West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday an agreement has been reached between the state government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha delegation that would bring down the curtains of the Gorkha crisis! We have to see how it turns TRUTH! But this is a very Welcome Development for the Hill People in darjeeling as well as SIKKIM! Left Front failed miserably to resolve the crisis all these years!Mamata SCORED starightway provided the Gorkhaland Puzzle is RESOLVED at all! Nevertheless, the Brahaminical Hegemony in Bengal rejects the SUBALTERN Identities and hence, GORKHALND Nationality remains UNRECOGNISED! This stays as the BONE of CONTENTION as any SOLUTION is destined to be AD HOC in accordance to Political Equation. The PARIVARTAN factor worked very well indeed. Whether the grievances of the Hills are addressed at all despite Administrative and Economic Package, it remains to be seen!West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state!
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FIFTY TWO
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FIFTY TWO
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/
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Gorkhaland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 10 FebGorkhaland (Nepali: गोर्खाल्याण्ड) is the name of the proposed state in India demanded by the Nepali/Gorkhali-speaking Gorkha ethnic group in ...
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Gorkhaland issue resolved: Mamata - The Times of India
7 Jun 2011 ... Mamata said that the Darjeeling issue was 'settled' but GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its demand for a Gorkhaland state.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gorkhaland-issue.../8762175.cmsGet more results from the past 24 hours
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Buddhadeb says no to Gorkhaland - Times Of India
20 Feb 2011 ... SILIGURI: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ...
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News for Gorkhaland
The HinduGorkhaland issue resolved, claims Mamata
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that the state government has managed to clinch a deal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha ...Hindustan Times - 44 related articles -
Site Under Construction, Gorkha Land
Site Under Construction. To Visit Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Home Page. click here: www.gorkhajanmuktimorcha.org.
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They believe that the demand for the state of Gorkhaland is a racist demand intended to break up Bengal. They say that since people from all ethnic ...
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GJM says it will stick to its Gorkhaland demand : East: India Today
26 May 2011 ... West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has pledged to find a solution to the Darjeeling problem, met leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti ...
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Gunning for Gorkhaland - Hindustan Times
6 Apr 2011 ... Their rivalry is part of Darjeeling's folklore. But this poll may settle the issue of Gurung or Ghisingh for good. Vijay Jung Thapa writes.
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The Hindu : States / Other States : Gorkhaland issue: Chidambaram ...
25 Jan 2011 ... Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday held a meeting with a GJM delegation led by Giri on the Gorkhaland demand. ...
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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday an agreement has been reached between the state government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha delegation that would bring down the curtains of the Gorkha crisis! We have to see how it turns TRUTH! But this is a very Welcome Development for the Hill People in darjeeling as well as SIKKIM! Left Front failed miserably to resolve the crisis all these years!Mamata SCORED starightway provided the Gorkhaland Puzzle is RESOLVED at all! Nevertheless, the Brahaminical Hegemony in Bengal rejects the SUBALTERN Identities and hence, GORKHALND Nationality remains UNRECOGNISED! This stays as the BONE of CONTENTION as any SOLUTION is destined to be AD HOC in accordance to Political Equation. The PARIVARTAN factor worked very well indeed. Whether the grievances of the Hills are addressed at all despite Administrative and Economic Package, it remains to be seen!
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state. Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have fully backed the newly elected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initatives to start talks with leaders of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) to resolve the issue.
GJM in no mood to rush Didi
Times of India - Jun 2, 2011
NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Thursday advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to hold talks with the Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government, and find a common ground on their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, ahead of a tripartite ...
GJM leadership non-committal on demand for Gorkhaland
isikkim - Jun 2, 2011
In what would be termed a shrewd political opportunism, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is no more willing to talk Gorkhaland, an issue which it has always claimed to be its first priority. On Thursday, a seven member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ...
GJM should cooperate with WB Govt. over demand for a separate Gorkhaland ...
DailyIndia.com - Jun 2, 2011
New Delhi, June 2: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday said the separatist Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) should cooperate with the West Bengal Government over their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. A GJM delegation met Chidambaram ...
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Me and Sabita visited Gangtok once again after Seven Full years and it is nearly Hell loosing allround aroud the Hills. We started from Siliguri at 2.30 PM on 1st June and reached Gangtok at 9 PM. It took 6.30 hours as Roads were JAMMED in between SEVAK and TEESTA.Last time , it was a beautiful drive.But this time. Roads seem NOT to be maintained at all neither the Land Slide Places are cleared in time. It was worse between Siliguri and Darjeeling last time. But the disease inflicted SEVAK RANGPO strip as well. It means, the Political Turmoil tolled very heavily and necessary INFRASTRUCTURE for Tourism in the region has been effected adversely all these years. In Gangtok itself, despite Transport boom thanks to fleets of Taxises, BUILDERS PROMOTERS rule all over!
I am fortunate to vist other parts of North East India as Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and ASSAM. I am amazed to witness the RESURGENCE of Hindutva in SIKKIM this time. Last time, it was not like this. OBC Pawan Chlng Rule promting TOURISM and BUILDERS PROMOTERS and CORPORATE LPG MAFIA does seem to PROMOTE Hindutva. Buddhism in SIKKIM is inflicted with BRAHAMINSM. Gautam BUDDHA and GANESH are worshipped in the monastries! This HINDUTVA BOOM is definitely linked with GALAXY ZIONIST MANUSMRITI APARTHEID BRAHAMINICAL Order of CORPORATE IMPERIALISM!
GJM reiterates Gorkhaland demand
Shutapa Paul
Express News Service
Last Updated : 07 Jun 2011 09:59:40 AM IST
KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which began the official-level talks with the state government on Monday, reiterated its demand for a separate Gorkhaland. Although the GJM may put more emphasis on territorial jurisdiction, the party on Monday sent out the feelers that the demand for Gorkhaland was an emotive issue and would always remain a part of their discussions. "The meeting was fruitful but incomplete. We will have a meeting tomorrow as well. We have raised seven points including territory… The (Gorkhaland) demand is always there," said GJM secretary Roshan Giri.
A seven-member delegation, including four MLAs and led by Giri, met state Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and other state officials on Monday. The bilateral meeting followed GJM chief Bimal Gurung's show of support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The GJM was expected to ask for greater autonomy and increase of territory than what was earlier included in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). The GJM had been demanding that the entire Terai and Dooars be included in the DGHC. However, the GJM later softened its stand on Gorkhaland demand after its chief Bimal Gurung's meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 30. Gurung had then dismissed the issue saying they would "talk about Gorkhaland later". The GJM has reposed faith in the Mamata Government to tide over the impasse in the Hills and had said that they "didn't want to put any pressure on the new government". Even Home Minister P Chidambaram advised them to "co-operate" with the state government. If the official-level talks are successful, it will be followed by talks at the political-level.
http://expressbuzz.com/nation/gjm-reiterates-gorkhaland-demand/281880.html
08/06/2011
Express News Service
Last Updated : 07 Jun 2011 09:59:40 AM IST
KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which began the official-level talks with the state government on Monday, reiterated its demand for a separate Gorkhaland. Although the GJM may put more emphasis on territorial jurisdiction, the party on Monday sent out the feelers that the demand for Gorkhaland was an emotive issue and would always remain a part of their discussions. "The meeting was fruitful but incomplete. We will have a meeting tomorrow as well. We have raised seven points including territory… The (Gorkhaland) demand is always there," said GJM secretary Roshan Giri.
A seven-member delegation, including four MLAs and led by Giri, met state Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and other state officials on Monday. The bilateral meeting followed GJM chief Bimal Gurung's show of support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The GJM was expected to ask for greater autonomy and increase of territory than what was earlier included in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). The GJM had been demanding that the entire Terai and Dooars be included in the DGHC. However, the GJM later softened its stand on Gorkhaland demand after its chief Bimal Gurung's meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 30. Gurung had then dismissed the issue saying they would "talk about Gorkhaland later". The GJM has reposed faith in the Mamata Government to tide over the impasse in the Hills and had said that they "didn't want to put any pressure on the new government". Even Home Minister P Chidambaram advised them to "co-operate" with the state government. If the official-level talks are successful, it will be followed by talks at the political-level.
http://expressbuzz.com/nation/gjm-reiterates-gorkhaland-demand/281880.html
08/06/2011
Darjeeling issue solved, says Mamata; GJM maintains Gorkhaland demand
Kolkata, June 7 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday claimed that the issue of a separate Gorkhaland has been resolved and an agreement signed. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, spearheading the agitation in the northern hills, however said it has not gone back on its demand and called the pact the 'foundation of a separate state'.
'I want to inform you that the Darjeeling problem has been solved. We are very happy. An agreement has been signed,' Banerjee told mediapersons here after a two-day discussion between government officials and a seven-member GJM delegation.
'Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed at the official level,' she said.
'The deal has to be formalised at a tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM). We will visit Darjeeling very soon. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only,' said Banerjee, with GJM leaders, including its secretary general Roshan Giri, by her side.
The chief minister said the central government has been requested to make arrangements for the tripartite meeting in Darjeeling.
'Everything has been done keeping in mind the interests of both sides,' said Banerjee when asked to spell out the breakthrough formula.
At the core of the agreement is the formation of a new autonomous elected Hill Council, which is armed with more powers compared to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.
The new council to be formed through enactment of a law in the state assembly, would have administrative and financial powers and can also frame rules related to the hills. The council members will later be chosen through election, but the body cannot enact any law.
A nine-member high powered committee, comprising four members each from GJM and the state government and one from the central government, will be formed to study GJM's demand on demarcating Gorkha majority areas in the Terai (plains of Darjeeling) and Dooars (foothills of the Himalayas) for inclusion in the council.
The committee will give its report in six months.
'On the basis of that report, whichever area has a Gorkha majority will be transferred to the council,' said GJM spokesman and MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri.
'Today's meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy,' Giri told reporters.
But the GJM leaders asserted that it has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaalnd.
'This is the foundation for Gorkhaland. We believe we will form Gorkhaland on this foundation,' said Chhetri.
'We will cooperate with the government for a period before we come up with our demand (for Gorkhaland,' he added.
However, both the leaders saluted Banerjee for her political will to make a breakthrough on Darjeeling.
'We will give her a rousing reception when she comes to Darjeeling,' said Giri.
But Chhetri also struck a note of caution.
'We have not signed any pact today, though we have reached an agreement with the major issues settled Now it remains to be seen whether the agreement is only one paper or can be implemtned in letter and spirit,' he said.
The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland covering parts of northern Bengal gained momentum during the 1980s under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghising.
But the reins of the movement were later taken over by the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which forced Ghising out of the hills.
©Indo-Asian News Service
Meanwhile, Unprecedented PUSH for FREE MARKET Economy and Economic Reforms of EXCLUSION continues!The government on Tuesday said it has cleared 16 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals amounting to Rs 923.55 crore, including those of Star News Broadcasting Ltd and L&T Finance Holdings.The mammoth business empire of Baba Ramdev , its worth estimated at Rs 1100 crore, is now under official scanner, informed sources said Tuesday.On the other hand, Indian activist Anna Hazare plans to defy police and hold a protest against corruption in Delhi on Wednesday. Mr Hazare says he will go without food during the one-day protest. Mind you, Mamata Banerjee has NOTHING to say against GRAFT or Economic reforms. The PARIVARTAN in Bengal was FANNED by Media, Civil Society and Intelligentsia in Bengal. But MAMATA BRIGADE has NO STANCE on either ANNA Hazaare or Baba Ramdev!On the other hand, Mamata, supported well by Ex FICCI General secretary, the New FM of Bengal AMIT MITRA, Banks heavily on PRIVATE INVESTMENT and FREE FLOW of CAPITAL which is the BASIC of Economic ETHNIC Cleansing and in the best interst of Market Dominating BRAHAMINICAL Nationality based on the KILLING of other nationalities and Identities!
BABA Ramdev was INSTRUMENTAL to manipulate MANDATE for UPA and economic Reforms. Now as he turns HOSTILE after MID NIGHT STORM in Jantar Mantar and RSS tkaes the CIVIL Society lead, Congress pays back very well!
Govt probes graft charges against Ramdev, aide
Meetu Jain , CNN-IBN
Updated Jun 07, 2011 at 02:11pm IST
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New Delhi: Baba Ramdev's close associate Acharya Balkrishna has been missing after the June 4 clash at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Sources say the Government will probe the alleged fake passport Balkrishna holds. If the immigration department puts up a complaint, action will be taken against him.
The going is getting tough for Ramdev too, as the Government looks to probe his assets.
From yoga guru to would be politician to business tycoon - the meteoric rise of Baba Ramdev and his yoga and ayurveda empire is now getting as much attention as his fight against corruption.
After being evicted from Delhi, Ramdev has gone back to Haridwar. But it looks like it's not going to be an easy run for him anymore, as the government is hot on his trail.
Some of the details made available by government sources to CNN-IBN reveal a maze of companies that are run and maintained by Ramdev's key men.
Over 200 businesses from broadcasting companies including Aastha TV to food parks are run by his trusted lieutenants Acharya Balkrishna and Mukta Anand. There are no specific charges against them that the finance ministry is looking at, but a detailed income tax survey is currently being done.
Even Hindu spiritual leaders want Ramdev's assets probed.
"Ramdev has a lot of land and assets worth crores. These should be probed as well," said Puri shankaracharya Swami Adhokshjanand Tirtha.
Questions are also being asked about nationality of Balkrishna, who has mysteriously disappeared from public view after the midnight swoop at the Ramlila Maidan.
"Balkrishna is a Nepalese citizen. He committed a crime there and came to India. He also has a Nepalese passport," said Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.
If that isn't enough, it now appears that Ramdev has run foul of the US FDA. He has been denied permission to sell ayurveda products in the United States. The FDA has leveled allegations of misbranding, selling products that are either not listed or not approved.
The Health Ministry says it will scrutinise the drug business of Baba Ramdev.
"We will look at these issues separately once the dust settles down," said Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
This is not the first brush with controversy for Ramdev. In January 2006 also, charges of land grab had surfaced. CNN-IBN had then reported that Ramdev's Patanjali Yog Peeth had grabbed government land. Now the Roorkee SDM has confirmed a farm land grab of over 2.98 hectares.
Asked about allegations of land grab against the Divya Yog Trust in 2006, Acharya Balakrishna had reacted by saying, "Who are you to ask me...who do you think you are?"
Baba Ramdev's fight against corruption has opened him to many charges and many inquires into the meteoric rise of his business in the last eight years. The Rs 1100 crore yoga-to-medicine business empire is also facing charges of land grab. But an aggressive Government probe at this point could be seen as witch-hunt of a baba, who dared the Congress and made it quite uncomfortable for them.
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http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-probes-graft-charges-against-ramdev-aide/157426-3.html
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed his council of ministers to declare their personal assets and business interests, along with that of their spouses and dependants - an annual exercise to maintain transparency.
`Today is a historic day. The Darjeeling issue which has been lingering for a long period is settled at the official-level talks. I have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram," Banerjee told reporters at the Writers' Buildings.
Asked about the 'magic formula' that clinched the agreement, Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, "It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development."
Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, "I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present."
Asked if a financial package will be given to Darjeeling, she retorted, "Shall I attend a wedding without a gift? We love the people of Darjeeling."
Later GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that transfer of 'tauji' or the right over tea gardens and resolution of the problem of casual employees of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council were reached at the meeting.
Asked about the GJM's original demand for Gorkhaland, Giri declined to comment.
Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.
7 JUN, 2011, 10.10PM IST,ET BUREAU
Mamata Banerjee solves Darjeeling hill problems
KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee has done a magic. Within 19 days after she was sworn in as the chief minister, Mamata on Tuesday solved the Darjeeling hill crisis by convincing the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to accept an agreement with her government which will intend to address all the key issues raised by the GJM. Mamata also assured the GJM leaders that her government will take up all the development activities for the Hills."Darjeeling problem has been solved. The next tripartite meeting among the Centre, the state government and GJM will be held in Darjeeling hills very soon and the discord in the hills will be nipped in the bud there," chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced at Writers' Buildings after a successful meeting between the GJM and senior state government officials including the chief secretary Samar Ghosh.
She also said that she had asked the state's chief secretary Samar Ghosh to talk to the Centre so that the agreement could be finalised at Darjeeling. "I will personally be there in Darjeeling during the tripartite talks," said Mamata.
Asked whether her government will offer any financial package to the people of Darjeeling hills, the chief minister said "certainly." When asked to explain the magic formula through which she has managed to sort out the hill crisis so easily, Mamata said "only development is my magic formula. I believe in carrying out development work every where and I have promised the GJM leaders that our government will leave no stone unturned to develop the hills."
She also said that she had a talk with the Union home minister P.Chidambaram on Tuesday's development and the Union minister was also very happy about this. The chief minister also informed that an expert committee will be set up comprising the state government officials and GJM leaders. Informed sources in Writers' Buildings said that the government had a plan to set up a nine-member committee of which four each will be from the GJM and the state government. There will be one member from the Union government in the proposed expert committee, which will be constituted within two weeks from Tuesday.
The expert committee will consider among other issues, the territory of the proposed new hill council which will replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) which runs the administration in the three hill sub-divisions of Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling.
It is learnt that the state government might consider the GJM's demand for inclusion of some parts of Terai and Dooars into the new council which will be formed through elections. The GJM has been demanding inclusion of some pockets of Terai and Dooars into the separate Gorkha state for which they have been fighting.
The GJM general secretary Roshan Giri who had attended Tuesday's meeting, said that they were very happy with the discussion and felt that the chief minister was very much sincere in solving the hill problems.
When asked whether they were giving up their demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas, Giri told ET over phone that "our demand for separate Gorkha state is always there." He also said that the state government was actively considering their demand for control of hill council over the tea gardens in Darjeling, Terai and Dooars.
The GJM which was launched on October 7, 2007 has been spearheading their movement in Darjeeling for getting a separate state for the Gorkhas. The GJM had also attended a number of tripartite talks in the last five years in Delhi and Darjeeling to convince the Centre and the state government about their demand for the separate state.
The GJM has been demanding inclusion of Banarhat, Bhaktinagar, Birpara, Chalsa, Jaigaon, Kalchini, Kumargram, Madarihat, Malbazar, Mirik and Nagrakata into the Gorkhaland for which they have been fighting for long.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/mamata-banerjee-solves-darjeeling-hill-problems/articleshow/8764514.cms
Ramdev's Rs 1100 cr empire under scannerIBNLive.com - 51 minutes agoNew Delhi: Baba Ramdev is back in Haridwar- but it looks like it's not going to be an easy run for him anymore. The government is out to reveal the skeletons in his closet. From Yoga guru to would be politician to business tycoon, the meteoric rise of ...Ramdev aide denies allegations of forging Indian passportDaily News & Analysis - 1 hour agoPlace: Haridwar | Agency: PTI After remaining underground for three days, Baba Ramdev's close aide Acharya Balakrishna today surfaced in Haridwar today rejecting the charge that he had procured a forged Indian passport. Replying to a question from ...Ramdev's followers reject allegations against BalkrishnaHindustan Times - 2 hours agoPTI The followers of Baba Ramdev in Nepal have rejected allegations that Acharya Balkrishna, a key aide of the yoga guru, was involved in illegal activities. The allegations made against Acharya Balkrishna was totally baseless and aimed at character ... |
"We will look at these issues once the dust settles," said Ghulam Nabi Azad.more by Ghulam Nabi Azad - 51 minutes ago - IBNLive.com(1 occurrences) |
Baba Ramdev's aide resurfaces, says wasn't trying to flee
NDTV.com - 2 hours ago
Haridwar: There's no end to the great Indian tamasha. Today, it was the turn of Ramdev's key aide, Balkrishna, who was in tears as he appeared before the media. He surfaced two days after mysteriously disappearing following the Saturday night crackdown ...
Ramdev's aide accused under Arms Act: IB
IBNLive.com - 3 hours ago
New Delhi: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's close aide Acharya Balkrishna is being investigated for procuring a fake Indian passport and for violating the Arms Act. Sources say that the Prime Minister's Office has ordered an enquiry against Balkrishna. ...
Missing aide of Ramdev surfaces, says he is an Indian of Nepali origin
Times of India - 4 hours ago
NEW DELHI: Acharya Balkrishna, a key aide of Baba Ramdev who had gone missing since the police crackdown at the Ramlila Maidan on Saturday, resurfaced in Haridwar today. Balkrishna on Tuesday rubbished the Congress' claims that he was a Nepali citizen ...
Ramdev's aide denies charges, says he is Indian
IBNLive.com - 4 hours ago
Haridwar: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's close aide Acharya Balkrishna surfaced in Haridwar on Tuesday, three days after he went missing following the police crackdown at the Ramlila Maidan on Ramdev's supporters, claiming that he was an Indian and not a ...
Nepal defends Baba Ramdev aide Balkrishna
Economic Times - 9 hours ago
KATHMANDU: Strong reactions poured in from Nepal Tuesday after reports in the Indian media quoted an Indian politician as accusing yoga guru Baba Ramdev's principal aide Balkrishna of having fled Nepal after being involved in criminal activities there. ...
Baba Ramdev supporters hit the streets in Nepal
Times of India - Jun 6, 2011
KATHMANDU: Dozens of protesters bearing placards that said "Lies will be routed and truth prevail" demonstrated in front of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Monday even as protests erupted in major Indian cities too after Delhi police ousted yoga ...
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Baba Ramdev supporters hit the streets in NepalJun 6, 2011 - Times of India |
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Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal & Gorkhaland
Posted on May 30, 2011 by iSikkim | Category: Featured Post Politics Slider Post | 466 views | 0 Comments
After Trinamool Congress's landslide election victory in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee faces the Bengal assembly on Monday. While her major electoral plank, Bengal's crippled economy with a debt of Rs 1.86 lakh crore will be her big worry, another issues that's been doing rounds is the long pending demand of Gorkhaland.
The resurgent Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is not going to mellow down by the slew of economic sops that Didi has been quick to announce.
The Gorkhas of Darjeeling, who are ethnic Nepalese, are demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland carved out of the northern Himalayan district of Darjeeling and parts of the foothills under Jalpaiguri district.
"People voted for us with the mandate for Gorkhaland. Gorkhaland is in the hearts of the people," said Roshan Giri, the General Secretary of the GJM after a meeting with the new CM on Thursday. The party said that it will stick to its demand of Gorkhaland.
After the Thursday meeting, Didi on her part has pledged to find a solution to the Darjeeling problem. But she has consistently maintained that there will be no division of West Bengal.
In the Thursday's meeting, GJM raised issues like regularisation of the jobs of the DGHC (Darjeeling Hill Council) casual workers, CBI inquiry into the February 8 police firing at Sipchu that killed three of Gorkhaland supporters, release of political Chhatrey Subba, a prime accused in the assassination attempt on GNLF chief Subhash Ghisingh on February 10, 2001 and withdrawal of Ghisingh's Z-category security.
The Morcha leadership has maintained that their MLAs would resign if their demand for statehood was not met. On Thursday Giri said, "Our MLAs were just sworn in. The new government promises to talk to us. Our demands might be considered. It is too early to think of such drastic measures right away," Giri said.
It will not be easy for Didi to 'delay', 'avoid' and finally 'kill' the demand of Gorkhaland whose three MLAs support the present government. The 104 year old demand won't wither away with sops alone since neither GJM nor its supremo Bimal Gurung have any intention of diluting their agenda.
Banerjee has asked Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh to initiate the process of development in the Darjeeling hills in consultation with the GJM. Her approach as of now is to engage the GJM and push development in the Himalayan belt. With the joy of Didi's single handed victory against the Left settling in, it appears tough time lies ahead for Didi.
Related Story:
Gorkhaland is the biggest Challenge for Mamta Banerjee
http://isikkim.com/2011-05-mamata-banerjee-west-bengal-gorkhaland-302/
Black Money
The government has maintained that there are no reliable estimates of black money generated held within and outside the country. It says the different estimates of the quantum of black money range between $500 to $1,400 billion. A study by the Global Financial Integrity Group has estimated the illicit outflow at about $462 billion. Will the government be able to bring back black money from abroad?
07 June 2011 Last updated at 23:19 GMT
Latest Articles on Black Money
Baba Ramdev reaches Dehradun, on way to Haridwar
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/fullcover.cms?keyword=Black_Money7 JUN, 2011, 10.36PM IST,ET BUREAU
FM asks institutional investors to stay bullish on India
NEW DELHI: India growth story is intact and the government is committed to doing all that is necessary to achieving and sustaining a higher economic growth rate.Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday asked foreign institutional investors to remain bullish on Indian economy's long-term growth prospects amid concerns of a policy paralysis and corruption slowing investments into the country and a slowing economy and growing subsidies derailing goevrnment's fisc.
"The government would continue to take investor friendly policies to encourage further growth,"Mukherjee told a group of 30 FIIs in an interaction organised by his ministry.
In the closed-door interactive session moderated by Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO ICICI Bank, Mukherjee asked FIIs remain optimistic and take a long-term view of the Indian economy and its performance rather than being disturbed by the short-term statistics.
"The next generation financial sector reforms have alreadybeen initiated which include among other steps, the widening and deepening of the Indian securities markets, liberalising the policy on foreign capital flows, strengthening the regulatory and other institutional architecture and reducing transaction cost in the securities markets," he said in an hour-long meeting attended by key finance ministry officials and chief economic advisor Kaushik Basu.
Mukherjee assured the gathering that the consultations were underway to build consensus on raising foreign direct investment in insurance and opening up multi-brand retail.
Giving an overview of the economic situation Mukherjee said the goevrnment was confident about reducing fiscal deficit and achieving the target of 4.6 % of GDP announced in the 2011-12 budget. Mukherjee said Indian economy would grow at a pace of around 8.5 %. Allaying any apprehensions slowdown on government revenues, he said revenue collection are unlikely to witness any decline and hence there was no need to have any undue fear on the issue of fiscal deficit.
The Reserve Bank of India governor D Subbarao had said in May the country would find it difficult to achieve its fiscal deficit target this year, unless it made adjustments to account for the rise in fuel and fertiliser prices. Independent analysts also have pointed at bond markets expecting a shortfall of about Rs 60,000 crore and fiscal deficit of 5.2-5.3% as against targeted 4.6% in 2011-12.
On the issue of fuel subsidy, Mukherjee said though it is difficult to accurately estimate the burden on the government, in view of the volatility in the international crude prices but for any requirement of additional subsidy, funds would be committed with least impact on the fiscal deficit, according to a finance ministry statement.
Mukherjee said it would also be too premature to reach a judgement on the disinvestment programme as only the first two months of the financial year have gone by. Underlining the resolve of the government to pursue the issue of disinvestment, he said the public issue of Power Finance Corporation had helped the goevrnment successfully raise Rs.1,145 in May.
The finance minister said inflation is likely to moderate in the months ahead especially as the monsoons are expected to be normal strengthening economic prosperity of farmers.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/fm-asks-institutional-investors-to-stay-bullish-on-india/articleshow/8764942.cms
7 JUN, 2011, 03.29AM IST, DEEPSHIKHA SIKARWAR,ET BUREAU
Pay commission gains may not come from back date
NEW DELHI: The windfall government employees receive by way of pay commission award arrears may no longer be forthcoming. The government is examining a proposal to implement pay commission awards prospectively on the lines of finance commission awards, as large arrears throw the finances of both the Centre and states in disarray."We are examining the suggestion," a finance ministry official told ET. He, however, added that the final call on the issue would be taken when the next pay commission is constituted. Pay commissions are usually set up at intervals of 10 years. The Sixth Pay Commission, the most recent, gave its recommendations in March 2008. It had proposed pay raises between 20% and 40% for government employees.
The finance ministry had told a parliamentary panel last week that the issue should be deliberated upon as retrospective implementation of pay commission awards has had adverse impact on the finances of the Centre as well as the states, a government official privy to the meeting said. Many state governments had expressed concerns over the issue of arrears. States set up pay commissions for their own employees after the pay commission for the central government employees submits its report.
"While many reforms can and should be contemplated to end this self-inflicted distortion, one action that could be taken immediately is that of making the pay award commence from the date on which the recommendations of future pay commissions are accepted by the government," the 13th Finance Commission had said in its report.
The burden of arrears on the central government from the Sixth Pay Commission award was Rs 28,160 crore on a salary base of Rs 44,360 crore. This was because the recommendations of the panel announced in 2008 were implemented retrospectively from January 1, 2006.
To save itself from a larger fiscal trouble, the Centre disbursed the arrears in two installments: 40% in 2008-09 and 60% in 2009-10. The arrears contributed significantly to the Centre overshooting its target in 2008-09, ending the year with a fiscal deficit of 6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) against the budgeted 2.5%. The fiscal deficit rose to 6.4% of GDP in 2009-10 as pay commission arrears pushed up the expenditure when the government was battling slowdown in revenues.
The Centre had to readjust its fissense but can work only if pay commission reports come well in time for implementation prospectively," said D K Srivastava, director, Madras School of Economics. Unlike the private sector, the government does not give annual salary hikes to its employees. Instead, it gives out dearness allowance twice a year to compensate for the rise in prices. The periodic pay commissions help adjust government salaries to market benchmarks. Most experts find the system flawed, as the performance benchmarks are not included in the salary revisions. The Sixth Pay Commission had recommended a performance related pay for government employees.
cal goal post for the subsequent years. It has budgeted a fiscal deficit of 4.6% of GDP for 2011-12, which is projected to drop to 3.5% in 2013-14. The finance commission had said if the Centre implemented pay awards prospectively, it would give state governments an opportunity to time their awards in a way that the need for arrears does not arise.
"If finance commissions are able to present their inter-governmental recommendations without any need for retrospective fiscal transactions, then the same should be possible in the case of pay commission as well," the commission had reasoned in its report.
Ramdev's Rs 1100 cr empire under scannerIBNLive.com - 52 minutes agoNew Delhi: Baba Ramdev is back in Haridwar- but it looks like it's not going to be an easy run for him anymore. The government is out to reveal the skeletons in his closet.Video: Enforcement Directorate to probe Ramdev funds | Featured video'History will not forgive PM for political sin'Times Nowall 1,844 news articles »ImagesIndia TodayNDTV.comBBC NewsNDTV.comInternational N...RediffIndia TodayDaily BhaskarMSN IndiaAll related images » |
Lokpal U-turn, says we'll attend meetHindustan Times - 20 minutes agoSoftening their stand, the civil society members in the joint drafting panel on the Lokpal Bill decided to join talks a day after the Centre conducted the meeting without them. "We've no intention to leave the joint drafting committee," RTI activist...Defiant Anna to fast; is UPA targetting him?IBNLive.com - 1 hour agoNew Delhi: Stung by the Baba Ramdev bungling, the UPA government is not allowing any protests at Jantar Mantar. But Anna Hazare is not giving up. He will now fast at Rajghat on Wednesday to protest the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev. ...Fast against Govt action will begin at 10 am tomorrow: HazareHindustan Times - 3 hours agoVeteran social activist Anna Hazare today said that his one-day fast against the government action on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters will begin at 10 am at the Rajghat on Wednesday. "Come what may, I will go ahead with the fast," ...No intention to quit Lokpal panel:Hazare teamEconomic Times - 7 hours agoNEW DELHI: A day after boycotting the meeting of Lokpal bill drafting committee, Anna Hazare-led team on Tuesday made it clear that they had no intention to quit the joint panel and hit out at HRD Minister Kapil Sibal for attacking them. ...India activist Anna Hazare plans new anti-graft protestBBC News - 5 hours agoIndian activist Anna Hazare plans to defy police and hold a protest against corruption in Delhi on Wednesday. Mr Hazare says he will go without food during the one-day protest. Police have denied permission for the gathering. ...Govt tells Team Anna we can draft Lokpal Bill without youIndian Express - 14 hours agoAnna Hazare during a meeting with his colleagues at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi on Monday. PTI After evicting Baba Ramdev from Delhi, the government today asserted itself against Anna Hazare and his colleagues, sternly telling them that it would go ...Shanti Bhushan's letter to Pranab Mukherjee on Ramdev crackdownIBNLive.com - Jun 6, 2011Copy of a letter from Shanti Bhushan, co-chairperson, joint drafting committee, Lokpal Bill to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Bhushan in his letter addresses some of the key concerns of the committee redrafting the Lokpal Bill. ...Arvind Kejriwal asks government to not to be arrogantEconomic Times - 6 hours agoNEW DELHI: Civil rights activists on Tuesday denied they have used any "uncivil" language against the government and instead asked the government to be "more tolerant" and not be "so arrogant". Speaking to reporters, social activist Arvind Kejriwal ...Fed up, govt says won't woo Team Anna anymoreHindustan Times - Jun 6, 2011Civil society representatives led by Anna Hazare on Monday petitioned finance minister and chairman of the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee Pranab Mukherjee, on growing differences within the panel even as they boycotted its meeting, setting off a ...Team Anna slams Govt, shifts its fast venueIBNLive.com - 9 hours agoNew Delhi: A defiant Anna Hazare has hit back at the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and decided to go ahead with his protest fast on June 8. The veteran Gandhian and his supporters including some members of the Lokpal Bill drafting ...All 126 related articles » | RelatedLokpal BillAnna HazareBaba RamdevKapil SibalCivil societyShanti BhushanTimeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
ImagesBBC NewsAFPNDTV.comIndian ExpressNDTV.comThe GuardianThe HinduNDTV.comThe HinduAll related images »VideosTeam Anna to fast at Rajghat, slams governmentNewsX - 4 hours agoWatch videoHow can Anna call us cheats, asks Kapil SibalNDTV.com - 8 hours agoWatch videoAnna's team to get police consent to fast?Times Now - 11 hours agoWatch videoKapil Sibal takes on Anna HazareTimes Now - 11 hours agoWatch videoTeam Anna ups ante against governmentTimes Now - 11 hours agoWatch videoAll related videos » |
Maran under pressure, to quit soon?NDTV.com - 47 minutes agoNew Delhi: Dayanidhi Maran and A Raja, who have both served as Telecom Minister, will depose for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that's investigating the 2G scam. A total of 85 witnesses are to be summoned. They will include representatives of ...Indian telecom's L'enfant terribleBusiness Standard - Surajeet Das Gupta - 25 minutes agoEntrepreneur C Sivasankaran had made startling allegations on Dayanidhi Maran and is fighting what is perhaps his toughest battle. Portly non-resident Indian businessman C Sivasankran is a global jet setter and a consummate dealmaker who has rarely ...JPC to call former telecom ministers Raja, Maran in 2G caseHindustan Times - 32 minutes agoPTI Pushing ahead with the probe in the 2G scam, the JPC today decided to call all former telecom ministers since 1998, including A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran who are facing allegations in connection with the issue, to depose before it. ...2G: JPC to summon all Ministers since 1998Hindu Business Line - 1 hour agoThe Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the 2G spectrum scam will summon all former telecom ministers from 1998 for recording evidence in the 2G scam probe. The JPC has finalised a list of 85 witnesses who will be asked to depose before it in ...Column: It's Maran versus Sibal nowFinancial Express - Sunil Jain - 1 hour ago: Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran may be right when he says the R600 crore investment by a Maxis group company (Maxis owns the Aircel telecom brand in India) into his brother's Sun Direct took place when he was no longer a minister,...2G: countdown begins for Dayanidhi MaranIBNLive.com - 1 hour agoNew Delhi: The mercury is rising for Dayanidhi Maran. The JPC probing spectrum scam will summon all telecom ministers over the last 12 years, including Maran. Meanwhile, sources tell CNN-IBN that Maran will be asked to quit if the CBI files an FRI ...Maran's future in Cabinet uncertainFinancial Express - 2 hours agoNew Delhi: Textile minister Dayanidhi Maran may yet be the next DMK scalp to be claimed in the current Cabinet. Not only does Maran's name appear in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) list of witnesses on the 2G scam, his position could become ...For probity, PM asks ministers to declare assetsHindustan Times - 1 hour agoPrime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is under sharp criticism over allegations of corruption within his government, has asked his cabinet ministers to disclose their assets and to cut themselves off from any business. The developments come at a time when ...Maran forced me to sell out: former Aircel owner to CBIHindustan Times - Jun 6, 2011Entrepreneur C Sivasankaran has told the CBI that Dayanidhi Maran's policies as telecom minister forced him to sell his company Aircel to Malaysian firm Maxis. The Maran family and Maxis owner T Ananda Krishnan have had close business links for years ...Sivasankaran to CBI: Maran forced me to sell Aircel stakeLivemint - Sahil Makkar, Anupama Chandrasekaran - Jun 6, 2011Former Aircel promoter C. Sivasankaran told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday that former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran had forced him to sell his stake in the telco to Malaysia-based Maxis Group. In a statement issued in Chennai, ...All 65 related articles » | RelatedDayanidhi MaranAircelSivasankaranJPC2G scamTextileTimeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
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India likely to open doors to Tesco & global supermarket giants in multi-brand retail: Scindia
LONDON: India is likely to open up its doors for Tesco and other overseas supermarket giants to set up multi-brand retail stores in the country, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia has indicated.
"The way I envisage it is that it must involve investment not only in the front-end, but also in the back-end," Scindia told the Sunday Telegraph.
A committee formed to explore deregulation in the sector has submitted a favourable report and ministers are preparing to forward the proposal to Cabinet.
It is likely to include obligations on new entrants to invest heavily in "back-end" warehousing, food processing and refrigerated transport networks and to create new jobs in rural India.
"For any foreign investor - take your country (UK) for example, your Tesco, or France's Carrefour - today (the market is) 100 per cent open in the cash-and-carry business.
"But if you extend that into the agricultural sector, I'm sure they will like to come into the back-end and they must.
"That's where the value creation happens and if we can do as much of that in the rural hinterland, it will assist their business model from a cost point of view and it will assist India's story in terms of inclusive economic growth," he said.
He said India is currently the world's largest producer of milk, the second largest in fruit and vegetable output and third in grain production, but barely 5 per cent of its produce is processed and 30 per cent rots before it reaches the market.
The government believes supermarket giants like Tesco, Carrefour and Walmart can play a vital role in revolutionising the sector and investing heavily in cold-chain logistics and food processing.
Now, they are limited to "single-brand retail" and cash- and-carry operations, but the carrot to lure them into heavier investment will be the opportunity to open their own multi- brand supermarkets as majority partners.
2 JUN, 2011, 06.22AM IST, DEEPSHIKHA SIKARWAR,ET BUREAU
Multi-brand FDI: Walmart, Carrefour & Tesco may soon open stores in India subject to stringent investment norms
NEW DELHI: Multinational retailers such as Walmart , Carrefour and Tesco may soon be allowed to open stores in India subject to stringent investment norms, sourcing conditions, and cap on number of outlets in big cities. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, or Dipp, is likely to move a proposal seeking cabinet approval for 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multibrand retail subject to a minimum investment of $100 million.In a bid to counter possible political opposition to the move, the proposal gives state governments the final say on whether they wish to have front-end retail stores in their states.
"A draft framework has been prepared keeping adequate safeguards to protect small shopkeepers, and to ensure that FDI actually helps in development of back-end infrastructure," a senior Dipp official told ET on condition of anonymity. The department has circulated a draft framework to a committee of secretaries, which will fine-tune it before a final cabinet note is moved.
The move comes a week after an inter-ministerial group, chaired by chief economic adviser in the finance ministry Kaushik Basu, endorsed opening up the sector to FDI. India, at present, allows 51% FDI in single-brand retail and 100% in wholesale cash-and-carry. The draft framework prepared by Dipp proposes at least half of the foreign investment in multibrand retail projects should be in back-end infrastructure.
Multinational retailers will have to file a statement of account with the RBI and Foreign Investment Promotion Board showing the investment in back-end functions.
Proposals address states' concerns
"The government is very clear that FDI in multi-brand retail should create large-scale employment and bring quality investment into the country leading to development of back-end infrastructure," the official said. According to industry estimates, lack of cold chains leads to a loss of about 40% of the country's farm produce, or Rs 50,000 crore, every year.
For easier monitoring, the government will also allow back-end infrastructure to be executed through a dedicated entity. Multi-brand retail stores would be required to source at least 30% of their products, including food items, from small and medium enterprises, according to the draft framework.
7 JUN, 2011, 02.24PM IST, BISWARUP GOOPTU,OUR BUREAU
$4-Billion Globemaster-III deal sails through cabinet
BANGALORE: The Indian Air Force's long wait for its new heavy-lift aircraft is almost over, with the central government clearing the decks for the purchase of 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft for $4.1-billion on Monday.The purchase, which is the largest Indo-US defence deal so far, has been given the green light by the Cabinet Committee on Security - the apex body responsible for all major defence acquisitions - and comes less than two months after the jettisoning of the US combat fighters - Lockheed Martin's F-16IN Super Viper and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet - from the $11-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft tender.
A Letter of Acceptance to the US government is expected to be issued this month, said a person with knowledge of the matter, after which a final date for the signing of the contract will be set. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to start 24 months after the signing of the contract.
The deal, which was announced by US President Barack Obama during his state visit to New Delhi, late last year and first reported by ET, was stymied after India had asked for greater pricing clarity from Washington. Reports had emerged that the US had sold the C-17 Globemaster-III to a number of countries, including Australia, at a far lower price.
However, a senior Boeing official had told ET that there were no complications in the sale of the aircraft, and that the defence vendor expected the sale, which had been negotiated through the Foreign Military Sales route, to close by mid-2011.
"The offsets package relating to the deal has already been approved. Plus, the IAF has to go through numerous government gateways before a final seal of approval can be given. Defence deals of this magnitude do take some time to close, and I expect them to take a decision by mid-2011," Chris Chadwick, president, Boeing Military Aircraft said.
Chadwick had said that Boeing had also received "inquiries of an informal nature" relating to the purchase of a further six Globemaster-III aircraft.
The clearing of the deal will come as a relief to the US, after its highly fancied combat jets were ruled out of the MMRCA fray in April, in favour of the French-based Dassault Aviation's Rafale and the pan-European consortium-built Eurofighter Typhoon.
The deal value, estimated at $4.1-billion, will supplant the $962.7 million India paid for six Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and the $.2.1 billion it shelled out for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian Navy.
The deal had also come under the scanner after India refused to sign a number of key strategic agreements with the US, and there was speculation that the aircraft would arrive without certain critical components. Boeing has however reiterated that the aircraft sold to India will be the updated versions of the C-17.
The heavy-lift aircraft are seen as critical to the needs of the IAF as it looks to beef up its strategic lift capabilities, especially along its northern and north-western borders, which it shares with China and Pakistan.
Further, the aircraft are expected to be used to move large combat systems and troops, and also act as a force multiplier for the IAF, to counter the massive buildup of Chinese military infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control. The IAF currently has a dozen Soviet-era IL-76 aircraft to meet its heavy-lift capabilities and 100-odd AN-32 medium-lift planes.
However, the lack of spares and ongoing serviceability issues with the Russians has continued to dog the fleets.
NATGRID project gets ccs approval
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Monday gave its in-principle approval to National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). The clearance came after a detailed briefing and presentation about the NATGRID project, along with safeguards and oversight mechanisms was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to the members of the CCS.
The NATGRID will have access to about 21 categories of database like railway and air travel, income tax, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records. The project once comes into existence, will facilitate robust information sharing by security agencies and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat. The project report of NATGRID was ready in December 2010.
6 JUN, 2011, 07.15PM IST, MAN MOHAN RAI,ET BUREAU
UP needs to bring more investments in agriculture, MSME sector: CII
LUCKNOW: While observing that UP as a state has not received its proportionate share of investments , the Chairman CII Northern Region Vijay Thadani said that it would be working closely with the government to promote industry friendly policies so that the state can receive a larger share of investments.Thadani who is also CEO of NIIT , said that sustainable agriculture, industrial relations, better economic reforms and stronger infrastructure are needed for better investment prospects not only for UP but some other northern states.
He said that the agriculture and MSME's could bring in the maximum investment and growth to the state and the government was working towards it.
He said that in knowledge economy availability of skilled people is important to attract investments.
To improve skills of people in the region CII would be setting up Centres of Excellence on Skills in the northern region and also have five university-industry partnerships one of which would be in UP.
This would include setting up of finishing schools, research opportunity to faculty and assisting in curriculum upgradation.
Vijay Thadani said that they were committed to affirmative action for the underprivileged and would undertake some projects in UP towards this cause.
CII would also be working towards advocating the modification of the APMC Act Uttar Pradesh to increase the growth rate of agri-business within the state.
Chairman, CII, UP state council, Ved Krishna said that there was a mutual understanding that both the government and industry need to work towards better branding of UP to attract more investments.
He said that the new land acquisition policy of the state government in which the state would completely withdraw from acquiring land for private industry was welcome. But he said that the land laws should also be changed because at times there were tracts of land like gram sabha land, which cannot be bought by industry and may delay projects.
Ved Krishna said that industry should first look at barren land for their project so that while factories are set up agricultural land does not recede.
7 JUN, 2011, 10.39PM IST,ET BUREAU
Rahul Gandhi to hold rally in Bhatta Parsaul, land acquisition protests to continue against Mayawati
LUCKNOW: It seems that the Bhatta Parsaul incident would continue to haunt the Mayawati administration for some more time. The Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has decided to hold a rally of farmers affected by land acquisition at the twin villages bordering Greater Noida towards the end of the month.
The Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said that the party's state election committee at its meeting on Tuesday which was attended by Rahul Gandhi decided to hold a farmers rally in Bhatta Parsaul and in the event permission is denied for a rally there they will hold it at a place available nearest to Bhatta Parsaul.
The Bhatta Parsaul village had seen pitched battle between the police and farmers who were protesting against land acquisition. Rahul Gandhi had later sneaked into the village on a motorcycle and staged aday long protest only to be arrested at midnight by the Mayawati government.
Digvijay Singh said that the Mayawati government had brought a new land acquisition policy after the farmers protests but being prospective in nature it will not benefit the large number of farmers who are already facing acquisition. He said that the party would continue to demand the cancellation of acquisition of land in Bhatta Parsaul.
He said that after listening to farmers they would also present their suggestions for new land acquisition policy being framed by the central government.
Digvijay Singh continued with his blistering attack on Baba Ramdev and said that while was talking about his fight against corruption it seemed he had failed to see the rabid corruption prevalent in the state under the Mayawati regime.
He said that the BJP which had started its movement with Lord Ram has now turned to Ramdev as it struggles to shore up its popularity,
He said that senior BJP leader LK Advani's comparison of the police action against Baba Ramdev with the pre independence Jalianwala tragedy was deplorable. He also said that the BJP was comparing Ramdev with Swami Vivekanand which was also condemnable.
He however evaded a reply on why did the union government ministers entertain Baba Ramdev if they knew from the start as alleged that Ramdev was working on the agenda of RSS .
View of Darjeeling, where the Gorkhaland movement is based
General view of Darjeeling, in 1870 
Singing Gorkhas in Darjeeling
The Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said that the party's state election committee at its meeting on Tuesday which was attended by Rahul Gandhi decided to hold a farmers rally in Bhatta Parsaul and in the event permission is denied for a rally there they will hold it at a place available nearest to Bhatta Parsaul.
The Bhatta Parsaul village had seen pitched battle between the police and farmers who were protesting against land acquisition. Rahul Gandhi had later sneaked into the village on a motorcycle and staged aday long protest only to be arrested at midnight by the Mayawati government.
Digvijay Singh said that the Mayawati government had brought a new land acquisition policy after the farmers protests but being prospective in nature it will not benefit the large number of farmers who are already facing acquisition. He said that the party would continue to demand the cancellation of acquisition of land in Bhatta Parsaul.
He said that after listening to farmers they would also present their suggestions for new land acquisition policy being framed by the central government.
Digvijay Singh continued with his blistering attack on Baba Ramdev and said that while was talking about his fight against corruption it seemed he had failed to see the rabid corruption prevalent in the state under the Mayawati regime.
He said that the BJP which had started its movement with Lord Ram has now turned to Ramdev as it struggles to shore up its popularity,
He said that senior BJP leader LK Advani's comparison of the police action against Baba Ramdev with the pre independence Jalianwala tragedy was deplorable. He also said that the BJP was comparing Ramdev with Swami Vivekanand which was also condemnable.
He however evaded a reply on why did the union government ministers entertain Baba Ramdev if they knew from the start as alleged that Ramdev was working on the agenda of RSS .
Gorkhaland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gorkhaland (Nepali: गोर्खाल्याण्ड) is the name of the proposed state in India demanded by the Nepali/Gorkhali-speaking Gorkha ethnic group in Darjeeling and the Dooars in north West Bengal. The demand for a separate administrative unit in this region has existed since 1907, when the Hillmen's Association of Darjeeling submitted a memorandum to Minto-Morley Reforms demanding a separate administrative setup.[1]
In Independent India, Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) was the first political party from the region to demand greater identity for the Gorkha ethnic group and economic freedom for the community.
The movement for a separate state gained serious momentum during the 1980s, when a violent agitation was carried out by Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) led by Subash Ghising. The agitation ultimately led to the establishment of a semiautonomous body in 1988 called the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) to govern certain areas of Darjeeling district. However, in 2008, a new party called the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha raised the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland once again.[2]
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[edit] History of the Area
Before the 1780s, the area of Darjeeling formed a part of dominions of the Chogyal of Sikkim, who had been engaged in unsuccessful warfare against the Gorkhas of Nepal. From 1780, the Gorkhas made several attempts to capture the entire region of Darjeeling. By the beginning of 19th century, they had overrun Sikkim as far eastward as the Teesta River and had conquered and annexed the Terai.
In the meantime, the British were engaged in preventing the Gorkhas from overrunning the whole of the northern frontier. The Anglo-Gorkha war broke out in 1814, which resulted in the defeat of the Gorkhas and subsequently led to the signing of the Sugauli Treaty in 1815. According to the treaty, Nepal had to cede all those territories which the Gorkhas had annexed from the Chogyal of Sikkim to the British East India Company (i.e. the area between Mechi River and Teesta river).
Later in 1817, through the Treaty of Titalia, the British East India Company reinstated the Chogyal of Sikkim, restored all the tracts of land between the Mechi River and the Teesta river to the Chogyal of Sikkim and guaranteed his sovereignty.
The controversy did not end there. Later, in 1835, the hill of Darjeeling, including an enclave of 138 square miles (360 km2), was given to the British East India Company by Sikkim, executed with a controversial Deed of Grant. In November 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula was executed, in which the Bhutan Dooars with the passes leading into the hills and Kalimpong were ceded to the British by Bhutan. The present Darjeeling district can be said to have assumed its present shape and size in 1866 with an area of 1234 sq. miles.
Prior to 1861 and from 1870–1874, Darjeeling District was a "Non-Regulated Area" (where acts and regulations of the British Raj did not automatically apply in the district in line with rest of the country, unless specifically extended). From 1862 to 1870, it was considered a "Regulated Area". The term "Non-Regulated Area" was changed to "Scheduled District" in 1874 and again to "Backward Tracts" in 1919. The status was known as "Partially Excluded Area" from 1935 until the independence of India.
[edit] Post-Independence India
In the 1980s, Subash Ghising raised the demand for the creation of a state called Gorkhaland within India to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling and areas of Dooars and Siliguri terai contiguous to Darjeeling. The demand took a violent turn, which led to the death of over 1,200 people. This movement culminated with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988.
The DGHC elections were due in 2004. However, the government decided not to hold elections and instead made Subash Ghising the sole caretaker of the DGHC till a new Sixth Schedule council was established. Resentment among the former councilors of DGHC grew rapidly. Among them, Bimal Gurung, once the trusted aide of Ghising, decided to break away from the GNLF. Riding on a mass support for Prashant Tamang, an Indian Idol contestant from Darjeeling, Bimal quickly capitalized on the public support he received for supporting Prashant, and was able to overthrow Ghising from the seat of power. He went on to found the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha raising the demand a state of Gorkhaland.[3]
[edit] 2009 BJP Support for Gorkhaland
Ahead of the 2009 general elections in India, the BJP again announced its policy of having smaller states and to create two more states, Telangana and Gorkhaland, if they won the general election. GJM supported the candidature of Jaswant Singh of BJP, who won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat with 51.5% votes in his favour. In the July 2009 budget session of Parliament, three Parliamentarians - Rajiv Pratap Rudi, Sushma Swaraj and Jaswant Singh - strongly pleaded for creating a state of Gorkhaland.
[edit] Recent Developments
The demand for Gorkhaland has taken a new turn with the assassination of Madan Tamang, leader of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League. He was stabbed to death allegedly by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on May 21, 2010, in Darjeeling, which led to a spontaneous shutdown in the three Darjeeling hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.[4][5]
After the murder, the West Bengal government threatened action against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, whose senior leaders are named in the FIR, meanwhile hinting discontinuation of ongoing talks over interim arrangement with the Gorkha party, saying it had "lost popular support following the assassination".[6]
On 8 February 2011, three GJM activists were shot dead (one of whom succumbed to her injuries later) by the police as they tried to enter Jalpaiguri district on a padyatra led by Bimal Gurung from Gorubathan to Jaigaon. This led to violence in the Darjeeling hills and an indefinite strike was called by GJM that lasted 9 days.[7]
In the West Bengal state assembly election, 2011 held on 18 April 2011, GJM candidates won three Darjeeling hill assembly seats, proving that the demand for Gorkhaland was still strong in Darjeeling. GJM candidates Trilok Dewan won from Darjeeling constituency[8], Harka Bahadur Chhetri from Kalimpong constituency, and Rohit Sharma from Kurseong constituency.[9] Wilson Champramari, an independent candidate supported by GJM, also won from Kalchini constituency in the Dooars.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ The Parliament is the supreme and ultimate authority of India. Darjeeling Times, 23 November 2010.
- ^ Demand for Gorkhaland raised again. The Hindu, 16 November 2007.
- ^ Indian Idol reignites demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling hills. Live Mint, 19 March 2008.
- ^ "Gorkha leader Madan Tamang killed, Darjeeling tense". The Times of India. May 21, 2010. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gorkha-leader-Madan-Tamang-killed-Darjeeling-tense/articleshow/5957127.cms.
- ^ Gazmer, Deep (May 22, 2010). "Gorkha leader Madan Tamang hacked in public". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gorkha-leader-Madan-Tamang-hacked-in-public/articleshow/5960365.cms.
- ^ Gazmer, Deep (May 26, 2010). "Tamang's murder threatens to derail Gorkhaland talks". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tamangs-murder-threatens-to-derail-Gorkhaland-talks/articleshow/5974887.cms.
- ^ "2 killed in police firing on GJM protesters". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article1168129.ece?homepage=true.
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/GJM-wins-Darjeeling-constituency-by-record-margin-of-votes/Article1-697453.aspx GJM wins Darjeeling constituency by record margin of votes
- ^ http://www.zeenews.com/news706214.html GJM wins three Assembly seats in Darjeeling
- ^ http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=369474&catid=72 GJMM to finalise stand today
[edit] Bibliography
- Samanta, Amiya K. (2000). Gorkhaland movement: a study in ethnic separatism. APH Publishing. ISBN 8176481661. http://books.google.com/?id=J4GqdfG0EU8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Gorkhaland&cd=1#v=onepage&q.
- Gorkhaland movement: quest for an identity. Dept. of Information and Cultural Affairs, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. 1996.
- Kumar, Braj Bihari (1998). "10. Gorkhaland Imbroglio". Small states syndrome in India. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 8170226910. http://books.google.com/?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&pg=PA91&dq=Gorkhaland&cd=6#v=onepage&q=Gorkhaland.
- Chaklader, Snehamoy (2004). Sub-regional movement in India: with reference to Bodoland and Gorkhaland. K.P. Bagchi & Co.. ISBN 8170742668.
- Samdara, Ranbir (2005). "7. Silence Under Freedom: Darjeeling Hills". The politics of autonomy: Indian experiences. SAGE. ISBN 0761934529. http://books.google.com/?id=kcVh_QInSD0C&pg=PT85&dq=Gorkhaland&cd=8#v=onepage&q=Gorkhaland.
- Chadha, Vivek (2005). "16. Gorkhaland Movement". In United Service Institution of India. Low intensity conflicts in India: an analysis. SAGE. ISBN 0761933255. http://books.google.com/?id=ApzUuLiO0jYC&pg=PA379&dq=Gorkhaland&cd=9#v=onepage&q=Gorkhaland.
- Kaushik, Anupma (2007). Gorkhaland revisited. Navjeewan Publication. ISBN 8182680298.
- Why Gorkhaland, http://www.gorkhajanmuktimorcha.org/download/gorkhaland-booklet.pdf
- Sailen Debnath, West Bengal in Doldrums, ISBN 9788186860342
- Sailen Debnath, Essays on Cultural History of North Bengal, ISBN 9788186860427
- Sailen Debnath, The Dooars in Historical Transition, ISBN 9788186860441
[edit] External links
- A documentary on the Gorkhaland movement (Bengali)
- A English subtitled documentary on the Gorkhaland movement
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