Want to join Mamata Banerjee for the prosperity of Darjeeling - Pawan Chamling

11:30 AM

•

Politics

Chamling backs Didi on hills

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling on Monday iterated his backing for Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on her handling of the situation in the Darjeeling hills where the Gorkhaland agitation had resulted in the three months-long shutdown in the middle of last year.

Interacting with a visiting team of journalists from Calcutta here, Chamling praised Mamata as a great leader who enjoys his complete support.

"The chief minister said he supports whatever Mamata is doing in the Darjeeling hills since she is a great leader of a big state. He also said that he was for the development of both Bengal and Sikkim," said a member of the visiting team.

On the Doklam standoff, Chamling is understood have told the team that he came to know about it through the media and neither the Union government nor the Indian Army kept had him in the loop.

He spoke about the four per cent increase in forest cover of Sikkim and called for extending the ban on the use of plastic throughout India.

The Sikkim chief minister, according to the senior journalist, also iterated his demand for the granting of peace bonus to the Himalayan state for its impeccable record in maintaining law and order. "He demanded Rs 1,000 crore as peace bonus, citing the absence of insurgency, hostility and violence on the basis of caste, creed and religion during his tenure," said the journalist.


Sikkim has been demanding peace bonus for a long time now, but the Centre has remained mute to it. Mizoram was the first state to be given peace bonus way back in 2000 for being the most peaceful state in the otherwise trouble-torn north-east.


Centre kept us in dark on Doklam: Chamling
Shiv Sahay Singh

GANGTOK, AUGUST 20, 2018

Says people in Sikkim are now living in fear of a war

Observing that the people of Sikkim are “living in fear” because of the stand-off in Doklam between India and China, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Monday said the Centre had kept the border State in the dark on the issue.

Pawan Chamling with Mamata Banerjee - a file photo

“Nobody has consulted us, neither the Centre nor the Army has told us anything about the situation. Whatever we get to know about Doklam is from newspaper reports,” Mr. Chamling told a group of journalists from the Kolkata Press Club.
“Here in Sikkim, we live with the Doklam issue. There is a fear psychosis among the people. We are afraid of the situation,” Mr. Chamling said.

He said the people feared a war with China, and referred to Kupup, the last inhabited village in Sikkim, about 30 km from Doklam.

“We want good relations between India and China. The State government and the people of Sikkim have shown their love for the country and have worked for the interest of India,” he said. On a solution to the issue, he said the Centre knew best.

Mr. Chamling said he had tried to shield the State from external disturbances, whether from Maoism in Nepal or the Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling. He said he wanted peace in Darjeeling, and supported the stand of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“We want to join Mamata Banerjee and contribute to the prosperity of Darjeeling,”. In 2017, the West Bengal government had accused Sikkim of giving shelter to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung..


Via The Hindu

READ MORE

Pawan Chamling talked about Identity crisis on Bhanu Jayanti

8:02 PM

•

Sikkim

Buddha was of Nepali origin,’ says C.M.

SUJAL PRADHAN

Gangtok 13 Jul 2018 On the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has called for preservation of the communal harmony that prevails in the State.

“Our government has maintained peace, security and harmony in the State all these years. I urge everyone to take ownership and responsibility as dutiful citizens and give their full support in ensuring continuity to the communal harmony that exists in the State,” he said, addressing the State-leval Bhanu Jayanti celebration at Manan Kendra on Friday.

In Sikkim, celebrations on the occasion of birth anniversary of poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya are not limited only to the Nepali community. People from all communitiestake part in the festivities related to Bhanu Jayanti, reaffirming the communal harmony that exists among the Sikkimese people. The theme for this year’s Bhanu Jayanti is “Jatiya Sadbhavana” (Communal Harmony).

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also talked about the identity crisis of the Nepali community. He said: “We still suffer from an identity crisis. We are still viewed as immigrants by our mainland countrymen. Doubts are cast on our nationality. Even personally also, I was made a victim of this crisis, when a case was filed in the Court questioning my nationality. It is during such times that we, the Nepali people, have to be united and prove that we are proud Indians having made our contributions towards the nation, right from the time of Lord Buddha. History is proof that the Buddha was of Nepali origin, having being born in Nepal. So, if we have to prove our identity, we can say that we are Indians as much as Lord Buddha is! Therefore, whenever aspersions are cast on our identity, we as a community should stand for each other and protect ourselves from such derogatory attacks.

He also made a few announcements. “Our Government has endeavoured towards the promotion of Nepali language. Nepali is taught in schools and colleges; from this year, we are taking further steps to encourage our students to take up Nepali as a subject in schools and colleges. A language can be safeguarded, promoted and recognized if people study it as a subject. People from the Nepali community can even write UPSC examination in Nepali language as it comes under the eighth schedule of the Constitution. Such efforts will go a long way in promotion and recognition of Nepali language,” he added.

He directed his department to look for land for construction of Bhanu Bhawan in Gangtok. The State Government would bear all expenditure for its construction.

Via EOI

READ MORE

Gurung congratulats Pawan Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India

9:06 PM

•

Press Release

Bimal Gurung's Press Release congratulating Shri. Pawan Kr. Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India.

On behalf of the people of Darjeeling-Terai-Duar region, and the Gorkha community living across India and the world, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shri. Pawan Kr. Chamling for becoming the longest serving Chief Minister in India.

The life of Shri. Pawan Kumar Chamling is an inspiration for all of us to follow. There was a time when he was forced to live outside Sikkim following threats to his life, but he never gave up on the land of his forefathers, and its people. Instead he struggled to restore democracy and rule of law in Sikkim. It is his never give up attitude, perseverance, and dedication towards Sikkim that has today resulted in him becoming one of the most enduring and popular Chief Ministers of our nation.

Through his actions, he has inspired generations of youths not only in Sikkim but also all over India to dream big and have the courage and the conviction to make those dreams come true. Sikkim today leads on numerous fronts - from becoming the first state to achieve 100% sanitation goals, to becoming the first and only organic state in India. All of these achievements have been made possible, because of his inspirational leadership.

His unflinching support to the people of Darjeeling during all our hardships has earned him love and respect from all sections of our society. His government's support to Gorkhaland statehood has given hope to all our people, and his constant reiteration of fraternity and brotherhood between Darjeeling and Sikkim is what inspires us to realize, we will never be alone

Once again, I congratulate Shri. Pawan Kr Chamling ji, and thank him for being an inspiration that everyone in India can look up to.

READ MORE

सिक्किमको मुख्यमन्त्री अनि जिटिए चेयरम्यान अनि भाइस चेयरम्यान माझ सौजन्यमूलक भेटवार्ता आउँदो २७

5:54 PM

•

Sikkim

सिक्किमको मुख्यमन्त्री अनि जिटिए चेयरम्यान अनि भाइस चेयरम्यान माझ सौजन्यमूलक भेटवार्ता आउँदो २७ मार्चको दिन तय

दार्जिलिङ,२४ मार्च २०१८:

आज जिटिए भाइस चेयरम्यान अनित थापाले प्रेस बिज्ञ्पती मार्फत आउँदो २७ मार्चको दिन हुने भेटवार्ता बारे जनाएका छन्।उनले भने,'दार्जीलिङ- सिक्किममाझ युगौंदेखि रहिआएको प्रगाढ़ साइँनो अनि सम्बन्धमा अझ थप आयाम अनि प्रगाढ़ता प्रदान गर्ने उद्धेश्यले आगामी २७ मार्च २०१८ ( मगंलबार)- को दिन जीटीए, बोर्ड अफ एडमिनिस्ट्रेटर्सका अध्यक्ष विनय तामाङ अनि उपाध्यक्ष अनित थापाले सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री डा. पवन कुमार चामलिङसित सौजन्यमूलक भेटवार्ता गर्ने तय भएको छ। सिक्किमको मिन्तोकगाङस्थित मुख्यमन्त्री डा. पवन कुमार चामलिङको आवासगृहमा अपराह्न ३ बजी उक्त भेटवार्ता हुनेछ।

विगतमा रहिआएको दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ अनि सिक्किममाझको कतिपय राजनैतिक समस्याहरूको निराकरण अनि आपसी मतभेदलाई साम्य गराउने उद्धेश्यले उक्त भेटवार्ता अत्यन्त आवश्यक देखिएको थियो। किनभने कतिपय भूल बुझाबुझ अनि राजनैतिक क्रियाकलापहरूले दार्जीलिङ-सिक्किममाझको राजनैतिक आत्मीयता अनि रगतको साइँनोमा केही चिसोपन देखिन शुरू भएको थियो।  तर गत १७ तारीख  मार्च २०१८ को दिन सिलगढ़ीमा सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री डा. पवन कुमार चामलिङ अनि पश्चिम बगांलका मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीको भेटवार्तापछि यो अवसर तय भएको थियो। अब आगामी २७ मार्चको दिन सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री डा. पवन कुमार चामलिङ अनि जीटीए अध्यक्ष विनय तामाङ अनि उपाध्यक्ष अनित थापामाझ सम्पन्न हुने भेटवार्ताले दार्जीलिङ अनि सिक्किममाझ चिस्सिदै गइरहेको सम्बन्धमा पुनः आत्मीयताको न्यानोपन फर्केर आउनेछ भन्ने हामी पूर्ण विश्वस्त छौं।

सिक्किम हाम्रो अभिभावक राज्य हो  किनभने त्यहाँ हामीसित रगतको साइँनो लाग्ने आफन्तहरू बसोबासो गर्दछन्। त्यहाँ हाम्रो अनुहार भएका मुख्यमन्त्री अनि मन्त्रीहरू छन् जसले सबल अनि सक्रियताको साथ सिक्किम राज्यलाई प्रगतिको मार्गतिर लगातार दोहोराइरहेका छन्। हामी दार्जीलिङवासी सिक्किमको उक्त प्रगति देखेर  सदैव गौरव गर्छौ। अर्कोतिर, सिक्किमले पनि दार्जीलिङवासीलाई सदैव माया गरेर हरसम्भव साथ अनि सहयोग प्रदान गरेको इतिहास छ जसलाई दार्जीलिङवासीले कदापि भुल्न सक्नेछैनन्।

यसैले विगतमा भएको भूल बुझाबुझ अनि मतभेद अथवा घर झगड़ालाई भुलेर सिक्किम- दार्जीलिङले दाजु-भाईको नाताले सम्बन्धको न्यानो अगांलो हाल्ने दिन आइसकेको छ। किनभने दार्जीलिङले हिजो भोगेको तिक्तता, पीड़ाहरू सब भुलेर सिक्किमले झै शान्ति, उन्नति अनि समृद्धिको मार्गमा अघि बड़्न चाहन्छ। विगतका सबै दुर्घटनाहरू भुलेर भावी-पीढ़िको सुन्दर भविष्य अनि सुन्दर, सुनियोजित तथा समस्याविहीन दार्जीलिङको निर्माण गर्न चाहन्छ।

हाम्रो यस अभियानमा हामीले अभिभावकको रूपमा मान्दै आइरहेको सिक्किमले पनि पूर्ण सहयोग प्रदान गर्नेछन् भन्ने हामीलाई विश्वास छ। यही विश्वासको साथ हामी हाम्रो अभिभावक राज्यका अभिभावक मुख्यमन्त्रीसित भेटवार्ता गर्न आगामी २७ मार्च २०१८ को अपराह्व ३ बजी सिक्किममा हुनेछौं।

READ MORE

SIKKIM CM VISIT TO DELHI: OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLE

12:34 AM

•

Sikkim Democratic Front SDF

Sikkim 19th June 2016 Bharatiya Janata Party President, Sikkim Pradesh, DB Chauhan has again stressed that the Chief Minister in his meeting with the Prime Minister recently has only placed the same old demands and repeated the same old assurance to the Sikkimese people that the “Central Government is sympathetically looking after these issues and analyzing the facts’’. Calling him an ineffective leader, Chauhan states that the Chief Minister has failed time and again to convince the Centre on many important issues of the State.

Calling Mr. Chamling double-faced, he says, “Outside the state, just after crossing Rangpo Bridge he is the Chief Minister of whole Sikkim and demands developmental budget before the union government for the overall development of Sikkim. But no sooner that he enters Sikkim he becomes the Chief Minister of SDF Party only and its close associates, ignoring the opposition party and its supporters.”

According to Chauhan, this attitude is leading a section of the Sikkimese people into utter frustration and its consequences are appearing into the society in different forms like alcoholism, drug addiction murder and rapes.

Bharatiya Janata Party President, Sikkim Pradesh, DB Chauhan

Speaking about the study loan financed by SIDICO, he says that it is mandatory for the loanee to get it cleared by the school/college authority, and the office of the CM is the final authority to award the loan.

“So we cannot deny the fact that the SIDICO loan will be given only to those students who are the nearest and dearest ones desired by the CM and the area MLA. The chances of getting the loan who are not in the good book of the area MLA and CM is very bleak. So there is cent percent probability of rejection for a student whose parents are not the supporter of SDF party. Matters relating to different grants in aids and other facilities meant for the general public faces the same consequence which has created a great deal of public displeasure and annoyance through Sikkim.

Mr. P.K. Chamling speaks high about developing Sikkim but in reality he is developing his own supporter’s family members and relatives depriving the opposition party supporters even if he or she is eligible for the grant-in-aid, and loan. BJP Sikkim Pradesh condemns such bias policy of SDF government,” states the state BJP president.

Talk Sikkim

READ MORE

Deligation led by Pawan Chamling met PM Narendra Modi

12:33 PM

•

Sikkim

New Delhi 16th June 2016: Deligation led by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling met Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi today at New Delhi and submitted memorandums demanding seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang in Sikkim Legislative Assembly, allowing Karmapa to Sikkim and tribal status for 11 left out communities of Sikkim.

Sikkim delegates led by Chief Minister who met PM in New Delhi have sought Rs 43,589 Cr (Forty Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty Nine Crore) special package for development.

Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling met Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi

This is the second time the duo have met this year PM Narendra Modi was invited to inaugurates Sikkim Organic Festival January 2016.

READ MORE

Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling's Effigy burnt in Kalimpong

9:34 AM

•

Sikkim

Writes MUKESH SHARMA 

Kalimpong,15th June Pasang Tamang and his independent party today burned effigies of Sikkim chief minister Dr Pawan Chamling at Damber Chowk Kalimpong.

Tamang with around 150 supporters first took out a rally from the town. The supporters,who were carrying black flags and placards, raised slogans against Chamling demanding apology for his statement.

The protest came nearly a month after after Sikkim chief minister Dr Pawan Chamling while addressing a Sakewa celebration programme at Singithang Ground Namchi said that Sikkimese Nepalis must be clear that Gorkhas are people who had come to India to serve in the army in the past and later settled in different parts of the country.

Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling's Effigy burnt in Kalimpong

He later added that the Sikkim Nepalis are not the same as the Gorkhas. Despite similarity in culture and tradition there is no similarity of the Sikkim Nepalis with the so-called Gorkhas, he said.

The statement was condemned by many but no one came forward. Pasang Tamang today said, “We as a small party waited for bigger parties to condemn the statement but they did not utter a word. Dr Pawan Chamling is a pride of our community and such a statement has hurt our sentiment.”

He said this is just the beginning of series of programmes.“We just want him to take back his words. If he does not we will hold protests in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars and finally Delhi.

Via kalimpongnewsexpress

READ MORE

Sikkim Gorkha Jagran Samaj takes out a Peace Rally

7:09 PM

•

Sikkim Gorkha Jagran Samaj

The Sikkim Gorkha Jagran Samaj, a non-government state-level organization of Gorkha ethnic group of Sikkim, takes out a Peace Rally from Deurali to Gangtok in Sikkim today  to press for demand of Limboo-Tamang seat reservation in the State Legislative Assembly. One of the demands of the samaj being is that the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling take back his statements made on the occasion of Sakewa, wherein he drew differences between Sikkimese Nepali and Gorkhas from rest of India.

The rally today was in support of Limboo-Tamang seat reservation. The organization is also demanding 'justice' for the majority community with their one man one vote slogans printed on placards. The rally was culminated at Paljor Stadium.

Sikkim Gorkha Jagran Samaj Peace Rally from Deurali to Gangtok in Sikkim

Sikkim Gorkha Jagaran Sang demands were:-
1).constitutional rights
2).political rights
3).equally
4).demanding the sheet reservations for Limboo - Tamang in sikkim legislative assembly
5.Chief Minister Pawan Chamling take back his statements on Indian Gorkhas on the occasion of Sakewa

READ MORE

A FICTION: The Day CM Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi

12:30 PM

•

story

Writes: Amir Gurung

“घाम चर्को लाग्दैछ... its getting hotter by the day”, mutters the village tailor in some far flung village of Sikkim. Nearby his son is meddling on the Android phone not paying much attention to what his father has just said. They are generations apart.

The boy seems to be engrossed in the phone and the old man mutters with a half angry tone, “के गरि खान्छ होउ यो केटा ले... how will you survive” The boy looks up for a while, shakes his shoulders, “टोपी सिलाउने विचार छैन मेरो... I am not going to stitch topis”. Then he goes back to his mobile…

The tailor looks up at the sky. In his mind he is thinking along these lines… sunny days means hot days, hot days means more people looking for topi, more demand for topi means more income and then we have all those good festivals coming up… aha! Business is going to be good now.

He looks down at the green house nearby his house. The organic डल्ले खोर्सानी, the रातो रातो अर्ग्यानिक टमाटर all ready to be made into some ‘Sikkim Supreme’ pickle product. He feels a sense of achievement.

The Day CM (Pawan Chamling) Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi

He turns back to his son. “के गरेको मुबिल मा... what are you fiddling that Mubile for?”

“मूबिल होइन बाबा.. मोबाइल मोबाइल... हेइत कत्ति भन्नु होउ.. News पढेको बाबा Disturb नगर्नु होस् त .... its MOOBILE and not Muubile... how many times do I tell you that Baba? I am reading news, don't disturb me”

The tailor is hurt. Last time the CM was on one of his tours, he was impressed to know that he is still sewing the Nepali topi. The CM even wore it while addressing the people of the village. He looks at the boy and thinks, well, he knows more than me. Let me ask what the news is all about.

"के रैछ news मा... what's in the news?” The visible irritated boy tells him, “CM ले भनेको हामी चैं Sikkimese नेपाली हरे... अरु चैं सबै गोर्खे हरे... the CM says we are Sikkimese Nepali, while everyone else is a Gorkha”.

And then in the most emotive expression of the information he has gained from ‘intellectuals’ over Facebook, the boy explains to his tailor father, the difference between the Sikkimese-Nepali and the Nepali people living just beyond the Teesta. He tells his father how the other Nepalis are the "Gorkhas who came to be recruited from Nepal in the Gorkha Regiment and how the Sikkimese-Nepali were living in Sikkim from the ages past…"

By the time the son finished practicing his theory session on the ‘History of Sikkim and Beyond’, the tailor father is thinking deeply with his age old wrinkles twisted in confusion.

“ए ए ए ए तेसो भा अस्ति मैले सिलाको नेपाली टोपी CM ले लाउनु भाको थियो नि… त्यो चैं Sikkimese-नेपाली टोपी पो हो? So the Nepali topi which I had sewn and CM has won is Sikkimese-Nepali topi?”

The son is back on his Android. He is not listening. All he mutters is, “हेत्त बाबा तपाईंले बुज्नु हुन्दैन क्या. तपाईंलाई थाहनै छैन इतिहास चुप्पो लागि टोपी सिउनु होस्... ahhh Dad you won't understand much... you don't know our history... let it be.. focus on sewing the topis”.


Via TheDC

READ MORE

Are We Actually Different, Mr. Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling?

1:26 PM

•

Sikkim

Writes: Binu Sundas

The Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling, has blatantly denied himself being a Gorkha by differentiating those residing in Sikkim to be Sikkimese Nepalis and those outside of it to be Gorkha. He has vociferously denied the unity that the Gorkha of India have been rallying for. His differentiation of those Gorkhas living in Sikkim and those living outside of it is devoid of any historical and socio-cultural support. His only variable for such a thesis has been the military vocation one had chosen in the distant past. It would be interesting for all the Gorkha population to know the sources of his conclusion, as this would add a new dimension to the multiple  histories and historiography of the area. Dr. Chamling would do us a great favour if he can answer the question whether  the Gorkha population only joined the army, if not, then how would he categorise those who did not join the army?

Pawan Kumar Chamling

It is very saddening to know that a person occupying such a responsible position in the polity of India is making such a rash statement. He and his office should know that the population dynamics are more complex and intertwined and migration of people has always played an important role in shaping the contemporary nation-states and in this matter the state of Sikkim. Historiography of the region has not been reliable, moreover there is no social history of the region which gives a lucid accounts of people belonging to different race, ethnicity and nationality inhibiting the region of Sikkim. There is no written history of the area and people, prior to the coming of the Tibetans from the Kham province of Tibet and the formation of Namgyal dynasty in Sikkim, as the Tibetans burnt all the written documents of the Lepchas (Foning 2003), the presumed autochthones of Sikkim, which left them only with the oral traditions.  However, it is mentioned that Sikkim claimed to have ruled Limbuan, there is evidence that people, particularly in the north-east of Far Kirat, recognised this overlordship (Pradhan 2009). On the other hand it is also known that areas of Sikkim at certain periods of history was also under the rule of Nepal Kings. The Sugauli Treaty of 1816 forced Nepal to restore the Sikkimese land under its control. Therefore it is evident that movement of people must have taken place between Nepal and Sikkim. Therefore to claim that Nepali/Gorkha people of Sikkim is different than those of the rest of India is absurd. If we go by the logic of Dr. Chamling then the population of Sikkim would not be as favourable to the Nepalis as the data below illustrates.

Table I: Population Profile of the Three Communities of Sikkim

Year     Lepcha     Bhutia      Gorkhas
1840     3010        1995        1995
1891     5762        4894       18981
1909     6000        6000        5000
1931     13060     11070     36105
1951     13625     15626     97863
1961     14847     36577     88916
1971     22306     36760     134236
1981     22147     21548     192295
1991     56904     65033     284520

A glance at the population composition of the three major ethnic communities of Sikkim shows that the growth of Nepali/Gorkha population has been much greater than the other two communities combined.  Population growth or decline happens in two ways a) natural growth or decline and b) due to in-migration or out-migration. Is the fertility rate of the Nepali population of Sikkim so high? The answer to this high decadal growth is not fertility but migration of Nepali/Gorkha population to Sikkim. Therefore Dr. Chamling the migrating Nepali/Gorkha population cannot be different from those residing in other parts of India, unless you have selectively allowed only those who did not have any military background or you thought them to be of different race than the rest.

This needs to be put in a context. The decades of 80s and 90s saw a very high growth of Nepali/Gorkha population. This was the time that Sikkim had recently joined the Indian Union. It was transforming itself from an aristocratic feudal state to a democratic state. During the monarchy the state had very low level of social development. It did not have a college till the late 1970s, therefore when it became the 22nd state of the Indian Union it lacked human capital to run the business of the state. For running the state, human resources of different varieties were encouraged to come to the state from the neighbouring areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and other places. This led to a large influx of Gorkha from the neighbouring areas. Can this historical fact be denied by the state of Sikkim and are these Nepali/Gorkha people different than the ones the Hon’ble Chief Minister is referring to, since many of these people also have papers to prove that they are subjects of Sikkim?

Dr. Chamling must have made such a dastardly  statement owing to the pressure he must have faced from his political circle in reaction to the Government of India notification to provide eleven communities of the Nepali/Gorkha ethnic group the Scheduled Tribe status. The Government of India through the notification dated 2nd April 2016 already reiterated that the granting of Scheduled Tribe status to these communities will be done in consultation with the state governments where the Nepali/Gorkha have a significant population. Is he differentiating Nepali/Gorkha of Sikkim and the rest of the country, so that the life chances of his state’s subjects increase manifold in comparison to the others. Otherwise why would he state that he would take his 28 MLAs and meet the PM to discuss the inclusion of Sikkimese Nepali/Gorkha in the ST list and not of the others when the Government of India has already notified it. Is he playing a political game here at the expense of the entire Gorkha population who are now, though stateless, but equal citizens as anyone from Sikkim or for that matter India.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister has fallen from grace in the eyes of all the Gorkha people residing outside of Sikkim with one Machiavellian statement and if his desire is to deprive these Gorkha, who have taken pride on him being the only Gorkha Chief Minister in India, of the ST status then it would be the greatest disservice one can do to its fellow beings.

READ MORE

Hamro Prajasakti allegedly defaming Pawan Chamling

10:15 PM

•

Sikkim Democratic Front SDF

Writes Deejay Bolo
It is very unfortunate that Anjaan Upadhya and Pabitra Bhandari have been defaming Sikkim and Sikkimese for the last 2 decades. They run a paper called Hamro Prajasakti.

Hamro Prajasakti (A Daily Nepali Newspaper), yellow paper in the garb of newspaper has been publishing news to malign and defame our Party SDF and the Leader Pawan Chamling for decades. This mouthpiece of frustrated and fallen antisocial and anti Sikkimese elements has misquoted the Chief Minister's speech on Sakewa celebrations on May 21, 2015.

The Chief Minister had asked the gathering to stay away from the propaganda spread by some politically frustrated people gathered as Gorkha Jagaran Sangh against the minorities in Sikkim . His speech was Sikkim-centric.

Shri Chamling while stating the history of Sikkimese Nepali said that we are known as Sikkimese Nepalese down the line in history before the state became part of India in 1975 and thereafter. We are known as Sikkimese Nepalese unlike our brethrens in some other parts of the country.

Hamro Prajasakti allegedly defaming Pawan Chamling 

The SDF Government led by Shri Pawan Chamling has stood by the demand of the Gorkhaland state of Darjeeling hills all along and piloted a resolution in Sikkim Legislative Assembly on 28 March,2011 and Sikkim is the first state to do so. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Shri Chamling raised Gorkhaland demand in all the national forums including UPA meeting in 2006 , in September 2015 at Gorkha Rangamanch in Darjeeling in full view of the galaxy of national representatives of Gorkha/ Nepali from all over the country . He has been consistently in support of the cause wherever possible.

The Chief Minister also eulogised the history of Gorkhas who have regiments in the Indian Army who have laid down their life for the security of the Country. In the context of Sikkimese Nepalese , it is a fact that they are in majority in the state and therefore bear the responsibility to protect the interest and rights of the minority Bhutia Lepchas .

Sakewa speech of CM dealt with contribution of Gorkhas to the nation and their valour right from the British empire till today. There was nothing against Gorkhas around the country. He never said Gorkhas came to India for recruitment in the army.

Prajasakti paper has hatched a conspiracy to create a difference and controversy to create misunderstanding among Sikkimese Nepalese and Nepalese / Gorkhas around India.

1.  Gorkhas have settled in India, they are Indians from time immemorial along with all ethnicity. Chief Minister said that. What is wrong about it??
2.  Shri Chamling asked the people to be cautious from Gorkha Jagaran Sangh, an anti minority outfit which is misguiding the people . What is wrong about it??
3. The CM dwelt on irresponsible and anti Sikkim activities carried out by defeated, frustrated elements who are trying to disturb traditional unity and affinity among Sikkimese BHUTIA LEPCHA NEPALESE AND BYAPARIS. As guardian of the Sikkimese people he does his duty.
4. Sikkim has amicable and close relationship and constant touch with the people of Darjeeling. Conspiracy of a yellow paper like Prajasakti should not be taken as truth.

Truth should prevail and words should not be put into our mouth. SDF advises all concerned to condemn this conspiracy of frustrated elements who have conspired with this yellow paper Prajasakti.

Writes Manju Kc Nanu 
प्रजाशक्ति पत्रिकाले आज नकारात्मक जातिवाद सोच भएका व्यक्तिहरुको मुखपत्र भएर एसडीएफ सरकार र मुख्य मन्त्रीको बिरोधमा नकारात्मक कुरा जनमानसमा फैलाउने कार्य गरिरहेको छ ।

मुख्यमन्त्रीको सम्भाषणलाई तोड़मोड़ गरेर जातिया अशान्ति फैलाइने षड्यंत्र यो पत्रिकाले गरिरहेको छ । पवन चामलिङको लोकप्रियता दूरदर्शी योजना र कार्यक्रमको डाह लोभ र लालचले जलेर यी नकारात्मक जातीवादी तत्वहरुले बिभिनन प्रोपोगंडा मच्चाए मुख्यमन्त्रीको बदनाम गर्नलागि रहेका छन ।

नकारात्ममक सोचले पत्रकारिता गरेर अशान्ति फैलाएर भाई चारा सद्भावना तोड़ने कोशिश कसैले पनि नगरौ ।
यस्ता नकारात्मक पत्रकारितलाई अब युवा चेली र जनता अघि आएर कड़ा भन्दा कड़ा जवाब दिन अति आवश्यकता देखिन्छ ।

Writes Pravesh Stratosphere Chhetri
भारतमा नेपाली भाषी गोखाॅहरूको पहिचान गोखाॅको रूपमा पहिला भारत को ब्रिटिस सरकारले गोखाॅ रेजिमेन्ट आमीॅ मा बनाएर गोखाॅ हरूलाई छुट्टै पहिचान र सम्मान गरेको हो।अनि गोखाॅ हरू पनि देसको लागि ज्यान प्राण दिएर योगदान गरेको हो।

तर आज गोखाॅ हरू आफ्नो पहिचान र अस्तित्व को लडाई लडन परिरहेको छ, यस्को ज्वालन्त उधारण दाजीॅलीङ जिल्ला लाई छुट्टै राज्य गोखाॅल्याण्ड बनाउने हो।यस्को लागि सिक्किम को मुख्य मन्त्री पवन चामलिङ ज्यू ले सिक्किम बिधान सभामा दाजीॅलिङ लाई छुट्टै गोखाॅल्याण्ड राज्य बनाउनू पछॅ भनेर पास गरेको सबैलाई थाहा छ साथै मुख्य मन्त्रीको रूपमा श्री पवन चामलिङ ले देशका बिभिन्न राष्टिय फोरममा दाजीॅलिङ का गोखाॅल्याण्ड राज्य माँग को समॅथन मा बोल्नू भएको सबै लाई जनकारि भएकै हो।

यसरि सिक्किम छुट्टै राज्यको मुख्य मन्त्री भएर दाजीॅलिङ को गोखाॅ हरू को पक्षमा बोल्दा पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार र केन्द्र सरकार ले चामलिङ ले अकोॅ राज्यमा हस्तक्षार गर्यो भनेर चामलिङ ज्यूलाई Warning दिएको सबैलाई थाहा छ। यसरि चमलिङ ज्यू ले जातीको लागि गोखाॅको पक्षमा अडान लिएको सबैलाई थाहा भएको कुरो हो।

पवन चामलिङ ले अहिले सम्म गरेको काम हरू लाई बिस्वास गनूॅ पछॅ तर उसको बिरोधी हरू ले गरेको षंडयन्त्र र प्रजाशक्ति ले गलत प्रकारले छापेको समाचारलाई बिश्वाश गनूॅ भन्दा पहिला साचो कूरा के हो त्यो बुझ्नू पछॅ यस्तो षंडयन्त्र ले नेपाली अथवा गोखाॅ जाती लाई नै नोकसान गछॅ यो सिक्किमको नेपाली लाई मास्ने षंडयन्त्र हो अनि भारत भरि बसेको गोखाॅ हरू लाई कमजोर गनेॅ षंडयन्त्र हो यस कारण हामी सारा भारत मा बस्ने गोखाॅ हरू मिलेर बस्नू पछॅ षंडयन्त्रमा परेर आफ्नै जाती मा दुश्मनी गनूॅ हुदैन।।

READ MORE

‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim Decries CM Pawan Chamling's Statement - Press Release

11:15 AM

•

Sikkim

23rd May 2016 Gorkha Apex Committee vehemently refutes the statement of Chief Minister of Sikkim where he have said that Gorkhas are the people who had come to serve in army and later settled in different parts of the country and the Sikkimese Nepali are not similar to Gorkha”.

Such unfortunate statement has immensely hurt the sentiments of the majority Gorkha people residing in Sikkim and all over India. He has completely forgotten the history, contribution and sacrifices done by Grokhas in nation building. By such statement he have tried to play with the future of 1.5 crores gorkhas in India and have reflected his anti-gorkha stand by this misdeed.
A person is known as ‘Nepali’ who has the citizenship of Nepal and the people residing in Nepal are also Gorkha as community who has similar custom, language and belief as that of the Gorkhas in India. The inability to understand such a simple fact by our leadership has forced the majority Sikkimese Gorkha to live their life in utter injustice and suppression and have always been termed as immigrants in their own land.

‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim

To end the misconception of Nationality and Community the Government of India had issued a notification on 23rd August 1988 explaining that the word “Nepali” means a citizen of Nepal and word “Gorkha” means a community. Further, in order to clarify the matter we had sought an answer from the Government of India asking whether the notification of 1988 applies to the people of Sikkim. The Home Ministry has replied that the notification applies to all the Gorkhas of Sikkim and India. The Gorkha Apex Committee have thus submitted the copy of notification, the copy of RTI reply and the copy of “Gorkha” certificate issued by the Government of Sikkim to all the District Collectors. District Collectors in turn have sought the clarification on this matter from the Government and at present the same is under consideration at the office of the Chairman, Law Comission, Government of Sikkim. Therefore, rather than showing attitude of a dictator the Chief Minister should take immediate decision on the matter to end the misconception looming in Sikkimese Society.

The person who promised the majority Sikkimese people to put an end to the stigma of “immigrants” to reach the power corridor in 1994 has now completely made them vulnerable and insecure. He have failed to stand for the majority community when the attempts were made to erase the history of majority people, he could not speak a single word when AOSS filed a case in the Supreme Court of India terming the majority as immigrants, he ignored when few organisations in West Bengal openly declared the Gorkhas as foreigners, he was again a mute spectator when a person filed a writ petition in the Rajya Sabha to declare the majority people of Sikkim as Immigrants. Further, Chief Minister of Sikkim becomes Gorkha automatically after crossing Rangpo and becomes Nepali after entering Sikkim. Therefore, Sikkim needs the answer on what basis is he calling himself as Gorkha outside Sikkim and Nepali inside Sikkim?

Moreover, Pawan Chamling had protested the demand of Nepali Seat reservation brought in by the opposition party in the State Assembly terming the demand of “Nepali” seat reservation as anti-national and now he is batting on term Nepali to gain his vested political interest.
However, the majority people of Sikkim have now understood the difference between Nationality and Community and will not be bewildered. The majority community will give a befitting reply to the leaders who are trying to malign their identity and existence.

READ MORE

अब पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ - गोर्खा भारती विचार मञ्च

8:53 AM

•

Sikkim

भारत एउटा गणतान्त्रिक देश हो अनि यहाँ सबै नागरिकलाई अभिव्यक्तिको स्वतन्त्रता प्राप्त छ । तर अभिव्यक्तिको स्वतन्त्रताको आढ़मा कसैले पनि अनर्गल अनि जातिलाई नै भड़खालोमा हाल्ने प्रकारको वक्तव्य दिन्छ भने त्यो कुरो सहन गर्नु हुँदैन । चाहे त्यो व्यक्ति कुनै राज्यको मुख्य मन्त्री नै किन नहोस् । आज पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ । पवन कुमार चामलिङलाई हामी भारतका गोर्खाहरूले एक जातीय विभूतिकै रूपमा सधैँ हेर्ने गरेका छौँ । भारतका प्रत्येक राज्यका गोर्खाहरूले नै चामलिङलाई एक उद्धारकर्ताको रूपमा हेर्ने गर्दछन् । सर्वभारतीय स्तरमा चामलिङको नेतृत्वको सपना देख्नेहरू पनि धेरै नै छन। तर आज चामलिङले गोर्खाहरू नेपालबाट भारतको सेनामा काम गर्न आएका हुन् भन्ने उट्पटाङ विचार पोखेर गोर्खा जातिको घोर अपमान मात्र गरेका छैनन् तर आफ्नै छविलाई पनि धुल धुसरित बनाएका छन् । साथै भारतका गोर्खा अनि सिक्किमका नेपालीलाई पृथक-पृथक बताएर जाति विभाजनको घिनलाग्दो प्रयास पनि चलाएका छन् ।

यदि चामलिङले "हामी सिक्किमे नेपाली हौँ" भन्छ भने हामीलाई कुनै समस्या छैन, यो उनको व्यक्तिगत विचार हो । तर भारतका सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरूलाई नै इंगित गरेर यिनीहरू नेपालबाट भारतीय सेनामा काम गर्न आएर गोर्खा भएका हुन भन्ने आशयको मन्तव्य पोख्ने चामलिङको कुनै अधिकार छैन । सिक्किमको सत्तामा आफ्नो वर्चस्व कायम राख्नलाई गोर्खाको जातीय इतिहासलाई नै गलत बताउने यस कुत्सित प्रयासको हामीले कठोर शब्दमा भर्त्सना गर्नैपर्छ । यदि आफ्नो राजनैतिक शतरंजको बाजीमा गोर्खा जातिलाई मोहोरा बनाउन चाहन्छ भने त्यसको दूरगामी नतिजा भोग्नको निम्ति पनि चामलिङ तयार बस्नु पर्छ ।

परायाहरूले लगाएका घातहरू अनि दिएका चोटहरूले थिल्थिलो भएको गोर्खा अस्मितामाथि आफ्नैले थपेको यो विवेकहीन प्रहारले आज भारतका हतभागा डेड़ करोड़ गोर्खाहरू मर्माहत् बनेका छन् ।

भारतका सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरूको शिरमौर बन्नसक्ने चामलिङ यदि रम्फू खोलाको पारिको सानो क्षेत्रको मात्न नेता भएर बाँच्न चाहन्छन् भने यो उनको निजी मामला हो तर त्यो नेतृत्वलाई बचाइराख्न सम्पूर्ण जातिको भूत, वर्तमान अनि भविष्यसित खेलवाड़ गर्न चाहन्छ भने त्यो हामी कुनै हालतले पनि हुन दिने छैनौँ । मुख्यमन्त्रीको ओहोदालाई दिएको आदरभावलाई हाम्रो समर्पण सम्झिने भूल नगरियोस् ।

हामी गोर्खा हौँ भन्ने भारतका समस्त संघ-संस्था-संगठनहरू अनि व्यक्तिहरू मिलेर यस कुराको ठाड़ो विरोध गर्नै पर्छ । सत्ता मदमा जातिको हित र मर्यादाको पनि ख्याल नराख्ने मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई यो जातिघातक वक्तव्यई फिर्ता लिने अनुरोध अनि भएन भने चाप पनि दिनै पर्छ ।

याद राख्नोस् - अब पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ !!!(सभार पूर्वान्चल भारती)

गोर्खा भारती विचार मञ्च

READ MORE

Open Letter to Pawan Chamling Manipur for his statement about Indian Gorkhas

8:10 AM

•

Sikkim

Writes Prateet Pradhan

Open Letter to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling by Prateet Pradhan on behalf of the Gorkhas in Manipur for his statement about Indian Gorkhas.

Sir Chamling, you are an lone Gorkha CM in India and for that everyone used to be proud of you. Its democracy and you kept your words. But please let me keep my words too. Indian Gorkhas as told by you are all former soldier of Indian Army who later settled here. But i think its not the fact. Their are various Gorkhas dominated regions in India  which came to the Union of india through various historical events(From the than Nepalese Kingdom like Parts of Uttrakhand and also Sikkim through the Treaty Of Sagauli 1816). I am from Manipur and i called myself Manipuri and Gorkhali at a same time. Also, in my whole life i have not come across the term "So Called Gorkhas".  

We may not be majority in our States but one thing is clear and that even our vote matters a lot. We are also good enough to elect our own representative. Their are various Constituencies in India (like Assembly Constituencies of Digboi, Margheritha, Sadiya, Tezpur etc in Assam, Kangpokpi and Sekmei AC of Manipur to mention a few apart from those within GTA) where the votes of Gorkhas matters a lot to decide the faith of an Representative. Even the recent election results of West Bengal and Assam gave us an example by electing 5 Gorkha MLAs. Still we are being called as minorities and the unity we sought are explained as an outcome of our Minority Status.

READ MORE

The “Nepalis of Sikkim” and Their Un-Gorkha CM Pawan Chamling

7:59 AM

•

Sikkim

Writes Upendra For TheDC

If we are to believe the Un-Gorkha CM of Sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling, apparently the “Nepalis of Sikkim*” are a different breed than the rest of us mortals. He claims while they are purer version of Indian, rest of the “Indian Gorkhas” or “So called Gorkhas have emigrated from Nepal after recruitment into the army.” I applaud him for his knowledge and also his ability to call a spade a spade.

Indeed, “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas and that’s a fact... here are some reasons why

In 2014, a few months after TheDC was formed we got a request from a young girl studying at Lady Brabourne college, Kolkata. She was very upset when she contacted us, so we asked her what had happened? She had informed us that they needed to perform at a cultural show at their college for which they needed traditional dresses. These girls were aware that Sikkim House do have these dresses, so they had requested the Sikkim House manager to let them borrow the dresses for one day – they were declined, since the girls were from Darjeeling and not Sikkim. The girls explained to the Sikkim House manager that they had represented Sikkim in a basketball tournament only a few months ago, and had won the tournament for Sikkim, but the manager wouldn’t budge... “that was sports... this is cultural thing...” is what the manager’s final words were to the girls. Distraught the girls reached out to us, and thankfully we were able to assist them with the dresses.

Sikkim's Un-Gorkha CM Pawan Chamling

When you think about it, it’s a very trivial and small matter, however it clearly exemplifies that the “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas, for no Gorkha would decline to assist someone in need, especially not after those someone had assisted your state to win a basketball tournament.

In 2015, a girl from Sikkim was sexually assaulted and brutalized in Shantiniketan. We were outraged here in Darjeeling, so were the people over social media in Sikkim. However, when it came to providing on the ground support and solidarity, “Nepalis of Sikkim” were missing. In Shantiniketan protest marches were coordinated by PhD students from Darjeeling, so were protest marches in JNU, Jadavpur University, NBU and GJVM organized protest marches all over GTA region. TheDC on our part, coordinated “I Stand With My Sister From Sikkim” campaign in which thanks to Mr. Nawang and Mr. Nadong Bhutia we were able to get National level footballers from Sanju Pradhan to Bikas Jairu to Nirmal Pradhan to speak out against this heinous act. Nadong Bhutia from Kalimpong lead the campaign [details: http://bit.ly/1rHHaIO].

While all of this was happening elsewhere, nothing was happening in Sikkim itself. Shocked at the non-reaction, the editor of a leading online news page had private confided to us, “hamro manche haru k bhako hola esto... they are so indifferent... I feel ashamed...” Almost 20 days after the incident, a group of Bikers finally managed to organize a protest rally in Gangtok, and that was that.

Indeed “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas, for had they been Gorkhas their blood would boil over seeing one of their daughters so brutalized, sexually assaulted and blackmailed.

In October of 2015, around 40 students from Sikkim studying at the Himalayan Institute in Uttarakhand were brutally attacked by around 400 students from Jammu and Kashmir. Some of our readers informed TheDC that the students were living in fear of their life as no one had taken any action to protect them. We took the initiative to call up the institute Director, the Hostel in- charge, the Inspector in-Charge of Kala Amb police station and also the District SP and demanded action. Thanks to social media, following widespread outrage the Sikkim government finally intervened and the students were rescued [Details: http://bit.ly/1U6N0RK].

Thank God, Gorkhas in rest of India are unlike the “Nepalis of Sikkim” who couldn’t care if it does not concern their state. It is most likely that our initial demand for action and pressure we put on University and police authorities helped to protect the life of those students.

In March of 2016, a youth Suraj Subba from Manipal in Sikkim was found sleeping in a park in Delhi. After coming to know that the youth was from Sikkim, representatives from GYASA requested Sikkim House in Delhi to allow him to spend a couple of nights there till his travel arrangements could be made, Sikkim House in Delhi were untraceable and when we here at TheDC approached a Sikkim govt official to get the Sikkim House involved, the first question she asked was, “does he has “Sikkim Subject?” – we were left aghast. Never mind the fact that he was beaten up by drug addicts and all his belongings were looted, for Sikkim to help and intervene they needed to verify his “Sikkim Subject” status first.

Thankfully it was a Darjeelingey Puran Rai who runs “Namaste Cafe” stepped up and provided him with food and shelter, Mr. Arun Dubey, working as a Sales Director for a UK based-firm booked the tickets, and GYASA activists, most of whom are from rest of India, assisted Suraj throughout the process and Suraj reached home to Sikkim safely.

Indeed “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not like the Gorkhas, for we – the Gorkhas care and care deeply, even if it is someone entirely unknown and unrelated to us. Sikkim ma testo hundaina.

You can and I insist you must read this account of how another Sikkimese youth Tirtha Tamang committed suicide and how Sikkim House in Delhi didn’t help him when he needed the help most [http://bit.ly/1Vf7AVq].

No Gorkha would leave one of their own to die if they could save him or her in any way, but perhaps such are the specialities of “Nepalis of Sikkim” that they are just too busy, just too rich and just too pure blood to care for such trivialities.

As much as we may not like Bimal Gurung he has always been the 1st to speak out when Gorkhalis across India are threatened or harmed. He was the 1st to speak out in case of brutal rape and murder of a Gorkha in Manipur, he was also the 1st to speak out in case of Shantiniketan. He was also the 1st to speak out in case of recent brutal rape and murder of Gorkha girl in Assam. He has earned my respect in that regard. Even Darjeeling MP Shri. SS Ahluwalia – a “non-Nepali” hai, wrote to the MHRD and Home Minister demanding justice for our sister from Sikkim in the Shantiniketan case, perhaps that is the Darjeeling ko GORKHA influence which made him to speak out while the Govt of Sikkim was still sleeping.

What Mr. Chamling said yesterday was a statement of convenience to keep his vote banks intact, and as a shrewd politician he told the people of Sikkim out loud, what many of them believe to be true privately – that they are not Gorkhas, rather they are “Nepalis of Sikkim.”

However, I’d request the Hon’ble CM to kindly explain what does the word “Nepali” itself mean in reality? Hope he realizes that the very word NEPALI is derived from the country - NEPAL.

Mr. CM claims that “so called Gorkhas came to India and settled after joining the Army,” thus making all of non-Sikkimese Nepalis immigrants. For his political convenience he humiliated the rest of us, and I have no issues with that. However, I feel sorry for those who saw in him a world class GORKHA statesman, which sadly he is not.

During the Sikkim Legislative Assembly elections of 2014, Mr. Chamling had used “Sikkim lai Gorkhaland banauncha” narrative to scare people of Sikkim to vote against SKM, that was the first time I had realized how low Mr. Chamling can go to secure votes. However, in labelling the rest of Gorkhas as being immigrants for his own convenience, Mr. Chamling has shown that there is no end to his politics of opportunism.

I am not sure about the “Nepalis of Sikkim,” however here is an appeal to the GORKHAS of Sikkim, please brood over what Mark Twain had once said, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason”…

.........................
*The phrase “Nepalis of Sikkim” is used to mock the statement made by Mr. Pawan Chamling, and is not the generalization of entire Sikkimese Gorkhas. Please note this is a reaction to his statement and not a commentary on the amazing Gorkhas of Sikkim... we are and we remain one FAMILY, despite what Mr. Chamling may think or say.

Jai Gorkha!!


Via TheDC

READ MORE

Limboo, Tamang reservation in Sikkim Legislative Assembly before 2019 elections - Pawan Chamling

9:18 AM

•

Sikkim

The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, declared that the Limboo and Tamang Community will get tribal reservation in SLA before 2019 elections and will be able to contest elections from the reserved seats in 2019 elections on the basis of the Burman Commission Report. Sikkim has special protection through Article 371(f) of the Indian Constitution and the binding of 2026 for delimitation Commission will not be implemented for the State of Sikkim.

Seats will be increased to 40 as per the report of the Burman Commission, he added.
The Chief Minister was speaking on the third day of the Budget Session 2016 at the Sikkim
Legislative Assembly on the Private Member Resolution NO. 1 of 2016 entitled "vis-a-vis Seat Reservation for the Sikkimese Limbu and Tamang Tribes in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly" introduced by Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Member which was recorded in the House after detail discussion.

The Chief Minister further said that the Government is also very much committed on the protection of 12 seats reserved for the Bhutia Lepcha Community.

He elaborated that with 40 seats the Government will ensure 2 Sangha seats as well and also protect the political interests of the majority Gorkha community of the state.

Pawan Chamling

It was our government which worked for the Tribal Status of the Limboo and Tamang communities and we will provide seats reservations for them in the state Legislative Assembly, he reiterated.
The Chief Minister during his address to the house elaborated on the various activities and initiatives undertaken by the government for providing reservations to the Limboo and Tamang communities.
While talking about the private member resolution, the Chief Minister said that the Private Member Resolution introduced in the house today is an one sided resolution which is aimed against the interest of the majority Gorkha Communities of the State.

Earlier, Shri R.B.Subba, Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs department while participating in the discussion placed the legal aspects of the issue while Shri D.D.Bhutia, Minister for Energy and Power Department who is the Chairperson of the High Power Committed illustrated on the terms of reference of the committee and the activities taken by the committee so far.

Source IPR

READ MORE

Sikkim to get its railway line soon - gets green flag from Supreme Court

11:34 PM

•

Tourism

The Supreme Court on Wednesday showed the green flag to a litigation-marred railway line from Sevoke in West Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkim, a project hanging fire since 2009 as wildlife activists and environmentalists are opposed to it.

The Sivok-Rangpo New Rail Line Project is a mere 44.98 km with only 7.6% of the tracks falling in the Himalayan state bordering China but its importance is immense from the strategic point of view and as a possible apparatus to accelerate socio-economic development of the people.

A top court bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur cleared the decks by permitting Northeast Frontier Railway’s plea to allow changing the status of more than 8.84 hectares of forest land in Mahananda wildlife sanctuary so that the project can be continued. It also directed the West Begal government to denotify the area within two months.

Indian Railways - a file photo

“The rail line will serve as a reliable mode of transportation and meet national defence requirements as well,” chief minister Pawan Chamling said.

The court instructed the railways to strictly adhere to environmental safeguards fixed by the national wildlife board, which approved the project in June 2015 but ringed it with tough guidelines.

To avoid loss of forests, 14 tunnels have been planned — the longest being 5,116 metres. The total tunnel length is about 38.552 km, about 85.86% of the total route. This means that a train will run through tunnels or cross 22 bridges for most of its journey.

The wildlife board had cleared the project with guidelines that tunnels should be built only at daytime, trains should run at restricted speed and modern technology, such as wireless animal tracking system, should be adopted to avoid accidents.

The top court underlined how critical the railway line is for Sikkim, which currently depends solely on national highway 10, a switchback of steep, landslide-prone rocky slopes that remains closed for days during monsoon.

The railways told the court how the state struggles for supplies during the rainy season.
An ambitious as well as prestigious project, with a budget of Rs 1,339.48 crore, it ran into trouble because the tracks will pass through Mahananda sanctuary and forest divisions of Kurseong, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and East Sikkim which are known for their rich wildlife diversity. Occasionally, wild elephants and other protected animals are mowed down by trains along another broad gauge line inside the sanctuary.

In the yet-to-be tabled second leg, the railway line is likely to reach Nathu La on the India-Tibet border.

(With inputs from Pramod Giri in Siliguri)

Source hindustantimes

READ MORE

Pawan Chamling and SDF Govt Completes 21 Years in ‪Sikkim‬

12:47 PM

•

Sikkim Democratic Front SDF

The state government headed by the Sikkim Democratic Front today completed its 21 years of governance. Chief Minister PawanChamling thanked the people of the state for “toiling and suffering” with him and standing resolutely by his party for all these years.

He said, “The vision and philosophy of our government has always been service to the people, with PawanChamling as the number one servant of the people of Sikkim. The endeavour of my government has been to restore the dignity of the people of Sikkim, as Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had envisioned - ‘Where the head is held high and the mind is without fear’.”

The chief minister said the situation faced by his government 21 years ago was grim and formidable. Resources for development were meagre and the state had incurred financial liabilities of nearly Rs 500 crore. According to Chamling, his government has been largely successful in transforming Sikkim by sheer dint of perseverance and arduous and self-confident efforts.

Pawan Chamling a file photo

Today, Sikkim’s economy is one of the fastest growing ones in the country and it lists among the highest per capita income states. The percentage of the population below the poverty line has also fallen at one of the fastest rates ever seen in the country. He said tourist footfalls have increased exponentially, and today, Sikkim attracts more foreign tourists than the entire North Eastern region put together.

Further, Chamling said Sikkim will soon be declared as the first completely organic state of the country. “The ‘green’ policies being pursued over the last two decades have resulted in total forest cover increasing. Nearly one third of the land area has been directly conserved by establishing an extensive protected area network of sanctuaries and national parks. This is the highest in the country in percentage terms, with the national average being less than 5 per cent,” said the chief minister.

Over the past two decades, Sikkim has been conferred with numerous awards and distinctions, by both national and international institutions, in terms of governance and environment protection, among others.

The chief minister concluded by saying, “My government and I will continue to labour relentlessly, and without a break. Let us all work together, hand in hand, in taking Sikkim to further heights of glory.”

Source: EOIC

READ MORE

Gorkha community must reorient its focus towards education and entrepreneurship: CM Pawan Chamling

8:34 AM

•

Run with Roshni

(A report on the speech made by Shri Pawan Chamling during Gorkha Mahotav 2015, Dehradun )

Shri Pawan Chamling congratulated the people of Uttarakhand and the Gorkha community across the nation for the Mahotsav to mark the glorious 200 years of the Gorkha history in Dehradun. Highlighting the contribution of the Gorkha community towards nation building of India, the Chief Minister pointed out the role Gorkhas have played in shaping the history of India from the days when Buddha marked his journey seeking and spreading knowledge from Nepal to India. Citing the example of the Khalanga he said that the Gorkha community have been natives of the land for time immemorial and are spread across the country like Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, and across the North Eastern region.

Reading out a list of Gorkha freedom fighters and martyrs, Shri Pawan Chamling added that right from the Independence struggle of the country, to the currently serving Lieutenant Generals from the community Lieutenant General (Retired) Shakti Gurung PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Previously Military Secretary of the Indian Army) and Lieutenant General (Retired) Ram Pradhan AVSM, SM, VSM, the commitment shown by the Gorkhas towards the security and defense of the nation remains unparalleled. The list of people he read out consisted of Gorkha people from different parts of the country driving home the point that the community has been spread across the country, and no matter where we are we have always given our best towards nation building.

People often ask me ‘were you born in India, are you from Nepal, Your family migrated to India’?

I tell them “Yeah, perhaps they came along with Lord Buddha.”

While congratulating the people from Uttarakhand for the glorious 200 years, he also highlighted the fact that the Nepali speaking Gorkha community in India is also an example of peace in the country. Citing the example of the peaceful Sikkim merger, he added that the Gorkha community had been committed to peace in the nation and have worked with the government towards solution of issues facing the community within the constitutional framework of India. He also added that the identity of the Indian Gorkha is pan-India as the community is spread across the country.

While every Gorkha community settled in different states of India must work with their state government seeking the welfare of the community, the Identity of the Indian Gorkhas must be worked in close collaboration with the central government. The community is today facing identity issue due to the similarities of Gorkha ethnic identity of the Nepali speaking population across India and Nepal. We are often mistaken for citizens of Nepal. Thus, he emphasized that we need seek center’s intervention and urge the government to recognize the Gorkhas as an ethnic minority community and seek support under ethnic minority provisions of the central Government. He stated that there is a bigger need for us to work for the welfare of the community as a whole and beyond states and territories in India.

Even in changing times and economy, the Gorkha community continues to bring in innovation and quickly adapting to the changing needs of the nation. Citing the example of Sikkim as the first state in India to introduce and promote 100 percent Organic farming, he urged upon the Gorkha students to wake up to the rising call of the nation. He accentuated the point that India and the Gorkha community needs highly educated students in service oriented professional studies and Information Technology, top Central Government bureaucrats, IAS, Foreign services, and other top decision-making positions.

"We must explore entrepreneurship in different fields and create jobs for the people, encourage students for higher studies, aim for the top level decision-making positions of the government bureaucracy, research on history of the people, culture, and art. The youths need to be ‘producers’ and not just ‘consumers’."

The Chief Minister called upon the youth to acquire and develop entrepreneurship skills and venture into promoting tourism, and become producers and not just consumers. He suggested the youths to venture into business and market tourism, handicrafts, art, culture and create jobs and ideas in the society. While our regions have huge tourism potentials, our youths must excel in service sector and find innovative ideas to market the places.

After the speech, the Chief Minister humbly placed himself in the service of the community. He said “Malai Kaam Araunu hous, ke garnu parney bhannu hous, mo jailey pani taiyar chhu.”

Footnote:
Gorkha Youth and Students' Association of India - GYASA (represented by Rajen Chhetry and Dinesh Sharma) and Run with Roshni , VK Kunwor (6th Generation descendant of Capt. Balbhadra Kunwor along with other Gorkhas being honoured during Gorkha DWI Shatapdi Mahotsav 2015 and felicitated by Honourable Shri Pawan Chamling , Chief Minister of Sikkim.

By, Dinesh Sharma
Source GYASA

READ MORE

Gorkha Bicentennary Mahotsav ends with Pawan Chamling's pep talk

2:02 PM

•

Sikkim

Dehradun: The four-day Gorkha Bicentennary Mahotsav culminated on Sunday with a glittering evening programme in which Sikkim chief minister, Pawan Chamling, was the chief guest. Speaking at the occasion, Chamling congratulated the community for its achievement. He also gave a pep talk especially targeted at the youth. "Wake up early and give more time to school and education. That is the only way our community can grow and achieve great heights." He also had a piece of advise for parents: "Make sure your daughters are encouraged to study and do not get them married till they are 25 years old."

Earlier, the Sikkim CM reached the venue, Mahender ground in Garhi Cantt to a rousing reception by the over 6000-strong crowd. Addressing the audience, he spoke about the identity crisis that Gorkhas had been facing. "I have been CM for five times but still face this line: he is from Nepal. To this I reply that we Gorkhas have been here since the time of Gautam Buddha. We have a centuries-old connection with India where the community has contributed in all spheres. The only way to beat the identity crisis is through education," he said.

Chief Minister of sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling - a file photo

Chamling also gave emphasis on the need for promoting entrepreneurship in the community. "Youngsters must skill themselves to become entrepreneurs rather than joining the service industry."

The rapturous crowd lapped up every piece of advice that the CM doled out, loudly clapping and cheering his speech. The CM, too, was all praise for Dehradun and the historical significance of the Khalanga battle fought here. "After watching the laser show depicting the cultural history of the Gorkha community and the great Khalanga battle, I feel that the young generation should be made aware about it. This episode in our history also shows the centuries-old connection we have with India."

Visitors also enjoyed cultural performances including the Khukri dance performed by Gorkha soldiers, a stimulating laser show as well as delicacies available at the ongoing Gorkha mela.

Source: Timesofindia

READ MORE