MY STRUGGLE - VI: A MOVEMENT FOR RESTORATON OF POLITICAL RIGHTS
On October 10,
1999, a week after the polls (1999 Assembly elections), the OSU (Organization
of Sikkimese Unity) formed its first frontal organization – Sikkim
Khukuri-Khorlo Movement (SKKM). Pradhan – now 63 and still going strong – was
appointed President of the new body, whose main role and objective was to
“spearhead the movement for restoration of the political rights of the
Sikkimese”. The formation of the new body was well timed. It sent a clear
message to the people and those in power that the OSU would not only continue
with the seat issue but would adopt a more strident method to achieve its
objectives.
After Pradhan was appointed SKKM President
by myself as OSU Chairman we hoisted the red and yellow flag of our organization
in Gangtok for the first time. Till this point the khukuri (traditional weapon of the Nepalese) and the khorlo (wheel of dharma representing the
BLs) remained a mere symbol of the organization. The wheel, which also
represented the chakra in the national flag, also reflected the sentiments of
‘other Sikkimese’ in the State. Now, under the changed circumstances, it became
the organization’s flag, symbolizing the unity and identity of the Sikkimese
people. Formation of the SKKM was seen as a virtual revolt against those who
let us down and were bent on coming to power irrespective of the irreparable
damage done to the future of Sikkim and the Sikkimese. It not only reflected
our commitment to the common cause of all Sikkimese but also our resolve to
achieve our objectives.
The Inner Circle of Sikkim (ICS) was first
conceived in 1981 during my college days in Bombay. It took shape in the ’80s
and surfaced only in 1994, when political instability rocked the State, leading
to the abrupt downfall of the 15-year-old Bhandari Government. While the ICS
was regarded as the think-tank and top policy-making body of the organization
the SKKM became the OSU’s main frontal wing. The OSU remained as the main body
of the entire organizational set-up.
“With the formation of SKKM the movement for
restoration of the political rights of the Sikkimese people will assume a new
dimension. The SKKM will now take the initiative in ensuring the Sikkimese
people’s participation in the democratic movement,” the OSU’s Press statement
said on October 10, 1999, a historic day for the organization.
Adopting different strategies to achieve its
objectives, the OSU sought the help and cooperation of “all political and
social organizations in Sikkim and all sections of the population in the
State.” While stating that “Both the Central and State governments will also be
taken into confidence in our sincere and genuine efforts to preserve Sikkim for
the future generations of the Sikkimese people,” the OSU said it was “committed
to observing peaceful, non-violent and democratic means to achieve its
objectives.”
By openly declaring that we would take
everyone into confidence while going about our job we wanted to send a clear
message to all concerned, including the State Government, that we were open to
suggestions and ready to take help from any quarter. This message and our
sincerity in dealing with the issue in the past so many years – sometimes under
very difficult and trying circumstances – ought to have cleared all doubt and
misunderstanding and opened channels of communication with all concerned
parties, including the State Government and the ruling party (Sikkim Democratic
Front).
All parties – if they are really keen on solving
our basic political issues – should and could have seized the opportunity, got
our support and settled the issue once and for all. Our main objective was to
solve the problem and get our demands met; we were not there to take credit for
our efforts and our success. Many failed to understand this and this led to
doubt, mistrust and misunderstanding. Those looking for personal and political
gains on the issue either doubted our motive or refused to join hands with us
as they feared being left out in the cold. Our credibility, competence and
commitment to the cause made those who profess to also champion the same cause
insignificant and insecure. This was indeed the main reason why they failed or
deliberately did not cooperate and caused unnecessary obstacles in our fight
for our survival. If you yourself are not trustworthy you also fail to trust
others. In such a situation ‘common cause’ becomes the ultimate victim.
Despite the OSU’s pledge that it would not
take part in electoral politics in the State unless seats in the Assembly were
restored to the Sikkimese, the political establishment had great doubt on us
and tried to suppress our movement through devious means. It felt that if we –
KC-Jigme combine (KC Pradhan is often referred to as ‘KC’) – succeeded in our
mission it would lead to the eclipse of many politicians and political parties,
which for a long time have been fooling and misleading the people on the said
issue for their vested interests.
One of the top bureaucrats close to Chamling
from the BL community tried to arrange secret meetings between Pradhan and the
Chief Minister during this period. Why doesn’t Chamling want to meet me or for
that matter the entire OSU team? Had Chamling done this he would surely have
benefitted a great deal. The precarious situation we were facing made me write
the editorial in the Observer in
December 1999 under the caption “Sikkim’s Future: Agents of Disunity At Work”:
“The move initiated by some senior bureaucrats from the minority Bhutia-Lepcha
community on the demand for restoration of Assembly seats in the State is not
very encouraging. Their negative attitude towards those who are genuinely
involved in the movement for restoration of the democratic rights of the
Sikkimese people as per the terms and spirit of Sikkim’s ‘merger’ reflects a
colonial mindset and sycophancy that is gradually growing in the State
administration. To please their political masters they are going against the
hopes and aspirations of the Sikkimese people, who are looking for ways to
safeguard their long-term rights and interests in the land of their origin.
For nearly a decade and half after the
‘merger’ the legitimate rights of the Sikkimese people belonging to the three
ethnic communities have been suppressed. Under the leadership of Pawan Chamling
the Sikkimese people were successful in ensuring that a climate of fear was
removed and the democratic process reinstated. Having fought for restoration of
democracy in the State it is now the right and the responsibility of the Sikkimese
people to openly and fearlessly come together and march ahead hand-in-hand for
their ultimate fight to preserve the distinct identity of Sikkim within the
Union.”
The editorial added: “Any move to browbeat
or suppress the Sikkimese people’s movement for a special place in the Indian
Union cannot and must not be tolerated. All those who have an evil design and a
hidden agenda for Sikkim will surely be exposed even as they consciously or
unconsciously reveal their true nature. While adjustments can be made on minor
matters there cannot be any compromise on basic issues that concern the
Sikkimese people.
The leadership of the Organization of
Sikkimese Unity (OSU), which is spearheading the demand for restoration of all
the 32 seat in the Assembly to bonafide Sikkimese belonging to the three ethnic
communities, have rightly observed that they will not bow to the diktats of
those who are unwilling to fight for the unity and identity of the Sikkimese
people.
What should rightly be brought to the notice
of the public is the attempt made by some highly-placed bureaucrats to either
buy off or cause a split in the organizations, including OSU, which are
hell-bent on preserving Sikkim for the coming generations of the Sikkimese
people. One senior officer pointed out that Revenue Order No 1 fully protected
the interest of the minority community and it was unwise to demand restoration
of Assembly seats for the original Bhutia-Lepchas in the State. Is this
acceptable to the BLs? Certainly not. In a small State like Sikkim restoration
of the democratic rights through seat reservation is the only weapon to ensure
the survival of the Sikkimese against massive influx in the State.
Another senior officer is making concerted
attempts in causing disunity and misunderstanding among the OSU leadership. His
attempts to arrange secret meetings with one of the OSU leaders with the
powers-that-be is an indication that something is wrong somewhere. These
developments must be viewed in the light of the Government’s attempts to
crackdown on those who recently organized a 12-hour hunger strike on the seat
issue on October 2.”
The editorial reiterated its stand on the
Assembly seat issue: “For the first time in the past twenty five years a
serious and genuine attempt is being made by concerned citizens to respect the
mandate given by the Sikkimese people on the seat issue. Ever since the
abolition of Assembly seats reserved for the Sikkimese people in 1979 to this
day the Sikkimese people have voiced their legitimate concern for their future
survival in the State. “
The editorial added: “A handful of
politicians and bureaucrats cannot and must not be allowed to suppress the
democratic urges of the Sikkimese people for their vested interests. The
Sikkimese people will certainly be faced with many challenges in the near
future. When a new situation comes into being and when the Sikkimese people are
on the crossroad they ought to take note of who their real friends and enemies
are. Sometimes wolves are clothed in sheep’s clothing. The time is nearing when
the sheep and the goats will be forced to take their rightful place in society.
To avoid any embarrassing situation the concerned authorities must fall in line
and bow down to the wishes of the people. As the new millennium approaches
Sikkim and the Sikkimese people will be given a new opportunity to redefine
their place in the world’s largest democracy. What is needed is reconciliation
and a more positive attitude to move forward together.”
(Ref: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland,
Jigme N. Kazi, Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, 2014, jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com)
