SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday March 29-April 4, 2014

Email:jigmekazi@gmail.com, Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

     In this picture Ramnath Goenka (right), Khushwant Singh and Kuldip Nayyar at a protest rally. (Express archive photo)

SIKKIM BACHAO, CHAMLING WANTS TO FINISH SIKKIM: GOLAY

Confidant Chamling, upbeat Golay keep everyone guessing

Dhakal, ‘PD’, Nakul, Subba, Khatiwada and Rai to vie for lone LS seat

Gangtok, March 28: Caste and community combination will be the deciding factor in the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls scheduled for April 12. Two weeks before the polls the two main contenders for the top job – Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) President Pawan Chamling and former minister and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) President PS Golay – have displayed equal optimism on the outcome of the polls.

 “This election is only like renewing of license. SDF will again get 32/32”, Chamling declared at a public meeting in Temi, South Sikkim, this week.

His rival is equally upbeat as he travels round the State and given a rousing welcome wherever he goes.

Speaking at a public meeting here at Burtuk today, Golay urged the people to vote SKM to power to “save Sikkim”.

“This election is the election to save Sikkim,” Golay said and added that Chamling “has started to sell all the rivers, the hills and our identities. He wants to return to finish his job. It is time to take Sikkim back."

Both contenders of the top post are not taking chances and are contesting from two constituencies each; Chamling from Namchi and Yangang and Golay from Namthang and Burtuk, from where he was elected.

The lone Lok Sabha seat will be hotly contested between six contestents: PD Rai (SDF), TN Dhakal (SKM), AD Subba (Cong), NB Khatiwara (BJP), Nakul Das Rai (TMC) and Kaushal Rai (AAP). However, the main fight would be between SKM and SDF.

   In the prestigious Gangtok constituency the fight will be between SDF’s Hissey Lachungpa and SKM’s Pintso Chopel. Other contestants from this constituency are Norden Gyalpo Dorjee (BJP), Tshering Lepcha (TMC) and Maj. Tshering Gyatso Kaleon (Cong).

Another constituency to be watched is Rhenock in east Sikkim where SDF’s Bhim Dungyel faces SKM’s Hemendra Adhikari and former BJP Sikkim unit chief Padam Chettri, who is the Congress candidate. Interestingly, rebel SDF advocate OP Bhandari is also contesting from here as an Independent candidate.

"I joined the Congress as I was let down by the BJP. They believe in the politics of convenience and have betrayed the people of Sikkim. I have always opposed the corrupt practices of SDF government and have filed four PILs against the state government but senior BJP leaders in the centre wanted me to withdraw the cases so I decided to quit the party," said Chettri, explaining his sudden switchover.

Sikkim has been politically divided into four broad categories: OBCs, Bahun-Chettris (BCs), Bhutia-Lepchas (BLs) and the business community. Both Chamling and Golay were earlier bracketed among the OBCs, which form the bulk of the majority Nepalese.    

    Now that the Tamangs and Limbus have got Scheduled Tribes status and the fact that Chamling no longer has backing of the OBCs as he used to much depends on which way  BL and BC voters go. Significantly, former chief minister NB Bhandari, who had a hold among the BCs, has just retired from ‘active politics’. 

This apart, young voters are likely to play a very significant role in the outcome of the polls.

Cong expels M K Subba for filing as an Independent

Guwahati, March 28: The Congress on Monday expelled three-time Lok Sabha member Moni Kumar Subba for anti-party activities including filing nomination papers as an Independent candidate by defying the party decision.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Akshay Rajkhowa said Subba, who has filed his nomination papers as an Independent from Tezpur constituency, has been expelled for six years. “The APCC had asked him to withdraw. But when he didn’t, the party was compelled to expel him,” Rajkhowa said.

The APCC general secretary said other party members found campaigning and working for Subba in the Tezpur constituency and against the party’s candidate Bhupen Kumar Bora would face similar action. Subba’s candidature is likely to dent the Congress chances of recovering the Tezpur seat that the AGP had wrested from it in 2009.

Subba (56), who filed his nomination papers on Friday, not only has several cases pending against him – including a rape case – but is also the richest candidate for the first phase of LS election in Assam on April 7.

Subba has declared in the election affidavit total asset worth more than Rs. 205 crore in his name.

Michelle Obama dines at Tibet restaurant in China

“She wanted to meet the Tibetans in Chengdu”

Chengdu, China: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama lunched at a Tibetan restaurant in China's Sichuan province on Wednesday, prompting murmurs about "political overtones" on the country's active Internet social networks.

Michelle Obama spun a row of prayer wheels as she walked the entry bridge to the restaurant, according to the pool report. A group of Tibetan students gave the family ceremonial white scarves – symbolising purty in Tibetan culture.

The Obamas were served traditional foods, including yak meat pie, boiled yak ribs, bread made with barley and yak butter tea.

Obama, her two daughters and mother visited the city of Chengdu as part of a week-long trip to China, where she has sought to promote education and boost cultural ties.

A senior administration official who accompanied Obama said the first lady simply wanted to meet Tibetans in Chengdu. "Tibetans are an important minority group, and there is a sizeable Tibetan community in Sichuan," the official said last weekend.

Protests against what Tibetans say are heavy-handed government policies putting pressure on their culture and Buddhist faith have periodically boiled over into self-immolations by activists.

Nearly half the self-immolations have occurred in Sichuan, lying east of Tibet.

China denies maltreatment of Tibetans, saying it has lifted the province out of poverty and extended considerable autonomy.

China has criticised the White House for its support for exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, denounced by Beijing as a separatist "wolf in sheep's clothing".

Editorial

RELUCTANT  INDIANS

Why We Are In A Mess

Even after the Supreme Court’s marching orders BCCI chief  N. Srinivasan is reluctant to quit his job. He wants to stay and manoeuvre his way back to power again. This seems to be a typical attitude of those in power in India no matter in which field they belong. TV news channels quoted a defiant Srinivasan as saying, “I have done no wrong and no one can force me out of BCCI." He knows that a probe into his alleged scandals can either be delayed for far too long rendering the whole process a big farce or the verdict managed. This is how India is being run on all fronts, including the media. No one wants to quit even if he or she is well past the retiring age or is in deep trouble (read corruption).

The way the Congress and BJP are sidelining their senior leaders is not the way it should be done. However, the old guard in the Congress paid no heed to UPA’s rampant corruption and when they had their fill they handed over the reins to Rahul Gandhi and in the last hour when it was rather too late. While some of them are reluctant to contest knowing full well they would lose they are either making their way to the Upper House or ensuring their offsprings step into their shoes. And yet there are many senior Congress leaders who are reluctant to leave their constituencies and make way for youngsters.

   Unike Rahul Gandhi,  BJP’s Narendra Modi wants his way all the time. He is being accused of reducing the party into a one-man show. Modi could have evolved a better way of saying goodbye to senior leaders of the party. His inept handling over seat distribution has not only caused major  fission within the BJP it could also spell trouble if the BJP and its allies fail to reach the magic figure of 272. Back in Sikkim a party which has been in power for two decades still wants to hang on to power. Worse is that many of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s candidates have been ministers three times. Sikkim is truly in the mainstream of Indian politics.

SIKKIM POLLS 2014: IN A STATE OF FLUX

Bhandari retires, Chettri shifts, Subba takes over Cong, Lepcha gets SKM ticket

Gangtok, March 28: While the two contenders – Pawan Chamling and PS Golay – for the top post are going all out to woo the people, the overall political situation in the State is in a state of flux as never before.

Former Chief Minister NB Bhandari, who was eased out from the Congress party earlier and revived his Sikkim Sangram Parishad, has chosen to retire from ‘active politics’ on the eve of the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls slated for April 12.

NB Bhandari

What happens to the SSP and his supporters? In the past several Assembly polls Bhandari had at least 30% of the votes polled.

Kunga Nima Lepcha who stepped into Bhandari’s shoes as SPCC chief, quit the party and has joined Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). Lepcha has been given SKM ticket to contest from his home constituency of Syari in Gangtok.

Kunga Nima

AK Subba, former President of Sikkim Himali Rashtriya Parishad (SHRP), has taken over the SPCC as its President and is the party’s Lok Sabha candidate.

Sikkim BJP unit President Padam Chettri quit the BJP, joined the Congress and is contesting from Rhenock constituency in East Sikkim.

Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay quit the ruling Sikkim Demcoratic Front and has joined the SKM. He has accused Chamling of dynastic rule.

Former SDF MP Nakul Rai, who broke ties with the ruling party earlier, is now the Trinamul candidate for the Lok Sabha seat. After he quit SDF Rai tried to unite the opposition to topple Chamling.

The BJP has fielded Sikkim merger veteran and former MLA  NB Khatiwada for the lone Lok Sabha seat.

In a move that was anticipated, Congress party’s Anil Lachenpa has joined the SDF. Senior journalist and nephew of former chief minister LD Kazi, NG Dorjee, is contesting from Gangtok constituency as BJP candidate.

Meanwhile, SNPP President Biraj Adhikari and his aide Diley Namgyal have decided not to contest the polls. They will make people more aware of the issues the SNPP has been raising.

Surprisingly, political activist and Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) President DN Nepal will not be contesting the polls. He, too, is expected to become more active politically now that he is free from electoral politics.

Mamata’s strategy: splits hills, unite plains

Ghising expected to tilt the balance

Darjeeling, March 28: A football star, an academician and a former parliamentarian are locked in a battle in North Bengal’s Darjeeling hills, where the Gorkhaland movement rages. And the results will determine whether Gorkhaland would be the next Telangana.

The ruling Trinamool Congress, which poured cold water on the statehood demand, has fielded India’s former soccer captain, Bhaichung Bhutia.

The two others in the three-cornered contest are BJP’s SS Ahluwalia, and independent candidate Mahendra Lama.

Ahluwalia is backed by the pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which recently entered into an alliance with the BJP. But he faces a tough contest, The Hindustan Times reported.

Unlike the last time, GJM’s appeal has diminished considerably.“There is a perception that Bimal Gurung has compromised on the statehood demand. The 40-day strike — after statehood was granted to Telangana — backfired, and people were angry,” admitted a party insider.

But the GJM, he added, still has the best “organisational network”, the reported said.

The TMC is hoping to sweep the plains and get a fraction of the hill votes — the seat has three hill assembly segments, with around six lakh voters, and four in the plains with eight lakh voters.

And party chief Mamata Banerjee has shrewdly played ethnic politics within the Nepali community by creating a Lepcha cultural board and promising a similar set up to Tamangs to wean them away from the broader Gorkha identity.

Bhutia hopes as a person from the hills, he would draw support. But he is from Sikkim, and Gangtokand Darjeeling share cold ties. Plus, there is the extra baggage of hostility to Trinamool.

Lama

“He may be a star, but people here are conscious that the party he represents is against our key issue,” said a Darjeeling lawyer on condition of anonymity.

Lama, a former vice-chancellor of Sikkim University, also poses a challenge.

Lama is committed to the statehood demand and is projecting himself as the ‘son of the soil’ against two “outsiders”. He can cut into GJM votes, but is hampered by the lack of organisational support will hurt him.  

A variable will be the stance of the chairman of Gorkha National Liberation Front, and the man who ran Darjeeling for 20 years, Subash Ghising.

After being hounded out of the hills by GJM seven years ago, he is back in Darjeeling and is understood to control around 80,000 votes.

Which way Ghising will tilt may well determine the outcome.

Election observers in Sikkim to hear grievances

Gangtok, Rarch 28: The observers for the General Election – 2014 are residing at NHPC Guest House, 5th Mile, Tadong and will be interacting with the general public and listening to their grievances  related to elections at NHPC Guest House from 9 am to 10 am every day.

Anyone interested to meet the observers for election related matters  can contact the observers between 9 am to 10 am, an official release said.

The name, contact number and the constituencies assigned to the observers are given below:

1.        Shri B.B.Swain, IAS, General Observer, 7872721137/9978406155

Constituency Assigned: 17 to 31 Parliamentary Constituency

2.       Shri Darse Samuel, IRS, Expenditure Observer, 09530704200/9733834210

Constituency Assigned: 1 to 32 Sikkim Parliamentary Constituency and Sangha

3.       Shri Dinesh Bhoyar, IRS, Expenditure Observer, 9733825593/09545510520

Constituency Assigned: 17 to 24 Assembly Constituency

4.       Shri Rajiv Kumar Singh, IRS, Expenditure Observer, 09490671650/ 07872725199

Constituency Assigned: 25 to 31 Assembly Constituencies

5.       Shri Tshering Angchok, IAS, General Observer

Constituency Assigned: 25 to 31 Assembly Constituency

6.       Shri G.Ashok, IAS, General Observe, 9650428866/7872713819

Constituency Assigned: 1 to 16 Parliamentary Constituency

7.       Shri J.B.Singh, IAS, General Observer, 08527291212/7872728434

HIMALAYAN Heritage

The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh came under Tibetan influence in 11^th century

The Monyul Kingdom existed for a thousand years

    Arunachali Monpa tribal women walk at Sela Pass, at an altitude of 4,100 meters (13,700 feet) near the Indo-China        border, in Arunachal Pradesh.

Earliest records to the area which the Monpas inhabited indicated the existence of a kingdom known as Lhomon or Monyul which existed from 500 B.C to 600 A.D. Subsequent years saw Monyul coming under increasing Tibetan political and cultural influence, which was apparent during the years when Tsangyang Gyatso, an ethnic Monpa, became the Dalai Lama. At that time, Monyul was divided into thirty two districts, all of which spanned the areas of Eastern Bhutan, Tawang, Kameng and Southern Tibet. However, Monyul, also known as Tawang Tract remained thinly populated throughout its history.

In the 11th century, the Northern Monpas in Tawang came under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism of the Nyingma and Kagyu denominations. It was at this time when the Monpas adopted the Tibetan script for their language. Drukpa missionaries made the presence felt in the 13th century and the Gelugpa, in the 17th century, which most Monpas belong to today.

Monyul remained an autonomous entity, of which local monks based in Tawang held great political power within the community, and direct rule over the area from Lhasa was established only in the 17th century. From this time until the early 20th century, Monyul was ruled by the authorities in Lhasa. In 1793 the Manchu-authorities produced a document under the title "Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet". It proves that Tibet, included Tawang was considered part of China.

However, in the 19th century, the area began to interest British India. One of the first British-Indian travellers into Monyul, Nain Singh, who visited the area from 1875-6 noted that the Monpas were a conservative people who shunned off contact with the outside world and were making efforts to monopolise trade with Tibet. Owing to its strategic position, subsequently the British sought to make their political influence felt.

In 1914, Britain and its colonial authorities in India drew the McMahon Line, which they claimed to be the border between Chinese Tibet and British India. The line divided the land in which the Monpas inhabited, and became a source of contention in the subsequent years to come owing to ambiguities to the specific location of the McMahon Line.

In subsequent years, China continued to claim the pre-McMahon border as the border between Tibet and India, while British India gradually established effective control over Monyul south of the McMahon line. Following the independence of India and a change of government in China, the dispute became a major issues in the relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India. The McMahon Line was the effective line of control in this period, though the border was somewhat porous. In 1962, a Chinese military patrol which ventured south of the McMahon Line drew a military response from India, which resulted in the Sino-Indian War. During the war, China took effective control of the entire Monyul area south of the McMahon Line as well as some other surrounding areas. However, the war ended with China's voluntary withdrawal north of the McMahon Line. Negotiations on the dispute remain active.

BODY SOUL AND MIND 

Mudras:health at your fingertips

Most people who are always in search of some power don’t realize the value of their hands. The power is in their hands! The mystical pair of hands gifted to mankind by the almighty can do all that one wishes for. The only problem is that most of us don’t recognize its power.

In yoga, hand mudras are termed as the most powerful sources energy. In fact, they are perceived as centres of energy with significant role to play in health and fitness of a body. Regular practice of hand mudras will ensure physical health and peace of mind. No wonder it is known to be a wonderful way for improving overall body strength.

What are Mudras?

These are actually symbolic gestures practiced back in pranayama to stimulate different body organs, glands and nerves and create new energy. A scientific research has also supported the fact that hand gestures and spoken language stimulates the same region in the brain.

Yogic mudras are powerful enough to stimulate the Kundalini power and cure a number of ailments and restore body systems. Hand mudras are of great help in relieving lethargy and improving various psychological problems.

The Powerful Hand Mudras:

Gyan Mudra

As the name suggests, it is the mudra of knowledge. It is known to be an ancient technique practiced by yogis to obtain peace of mind.

How to Practice

Gently press the tip of your thumb to the tip of your index finger.

Keep your other 3 fingers in an upright and relaxed position.

How it Works

The tip of your thumb has centers for pituitary and other endocrine glands. Hence, pressing of a thumb tip activates them.

Benefits of Gyan Mudra

It sharpens memory, enhances mental focus, concentration and spiritual feeling. It is also helpful in dealing with anxiety, sleep problems, hysteria and depressive symptoms.

Pran Mudra

Also known as the mudra of life, it creates energy within the body and enhances strength and immunity to promote a better quality of life.

How to Practise

Bring the points of your little and ring finger in contact with the tip of your thumb.

Keep the other two fingers in a straight position.

Benefits of Pran Mudra

It improves vision.

Apan Vayu Mudra

Also known as Mritsanjeevini mudra or mudra of the heart, it is a first aid step in heart attack.

How to Practise

Touch the hillock of your thumb with your middle and ring finger.

The index finger should touch the base of thumb.

Keep the little finger in erect position all the while.

Benefits of Apan Vayu Mudra

It facilitates heart circulation and relieves pain of angina, a heart disease due to poor blood circulation in your heart.

Prithvi Mudra

The mudra of the earth activates body and reduces physical weaknesses.

How to Practise

Touch the tip of your ring finger to the tip of your thumb.

Stretch out other 3 fingers.

Benefits of Prithvi Mudra

It enhances skin complexion and cures brittle nails, hair loss, premature graying hair, chronic fatigue and any inflammatory diseases.

Linga Mudra

How to Practise

Interlock your fingers together.

Keep the left thumb in upright position.

The upright thumb should be encircled by thumb and index finger of right hand.

Benefits of Linga Mudra

It produces heat in your body and strengthens your immune system. The heat destroys sputum from chest and is suitable for those suffering from repeated colds and coughs.

Varuna Mudra

It is a mudra that balances the water element in your body.

How to Practise

You touch the tip of your little finger and thumb together.

Keep fingers straight.

Benefits of Varuna Mudra

It enhances your physical beauty and is great for asthma, low blood pressure, cold and cough symptoms, and sinus congestion. It restores moisture in dry skin, removes impurities from your blood and keeps you beautiful.

HEALTH Watch

Effects of fear on children’s mental development

By Kuldip Singh Heran

Fear inhibits natural reflexes, natural actions and reactions of children. At the same time children do not know what is right or wrong. In total absence of fear, they may indulge in unwanted activities. Some sort of limited fear or right kind of counselling is also needed for overall development of children.

Excess fear of any kind is very much harmful for mental developments of children. Excess fear will suppress their talent. In presence of fear, children will never express their feelings and their mental developments will not be proper and finally they may be a failure in their career due to mental blocks created by our society members in form of different kinds of fears.

Excess fear can cause different kind of incurable mental diseases. Children must be given some kind of proper freedom but not excess freedom so that there will be proper overall development of personality of children. Such children developed in proper favourable environment will sure to get success in their life. (Kuldip Singh Heran is Principal, Tashi Namgyal Academy (TNA), Gangtok, Sikkim)

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday March 15-21, 2014

Email: jigmekazi@gmail.com; Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

Fight is between ‘people power’ and ‘money power’: Golay

Cong Prez Kunga Nima joins SKM, says corruption rampant in Sikkim

Gangtok, March 14: Rebel leader and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) President PS Golay has set the agenda for the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the State. “This election is a battle between people power and money power,” Golay said during a party meeting in Martam, east Sikkim, this week.

“This election this time is not a simple election. It is a battle between Janta Shakti (People Power) and Kalo Dhan ko Shakti (Power of Black Money),” Golay said.

“Many attempts have been made by Pawan Chamling to suppress our movement for change. He has lied continuously. First he said our party was not registered when it was, then rumours were spread that we would not get a symbol.

Golay waves party symbol (lamp)

He even wrote to the Election Commission of India to deregister our party. Many letters were sent. But here also it was a victory for truth,” Talk Sikkim reported.

“I thank the Election Commission and the Government of India for not believing in the false stories and fake letters sent by the SDF party and allotting us the symbol of a lamp,” Golay added.

“This symbol is important to us as it symbolizes light over darkness, the victory of truth over lies.”

Meanwhile, a host of heavyweight leaders from the Bhutia-Lepcha (BLs) community led by Sikkim Congress unit President Kunga Nima Lepcha joined the SKM at the Martam meeting.

The Kaleons, a powerful clan among the BLs, also joined the SKM. They included former minister Sonam G. Kaleon, former Secretary Dechen P. Kaleon and Dup Tshering Bhutia. Former SIDICO General Manager Nedup Tongden Lepcha and DB Gautam also joined the SKM.

Kunga Nima Lepcha

“I am not happy with the way the SDF government is functioning in Sikkim. There has been rampant corruption and mismanagement in the State administration. I feel SKM is a party that can bring a change for good, so I have extended my support by joining the SKM today," said Kunga Nima Lepcha, who quit the Congress recently.

During its meeting, the SKM unveiled the party’s election symbol, a table lamp. Golay said the acquisition of an election symbol from the Election Commission was an achievement for the party which was moving ahead “despite concerted efforts by the ruling party to put obstacles”.

The party symbol was released in the presence of party supporters, locals and 913 persons who joined the SKM. (see edit on page 2)

SDF to make Sikkim ‘self-reliant’: Dahal

Lachenpas feel neglected, remain defiant 

Gangtok, March 14: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which is making concerted efforts to make a comeback for the fifth consecutive term, will focus on making the State ‘self-reliant’ if voted to power again.

“One of the main targets of next term will be to make Sikkim self-reliant,” said SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal at a press conference held here yesterday.

“Our manifesto has been one of the best over the past 20 years which resulted in remarkable growth all over Sikkim. Most of the promises made in the past manifestos have been implemented,” he asserted.

Declaring that SDF will release its election manifesto soon, Dahal said, “Like earlier, this year too we will focus on rural development with 70 % of the budget earmarked for that. Also many hydel projects will be commissioned in coming SDF government.”

The SDF this week declared all its candidates for the coming polls. The list has many former ministers and MLAs and very few new faces. Former ministers such as Ram Bahadur Subba, SB Subedi, KN Rai and Somnath Poudyal have been given party tickets while present ministers DN Takarpa, NK Pradhan, Ran Bahadur Subba and CB  Karki have been dropped.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling will contest from two constituencies: Namchi and Yangang in south Sikkim.

Meanwhile, a large section of SDF supporters have voiced disappointment over allotment of party tickets. Their main grievance is that the old guard has been retained while neglecting the youth.

While Lachen Pipon Cho Rabjor has reportedly welcomed SDF candidate from Lachen-Mangan constituency the Lachenpas feel let down and neglected.

“Young youth from Lachen are really disappointed with the declaration of candidate list whereby no Lachenpa comunity has given a chance to b a representative in SLA not only this time but since from the time when Sikkim join with the mainstream republic of India,” a section of Lachen youths said in a press statement.

“Lachen/Mangan constituency has given a representative from Mangan, Lachung, Chungthang, Singhik but not a single one from Lachen. Are we a second class citizen or neither we have right to choose candidate from SDF side. This shows how much SDF is neglecting the people of Lachen from all point of view.

We have not allowed a hydel project to protect our motherland from exploitation but it doesn't mean that we should be subjected to neglect. Time will come to give a befitting reply in future.” (see edit on page 2)

SDF sabotaging my LS poll campaign: Bhaichung

“Chamling Govt did not give me land for football academy”

Gangtok, March 14: It is not only the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Darjeeling which is opposing Bhaichung Bhutia in the coming Lok Sabha polls but the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, too, is anti-Bhutia.

Former Indian football captain has accused the SDF of attempting to sabotage his Lok Sabha election campaign.

This revelation came during an Bhaichung’s interview with Sikkim Express.

“SDF sabotaging my election campaign. Why is it always trying to create hurdles for me?” the Express reported.

According to Baichung, the SDF is wooing some TMC Hills functionaries and promising to finance them should they contest as an independent candidate against him.

“SDF is strong in financial resources and is trying to sabotage my campaign by offering money to independents to stand against me,” Bhaichung said.

In the interview Bhaichung also revealed how the Chamling government failed to offer him land to set up a football academy in the State. “I tried my best to set up a football academy in my home state despite offers from other state governments. The Sikkim government did not give me land for the academy. Other sports persons also did not get land for their academies. They create hurdles in everything and then accuse us of not doing enough for the home state.”

“Earlier foreign players used to come and play in Sikkim freely but the moment my club got promoted into I-League, the state government imposed restrictions on foreign players coming to Sikkim.”

“The SDF government only talks about cash awards for sportsperson of Sikkim but does not help in making sports persons capable of winning.”

GJM to support BJP’s Alluwalia

Ahluwalia

In its third list for Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday night named 75 candidates for West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Seniors leaders like Sushma Swaraj from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, SS Ahluwalia from West Bengal's Darjeeling and Kirti Azad from Darbhanga in Bihar feature in the list.

The list has seven candidates who will contest from West Bengal including Ahluwalia with the Gurkha Janmukti Morcha pledging its support for him.

Earlier, Morcha  chief Bimal Gurung  said Trinamool Congress’s candidate from Darjeeling Bhaichung Bhutia will face defeat.

Gurung said on Wednesday that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has not done anything for the hills people so far. 

Gurung said, he had full faith in the BJP, which has promised separate Grokhaland state in its manifesto. In 2009, veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh won the Darjeeling seat with the backing of the GJM.

Media is 'sold', paid to promote Modi: Kejriwal

New Delhi, March 14: Kicking off a fresh controversy, Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that the whole media is "sold" and "heavy amounts" have been paid to promote BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.

But he later denied having made the accusations against the media after his remarks came under attack from Congress, BJP and CPI.

"Since the last one year, we have been told that Modi is here, Modi is there. Since one year, Modi has also been saying that. Even some TV channels have been saying that 'Ram Rajya' has come and corruption has vanished....

"Why did they do it? Because money has been paid to TV channels. Heavy amounts have been paid to promote Modi," Kejriwal alleged in a video aired by a TV channel.

"Around 800 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat in the past 10 years, but none of the channels showed it," he alleged and added that farmers have sold their land to a company for just "one rupee but even this has not been shown by any channel."

Hitting out at the media for focusing on his security deployment, he charged that the "whole media is sold this time, it is a big conspiracy, it is a huge political controversy. If our government comes to power then we will set up an inquiry into this. And along with the media people, all will be sent to jail".

Editorial

SIKKIM POLLS

Old Guard Vs Young Turks

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) chief PS Golay ought to be happy man to see his former mentor Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) President,  field the old guard for the coming polls, including the lone Lok Sabha seat. For a party which has promised change in how Sikkim is being run the nomination of the ruling party’s old guard for the Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha seat has given much hope and confidence to the Opposition in the ensuing polls. Much of Sikkim’s sad state of affairs can be placed on those who were in power with Chamling ever since SDF formed the government in December 1994. In fact, some of them have been three-term ministers in the Chamling Government. Chamling, therefore,  cannot alone be faulted for reducing Sikkim into a ‘one party system and one-man rule’ State  in the past two decades. His colleagues, who have been allotted Assembly seats, are equally responsible for not speaking up and becoming mere sycophants.

People do not have much hope on Chamling’s old team and will enthusiastically support the SKM. Infact, many SDF supporters have joined SKM after the announcement of SDF candidates this week. The fact is there are very few people in Sikkim who are fit to be elected to the Assembly. Many responsible personalities have opted out of electoral politics mainly because of the corrupt and irresponsible manner in Sikkim has been run in the past so many decades. The Aaam Aadmi Party fever has not come to Sikkim and unlike in the rest of India responsible individuals are not responsive to political situation in the former kingdom. Hopefully, the new breed of young turks in the SKM seeking change will provide the right atmosphere for a more open, free, just and democratic society in Sikkim.

Areas around Sikkim sanctuaries to get ‘eco-sensitive’ tag

New Delhi, March 14: Areas surrounding Sikkim's three sanctuaries, which are home to carnivores, herbivores, birds and magnificent rhododendron forests, will soon be declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones by the Centre.

The Union Environment Ministry this week issued draft notifications inviting suggestions on the proposals to declare environmentally-fragile areas surrounding the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kitam Bird Sanctuary and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary as Eco-Sensitive Zones.

The move is aimed at conserving and protecting the ecologically-fragile areas bordering these sanctuaries from developmental activities like mining, PTI reported.

Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is a trans-boundary protected area in the West District of Sikkim bordering Nepal. The sanctuary, spread over an area of 104 sq.Km, is a rich storehouse of flora.

Kitam Bird Sanctuary in South Sikkim harbours a unique association of Sal and Chir Pine forests which nestle a large number of peafowl, the national bird.

It also houses the common leopard, Assamese macaque, Rhesus Macaque, barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan Palm Civet and Indian rock python.

Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, lying over an area of 35.34 sq.Km is home to wildlife, dwarf bamboo thickets, rhododendron forests, patches of chestnut and oak and still undiscovered epiphytes.

China plans taking Tibet rail network near Sikkim

New Delhi, March 14: China last  Thursday announced that an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway network will reach Xigase in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), the hometown of the 11th Panchen Lama and located close to the Indian border in Sikkim.

“An extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the world’s highest, will reach the residence of the Panchen Lama at Xigaze, Tibet, the contractors confirmed on Thursday,” the official news agency, Xinhua, said, The Hindustan Times reported..

The headquarters of Beijing-backed 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu is based at Xigaze, also known as Shigatse, located close to North Sikkim border.

China projects the Panchen Lama as an alternative to the India-based Dalai Lama, termed a separatist by Beijing. The announcement of the railway network extension comes during the ongoing sessions of China’s rubber-stamp Parliament, the National People’s Congress and the country’s top advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The report said the extension will help the faithful to worship “Buddha in Lhasa and Xigase”. Quoting Tob Chung, a lama at the Tashihunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, the report said: “It is the common dream of all the Tibetan faithful to worship the Buddha in Lhasa and Xigaze. The railway will make the journey safer and easier.”

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway began service in July 2006 and, according to the report, had positively impacted on Tibet’s tourism, hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

The plateau railway which covers 1,956 km from Xining in Qinghai Province to Lhasa carried 11.7 million passengers and 57.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2013. The announcement comes at a time when the government says that the economy of TAR grew 12.2% in 2013.

Don’t play politics with death, Gurungs tell SDF

Gangtok, March 14: Members of Gurung community from various parts of the State have alleged that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front is using the death of NK Gurung to gain political mileage.

“The entire Gurung community across Sikkim is deeply moved by the loss of one of the members of the community but the most disheartening part is that NK Gurung’s death is being used by the ruling front for political mileage,” said TT Gurung at a  press conference held this week.

“We appeal to all political parties to remove posters of NK Gurung put up all over the State. We also demand a fair and independent enquiry,” said Bikram Gurung.

 NK Gurung, said to be member of the ruling party, was killed on March 4, the day SDF celebrated its anniversary.

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has demanded a CBI probe on the death.

Press under threat in Sikkim, no action taken

Shangrila Times office vandalized

Gangtok, March 14: Media-bashing in India’s youngest State has come to stay. Despite the condemnation and protests the authorities stubbornly refuse to pay heed to press freedom in the State.

Last week, Pappu Mallick, a photo journalist working for UB Photos (A News Agency) in the State, was threatened by “unknown persons” at Indira Gandhi Bye Pass. Mallick’s photographs appear in various publications in the State and outside.

Mallick, in a press release, said he was threatened with “abusive language and warned me to leave my profession as a media person.”

“They warned me to not do any kind of reporting and photo journalism,” Mallick said.

He has lodged a FIR here at the Sadar Police Station.

Earlier this week, the printing press of Shangrila Times, a Nepali daily published from Gangtok by political activist and writer DN Nepal, was “vandalized”.

The office of Nepali daily Sangrila Times was vandalized in what is being said was another attack on the media.

“I am ashamed to say that none from the media [except for SIKKIM EXPRESS] acknowledged or condemned the threats and warnings that we at Talk Sikkim have been receiving and which we complained about publicly or the vile rants on me personally on social media,” said Talk Sikkim editor Mita Zulca recently.

Talk Sikkim, a monthly newsmagazine that highlighted activities of Sikkim Krantikari Morch (SKM) led by PS Golay, closed down recently, leaving Zulca to bring out her own publication, Sikkim Talks.

Recently, the printing press workers of Sikkim Express and Himali Bela, were assaulted by a member of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front.

Sharmila released from custody, supports AAP

“I’m a simple protester”

Imphal, March 13: Manipur’s anti-AFSPA activist Irom Chanu Sharmila was freed from detention on Thursday afternoon, a day ahead of her 42nd birthday.

Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for the last 13 years and is force-fed, demanding repeal of the AFSPA, is ritually arrested on the charge of attempting to commit suicide on an annual basis.

   She had been similarly released on completion of jail term in past years, but re-arrested after two-three days for refusal to withdraw her fast.

Sharmila, who is confined to a Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) hospital security ward during detention, had launched her fast on November 4, 2000, two days after security forces killed 10 people at Malom on the outskirts of Imphal.

Minutes after being freed following a district court order, Sharmila informed that she will continue her strike.

Meanwhile,  the rights crusader rejected chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s offer to join the Congress and instead extended her support to the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

“The chief minister came on an unannounced visit in February and asked me to join his party for jointly taking up the issue of repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. I did not give any response to the invitation,” Sharmila told reporters on Thursday.

“I am simple protester. I don’t want to join politics. But I want to see a government run by the AAP installed in New Delhi.”

 BJP threatens to review AADHAAR card scheme

“Illegal immigrants granted citizenship”

Bangalore, March 14: Terming the manner in which the Aadhaar project is being implemented as dangerous to the country’s security, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday indicated that it may review some of its aspects if it comes to power.

Speaking to presspersons here on the sidelines of an interaction with college students on election issues, BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi also sought a CBI probe into various aspects of the Aadhaar project, including the manner in which finances had been allocated for it.

When asked if the BJP would scrap the project if it comes to power, Ms. Lekhi said, “Aadhaar needs a re-look to see if anything has gone wrong and to know who stores and shares the biometric data of citizens.”

Earlier, at the interaction, she launched an attack on Unique Identification Authority of India chairman and Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani, who is taking on BJP’s five-time MP Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South on the Congress ticket. She said Aadhaar was a project for which one had to be condemned rather than appreciated.

“I will be ashamed to take credit for such a project,” she said.

Without taking Nilekani’s name,  Lekhi alleged that the Aadhaar project was dangerous and also posed a threat to the country’s security as it regularised the stay of illegal immigrants from other countries by granting citizenship to them at the cost of the welfare of genuine residents.

Aadhaar project had violated the Parliamentary norms and the direction issued by the Supreme Court to ensure that it was not made mandatory for offering services and foreign citizens were not enrolled under it, she said.

She also accused the UPA government of ignoring the country’s security interests by providing political positions to some of those who allegedly had links with Maoists.

HIMALAYAN HERITAGE Sikkim

SIKKIM: Sacred Hidden Land of Guru Rinpoche

Statue of Guru Rinpoche in Namchi, South Sikkim.

Guru Padmasambhava was known in Tibet as one of the founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism, who appeared in Tibet in 749 A.D, and spent 54 years. Other two founders were Acharya Shanta Rakshita and prevalent King Thisong Deotsen. Padmasambhava’s birth in this world was mixed with myth and legend. The Buddha Shakya Muni’s prophecy about the emanation of Padmasambhava in this world was found recorded in various Sutra and Tantra Texts. Following is one of the records maintained in a Sutra called- “Myang-hDas-mDo”:

“OH MY ASHUSMAN DISCIPLE ANANDA AND OTHERS! AFTER MY PASSING AWAY, THAT IS TWELVE YEARS LATER, (It may perhaps referring to twelve hundred years) A PERSON FAR SUPERIOR TO ME WHO WOULD BE THE LORD OF MASS, NAMED PADMASAMBHAVA WILL BE EMANATED. LIKE A GEM FROM THE SEA LIKE USHNISHA VIJAYA AMONG MEDICINAL DIVINITIES LIKE SUN AND MOON AMONG THE CLUSTERS OF STARS LIKE A LION AMONG THE BEASTS AND LIKE A GAUDA (king of birds) AMONG THE BIRDS.”

It is said that from the Western Blissful Paradise, Buddha Amitabha had committed to take birth in the incarnate form of Padmasambhava for the welfare of sentient beings in the Jambu Dwipa , the spiritual country of Buddha Shakya Muni. The lord Amitabha chooses his birth-place in ‘Dhanakosa Lake ’ in ancient Urgen Country, which is spiritually believed to be a sacrosanct place of Vidhya-dhara, cardinal cemetery of eight great cemeteries and also regarded a centre of Ten Abodes of Heruka Deities.       

As per the text called- ‘rNam-Thar- Zangs-gling’ the Buddha Amitabhava further chosen King Indra Bhuti of Urgen country as his father since he was a Chakravarti Raja embodied with the knowledge of both civil and religious laws, and untouched by denigration to his nature and character. The so called king had no heir although he possesses a large number of queens. As advised by his courtiers the King used his wealth in charity to get himself blessed with child. Obviously, at the end, his entire treasures were exhausted. But he still finds the beggars and mendicants in ques.

In order to procure more wealth he proceeded to Naga Island in the Sea to meet the Serpent Queen to beg for the wishful filing gem. The Serpent queen after having listened to the story of the king felt pity and gave away her most precious gem which produces wealth. While on his way back to Palace he and his crew members came across a lake where a wonderful child about 8 years old was sitting inside a multi-coloured Lotus. Amazingly, the child talks like that of a matured person.

 The king, after interaction with this divine-child, asked him to be his heir, which the child agreed. As per the text called- ‘Phurpa gNam-lChag spu-Gri’ it is described thus:- “Untouched by the defilement of mother’s womb, the Lord took a miraculous birth from the Lotus” After reaching the Palace, the child was ceremoniously placed on the golden throne. Afterwards, king made his wishes by rubbing the gem and his treasure house was refilled with wealth. Then he resumed his charity and satisfied all who came for alms.

 Time went by and Padmasambhava has been grown up to a young man. He thought, if he becomes a king he cannot give mass spiritual benefit to human kind. If he deserts the kingly possession and gain spiritual knowledge, he could disseminate Esoteric Doctrine to lot of yearning practitioners. So in order to get out of the palace he performs a mystic dance on the terrace of the palace with a trident in hand and pretended it fallen off from his hand, which killed the son of a malevolent minister, below.

Following which, Padmasambhava was banished to ‘Silwa-Tsal cemetery, situated in the eastern direction of Urgen country as per the law of the king’s court. Padmasambhava did his mystic practices in number of scary cemeteries like Silwa tsal, Gawo Tsal, Sosaling etc. living his life on cloths and food stuffs of deceased and thereby enhanced his spiritual power. He acquired intensive knowledge on three folds of Yoga tantra from various Buddhist Tantric Saints living in different holy places of India. He earned eight different names in different deeds as ‘Guru Tsen- Gyad’. He specialized in the teachings of Ka-gyad Dershek Dupa, which is a collective term used to denote the group of the deities of eight Sadhana teachings associated with Eight Chief Tutelary Deities of the Mahayoga Tantra.

Guru Padmasambhava obtained these Sadhana Teachings from Indian Buddhist Masters or Vidhyadharas and later transmitted to his chief Tibetan disciples for practicing upon this Sadhana. During the erstwhile Kingdom, Ka-Gyad was adopted as Chogyal’s (King) Tutelary Deity and its ceremony was held at Royal Chapel at Gangtok. During which time Government declared two days holidays in the name of ‘Ka-Gyad dance’ to enable the employees to attend the festival.

   One of the magnificent deeds he had performed in Himachal Pradesh is at present Riwalsar Lake where he was burnt alive upon the piles of Sandal wood with large amount of mustard oil by the order of then King. But as a matter of surprise to the king, he was unaffected by the fire and converted the mustard oil to a lake, and himself seated on Lotus petal floated on the surface of the lake. The king deeply impressed with his feat and embraced Buddhism.

 His arrival in Tibet: In 8th century A.D. Then King Thisrong Deotsen who was incarnate of Lord Manjushri at his twenty became a staunch admirer of Buddhism and in order to propagate the same in Tibet he invited a learned Indian Teacher Shanta Rakshita. The master began his teaching on rTen-hBrel bChunyi (twelve dependent origination) and Gewa Chu (ten Virtues). As an oath of loyalty to the cause of Buddhism, The King committed to construct a monastery and soon started its construction. But local demons and evil spirits cast obstacles and hindered its progress. Whatever was built in the day time by human beings was destroyed by demons at night. This incident disheartened the king but Shanta Rakshita consoled the king to keep courage and advised him to invite Guru Padmasambhava to tackle the evils.

Although Shanta Rakshita was well versed in outer and inner Doctrine yet it was his inability to deal with the powerful local demons. He further narrated to the king about the relation of both of them with the Guru Padmasambhava in previous life and destined to meet in Tibet to consolidate Buddhism. After having learnt this fact the King sent an envoy called Bami Thiser with present to invite Guru Padmasambhava. The Guru however knew about this and went swiftly from Nepal to the Dzara bagya cave in Mangyul, a district in upper Tibet bordering Nepal, where the envoy met him and apprised the guru of king’s wishes. In Tibet Guru subjugated all the evils under his domain and succeeded in completing Samye Monastery. From this monastery he propagated Buddha’s doctrine with the help of Shanta Rakshita fulfilling the wishes of King Thisrong Deotsen.

His visit to Sikkim: Guru Padmasambhava after completing his spiritual mission in Tibet selected four major hidden lands and four minor hidden lands around Tibet. During his quest for hidden lands around Tibet, paid visit to this land along with his twenty five disciples. The purpose of looking for hidden land was to prepare spiritual resorts for the Dharma practitioners who would be taking refuge in these lands in future when Dharma declines with the approach of degenerate age (sNyigs-ma lNga) in Tibet. Guru made his first visit to present Guru Dongmar Lake in North Sikkim to test an omen in the Lake. After finding a favourable sign in the lake, he miraculously landed on Tashidhing hill in west Sikkim, along with his 25 disciples and thereby sanctified entire landscape while marking this hill as a navel point of the sacred land- ‘De-jong’. Thereafter, the Guru explored the entire parts of De-jong blessing and sanctifying caves, rock, lakes, streams and left his foot prints on the rocks.

    Gurudongmar Lake, Lachen, North Sikkim.

He also concealed many religious treasures in its major places of worship for future spiritual followers. At the same time exorcised a number of Demons, Nagas and Yakshas who attempted to hinder his spiritual works and thereby inducted them in the class of the “Ney-Dag Cho-Sung” (the guardian of the sacred places and the defender of Dharma). After consecrating entire holy places he made his last wish to reappear in this sacred land in three incarnate forms in times to come as ‘Naljor Che-Zhi’ to disseminate Buddhas doctrine to his future followers.

About 1372 A.D, one treasure revealer lama called Rigdzin Goedem visited this land, revealed many treasure-texts for restoring Gurus precious teachings and also wrote about the location of the Sacred places, which had been useful to the lamas of later eras. In1642 A.D, arrived three Noble Saints from Tibet who were known as (i) Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo, (ii) Ngadag Sempa Rigzin Phuntshog and (iii) Kathog Kuntu Zangpo. They entered this sacred land from north, south and western gates as a religious way of opening a sacred land in order to carry out their holy mission to introduce Buddhism.

Coronation throne in Norbugang, Yuksam, West Sikkim.

The three Lamas first assembled at a place called NORBU GANG in western Sikkim which was later called “Yuksam” by the then living Lepchas. The lamas, acting in anticipation of Lord Guru’s prophecy, sent a search party towards the east direction to find the fourth person destined to be the Chogyal or Dharma king of this land. The party wandering through the stiff hills and valleys reached finally at present Gangtok and found the man called “Phuntshog” as mentioned in the prophecy text. They first conveyed to Phuntshog the message sent by the Noble Saints.        

  Shortly afterwards, Phuntshog left for Yuksam with his family and attendants. The Three Lamas welcomed him and accordingly consecrated “Phuntshog” as Chogyal of Demo-jong in Water-Horse year which corresponds to 1642 A.D. Four of them were known in the history as “rNal-hByor-mChed-bZhi” or Four Yogi Brothers”.

The stone thrones of the four Yogi Brothers are still stand at Norbugang at Yuksam as a milestone in the history of Sikkim. In the same year, the three lamas built a stupa at Norbugang incorporating rocks and soils collected from all parts of Sikkim to mark this important event and called it “TASHI-HODBAR CHHOEDTEN”. This Chodten may be a first Buddhist Stupa ever built in Sikkim. With the blessing of those three pioneer lamas Six premiers monasteries were founded i.e. Pemayangtse (West),Tashiding(West), Phensang (North), Ralong (South), Rumtek (East) and Phodang (North). In course of time, many other sub monasteries and religious monuments were built by the lamas and Devotees.

Today images/idols of Guru Padmasambhava are found enshrined in each and every monastery in Sikkim as main worshipping objects by the lamas. Especially on tenth day of every Tibetan month Guru Tsechu puja is performed to mark his birth anniversary as well as to pray for peace & prosperity of this land. (Ecclesiastical Department, Government of Sikkim)

The Lepchas campaign for PS Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) in remote Dzongu, North Sikkim. 

Just Out!!

Book: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland

Publisher: Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, Sikkim

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Rachna: Development Area, Gangtok, Sikkiim

Bulk copies available at Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim.

              BATTLE FOR SIKKIM      

             “It is better to light a candle

                than curse the darkness.”

                                        

                                          FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

   All those who march forward into battle in Sikkim next month in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls remember one thing: “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”

  There’s no win without a fight…so fight hard and win…win the hearts and minds of those who have placed their hope on you.

Good Luck and Cheers,

(Jigme N Kazi)

Journalist & Writer

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday March 1-7, 2014

Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com;Email:jigmekazi@gmail.com,sikkimobserver@gmail.com

The annual chham (ritualistic lama dance) being performed at Pemayangtse Monastery in West Sikkim recently during Sikkimese Losoong celebrations.

Golay to put an end to one-man rule in Sikkim

Gangtok, Feb 28: Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (Sikkim Revolutionary Front) President PS Golay’s recent declaration that his party would allow a person to contest only two times to contest Assembly polls in the State would go a long way in checking one-man rule in the former kingdom. This revolutionary step – which is aimed at laying the foundation of democracy and rooting out corruption – will certainly be welcomed by the Sikkimese people who a fed up of one party system and one-man rule in the State.

   Given the fact that Sikkim has been ruled by two men – Nar Bhandari and Pawan Kumar Chamling – for three and half decades since 1979, Golay’s move will go a long way in bringing parivartan (change) from the top. While Bhandari ruled for nearly fifteen years from 1979 to 1994, Chamling has been in power since December 1994. He wants to make a comeback for the fifth consecutive term.

  Indicating that he would be allowed to hold the post of chief ministership, if elected to power, for only ten years, Golay said his party’s constitution allows one person from the party to contest elections only two times to prevent domination of a single person.

   “The (SKM) constitution of our party allows one person to contest elections only two times. This means that the tradition of one-man supremacy would not be there in our party,” Golay said.

If the SKM forms the next government and if it sticks to its constitution it also means that more people will be encouraged to take part in electoral politics, something which is quite alien to the ruling party. (also see edit on page 2: Parivartan is Prajatantra)

GJM threatens to revive statehood demand

Darjeeling, Feb 28: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading an agitation for a separate state here is likely to start a fresh agitation from Sunday.

GJM will hold rallies in three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district  as part of its agitation to demand a separate state of Gorkhaland.

As part of its exercise to take forward the demand of Gorkhaland to the Centre, GJM will hold rallies and public meetings at Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong today, official sources said.

A GJM team will also go to New Delhi next week to meet the President, Prime Minister, leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and other important leaders to press for the demand of Gorkhaland, party sources added.

The decision to change the movement’s tenor was taken by GJM president Bimal Gurung, who told reporters at Darjeeling earlier this week that the party would wait for sometime before launching a fresh movement.

While GJM leaders were tight-lipped over the sudden change in strategy, sources said the party was compelled to change track after other Gorkha outfits questioned GJM’s sincerity to the Gorkhaland cause.

Meanwhile, after the formation of Telangana, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticized BJP and Congress for "forming an unholy nexus" in getting the T-Bill passed in the Parliament recently.

Scrap all hydel projects not cleared by Environment Ministry: SKM

SC order violated to serve vested interests

Gangtok, Feb 28: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has demanded that hydel power projects in the State, which have not been given environment clearance, be “scrapped and the projects stopped forthwith”.

While opposing the Union Forest & Environment Ministry’s recent move to reduce the protective zones around five national parks and sanctuaries in the State from 10 km to 25-200 meters, SKM spokesman and former Rajya Sabha MP, PT Gyamtso, said his party not only condemns the Centre’s latest move to destroy Sikkim’s  fragile eco-system but wants the Union Forest & Environment Ministry to immediately withdraw its “controversial notification”  to save the “rich biodiversity” of the State.

 “The draft notification for reducing these protective zones for Pangolakha, Singba Rhododendron, Fambonglho, Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuaries and the Khanchendzonga National Park …will be a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s order which requires the vetting of any development project falling within 10KM of National Park and Sanctuaries by the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife,” Gyamtso said in a press statement.

   “The Standing Committee NBW had already submitted a report to the Ministry warning that several dams were coming in the State without the mandatory clearance and Sikkim being located in Seismic Zone V faced a Goa-like situation with rampant and illegal development of these dams likely to causing devastation just as unlawful mining had done in the coastal states,” the release said and added “The Committee had reported that Teesta V, Teesta III, Dickhu, Panan, Tashiding and Ting Ting hydro-electric projects were coming up without mandatory clearance.”

The SKM noted that former Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan was a “strict person and she did not allow projects not qualifying mandatory clearance to come up in the State but now with the change in guard, the officials in the Ministry in connivance with State Government officials with vested interest have managed to convince the Minister, Environment to bypass the Apex Court order.”

 China opposes US move to appoint special coordinator for Tibetans

Sarah Sewall with the Dalai Lama

Beijing, Feb 28: China on Monday refused to recognise US government’s appointment of a special coordinator for Tibetan issues, calling it interference in its internal affairs.

“Chinese government is firmly opposed to the interference in China’s internal affairs by any foreign country under the pretext of so called Tibetan issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing.

“We have never recognised the so-called special coordinator for Tibetan issues and we will not do so in future.”

She was responding to questions on US Secretary of State John Kerry naming Sarah Sewall, the Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, to serve as special coordinator for Tibetan issues.

Her appointment was announced after a meeting between US President Barack Obama and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the White House on February 22. China had denounced the meeting as gross interference in its internal affairs.

According to the State Department, Ms. Sewall’s responsibilities will include promoting substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives.

She will coordinate government policies, programmes, and projects on Tibetan issues globally, and particularly within the context of bilateral relationships with China, India and Nepal, where there are significant populations of Tibetans, a State Department statement said.

Children of Tibetan refugees can now vote

New Delhi, Feb 28: The Election Commission (EC) has ordered all states to include children of Tibetan refugees in the electoral list. This is for the first time in 55 years that voting rights will be conferred on Tibetans in exile in the country.

According to the orders dated February 7, children of Tibetan refugees born in India between the cut-off date of 1950 and 1987, as mentioned in the Citizenship Act 1955, can no longer be denied enrollment in voters’ list. The move on part of the EC comes in the wake of an August 2013 Karnataka High Court order which paved the way for granting Indian citizenship to Tibetan refugees, The Indian Express reported.

There are about 1.20 lakh Tibetan refugees currently living across the country with their largest settlement being in Bylakuppe in Karnataka. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile is based in Dharamshala elected by a 90,000-strong voter base spread across 53 settlements in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

The EC’s move evoked mixed reactions from the community with several pro-Tibet activists terming this as a relief for Tibetan refugees who are currently deemed “stateless”. Karma Yeshi, a member of Tibetan parliament-in-exile, said, “Our aim is not to settle in India, but to eventually go back to Tibet. However, we cannot stop people from asserting their citizenship rights.”

China refutes Modi's 'expansionist mindset' remark

Beijing, Feb 28: China on Monday asserted that it had never waged a war to occupy "an inch of land of other countries", days after BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi slammed the Communist giant for its "expansionist mindset".

"You mentioned expansionism by the Chinese side. I believe all of you can see that China has never waged a war of aggression to occupy an inch of land of other countries," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters while responding to questions on Modi's remarks.

"We always reiterate that we take real actions to commit through the peaceful development path" and are committed to good neighbourliness and cooperative relations, she said.

"There has never been any armed clashes in border areas over the years. So there is very strong evidence that we have the capability to maintain peace there. This is very good for the future development of the bilateral relations," she said, highlighting that there was no major confrontation at Sino-Indian borders after the 1962 war.

"It is not only good for our two people but also to the whole region," Hua said, adding that "we hope to work together with our Indian counterpart to that end".

Modi, at a rally in Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, asked China to shed its "expansionist mindset".

"China should shed its expansionist policy and forge bilateral ties with India for peace, progress and prosperity of both the nations," he said.

"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will always remain so. No power can snatch it from us. People of Arunachal Pradesh didn't come under pressure or fear of China," Modi said.

Responding to Modi's remarks, Hua said, "our position on the Eastern sector of the boundary is very consistent and clear cut. We would like to develop good neighbourliness and friendly relations with our neighbours and resolve relevant disputes and differences through dialogue and consultations." China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet and it is part of the dispute over the 4000 km-long Line of Actual Control between the two countries.

Hua said currently China and India are maintaining good momentum of bilateral relations.

"The two leaders have degree of consensus on the significance of growing bilateral relations. We hope to settle the boundary negotiations as soon as possible," she said.

EDITORIAL

END ONE-MAN RULE

Parivartan Is Prajatantra

Prem Singh Golay’s party Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (Sikkim Revolutionary Front) needs to be applauded for its bold step in introducing the concept of ending one-man rule in Sikkim. More than anyone Pawan Chamling ought to know by now that his time is up. He has been ruling Sikkim as Chief Minister and President of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front for two decades since 1994. The fact that a large number of Sikkimese, particularly the youngters, have been supporting Golay in the past few years is a clear indication that the people are demanding change in the former kingdom. Change is a natural process in a democracy and those in power must respect it.

Ever since Sikkim’s takeover in 1975 the former kingdom has been ruled by two men: Nar Bahadur Bhandari (1979-1994) and Pawan Kumar Chamling (1994-2014). While the two leaders have made commendable contributions to the State there is the need to give opportunities to other parties and individuals to take part in the democratic process. Hopefully, SKM will form the next government and hopefully it will keep its promises of not allowing more than two terms to its legislators, including the chief minister.

94-year-old Rishang Keishing retires after 7 decades in politics

New Delhi, Feb 28: It was close to 5p.m. The sun had started setting and in an hour, there would be darkness all around. A man stood silently, taking in the surroundings of a place he had been a part of, on and off, since 1952. A place he said he would never come back to.

Rishang Keishing, 94, India’s oldest parliamentarian, has called it a day. There was no farewell handshake from his fellow MPs from the Rajya Sabha, the chairperson or other employees although everybody knew that they would perhaps not see him again. He boarded his waiting car and silently left for his residence last Wednesday.

 Keishing has had a chequered political career, getting elected four times to Parliament, twice to the Rajya Sabha. A heavyweight in Manipur politics, he worked and manoeuvred his way to become the Chief Minister four times though he could not complete any of them, as in those days there was no anti-defection law and MLAs used to change parties for loaves and fishes, The Hindu reported;.

 Keishing has worked with leaders who grace the pantheon of India’s contemporary political history, starting with Nehru. He cherishes their memory and respects every one for all that he has learnt from them. Though he started his political career as a socialist, he joined the Congress in 1964. In 1972, the United Naga Integration Council, which he floated, merged with the Congress on the ground that the “Congress has no objection to the Naga integration movement.”

But life has not been all rosy. Many were against the movement for the vivisection of Manipur on tribal lines that he was part of. Keishing’s critics said Manipur, with its 2,000 years of written history, could not be divided to appease some sections. When pressed for a comment, Keishing said “It was long time back, I do not remember much.”

Mining, quarrying banned near Sikkim wildlife sanctuary

Gangtok, Feb 28: Human activities including mining, quarrying or setting up new 'major' hydro-electric projects will not be allowed around areas up to 200 meters from the Khangchendzonga National Park and four wildlife sanctuaries in Sikkim from April.

Union environment ministry has notified these areas as 'eco-sensitive zone' in order to create some kind of "shock absorber" around the identified stretch to protect environment and wildlife.

Besides the lone national park of Sikkim, the other four wildlife sanctuaries which are to be covered under the order include Fambonglho (west of Gangtok), Kyongnosla Alpine and Pangolakha (east district) and Shingba Rhododendron (north district), The Times of India reported.

The ban order will, however, not affect the ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices, organic farming and cottage industries including village artisans in those identified zones.

The extent of eco-sensitive zone, under the notification, varies from 25 meters to 200 meters from the existing boundary of the national park and sanctuaries, depending on topography of the region and its proximity to international boundaries of Nepal and China.

Issuing the notification on Friday, the ministry of environment and forest sought public opinion on this move within 60 days so that the ministry can look into suggestions and complaints, if any, relating to extent of the eco-sensitive zone during the period. The proposed ban under the order will come into force after expiry of the 60-day deadline.

It is expected that the notification may draw ire of environmentalists who have been demanding earmarking of the 'eco-sensitive zone' up to 10 kilometers from the protected areas under Supreme Court order on perimeter of such stretch.

The apex court's order, however, empowers the state and central government to notify the perimeter of the zone based on scientific assessment, taking into account local factors including livelihood issues of local population.

Though the ministry's order will ban construction of new major hydropower projects and expansion of the big existing projects in the eco-sensitive zones, it will not affect 'micro' hydel power projects (up to 100kw) or 'mini' hydel projects (from 101 to 2000kw) which would serve the energy needs of the local communities in Sikkim.

The notification, however, emphasized that such micro or mini hydel projects would be allowed "subject to consent of the concerned Gram Sabha (village committee) and all other requisite (environmental, forest and other) clearances".

Sikkim has total eight protected areas including one national park and seven wildlife sanctuaries, covering 2,183 sq km area of the state.

After Andhra, UP can be the next state to be divided: Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi, Feb 28: Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday announced that he was personally in favour of splitting the state of Uttar Pradesh, saying it was currently too large and unwieldy to be effectively administered. Jairam Ramesh.

"For a state with a population of 200 million, it is impossible to administer. Splitting Uttar Pradesh is my personal opinion," Ramesh told CNN-IBN editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai in an interview.

.Soon after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was cleared by Parliament, Ramesh, a confidante of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, had highlighted the need for bifurcating other states with a view to improve administration.

 “This is my personal opinion that for the last 15 years good governance is not possible in Uttar Pradesh. Good governance is very difficult in today’s Uttar Pradesh. We should ponder over its future,” he had said. Soon after his statement, the BJP announced that a separate Vidarbha state would be part of the NDA's 'common minimum programme'. Ramesh's remark is perhaps a signal that the party is keen on an alliance in Uttar Pradesh with BSP Chief Mayawati, who has been vociferously demanding the bifuraction of the state. When the BSP was in power in UP, her government had in 2011 adopted resolution in the UP Assembly to that effect. Needless to say, any indication that the Congress could offer a proposed splitting up of Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election 2014 will give fresh energy to a series of other statehood demands.

The people of Vidarbha in Maharashtra have been agitating for a separate state for decades, a demand that the Congress-NCP alliance government in Maharashtra has been undecided about. The demand is to carve out about 11 districts of eastern Maharashtra, including that of Nagpur, into a state of Vidarbha.

Others who have been demanding statehood include the Gorkhas (the area around Darjeeling be declared Gorkhaland, they demand) based on the ethno-linguistic rights of the local people, Greater Cooch Behar (in northern West Bengal) and Bundelkhand, an agitation led by the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha, for areas including some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Other statehood aspirations include those of the people of 'Bodoland', Purvanchal (Eastern UP) and Harit Pradesh (Western UP).

National award for SNT, CM compliments officials

Gangtok, Feb 28: Thenlay Tshering Bhutia, Minister, Transport Department, along with Transport Department Secretary Tsegyal Tashi handed over the National Trophy and the Cash Award of 1.5 lakh to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling here last Saturday.

The Chief Minister expressed his happiness and congratulated the Minister, officers and all field staff of the Department for their achievement. He also suggested the department to provide more services to the people of the State.

During the meeting the Secretary informed the Chief Minister that the Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Road Transport and Highways,presented the National Award for Road Safety 2012-13 in the function held at New Delhi on 16th January 2014.

The Award was presented in various categories and the Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) was selected first among the Hill States of the country. The Award was presented to Sikkim Nationalized Transport for Lowest Accident Record 2012-13 in Hill Service. The Secretary also briefed about the latest development and the grievances of the department

INTERVIEW

OF THE WEEK

Federal Front will form next govt: Mamata

We cannot get rid of a corrupt government and bring a 'party of rioting' to power, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tells in an exclusive interview to Times of India where she outlines her plans for the Centre and states. The interview is being reproduced.

Times of India: If the situation demands, will you agree to become the Prime Minister? Anna Hazare has already said that he would like to see you as the next PM...

Mamata Banerjee: My life has been one of struggle for more than three decades. I have worked at the Centre and state. More than anything else, my inspiration is the people. Kursis come and go. I want to continue to work for the people

Q: You gave the 'Dilli chalo' call in Kolkata, and Trinamool has launched a joint campaign with Anna Hazare in Delhi. Leaders like TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Reddy have called on you in Kolkata. How do you see the prospects of the Federal Front?

A: Federal Front is the future. Whatever happens, will emerge only after the elections. All I can say is that the country has been badly run for 66 years since Independence. We need a change in the system. We want states to be empowered; the federal structure has to be strengthened. Currently the Centre is behaving as master and states are like its slaves. We need to change that. So, an alliance of the states must be formed. Like-minded people have to come together to save the country. We want political and economic stability. Only a tough leader can deliver good governance. Fronts like the Third Front have not worked in the past. Third Front means third class. CPM will lose elections, so there is no question of Third Front. Third Front is a tired front. I am hopeful about the federal front.

Q: Various surveys have predicted that BJP has the best prospect of coming to power and Congress may suffer severe losses. What is your prediction?

A: I am a social and political worker, not a political fortune-teller to predict what will happen after elections. Congress has lost all credibility, accountability and morality to rule. People will vote them out of power in the next elections. But BJP is not the alternative to Congress and Congress is not the alternative to BJP. We cannot do away with a corrupt government and bring a party of rioting to power. I can only say that the next government will be formed by an alliance of federal forces. I also feel that if you add the Congress and BJP seats after the LS elections, it will be far less than the halfway mark.

Q: Both Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh have criticized the Cong-led UPA government for refusing to give Bengal a moratorium on the huge debt left behind by the Left Front government. Do you expect Bengal to get better treatment if Modi becomes PM?

A: We are not beggars. Bengal does not need to go around with a begging bowl. We are only asking for what is our due. The demand for moratorium is not new. Even before the 2011 elections, the Prime Minister promised us a financial package and help us in debt restructuring. I and my finance minister had so many meetings with them, but they did not do anything. They did not keep their promise. We are working against all odds. We have doubled our tax collection in three years from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore. We have increased revenue without raising taxes by introducing better compliance in tax collection. Bengal is getting ready for a golden era after the sins of the Left.

Q: How will Bengal benefit if Trinamool turns out to be a key player in government formation at the Centre? Will it help you get the moratorium? Will it help bring more investment to Bengal? Will it fetch major investment in infrastructure?

A: We have already got investment on the basis of our own efforts. We are number one in MSME sector. The state government cleared seven new industrial projects in January with a proposed investment of Rs 3,422 crore. This includes an Emami Cements factory on 65 acres at Raghunathpur in Purulia, bringing investment worth Rs 418 crore. A Rs 5,500-crore fertiliser project in Panagarh, Rs 2,0000 crore investment by SAIL and investment worth Rs 10,000 crore for the second phase of DVC's thermal power station at Raghunathpur are also in the pipeline. Bengal has potential and we will ensure that our state becomes Sonar Bangla again. Even in infrastructure we are doing good. We will complete electrification of rural Bengal soon, we are number one in rural development.

Q: You have already said that you are not leaving Bengal. Do you have a team ready to take on the huge responsibility in Delhi? Have you given thought to taking the leadership at the Centre to determine policies if the situation so demands?

A: Bengal is my state and I belong to its soil. I have a responsibility towards the people of Bengal, as they gave me a huge mandate in 2011. After 35 years of misrule, they want good governance. It is my duty. But I feel justice can be done to both Centre and states. I want to help the Centre as well as the states. I cannot comment now what will happen after elections. And why onlyme? There are many other leaders who can be good leaders of the country. Democracy will decide the next Prime Minister, people will decide.

Q: How well can Trinamool manage the huge responsibilities in Delhi and Bengal in the event that it becomes kingmaker?

A: We are not greedy. We just want the political system in India to change. What will happen in the Centre after May, only future will tell. I can only say that our party has had ministers in the Centre. I have been railway minister twice. Before that I was cabinet minister in Rajiv Gandhi's government. My party members were ministers of state in UPA-II. I believe if someone wants, they can manage both Centre and states. What matters is policy and governance. I did a lot for Bengal as railway minister. Bengal is progressing even now.

Q: Do you perceive a harmonious relationship with the Centre in case a non-Congress government comes to power?

A: What is the function of the central government? Just to demand taxes and use CBI to strike fear? Under the current system, states have very little power. We have to change that. There should be a clear demarcation of power between Centre and states. We will always fight for the right of our state, as well as other states. We have to strengthen the federal structure. We withdrew our support to UPA-II when it went against the people. We are not afraid of anyone. We will work for the people.

Q: Name one or two schemes or a policy matter that the Federal Front government may take up after coming to power.

A: Our only target is to formulate policies that will help people. We need a change in the political system. We need electoral reforms, judicial reforms, administrative reforms. Why should a few political parties fight elections with black money? It must stop. We must let the public know of our policies. We have to develop our villages. Bengal is number one in 100-days' work. We have to strengthen the federal structure. There should be a clear demarcation of power between the Centre and states. That will be our priority.

Q: Do you support Arvind Kejriwal's quitting the Delhi government on the Jan Lokpal bill issue?

A: They are a very new party, and I do not know anything about them. It would be wrong to make any comments about them at this moment. Our party has been built on a three decades of struggle.

Q: The passing of the controversial Telangana Bill is likely to stoke fire in the Hills. So far, you have been able to restore and maintain peace in the Hills. How do you plan to address the situation?

A: What happened in Lok Sabha was more than an Emergency. It was unconstitutional. We asked for Division, which was not allowed. Even live telecast was stopped. There was some hanky-panky. Congress is in a deep soup over the creation of a new state. These things require better handling and cannot be done in a hurry just before the elections. The Centre should learn from our handling of Gorkhaland. We adopted a rough-and-tough attitude. We did not allow violent protests, but we were with the people. We gave Darjeeling the healing touch that was needed. Development is the key here, not vote-bank politics. I am happy that Darjeeling is now smiling. We even conducted the first ever celebration of Netaji's birthday outside Kolkata, in Darjeeling this year. I want the people of my State to be happy.

Just Out!!

Book: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland

Publisher: Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, Sikkim

Price: Rs. 525/-

AVAILABLE AT:

Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim

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Good Books: Old Market, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim

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Rachna: Development Area, Gangtok, Sikkiim

Bulk copies available at Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim.