. This would also ensure that the anti-Chamling forces were not divided,” said Mr LP Tiwari.Not just the SHRP, which is proving a melting pot of anti-Chamling forces, the CPI-M, Congress and BJP are also showing signs of contesting the SDF as one cohesive force. “A line of action has already been thought of,” claimed the Sikkim BJP president Mr HR Pradhan.

Source: The Statesman

Chamling now for the Lepchas

Gangtok , Sikkim : Chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling has finally agreed to look into the grievances of the Lepchas agitating against proposed hydroelectric power projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim, a place considered sacred by the Lepchas.

Following a meeting with the agitators yesterday Mr Chamling said: "No development will come at the cost of the culture, tradition and identity of the Lepchas. The state government has stopped work on all the five hydel power projects till the review committee appointed in the matter completes its report."

Urging the Joint Action Committee, which is supporting the Lepchas' agitation, to view the issue rationally and suggest necessary steps to find reasonable solution Mr Chamling said: "Now the Affected Citizens of Teesta should participate in the review process so that the government can find an appropriate solution and can fulfill the wishes of the Lepchas without having to face legal and other complications."

The Opposition is viewing Mr Chamling's "about turn" on the issue as a result of mounting political pressure.

They are also inclined to view it as the chief minister's move to appease the Lepcha community before the forthcoming panchayat polls in the state.

Various Lepcha associations including the Affected Citizens of Teesta, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, Rong Ong Prongzom, Darjeeling Lepcha Youth Wings, Concern Lepchas of Sikkim and various other associations are agitating against the power projects.

According them, the Lepchas are primarily nature worshipers and so the mountains, lakes, rivers, hills, trees in Dzongu are sacred to the Lepcha community.

Source: The Statesman

Pawan Chamling supports Prashant Tamang

Gangtok , Sikkim : Prashant Tamang’s mother was here in the capital for the second time to garner further support for her son.

Accompanied by her daughter and cousin, she was here to express gratitude to the people of Sikkim for bestowing continued support to Prashant as well as to appeal for further support for him to win the Indian Idol title, the mega finals slated to be held on September 23 this year.

During a brief halt here at the Titanic Point today, she also assured that Prashant will first visit Sikkim immediately after the Indian Idol contest.
The team also met the Sikkim Chief Minister today at the official residence at Mintokgang.

During the meet, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling assured that the people of Sikkim will definitely support to make Prashant the next Indian Idol. Stating that Prashant has united the hill people, Mr. Chamling said that this is a big achievement. “Since Indian Idol is a competition, there is no politics involved,” he added.

“No stones will be left unturned in making Prashant Tamang the next Indian Idol. Sikkim will extend its full support for Prashant in making an appeal to cast maximum votes in favour of Prashant,” the chief minister said while addressing the Panchayats in the state level Panchayat Sammelan. He also made a strong appeal to the Panchayats to pass on the message in their respective wards.

“Prashant will prove the country that the hill people can not only excel in mountaineering but also in music,” Mr. Chamling said adding “if possible all the telephone booths across the state would be opened throughout the voting days.
Comparing Prashant with Danny Denzongpa, Bhaichung Bhutia and Lt. Sonam Gyatso, the chief minister said that the victory of Prashant is not only his achievement but for the entire people of this part of the Himalaya.

Later today, the team also met the ministers of Sikkim including PS Goley, Minister, Building and Housing, GM Gurung, Minister, Human Resource Development Department, DD Bhutia, Minister, Urban Development and Housing Department, Hissey Lachungpa, Minister, Health and Family Welfare, SB Subedi, Minister, Forest and Environment, KN Rai, Minister, Rural Management and Development Department and TT Bhutia, Chairperson, Power Advisory Board.

They also met the DGP, DIG Head Quarter, DIG Range, Sikkim Armed Police, All Sikkim Driver Association and Main Line taxi Driver Association among others.

Source: The Sikkim Times

Chamling's meeting with Ms. Patil

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling called on the President, Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on August 25.

Mr. Chamling, who was meeting Ms. Patil for the first time after she assumed the office, apprised her about the various developmental initiatives made by the State Government in fields like Tourism, Hydro-Power, Horticulture and Floriculture in the State.

He also mentioned the fact that even after having merged with the India Union about three decades back, there has not been a single Minister from Sikkim inducted in the Union Cabinet nor a Governor or a Supreme Court Judge appointed from Sikkim. Despite this, the people of Sikkim are very happy and “emotionally integrated with the national mainstream,” Mr. Chamling told the President.

The Chief Minister also informed Ms. Patil about some of the major demands of the State pending with the Central Government particularly the construction of Airport, Rail link connectivity and reservation of Assembly seats for Limboo and Tamang Communities in Sikkim and sought for her intervention in this regard.

The President gave assurance that she would personally look into these issues for early resolution.

The Chief Minister extended an invitation to the President of India to inaugurate the International Flora Show to be held in March, 2008 here in Gangtok.

The President fondly remembered her recent visit to Sikkim and appreciated the State Government’s concerted steps for socio-economic development of the people of the State especially the empowerment of women.

The Chief Minister also took this opportunity to congratulated Ms. Patil on assuming the highest post in the country.

Mr. Chamling was accompanied by RB Subba, Minister, Commerce & Industry, Hishey Lachungapa, Minister, Health, ND Rai, MP (Lok Sabha), OT Lepcha, MP (Rajya Sabha), RS Basnet, Pr. Secretary to the CM and Anil K Ganeriwala, Resident Commissioner.

Source: Sikkim Express

Chamling warned of outside interference

Gangtok , Sikkim : Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today warned that “outside interference” in the internal affairs of the state will not be tolerated.

The chief minister was addressing a meeting organised by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) at the Guards’ Ground in Tathangchen here today.

Prior to the meeting, the SDF took out vehicle rallies from all over the state that converged on the capital in a show of strength. The rallies were aimed at silencing the Opposition in the wake of protests against hydel power projects in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu and elsewhere in the state. All senior leaders of the party, legislators and cabinet ministers attended the meeting.

Chamling’s scathing critique made obvious references to the support extended to members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) by CPM leader and Bengal minister Asok Bhattacharya and the Lepcha organisations of Darjeeling.

In the course of his three-hour speech Chamling also came down heavily on ACT alleging that the organisation was just a front for such outside forces.

“There is only a handful of people from Dzongu are taking part in the hunger strike. The rest are all outsiders,” he said.

The vehicles converging on the town clogged the streets and caused huge traffic snarls on NH 31A.

Eleven members of the CPM’s Sikkim unit were today arrested by Bengal police after they obstructed the NH 31A at Melli. They were detained for a couple of hours at the Melli outpost and later released on a personal bond.

Source: The Telegraph

Arrest warrants against Nar Bahadur Bhandari and other five Congress men

Gangtok , Sikkim : The court of the civil judge here has issued bailable arrest warrants against Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and five others in a defamation suit filed by B.B. Gurung, the adviser to chief minister Pawan Chamling.

Gooroong had charged Bhandari and the editorial team of the Congress periodical Sandesh for defaming him and tarnishing his image in an article that appeared in it in November last year.

Titled Sikkim Ma Burmaloot, the article had letters purportedly written by Gooroong to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi asking them to withdraw the special rights of the Sikkimese people and the “son of the soil” policy.

Gooroong had claimed that the letters were forged and filed a defamation suit. Today, he was present in court along with two witnesses: former Lok Sabha member from Sikkim and presently the general secretary (publicity) of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front Bhim Dahal and member of the Sikkim planning commission Y.B. Thapa.

In what has been touted as a rare and swift order never seen in the state before, the civil-judge-cum-magistrate Prajwal Khatiwa examined the complainant and the two witnesses and took cognisance of the offence. The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 31 and the arrests can be made any day before that.

Besides Bhandari, the others who have been booked under Sections 500 (for defamation) and 469 (forgery for defaming) of the IPC are the chief editor of the Congress periodical Santosh Bardewa, Purna Kumari Rai, Dil Kumari Chhettri, Anil Lachenpa, and J.B. Darnal.

Speaking to The Telegraph later Gooroong said the judge taking cognisance of his petition was a major victory and. “The letters were concocted and forged and the truth is now coming out.”

Source: The Telegraph

Opposition protest against Pawan Chamling led Goverment in Sikkim

Gangtok , Sikkim : Congress supporters and members of Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad today attempted to court arrest in front of the district administrative centre (DAC) at Sichey here.

They were expressing solidarity towards their colleagues arrested in connection with the burning of effigies since last Saturday.

While Congress supporters had burnt the effigy of Sikkim governor V. Rama Rao on Saturday, Parishad members burnt the effigy of chief minister Pawan Chamling yesterday.

This morning, 22 Congress members reached the DAC shouting slogans in support of their arrested colleagues. The Congress demonstration was followed by the arrival of a group of 20 Parishad workers wanting to court arrest.

Though Sikkim Armed Police personnel were deployed in the area as a precaution, nobody was arrested.

On the other hand, supporters of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, led by senior cabinet ministers, today walked around the town in silent support of the chief minister, following the effigy-burning episode yesterday.

At Raley in East Sikkim, the Citizens’ Forum, a non-political body, organised a meeting in support of the protests launched by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) against hydel power projects. Raley falls in the area where the Teesta Stage-V hydel project is being developed by the NHPC. According to residents, the projects have caused great cracks to appear in the buildings of the adjoining areas.

In a communiqué issued through the state information and public relations department today, the government strongly refuted allegations made by Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari about its alleged lack of concern for the ongoing hunger strike by ACT members.

Source: The Telegraph

Pawan Chamling 's Effigy Burnt in Sikkim

Gangtok , Sikkim : After the governor, it is the turn of Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling to feel the heat of Opposition protests.

Members of Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad — a regional party in the state — today dodged the police and burnt the effigy of the chief minister. They were protesting against alleged efforts by the government to suppress the Opposition and its failure to resolve the crisis over the setting up of hydel projects in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu. Nine Parishad members were arrested in this connection.

Last Saturday, Congress supporters had burnt the effigy of governor V. Rama Rao over similar allegations.

Police had prior information of today’s programme and had made elaborate plans to prevent it. A large police contingent was stationed outside the party headquarters at Tadong. The site was about 800m from Sikkim Government College where Chamling was attending the celebrations of Tendong Lho Rum faat, a Lepcha festival.

Parishad supporters, however, successfully torched the effigy at Deorali some 1.5km above Tadong. The protesters, led by Bhim Chettri, the publicity secretary of the party, shouted slogans against the chief minister and the governor during the episode.

“Nine persons have been arrested for causing nuisance on the highway and disrupting traffic. They have been booked under Section 34 of the IPC,” said M.S. Tuli, the superintendent of police (east).

At the Lepcha festival Chamling hit out at the Opposition accusing them of using the protest by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) as a political tool to mislead the people.

Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari retaliated by alleging that the government had failed to resolve the crisis over the hydel power projects and criticised the governor and the chief minister for not meeting the fasting ACT members.

The 21 Congress supporters who courted arrest yesterday and the four picked up earlier in connection with the burning of the governor’s effigy have been produced in court and remanded in judicial custody for 15 days. They were sent to the state jail at Rongyek, yesterday.

Source: The Telegraph

Projects on Lepcha Reserve Review

Gangtok , Sikkim : The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) has written to Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling asking for an independent quasi-judicial committee to review all projects including those proposed in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu.

In the letter, the ACT members thanked the chief minister for his pledge to uphold the sanctity of Dzongu and added that they had always sought an amicable and peaceful solution to the problem.

“Since negotiations with the authorised committee seem to have reached a stalemate, we seek your direct intervention in this matter,” read the letter signed by ACT president Athup Lepcha and other senior members.

The ACT members have demanded that the composition of the committee would have to be agreeable to both sides. They have also demanded that all activities related to the Panan hydel project in Dzongu, including land acquisition, be kept in abeyance.

A meeting between the chief minister and ACT seems likely tomorrow, according to some of the mediators.

The hunger strike led by ACT general secretary Dawa Lepcha and 20-year-old Tenzing Lepcha has entered the 35th day today. The two are continuing their fast at Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital where they are admitted. Both are suffering from high fever, headaches and nausea, sources said.

Source: The Telegraph