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/-

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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.