03 May, 2004; NOW! 1

C M Y K

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THE CEC’s in town and both sides claim “Good Response”

GNLF TO SUPPORT CONG [I]IN DARJEELING POLLS

THE CEC, HE RESPONDS BEST TO VOTERSa NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 02 May: The ChiefElection Commissioner, KSKrishnamurthy, is in Sikkim on athree day visit and although he hasinteracted with the politicians andtheir delegations, it is the Sikkimese

voters who have impressed him most.Visiting the State’s highest poll-

ing booth at Gnathang [12,800 ft.],the EC interacted freely with themembers of the local panchayat andlay people who had come to greethim today.

While checking with the localvoters whether they had been issuedphoto identity cards, Mr.Krishnamurthy was pleasantly sur-

prised when everyone present tookout a photo voters card. He wasequally impressed with the familiar-ity the locals had developed with theelectronic voting machine, which hereiterated during his Gnathang stopo-ver, was extremely “voter-friendly.”

Sikkim continued to impress theEC as he drove through the remotebarrenness of East Sikkim. Already

The CEC, KS Krishnamurthy [centre],flanked by the Sikkim CEO, TT Dorjito his right and the Chief Secretary,SW Tenzing, to his left at a specialcultural show hosted in his honour atCommunity Hall, Gangtok, on 02 May. DETAILS OF PARTY WOES ON pg 5

turn to pg 7

“Rhenock has been ditchedtwice by its leaders, it is

time to trust SDF now”DETAILS ON pg 4

a NOW pic

a NOW REPORT

DARJEELING, 02 May: TheDarjeeling hills will finally regain thetaste of going to the polls in a few daystime after being forced to abstain forthe past two terms. In an unprec-edented move GNLF central commit-tee today announced its support forthe Cong [I] candidate in the forth-coming Parliamentary elections.

“The move has been adopted topreserve the GNLF’s harmoniousrelation with the Congress as in thepast,” explained Subhas Ghising,the party supremo.

He said that it was a moveadopted keeping in mind thepresent scenario of the country andalso their political stand of a sepa-rate Gorkha state.

“I appeal to all the branch commit-tees, units and supporters of the GNLFto vote for the Congress,” he said.

This bolt from the blue seemsto have upset all previous equationsand all political camps seem to havebeen overcome by shock.

Dawa Norbula, the Cong [I]candidate for Darjeeling revealed

that he himself could not believehis ears when first informed of thisdecision of the GNLF.

Incidentally, the PDF, of whichthe Congress is a constituent mem-ber, has long been harping of a tacitunderstanding between the GNLFand the CPM ever since the meet-ing between the West Bengal chiefminister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharyaand Mr. Ghising in March this year.They had also accused the GNLFof boycotting past polls to the ad-vantage of the CPM.

Commenting on the GNLF de-cision, Madan Tamang, chairman,PDF dubbed it as a victory for thePDF and said: “Ghising has finallybowed down before the PDF andhas caught himself in the PDFwave.” He added that Ghising be-ing a “crafty man,” needed to becarefully watched.

Meanwhile, AshokBhattacharjee, CPM leader said“All along the PDF has been com-plaining of a tacit understandingbetween the CPM and GNLFwhereas I had openly asked for theGNLF’s support. Now that the

GNLF is supporting the PDF-backed Congress candidate whatdoes the PDF have to say?”

A public announcement of theGNLF’s decision is expected at apublic meeting of the party sched-uled for 04 May.

NO SMOKING,ANYWHERE!

DETAILS ON pg 3

The Straight-shootingIron Wallpasses away

The Straight-shootingIron Wallpasses away

2; NOW!; 03 May, 2004

C M Y K

Artist, filmmaker, keen photographer, columnist withinternational magazines... It’s hard to pin Twan Yangdown. Born to a Chinese father and Tibetan mother, hegrew up in Kalimpong and worked in Sikkim. NOW!serializes Twan Yang’s autobiography, Houseboy in India...

NOW!FIRST WITH THE NEWS

ED-SPACE

My Beloved DutchMaster

-44-

Nyima, the Tibetan, talked tous and said: “My master isvery soon arriving in Cal-

cutta, but unhappily I am now inthis poor condition, and when hecomes there is no one to do hiswork. I have been looking for some-one to work for my master as a sub-stitute, or badli. My master does notspeak Hindustani so it would berather difficult for him to take anIndian.” Then my brother said:“Twan Yang can speak some Eng-lish, for he has been working witha dancing sahib. If you want to, youcan take him. He has been trying toget employment on a ship, but Ithink he will not get it, because heis too young.”

Then Nyima turned to me andsaid: “If you can work for me aslong as I am ill, I would be veryglad, for you can speak English.If you come to me on the day ofmy master’s arrival in Calcutta onthe ninth of this month of Novem-ber, I will try to arrange for you.”I thanked him very warmly forthese kind words. After this prom-ise I took him home in a rickshaw.Riding in that rickshaw I feltashamed to be pulled by a man asif he were a beast.

When we arrived at the house,

we entered an astonishing boxwhich was pulled up by an electricmachine and which was called alift. It took us less than a minute toreach the seventh floor. I had neverbefore been in so high a building.Nyima took me to his godown,where I saw his wife lying onher bed and two children witha young servant girl. His wifewas expecting a baby; thatwas the reason why she waslying on her bed in the day-time. She told the servant girlto great hopes. I was nowabout seventeen, though I didnot know it at the time. I feltthat my boyhood was com-ing to gratitude and happi-ness at the possibility of anew job.

How much did I hope to find agood master and a place, whichwould last. I looked toward theninth of the month with greathopes. I felt that my boyhood was

coming to an end and that I had nowto learn to behave like a man.

On the morning of November9, 1936, I rose earlier than usual, atsix o’clock, and I thought that my

conduct should also bedifferent. I put on

clean clothes toprove to my new

sahib that I was a clean boy, andso, turning over in my mind againand again whether I would get theplace or not, whether the sahibwould like me or not, I went on

praying silently to God to grant meHis help. So thinking, I soon cameto Mr. Van Manen’s house. The lift-man took me up to the top floor anddirected me to the staircase lead-ing to Nyima’s room on the roof.

About nine o’clock news camethat Mr. Van Manen has arrived andwished Nyima to attend him in his

room. Although Nyima wasstill weak and sufferingpains all through his body,he was so happy that hispain and trouble almost dis-appeared. Telling me to waituntil summoned, he wentdown to welcome the mas-ter for whom he had workedfor twenty years.

Soon I was taken to thesahib’s room. On entering I

saw the sahib leaning back in achair, looking very tired. He wasdressed in a white suit, had a cigarin his mouth, and wore a pair ofspectacles on his nose. His body

was so big that I thought it mightweigh eighteen stone, yet he sat solightly on his chair that there wasno danger of its breaking underhim. When I came near I made asalute with my right hand, and heanswered in the same way. Nyimatold him in Tibetan that I was theboy about whom he had spoken. Igazed at them speechless while theyconversed together, for the lan-guage, which the sahib spoke wasthe pure Tibetan, the language ofLhasa, better than I had ever heardbefore. Then Mr. Van Manen Sa-hib put some questions to me inTibetan asking me where I hadcome from, my name and so on. Icould understand him, but it wasdifficult for me to answer in thesame language, so I turned to pidginEnglish. Then Mr. Van Manen Sa-hib said, “Are you a good boy andwill you be true to your master?”

“Yes, sir,” I answered.“I want three important things

from you,” he continued. “One isto be clean, one is to be honest andloyal to your master, the third is al-ways to be punctual. Will you beall that?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, “I will.” Butat the time I did not know the mean-ing of “punctual” or “loyal”.

to be continued

vened an emergency meeting tocondole the sad and untimely de-mise of the football coach. Themeeting observed two minute’s ofsilence in the fond memory of thedeparted soul.

In the meeting, Tempo Bhutia,President, SFA remembered Narinot only as a good football coachbut also a good footballer.

“It will be hard to fill the void

that has been created with his un-timely death,” he said.

BK Roka, General Secretary,SFA said that Nari was an inspira-tion to a lot of footballers. MenlaEthenpa, Secretary, SFA said “Hewas a very good sportsperson whoused to take interest in all sports.May the almighty give strength tohis wife and the children to over-come this crisis”.

O B I T U A R Y

NARI TSERING BHUTIA

1959-2004

Nari Tshering Bhutia, ChiefFootball Coach passed away

at Gangtok on 29 April after suf-fering from a prolonged illness. Hewas 47 years old.

Born in 1959, Nari was an in-spiration to a lot of footballers. Hebegan his football career in 1975as a team member of the SikkimArmed Police. Part of the defenceline-up, he was often called the“Iron Wall”. He represented Sikkimin many national level games.

Apart from being a popular foot-ball coach in the state, he wasassociated with many otherorganizations. He was theGeneral Secretary,Sikkim Archery Asso-ciation and an ExecutiveMember of Syari Govern-ment Employees Association.

But a rare illness discovered inMarch 2003 brought everything toan end. He was detected of havinga tumour in his heart. Angio-Circoma is the rarest of diseases,with less than 60 cases detected inthe world so far.

Undergoing treatment at the TataMemorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai,Nari Tshering Bhutia succumbed tohis illness on April 29. He leaves be-hind his wife and two children.

On receiving the news, theSikkim Football Association con-

Nari Tsering Bhutia, whopassed away on 29 April

was not only a skilledfootballer and coach, but

also an avid archer

The Straight-shooting Iron

Wall passes awayCan We Have The Truth, Please

Sikkim is on the verge of going to poll. Less than six days are left forcampaigning and this time next week, voters in Sikkim will be exer-cising their franchise. Attempts are afoot to confuse the electorateas much as possible. As if the confusion of Mr. Bhandari in Con-gress [I] and an SSP in the fray was not enough, we now have aslew of allegations and counter-allegations to confound the voters.If matters are allowed to proceed in the present fashion, then by thetime the State goes to poll, manifestos and ideologies will no longerbe deciding the votes as political rhetoric of allegations start influ-encing the voters. The Chief Election Commissioner is in the Stateand the best person to lay many of the ongoing controversies atrest. He should, if elections are to be restored their identity as abattle of ideologies and not muscle.At the mouth of the elections, the Opposition has raised some veryserious allegations against the ruling party. These range from sug-gestions that it abducted a candidate to stop him from filing nomina-tions to accusations that the Returning Officers colluded with the pow-ers-that-be to reject nominations papers. While the RO’s have gonehoarse trying to explain their side of the story and the SDF continu-ously denying that it had no hand in either episode, a true reading ofthe events that unfolded over the past weeks can come only from theElection Commissioner’s office. His office is after all the highest au-thority on the conduction of elections in the world’s largest democ-racy. As the allegations are serious, so are the violations of the modelcode of conduct that the Congress is accused of having perpetrated.Even though the code is not statutory and binding, it is a guideline forpublic behaviour of people wishing to be public representatives. Thepeople deserve to know what happens when this Code is broken.No one expects, or even wants the Election Commission to punishthe guilty. All that is required is a clear expression of its stand on thevarious issues at stake. The EC should tell the Sikkim voters whetherthe RO [South] was right or wrong in rejecting the nomination pa-pers, which the Cong [I] claims had minor errors and the RO main-tains were gross. The Kabi-Tingda episode is obviously beyond theEC’s jurisdiction and falls in criminal courts if foul play is to be estab-lished, but the South rejections, which even led to the burning of theCM’s effigy at Jorethang by Cong [I] is something the EC can com-ment on and should. Similarly, the model code of conduct is as muchfor the parties as out of respect for the electorate and their sensibili-ties. They deserve to know whether use of offensive language, un-substantiated allegations and violent posturing are acceptable tothe Ec even though they might be objectionable to the listeners.

03 May, 2004; NOW! 3

C M Y K

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Smoking in public places hasbeen banned across thecountry. Selling of cigarettes

to those under 18 is illegal and ad-vertisements promoting the sale oftobacco will not be allowed. Allof these will now be considered il-legal and will draw a fine or a crimi-nal charge against the offender.

The anti-tobacco legislationpassed by Parliament a year agocame into effect from Saturday, 01May across the country.

With the coming into effect ofthe Cigarettes and other TobaccoProducts Act, 2003, public placeshave now become out of bounds forsmoking.

These include public convey-ances, public offices, educational and

health institutions, hospitals, audito-riums, amusement centres, restau-rants, court buildings and libraries.

All public places will be clearlydefined with a board saying “No-smoking area – smoking here is anoffence.”

Smoking is also banned in res-taurants with less than 30 seats.Eateries with more than 30 seatsshould have clearly demarcatedsmoking and no-smoking zones.

The law also forbids sale ofcigarettes to those under 18. Schoolprincipals can now take actionagainst a smoker.

Open spaces such as railwaystations, bus stops and stadiums,too are no smoking zones.

A conductor or bus driver cantake an offender to the police sta-tion and then the person will have

to be produced before a magistrate.The railways today doubled the

fine for smoking on its premises,including stations and trains, to Rs.200 – with the provision to increaseit. Cigarette sale at stations wasbanned a year ago.

The law also provides for a fineof Rs. 1,000 or two years in jail forany company or person advertisingtobacco products, including ciga-rettes, beedi, pipes and pan masala.A second conviction will entail a fineof Rs. 5,000 and five years in jail.

Although the anti-tobacco lawhas now come into effect, enforc-ing it may not be so easy and a lotdepends on the law enforcing agen-cies in the state. The Union HealthMinistry, on its part has told stategovernments to take steps to enforcethe law and regular meetings will be

held between officials of the Healthministry and state agencies con-cerned to monitor implementation.

The Union government has em-phasized that it might considerputting in place central machineryif the states failed to enforce the law.

The harmful effects of cigarettesmoking have made governmentsthe world over enact strict legisla-tion to discourage smoking with Ire-land recently becoming the firstcountry to ban smoking nationwide.

The Parliament has passed thelaw but how seriously state govern-ments take the task of implementa-tion of the law will finally deter-mine its success.

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GANGTOK, 02 May: To providea platform for creating constructiveactivities for the betterment of so-ciety, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Lim-ited [BSNL] has launched theSachcha Global Club [SGC]. Theclub was launched yesterday witha meeting held of its members atCherry Building, here.

Welcoming the participants,MK Seth, General Manager, BSNLsaid that the club will participatein all constructive and welfare ac-tivities oriented towards develop-

ment of society at large.“We will not only come forward

to help the needy and poor sectionsof society but will go one step fur-ther in organizing such activities aswould help children and others bygiving the right direction to theirhidden talents, which very oftenremain buried in darkness for wantof light of proper guidance,” he said

Present on the occasion weremany who believed in the statedobjectives of the club. These in-cluded E Krishnamurthy, Principal,Kendriya Vidhyalaya, AcharyaMallika Arjun Rao B Diyali, Prin-

cipal Daffodil School, and SisterAnita of Missionaries of Charity,Sichey Busty.

All the members present af-firmed their faith in the formationof the club.

The club membership is opento all likeminded people. Meetingswill be held every Saturday at thesame place.

“Our society is already enrichedwith lots of talents in various fields.Such enlightened members of oursociety are requested to share theircontribution in building up a soci-ety of dreams,” appeals Mr. Seth.

Sachcha Global Club formedNOTICE: This is for generalinformation that the name“Sikkim Tourism Explore Pvt.Ltd” has been changed to“Bharat Bhraman Pvt. Ltd”henceforth. Any objections tobe filed to the Secretary, LawDepartment, Govt. of Sikkim.

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GANGTOK, 02 May: The SikkimNewar Sangathan has extended its“full support and allegiance” to theSikkim Democratic Front [SDF]and its president Pawan Chamlingfor the ensuing elections.

This was decided at an emer-gency meeting of the Sangathanheld here today.

“The Sikkim Newar Sangathanhas determined and committedwhole-hearted support to Mr.Chamling,” a press release issued

by the Sangathan reveals.The Sangathan has also thanked

Mr. Chamling and his Governmentfor the many “generous contribu-tions” made towards the upliftmentand development of the Newaricommunity of the State.

The meeting took note of someof the significant contributions madeby the SDF Government towards theNewar community which include:recognition of the Newari languageas one of the official State languages;recommendations to the NationalBook Trust of India for inclusion ofthe Newari language in the Trust;appointment of Newari languageteachers; inclusion of the Newar

community of the State in the StateOBC list and the nomination ofNewari candidate, NK Pradhan as acandidate from the Gangtok seat.

The Sangathan has also con-gratulated the Chief Minister onwinning from his traditionalDamthang seat uncontested.

Further, the Sangathan has ap-pealed to all Newari voters from allover the State to support the SDFand vote for its candidates.

The meeting was presided overby the Association’s president,Khagendra Pradhan, and attendedby executive members of theSangathan from all four Districts ofthe State.

Newar Sangathan to back SDF

ANAND OBEROI

RHENOCK, 01 May: A huge pub-lic meeting marked the Labour Daycelebrations of the Labour Wing ofthe ruling Sikkim Democratic Front[SDF], which was held here onMay Day.

The mammoth gathering saw theattendance of representatives of vari-ous labour associations from all overthe State, party supporters fromLoosing-Pacheykhani, Regu,Pathing, and Khechey. The meetingwas also a part of the campaign trailof Chief Minister and party president,Pawan Chamling in the East District.

Mr. Chamling, in his speech, as-serted the importance of voting.While remarking that the party wasnot here to ask for votes, but to openthe eyes of the people and makethem realize which party is best forensuring the people’s interest, hesaid that May Day was the day whenthe working class revolted againstthe suppressers of their rights.

After the May Day revolution,

various rules and laws were formu-lated for the benefit of the workingclass people, which would protecttheir rights.

“The SDF party has always up-held the laws and rights of theworking class and we shall con-tinue to work towards their better-ment and safeguard their dignityand pride,” he said.

Although the party had losttwice from Rhenock, the electoratehas not been deprived of anythingby his Government, he stressed.

Pointing out that Rhenock hasbeen let-down by its leaders for twoconsecutive terms, Mr. Chamlingexhorted that it was perhaps timeto give SDF a chance to representRhenock in the Assembly.

“Time has come when we allneed to come together andstrengthen the State by workinghand in hand towards a commongoal. Sikkim of the 21st century hasno place for communal forces,” Mr.Chamling said.

The SDF candidate for

Rhenock, Bhim Dhungel, KBChamling [Regu], Nakul Rai [LokSabha], senior party leaders, Zillaand local Panchayat members werealso present on the occasion.

Addressing the working classpeople, Mr. Dhungel said that thepeople who made their livingthrough sweat have to be salutedand that he was honoured to beamongst them. He further men-tioned that only under the SDFGovernment had the working classemerged from the dark days of theprevious Governments.

“The people of the Constituencyhave suffered enough. Now the peo-ple have realized that only the SDFcan apply the healing balm. The peo-ple of the constituency have receivedwhat is rightfully theirs and no step-

motherly treatment has been doneagainst them. They have now decidedwhom to vote for and in this election,they will show their appreciation forthe work SDF has done,” he said.

He promised that once elected,he would implement all the devel-opmental works and that he wouldwork to make the constituency themost developed in Sikkim.

Mentioning that he had learnta great deal from the ideologies ofMr. Chamling, he appealed to thepeople not to be influenced by theOpposition and vote for the lead-

ership of Mr. Chamling.“Only then the people of

Rhenock will actually benefit. IfSDF wins then only will the peo-ple of Rhenock win,” he said.

Mr. Dungel also assured the peo-ple that all the promises made in theparty manifesto would be fulfilled.

The meeting also saw manyOpposition party faithfuls joiningthe SDF, including those fromGorkha Apex Committee [GAC].Nakul Rai and KB Chamling alsoaddressed the gathering.

Rhenock has been ditched twiceby its leaders, it is time to trustSDF now, exhorts Chamling

SDF supporters at the Rhenock meet on May-Day

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a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 02 May: At a Con-gress press briefing today, partyspokesperson, Jigme N. Kazi re-leased copies of the ‘threatening’letter purportedly written by theSDF party convenor of Soreng con-stituency wherein the Congresscandidate from Soreng, AsokTsong, has been ‘advised’ to crossover to the SDF.

The letter, addressed to formerMP, PM Subba, reads “…we willwin this election by any means.” Anincentive of Rs. 1 lakh from theSDF candidate RB Subba, has alsobeen mentioned in the letter, halfof which was to be given before andthe other half after the elections.

According to Mr. Kazi, whenpresented with the letter during hismeeting with Congress representa-tives on 01 May, the Chief ElectionCommissioner of India, TSKrishnamurthy suggested filing “acriminal case with the police.”

‘Positive’ response of the CEC lifts Cong hopesThe communication to the CEC

also includes the instances of ‘as-sault’ on Mr. Tsong in the past fewdays. An FIR has also been lodgedwith the Sadar Thana, Gangtok onthe same case wherein it is alsomentioned that the SDF party hadthreatened Mr. Tsong and his fam-ily of dire consequences if he didnot comply with his demands.

The SDF leadership hasdimissed the letter as an “obviousfake.”

“While meeting with the Con-gress leaders, Mr. Krishnamurthyalso clarified that he had not givenany ‘quotes’ to local daily regard-ing the upholding of the decisionof the Returning Officer, South onthe rejection of the nomination pa-pers of the three Congress candi-dates,” Mr. Kazi added.

For the record, there is norecord of any ‘quote’ made by theChief Election Commissioner in thesaid report [NOW! 27 April, 2004].

The Cong [I] legal advisor,

Hem Lall Bhandari, also present atthe press briefing accused the ROSouth for “non application of hismind while refusing the Congresstime to rectify their mistakes. Theblank forms do not constitute a fa-tal error enough to merit mechani-cal rejection, there is always thepresumption of legality.”

Mr. Krishnamurthy reportedlyassured the Congress that he wouldgive his opinion after duly lookinginto the matter.

“We have got a positive re-sponse from the CEC,” Mr. Kazisaid. And if the verdict goes againstthem, the Congress will then ap-proach the High Court within 45days of the declaration of the elec-tion results.

Mr. Kazi also attacked the rul-ing party for using administrativemachinery for their campaigning.Besides this, he also questioned theinclusion of various administrativeofficials in the parties organised bythe SDF.

Regarding the burning of effi-gies of Mr. Chamling at theJorethang meet of the Congress,Mr. Kazi admitted that it was a vio-lation of the model code of conductbut also added that it was “very dif-ficult” for the party leaders to reinin the party youth and supporters.

a NOW REPORT

GANGTOK, 02 May: Political ad-visor to the chief minister, BBGooroong, informed the press thatthe party had handed over a letterto the Chief Election Commis-sioner of India, TS Krishnamurthyapprising him of the violence un-leashed by Congress supporters fol-lowing the rejection of three of theirassembly candidates in South Dis-trict and also the ‘disappearance’ oftheir Kabi candidate.

The communique states: “…thenomination fiasco was the creationof the Congress Party and there isno justification whatsoever toblame the SDF.” The SDF also de-nies having any hand in the disap-pearance of Palden Bhutia, Con-gress candidate for Kabi who failedto submit his nomination papers.

“Pende has already appeared onTV and made it clear that the SDFdid not abduct him as charged bythe Congress but it was the confu-sion over how the nomination pa-pers should be filed which led tohis failure to file the same,” Mr.

Gooroong said. He also madeknown his support for the ‘confu-sion theory’ of Pende which he saidwas vindicated by the rejections ofthree Congress candidates in theSouth District.

“The rejections in SouthSikkim bear out the fact that Pendewas confused by the party highcommand which was so disorgan-ised that it could not even get asbasic a task as filling the formsproperly,” he said.

The SDF letter states: “…havingbungled the nomination papers theyare now displaying wrath against theSDF party…in a bid to disturb theelection process in Sikkim.”

The burning of the CM’s effigyhas also not escaped the SDF’s no-tice which yesterday pettitioned theCEC to issue a show-cause noticeto the Congress party for violatingthe model code of conduct. Theburning of the effigy of Mr.Chamling at the Congress meet atJorethang, Mr. Gooroong said wasa serious violation of the code.

He added that the use of “viru-lent language” and personal attacks

resorted to by the Cong [I] presi-dent, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, alsoconstituted a violation of the codeof conduct.

“It is unbecoming of a formerchief minister and leader of the oppo-sition to use such language and raisesuch peurile allegations,” he said.

Mr. Gooroong informed thepress that the SDF party had re-ceived a positive and supportive re-sponse from the Chief ElectionCommissioner and were hopeful theECI would take appropriate action.

Incidentally, the model code ofconduct is not a statutory law car-rying penalties if violated. It is anunderstanding arrived at by all thepolitical parties of India to conformto during elections.

‘POSITIVE’ RESPONSEFOR SDF TOO

Kutse SheguThe 49th-day Kutse Shegu of late Tshering Wangmo[steno, Roads & Bridges Dept], who left for heveanlyabode on 26th March 2004 falls on 13th May, 2004. Allfriends, relatives and well-wishers are requested to joinus in offering prayers for the departed soul at ourresidence at Middle Sichey, Gangtok. We would alsolike to take this opportunity to thank all those whoextended their help in our hour of bereavement.

Ama Dithi(mother), Khilook Bhutia (brother-in-law), Pema Bhutia(sister)

Khedup Tshering(brother-in-law), Pasang lamu(sister), Karma Dolma(neice),

Sonam Lhanzen(neice), Sherab Wesser(nephew) and family members

6; NOW!; 03 May, 2004

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Antyesti KriyaThis is to inform all relatives, friends andwell-wishers that the Anthyesti Kriya oflate Prachand Pratab Gahatraj, son ofHemant Gahatraj, who left us for heav-enly abode on 27th April, falls on 6thMay 2004.All are requested to join the bereavedfamily in offering prayers for the de-parted soul at Chokasum Hall, belowKyi-de-Khang School, Nam Nang.

Hemant Kumar Gahatraj [father], Damayanti

Gahatraj[mother], Ujjal Gahatraj[brother], Shirmah

and Randam[sister and brother in law]

For Tea - Try Temi

Taking up 435 acres of the total land in South Sikkim is the onlytea garden in the state – the Temi Tea estate. Nobody wouldgrudge this large chunk carved off the landscape and chiselled

into the jaded environs. The crispness of its architecture blends al-most perfectly into the natural designs of the surroundings. If any-thing, it enhances the ambience of the countryside. A fast ride throughthe entire estate takes up anywhere between 30-40 minutes with acomplimentary in the form of an eyeful of pastoral nudity.

The general manager MP Chamling informs that the entire estateemploys around 470 permanent labourers. The number does not in-clude the casual or seasonal labourers who are employed during whathe terms ‘peak season’. One and a half lakh tons of tea is produced ina year and so far the estate has been recording ‘easy’ profits.

“But with the recent announcements of increase in the daily wagesof the labourers we might just be able to break even,” he says.

Apart from giving visitors a reason to tour the south, the tea estateis also the biggest employer of labourers at Temi. Not only that, someof those working have become grandmothers but refuse to retire as“they have been engaged here for the past 45 years” – ever since itstarted. Those days the daily wage was a mere Rs. 20. Somewheredown the line it was increased to Rs. 50. Today as GM Gurung, theSDF candidate for the Temi Tarku constituency, addresses the work-ers of the estate on 01 May [Labour Day], he promises an increase ofdaily wages to Rs. 85 and then to Rs. 100 some time in the future.Also slated for an increase is the area of the tea estate. As the gen-eral manager says, the surrounding forests not needed by the ForestDepartment would be petitioned for annexation into the estate.

The ratio of male workers to female workers is 60:40 as the gen-eral manager informs.

The government which set up the estate has also provided thelabourers a school for their children. Today the Government JuniorHigh School, Temi also admits children of parents not engaged withthe tea estate. Further promises are school bags, midday meals andration for the school children.

Apart from the stone block and propped up government formalitywhich welcomes you into Temi the real warmth of a welcome partypermeates through a cup of hot salted Temi tea.

a NOW REPORT

TEMI, 01 May: While the rest ofSikkim was engaged with politicalrallies and people talking caste andrejected nominations, the constitu-ency of Temi Tarku had a public rallycum meeting of a different sort. Be-ing Labour Day, 01 May saw theworkers of the tea estate at Temi takeout a Labour Rally’ with white flags.

Peace is slowly descendingupon the landscape here after thespurt of violence which culminatedin the arrest of Bharat Tenzing and26 other Congress supporters forattacking a vehicle of SDF partyworkers a few days ago. BharatTenzing had incidentally crossedover to the Congress camp afterbeing denied a ticket by the SDF.

GM Gurung, the sitting MLAwho returns to contest from Temi-Tarku for the third time said in hisaddress: “Bharat Tenzing was of-fered 14 lakhs by the Congress todefect. Of that amount, Rs. 4 lakhshad already changed hands whilethe remaining 12 lakhs were to behanded over after the electionswere ‘won’ and the governmentformed by the Congress. TodayBharat is ruling at the State Jail atRongyek with a cabinet of 26.”

Talking to NOW!, later he alsoalleged that Bharat Tenzing, on be-half of the Congress, had also of-fered him money to cross over tothe Congress.

The gathering of about 300-400consisting mainly of the Temi labour-ers was also addressed by Temi un-ion leaders along with the generalmanager of the estate, MP Chamling.

Amar Tamang, general secre-tary of the labour union thanked thegovernment for increasing the dailylabour wages to Rs 85 from the pre-vious Rs 50 per day. He also high-lighted some of the problems facedby the workers.

He was followed by DevikaThapa, vice president of the unionand Kishore Gurung, president ofthe union, who, in his address, told

the people not to get complacentwith the increase in their dailywages. “This does not mean thatyou can now work half a month andspend the other half at home,” heexhorted. He also thanked the gov-ernment for beginning the provi-sion of providing gratuity to em-ployees. There was also a petitionto the government for providingbonus to the workers.

The SDF candidate, in his ad-dress urged the workers to try andincrease the total output of the es-tate.

“Today the total budget of theestate of Rs. 85 lakhs covers all theexpenditure including the salaryand wages of those engaged in thegarden. With the increase in yourdaily wages we will barely be ableto break even so it is now your dutyto work harder and ensure moreprofits. Moreover, whatever prof-its made belong to the labourers andthat will be reflected in further in-crease in your daily wages.”

Further sops on the anvil in-clude the provision of school bagsto the children of the local schooland midday meals along with ra-tion. Also to be provided was freeelectricity and proper supply ofdrinking water.

Referring to the violence of thepast few days at Temi, he urged thepeople to remain peaceful and calmand not to give in to violence evenif provoked.

“We need to maintain a peace-ful atmosphere here. Sikkim isknown for its peace and let us notspoil that reputation,” he said.

He also reminded the people ofthe prohibitory orders under Sec-tion 144 of CrPc in the South Dis-trict. He reiterated that the SDFunder the leadership of Mr.Chamling had always and will al-ways stand for peace and progress.

“If it is peace that you want, if youwant to be part of the development ofthe state and reap its benefits, then votefor the SDF,” he urged.

“PEACE AND PROGRESS MEANSSDF,” GM GURUNG

The Labour Rally at Temi

MAY DAY AT SIKKIM’S LARGEST

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ACCIDENT

PAKYONG: Two persons sus-tained injuries in an accident at KaliKhola, Sudunglakha on 30 April.The accident occured around 5:30pm. A case has been registeredagainst the driver of SK-04/ 1638MAX jeep on the written complaintof LB Chettri of Sudunglakha,Rhenock.

The injured persons were for-warded to Rhenock PHC for medi-cal examination and later referred

familiar with the prayer flags, the ECnoticed others fluttering from roof-tops at houses along the way. Whenhe checked with officials accompa-nying him, he learnt that they be-longed to various regional parties,including the Congress.

“It is really heartwarming tolearn that in a Sikkim which is al-ready so remote, there are peoplein even remoter areas who are notonly aware and informed of the lat-est improvements in the election-eering process, but also free tochoose their leaders,” he is reportedto have commented to an aide ac-companying him on the trip.

At the stopover at Tsomgo, theEC even took a Rs. 25 yak ride alongthe lake and admitted that he was“fortunate” to have visited Sikkim.

Later in the evening, the ECwas regaled with a typicallySikkimese cultural show represent-ing the various aspects of the eth-nic mix that makes Sikkim. So im-pressed was the EC with the per-formance that he invited the artiststo join him at the State Dinnerhosted for him at Hotel Tashi Deleklater in the evening.

The Sikkim sojourn for the ECends today [03 April] at the Sicheyhelipad from where he takes thechopper out to Bagdogra and fliesonwards to Delhi. That, after he hasinteracted with the Press at around10:30 AM and then visited theNamgyal Institute of Tibetology.

NOTICE

Notice is hereby goven that the Share

Certificate No. 1942369 for ten ordi-

nary shares bearing distinctive Nos.

242471557 to 242471566 of ITC Lim-

ited standing in the name of Gopal

Agarwal has been reported lost/ sto-

len and that an application for issue of

Duplicate Certificate in respect thereof

has been made to the Company’s In-

vestor Service Centre, ITC Limited, 37,

J.L. Nehru Road, Kolkata - 700071 to

whom objection, if any, against issu-

ance of such duplicate share certificate

should be made within 15 days from

the date of publication of this Notice.

The public is cautioned against deal-

ing in any way with these shares.

Gopal Agarwal, c/o Rambilash

Suresh Kumar, M.G. Marg, Gangtok

NOTICE

Notice is hereby goven that the Share

Certificate No. 1942371, 1942372 &

1942373 for 12 ordinary shares bear-

ing distinctive Nos. 242471567 to

242471578 of ITC Limited standing in

the name of Ravi Agarwal have been

lost/ stolen and that an application for

issue of Duplicate Certificate in respect

thereof has been made to the Compa-

ny’s Investor Service Centre, ITC Lim-

ited, 37, J.L. Nehru Road, Kolkata -

700071 to whom objection, if any,

against issuance of such duplicate

share certificate should be made within

15 days from the date of publication of

this Notice.

The public is cautioned against deal-

ing in any way with these shares.

Ravi Agarwal, c/o Rambilash Suresh

Kumar, M.G. Marg, Gangtok

Contd from pg 1

THE CEC, HE

RESPONDS BEST

TO VOTERS

to STNM Hospital, Gangtok. Thedriver has been arrested and cardocuments seized.

ATTACK

SINGTAM: Sunil Rai of Singtamhas been accused of causinggreivous injuries to Afila Tamangof Ralap in an FIR filed with the

SOUTHERNMAY DAY

a NOW REPORT

NAMCHI, 02 May: Pabong Sec-ondary School, South Sikkimhosted May Day on 01 May in agrand manner at the schoolpremises. Mrs. Bhim MayaGurung, Panchayat member wasthe chief guest of the occasion.

Wangdi Tshering Lama, Head-master of the school explained tothose gathered the meaning of MayDay saying it was a historical dayfor all the labourers of the world.He also said that schools were notto blame for producing educatedunemployment youth but were in-stead centres for the nurturing ofyoung talent who could later attaingreat heights.

Among the other speakers wereK Koirala, Panchayat assistant andRobin Rai, school captain. Colour-ful cultural programmes were pre-sented by the school. A poetry meetwas also organised with GaneshChettri, writer participating withother guests. The programme wascoordinated by Prem Nath Diwanand Tilak Sharma. The programmewas organised by the school com-mittee along with the Himali ClubRanguthang.

police here. The local police haveregistered a case against Rai whois absconding.

According to the FIR, the inci-dent occurred at Alaichey Bhir whenAfila Tamang was returning homeat around 3:20 pm on April 30. SunilRai is alleged to have attacked Afilawith a khukuri and inflicted multi-ple sharp injuries on him.

Afila Tamang was referred toSTNM Hospital, Gangtok and thecase is under investigation.

SIKKIMROUND-UP

a NOW REPORT

KALIMPONG, 02 May: The Peo-ple’s Democratic Front today pub-licly condemned the statementsmade by Ashok Bhattacharya inwhich he maligned late CK Pradhan,the GNLF legend, by calling him a‘goonda’ and a spendthrift.

“Would a funeral procession of15, 000 be possible if a person is aGoonda?” countered Col. D K

KARAN SHAH

KALIMPONG, 02 May: The AllGorkha Students Union, a non politi-cal organization for the students to-day publicly made an announcementthat if the welfare of the youth are notcarefully looked after they would fighttill they attained Gorkhaland.

Their main aim was to make theirpresence felt among the youth ofKalimpong. They also want to informthe people that their objective is thewelfare of youth and the society.

The 11 year old organization,boasts of having improved the livesof the students and further promisesto keep doing so in the coming years.

Roshan Giri, President, Central

AGSU pledges support to youthCommittee, said that if supportedby the masses of the hills, it wouldchange the existing scenario of thelives of the youths.

“If the youth is ignored we willdemand for a separate state ofGorkhaland. We demand Engineer-ing and Medical Colleges, a Univer-sity along with Technical and Voca-tional Institutes,” revealed Giri.

Referring to the absence of aprincipal at the Govt College ofDarjeeling he said that was a purecase of negligence on the part ofthe higher authorities.

Meanwhile Ajoy Dahal –Presi-dent of the Kalimpong Branch said,“We are a non-political organiza-tion but we will support those par-

ties which work for the benefit ofthe future generation and of thesociety as a whole”.

The meeting also discussed themassive unemployment problems ofthe hills of Kalimpong, Darjeeling,and Kurseong. Blaming the politi-cians for the present state of the TeaEstates, Cinchona Projects, it con-firmed that the 50 percent popula-tion of the hills relying on agricul-ture were on the verge of starvation.

Taking the examples of SurabhiRai, who topped the Indian ForestServices examination, and JyotiBrahmin, Miss India Earth 04, BinayTamang, central committee member,AGSU, said the youths should takethese as sources of inspiration.

Pradhan of the GNLF-C and PDF con-vener [also brother to the late C KPradhan], to the minister’s aspersion.

“The Minister wouldn’t havehad the guts to make such a state-ment if CK was alive,” said ColPradhan. “This is purely due to lackof political issues,” he added.

Referring to the road blocks attheir campaign in Kaffer, a strongholdof GNLF, he accused the CPM ofcausing hindrances in their campaign.

Pratap Khati of Tarun Gorkha accusedthe CPM for working only for personalgains as was indicated by the non-perform-ance of the government in the field of de-velopment especially in the hills. Refer-ring to Ashok Bhattacharya and to SubashGhishing, the DGHC chairman, he saidthat both of them only know how to fool

the poor and simple people of the hills.The Campaign strongly demanded thesupport of the masses for Dawa Norbulaof Congress (I) hills. “We all need a politi-cal change for the benefit of all, and vic-tory of Norbula and PDF will ensure achange along with development for thehills,” added Kathi

PDF CALLS FOR CHANGE IN DARJ HILLS

8; NOW!; 03 May, 2004

C M Y K

Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Darpan Publications Pvt. Ltd, Siliguri. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Executive Editor: Mita ZulcaNow! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 270949 email: sikkimnow@rediffmail.com

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ARIES: You may start a new business.

Those employed may experience a change

of place. This will be very successful. You

may invest in business. This too, will work

to your benefit. Worries will be over.

TAURUS: You may find favourable

changes in your routine. You may get new

job opportunities. There will be a sudden

growth in your financial position. You may

commence new business activities. You

may purchase a new vehicle.

GEMINI: You will be very happy. You will

receive good news from your relatives.

Worries will be over. Politicians will do well.

You may invest in a financial institution.

Some may start a new agency business.

Business will be brisk. Long drawn litiga-

tions will be postponed.

CANCER: Social status and popularity will

be high. You will receive honour. You may

start a business partnership. Worries will

be over. Investing in shares is not advis-

able. Life will be comfortable.

LEO: Those appearing for competitive ex-

ams should do well. Prosperity and popu-

larity will be maintained. You may invest in

property. Position will be very sound. Those

1494: Christopher Columbussights Jamaica, names it St.Lago1765: 1st US medical collegeopens in Philadelphia1919: America’s 1st passengerflight (NY-Atlantic City)1923: First nonstoptranscontinental flight [NY-SanDiego] completed1926: British general strike-3million workers support miners1947: Japan forms aconstitutional democracy1952: First landing by anairplane at geographic NorthPole1956: A new range ofmountains discovered inAntarctica (2 over 13,000')1965: First use of satellite TV,Today Show on the Early BirdSatellite1971: Nixon administrationarrests 13,000 anti-warprotesters in 3 days1979: First woman primeminister of Great Britain[Margaret Thatcher] elected

OTHERS COULDBE CHARGED INJACKSON CASE

CALIFORNIA: A conspiracycharge against Michael Jackson sig-nals a new direction in the case, onethat could include indictments forother people accused of conspiringwith the singer to commit thecrimes of abduction, false impris-onment and extortion.

The grand jury indictment saidJackson conspired with “otheruncharged co-conspirators and co-conspirators,” but the judge orderedthat the parts of the indictment iden-tifying them be removed before itwas publicly released. The defenseand prosecutors declined to say Fri-day who else may be arrested.

“We have a lot to say andwe’re going to do our talking incourt,” Jackson attorney SteveCochran said.

Judge Rodney S. Melville softlyand methodically read the 10counts of the indictment Friday,which supersedes charges filed bySanta Barbara County prosecutorslate last year.

The conspiracy count alleged28 individual overt acts involvingchild abduction, false imprison-ment and extortion.

in trade or with agencies will enjoy easy

success. Happiness will prevail.

VIRGO: You may take up new agency busi-

ness. Those involved in trade or publish-

ing may find improvement. Government

employees may get a mid-term promotion

and a transfer. You may have a health

problem. There may be a short separation

from your life partner.

LIBRA: You may expect a pleasant change

of surroundings. Happiness will prevail.

Expenses will be reduced. Litigation will be

postponed. Encouraging communication will

be received. The stock market will do well.

Export businesses will do very well.

SCORPIO: You may enjoy a free flow of

cash. Tension will be relieved. There will be

a sudden improvement in your position and

wealth. Long drawn litigations will be over.

You will be in a position to make a good

investment. Social status will be maintained.

SAGITTARIUS: You may get unexpected

monies. You may benefit through agricul-

tural land. You will be in a position to profit

from written communication/ application.

Short travel will lift your spirits. Long travel

will strain your finances. Health will be good

CAPRICORN: Others will be wonderful.

You may observe a few changes. You will

be very popular. You will be in a position to

make an investment. You will prosper. You

may make new friends.

AQUARIUS: You will be very successful.

Unnecessary expenditure is indicated. You

will be very popular. You will face a lot of

tension. There will be increased respect

and responsibility at home. You will pros-

per. You will be successful. Those with fi-

nancial institutions may get a financial ben-

efit. Trade will flourish.

PISCES: Business will be brisk. Popular-

ity will be maintained. You will take a good

decision. Textile businesses will be profit-

able. Export businesses will do well. Those

with the textile and leather industries will

do well and see improvement. Business

will do a good turnover. Constant improve-

ment in business is indicated.

TOKYO: A pilot for Japan’s AllNippon Airways fell asleep at thecontrols for several minutes whileon a domestic flight and had to beawakened by a government in-spector who was traveling in thecockpit.

A spokesman for the airline saidon Friday that the 50-year-old pi-lot, whose name was not released,dozed off while flying on March 23from Tokyo’s Haneda airport to thewestern prefecture of Yamaguchi,a trip that takes about an hour.

An official from the TransportMinistry, who was in the cockpitfor a routine inspection, woke thepilot after he fell asleep as the plane

THE CASE OF THEMISSING MONKEYS

BELGRADE: Serbia is trying toaccount for around 600 monkeysthought to be missing from a con-signment imported from Africa, thedaily Balkan reported on Friday.

According to the Serbian Statis-tics Bureau, the monkeys were im-ported from Tanzania two years agoand paid for by the kilo. The ship-ment weighed two tons, which worksout at about 1,000 monkeys weigh-ing two kilos each, the paper said.

The national vaccine producerTorlak Institute bought 400 for po-lio vaccine testing, but the fate ofthe others is unclear.

Belgrade Zoo director VukBojovic said he had not bought asingle monkey in 20 years. So,where did the 600 rest go?

Arnold the Anti-

BobbleheadA row of bobblehead dollsfeaturing the name and likenessof California Governor ArnoldSchwarzenegger are pictured inan office at Ohio DiscountMerchandise.Schwarzenegger’s attorney hasthreatened to sue the smallnortheast Ohio company unlessit stops selling the doll. Thecompany’s president, ToddBosley, said proceeds from theSchwarzenegger bobbleheadare going to sarcoma cancerresearch.

was cruising at 12,000 meters(36,000 feet), but he dozed offagain and had to be awakened asecond time.

“He was asleep for two or threeminutes,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said there wasno danger to passengers since theplane was on auto-pilot and the co-pilot was also present. The pilot,

who has been suspended, is under-going medical tests.

Last year, a Japanese bullet traindriver fell asleep at the controlswhile his train was traveling at 270km (168 miles) an hour. He wasfound to suffer from sleep apnea,in which a person repeatedly stopsbreathing during sleep, causingdaytime drowsiness.

AIRLINE PILOT CAUGHT DOZING IN FLIGHT