Jigme N Kazi's blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   Sept 27-Oct 4,  2013   

Golay set to replace dictatorial, corrupt regime: SKM

Gangtok, Sept 27: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is now all set to be led by its de facto leader and former minister PS Golay. The party is expecting a massive turnout at the Paljor Stadium on October 6 (Sunday) when Golay formally joins the SKM, which he helped to form in February 4, this year.

The SKM will be handing over the command of the party to Golay on Sunday, it is learnt.

This was decided at a meeting of the central executive committee of SKM held here at the party head-office on Monday.

Differences between Golay and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front chief and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling surfaced in December 2009 when the rebel leader organized a picnic party in Rulu in South Sikkim. In March 2011, Golay quit as Chairman of Commerce and Industries Development Board. He raised a black flag in protest after he was forcefully removed from the Sikkim Legislative Assembly during the budget session in July 2012.

Golay finally quit from the SDF on September 4 and on September 20 he was disqualified as a member of the Assembly.

In his 14-page resignation letter to Chamling, Golay accused the SDF chief of betraying the trust of the people and working against the interest of the Sikkimese people.

“The corruption level in Sikkim has crossed all limits,” Golay said in his resignation letter and added, “If corruption in Sikkim is to be tackled, it has to start from the top.”

“Nothing can now stop Golay from leading from the front the revolution for change, to get rid of this dictatorial and corrupt regime,” said SKM Publicity Secretary Jacob Khaling in a press release.

“The countdown to the fall of the SDF government has begun,” he stated.

Trinamool Congress launches its Sikkim unit

Former Dy CM is Sikkim TMC chief

Gangtok, Sept 27: Former Deputy Chief Minister PT Lucksom is the Sikkim unit chief of Trinamool Congress.

According to TMC General Secretary Mukul Roy, Lucksom has been made the TMC President in Sikkim.

A founder member of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, Luksom had been removed from the post of deputy chief minister for alleged anti-party activities during the present Chamling Government’s first term in office (1994-1999).

Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, General Secretary of the recently-formed Organisation of Musicians & Artistes of Sikkim (OMAS), has been appointed General Secretary of the party in Sikkim.

The TMC has already set up its state units in Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and contested various elections in these states.

According to sources, TMC has also contacted several Lepcha leaders of the State, including former minister Athup Lepcha and Nima Lepcha. (also see edit on page 2)

SIBLAC demands 10% reservation for Lepchas

(left) SIBLAC chief Chewang Rinzing Lepcha

Gangtok, Sept 27: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has demanded 10% reservation for the indigenous minority Lepcha community in the State in job and higher education.

  Reacting to alleged failure of the Chamling Government to provide reservation for the Lepchas, SIBLAC Convenor Chewang Rinzing Lepcha said Chief Minister Pawan Chamling during the celebration of Tendong Lho-Rum-Faat here recently had promised to provide 5% reservation in higher studies for the Lepchas, who have been given ‘primitive tribes’ status in the State by the State Government.

“It is very surprising and unfortunate to record here that despite the Chief Minister’s recent big claim of according high and fly claims and privileges to the Lepcha community with 5% reservation in higher studies during his recent address at Tathangchen Guard’s ground on the occasion of Holy Tendong Lho-Rum-Faat, the State government and the Chief Minister has failed to stand to its commitment,” SIBLAC chief said in a press statement.

SIBLAC congratulated the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association (SLYA) for criticizing the government of its failure on the issue.

“…we strongly demand extra 10 % exclusive reservation in job and higher studies for the Sikkimese Lepchas,” Lepcha said.

Rajya Sainik Board to have guest house, war memorial

Gangtok, Sept 27: The Rajya Sainik Board office premises, located here near the SNT complex, is likely to undergo a massive facelift.

This was indicated when Chief Secretary R. Ongmu visited the area on Thursday along with government officials. Secretary Rajya Sainik Board Retd Colonel D.N Bhutia accompanied Ongmu during her inspection of the Board premises.

During her visit, the Chief Secretary directed the concerned department to prepare a blue print plan of the area in a holistic way incorporating a guest house, war memorial and landscaping of the area and submit it to the government by mid-October.

She assured the Board that the government will give a positive response to the request made by the Board, an official release said.

Scrap GTA first, Lama tells Gurung

Darjeeling, Sept 27: It now appears that many people in Darjeeling, including politicians, are now turning to Mahendra P. Lama to lead the movement for Gorkhaland.

Feeling betrayed, disillusioned and somewhat skeptical of Gorkha Janmukti Morhca chief Bimal Gurung’s hardline approach towards the statehood demand, more and more people feel that a moderate leader like Lama’s strategy for creation of Gorkhaland is more acceptable and practical at the present moment.

During a press conference held here on Sunday, Lama, a well-known academician and former Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University, urged the Morcha to first scrap the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) before pursuing the statehood demand.

Lama, a likely candidate for the Lok Sabha seat from Darjeeling in the 2014 LS polls, is also not in favour of involving students in the statehood agitation. He favours a more democratic and yet effective way to lead the movement for statehood. He says democratic “institutions” must be set up to . He also pointed out the importance of gaining the confidence of MPs and the Central Government on the statehood demand.

Lama said a “comprehensive plan” was necessary to pursue the statehood demand. Referring to the present political situation in Darjeeling, Lama said “a total state of confusion” prevailed in the hills and urged political parties to outline their “priorities” clearly before leading the movement.

Nepal: Maoists, opp parties to boycott polls

Sikkimization of Nepal must be stopped: Baidya

Kathmandu, Sept 27: Strongly criticizing the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) and terming the four parties stooges of foreign forces and the Khila Raj Regmi-led current government a puppet, agitating CPN-Maoist party chairman Mohan Baidya has appealed to the people to extensively and strongly boycott the constituent assembly (CA) poll scheduled for November 19.

He said the CA election is going to be held under the guidance of foreign forces and is now no more relevant.  Addressing a mass meeting of the 33-party alliance in capital on Monday, Baidya claimed that the constitution would be formed from the streets through the force of his movement, the Republica reported.

Baidya challenged the government to hold the election bypassing his alliance, arguing they are incapable of framing a constitution. He claimed that they are failed forces that have handed over their power to the technocratic Regmi government even for holding elections.

Terming the leaders of the major parties as Lendup Dorjes (Sikkim’s first chief minister Lhendup Dorje Kazi), he urged them to become hermits and head for Mansarowar.

"An election without the 33-party alliance is meaningless. Suppose they hold the election and also write the constitution, that constitution will not address the rights of the people. If they draft such a constitution, we will set it on fire," he said.

Questioning the current political process, including the proposed CA election, he claimed that the election is going to be held for Sikkimization and his alliance would not accept such a poll. He termed it a farce as it was going to be held under the guidance of foreign forces.

"There is no possibility of saving our national sovereignty through the four parties," he further said, and claimed that the four party leaders´ aim was just to fulfill the wishes of the southern neighbor and convert Nepal into a new Sikkim.

Editorial

ENTER TRINAMOOL

Wooing The Lepchas

The entry of Trinamool Congress will add a new dimension to Sikkim politics in years to come. It is the only national party which is based closely to Sikkim and will surely keep a live interest in State politics. TMC has already made a base in neighbouring Darjeeling with the support of the indigenous Lepcha community. The fact that it has chosen Phur Tsering Lucksom, former Deputy Chief Minister, and that the party contacted known Lepcha leaders such as Athup Lepcha, Nima Lepcha and Namgyal Lepcha are all indications that it wants to woo the Lepchas. It must be noted that the Lepchas in Darjeeling are not in favour of ‘Gorkhaland’ state and Sikkimese Lepchas are unlikely to support the demand for Darjeeling’s unification with Sikkim. In this respect Mamata Banerjee seems to know what she is doing.

The CPI-M in Sikkim is almost non-existent despite the fact that the party has been trying to take roots in the hill State. Both the Congress and BJP are unlikely to sway the voters in the forthcoming Assembly polls. The recent departure of former chief minister NB Bhandari has made the Congress party in Sikkim rudderless and rootless. BJP’s Sikkim unit President Padam Chettri is quite active but he is a lone figure. New Delhi is too far away from Sikkim and Delhi-based national party leaders have not shown much interest in Sikkim.  Writers’ Buildings is almost next door and this is advantageous to Sikkim unit of the TMC.