1992: Chamling and Sikkim Observer 'dismissed'!

After I met Bhandari in December 1991, I tried to analyse why he had taken the initiative to open a dialogue with me. Did Bhandari really want to help me or was there more to it than met the eye? Activities of politicians, particularly those impetuous ones like Bhandari, have to be understood in the context of the prevailing political situation they are faced with. The political scenario during the months that preceded my meeting with Bhandari show that he was having a rough time, perhaps the toughest time since he returned to power in 1985.

   Bhandari’s admission in the third week of November 1991 that the Centre was trying to destablise his government came at a time when dissidents within the SSP were secretly working with the Congress (I) to topple him. The holding of the NECC(I) meeting in Gangtok on September 1991 and the sudden visits of many influential Central leaders, including Union ministers and Central Congress (I) functionaries, to Sikkim, coupled with the aggressive mood of the local unit of the Congress, provided enough indications to the SSP dissidents that the Centre was quite serious about Bhandari’s ouster.

  What made matters worse for Bhandari were reports that Information and Public Relations (IPR) Minister Pawan Chamling, who was gradually being projected as an OBC leader, along with Chamla Tshering, Tourism Minister and a tribal leader, were coming together to oust him. The two reportedly had at least 20 of the 32 MLAs with them. These developments also meant that the tribals and the OBCs (matwalis or Mongoloid Nepalese), two of the State’s most powerful groups, which constituted at least 80% of the State’s population, were coming together and joining hands to pave way for Bhandari’s ultimate downfall. These developments were viewed with great concern by a section of the ruling party which felt that such developments were a direct threat to Bhandari and the upper-caste Nepalese, particularly the Pradhans who were firmly entranched in the State administration.

   Even as the opposition and the dissidents were mounting pressure on Bhandari, what aggravated the situation was the publication and mass circulation of a scandalous pamphlet against Mr. and Mrs. Bhandari, alleging that while the latter was having extra-maritial affairs in Delhi, where she normally resided, her husband, with whom she was having an estranged relationship, was suffering from the dreaded disease – AIDS.

   This not only greatly embrarrassed the couple, it also put the Chief Minister in a tight spot. The opposition was attacking him on both fronts – politically and personally. This naturally evoked strong reactions from the Chief Minister, who at once ordered the arrest of all those allegedly involved in the publication of the pamphlet. Six persons, including opposition leaders and a journalist (Rajendra Baid) from Siliguri in north Bengal, who were allegedly involved in publication of the pamphlet, were arrested in the third week of October 1991. The political situation in Sikkim became very tense after their arrest.

   The arrest and torture of Baid in the hands of Sikkim police was condemned by the national media in no uncertain terms. While Baid received wide publicity, Bhandari’s high-handedness in the State was fully exposed in most national dailies and journals. The crackdown on the opposition in Sikkim had certainly boomeranged and Bhandari’s image, particularly among the national media and Central leaders, hit an all time low. Bhandari’s action fully justified allegations that there was no democracy in Sikkim and that the State was run by a ruthless dictator.

   Even as he was facing attacks from the media and the opposition, Bhandari’s greatest threat came from within his own party. Dissension within the ruling party legislators was simmering, and with the Congress party’s active encouragement, it gradually surfaced. For the first time in recent years, the “smiling dictator” knew he was in deep trouble.

   When Bhandari returned from Delhi in November-end, he at once called for a press conference and denied reports that there were dissidents in his party. To prove it, he literally paraded Chamling and Chamla in front of the press at the press conference in Gangtok on November 27. Whatever plans they may have had, the two ministers during the press conference pledged their support and loyalty to the Chief Minister. Bhandari had obviously read my report in the Statesman on dissdent acvities in his party.

   Referring to a report in a Calcutta daily (though he didn’t make a mention of it, he was obviously referring to the Statesman), Chamling in his press statement given after the CM’s press conference, denied reports that he was leading a rebel group of MLAs against Bhandari. When I asked him the next morning how he could deny my report which was based on his own claims of having 12 MLAs on his side, he had nothing much to say. Though I was convinced that Chamling was waiting for the right moment to strike Bhandari, I felt he should have taken a firmer stand even if some his colleagues were a bit hesitant.

   It is important to note that my friend, the messenger from Mintokgang, met me on the day Bhandari gave the press conference in Mayur Hotel. It was November 27, 1991. Either something had transpired in Delhi during the CM’s stay there or he was provoked by my report in the Statesman. It could be that Bhandari did not want to further antagonize me and wanted to help me with the press and the paper, which had folded up from the beginning of November 1991. It could also be that he wanted to adopt a ‘carrot and stick’ method to deal with me. If I rejected his offer, his next line of action may have been to finish me physically.

   This was how I viewed the situation at that time and adopted a strategy to take things easy. I wanted to give the impression that I was not too rigid in my stand and would be prepared to accept something from the government, while in reality, not taking anything at all. In this way I could  wriggle out of the situation without disappointing anybody and yet maintain my independence.

   On my return from my long holiday from south India, I was surprised to find out that I had been elected the President of the Sikkim Press Association (SPA). My initial reaction to the new development within the SPA was that of suspicion and doubt. What was the press upto this time? Was the ruling party behind it? I at once set out to find out the facts for myself. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that local journalists themselves had taken the initiative to form a strong and united press in the State. They, therefore, wanted to revive the SPA, which was then almost defunct as most of the active members had resigned due to unhealthy developments within the press.

   I was glad to find out that the initiative to revive the SPA and to make me its President was genuine and had come from within the press and was not at all politically-motivated. It was, however, difficult to believe that members of the press in Sikkim had, at long last, come to their senses.  The new development was very encouraging as I did not expect much from most journalists in the State. But despite their weaknesses and shortcomings, they realized the need to come together and form a strong and united press body in Sikkim.

   This was an indication that we had learnt something from past mistakes. Being pro-government did not serve much purpose for many journalists. Their closeness to the government not only damaged their professional image, but financialy, too, they were not doing well. Even if they were not able to become one, they realized the importance of being completely independent in their outlook. Soon after my return from my holiday, we called for a general meeting of the SPA where I accepted the responsibility of leading the Association and urged everyone to work together in the best spirit.

   This time I was genuinely interested in helping not only the press body but each and every journalist in the State. My much-improved rapport with the Chief Minister helped us to create a better working relations with the government. The Chief Minister’s response to our numerous suggestions was also positive and for a while it seemed that a new era for government-press relations had begun.

   To celebrate the occasion, we organized a picnic party on March 1, 1992. The Chief Minister, Chief Secretary P.K. Pradhan, Information and Public Relations Secretary Palden Gyamtso and others also joined us on the occasion. As part of our programme, the SPA made a short trip to Nepal and Assam. These visits enabled us to come into closer contact with members of our profession in the region. For the first time, the SPA was able to get a five-room office in the town area which certainly was a big achievement. A common meeting place for local journalists in the State capital was what was needed and, for the first time, this requirement was met.

   And for a while everything seemed to be going well for us. Expectely, there were allegations that the press was “bought over” by Bhandari. However, we did not pay much heed to it as we knew for ourselves where we stood and what we wanted to achieve. We realized the importance of having a strong and united press in Sikkim and if anyone was willing to help achieve thait aim we would welcome it. But the press would be free and independent and there would be no compromise on the basic ideals and interests of the press. The Chief Minister himself was on record of having stated to a delegation of the SPA, which called on him in February 1992, that he was for a ‘srong and united’ press in the State. We were deeply hopeful that the CM would honour his promise and were determined if he didn’t he should eat his words.

   The Observer’s report on May 23, 1992, gave a vivid picture of the mood of the press in the State in early 1992: “The general interest and enthusiasm within the press circle received further motivation with the acquisition of a five-room office of the SPA. Another meeting with the Chief Minister was held recently where the SPA put up several suggestions pertaining to various matters of the press. The government is now all set to grant State Government accreditation to journalists, increase advertisement rates, help towards circulation of local papers, provide more job works for local printing presses which are run by journalists and may even provide land and loan for construction of a press building in the State.”

   The new atmosphere enabled me to approach the government to undertake printing of my paper in the government printing press department until I was able to establish my own unit. The government press had just installed its off-set printing unit with desk-top publishing (DTP) system and I felt that it would an ideal situation for me if the government would allow me to print the Observer at its new unit for a few months. In the first week of May, I requested the IPR (Information and Public Relations) Secretary to help me with the publication of my paper on a temporary basis.

   In a letter to the IPR Secretrary, dated May 8, 1992, I wrote: “The Sikkim Observer is likely to hit the stands soon and for this we would like to know if the government press could undertake the printing of the newspaper temporarily. Presently, we are making arrangements to get our own off-set printing press with desk-top printing system. As we would like to resume publication of the paper soon and as our printing unit is yet to be established, we would like to seek the help of your department in this regard for at least 4 to 6 monhts. Sir, you are well aware that when the government printing press has been facing some problems, it was the local printing presses which came to your aid and undertook the printing of the government organ, Sikkim Herald. We are confidant that the government will respond positively to our request. This would not only help us personally but would go a long way in creating better relations between the government and the press and for the growth and development of the Fourth Estate in our State.”

   “Rising Up Once More” is the way we captioned a short note in the “Letter from the Publisher’ column of the Observer in its first issue, dated May 23, 1992. The paper was printed at the government press. The letter stated: “This issue of the Sikkim Observer comes to you after almost seven months. The paper was forced to suspend its publication in October-November last when no printers in the State and the region were willing to undertake the printing work for fear of interference from outside elements. It may be also recalled that in 1990 also the paper was off the stands for another seven months. The circumstances in which the paper was forced to close down was almost the same. Yet another attempt has been made to bring out the paper and we are deeply grateful and happy that the Sikkim Government Press has undertaken to temporarily do the printing work for us until we get out own printing press set up which we hope will be very soon. We expect our paper to come out regularly from now but our readers should bear with us if we falter a bit in trying to rise up once more.”

   The printing of the Observer at the government press caused some controversy. I had anticipated this but did not give much thought to it and went right ahead with my work and refused to even listen the baseless allegations that I was “with the ruling party”. I was convinced that what I was doing was in the best interest of my profession, my paper and the people of Sikkim. My closeness with the CM did not affect my credibility. I was convinced that the people of Sikkim, including the intelligentsia, was devoid of independent thinking and, therefore, incapable of understanding what I was doing. Why should I take note of their reactions?

   As far as I was concerned the Observer had not changed. I was the same journalist who stepped into the Eastern Express office almost ten years back. Only the views of some people about my paper may have changed. They, of course, were motivated by their own vested interests and blinded by their own ignorance. Even listening to their reactions was simply a waste of time. Incidentally, one of the main reasons for approaching the government was because my printers, Prenar Press, was closed down during that period, due to defects in the printing machine. This time, I was in no mood to go all the way down to Siliguri to get the paper printed.

   Summing up the political scenario in Sikkim in the first issue of the Observer,  dated May 23, 1992, I wrote: “Today, Mr. Bhandari rules supreme. While the SSP has both the seats in the Parliament, all the 32 seats in the Assembly belong to the party. There is virtually no opposition in the State where even national parties like the Congress (I) have gone into hiding or its leaders concentrating on other activities than politics. Followers and supporters of of the Rising Sun President, Mr. Ram Chandra Poudyal, are now almost all set to join the ruling party. Mr. Poudyal, who till very recently, was seen as Mr. Bhandari’s arch rival, has now given up politics and turned to religion.”

   The report, which was the lead story, ended with this observation: “If the likely reshuffle in the Cabinet goes through smoothly, Mr. Bhandari can rest be assured that the best is yet to come”. The word ‘If’ was the most important word in the entire issue. I don’t think any of the pseudo-intellectuals in Gangtok noticed it.

   The next issue of the Observer, which appeared in June first week, by reporting that the “likely reshuffle” of the Cabinet may not be smooth, also proved that the paper was still the same and showed that it was not afraid, despite being assisted by the government for its  publication, of reporting on sensitive political issues as it has been doing in the past. By giving wide coverage on the delicate issue of the Cabinet reshuffle, the paper forced the ruling party to give top priority to settle the issue once and for all. The paper’s lead story on Bhandari’s reactions to the likely reshuffle was captioned – “CM on Cabinet Reshuffle: Communal, incompetent ministers to be dropped”. This was indeed a clear indication that he was against Chamling, who was emerging as the number one leader of the backward classes in Sikkim. There were also strong rumours that apart from Chamling, some “corrupt ministers” would also be sacked.

   The SSP was expected to change its entire Cabinet after completion of half term in office which expired on May 31, 1992. Being aware of the likely revolt within the party if all the ministers were changed, Bhandari maintained that Cabinet reshuffle was his “prerogative” and that much now depended on the “performance” of his ministers. This was a clear indication that he did not want an entirely new set-up in the Cabinet.

   Chamling’s performance and his activities certainly did not gain much favour with the CM. His links with ethnic groups and off-the-cuff remarks against the administration and the ruling party made him one of the most controversial men in the Cabinet. Unlike others, Chamling was a popular politician and did not depend on Bhandari to get elected to the Assembly. Because of this, he was quite independent in his thinking and the people appreciated this. All others were basically Bhandari’s “yes men”, who depended on him for almost everything.

   Chamling’s reaction to Bhandari’s autocratic style of functioning was carried on the front page of this issue of the Observer. Headlined –“I’m a democrat, not a sycophant: Chamling”, the newsitem carried Chamling’s remarks which he made to some newsmen who visited his official residence in Gangtok just days before his ouster. Chamling’s remarks, as reported in the Observer, stated that he was a “democrat and not a sycophant”. This definitely hit Bhandari below the belt and invited strong reaction from him. It was clear from his statement that many SSP legislators, including ministers, were reduced to being mere sycophants and “rubber stamps”, and ceased to act as elected representatives of the people. By openly declating that he was a democrat, Chamling openly defied Bhandari, who was on the verge of knocking him down, and gave everyone the impression that he was unable to function under an undemocratic set-up.

   Chamling had indeed spoken up and did not fear action being taken against him. The report said: “Mr. Chamling, who is expected to be dropped from the Cabinet, is quite casual of the whole affair and seems quite content to step down if asked to. ‘I want to play politics. The chair is not important for me,’ is his cryptic remark when asked to comment on his future plan of action.” In the editorial of the paper I remarked that Chamling – the writer-poet-turned-politician – was “the most vocal and undoubtedly the most popular and potential man in the Bhandari bandwagon.”

   There was no deliberate act on my part to break up the ruling party. However, I wanted to report events as they happened without siding with any particular group. Independent and competent observers of my paper would have noted that I had not moved an inch from my earlier stand, and that the paper, though printed in the government press, was still fiercely independent. In fact, the Observer acted as a catalyst and brought some changes in the staid political scenario of Sikkim. With Chamling’s ouster, politics in Sikkim took a different turn having far-reaching implications. And if these changes pave way for a just, humane and more democratic set-up in Sikkim and in the region, the Sikkim Observer will look back with pride and feel great that it had performed its role responsibly despite short-term losses to the paper.

   One reason why I wanted the paper to be printed in the government press was to test and find out whether the government genuinely wanted to help me or not. I also wanted to see whether Bhandari really meant what he said to me earlier and whether he was able to honour his word and give me the independence that I needed as an editor.

   Soon after the second issue of the Observer was published, word got around that I may be asked to discontinue printing of my paper at the government press. There were various reasons – excuses really – given for this. But the fact was the government was in a fix and was not willing to give me the freedom that I needed, lest it endangered its own interest. There were reports that certain powerful persons in the State were not happy with my paper being printed at the government press. While a section of them genuinely felt that the credibility of the paper would be affected if it was printed at the government press, there were others who felt that I should not be allowed to hit against the government using its own ‘machinery’.

   But since no formal order to stop the publication of the paper was conveyed to me, I somehow managed to take out the next issue of the Observer in mid-June from the government press. The lead story was captioned – “Chamling dropped”. The much-awaited reshuffle did not take place and only Chamling was dropped for his “communal and anti-party activities”.

   And with Chamling’s dismissal, the Observer was also ‘dismissed’ from the government press! I was told by the IPR Secretary that the government wanted me to discontinue using the government press. To me it was a clear indication that the highest authorities were not keen on helping me with the publication of the paper if I insisted on taking out an independent paper. It was also a sign that no matter how much one talks about the ‘freedom of the press’, when it comes to one’s own personal interest, high ideals take a back seat. And so after three issues, the Observer was once again abruptly closed down.

(Ref: Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide, Jigme N Kazi, 1993)