MOBILE SeptBSNL 11-17, 2002 NOW! 1 ST COME 1 MORE ST SERVE coverage 1 NHway, Rangpo, Singtam, Panorama Pakyong, 17th Mile Color Lab SMS Voice Message Service Internet Beyond LOWEST RATES Competition ROAMING MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim - 737 101 BharatSancharNigamLtd.SIKKIM ph: 25098 / 22488 For details call: 27500, 24722 GANGTOK WEDNESDAY, Sept 11-17, 2002 Vol 1 No 15 Rs. 5 IN BIGGER rajdhani ISSUES THAN KARNATAKA MY STATUS AS A CONGMAN ARE AT STAKE SPIDERMAN’S TAKES HERE: KAZI ON THE TURN TO pg 2 FOR DETAILS CRAWL 9/11 AGAIN TEESTA RELIVED IN DARJEELING CABINET CLEARS POWER Power punch DEPARTMENT’S REQUEST SEEKING APPROVAL TO GRANT LETTER OF for the INTENT TO KARNATAKA POWER CORPORATION LIMITED FOR panchayats IMPLEMENTATION OF TEESTA HYDEL PROJECTS STAGES IV & VI TURN TO pg 2 FOR DETAILS TURN TO pg 10 FOR DETAILS PRINCE PALDEN GYURMED NAMGYAL I BELIEVE THAT TODAY THERE TURN TO pg 4 FOR DETAILS IS FAR MORE APPRECIATION A RETURN TO OF AND INTEREST IN ETHICAL PROMOTION OF OUR PAST. TOURISM exclusive TURN TO pg 5 FOR DETAILS 2 NOW! RECAP SIKKIM Sept 11-17, 2002 THE ETERNAL REBEL WANTS LIMBU SEATS HARDLINE by PANKAJ THAPA RESTORED IN ASSEMBLY Bigger issues than my status as a Congressman are at stake here: Kazi “Let this be clear that I have no command were in favour for getting a NOW REPORT opposition to Limbus and Tamangs Mr. Bhandari on board. The State being accorded tribal status in Sik- unit backed out midway, but Mr. GANGTOK: “I am not the issue kim,” Mr. Kazi told NOW! while Kazi maintained that the central here. There are many more serious adding: “The only reason I joined high-command was still considering issues that need to be discussed and politics was to fight for restoration the possibility. “The high command deliberated on in Sikkim,” said rebel of political rights of the ethnic com- is holding direct parleys with Mr. Congressman, Jigme N. Kazi, who munities of Sikkim.” Bhandari and bypassing the State returned from Delhi recently after “I welcome Limbus and unit now,” he said. having attended a seminar on SC/ST Tamangs into the tribal fold and He, however, admitted that issues organised by the AICC (I). Mr. would want to see even their politi- even the BJP was interested in tak- WATER TANK LIFTER Kazi stressed that the controversy cal rights assured. In fact, the seat ing Mr. Bhandari under its fold. “I JORETHANG: On September 3, IN over his status in the Congress party reserved for Limbus earlier should guess it will depend on who gives 2002 a case under U/S-379/IPC was was drawing attention away from be restored,” he added. him a better deal,” Mr. Kazi said. registered against Dhan Bahadur more pressing concerns. In his note for the seminar, Mr. Apparently, Mr. Bhandari has Rai, resident of Borbotay rajdhani Hinting at the SPCC (I) com- Kazi has also mooted the idea of made it clear that he wants the Chesopani, Jorethang on the writ- munique to the high command that conducting a thorough study by presidentship of the State unit if he ten complaint of Mohan Kumar it was not “responsible” for any competent experts to find out “to is to join the Congress. The present Pradhan, Head Master of Borbotay statements made by Mr. Kazi at the what extent the inclusion of limbus SPCC (I) leadership looks unlikely Primary School. seminar, the former journalist main- and Tamangs in the ST list will af- to relent and the situation is much The accused according to the tained that he “did not raise” any fect the rights and interests so far more fluid with the BJP which dis- head master had stolen a steel wa- An point which had not been passed by enjoyed by the existing ST commu- solved its State unit only recently. ter tank lying within the school the SPCC (I) in its earlier meetings. nities of Sikkim.” It is also learnt that in a meeting premises this case is under investi- The first issue raised by Mr. As for the possibility of former with senior Congressmen of the gation at present. Kazi in his “brief note” on issues Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur State recently, Mr. Bhandari had and problems relating to SC/STs in Bhandari, joining the Congress (an suggested that he would be in a na- SAP SUCIDE Orchid Sikkim related to the recent move idea supported by Mr. Kazi through- tional party by mid-September. SORENG: Tek Bahadur Subba, a for inclusion of the Limbu and out), Mr. Kazi said that earlier both Whether these plans materialise or 42-year-old SAP was found hang- Tamang communities in the ST list. the State unit and the central high- not, we shall know shortly. ing from a tree near by his house around eight in the morning on Sep- for tember 6, 2002 at Timberbong, Soreng. Decision on merger rests The dead body was handed over to the relatives of the deceased af- Dr. Wangyal ter the autopsy was carried out. An Unnatural Death case of U/ with BJP party president S 174 CRPC has been registered. a NOW REPORT improve its public support and mand would be apprised of the opin- strengthen its base.” He said that the ion of the people. The final decision GANGTOK: The suspense over team had “extensive talks” with the rests on the national party president.” SFA APPEALS FOR SSP’s possible merger with the BJP State unit leaders. He also de- Mr. Bhandari had earlier dis- SPONSORSHIP Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may nied reports that the BJP State unit closed that he met almost all senior be finally over by the end of this has been dissolved. BJP leaders in New Delhi recently. Sikkim Football Association announces the start week. On the possible merger, Mr. “I told them that if they are inter- of XXIVth All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football A 3-member committee compris- Khandelwal admitted that SSP ested to strengthen the BJP unit in th th ing of senior BJP leaders, Sunil leaders had “met” BJP leaders in Sikkim, we are ready to merge SSP Tournament from 20 Sept to 6 Oct 2002 at Shastri, in-charge of Sikkim, Parlia- New Delhi recently and proposed with the BJP,” he informed, adding Baichung Stadium, Namchi. This year we would mentary Party Secretary, and Rajya an “unconditional” merger. “We that he had laid down certain con- like to know, how much you still remember your Sabha MP, Ashwini Kumar, and party were told that the people of Sikkim ditions for this. “I told them that first loved ones who have left for their heavenly Vice-President, Pyarelal Khandelwal, are fed up of regional parties and they had to understand the problems abode? If you still love them, SFA offers you a also incharge of Sikkim are in therefore the SSP would want to of the State. If the BJP high com- golden opportunity to sponsor in their sweet Gangtok to “oversee the restructur- merge with a national party. The mand is ready to accept our entry ing and strengthening” of the State SSP has two proposals, one to en bloc, we will join for the wel- memory any one of the following Token Trophy BJP unit, and also “discuss” the pos- merge with the BJP and second, to fare of the State,” he had said. of this Gold Cup. Remember, this is expenditure sible merger proposal floated by Op- cooperate with the BJP. The party Mr. Bhandari had also said that to be incurred just once a year, so hurry and position leader and former Chief Min- president has delegated the three of the BJP was “thinking very seriously” contact us before it is too late. ister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari. us to examine the proposal and about his proposal and that he was 1. Memorial Fair Play Trophy Rs. 5,000/- Talking to mediapersons here check the reaction of the State unit expecting a positive response soon in 2. Memorial Man of the Final Match Trophy Rs. 5,000/- on September 10, Mr. Khandelwal leaders and get the opinions of the this regard. It might also be added 3. Memorial Best Goalkeeper Trophy Rs. 5,000/- said that they would “coordinate the people in this regard,” he said. here that the BJP leaders stated that 4. Memorial Man of the Tournament Trophy Rs. 10,000/- activities of the BJP in the State, He said, “The BJP high com- Sikkim had a stable government and 5. Memorial Runners-up Token Trophy Rs. 15,000/- that there was no threat to it. 6. Memorial Winner’s Token Trophy Rs. 25,000/- (MENLA ETHENPA) COORDINATING TO IMPLEMENT HONY. SECRETARY. a NOW REPORT HoDs to stress on decentralization tection of the natural resources of of administration and devolution of the State should be a concern of the ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TRAINING GANGTOK: The monthly coordina- financial powers and strengthen the government departments as well. Department of Horticulture, Government of Sikkim in co-ordination with tion meeting of the State Government mechanism of accountability in He said that efforts should be made Small Farmers’ Agri. Business Consortium, New Delhi through ECOSS held on September 5, followed-up on their respective Departments. to protect the medicinal plants of organizing Seven days Entrepreneurship Development Programme for decisions taken in the last meeting While urging the departmental the State. He also stressed on Fruits & Vegetable Processing & Preservation. and the various departments pre- heads to be prompt in responding to prompt disposal of pending cases, Date & Venue: sented their implementation reports.