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1 2;GANGTOK NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 16-22 APRIL, 2003 ED-SPACE A TYRANT DISAPPEARS SIKKIM MATTERS Turbulence Ahead These are uneasy times we live in. A time, when people, despite years of education teaching them otherwise, throw all sobriety to the wind and get possessed by paranoia: the minority starts fearing being swamped by the majority; the majority views minority efforts at furthering their cause as unjustified; or at best, an exercises in political gimmickry; the powers that be get distrustful of the fourth estate and the media gets carried away by sensationalism. It is all a babble of voices and the decibels keep rising and the ca- cophony results in even more confusion and distrust. The usual suspects during such periods of hyperbole are the politicians. But turn to any camp and they will sol- emnly hold that the pollution of Sikkimese society is the handiwork of “vested” interests. Given how things have shaped up, and where it could lead, the situation can serve no one’s “vested” interest. No politician, bureaucrat or professional can benefit from the animosity which recent developments have been sowing in the Sikkimese society. Divisions along caste and community lines exist in all societies, but because we claim to be civilised, these divi- SO, WHO FEELS SAFE? sions are kept blurred and under-played. It is easy to put up a harmonious front with combined cultural programmes the hands of a vengeful Red Army nalized so that its revival becomes and mutual back-slapping during less turbulent times. The by ALAN COWELL (though some said part of his skull impossible. test of our maturity as a society and as a democracy comes survived and was presented to Every dictatorship, though, is when this camaraderie can be maintained even during dif- he statues were toppled, the Josef Stalin). distinctive and finds its distinctive ficult times. The anonymous pamphlets and phone calls portraits defaced, the pal- In Romania in 1989, Nicolae end. Mengistu Haile Mariam fled have already started making the rounds. People are less Taces stripped of their fin- Ceaucescu did not flee his enraged Ethiopia in 1991 to take up exiled careful in private and it is more than obvious that the com- ery. But it was never going to be people fast enough and was lined residence in Zimbabwe, courtesy munal divide has cleaved through Sikkim. Unless the lead- quite enough. up against a wall and summarily of Robert Mugabe who, it turned ers and elders restore sanity, we shall get pushed over and For Iraqis truly to start over, executed along with his wife, out, needed no lessons in oppres- also bring down whatever semblance of democracy we have said many who had witnessed the Elena, just as Benito Mussolini sion. Uganda’s Idi Amin, pleading had so far. end of tyranny elsewhere, there and his mistress Claretta Petacci Islamic solidarity, fled to Saudi The delimitation of constitutions underway at present would have to be a body to display had suffered the final humiliation Arabia in 1979. The deposed Shah has revealed the ugly face of Sikkim. The fangs are bared — figuratively at least — an iden- in Milan in 1945. of Iran, Mohammed Riza Pahlevi, and the blood-lust is out in the open. What each side should tifiable relic of Saddam Hussein to Yet, in Iraq, there was perhaps died in an Egyptian military hos- realise here is that democracy was never about confronta- symbolize the collapse his power a more complex dynamic. Not just pital, an embittered international tion, it is about compromise. Given the way things have “I think an important word is clo- many Iraqis but also the United outcast 18 months after being panned out of late, it appears that no side is willing to ap- sure,” said Timothy Garton Ash, an States wanted to draw a final line driven from his throne by Iran’s proach the middle ground. If one enters an argument con- Oxford scholar who closely fol- — beneath “regime change,” be- Islamic revolution in 1979. vinced of the righteousness of their cause and unwilling to lowed the collapse of Communist neath the ambiguities of the past And no post-tyrannical pro- dictatorship in eastern Europe. when Washington supported Mr. scription has escaped criticism. make any compromises, no matter what the other’s point “The people really have to have the Hussein against Iran, beneath The Nuremberg war trials of of view, the issue can hardly be resolved without hostility. sense that the old regime has gone America’s own humiliation in the Nazi elite in the late 1940’s, Imagine a showdown for Sikkim! No matter who comes and a new one has begun.” bombing Afghanistan only to fail for instance, failed to purge Ger- out victorious, no one will be left standing when the dust Those who have suffered the in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. many’s postwar administration of settles. Given the puerility that we have been forced to suffer humiliation of dictatorship, in That, perhaps, was one reason former supporters of Hitler, said through, it is time for Sikkim to relearn the rules which other words, must in turn humble the American military hastened Mr. Garton Ash, paving the way weaved its social fabric. If every side were to tone down the oppressor, and know that the last week to drop four 2,000-pound for the protests of a subsequent their defiance and listen to the other voices in the fray, they once absolute power of the des- bombs on a residential area of generation that the so-called de- would realise that everyone wants more or less the same pot’s carefully crafted mythology Baghdad where it believed Mr. Nazification of German society thing and no matter what each’s priority may be, their dif- has been stripped away. Arguably, Hussein to be hiding, only to cre- had not gone far enough. ference can be worked out. Most importantly, when every- that function was served in part by ate a huge crater and subsequent South Africa’s Truth and Rec- one around you is losing their mind, it is necessary for the the wild looting of post-combat avowals from Torie Clarke, the onciliation Commission was ac- leader to keep his cool. Baghdad that focused on the very Pentagon spokeswoman, that she cused by some of apartheid’s vic- It is embarrassing that such moralising needs to be emblems of the once untouchable had not been losing too much sleep tims of giving amnesty to the per- spelled out, but alas! things have come to such a pass. status of the regime — the gov- over whether the bombs killed Mr. petrators of racist violence with- ernment ministries and private vil- Hussein or not. out offering reparations to its vic- las and gilded palaces. Such an ambiguous end to tyr- tims, leaving a festering wound for When VIPs Call But lawlessness does not equal anny is hardly what the world has the future. A similar tribunal in A child was overheard in a share-cab complaining catharsis. striven for since the end of the cold Chile was dismissed by its critics about why the PM of India had to visit Sikkim if all that “Until the body of Saddam is war. Indeed, many eminent peo- as a whitewash of the government they got were afternoons lining the streets waving the handed up, dead or alive,” The ple have spent many hours in of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. tricolour to tinted glass ambassadors or getting stuck Guardian, a British newspaper, com- studying the escape routes from a Summary justice by bomb or in 2-hour long traffic snarls. Most Gangtokians would mented late last week, “until the history of oppression offered vari- bullet has its critics too, particu- sympathise with the child and nod in agreement. While specter of Saddam is finally exor- ously by South Africa’s Truth and larly in Iraq: If the method of all the talk of the excesses of VIP protocol are fine, cized, many Iraqis will have trouble Reconciliation Commission in the drawing a line under Mr. Hussein Sikkim should take comfort in the fact that their popu- believing they are really free.” 1990’s or the current trial of is merely to spit on his cadaver, lation of 5.5 lakhs was graced by the leader of 1/6th of Of course, dictators them- Slobodan Milosevic in the Hague these critics say, then a political humanity. He did not overstay his welcome and paid selves, perhaps more than anyone, or the flight of Mobutu Sese Seko tradition begun by people like the handsomely for it - Rs. 500 crores for the 69 hours 10 understand the significance of from Zaire. former tyrant himself with the minutes he spent on Sikkim soil. No matter what the their own totems and symbols. Common to their conclusions coups of the 1950’s and 1960’s babus at Sikkim Tourism do, they cannot get a higher- Deep in his bunker in Berlin in is the notion that the source of evil will merely have been perpetuated. 1945, Adolf Hitler ordered an aide paying tourist than that. — be it apartheid or kleptocracy “I certainly don’t think that to incinerate him with gasoline to or genocidal dictatorship — must prevent his body from falling into be identified, confronted and pe- turn to pg 9

24 16-22 April, 2003; NOW! 3 RECAPRECAP SIKKIMSIKKIM WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER COMES CALLING

a NOW! pic 4 DAYS=Rs. 500 CRORES Rs. 50 crores against the Rs. 180 crores that tending the East-West corridor of the enough to put some cheer on Sikkim which a NOW REPORT the project has been tentatively estimated at Golden Quadrilateral project to Sikkim. appeared stressed by the sheer import of a by the Airports Authority of India. Also okayed was the State’s demand for Prime Ministerial visit. Also, what the PM GANGTOK: When the Prime Minister The Prime Minister also assured the re- a new Secretariat complex at Tashiling. The committed himself to is only a fraction of Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke to the Press quired funds for the relocation and State had argued that most of administrative the Rs. 1,500 crores that the State has re- shortly after landing at Libing Helipad here upgradation of the STNM Hospital. A memo- infrastructure dated back to the pre-1975 quested as a one-time “Sustainable Devel- at 1:40 PM on April 11, Friday, he an- randum on the economic demands of the State days and were inadequate to meet the require- opment Package”. People close to the nounced that he would be spending the next submitted by the State Government has sought ments of the present day. The proposal seeks present powers-that-be are however con- three days trying to understand Sikkim’s Rs. 120 crores for relocation and upgradation to put in place a new complex equipped with fident that even the remaining Rs. 1,000 various demands and trying to work out of the STNM Hospital into 500-bedded hos- such facilities as video conferencing, single crores will come Sikkim’s way in due solutions for its “pressing concerns.” A day pital with modern equipment and facilities. window clearance and car park. course of time. “The PM has already before his Monday departure from the Committing himself to the improvement Although the PM supported the plan, lauded the State’s development track- State, he announced a handsome economic in the health delivery system, Mr. Vajpayee he also added some words for the bureauc- record and will now be even more open to package of Rs. 500 crores for Sikkim. The promised the required funds and offered to racy which he admitted remained lethargic developmental projects in Sikkim,” said a Centre, which the Chief Minister Pawan have STNM Hospital “linked” to AIIMS, New despite the changed times. “Files move at a senior government official. “The Centre Chamling had described as generous at the Delhi through tele-medicine connectivity to very slow pace. This is the age of speed. will always be receptive to the needs of welcome reception of the PM, had just be- facilitate instant consultation of local doctors Everything should move at lightning speed, Sikkim. Delhi dur hai, par Sikkim hamare come more magnanimous. with experts and specialists in New Delhi. specially developmental activities,” he said. dil mein hai,” the PM had said while ad- The Rs. 500 crore package will not The 4-day visit, which Mr. Vajpayee The Prime Minister also left a special dressing the public in Gangtok on Sunday. only put Sikkim on the airline map of the insisted was without any “political agenda,” gift for his hosts at Raj Bhawan by promis- The optimism of the ruling front is, country, but could also establish it as a also saw Sikkim get awarded another life- ing support for the State government’s pro- however, not shared by those in the Oppo- medical services provider. line. The PM okayed the State’s request for posal for adding infrastructure to the Gov- sition. Former Chief Minister, Nar Announcing the special package for an alternative highway on the northern bank ernor’s residence. The State wants to put in Bahadur Bhandari, insisted that he would Sikkim at the felicitation ceremony held of Teesta linking West Bengal and Sikkim. place a new Raj Bhawan secretariat and believe the Rs. 500 crore package only here at the Tashi Namgyal Academy Mr. Vajpayee also took up the State’s sug- construct a banquet hall exclusively for the when the “grants” arrived. “I have personal grounds on April 13, Sunday, the PM an- gestion that Sikkim be connected to the Raj Bhawan. experience of PMs making big promises nounced an “additional” Rs. 110 crores for Golden Quadrilateral project of the PMO While there are other demands like in- at public gatherings and then conveniently the airport project at Pakyong. This project which proposes super-highways linking all creased quota at educational institutions for forgetting about them,” he said while talk- has been grounded for some time now since major metros of the country. The PM, on Sikkim, which the PM has promised to ing to the Press here after he called on Mr. the Planning Commission sanctioned only Monday, announced he would consider ex- “look into,” his Rs. 500 commitment was Vajpayee during his weekend getaway.

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35 4; NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 POWERPOWER PLAYPLAY Sikkim can contribute to national development with hydel power: PM every house in the country. mein bhi andhera na rahen,” he a NOW REPORT “In the last 50 years, we pro- said. Quoting from the Upanisads, duced about 1 lakh MW of elec- Mr. Vajpayee said, “Asotoma sat SHERWANI: The Prime Minister, tricity. In the current Five Year gamaya, tamasoma jyotir Atal Behari Vajpayee, while re- Plan, the target is to produce 1 lakh gamaya.” viewing the 510MW Teesta hydel MW of electricity. This can be And in this endeavour of the project Stage V, here on April 12, achieved only through hydropower NDA government, Sikkim’s tre- said that with the passing of the generation,” he said, while adding mendous hydropower potential, Electricity Bill in the Parliament that hydropower was “virtually especially the river Teesta, can last week, tremendous improve- problem free, environmentally play a vital role, Mr. Vajpayee said. ment in the country’s power sector safe and economically viable.” He said that in order to harness the can be expected and urged Sikkim “For the country to progress hydroelectric potential of Sikkim to benefit from the same. rapidly, it is important to generate and the North Eastern States, the Addressing a large gathering cheap and reliable power but we Centre has already set aside Rs. of NHPC officials, employees and have to ensure that it is utilized 2,200 crores and urged Sikkim to the local gentry, including State properly,” he said. The focus should take up the remaining stages of government officials, Mr. be on proper transmission and dis- Teesta hydel projects soon. The PM unveils the plaque commemorating his visit to the Teesta Vajpayee said that the NDA gov- tribution, Mr. Vajpayee said. The PM also complemented Hydel Project Stage V site at Sherwani ernment’s focus for the 11th Five “We would like to light up NHPC for its work on the present visit were the Governor, V Rama Jayantiben Mehta, RV Shahi, Sec- Year Plan was on hydropower gen- every home in the country and take project, which is one year ahead Rao, Chief Minister, Pawan retary, Union Ministry of Power eration and proper transmission it from darkness to light. Ghar of schedule. Chamling, his cabinet colleagues, and Yogendra Prasad, CMD, and distribution of cheap power to mein andhera na rahen aur mann Also in attendance at the PM’s Union Minister of State for Power, NHPC. Bhandari irked with Chamling’s presence Bahun-Chettri body at PM’s meetings with political parties petitions PM with inclusion against the State government in the tral Government is urged to take a a NOW REPORT presence of the CM. firm stand in the larger interest of in OBC list demand The SSP submitted a 10-point, the people of Sikkim.” faced by the “left-out” communi- GANGTOK: “The Sikkim 8-page memorandum to the Prime Expressing reservations over a NOW REPORT ties ever since they started de- Sangram Parishad has taken Minister levelling allegations from the implementation of the Rs. 500 manding inclusion in 1995. Re- strong exception to the presence fomenting communal “disharmony” crore economic package an- GANGTOK: Executive members peated representation to the Other of the Chief Minister when the to corruption on the ruling Sikkim nounced by the PM for Sikkim, of the Akhil Sikkim Chettri Bahun Backward Commission are yet to SSP delegates met the Prime Min- Democratic Front Government. Mr. Bhandari went on to brand the Kalyan Sangh (ASCBKS) called evoke a favourable response the ister,” said former CM and lone Commenting on the delimita- airport project for Pakyong a on the Prime Minister on April 13 ASCBKS release informs. Opposition member of the State, tion of constituencies, the memo- “white elephant”. He alleged that at Raj Bhavan and submitted an The ASCBKS now plans to Nar Bahadur Bhandari while talk- randum details that the party has the State did not have the infra- 11-page representation making a meet the Chairman, of the Other ing to the Press here on Sunday. already voiced its concern over the structure to support an airport and case for the inclusion of “left-out” Backward Classes of Sikkim with Mr. Bhandari was referring to process. Mr. Bhandari, however, added that the “high-spending” communities in the OBC list of the all the “documents, datas, facts the CM’s presence in the room at clarified that his party supported tourists who travel by air did not State and extended support to the and figures collected from all the the time when delegations from delimitation. He also maintained come to Sikkim anyway. demands already placed by the corners of the state where these various political parties called on that delimitation of constituencies All in all, Mr. Bhandari’s tete State Government earlier. communities are living to prove the Prime Minister Atal Behari without reservation of seats for the a tete with the Press was reserved The Sangh President, that even these left out communi- Vajpayee on Saturday and Sunday two new ST communities of for some unabashed criticism of Churamani Khatiwada, reportedly ties are equally backward in all at the Raj Bhawan. Limbu and Tamang would be a the ruling front. updated the PM on the problems aspects”. The presence of the CM was “futile” exercise. “highly objectionable” and in con- The SSP memorandum also CPM wants travention of “protocol,” Mr. touched upon the Karmapa contro- NEBHOLA comes up with Bhandari said while admitting that versy and spelled out: “The safeguards for he was the “happiest person” since Karmapa issue deserves to be he could level all allegations tackled immediately and the Cen- Lepchas reservation numbers a NOW REPORT Limbu MLAs in the present Assem- GANGTOK: The CPM has lob- a NOW REPORT bly, reserving seats less than this STIRRING THINGS UP bied for special constitutional would be unfair. For the Tamang safeguards for the Lepcha commu- GANGTOK: Sikkim Nebhola community, Nebhola has suggested GAC DEMANDS RESERVATIONS ON nity of the State in its memoran- National Liberation Front has the reservation of three seats. dum submitted to the Prime Min- drawn the Prime Minister’s atten- Interestingly, while the THE BASIS OF POPULATION ister on April 14, Monday. tion towards Sikkim’s long-stand- Nebhola release lauds the SDF lation figures and consequent of A Press release issued by the ing demand for restoration of As- government’s commitment to res- the Scheduled Castes and Sched- State unit of the CPM informs a a NOW REPORT sembly seats reserved for the toration of seats for the Tsongs, it uled Tribes Orders (Amendment) “special constitutional protec- Tsong community as well as the alleges that only “crocodile tears” GANGTOK: The Gorkha Apex Act, 2002 (Act No. 10 of 2002) tion” for the Lepchas would safe- seats taken away from the BLs in have been shed as far as concerns Committee (GAC), an organisa- recognising the Limbu and guard the ribe and bring them at 1978. The Front also delved on the of other communities like Gurung, tion the Opposition leader Nar Tamang as Scheduled Tribe.” par with the other “advanced” number of seats which should be Sunar [Mukhia] and Magars are Bahadur Bhandari alleges is The GAC memorandum also communities. reserved for the Limbu and concerned. backed by “senior leaders” of the contends that the people of Sikkim Also suggested in the memo- Tamang communities. Nebhola also alleged misap- ruling front has petitioned the have not been able to “enjoy” de- randum was the proposal of de- In its letter to the PM, Nebhola propriation of funds by the ruling Prime Minister to decide on res- mocracy as “enjoyed by the rest claring the north district a Tribal argues that since there are already 4 SDF government. ervations in the State assembly in of the citizens of India”. Autonomous District Council. proportion to the population. “This is for the reason that Interestingly, even the CPM FREE COUNSELLING FOR HIGHER STUDIES In its memorandum submitted there are only thirty-two seats in has supported the idea of reserv- All students of Sikkim who appeared in 2003, CBSE & ISC to the Prime Minister during his the State legislature whereas Arti- ing seats in the State Assembly on XII Exam [Science, Commerce, Arts] can contact for direct 4-day visit to the State, the GAC cle 170 (1) of the Constitution pro- the basis of population and has admission in Engineering, B.D.S., B.P.T., Biotechnology, Micro- maintains that the present formula vides that every legislative assem- also proferred support for the seat biology, B.C.A., M.C.A., M.B.A., etc in Bangalore, N. Delhi, of reservation [12 seats for BLs] bly of each State shall consist of reservation claim of the newly in- Nagpur, W.B. Contact: Dey Sir o Mrs. Soma Dey. ph: needs to be “reviewd and rectified not less than sixty members,” the ducted members of ST Order, the 226510 (r) and 94341-53355 (mob.), Tibet Road, Gangtok taking into consideration the popu- GAC memorandum explains. Limbu and Tamang communities.

4 16-22 April, 2003; NOW! 5 POWERPOWER PLAYPLAY REPRESENTATION FOR INTEGRATION a NOW! pic State wants representation in national bodies “We would like to have the quests that the number of seats in a NOW REPORT presence of Sikkimese in crucial the Assembly be increased to 40 national bodies like National Se- and that two more seats be added GANGTOK: The State Govern- curity Advisory Board, Planning to Sikkim’s representation in the ment has called on the national Commission, Sangeet and Lalit Parliament. mainstream to reciprocate Kala Akademis, social and educa- Also reiterated is the demand Sikkim’s efforts at emotional in- tional boards and national com- for inclusion of such communities tegration with an “equally positive missions including those on as Gurung, Mangar, Sunuwar, and solid act” in what it calls “re- women, minorities, labour, natu- Thami, Rai, Dewan, Jogi and verse integration”. ral resources and environment,” Bhujel in the Scheduled Tribes list. For this, the State Government the memorandum reads. Padded in the same demand is believes, more and more Indians “All these will help a full and OBC status for Bahuns, Chettris, Minister [Transport] SB Subedi, who was also the Minister-in- from all over the country will have complete integration of Sikkim Newars and Sanyasis. Waiting for the PM’s welcome commitee receives Mr, Vajpayee while the Chief Minister looks on to be encouraged to visit the north- and the northeastern region into A case is also made for recog- east. A vital aspect of this consoli- the mainstream,” it says. nition of Bhutia, Lepcha and had given him time to “clearly tre. “Though, statistics do not dation would be to make Sikkimese The memorandum also touches Limbu languages in the 8th sched- understand the issues” concern- project an alarming scenario, an integral part of the national de- on the rights and privileges of ule of the constitution. ing Sikkim “in depth” and that strict checks have to maintain to cision-making process, the memo- Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim. While The emotionally sensitive issue he would now take up the de- preserve the peace and tranquil- randum of political demands sub- requesting that the Central govern- of extension of Direct Taxes to mands “favourably.” lity of the border State,” he said. mitted by the State Government ment now also finalise the “social, Sikkim also finds place in the 6- Interestingly, many have sug- Describing his visit to during its meeting with the Prime political and constitutional” rights point political demands. The State gested the PM’s sudden visit to Sikkim after 22 years, Mr. Minister on April 11, last Friday. and privileges of the new entrants Government contends that the In- Sikkim was a preparatory excur- Vajpayee said that it was The memorandum suggests in the list - the Limbus and Tamangs, come Tax Act, 1961 is in conflict sion in preparation for his “nisandeh ramniya aur that Sikkimese be appointed to it maintains that the “new arrange- with Article 371(F) and existing tax upcoming China visit. China still manmohak.” [Undoubtedly such posts as governors, ambas- ment, not in any way affect or dilute regulations of the State. While ad- does not recognise Sikkim as a pleasant and heart-warming]. sadors and be made part of the the rights and privileges enjoyed by mitting “full faith” in the Constitu- part of India and when asked to Meanwhile Chief Minister various political and cultural del- the Bhutia-Lepcha tribals”. tion and its protection of Old Laws, comment on this all that Mr. Pawan Chamling has expressed egations abroad. The memorandum also re- the State has requested for “ad- Vajpayee said, “We want to main- “immense satisfaction and hap- equate and explicit” protection by tain friendly relationship with all piness” over the special economic granting a moratorium of 28 years our neighbours. Talks are in package announced by Prime Himali Rajya Parishad against the IT Act from the date of progress with China on various Minister. Talking to the Press at extension in Sikkim. border issues. ” his official residence at Few of these demands are On the issue of influx into Mintokgang here, Mr. Chamling wants status quo new, but while addressing a Press Sikkim from Nepal and Bang- said that the Centre has been leges that the ruling Front was conference here on Monday, the ladesh, Vajpayee said that it was “extremely generous with working the delimitation to ben- PM admitted that his 4-day stay a matter of concern for the Cen- Sikkim.” a NOW REPORT efit itself in the Assembly elections GANGTOK: Introducing itself as scheduled for next year. It stresses a “newly established” Opposition that the shape of constituencies party, the Sikkim Himali Rajya decided in 1978-79 be kept un- Parishad has petitioned the Prime changed. Even the ruling party has SBI MARUTI Minister with a request to main- asked for status quo, but for obvi- SBI Maruti tain status quo on the delimitation ously different reasons. of constituencies. The two also agree on the de- In its memorandum to the mand for increase in the number of Prime Minister, the Parishad al- seats in the State Assembly to forty. Chamat ar Offer!! Vajpayee’s man in Sikkim Maruti 800 C Rs. 5,000 furthers SIBLAC demands Ex-Showroom worth of MGA resentation” in the reserved constitu- RS. 1,98,030 a NOW REPORT encies by working delimitation in accessories GANGTOK: BJP’s state-unit Presi- such a way that the BL voters consti- dent, KC Pradhan, in a petition to his tute 70 per cent of the voters. FREE with PM, urged support for the SIBLAC Mr. Pradhan also mentions Zen & Alto demand of amendment of the SC and that corruption has “increased,” as ST Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002. have communalism and casteism. upto 30th April, 2003 Mr. Pradhan has also promoted Influx, according to Mr. Pradhan, Maruti Omni SIBLAC’s demand for “genuine rep- continues unabated. Ex-Showroom Rs. 2,34,438 Kutse Shegu 7 YEARS LOAN ATTRACTIVE GIFTS The Kutse Shegu of Late Mrs. Kavita Bhutia falls on 30th April, 2003. SPOT SANCTION All relatives, friends and well-wishers are requested to join us in TENURE ON SPOT BOOKING offering prayers for the departed soul at our residence at Sang Masa contact: SBI, Gangtok Branch, MG Marg, Gangtok Busty. We would like to thank all those who were with us in our hour of bereavement and regret the inability to do so individually. ENTEL MOTORS Phuchung Bhutia [ Aku Mondal], father Karma Sonam Bhutia, husband 6TH MILE, TADONG. PH: 231828, 232341, 232059

5 6; NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 FROM-THE-SPOTFROM-THE-SPOT a NOW REPORT GANGTOK: The State had barely 48 hours notice of the Prime Min- ister’s decision to spend a weekend in Sikkim. All plans of an extended weekend for Sikkim were scuttled as hurried meetings tried to TheThe PM’sPM’s work out an itinerary for the first visit by a Prime Minister in nine years. This visit was even more special since it was more than just a fly in-fly out routine - Atal Behari Vajpayee was to be hosted for four days. The security arrangements and the protocol nitty-gritties had to be learnt up and implemented by a State which rarely gets VVIPs FLYINGFLYING gracing its freshly tarred roads. The visit almost didn’t come about. The day the PM was to chopper in started off bright and sunny but clouds started forming over Sikkim skies just as the clock ticked closer to his ETA. The flight from Delhi ININ was delayed by an hour and many awaiting his arrival on the army lawns at Libing helipad started wondering whether the PM’s MI-17 helicopter would undertake the flight into the hills under cloud cover. The afternoon spent waiting for PM was helped watching the presti- digitation of the man checking the lawns for landmines, the journalists squabbling with the security detail on why the “print media” could not be allowed near the PM, the welcome committee girls trying to keep the make-up on during the interludes of blistering sunshine finding interludes through the cloud cover and watching how bureaucrats and politicians wile away time when kept waiting by someone still higher up. Despite the frayed nerves that a PM visit can induce on everyone from journos to the cops, it all ended well with the print media allowed in, the PM and CM getting mobbed by the media and Mr. Vajpayee offering the right sound-bytes on his return to Sikkim after 22 years and his maiden visit to the Himalayan State as the Prime Minister. “With the touchdown, my long cherished hope of visiting this land in the lap of nature of has been achieved,” he said. Although normal life in Gangtok was thrown out of gear for hours each time the PM travelled, no one is complaining, by the time he finally left for his South Block permanence, he had already made the State coffers richer by Rs. 500 crores.

Many warned the Military Police jawan on guard duty to hold his turban tight against the chopper’s draft and he did. He was smart and complete when the PM touched down finally. The PM’s safety was also the only thought that occupied the intelligence personnel like the one with the mine-detecting gadget. He did not did not find any mines despite scouring the grounds ten- times over. The journos huddled in debate with the officious security people until they finally got the clearance to be move closer to the PM’s arrival spot. But, first came the luggage and the first to welcome the PM to Sikkim were the young girls in traditional costumes, bouquets and khadas... ORCHIDS FOR Mr. VAJPAYEE The hybrids, bred by a local nursery, The two hybrids are the result of five years a NOW REPORT WaySide Gardens and Nurseries Pvt Ltd., of work in the tissue culture laboratory owned owned by former Chief Secretary KC and run by the father-son duo of orchid breed- GANGTOK: The Prime Minister, Atal Pradhan and his son Sailesh Pradhan, are ers. What is more, each hybrid can now spawn Behari Vajpayee returned to Sikkim after now part of the over 500 species of orchids a series of plants which can take on such suf- twenty-two years and although he left after available in the state. fixes as Atal Behari Vajpayee the PM, the gifting the State Rs. 500 crores, he took back “The idea behind naming an orchid af- Statesman, the Poet etc. The hybrids on dis- The hybdrids named after Kalpana Chawla [top] and with him something much more memora- ter the Prime Minister came when we tried play which the Prime Minister named were the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee. ble, an orchid named after him after a visit to think of a way to make the visit as memo- gifted to him after he was shown around the pix courtesy WaySide Nurseries to the Flower Exhibition Hall, White Hall rable for him as it was for Sikkim,” said flower exhibition complex and should find pride complex here on April 13. Sailesh Pradhan while talking to NOW! of place at his official residence in New Delhi. The orchid pantheon now has a While the Prime Minister seemed hesi- As for the local orchid breeders who bred Dendrobium Atal Behari Vajpayee, a hybrid tant to have an orchid named after him, he the hybrid, they are presently too thrilled over groomed from Dendrobium Nobeli Alba, also gave in when the Chief Minister suggested the development to start worrying about the the state flower of Sikkim, and a Japanese hy- it after an orchid hybrid had been named economic prospects of the new hybrids. brid of the Dendrobium family. Apart from after the late astronaut. “That will still take some time,” Mr. getting an orchid hybrid named after him, the “It definitely feels good to have been able Pradhan said when asked on when the new Prime Minister also named another hybrid in to make such a gift to the Prime Minister while hybrids will be available for sale, while add- the memory of Kalpana Chawla, the astronaut also sharing the honour of owning a hybrid ing that hybrid was more about honouring India lost to the Columbia crash earlier this year. named by him,” admitted Mr. Pradhan. the PM than about profits.

6 16-22 April, 2003; NOW! 7 POWERPOWER PLAYPLAY mocracy get “crystallised.” Mr. Khatiwada names two sources for his Reports of Mr. Khatiwada’s affidavits contention: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, a NOW REPORT filed in the Supreme Court wherein he con- Vol. 21, Micropedia, Knowledge in Depth, 15th GANGTOK: Reacting to allegations lev- tested that the Lepchas and Bhutias came Edition [pg 137]; The Limboos of the Eastern Khatiwada elled in the public domain ever since his to Sikkim after the land was already inhab- Himalayas with Special Reference to Sikkim, comments on the history of migration into ited by the three tribes of “Naong, Chang JR Subba, with a foreword by Dr. RK Sprigg, Sikkim were made public, Additional Ad- and Mon” [which he explains are the pre- retd. Prof., Oxford University. admits to being vocate General, NB Khatiwada, in a rejoin- historic names of the present-day Nepalese Mr. Khatiwada reiterates that his affida- der dated April 8, 2003, has admitted that communities] had spurred much hate mail vit was not targeted against any particular com- “ruthlessly he is in fact “ruthlessly ambitious”. He, with allegations ranging from calling Mr. munity, but only an attempt to point out that however, explains that while he was ambi- Khatiwada “ruthlessly ambitious” to sug- the Bhutias and Lepchas of Sikkim cannot be tious for democracy in pre-merger Sikkim, gesting that the book he quotes in his sub- considered the “only” indigenous people of ambitious” his ambition now is stoked to see this de- mission makes no such reference. Sikkim “by any stretch of imagination”. ANAND LAMA ENDS DECADE-LONG CONG ASSOCIATION Disjointed Joint SIKKIMESE PEOPLE Action a NOW REPORT GANGTOK: There is a Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Joint Action NOT READY TO ACCEPT Committee for Tribal Status and then there is a Sikkim Limboo- Tamang Joint Action Committee. While the former i chaired by Bir Bal Limboo, the latter has PR CONGRESS Subba as its President and the two can’t seem to agree on anything. “On April 6, 2003, the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee [I] While the Limboo-Tamang JAC lost its Youth wing President, Anand Lama, who decided to re- for Tribal Status claims the support sign from the party and his post after having “realised” that the of Sikkim Limboo Literary Society, “people of Sikkim were still not ready to accept the Congress Sikkim Limboo Youth Association, party in Sikkim”. In his resignation letter to the AICC [I], Mr. All Sikkim Limboo Students Asso- Lama referred to the party’s dismal performance at the ballot ciation, Srijunga Limboo Cultural since the 1994 Assembly elections as proof that the “sentiments Association and Sikkim Tamang and mood of voters in Sikkim clearly run against the Congress Buddhist Association, the other JAC party”. NOW! caught up with the former Congressman [Mr. Lama claims it has members from various has been with the Congress since 1994] to find out more about ” political outfits as members. the reasons that prompted his resignation and his future plans. Both committees have reacted Excerpts: differently to each development You started your political career as a Congressman, what made you concerning the Limboos and resign? Tamangs and have even indulged My resignation should not reflect on the Congress party. It would be in some mudslinging of late. The wrong on my part to blame the party. It’s a National party and thou- JAC for Tribal Status is clear in sands of Congressmen are doing good work across the country. But in its acceptance that the tribal sta- Sikkim it is different. Since the 1994 elections, Congress has been vir- tus for the two communities came tually wiped out in all the elections. In 1994 we got only two seats and Did your resignation have anything to do with the recent move to through the efforts of the SDF gov- in 1999 not even a single seat came our way. In the recent Panchayat depose Namkha Gyaltsen as the SPCC (I) President? ernment and are confident that all elections first we decided not to participate but this was not accepted There was a move against Namkha Gyaltsen. It was led by IS Limboo, other benefits accruing to the two by the party high command and we had to field contestants at the last the SPCC (I) vice-president. Many people signed the petition and sent it communities with the new status moment. We were not ready and not able to fill in Panchayat seats and to Delhi. I was also a signatory to the petition. I have no enmity towards will come about in due course of you know the results. And, as I said in my resignation letter, I don’t him and this is not personal. This being a democratic party we have a time, the other group can’t see any- think the people of Sikkim are still ready to accept Congress (I). right to express our point of view. We all felt that the party was not doing thing right in the State govern- enough - felt a change could do better. Only 18 months for elections, we ment’s handling of things. Congress (I)’s lack of appeal with the voters is not a recent phe- wanted a change. In fact, even Mr. Namkha was very co-operative. He The latest Press release of this nomenon. It has always fared poorly in Sikkim, so why resign now? called a meeting to discuss the matter and sort out the problems. He was group “opposes and condemns” the We just have another year or so to go till the next also ready to step down if so required but many signa- notification officially announcing the elections. At the rate Congress is going, with peo- tories never turned up. I believe one observer is being tribal status of the two communities. ple still not accepting us, the result will be the same. ON RECORD sent to work out a solution. Mr. PR Subba contends that State No matter what we promise it will be very difficult should take out a “clear notification” for us to come to power. I’m feeling very frustrated. I want to do Where do you go from here? stating the “clear status” of the two something for the people and I think I need to move on. Personally, I’m very happy with the functioning of the present gov- communities by inserting Limboo ernment and the Chief Minister. He has been very constructive and and Tamang as No. 3 and 4 in the Why do you think Congress party has not been able to perform in the state? the majority has expressed trust in the leadership of Mr. Chamling. State’s tribal list after Bhutia and Now and again it has been proved that people of Sikkim have not ac- He has fulfilled a very long pending demand of the Limboo-Tamang Lepcha. It might be mentioned here cepted the Congress. Not just in one election, but time and again. One community by getting them Scheduled Tribe status. This was printed that the notification does exactly the reason is that the party gets activated only in the last moment. People say in the agenda of all political parties and since I’m a Tamang I’d like same, which makes Mr. PR Subba’s Congress wakes up just before elections and then disappears. Mr. Bhandari to do more work for my community. demand rather unclear. He also con- created a bad impression on the people about the Congress. We tried very tends that the notification without “re- hard in the 1999 elections, conducted meetings all over the state, in every Does that mean that you are you planning to join the SDF? structuring” the assembly constituen- district, every block but some candidates just got 25–50 votes. I mean I think SDF is doing a great job, fulfilling all aspirations and de- cies to accommodate seats reserved this is a National party, what’s the point? mands which they had promised in the manifesto. My preference will for the two communities is “totally definitely be the SDF. I feel I’ll be able to serve the people better. I illegal and unconstitutional”. You think People here are not ready to accept national parties? have not yet joined but there are developments and if all goes well I’ll How many takers he has for his I think in Sikkim only regional parties can win elections and form the be joining the party. My joining will be unconditional. My first prior- protests, only time will tell, but government. People have more faith and confidence in regional par- ity will be to implement party programmes and strengthen the party at Sikkim can prepare for much more ties. BJP also has the same problem. I don’t think even they can do the grassroots level. There are many other Congressmen who will be confusion from two organisations anything. They will have the same fate as the Congress. joining along with me. sound almost the same phoneti- cally, but sing different tunes.

15 8; NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 DESPATCHESDESPATCHES Darj cops now also protect against touts Other than this, a harassed Police department and I also pray centages to be handed out to the touts is increasing every day with a NOW REPORT tourist can also call up 2258625, that the administration takes active touts and finally it was decided on known felons joining the league in 2252520, 2254203 and 2254422 participation in deciding the per- 15 to 20 per cent. lure of easy money. DARJEELING: Darjeeling Po- and file a telephonic complaint. centage that should be paid to the Darjeeling, famous for the al- Every year around 2 lakh do- lice has finally decided get “Almost all of Darjeeling is brokers,” says Vijay Khanna, Gen- luring Kanchenjunga has now be- mestic tourists and around 30,000 proactive about curbing harass- dependent on tourists, but the mis- eral Secretary of Darjeeling come equally infamous for its foreign tourists visit Darjeeling. ment of tourists by touts. deeds of only a handful brings us Gorkha Hotel Owners’ Associa- touts. Things have taken such a Among the foreign tourists there A public announcement cam- disrepute,” added Dewan. tion. He also admitted that even bad shape that a tourist cannot are the back-packers and the organ- paign has been initiated by the lo- This, also holds true for taxi the hotel owners should strictly even choose a hotel of his own lik- ized sector tourists. The organized cal police warning touts against any drivers who are following on the follow the percentage brokerage ing and is forced to stay where the sector tourists are handled by the tourist harassment and misleading. footsteps of the touts and force decided on and not hike the touts gets a better cut. travel agencies but the back packers “We have Tourist Assistant passengers into hotels where they amount on the sly. Even tourists with prior book- too have to suffer the tout nightmare. Booths at all the vantage locations get a handsome cut. Hotel owners pay a cut of 30 to ing are misled and taken to other Jennifer, from Australia, re- of Darjeeling including the railway Recently, the police had 40 percent on the total billing to the hotels by the touts. The crux be- veals, “Though I had a guide book station, club side, Chowrasta and picked up 40-odd people, mostly tout, any objection to which leads to ing, when in Darjeeling the poor and wanted to look for a hotel on the motor-stand. Any complaints hotel brokers for tourist harass- the touts black-listing the hotel and the tourists lives are in the hands of my own, the touts were not leav- by the tourist will result in strin- ment. They were later released hotel ends up without any business. these merciless touts. With the ing me. It was only when I threat- gent action against the offender,” after strict warnings. In the past, there have been earnings being lucrative without ened to complain to the police did assured Sisir Dewan, Town DSP. “It is an excellent move by the many a conflict regarding the per- any investment, the number of they leave me in peace.” North Sikkim GASTRONOMY thumbs down FOR A CAUSE Stage III A gourments delight, the 500 for a family of 4. People did not a NOW REPORT spread included 60 items including mind paying since the food was good hands of GREF and the Assam Ri- Syal Roti, Kodo ko roti, a variety and it was for a right cause,” said a NOW REPORT fles and expressed concern that DARJEELING: It was a Nepali of pickles, Phapar ko phuloro, Dinesh Shreshta, Secretary, Sparsh. they could not take NHPC’s word Poila Baisakh with a difference. Dhero, Raga ko choila, Wachipa A sale counter was also MANGAN: The public of North on an issue since it was yet to ful- This year, thanks to Darjeeling and various rice preparations. opened selling various food items Sikkim opposed the Teesta Hydel fil the promises made in regard to SPARSH, an NGO working with To tantalize the sweet tooth, and pickles. Sabita Lepcha who Project Stage-III at a meeting held Stage V. mentally disabled children, a 3-day there was Kheer and Lakhamari. was attending the food festival at the Zilla Bhawan, on April 2. The Power Minister, MLA ethnic Nepali food festival was held To wash all this down was a choice with her daughters said: “I had The meeting, organised by the Dzongu, Zilla Adakshya, NHPC at GDNS Hall, Darjeeling, target- of traditional sweet or salty come here initially to contribute Power Department, was originally officials, representatives of the ing Poila Baisakh falling on April Darjeeling tea without milk. for a good cause but after tasting planned for a dozen or so local MoU negotiation committee com- 15 as the ending. “Altogether we had 60 dishes the food I realised that it was one gentry, but reports indicate that prising of the Finance and Power The festival provided the dual and we carefully chose the menu of the better New Years I had ob- some 200 locals armed with black Secretaries explained the exact purpose of fund-raising and provid- taking traditional dishes from dif- served.” She intends to be return flags gate-crashed the meeting. details of the project to the peo- ing an opportunity for Darjeeling ferent Nepali groups like the to the food fest every year. The public viewpoint was ex- ple, but apparently failed to con- people to savor, ethnic Nepali deli- Newars, Rais and the Limboos,” Incidentally Sparsh, which pressed by Tseten Lepcha of vince the gathered crowd of its cacies, many of which have disap- informed Sujata. works with children with cerebral Chungthang, Thukchuk merits. peared from daily menus. With traditional Nepali music palsy and multiple disability con- Lachungpa, Anu Lachenpa, Loden The public reportedly passed “The food festival is hit and so playing in the backdrop it was the right centrates mainly in the far flung Gyatso Lepcha of Dzongu and the a resolution opposing the project popular that it will be made into an place to be in for the Nepali New Year. rural areas like the tea gardens. It Panchayat of Lum. They high- and handed over a copy of the annual event. It just went beyond An average of 300 people vis- was founded in 1995, registered in lighted the various problems al- resolution to the Chairman, MoU our expectations,” said Sujata Rai, ited the food festival everyday. “We 1998 and has 200 members includ- ready being faced by them in the Negotiating Committee. Vice-President, Darjeeling Sparsh. had kept the charges as Rs. 100 per ing 13 trained person and 50 ac- person, Rs. 200 for couples and Rs. tive volunteers at present. Appeared/ going to appear for board exams? UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY Confused about your next step? Are these some of your worries??? What subject should I select? Sikkim volunteers attend meet Which professional course is the best for me? What are the latest career options? How do I get admission into a top college in India/ Abroad? on rights and problems of When, where and how should I apply? HOW WILL I SUCCEED? disabled people For answers to all these queries and many more Anamika from Spastics Society. law. Each state was asked to make Register for the Career Counselling & Guidance Program a NOW REPORT The workshop in Guwahati a presentation on these aspects. Brought to you for the first time in Sikkim was conducted by NCPDEP in col- On the final day the paper pres- By the expert professional team of GANGTOK: NGO’s working on laboration with India Centre for entation made by Dr. Sarita various disability sectors were re- Human Rights and Law. Many dis- Gurung from Sikkim was judged cently invited by the National Cen- tinguished people from the law the best among all the eight North ICS tre for Promotion of Employment faculty of Assam attended the East states. Institute for Career Studies for Disabled People (NCPEDP) workshop. The focus was on vari- LUCKNOW for North East Zonal meet at ous aspects of law and its Acts Sikkim Viklang Sahayata SALIENT FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM Guwahati and Shillong. which a disabled person and their Samiti (SVSS) has been invited by Aptitute testing Individual counselling A four-member team repre- families could benefit from. the Orthopedics Department of Career Counselling seminar Career planning sented Sikkim at the meet. The The second meet in Shillong Meghalaya to hold a camp in their For registration/ enquiries contact: team consisted of Dr. Sarita focused on the various problems state in the month of May. The Siyari Road, Deorali Gurung and Draupadi Ghimeray faced by disabled people and their Chief Minister, PK Chamling has CAPITAL Gangtok - 737 102 C email: [email protected] from Sikkim Viklang Sahayata families regarding access, trans- made a personal donation of Rs. CC CAREER CENTRE PH: 03592-281043/ 280313 Samiti and Ms. Dhakal and Ms. port, education, employment and 25,000 towards this camp.

16 Vishnu 16-22 April, 2003; NOW! 9 Abhishekam RECAPRECAP SIKKIMSIKKIM at Nandok Meeting with PM leaves No woman meditation should die to centre SH&RA upbeat give life Shahnawaz Hussein, had said in a and thanked him for his promise to a NOW REPORT letter to SH&RA, “The terminal is link Sikkim to the east-west corri- a NOW REPORT a NOW REPORT GANGTOK: One woman in In- equipped with modern facilities to dor of the Golden Quadrilateral dia dies from complications re- RANIPOOL: A special GANGTOK: The Sikkim Hotel cater to five hundred passengers at project. This will further help the lated to pregnancy and childbirth Abhishekam was conducted to and Restaurant Association (SHRA) a time and has facilities for handling growth of tourism to Sikkim as ac- every five minutes. This adds up Lord Vishnu on April 11, on the has, in a petition to the Prime Min- limited international operations.” cessibility will no more be a prob- to over 100,000 women every year. occasion of Ram Nawami at the ister, asked for “kind and sympa- The petition also asked for al- lem, SH&RA representatives who Despite the progress of health- newly inaugurated Shri Kanchi thetic consideration” of some of lowing the transit of pilgrims via called on the PM said. care in India, there has been little re- Kamakoti Shiva Panchayatana their long pending demands. Nathu La Pass to Mount Kailash, Speaking to NOW!, ST Wangdi duction in the maternal mortality rate. Meditaion Centre at Nandok, Heading the list is the Lake Mansarovar and Potala, Lhasa. of Hotel Rendezvous said, “The meet- To address the twin issues of safe Ranipool. upgradation of Bagdogra airport into This pass is the only all weather ing went off very well and although the pregnancy and childbirth, the Gov- The Governor, V. Rama Rao, an international status to facilitate route through the Sikkim Himalaya PM made no commitments, we are ernment declared Kasturba Gandhi’s Governor of Sikkim graced the oc- the direct operation of flights be- that can be successfully promoted confident that the Prime Minister will birthday, April 11, as National Safe casion along with other officials of tween Nepal, Bhutan and Bangla- to further develop the economy of do something. After all, he is the high- Motherhood Day. the government and local gentry. desh to the region. This airport is the the region through tourism. est authority we can approach and we In Sikkim, a number of interven- The Vishnu Sahasranamam wing of only air gateway to the region and SH&RA also requested the hope something will come out of this.” tions, including essential and emer- the South Indian Cultural Associa- has the necessary infrastructure in Prime Minister that National High- The SH&RA delegation was gency obstetric care, promotion of tion (SICA), Gangtok chanted the place. In fact, in September 2002, way 31 linking Sikkim with the rest led by its newly-elected President institutional deliveries and referral Vishnu Sahsranama stotram. Union Civil Aviation Minister, Syed of the country be fully upgraded Mrs. SM Gurung. transport and training of Dais are The celebration came to an being implemented by the depart- end with the offerings of Silk ment under the RCH programme. Dhoti and Angawastram to Lord In his message on the National Vishnu and a silk saree to God- CIS wants PM to promote Sikkim with IT investors Safe Motherhood Day, the Minis- dess Kanchana Devi by the Gov- a NOW REPORT randum wants the Union Govern- revival of closed SSI units which ter for Health & Family Welfare, ernor followed by Aarti and dis- ment to initiate action on possible will help build investor confidence DD Bhutia said, “The purpose of tribution of prasadam. GANGTOK: A delegation of the trade with China through Sikkim, and also encourage Sikkimese en- observing the day is to draw the About 50 married women par- Confederation of Industries of a faster exploitation of water re- trepreneurs. attention of not only the general ticipated in the puja from various Sikkim met the Prime Minister, sources so that a specific quantum Stating that Sikkim has the public but also of all sectors of sections of the society. Non-stop Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Raj of energy could be set aside at a best environment for development government as well as civil socie- Bhajans were held throughout the Bhavan on April 13 and offered a reasonable cost for industrial re- of Information Technology sector ties towards their role in bringing day by devotees belonging to dif- memorandum for promotion of quirement and upgradation of and allied industries, the memo- down the maternal mortality and ferent associations and organiza- trade and industries in Sikkim. roads including the highway be- randum requested the Prime min- improving the health of Indian tions of Ranipool, Gangtok and Basically placing six salient tween Siliguri and Gangtok. ister to persuade industrialists in women. Let us all be united in our other parts of Sikkim. points for consideration the memo- It also asks for a package for the IT sector to invest in Sikkim efforts in preventing maternal so that the nation develops in a deaths so that no woman should balanced manner. die to give life.” OPE OPE OPE PEN W NOW NOW NOWO OPEN OPEN OPEN PEN A TYRANT DISAPPEARS W NOW NOW NOWO WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN OPEN tion Mr. Hussein’s sons Uday and dictator really the end of dictator- NO NO NOW OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN Contd from pg 2 Qusay, who all dropped even fur- ship’s evil? “When one individual OW NOW NOW NOW OPEN PEN PEN PEN these people should just be ex- ther out of sight during the bomb- is prosecuted for the broader OW NOWO WO WO thePEN PENsquareNO NO N O O OPEN PE ecuted,” said Mr. Garton Ash. ing of Iraq. crimes of a state, then with their OW NOW NOW NOWO “Saddam Hussein should be put on Beyond them, though, stood personal guilt and incarceration OPEN PEN PEN PE OW NOWO WO WO trial in The Hague, or at least put some legions of Baathist loyalists only the slate can be wiped clean,” the NO NO E WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN WOP senior figures of the Saddam Hussein too willing in the long years of Mr. British historian Tristram Hunt NO NO NO NO WOPEN OPEN OPEN OPE regime on trial in the Hague.” Hussein’s rule to serve the dicta- wrote in a newspaper article last NO NOW NOW NOW OPEN OPEN OPEN P Those figures might include torship, just as the Nazi regime year. “By focusing guilt on the sin- NOW NOW NOW NOWO spread its tentacles throughout WOPEN OPEN OPEN OP such ever-elusive Baathist stal- gle individual, war crimes tribu- NNO NOW NOW NOW warts and loyalists of Mr. Hussein German society. nals skew the historical picture, WOPEN OPEN OPEN OP NNO NOW NOW NOW as Tariq Ali, Izzat Ibrahim and And what is there to do about absolving the mass of silent, will- WOPEN OPEN OPEN OP NNO NOW NOW NOW Taha Yassin Ramadan, not to men- them? Is the definitive end of a ing executioners.” WOPEN OPEN OPEN O NNO NOW NOW NOW WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN WO THE DEVELOPMENT CATALYST OF THE NORTH EAST FOR THE NORTH EAST ENNO NO NO NO WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN WO ENNO NO NO NO we’reOPEN aboutOPEN food,OPEN O If you have an idea to set up an industry in Sikkim NOW NOW NOW W EN PEN PEN PENNO WO WO WO W PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PENNO NO NO NO If you are a committed person WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN W APPLICATION FOR ENNO NOnot geometryNO NO P OPEN OPEN OPEN LOAN ALONG WITH NOW NOW NOW NOW If you have some amount of money THE SCHEME TO THE PEN OPEN OPEN OPEN NOW NOW NOW NOW UNDER MENTIONED PEN OPEN OPEN OPEN NEDFI OFFERS THE FOLLOWING RANGE OF SERVICES: NOW NOAndW foodNO itW is. NO ADDRESS OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN * Term Loans NOW NOW NOW NO * Assistance under North East Enquiry Fund Scheme (for new For details please contact OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN NOW FromNOW allNO overW NO generation of entrepreneurs) OPEN WOPEN OPEN OPEN * Working Capital Term Loan (NEDFi assisted Units) NO NOW NOW NO OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN * Micro Fiance (Through NGOs) W NOW Thailand,NOW China,NOW N OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN * Entrepreneurial Skill and Market Development W NOW NOW NOW N * Venture capital schemes OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN W NOW Japan,NOW IndonesiaNOW N ADDITIONAL SERVICE OF NEDFI INCLUDES: WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN GENERAL MANAGER NO NO NO N * Disbursement of Central Govt. Subsidies in the NE Region WOPEN WOPEN WOPEN WOPE * North East Data bank which NEDFi has set up together with North Eastern Development NO andNO Europe!NO N WOPEN OPEN OPEN OPE National Informatics Centre and the North Eastern Finance Corporation Ltd. O NOW NOW NOW IDBI Building, G.S. Road, OPEN OPEN OPEN PEN Council. (http://databank.nedfi.com) OW NOW NOW NOWO Guwahati- 781005 OPEN OPEN OPEN PEN * R&D for development of Aromatic and Medicinal plants Tel: 0361-2529202-6, OW NOW NOW NOWO * Information Technology Park OPEN P. S.O Road,PEN Below RajeevOPEN ElectronicsPE Fax: (0361)2529178 OW NOW NOW NOWO * EDP (Entrepreneurship Development Programme) for E-mail: [email protected] OPEN OPEN OPEN PE NOW NOW NOW Phone:NO 227750WO technically qualified persons website: www.nedfi.com PEN PEN PEN PE OWO OWO OWO OWO

17 10; NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT GANGTOK: With the intention to create awareness among rural women, Manav Kalyan Seva Samiti, a voluntary organisation based in 6th Mile Tadong, organ- Empowering women at Lower Lingdum ised a 4-day awareness generation programme camp at Lower Lingdum, near Rhey Khola from Department clarified on some of the rural folk of the various schemes April 7-10, earlier this month. The confusions regarding bill payments that department has implemented camp was sponsored by State So- by the rural folk. Similarly, Ramesh for the welfare of villagers. cial Welfare Advisory Board and Gautam who represented SNT De- Earlier, on April 7, while ad- covered various topics like educa- partment highlighted the “dos and dressing the inaugural session, tion, health, social awareness, ag- don’ts” of travelling in SNT buses. Mrs. Sarita Gurung and Mrs. riculture, animal husbandry, power, While covering Education, Sarita Chettri, Counsellors from computer education and SNT. Mrs. R. Namchyo, ex-Director, the SSWAB appraised the gather- Laxmi Sharma, in-charge of Education, highlighted the impor- ing about the various development Katuk Vidhya Sagar Primary tance of time management. She schemes that can be availed from School, while addressing the gath- suggested that unemployed youth the Board by the village women. ering of around 150 women from not run only after government jobs. Among these schemes, the partici- neighbouring villages, urged them “If someone from Bihar and UP pants showed their keen interest in to maintain strong parent-teacher can earn his living by selling channa adult education and training on crafts relations to improve quality of or badam in our State, why can’t our and stitching for village women. The education in government schools. people opt for these jobs,” she said. inaugural session was chaired by CD Similarly, Dr. Namgay and Dr. The SDAO from Agriculture Rai, editor Gangtok Times. Dorjee of Manipal Referral Hos- Department, GD Giri and Agri- While addressing the gathering launched for promoting self-em- her gratitude to the SSWAB for pital informed the gathering on the culture Inspector DK Pradhan Mr. Rai emphasized the importance ployment among the youth. sponsoring the camp. She informs importance of proper nourishment emphasized the need for scientific of education in the present times. The General Secretary of the that participants have requested of the pregnant mothers. farming. Doctors from Animal He also urged the youth not to run organizing committee, Mrs. for an adult education centre and Siva Gautam, Junior Engineer Husbandry and Veterinary Serv- for the white-collar jobs only, but Amrita Rai claimed that the camp a handicraft and stitching training (Revenue) who represented Power ices department also appraised the also seek out various schemes was very successful and expressed unit in their locality.

“Commemoration he Lok Sabha, last week, has yet to achieve in stability and passed a bill seeking to maturity. The symbols become Day” of last Twiden the scope of the ex- Wag the Flag more important than the actual pro- Lepcha king to pression “insult” and provide for pounding of their essence. imprisonment for a term that shall tional flag has become a somewhat conveniently elevated above the ac- Discussions on the bill have be observed on “not be less than” one year for the ridiculous feature of Indian politi- tual defilements of the Indian po- been accompanied by vehement and April 18 second and subsequent offences cal sentimentality which mistakes litical fabric and death of political earnest calls for the imposition of for those showing disrespect to the jingoism for patriotism. A mature sensitivity. Once the Constitution compulsory singing of the national a NOW REPORT national symbols such as the na- democracy ought to rise above to- becomes a sort of holy grail, then anthem in the nation’s schools. It has tional flag, national anthem and kenism. Pre- the actual per- also been suggested that the song, GANGTOK: Sikkim Lepcha the Constitution. venting and re- versions of its Vande Mataram, be made part of the Youth Association, west, has an- The Prevention of Insults to straining one- sober principles bill’s purview. By advocating and nounced plans to celebrate Punu DEEP National Honour Act of 1971 pro- self from in- – corruption, demanding such strong nationalist Mun Salong Saknon Suknim, the vided for imprisonment for a term flicting any sectarian vio- sentiments from the electorate, the day commemorating the last that might extend to three years or form of “insult” FOCUS lence and the politicians have attempted to shift Lepcha king of Sikkim. A Press a fine or both. According to the Act, to the sacred unabashed the national focus from their own release issued by the Association RANJIT SINGH “whoever in any public place or in symbols of the abuse of funda- dubious integrity and duplicity. informs that the day will be be any other place within public view nation is what makes up the ex- mental rights – become perfectly Healthy irreverence and a sense observed on April 8 at Phamrong, burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, alted notion of “national honour”. consonant with the concept of na- of humour also have their political near Yuksom. A day-long series of disfigures, destroys, tramples upon The tone and content of the bill tional honour. function and value, particularly in a programmes, including a culutural or otherwise brings into contempt belie the extent to which the con- A democracy that has to keep modern democracy which cherishes programme apart from the reuired (whether by words, either spoken cept of national honour is founded a constant and increasingly anxious the individual’s freedom of action rituals has been announced to or written, by acts) the Indian Na- on fetishism and paranoia. The tri- vigil over its hallowed symbols be- and expression. Lack of political mark the day. tional Flag or the Constitution of colour, national anthem and the trays a kind of humourless insecu- scruple and an excess of patriotic India or any part thereof… Constitution get transformed into rity regarding its self image which zeal make a bizarre combination The periodic fuss over the na- sanctified objects which are then is, in turn, an indication of what it which has already taken on the man- Kutse Shegu tle of a national pathology. The Kutse Shegu of Late Mrs. Kavita Bhutia falls on 30th April, 2003. All “Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... relatives, friends and well-wishers What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has are requested to join us in offering prayers for the departed soul at our magic, power, and genius in it.” residence at Sang Masa Busty. We - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832, Poet, Novelist, and Scientist) - would like to thank all those who were with us in our hour of bereavement and regret the inability to do so individually. Coffee & Cakes Phuchung Bhutia [ Aku Mondal], father fresh everyday Karma Sonam Bhutia, husband PRESENTS LOST Lost a pursecontaining In- dian Passport (No.-T- 870299) and few other SLICEof belongings of Chime Dolkar Bhutia on the way from Tadong to Tathangchen. If found, LIFE please contact: 280624

18 16-22 April, 2003; NOW! 11 BUSINESSBUSINESS Chamling warns party workers against indulging in communal politics against them even they happen to functionary while talking to NOW! & Publicity, SDF, told NOW! “I told the CEC meet that Mr. a NOW REPORT be the founding members of the The CEC meet of the SDF “The PM expressed his happiness Chamling was present at the Prime SDF party,” he announced. party was essentially called to “re- overall development and progress of Minister’s meeting with Opposition GANGTOK: The ruling Sikkim The fact that ongoing delimi- view and evaluate” the recent visit the State and gave his word that he leaders on the insistence of the Democratic Front President and tation process has bared Sikkim’s of the Prime Minister Atal Behari would continue to support the State’s Prime Minister himself. He re- Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, communal side is an open secret Vajpayee to the State. developmental initiatives. This is cer- quested Mr. Chamling to be present on Tuesday warned those indulg- which was only asserted further in The meeting, chaired by SDF tainly a great achievement for the SDF there. Therefore, it is not a breach ing in fanning communal passions shape of memoranda that reached president, Pawan Chamling and government,” he added. of protocol as alleged by Mr. in the State to desist from their ac- the Prime Minister during his 4-day attended by high-level party office Informed sources further reveal Bhandari. Furthermore, the SDF tivities or face “stringent” action. visit to Sikkim. Senior party mem- bearers, took stock of the four- that the political and economic de- headed by Mr. Chamling is a part- While speaking on the issue of bers of the ruling front admitted that days visit of the PM. mands placed before Mr. Vajpayee ner of the NDA government at the communal politics unleashed by part of the CM’s barbs were aimed While expressing “satisfac- by the State Government and sup- centre and no eyebrows should be some political leaders, the Party at his own men involved with the tion” over the overall arrangements ported by the SDF were discussed raised if the PM wanted Mr. President warned even his own Gorkha Apex Committee which during the VVIP visit, the CEC in detail by the Political Advisor to Chamling to sit through the meet- cadre against indulging in such had petitioned the Prime Minister passed a resolution “thanking” the the Chief Minister, BB Gooroong. ings,” Mr. Gooroong told NOW! activities. “I will not hesitate to to direct reservation of seats on the PM for the visit and the largesse Mr. Gooroong is also reported “The SDF party strongly con- take strong action against those basis of population, a rather touchy he announced for the State. to have responded to the “breach demns the statements made by Mr. fanning the communal passion. If issue in Sikkim at present. “The meeting unanimously re- of protocol” alleged by the Oppo- Bhandari that Mr. Chamling was the peace and tranquillity of the “With the statement, the Chief solved that the present government sition SSP leader, Nar Bahadur ‘snooping around like inquisitive State is at jeopardy, then those fan- Minister has sent a clear signal to handled the visit of the PM per- Bhandari, when the CM sat through schoolboy’ during the meeting, as ning communal passion will be all that communal politics will not fectly in spite of the short notice,” Mr. Vajpayee’s appointments with reported by a section of the media,” held responsible and action taken be tolerated,” said a senior party PD Rai, General Secretary, Media various political parties of the State. the Gen. Secy, Publicity added. AGAM SMRITI PURAKAR FOR Dr. PRADHAN Organisers 7 letters on arrested, pop-star delimitation a NOW! pic receives part a NOW REPORT payment GANGTOK: The deadline fixed a NOW REPORT by the Delimitation Commission inviting “suggestions and objec- GANGTOK: Out of the promised tions” to the delimitation proposed Rs. 1.3 lakhs for the concert, Nepali in the notification issued recently pop singer Nabin Bhattarai was is three days away. Sikkim has till paid only Rs. 10,000 by the organ- April 19 to make official represen- isers. Even the bills of the hotel in tations to the Commission and thus which the singer was put up were far the Election Office at Gangtok, not paid leading to the registration which is also collecting these let- of a case under fraud against the ters has thus far received only organisers, Ramesh Basnett and seven representations. The fre- Gopal Sunwar who were subse- netic protests which greeted the quently arrested. The duo spent initial announcement seem to have seven days in jail and were later died down. Interestingly, sources released on bail. Sources informed indicate that no political party has NOW! that Mr. Bhattarai has now made a representation to the State been paid Rs. 60,000. Election Office. It is possible that Energetic dancers of the procession taken out to mark Baisakhi Utsav at Gangtok they have preferred to make their LOST submission directly to the Lost a pursecontaining In- Deleimitation Commission in Nepali Sahitya Parishad extravaganza dian Passport (No.-T- Delhi. It needs reiteration here that 870299) and few other the Commission will entertain only for Nepali Naya Barsa belongings of Chime those objections which are tabled Guest on the occasion, gave away complex, comprising of repre- Dolkar Bhutia on the way with it during the stipulated time the award to Dr. Kumar. sentatives from various ethnic sec- from Tadong to frame. The Commission arrives in a NOW REPORT Speaking on the occasion, Mr. tions of the Nepali communitythe Tathangchen. If found, Sikkim in end-April to hold pub- GANGTOK: Well-known Nepali Chamling said that the youth of procession culminated at the SCG please contact: 280624 lic sittings for South and West on historian and writer, Dr. Kumar today should emulate the achieve- auditorium. April 22 at Namchi and East and Pradhan was conferred the pres- ments of Dr. Kumar and his con- North on April 23 at Gangtok. tigious “Agam Smriti Puraskar” by tribution to the Nepali language the Nepali Sahitya Parishad, and literature. He said that his gov- ADITYA CONSULTANCIES Sikkim, on the occasion of ernment was committed to the pro- Vajra Guru Dungdrup FIRST TIME IN SILIGURI Baisakhi Utsav and Nepali Naya motion and preservation of lan- AT PEMAYANGTSE MONASTERY STUDIES ABROAD Barsha celebrations here at the guage, literature, customs and tra- WEST SIKKIM Sikkim Government College au- ditions of all the communities in Vajra Guru Dungdrup will be performed at GRE / GMAT / SAT / TOEFL / IELTS ditorium here on April 14. the State. Pemayangtse Monastery, West Sikkim, from 26th April USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Dr. Pradhan was awarded with The Nepali Sahitya Parishad 2003 for the well being of all sentient beings and world Cyprus, Switzerland, Singapore, etc. a citation, a shawl and a cash prize also felicitated noted Nepali singer peace. His eminence Yangthang Rinpoche, Tshatral VISU CONSULTANTS of Rs. 50,001 in recognition of his Dawa Tamang on the occasion. Sangay Rinpoche, Lachen RInpoche, Lachung ADMISSIONS IN INDIAN COLLEGES & “immense” contribution towards Mr. Chamling presented him with RInpoche and Gonjay Rinpoche will also grace the UNIVERSITY ALSO GUARANTEED Nepali language, literature and a citation, a shawl and a memento. occassion, besides monks from various monasteries Contact: Babita Bihani (M-94340 12532) journalism. Dr. Pradhan is the edi- A colourful cultural proof Sikkim. B.Bihani & Associates, Above Kiran Optics, Hill Cart Rd., Siliguri, tor of Sunchari Samachar, a Nepali gramme was put up as part of the All are cordially invited to attend the Vajra Guru Dungdrup. Ph: 2430650, 2434538 (O), 2434528(R) daily published from Siliguri. Baisakhi Utsav and Nepali Naya Duchi and Vajra Guru Dungdrup Recitation Committee Also BE in Computing from Stafford Shire University Chief Minister, Pawan Barsha. Earlier, a procession, Pemayangtse Monastery (West Sikkim) UK. iin India itself - APIIT SD INDIA Chamling, who was the Chief which started at Community Hall

19 12; NOW! 16-22 April, 2003 RECAPRECAP SIKKIMSIKKIM LOCAL BOXERS BRING IN MORE MEDALS that the eastern zone was the big- by ANAND OBEROI SIKKIM’S FEMALE PUGILISTS RATED BEST AT IXTH gest zone in India with 12 units under it and that the best fighters GANGTOK: Sikkim’s pugilists SENION WOMEN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP come from this region. Out of the continue with their medal winning six girls who have gone to Istan- streak, this time at the 9th Senior bul, Turkey for an international Men and Women Boxing Cham- tournament, four were from the pionship organised by DGHC at eastern zone and from the 26 fi- Mela Ground, Kalimpong from nalists at the 3rd Women Boxing April 8 to 13. The 16-strong par- Championship held at Mizoram, ticipating contingent returned with 20 were from the eastern zone. nine medals, a handsome tally by He also said that Sikkim box- any account. ers have shown promise in every The tourney saw a total of 88 level of the game and have shown male boxers and 30 women box- the potential to do even better. He ers from eight units - Jharkhand, further said that it has been only two West Bengal, Orissa, Sikkim, years since Sikkim entered the box- Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, ing scene and within a short span Tripura, Assam Rifles and 58 GTC of time they have won medals a - spar for medals in the neighbour- gold, two silvers and four bronze ing subdivision. medals in the 35th Junior Interna- The Sikkim was represented tionals held in October 2002. by a 20-member contingent with He mentioned that Sunny three coaches, Jaslal Pradhan, Kumar Bhagat won the gold in this Manoj Limboo and Bindhya tournament and won another gold Gurung with Kavita Pradhan as at the 8th YMCA boxing champi- the team manager. From the 16 onship in Delhi. participants, 9 were awarded med- To improve the standard of als in different weight categories. boxing in Sikkim, local boxers will The medal winners were be taken to national camps all over a NOW! pic Sandhya Gurung (gold medal, fly the country to hone their raw tal- weight), Sumitra Chettri (gold SIKKIM AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, DIG [RANGE], SD NEGI (CENTRE) ent, he assured. medal, light fly), Pratima Goorong WITH THE VICTORIOUS SIKKIM CONTINGENT DIG (Range) SD Negi, Presi- (gold medal, light welter), Phurba Gurung (bronze medal, welter) and women’s championship was also would definitely promote boxing dent, Sikkim Amateur Boxing As- Lamu (bronze medal, bantam), from Man Kumar Rai (bronze medal, won by Sikkim. in the region. He added that the sociation, felicitated the medal the women’s team and Sunny middle weight) from the men’s team. While speaking to NOW!, the standard of boxing in the hills has winners at a simple function at Kumar Bhagat (gold medal, fly Sandhya Gurung brought fur- President of East Zone Boxing definitely improved and will im- Police Headquarters on April 15 weight), Vinay Subba (gold medal, ther glory for Sikkim when she Council (EZBC), JC Vyas, said prove further because of the dedi- and congratulated them on their light heavy), Padam Kumar Subba was declared the “Best Boxer” in that they have given provisional cation shown by the boxers and success while encouraging them to (silver medal, light welter), Bikash the women group. The overall affiliation to DGHC and this their team management. He said perform even better in the future. Akar Cup to begin on April 24 Child prodigy floors teams are allowed to invite a maxi- a NOW REPORT mum of 3 players from outside the JORETHANG: The Jorethang State. This proposal has been put Vajpayee Cricket Club has announced plans to forward so that the local cricketers organise a limited-overs Cricket can take full advantage and make Mridul Seth is seven years old and he is a computer expert. He training to Mridul in India itself. Tournament commencing from the the most of this opportunity to has already designed his own website and is proficient in What’s more, he offered that all April 24 onwards. square up against imported talent. most computer softwares and hardwares. So impressed was expenses would be borne by the This Tournament has been run- Other attractive incentives put the Prime Minister by his unique talent that he has offered to Government. The PM blessed the ning successfully for 2 consecutive forward by the committee come in take over all his educational requirements... genius and prayed that he make years and this will be the third in- the way of cash prizes and impres- TINA RAI with more use of his knowledge in making stalment of the “Akar Cup” organ- sive trophies and certificates. the Guinness records who are India the Number One IT country ised by the Jorethang Cricket Club. The Jorethang Cricket Club ridul Sen, is the seven sending a team over to Sikkim in the world. The Tournament is an Inter has extended its best wishes to all year old son of MK soon to check his talent. Mridul is not just a computer Sikkim Tournament, in which participating teams. MSeth, the Telecom Gen- Already interviewed by Zee genius, he is also a survivor. Born eral Manager posted in Sikkim. He News and Star Plus Mridul has also without an ear and one side of his is also a child prodigy. A compu- been splashed across local papers. face was completely disfigured, he ForFor BestBest FlooringFlooring ter whiz kid who has designed his His joy, however, knew no bound has learnt to overcome these limi- own website, cleared the interna- when the PM wished to meet him. tations and channel his energy WOODEN PARQUET tional brain-bench exams, is adept Accompanied by his father, constructively. His parents have at HTML, Photoshop, CC++, Java Mridul called on the Prime Min- brought him up with the help of FLOORING, HERITAGE Oracle, SQL, Fireworks and Mul- ister during his recent 4-day visit various exercises and spiritual SURFACE TEXTURES, timedia, he is equally adept at both to the State. methods to help him fight against VISTA FLOOR FASHIONS, hardware and software. Mr. Vajpayee may have an- his physical impairments. MARBLEX SUPER VINYL Initially Sun Microsoft Incor- nounced a surprise package for His father reveals that Mridul poration had shown an interest in Sikkim, but he also announced a picked up his proficiency in com- FLOORING, WALL PAPERS, grooming his computer knowledge more private token of appreciation puters on his own without any for- SPRAY POLISH, PVC VINYL and had assigned one associated for the talented Mridul. When Mr. mal training. FLOOR TILES & WOOD firm under which Mridul has re- Seth confided in the PM that he Mridul wants to remove pov- ceived training for two months in wished to send Mridul to The United erty from India and make every PLANK TILES Kolkatta and Bangalore. This firm States for further studies in comput- one computer literate. His idols are CONTACT: had also offered employment to ers, the PM advised him against it. his mother and the Chief Minister Mridul but his parents turned down Instead, assured Mr. Vajpayee Pawan Chamling because he was TIKA ENTERPRISES, Near Krishi Bhawan Gate, the offer since he was still in school. would make arrangements for the one who inspired him during 31 A National Highway, UMA Cottage, Tadong. 737102 Mridul could also make it to computer experts to give further the launch of his website. Ph: 231394 & 9832096499 Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Choice International, Daragaon. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Now! Near Ayurvedi c Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 270949 email: [email protected]