SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   Feb 9-15, 2013    

Golay begins ‘Sikkim Bachao’ andolan, forms Sikkim Krantikari Morcha

Gangtok, Feb 8: Rebel leader PS Golay’s newly-launched Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is now all set to begin its movement for real change in Sikkim where people are thoroughly disillusioned with the Chamling Government’s brand of ‘democracy and development’ and are desperately looking for someone to bail them out of the situation.

It was, therefore, not a surprise that well over 10,000 people turned up for the party’s launch yesterday at Golay’s home village of Singling, near Soreong in West Sikkim. The people have been patiently waiting for formal launching of the party for months.

Retired secretary KP Adhikari chairmed the function. Surprisingly, Golay himself was conspicuously absent from the dais but he was there among his supporters. Former East Zilla Adhakshya and former OBC chairperson Bharati Sharma was declared Working President of the new party during the function.

Members of the executive committee were sworn-in even as the new flag of the party (saffron, red and green) fluttered in the air, signaling a significant shift in the State’s political development.

“The name is very attractive as it is SKM, meaning Sikkim,” said an observer. SKM leaders, including Golay’s main objective of going against the present dispensation and forming their own political outfit is to bring real change in Sikkim, which the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front had promised but failed to deliver.

A host of Congress leaders, including former ministers and PCC members, have quit the national party to join SKM. Similarly, many SDF supporters have also joined SKM.

The revolt against Chamling Government’s ‘misrule’ is likely to take firmer shape when Golay formally leads the party as its president. 

GJM fumes as Mamata okays Lepcha council

GJM CALLS ANTI-LEPCHA COUNCIL BANDH ON FEB 9

Kolkata, Feb 8: In what is being viewed as a step that could pour more oil in the Hill fire, Bengal Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the proposal for a Lepcha Development Council which would function under the newly formed Gorkhaland Territorial Authority ruled by Darjeeling outfit Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The Tuesday’s development comes barely a week after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s return from Darjeeling where she met the Lepcha and Buddhist delegations and assured them about the formation of autonomous councils within the GTA which itself sprang up as an autonomous body in 2011 after the signing of a tripartite accord with the Centre, State and the GJM as parties.

The formation of the Lepcha council, however, attracted spontaneous reaction from the GJM leadership which had already decided to start a renewed agitation for a separate Gorkhaland State post-March 10 meeting at Sukna in the foothills of Darjeeling, The Pioneer reported.

“This is not only an arbitrary and illegal exercise but also a clear manifestation of a divisive policy being pursued by the State Government,” senior GJM leader Roshan Giri who was currently in Delhi said, adding his party would react appropriately and at an appropriate moment on the issue.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung earlier said that the Government could not overstep its jurisdiction by defying the GTA to form the Lepcha development council. “GJM is not against formation of such a council but it cannot be formed without taking the GTA into confidence. This only brings forward the Government’s single-minded agenda to divide and rule the Hill people. But this will only stoke the fire instead of putting it out” senior leader Binoy Tamang said.

The Chief Minister has also given word for a separate council for the Buddhist which the Government is likely to form soon, sources at the Writers’ Buildings said adding the Chief Minister would do so only after seeing the reaction of the GJM after Tuesday’s decision.

Meanwhile, the GJM on Wednesday called a bandh in Darjeeling and its surrounding areas on February 9 to protest against the West Bengal government's decision to set up a Lepcha development council called "Mayel Lyang".

"Mamata Banerjee is trying to implement a 'divide and rule' policy on us. Under the GTA Act, there is no provision for a Lepcha development council. Moreover, the name of the council, Mayel Lyang, means 'my land'. The state announced its decision without consulting GTA," said Gurung.

"How can the government declare the Lepcha development council... If needed, we will move the Supreme Court on the issue," he added.

Meanwhile, Banerjee met Bharti Tamang, widow of slain Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang. Several GJM leaders were named in the FIR related to Tamang's murder. While Banerjee had earlier refused to meet Bharti Tamang, she promised her support this time.

Densapa was an upright man: CM

(L to R) BB Gooroong, CD Rai and JT Densapa

Gangtok, Feb 8: Former additional chief secretary and former secretary to the late Chogyal Jigdal T. Densapa is no more.

He passed away in Delhi on Tuesday night after a minor operation. He was 83 and was a bachelor.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his condolence message described Densapa “an able administrator, hardworking and dedicated officer of the highest calibre.”

Known for his simple and austere life style Chamling said the former additional chief secretary was also “an upright person with impeccable integrity.”

Chamling stated that the passing of “this noble soul would leave a huge void in Sikkimese society.”

Yap Jigdal was born to Late Rai Bahadur Tashi Dadul Densapa on January 8, 1930. He did his schooling at Bishop Cottons School, Simla and completed his graduation at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Later on he went to United Kingdom to pursue his higher education in Law. After completing his education he was appointed as Deputy Development Officer during the year 1955.    

    He was elevated to the post of Secretary to the Chogyal during the year 1968. During his 33 years of government service he served the state government in various capacities and was elevated to the post of additional chief secretary to the State Government during the year 1985 which he continued till his retirement in 1988.

Foreign nationals issued Aadhar cards in Sikkim: SNPP

Gangtok, Feb 8: The Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) has objected to foreign nationals being issued Aadhar identity cards in the State.

Alleging that the introduction of the Aadhar card in the State is aimed at undermining the value of Sikkim Subjects Certificate, SNPP in a press release said it would start an awareness campaign in the State on the issue.

“The SNPP agrees with the Congress party that in the haste to implement this scheme, people without Sikkim Subject Certificates and also illegal foreigners have also been successful in

getting these cards,” SNPP releases said.

 It added, “The SNPP finds the imposition of the Aadhar Card in Sikkim as a

part of a conspiracy to undermine the 8th May Agreement of 1973 as out

of 51 districts in the country; two districts out of four have been

chosen in Sikkim. This has been done disregarding the fact that the

Sikkim Subject is the document that safeguards the “special identity”

as set out in Article 371f of the Constitution and enforcing such a

card shall be seen as a direct assault on the identity of the

Sikkimese.”

GOLAY’S PRIORITY

The Right Team

Rebel leader and ruling party legislator PS Golay ought to know by now that while change must come to Sikkim it cannot come with ‘old wine in new bottle.’ He must understand now that merely toppling the Chamling Government now or during the Assembly elections next year is not what the Sikkimese people are really looking for. The Sikkimese people across the political spectrum and among all sections of society are looking for real change to ‘save Sikkim’.  This is a tall order; if left unfulfilled Sikkim will head towards a dead-end street. Golay, therefore, faces the same dilemma that Pawan Chamling faced in 1993-94, when the ‘Mandal-messiah’ promised ‘total change in the system of governance.’

As of now Golay’s team announced during the launch of his party in Singling in West Sikkim this week is not too impressive. One Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) leader said that after being with him for nearly two decades she has realized that Chamling was the wrong man to back. If her judgment was wrong on Chamling what is the guarantee that she is right on Golay. This paper realized the truth about Chamling within the first six months of his first tenure but gave a chance to prove his competence for at least five years. Perceptive political observers must remember that Chamling openly confessed that he did not have the right team at the end of his first tenure. Surprisingly, the same team remained with him for three terms. This has resulted in the mess that we are in today - politically and economically. Political and economic empowerment of the Sikkimese is yet to take place. People will believe and follow Golay if he has the right team to save Sikkim. Otherwise it will be a repetition of what we have witnessed so far and this has been rejected by the people.