'Blood Brotherhood' brings chamling, gurung together

SIKKIM OBSERVER PAGE 1 March 5, 2011

‘BLOOD BROTHERHOOD’ BRINGS CHAMLING, BIMAL TOGETHER

Gangtok, March 4: The two Nepali/Gorkha leaders met here on March 2 after a gap of more than three years. At the meeting, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Bimal Gurung, revealed that while he and his colleagues were invited by the Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling,  he had come to Sikkim to strengthen the ties of “brotherhood.”

The Morcha chief, who is leading an agitation in neighbouring Darjeeling for creation of a new state of Gorkhaland for the Indian Gorkhas, said the meeting was just a “courtesy call.”

The two-hour meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s official residence here at Mintokgang.

The 11-member delegation included Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri, party spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri, and Central Committee Member Binay Tamang.

The visit follows formation of the Sikkim unit of the Morcha and the setting up of a Sikkim solidarity forum for Gorkhaland by several opposition party leaders in the State.

The meeting and the present pro-Gorkhaland activities in the State is motivated chiefly by the call of Gorkha/Nepali ‘brotherhood.’

After the meeting Gurung told reporters that he and his colleagues came here to preserve their “brotherhood tie.” Chhetri added, “We share blood relationship with the people of Sikkim.”

Cong to hold “Gangtok Gherao” rally against corruption on March 13

Gangtok, March 4: Former Chief Minister and State unit Congress party President Nar Bahadur Bhandari has threatened to stage a “Gangtok Gherao” protest rally in the capital on March 13 to put more pressure on the Centre to speed up corruption cases against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

The rally, to be organized by the Congress party, is aimed at seeking immediate CBI probe into alleged corrupt practices of the Chief Minister and his colleagues, Bhandari said during  a seminar near Ranipul last week.

Bhandari alleged that the Chamling Government in the last 17 years encouraged massive influx of outsiders leading to rise in unemployment among the youth. He appealed to the youth to come forward and join the rally, which will begin at Tadong on March 13.

He said the party high command had recently appealed to all party workers to stage an anti-corruption movement in the country.

State Congress leaders recently submitted “enough materials” to the CBI against Chamling and his colleagues on the corruption charges.

SDF CELEBRATES 19^TH ANNIVERSARY

Gangtok, March 4: Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front President Pawan Chamling said Sikkim made tremendous progress in developmental works ever since his party came to power in 1994.

Addressing a public meeting at Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi in south Sikkim today, Chamling said his government’s focus on development of rural areas has placed Sikkim on top of the nation’s development indexes.

A large number of people, including former ministers, turned up for celebrations of the party’s 19^th anniversary.

Realizing the increasing dissatisfaction of the people towards non-employment of locals by the private sector, the Chief Minister warned that he would take to the streets if companies, including power project developers, continue ignoring the people’s grievances.

The SDF, founded on March 4, 1993, came to power after the Assembly polls in December 1994. The toppling of the Bhandari Government by ruling Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) dissidents in May 1994 led to formation of a Congress Government in the State led by S M Limboo which lasted for six months till the November 1994 Assembly elections.

The SDF has been in power in the State since December 1994. This is Chamling’s fourth term as the Chief Minister. Though the SDF made the OBCs as its main vote-bank most people supported Chamling to fight against the increasing corruption, communalism and the autocratic ways of the N B Bhandari-led SSP which ruled the State for nearly fifteen years since 1979.

Justice Verma attacks former CJI

New Delhi, Mar 5:  Former Chief Justice of India J S Verma has questioned the continuance of  former chief justice of India K G Balakrishnan as NHRC Chairman when his predecessor was not  appointed to that post because he faced allegations of corruption.

"See the somersault. (Y.K.) Sabharwal was not considered fit for NHRC chairmanship. Now Balakrishnan is holding the post. The nature of allegations against Sabharwal was much the same," Justice Verma said at a seminar on Judicial Conduct and Accountability Bill, PTI reported.

He said both of them were facing identical allegations that their kith and kin made assets during their tenure as CJI and in such cases rule of law has the answer that "if the material on record are sufficient to give rise to suspicion why can an FIR not be filed against them".

Justice Verma said the allegations of corruption against the former CJIs have brought the entire institution under suspicion.

"Unless the few persons, facing allegations, are cleared or are punished, if proved guilty, the entire community would be questioned," he said.

Justice Balakrishnan has been facing criticism over allegations that members of his family have amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income while he was the CJI.

Former Sikkim Express editor RK Singhal passes away

Suresh K. Pramar

New Delhi, March 4: A tragedy has struck and has taken away our beloved “Singhal Sahab” away from us. He passed away March 3rd, 2011, at home surrounded by his family and friends

Rajendra Kumar Singhal was born on 12th December 1941 in Saharanpur, UP, the son of Jyoti Prasad and Parvati Devi Singhal. He was affectionately known as Singhal Sahab among his friends and “Chotay” among his family.  

His passion for journalism made him leave his home town Saharanpur in search of expressive freedom. He arrived in Chandigarh and then proceeded to Delhi to enrich publications like The Pioneer and Statesman. He however finally found his home in UNI (United news of India) and stayed there till his retirement ion 2002 at the age of 60.

Among many of his achievements, he launched Sikkim State’sfirst English newspaper, Sikkim Express, in 1976. When the information boards of the newspaper were being put in Gangtok, people came and asked whether that is the name of new bus service to Jalpaiguri

He also published Newsesnse, the only publication of its kind that provided us with the news of the people who made the news.

When he moved to Vasundhra, Ghaziabad, he started another publication Trans Hindon Times. This provided an insight to the people about the happenings in the newly -developed township.   

Whoever met Singhal ended up becoming his fan. He had an amazing skill of establishing “the connection” with all type of people regardless of their age and background

He was a great friend to have and a thorough gentleman.

In recent years, his skills with paper and scissors made him an instant favourite with kids who started emulating his model of paper recycle for making great looking cards and other paper artifacts.

He was 70 and is survived by his wife Madhu, son Ashutosh, daughter-in-law Priya and grandson Adi

He has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled and we will always miss him and his hearty laughs, which he never shied away from

His body was cremated at the Hindon river crematorium. Several senior journalists and dignitaries attended the cremation.

Only Centre Can Decide on 

‘Gorkhaland’

Sonam Wangdi

The Sikkim unit of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was formed in Gangtok on February 13, 2011. Roshan Giri, General Secretary of Morcha, who was present during the inauguration of the unit, urged the people of Sikkim to support the statehood demand. “We are deprived of proper educational facilities, lacks social and political status as compared to Sikkim but so far the issue of identity crisis for Indian Gorkhas is concerned, Sikkimese must have realized the same at some juncture. We are not here to interfere in the internal political matters of the Sikkim State, but to certain more solidarity for the ongoing separate statehood agitation as in the other parts of the nation,” Giri said.

Replying to a question, Giri said: “Now when the GJM has already announced relaxation for Sikkim during strikes, it becomes the duty of WB police department to provide adequate safety and security for these vehicles as to prevent more loss from further on”. Giri also declared: “Interim set up was supposed to be a ladder for separate state, but we rejected it realizing that the hill people are on for Gorkhaland rather than (interim) set up”.

 Jyoti Rai, an executive member of the Sikkim unit, informed the inaugural meeting: “Our problem is our face. Unless we succeed in forming our own statehood, we would be treated as foreigners as now. Though Sikkim had all the necessary amenities to ensure more productivity as compared to the Darjeeling hills, the problem of identity crisis affects the people of here, too. We require support from Sikkim as to show more solidarity towards Gorkhaland demand and nothing else”.    

Candle light protest rally

On February 14, 2011, a large number of people participated in a candle light protest rally organized by the Sikkim Nagrik Samaj in the heart of Gangtok town to show solidarity with the people who sacrificed their lives at the altar of Gorkhaland. It may be noted that the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on February 8, 2011 at Sipchu, Jalpaiguri, leading to the death of Morcha supporters: Bimla Rai, Vicky Lama, and Neeta Khawas. 

N B Bhandari, President, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, condemned the “suppressive politics” of the West Bengal Government and said that “CBI inquiry should be done not only on the recent deaths but on all the deaths that had occurred since 1980.”

Independent India has retained all the repressive regulations and oppressive organizations of Imperial India such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance 1942, and the Crown Representative Police Force, etc. Against the background of the second world war, [1939-45], the CRPF was constituted in 1939 and the Force was trained to suppress ruthlessly any movement, such as freedom, in the British empire. In Independent India, it metamorphosed itself  into the Central Reserve Police Force,  which is used for maintaining ‘law and order’ which is exemplified in Sipchu, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal,  where, as stated above,  it reportedly gunned down three ‘innocent’ and ‘peaceful’ Gorkhaland protagonists on 8 February, 2011.

Darjeeling and Dooars

The British machination and “forged deed” dated 1 February, 1835 led to Darjeeling becoming a territory of the East India Company subject to India’s annual payment of a subvention to the Chogyal of Sikkim. The British paid the compensation for Darjeeling land till their departure in 1947.

Independent India also paid an amount of Rupees three hundred thousand till Sikkim became a part of India. On 25 March, 1968, Ongden Lepcha, Member of the Sikkim Council suggested in the Council that “the amount of treaty payment should be increased in view of the devaluation of the rupee and also the income of Darjeeling for which the treaty payment is being made. He also expressed the view that one-third revenue of Darjeeling should have been allotted to Sikkim”. [Proceedings of the Sikkim Council, 20th to 29th March, 1968].

The Dooars region was wrested from Bhutan in 1865. The British Government of India however had to pay annually a sum of rupees fifty thousand to the Bhutan government since 1865. In 1910, the amount was increased to rupees one hundred thousand. Independent India enhanced the amount to rupees five lakhs with effect from the tenth day of January, 1950. The amount is still being paid by the Government of India to the Bhutan Government.

State Assembly Resolution

   The areas covered by the proposed Gorkhaland, de jure, belong to India on the basis of payment made to the original owners -   Sikkim and Bhutan.  India did not have to make any payment for any other areas annexed to the British empire. Therefore, the convention of the State Legislature approving of a resolution for alienation of its part is not applicable in the case of Darjeeling and Dooars areas, since they did not belong to West Bengal.

Only the Central Government can decide whether they should form a separate State or they shall be merged with either Assam or Bihar or Sikkim, or continue as a part of West Bengal, or made a Union Territory or ggiven any other status in the national interest.

Moreover, K C Rao, demanding the Telengana State, ridiculed the need for a resolution of Andhra Assembly and pointed to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, where the Centre sends its statehood proposal to the President who in turn forwards it to the concerned Assembly for its opinion. According to Rao, “This opinion is not binding on the Centre. This has been made clear by the largest ever Constitution Bench comprising 17 Judges on the issue of a resolution when Gujarat was carved out of Maharashtra” [The Statesman, Siliguri, 18 Dec., 2009]

Uttarkhand Pradesh

Never before 1980 had the people of Darjeeling asked for a separate State of Gorkhaland during the last 111 years  -  from 1907 to 2011

       The only occasion when the demand for a separate State was articulated was on  October 30, 1949, when  “the Important Persons and Representatives” from Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Jalpaiguri  met in a conference at Darjeeling and demanded the creation of a separate province called Uttarkhand Pradesh, consisting of the four territories. “Important Persons and Representatives from Sikkim were Sri Singhbir Tiwari and Sri Khargabahadur Bhenden, members of Praja Sammelan”. [History of All-India Gurkha League, 1943-1949, Edited by Bhai Nahar Singh and Kirpal Singh, Nirmal Publishers, New Delhi, 1987,  Pages 85-95, (UP)].

On 15 December, 1949, in reply to Pundit Thakur Dass Bhargava, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister, informed the British-created  Constituent Assembly of India that the British Dominion Government of India had not received any representation for the constitution of the Darjeeling area of the West Bengal Province into a separate hill province but he had seen Press reports of some such activities. The Sardar added: “Government of India consider this move as unreal, misconceived and harmful to national interests. Government of India is determined not to give any quarter to any agitation for the formation of any such Province and will not allow the solidarity of the country to be disturbed by such mischievous moves”. [UP, Page 94.]   

Darjeeling and Kalimpong in 1973 agitation

           During the 1973-5 agitation, the people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong    had rendered exemplary help to the people of Sikkim in their struggle for “democracy in Sikkim”. Now they naturally and justifiably expect requite with the opening of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Unit in Sikkim and want the people of Sikkim to provide assistance in their uprising for “democracy in the State of Gorkhaland”.

           Sunanda K Datta-Ray in his book,  Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim, wrote : “There was also a stiffening of politically articulate Nepalese from Darjeeling and Kalimpong who were foreigners in Sikkim. Deo Prakash Rai, secretary of the All-India Gorkha League, called a meeting in Darjeeling’s Chowkbazaar to pledge solidarity with the SNC and demand New Delhi’s instant intervention. So did Tarak Kumar Karki, a local minor functionary of India’s Samyukta Socialist Party, who claimed that 5,000 people had attended his rally. ‘Many people have come from Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong’, he boasted in Gangtok. Roop Narain Dahal, secretary of a Gorkha League faction in Kalimpong and Kazi’s legal adviser, was equally busy. So were Khatiwada’s Marxist friends. They were all illegal infiltrators, but they increased numbers and lent political purpose to an exercise that took the Sikkim government by surprise”. [Page 173]

                ‘Kazi’ means Lhendup Dorjee Kazi, who was the President of  SNC or Sikkim National Congress, with the  election symbol of ‘Bow and Arrow’. He was elected as a member of the Sikkim Council from the General Constituency in the January 1973 general election. LB Basnet, author and former Deputy Speaker of the Sikkim Assembly,  writes:  “The Sikkim National Congress under the leadership of Kazi Lhendup Dorji had been the Government of India’s greatest ally, for the Kazi, while professedly practicing nationalism, was so blatantly pro-Indian that in Sikkim political circles he was known as the agent of the Government of India”.[Sikkim: Page 176-7] 

Himalayan Observer, Kalimpong  February 8, 1982, Page 14 records: I [Basu Dev Basnet, Editor, since deceased] was one of the witnesses to the April 4 firing at Ranipool. When the whole contingent of Sikkim Guards, former Chogyal’s militia, was marching to Ranipool. I saw innocent unarmed non-violent people of Sikkim running away from the scene. When I reached Kalimpong I contacted leaders of the town. Under the chairmanship of late N B Gurung, a public meeting was addressed from Damber chowk and I and late K B Lopchan spoke explaining the need for support to the struggling people of Sikkim. We drafted a resolution and sent a telegram to Smt. Indira Gandhi which was worded “For democracy, socialism and secularism please intervene in Sikkim”. I also saw youth leader Kathiwara running about everywhere in Sikkim with some 303 rifles. And when NK Subedi and SK Rai wept bitterly in the dead of night at Chakung house in Kalimpong imploring us to help them fight the Sikkim Guard I went to Hathighisa near Naxalbari to obtain some arms from Nepali Congrees cache which was obtained from Bangladesh. When I reached Hathighisa it was past midnight. Today BP Koirala, who is criticizing the merger of Sikkim with India, invited Subedi and SK Rai to visit Benaras where he was then staying, and we were prepared to take up arms for the people which you call are the downtrodden. Thanks, the Govt. of India intervened, the army patrolled the streets and the Sikkim Guards returned to barracks”.

Nar Bahadur Khatiwara, was then a Congress youth leader. Chakung House was the residence of L D Kazi in Kalimpong. 303 rifles belonging to Sikkim police were “looted during the agitation” in South and West Districts. [BS Das: The Sikkim Saga, Page 16]

EDITORIAL

WINDS OF CHANGE

Asia Awaits Arab Spring

Thanks to technology, the world in split seconds has witnessed the winds of change blowing across the entire Arab world as dictators are forced to flee by virtue of a popular uprising where youths played a major role. These uprisings will hopefully be the spark that starts a real Arab Spring and brings an increase in political freedoms to other countries in the region. Cairo represents the long-awaited Arab Spring, when, like the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe, democracy would bloom as authoritarian regime crumbled.

Change must come to Asia, too. Authoritarian and corrupt regimes in China and India are acutely aware of the growing restlessness among the common people. Recent events in India show how the establishment in the sub-continent are looting the nation. The nation is shell-shocked to witness how its judges, generals, journalists, politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen are hand-in-glove in making deals on the quiet and taking the people for a long ride. The winds of change must sweep across the Pamirs, the Himalaya and into the Tibetan plateau, through China and into South East Asia. If the dictators in Egypt and Libya can be overthrown by ‘people power’ why should the military junta in Burma carry on its business as usual for so long?