DARJEELING : Bringing down the curtain on all speculations, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced that they would be contesting in all 45 seats in the first Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections. The GJM also suspended all agitation programmes and lifted the ongoing relay hunger strike in Darjeeling town. The announcement was made after a four hour long GJM central committee meeting at Patleybash on the fringes of Darjeeling town on Saturday. “We have decided to contest in all 45 seats. However the candidates will be decided by GJM President Bimal Gurung” stated Roshan Giri, General Secretary, GJM at a press meet in Darjeeling.

When quizzed on whether Gurung would take part in the fray, Giri stated “This has not been decided yet. We will hold a series of meetings from Sunday to decide on the 45 candidates.” Incidentally the cat and mouse game on whether to contest elections has been on for quite some time. The GJM has been protesting the Justice Shyamal Sen’s recommendation of inclusion of 5 mouzas of the plains in the GTA (3 in the plains of Darjeeling district and 2 in the Jalpaiguri District.) The GJM is demanding the inclusion of 396 mouzas of the plains of Terai and Dooars in the GTA. The Morcha had earlier announced a series of agitation programmes protesting the recommendations and had also threatened to stay away from the GTA election slated for July 29.

A meeting between the State Government and a 21 member GJM delegation in Kolkata on June 16 managed to defuse the situation to an extent, with the State forming the Fact Verification Committee to review the addition of mouzas from the plains in the GTA. Finally Gurung leading a 5 member GJM delegation embarked on a political tour, meeting Union home minister P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The GJM had stated that the Morcha’s decision to contest elections would depend on the outcome of these meetings. All the meetings ended on a “successful” note for the Morcha.

In the meeting with Banerjee in Kolkata on June 28, Gurung had expressed full faith on the Fact Verification Committee and had stated that the GJM was eager to continue cordial relationship with the Trinamool Congress. There have been numerous pointers to Morcha’s decision to take part in the GTA elections. While on one hand the Morcha repeatedly announced that they would take the decision on GTA elections in the Central Committee meeting on June 30 in Darjeeling; the GJM had written a letter to the West Bengal home secretary, through the District Magistrate (DM) on June 28 requesting for the “Sun” as their election symbol. They had even attended an all party meeting on GTA elections called by the DM on June 29 at the District Collectorate in Darjeeling.

“We are contesting elections for the overall development of the Darjeeling Hills. Even the Terai Dooars Joint Action Coordination Committee (TDJACC) leaders from Terai and Dooars were present in the Central Committee meeting today and requested us to contest the GTA elections” added Giri. The TDJACC (a Morcha- Adivasi conglomerate was formed with the demand of the inclusion of 396 mouzas of Terai and Dooars in the GTA.) Recently there were reports of discontent brewing in the rank and file of the TDJACC with a section demanding that the GJM should stay away from GTA elections till the territory issue is resolved. GJM played this down projecting the presence of all frontal leaders of the TDJACC in Saturday’s meet including President John Barla.

With the GJM’s participation confirmed, political observers feel that the future of Hill politics would depend on what stand the Trinamool Congress adopt (whether they stay away from GTA elections or contest seriously.) The TMC is slated to sit in a meeting on Sunday in Siliguri to decide on GTA elections. With GNLF leaders, disgruntled GJM leaders and supporters finding TMC as a strong platform to counter the GJM might, the TMC has emerged as a major threat for the GJM . Recently the TMC has been making steady inroads in the Hills, opening up Hill units. The enthusiastic TMC leaders and supporters are eager to contest the GTA elections. However Observers feel that the TMC top brass might provide a “safe passage” to the GJM by not contesting elections. “We will suspend all agitation programmes including the ongoing relay hunger strike which is on at the Darjeeling Chowrasta protesting the Justice Sen recommendations” stated Giri.

Kolkata:Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today said the party would not resort to an agitation over GTA’s territorial reach, a day after talks with chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta. After landing at Bagdogra this afternoon from Calcutta, Gurung said when talks were on regarding the territorial issue, there was no question of launching any agitation or strikes. “Why should we have an agitation now when the talks are going on smoothly?” he said.

“The talks (with Union home minister and the chief minster) were fruitful and we are satisfied with the discussion held with them,” he told reporters, when asked about the series of the protests that he had planned to announce demand for the inclusion of 391 mouzas in the GTA from the Dooars and Terai. The Morcha had wanted 396 mouzas to be included in the GTA, but the Justice Shyamal Sen committee suggested the inclusion of only five. Two days later, an agitated Gurung announced a series of agitations. He also said another series of protests would be announced soon.

The Morcha also threatened that it would ask its MLAs from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Kalchini to resign on July 17. “We will also burn copies of the GTA agreement at the Chowrasta on the same day,” Gurung had then said, adding that the future course of the agitation would be announced in a public meeting scheduled for July 27. Today, however, Morcha leaders attended an all-perty meeting called by the district administration to discuss the GTA elections. It is unlikely that the leaders went to the meeting without Gurung’s permission.

The GTA elections are scheduled for July 29. Gurung did not speak out clearly on the elections, and said the final decision taken at the party’s core committee meeting in Darjeeling tomorrow. All hill outfits, barring the GNLF, today attended the all-party meeting held in the conference hall of the Darjeeling district magistrate’s office. The Morcha was represented by R.P. Waiba, the vice-president of the party, two assistant secretaries Raju Pradhan and Jyoti Kumar Rai, and D.K. Pradhan, a former Darjeeling MLA and a member of the Morcha’s central committee.

Asked why the party attended an election related meeting when the Morcha chief had not spelt out its stand in the elections, Raju said: “Since the district administration invited all the political parties, we decided to attend the meeting. Since we have not yet taken a decision to contest the elections, we did not pass any comments during the meeting. We simply sat through the meeting.” The Morcha’s attendance at the meeting, however, is being seen an indication that the core committee meeting to be held tomorrow is a mere formality before the party makes an announcement to contest the elections.

The Trinamul Congress and the CPM were among the parties which clearly stated they would contest the GTA elections. The other principal anti-Morcha parties from the hills, the ABGL and the CPRM, however, said that they would decide on contesting the polls only after holding meetings in a few days. Laxman Pradhan, the vice-president of the ABGL, suggested to the district magistrate that the strong room (for storing EVMs) should be shifted from Singamari — a stronghold of Gurung — to the police lines in Darjeeling.

The CPRM wanted reservations for SC and ST communities in the elections. Saumitra Mohan, the district magistrate of Darjeeling, said no effort would be spared to conduct free and fair polls. “We have got some suggestions from the political parties which we have noted. We will ensure that the polls are free and fair. We will also seek the opinions of all the political parties in mapping vulnerability areas (sensitive polling booths),” said Mohan.

VIVEK CHHETRI AND BIRESWAR BANERJEE ( Telegraph)

KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which has three legislators in the West Bengal assembly, Thursday said it will go along the ruling Trinamool Congress's decision in July 19 presidential poll. "We have not decided on the issue of presidential poll. But whatever decision the ruling Trinamool Congress takes, we will support it," GJM supremo Biman Gurung said. The move is seen as an attempt to appease Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has crossed swords with the Congress over the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee.

The GJM has been campaigning for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland within India, out of northern districts of West Bengal. The GJM currently has three members in the 294 - member state assembly. The Trinamool, the second largest constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in New Delhi, is yet to announce its stand on the presidential choice after its preferred candidate, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, declined to contest. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee is pitted against former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma for the presidential poll which are scheduled for July 19. Both Mukherjee and Sangma Thursday filed their nomination papers.

The electoral arithmetic seems to be favouring Mukherjee now with all UPA constituents except Trinamool supporting him. Parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the All India Forward Bloc, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Shiv Sena - which are not associated with the UPA - also have expressed their support to him.

Sangma has the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some other constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as also the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Banerjee has so far been firmly opposing Mukherjee's bid for the country's presidency.

London: Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain minute traces of alcohol, a study has revealed. According to tests carried out by the Paris-based National Institute of Consumption, more than half of leading colas contain traces of alcohol, Daily Mail reported on Wednesday. These include the brand leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, while it is mainly only cheap supermarket versions of the drink which are alcohol-free.

"60 Million Consumers", the French magazine, published the results of the tests in its latest issue. The tests suggest that the alcohol levels are as low as 10 mg in every litre, and this works out at around 0.001 per cent alcohol. But the figures will still be enough to upset the thousands of Muslims who regularly drink Cola because their religion forbids them from drinking alcohol, the daily said.

DARJEELING: Mirik Lake, a popular tourist destination located at the foothills of Kurseong subdivision, is finally getting renovated with the initiative of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). In 2003-2004, a project was undertaken by the DGHC to beautify the lake and it was sanctioned by the Centre under the National Lake Conservation (NLC) scheme. However, the project failed to take off following some technical difficulties. But things have again taken off in the right direction with the DGHC pursuing the matter with the central government.

"DGHC faced several technical difficulties and only some work could be undertaken. After the recommendation of an advisory committee, formed by the state urban development department, we have made some revision in the old project plans and are now ready to start work," said Anil Verma, the DGHC administrator. The 6-member panel has technical experts and engineers from IIT Kharagpur.

So far, the process of weeding the area, construction of the boat stand and renovation of a lodge, owned by the DGHC, at a cost of Rs 60 lakh have been taken up. "We hope to complete the beautification of Mirik Lake in a couple of months," added Verma. Disposal of waste and sewage water from the local houses and siltation pollute the lake and this needs to be checked immediately. "Since the lake is surrounded by residential apartments, all the wastes and sewage water are diverted towards the lake. Another problem is the collection of debris from streams located on the upper fringes whenever there is a rainfall. We need to address these problems soon," pointed out Verma.

The Mirik Lake is a popular destination and tour operators offer tourists a full day tour of the areas, besides other spots in the Darjeeing subdivision. However, tourists, lately, have been complaining about the lack of facilities and the poor condition. Besides, the lush green tea gardens surrounding Mirik, tourist can also take boat rides. The project cost has been pegged at over Rs 4 crore, as there was a delay in starting the work. "Initially, the project cost was fixed at Rs 4 crore, but the delay and additional works mean the estimate will rise," Giving a proper idea The exact estimate is tough At the moment we cannot say by how much though,"said Verma.

( Times Of India )

देहरादून। मुख्यमंत्री विजय बहुगुणा भले ही सितारगंज से विधानसभा उपचुनाव लड़ने के संकेत देते हुए 3 जून को सितारगंज में कहा कि एक गीत है ‘समझने वाले समझ गए जो ना समझे वो अनाड़ी हैं।’ इसके अलावा काबीना मंत्री इंदिरा हृदयेश, कांग्रेस के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष यशपाल आर्य, मंत्रीप्रसाद नैथानी, हरीश दुर्गापाल, पूर्व मंत्री तिलक राज बेहड़ ने अपने संबोधन में मुख्यमंत्री बहुगुणा के इसी क्षेत्र से चुनाव लड़ने की बात कहीं। उत्तराखण्ड कांग्रेस सितारगंज विधानसभा सीट को मुख्यमंत्री के लिए बेहद सुरक्षित मान कर चल रही है। इस क्षेत्र में भितरघात की आशंका न के बराबर है।

कांग्रेस के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष यशपाल आर्य जो मुख्यमंत्री के करीबी हैं, इस क्षेत्र से दो बार विधायक रह चुके हैं। इस क्षेत्र में यशपाल आर्य अधिक प्रभावी नेता हैं, जिनके समर्थन से लोग मुख्यमंत्री को पसंद कर रहे हैं। वहीं सितारगंज सीट कांग्रेस के मौजूदा प्रदेश अध्यक्ष यशपाल आर्य की सीट का हिस्सा रही है, तथा इस सीट पर हरीश रावत गुट का इस सीट पर प्रभाव नगण्य है। मुख्यमंत्री विजय बहुगुणा और प्रदेश कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष यशपाल आर्य रविवार को दिल्ली रवाना हो गए जहां कांग्रेस हाईकमान से कई मामलों पर सहमति ली जा सकती है, वहीं विजय बहुगुणा उत्तहराखण्डं कांग्रेस अध्यलक्ष पद पर यशपाल आर्य को बनाये रखने के लिए प्रबल संतुष्टि करेगें।

इसके अलावा प्रचारित किया जा रहा है कि मुख्यमंत्री विजय बहुगुणा मूलतरू बंगाली हैं। उनके पूर्वज बंगाल से आकर टिहरी में बसे थे। यह बात बंगाली समुदाय की ओर से वितरित पर्चे में कही जा रही है। परन्तु राजनीतिक विश्लेषकों का मानना है कि सितारगंज विधानसभा क्षेत्र में दलित, मुस्लिम, बंगाली और थारू आबादी ज्यादा है, यहां से कांग्रेस की जीत आसान नहीं होगी। अपने विधायक को गंवा कर चोट खाई भाजपा सितारगंज विधानसभा उपचुनाव में कांग्रेस से बदला लेने के लिए हर संभव दाव चलने के मूड में है।

भाजपा एक ऐसा ब्रहमास्त्र चलाने जा रही है जिससे कांग्रेस निरीह व सकते में पड सकती है। भाजपा भी कांग्रेस को तू डाल डाल, मैं पात पात का सबक सिखाने की तैयारी कर रही है, कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठभ विधायक को भाजपा में शामिल कराकर कांग्रेस में हडकम्घ्प मचा सकती है। इसके अलावा पिछले विस चुनाव के परिणामों पर नजर डालें तो यहां कांग्रेस तीसरे स्थान पर यानी बसपा से भी पीछे रही थी। राजनीतिक विश्लेषकों का कहना है कि बंगाली विस्थापितों को भूमिधरी का अधिकार देने संबंधी हालिया फैसलों के बल पर मुख्य मंत्री को यहां से लडाने का फैसला लिया गया है, इस निर्णय से भले ही बंगाली विस्थापित कांग्रेस के पक्ष में आए हों लेकिन इस इलाके में बसा पहाड़ी व पंजाबी समुदाय इस वजह से शायद ही कांग्रेस के पक्ष में आए।

वहीं रुद्रपुर दंगों ने तराई में जो सांप्रदायिक ध्रुवीकरण किया उसका फायदा भाजपा को मिला। ध्रुवीकरण की वजह से अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय भी बसपा का साथ छोड़कर कांग्रेस के पक्ष में खड़ा हुआ मगर दलित वोट बंट गया और उसका एक हिस्सा जहां बसपा के साथ डटा रहा, वहीं बड़ा हिस्सा सांप्रदायिक ध्रुवीकरण के कारण भाजपा के साथ चला गया। उनका मानना है कि इस सांप्रदायिक ध्रुवीकरण का असर अभी शेष है और विस उपचुनाव होने पर सियासी दल इसे फिर हथियार के रूप में इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं।

वहीं समाजवादी पार्टी युवजन सभा के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष मशकूर अहमद कुरैशी ने आरोप लगाया है कि प्रदेश की कांग्रेस सरकार तीन माह से आईसीयू से बाहर नहीं निकल पा रही है। मंत्री व विधायकों के झगड़ों के बीच आम जनता की कोई सुनवाई नहीं हो रही है। सीएम झूठी घोषणाएं कर रहे हैं। रुड़की में कुरैशी ने कहा कि प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री लगातार इस बात की घोषणा कर रहे है कि देहरादून व हरिद्वार में बिजली कटौती नहीं होगी, लेकिन जिले में लगातार बिजली कटौती की जा रही है। उन्होंने कहा कि प्रदेश में कानून व्यवस्था की स्थिति बद से बदत्तर होती जा रही है। संसदीय सचिव के घर में दिन दहाडे़ हुई डकैती ने सरकार के दावों की पोल खोलकर रख दी है।

वहीं भाजपा ने विधानसभा उपचुनाव में जीत के लिए तैयारियां शुरू कर दी हैं, रूद्रपुर शहर के तमाम कांग्रेसी व बसपा कार्यकर्ता भाजपा में शामिल हो गए। कुछ लोगों ने तो भाजपा में वापसी की। एक कार्यक्रम में विधायक राजकुमार ठुकराल व राजेश शुक्ला, पूर्व सांसद बलराज पासी तथा पार्टी जिलाध्यक्ष सुरेश परिहार के समक्ष कांग्रेस व बसपा कार्यकर्ताओं ने भाजपा का दामन थामा। इनमें पूर्व पालिका उपाध्यक्ष हरीश जल्होत्रा, सभासद गुरदीप गावा, व्यापार मंडल के बलराम अग्रवाल, पूर्व छात्र संघ अध्यक्ष अभिनव छाबड़ा, राजीव गंगवार, सोनू खुराना, सन्नी खुराना, गगन अरोरा, बसपा के हरविंदर सिंह हारजी, राजीव जौहरी आदि शामिल हैं।

वहीं बसपा के पूर्व विधायक प्रेमानंद महाजन के भी शीघ्र भाजपा में शामिल होने की चर्चा हैं। भाजपा के कई नेता उनके संपर्क में हैं। पूर्व विधायक महाजन गदरपुर-पंतनगर सीट से लगातार दो बार चुने गए थे। विधानसभा सीटों के परिसीमन के बाद उन्होंने रुद्रपुर सीट से चुनाव लड़ा था, लेकिन पराजय का सामना करना पड़ा। महाजन भाजपा का दामन थाम सकते हैं। भाजपा में आने के बाद उन्हें सितारगंज सीट से मुख्यमंत्री विजय बहुगुणा के खिलाफ उतारा जा सकता है।

चूंकि सितारगंज बंगाली बहुल क्षेत्र है, लिहाजा पार्टी उन्हें फिलहाल एक मुफीद उम्मीदवार के तौर पर देख रही है परन्तु ज्यालदा संभावना बसपा के पूर्व विधायक नारायण पाल की ज्याददा है, वहीं बसपा ने नारायण पाल व उनके भाई मोहन पाल को पार्टी से निष्कासित किये जाने की घटना को उनके भाजपा में जाने की घटना से जोड कर देखा जा रहा है। पार्टी विधायक किरण मंडल के इस्तीफे के झटके से उबरने की कोशिश में जुटी भाजपा अब कांग्रेस पर उसी की तर्ज पर पलटवार की भी तैयारी में है। भाजपा अपने गोपनीय मिशन के तहत कांग्रेस के एक वरिष्ठ विधायक को भाजपा में लाने के लिए तौलमोल कर रही है और इनकी भाजपा के कई केंद्रीय नेताओं से इस संबंध में चर्चा भी हुई है।

वर्ष 2007 में तत्कालीन मुख्यमंत्री भुवन चंद्र खंडूड़ी के लिए सीट खाली कराने को भाजपा ने कांग्रेस विधायक टीपीएस रावत का इस्तीफा कराया था तो अब कांग्रेस ने मुख्यमंत्री विजय बहुगुणा के लिए सीट खाली कराने को भाजपा विधायक किरण मंडल से इस्तीफा दिला सीट खाली कराने में कामयाबी पाई। भाजपा के लिए यह किसी झटके से कम नहीं रहा क्योंकि विधानसभा चुनाव में पार्टी कांग्रेस से केवल एक सीट पीछे रही। अब भाजपा फिर इसी तर्ज पर कांग्रेस को एक झटका देने की कोशिश कर रही है।

चर्चा है कि कांग्रेस के एक वरिष्ठ विधायक पिछले कुछ दिनों से भाजपा के राज्य और केंद्रीय स्तर के कुछ बड़े नेताओं के संपर्क में हैं। इनकी दिल्ली में भाजपा के कुछ वरिष्ठ केंद्रीय नेताओं से कई दौर की वार्ताएं भी हो चुकी हैं। यह भी चर्चा है कि कांग्रेस से असंतुष्ट चल रहे इन विधायक की भाजपा नेताओं से नजदीकी की खबर पार्टी नेताओं को लगने से वह डैमेज कन्टोरल की तैयारी में जुट गये हैं।

SINGAPORE : An off-duty police officer from the Gurkha contingent has died after he was knocked down by a 22-year-old driver on Saturday, June 2 Sergeant Gir Prasad Roka was out jogging when the car mounted the kerb and plowed into him, reported The New Pape The police received a call at about 7.15pm informing them about an accident at Upper Serangoon Road. Paramedics who arrived on the scene were unable to save Sergeant Roka who died at 7.35pm at the scene The 22-year-old male Chinese driver was arrested for rash act causing death. His driving license has been suspended.

NEW DELHI: In his first public comments after taking over as Army Chief, Gen Bikram Singh today made it clear that no controversy in the force will be "brushed under the carpet". Sending a firm message to his 1.3 million force, Gen Singh said he will strive to maintain its "secular and apolitical" outlook. "Let us continue to be a secular and apolitical force and do our job the way it should be done," 59-year-old Singh told reporters after inspecting a guard of honour, a day after taking charge of the force from Gen V K Singh whose tenure was mired in controversies.

He was asked to spell out his message to the army amid reports suggesting factional feuds at senior levels, a new low in civil military relationship and corruption allegations. On allegations of a fake encounter in northeast and recent clash between officers and jawans in Ladakh, Gen Singh said all these cases would be dealt as per the rule book and "nothing should be brushed under the carpet". "I think there was a letter by my Chief of Staff to 3 Corps to investigate those allegations and let me tell you that there is nothing which should be brushed under the carpet. I wish to assure you this," he said.

The Army Chief was asked to comment on allegations levelled by a major in letters to Chief of Army Staff, Eastern Command and 3 Corps Headquarters that a fake encounter was carried out by an intelligence unit under the 3 Corps in March 2010 in which three civilians were killed. Asked if he felt that Nagaland-based 3 Corps was trying to brush things under the carpet as suggested by his predecessor yesterday, he said, "I am not saying that. I did not say that.... I am not going to comment on my worthy predecessor."

Yesterday, Gen V K Singh had said he was alarmed that no investigation was carried out by the 3 Corps despite directions from the Army Headquarters into the allegations. Asked how he was planning to deal with the incidents of clash between jawans and officers in Nyoma, alleged misconduct of jawans in UN mission in Congo and the allegations of fake encounter in Nagaland, he said, "All these cases will be dealt with as per the rulebook."