SUSA to support Golay’s party

GANGTOK, 31 Jan: Sikkim United Students Association [SUSA], formed some months back, today announced “full support” for the political party of dissident SDF MLA PS Tamang scheduled to be launched on 04 February at Singling, Soreong in West Sikkim.
Addressing a press conference today, SUSA president, Karma Tashi Bhutia, explained that the association’s support for the new party was because the State government has not been able to deliver quality education despite claims and assurances.
While on the topic, SUSA advisor, Meghraj Chettri, informed that the class XII batch of Sombaria Senior Secondary School, which will be appearing the board examinations in March, has still not given their Physics practical so far.
Another SUSA advisor, Kamal Neopaney, in turn contended that the new party in the offing provided the only viable alternative to the SDF government. He further claimed that SUSA has around 2,000 members across the state and that the decision to support the new party was taken in consultation with all members.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bhutia contended that student drop-out rate was high in primary section and that there were no job opportunities created by the government for students upon completion of their studies. He also argued that while cash incentives have been announced for sportspersons, no efforts have been made to establish sports academies or adequate infrastructure to groom such talent. In this regard, he made special reference to Bhaichung Bhutia, who, he said, has not been provided land to establish a football academy in Sikkim.
Mr Bhutia alleged that the state government only works to bring private educational institutions into the state but was not working to bring institutes like IIT and IIM or even support the Sikkim University in true sense.

Confusion over venue and permission sets up SUSA-dist admn confrontation in Namchi

NAMCHI, 08 Jan: Incomplete documentation, apparent communication gap, short nerves and confrontational attitudes sparked tense hours here today as members of the Sikkim United Students Association [SUSA] exchanged heated words with the district authorities and protested on the streets when they were initially disallowed from convening a meeting at the Indoor Gymnasium Hall here. The SUSA members blocked the road near the gym, raised slogans and were eventually allowed to hold their meet inside which was also attended and addressed by dissident SDF MLA PS Tamang accompanied by his supporters.
Matters came to a head when the SUSA members who had called an awareness meet at the Indoor Gymnasium Hall supposedly on social challenges facing the youth in Sikkim were refused access to the venue by the district authorities on the grounds that they did not have proper permission to hold such a meeting. This was at around 10 a.m.
When contacted, the SDM [HQ], Karma Bonpo, who was the centre of the heated arguments this morning, informed that the group was refused access to the venue because they did not have proper permission to hold the meeting.
Apparently, SUSA had secured an NOC or some similar permission from the Sports & Youth Affairs Department, but had not received permission from the district administration to hold the meeting. Interestingly, the Joint Director, SYA, South district, Kamal Chettri, further informs that when the organisers had approached him for permission, he had directed them to the DC’s office to secure a permission first. “SUSA members, however, managed to secure a permission letter from my junior in the department, the Assistant Director,” Mr. Chettri today informed now. He added that the AD did not consult him before issuing the permission on 05 January.
With the permission from the district authorities not secured and convinced that the meeting would have a strong political colour, he directed the AD to withdraw the permission as well, the Joint Director further informed.
The issue however kept deteriorating from thereon. Denied access to the venue, the group was already getting restive and soon the SUSA advisor, Roshan Pradhan, met the SDM to discuss the matter. The discussion reported turned into a heated argument and ended with Mr Pradhan being detained by the police on charges of misbehaviour. He was later released.
The SDM reiterated that members of the students’ association had taken permission only from the Sports and Youth Affairs Department and not from the District Administration following which he had refused the programme to be held.
The association was eventually allowed to conduct the programme at the Gymnasium. The programme, which began at around 1 p.m., meant to be an awareness programme for students and educated youth of the state was also, as mentioned, attended and addressed by dissident SDF MLA.
Speaking on this morning’s incident, Mr Tamang expressed regret that the district administration had acted under political pressure and tried to suppress people’s rights. He then launched into a strong tirade against the State Government.
The programme was also addressed by SUSA president Karma Tsh. Bhutia, and advisor Roshan Pradhan who alleged that the State Government has misguided the youth.

Proprietor of Adampool lounge & bar refutes SUSA allegations

GANGTOK, 16 Oct: Refuting allegations leveled by Sikkim United Students’ Association [SUSA] recently, the proprietor of Adampool-based Bo lounge & bar, Neeknor Pradhan today urged people not to mix his business with politics.
It may be mentioned here that SUSA had demanded Neeknor Pradhan’s father, the HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan’s resignation contending that “Morf” discotheque has been reopened as Bo lounge and bar. Te association had protested that the permission given to start a discotheque so near a school [Adampool JHS].
“I want to request all not to mix my business with politics as my father has nothing to do with my business. I am an adult and responsible for myself,” said Mr Pradhan.  
Stressing that all criteria as laid down by the concerned department had been fulfilled, he said, “Bo is simply a restaurant with facilities for band performances, music and a dance floor and is totally different from a disco or a pub. We got the license only after a thorough checking by the concerned department”.
On the allegations, Mr Pradhan maintained that he has not been running his business illegally and that it is situated at more than 200 feet away from the school. He added that the building was also totally sound proof so there was no chance that the sound could have escaped outside. He further claimed that Bo has provided employment to 25 local people.
Responding to media queries, he clarified that he himself shut down Morf following various complaints by the people and the department did not renew the license after that. He further mentioned that they did not receive any notice from the concerned department to shut down Morf.
At the same time, Mr Pradhan also said that non-renewal of Morf’s license by the concerned department was an “injustice” since according to him, they have not broken any laws or rules and stressing that he has the right to run this business being an unemployed youth.
“The license for Morf was provided after checking by the concerned department otherwise the license should not have been given in 2010”, he said.
The press conference was also addressed by Bo manager, Birendra Subba.