HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 16-23, 2013  

Abide by SC verdict on IT issue: Chamling

Gangtok, July 16: While stating that the State Government would abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on a petition filed by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS), Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government would, however, contest the issue legally.

This decision came during a meeting of the ruling party’s legislature party held here on Sunday. During the celebrations of Bhanu Jayanti on Saturday, Chamling said the matter regarding income tax exemption for old settlers of the State was in the apex court and would be “dealt legally” and “we should now abide by the court decision,” an IPR release said.

Chamling pointed out that he was in favour of IT exemption for old settlers. However, the Chief Minister’s failure to defend the Sikkimese Nepalese against the AOSS’s allegation in its writ petition that they were ‘foreigners’ has not gone down well with the people. In fact, Chamling said the Opposition had misguided the people on the issue.

Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F have also been sharply criticized by the Opposition. He is supposed to have said that it was up to the Centre if it wants to scrap Art. 371F from the Constitution. This article provides special status to Sikkim.

Opposition parties, including Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), said Art 371F is based on assurances given to Sikkim during the merger in 1975. The SPCC said if the Chief Minister is not able to safeguard bonafide Sikkimese he should step down.

Nepal hurdle: delimitation of constituencies

Kathmandu, July 16: Nepal is facing a constitutional hurdle over delimitation of electoral constituencies as it prepares for November 19 constituent assembly (CA) elections.

According to political leaders, if the problem is not addressed immediately, it will affect the election plan. For delimitating the constituencies under the first-past-the-post election system, the government has formed a constituency delimitation commission (CDC) a month ago but it has not made any progress yet. In 2008 CA elections, there were 240 electoral constituencies but they need to be re-demarcated as per the 2011 national census.

On the one hand constitution calls for increasing the constituencies in line with the population increase, but on the other hand it prohibits increasing the constituencies beyond 240. The CDC held discussion with top leaders of four major parties yesterday for clearing the hurdle.

“The CDC representatives told us about the constitutional difficulties and we are working to remove it,” NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

Parties are also divided on the basis of constituency delimitation.

‘No political intention behind subsidy cut to Bhutan’

PM congratulates Bhutan PDP leaders

Bhutan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Tshering Tobgay

New Delhi, July 16: India said Monday it looks forward to “intensive consultations” as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan and denied there was any political or other intention in the subsidy cut of kerosene and cooking gas to the Himalayan nation.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “We expect intensive consultations as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan.”

To a query on subsidy cut, he clarified that “the issue of subsidy relates to the delivery mechanisms of India’s development partnership with Bhutan, it has no political or other intentions,” IANS reported.

“We will certainly engage with Bhutan on this,” he said.

He also clarified that it was not “the intension of India to in any way adversely impact on the poor in Bhutan or on people in Bhutan in any manner”.

India “looks forward to engaging on this matter with Bhutan as soon as possible”, he said.

India had cut off the kerosene and cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan last month as the 10th Plan, under which India was providing such assistance, expired on June 30.

The spokesperson described the election process in Bhutan, in which the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious, as the “consolidation of democracy” in the Himalayan country.

The PDP won the elections, capturing 32 seats, while the incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa of former Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley could manage just 15 seats in the 47-member National Assembly. The elections were Bhutan’s second parliamentary elections since the country became a democracy in 2008.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday written to PDP leader Tshering Tobgay, congratulating him on his party’s victory and promised India’s “steadfast and unflinching support”.

He also assured that New Delhi will remain “sensitive to Bhutan and its interests” and said he has instructed his officials to “prepare for the discussions on our plan assistance to Bhutan”.

“I would like to avail of this opportunity to assure you of the steadfast and unflinching support of India and its citizens for the steady steps that Bhutan is taking to further strengthen democratic processes and institutions. India is a privileged partner of Bhutan and it’s people in their socio-economic progress and development,” Singh said in a statement.

Citizenship certificates issued to ‘foreigners’: Baidya

Baidya

Kathmandu, July 16: Despite haggling among political parties over the distribution of citizenship certificates, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) gave out over 600,000 national IDs in one month.

With a view to ensuring participation of citizens in the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for November 19, the government had launched two campaigns-one involving mobile teams and the integrated citizenship distribution campaign-across the country in the third week of April.

A Home Ministry source said 181,713 citizenship cards - 107,966 for women and 73,747 for men-were distributed at the local level under the mobile distribution campaign, The Kathmandu Post reported.

A citizenship certificate is mandatory for anyone to be listed in the new voter roll with photo and finger prints. According to Ministry officials, 421,381 citizenship cards-205,744 for females and 16,937 for males-were distributed under the integrated campaign. Records at the Ministry show that the number of certificates acquired by women in both the campaigns was higher than that acquired by men.

However, Madhes-based parties claim that their voters are still deprived of citizenship cards, while other parties like the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Rastriya Janamorcha have been demanding formation of a high-level panel to look into the distribution campaigns. They claim that the ID cards were being distributed "haphazardly."

Baidya has been publicly saying that the campaigns were aimed at distributing citizenship certificates to "foreigners".

"In the name of Citizenship Ordinance, the government has misused the citizenship certificates by distributing them to foreigners. Our party has officially decided to launch a nationwide awareness campaign against the rampant misuse of the national IDs," CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said.

Many Madhes-based parties are saying that the special campaigns have failed to incorporate a significant portion of the population in the Tarai who are without the certificates.

Himalayan Guardian July 17-23, 2013

Editorial

RISKY VENTURE

Bhutan Polls: From 2 to 31

Despite its prompt denial India will find it very difficult to erase the widely-held notion that its last-minute withdrawal of subsidy on kerosene and cooking gas during the election process has not affected the poll results to Bhutan’s National Assembly. The very fact that the ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (PDP) won only 14 of the 47 seats in the Assembly while its rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s poll fortune rose to 31 from the previous 2 makes one doubt about the poll process, particularly when the outgoing Prime Minister Jigme Thinley was doing a good job.

An editorial in Kuensel, Bhutan's English-language daily - in which the government holds 51 per cent shares - wrote: "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections."

New Delhi will have a lot of explaining to do in future and by – knowingly and unknowingly – influencing the outcome of the polls India will find itself in an uncomfortable position in the high Himalayas where China is increasingly becoming militarily and economically more aggressive.

Even powerful western countries are unable to ignore China these days and New Delhi’s discomfort on Thinley’s meeting with the former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of 

a multilateral meeting in Rio in 2012 was unnecessary. Indo-Bhutan’s relations are strong and cannot be easily disturbed. However, China’s dominance in the region cannot also be easily ignored. If Bhutanese leaders wish to learn how New Delhi plays its game in this strategic region they could learn a lot from the two former Himalayan kingdoms – Sikkim and Nepal.

Article 371F is based on 1973 Tripartite Agreement: Upreti

Gangtok, July 16: Former minister KN Upreti while criticizing Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F said this special provision in the Constitution is a product of India’s promises made during the merger as reflected in the historic Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973.

In a press statement, Upreti said it is “absolutely wrong” for the Chief Minister to say that “Article 371F stands at the pleasure or whim and wishes of the Central Government and so long as the Center desires and the Center may take away these privileges at any time if they desire.”

“Chamling should know that Article 371F is the product of pre-merger 8th May tri-partite agreement between the Chogyal, the Government of India and the political parties of Sikkim, which ensured full Constitutional safeguard to the three ethnic sections of the people of Sikkim namely – Sikkimese of Bhutia origins, Sikkimese of Lepcha origins and the Sikkimese of Nepali origins, who enjoyed full local protection right as Sikkim subjects during the pre-merger Chogyal’s Government,” Upreti said.

 “Taking advantage of such weak stand of our leaders and successive Governments a lot of encroachment and dilution has taken place from time to time. The Government with full majority of peoples’ representative in the house is fully responsible for taking strong stand on the matter and at no cost they should surrender or wholly be dependent on the court’s verdict,” Upreti added.

He went on to say, “High Courts or the Supreme Court are not the authority to make laws but their job is only to examine legally whether the laws made by the Parliament or the Assembly are right and is implemented properly.”

 “The Government instead of keeping mum and watching the situation should spell out their clear stand as to what steps they are going to take in the event of any aggression on encroachment on 371F of the Constitution,” the former minister said.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 16-23, 2013  

Abide by SC verdict on IT issue: Chamling

Gangtok, July 16: While stating that the State Government would abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on a petition filed by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS), Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said his government would, however, contest the issue legally.

This decision came during a meeting of the ruling party’s legislature party held here on Sunday. During the celebrations of Bhanu Jayanti on Saturday, Chamling said the matter regarding income tax exemption for old settlers of the State was in the apex court and would be “dealt legally” and “we should now abide by the court decision,” an IPR release said.

Chamling pointed out that he was in favour of IT exemption for old settlers. However, the Chief Minister’s failure to defend the Sikkimese Nepalese against the AOSS’s allegation in its writ petition that they were ‘foreigners’ has not gone down well with the people. In fact, Chamling said the Opposition had misguided the people on the issue.

Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F have also been sharply criticized by the Opposition. He is supposed to have said that it was up to the Centre if it wants to scrap Art. 371F from the Constitution. This article provides special status to Sikkim.

Opposition parties, including Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), said Art 371F is based on assurances given to Sikkim during the merger in 1975. The SPCC said if the Chief Minister is not able to safeguard bonafide Sikkimese he should step down.

Nepal hurdle: delimitation of constituencies

Kathmandu, July 16: Nepal is facing a constitutional hurdle over delimitation of electoral constituencies as it prepares for November 19 constituent assembly (CA) elections.

According to political leaders, if the problem is not addressed immediately, it will affect the election plan. For delimitating the constituencies under the first-past-the-post election system, the government has formed a constituency delimitation commission (CDC) a month ago but it has not made any progress yet. In 2008 CA elections, there were 240 electoral constituencies but they need to be re-demarcated as per the 2011 national census.

On the one hand constitution calls for increasing the constituencies in line with the population increase, but on the other hand it prohibits increasing the constituencies beyond 240. The CDC held discussion with top leaders of four major parties yesterday for clearing the hurdle.

“The CDC representatives told us about the constitutional difficulties and we are working to remove it,” NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

Parties are also divided on the basis of constituency delimitation.

‘No political intention behind subsidy cut to Bhutan’

PM congratulates Bhutan PDP leaders

Bhutan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Tshering Tobgay

New Delhi, July 16: India said Monday it looks forward to “intensive consultations” as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan and denied there was any political or other intention in the subsidy cut of kerosene and cooking gas to the Himalayan nation.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “We expect intensive consultations as soon as a new government is in place in Bhutan.”

To a query on subsidy cut, he clarified that “the issue of subsidy relates to the delivery mechanisms of India’s development partnership with Bhutan, it has no political or other intentions,” IANS reported.

“We will certainly engage with Bhutan on this,” he said.

He also clarified that it was not “the intension of India to in any way adversely impact on the poor in Bhutan or on people in Bhutan in any manner”.

India “looks forward to engaging on this matter with Bhutan as soon as possible”, he said.

India had cut off the kerosene and cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan last month as the 10th Plan, under which India was providing such assistance, expired on June 30.

The spokesperson described the election process in Bhutan, in which the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious, as the “consolidation of democracy” in the Himalayan country.

The PDP won the elections, capturing 32 seats, while the incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa of former Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley could manage just 15 seats in the 47-member National Assembly. The elections were Bhutan’s second parliamentary elections since the country became a democracy in 2008.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday written to PDP leader Tshering Tobgay, congratulating him on his party’s victory and promised India’s “steadfast and unflinching support”.

He also assured that New Delhi will remain “sensitive to Bhutan and its interests” and said he has instructed his officials to “prepare for the discussions on our plan assistance to Bhutan”.

“I would like to avail of this opportunity to assure you of the steadfast and unflinching support of India and its citizens for the steady steps that Bhutan is taking to further strengthen democratic processes and institutions. India is a privileged partner of Bhutan and it’s people in their socio-economic progress and development,” Singh said in a statement.

Citizenship certificates issued to ‘foreigners’: Baidya

Baidya

Kathmandu, July 16: Despite haggling among political parties over the distribution of citizenship certificates, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) gave out over 600,000 national IDs in one month.

With a view to ensuring participation of citizens in the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for November 19, the government had launched two campaigns-one involving mobile teams and the integrated citizenship distribution campaign-across the country in the third week of April.

A Home Ministry source said 181,713 citizenship cards - 107,966 for women and 73,747 for men-were distributed at the local level under the mobile distribution campaign, The Kathmandu Post reported.

A citizenship certificate is mandatory for anyone to be listed in the new voter roll with photo and finger prints. According to Ministry officials, 421,381 citizenship cards-205,744 for females and 16,937 for males-were distributed under the integrated campaign. Records at the Ministry show that the number of certificates acquired by women in both the campaigns was higher than that acquired by men.

However, Madhes-based parties claim that their voters are still deprived of citizenship cards, while other parties like the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Rastriya Janamorcha have been demanding formation of a high-level panel to look into the distribution campaigns. They claim that the ID cards were being distributed "haphazardly."

Baidya has been publicly saying that the campaigns were aimed at distributing citizenship certificates to "foreigners".

"In the name of Citizenship Ordinance, the government has misused the citizenship certificates by distributing them to foreigners. Our party has officially decided to launch a nationwide awareness campaign against the rampant misuse of the national IDs," CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said.

Many Madhes-based parties are saying that the special campaigns have failed to incorporate a significant portion of the population in the Tarai who are without the certificates.

Himalayan Guardian July 17-23, 2013

Editorial

RISKY VENTURE

Bhutan Polls: From 2 to 31

Despite its prompt denial India will find it very difficult to erase the widely-held notion that its last-minute withdrawal of subsidy on kerosene and cooking gas during the election process has not affected the poll results to Bhutan’s National Assembly. The very fact that the ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (PDP) won only 14 of the 47 seats in the Assembly while its rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s poll fortune rose to 31 from the previous 2 makes one doubt about the poll process, particularly when the outgoing Prime Minister Jigme Thinley was doing a good job.

An editorial in Kuensel, Bhutan's English-language daily - in which the government holds 51 per cent shares - wrote: "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections."

New Delhi will have a lot of explaining to do in future and by – knowingly and unknowingly – influencing the outcome of the polls India will find itself in an uncomfortable position in the high Himalayas where China is increasingly becoming militarily and economically more aggressive.

Even powerful western countries are unable to ignore China these days and New Delhi’s discomfort on Thinley’s meeting with the former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of 

a multilateral meeting in Rio in 2012 was unnecessary. Indo-Bhutan’s relations are strong and cannot be easily disturbed. However, China’s dominance in the region cannot also be easily ignored. If Bhutanese leaders wish to learn how New Delhi plays its game in this strategic region they could learn a lot from the two former Himalayan kingdoms – Sikkim and Nepal.

Article 371F is based on 1973 Tripartite Agreement: Upreti

Gangtok, July 16: Former minister KN Upreti while criticizing Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s remarks on Article 371F said this special provision in the Constitution is a product of India’s promises made during the merger as reflected in the historic Tripartite Agreement of May 8, 1973.

In a press statement, Upreti said it is “absolutely wrong” for the Chief Minister to say that “Article 371F stands at the pleasure or whim and wishes of the Central Government and so long as the Center desires and the Center may take away these privileges at any time if they desire.”

“Chamling should know that Article 371F is the product of pre-merger 8th May tri-partite agreement between the Chogyal, the Government of India and the political parties of Sikkim, which ensured full Constitutional safeguard to the three ethnic sections of the people of Sikkim namely – Sikkimese of Bhutia origins, Sikkimese of Lepcha origins and the Sikkimese of Nepali origins, who enjoyed full local protection right as Sikkim subjects during the pre-merger Chogyal’s Government,” Upreti said.

 “Taking advantage of such weak stand of our leaders and successive Governments a lot of encroachment and dilution has taken place from time to time. The Government with full majority of peoples’ representative in the house is fully responsible for taking strong stand on the matter and at no cost they should surrender or wholly be dependent on the court’s verdict,” Upreti added.

He went on to say, “High Courts or the Supreme Court are not the authority to make laws but their job is only to examine legally whether the laws made by the Parliament or the Assembly are right and is implemented properly.”

 “The Government instead of keeping mum and watching the situation should spell out their clear stand as to what steps they are going to take in the event of any aggression on encroachment on 371F of the Constitution,” the former minister said.

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   July 13-19,  2013    

Gangtok rally against ‘foreigner’ tag

“We are Sikkimese, not Foreigners”

Gangtok, July 12: In a bid to put more pressure on old settlers to erase the ‘foreigner’ tag on Sikkimese Nepalese in their petition in the Supreme Court a large section of the people in the State, particularly Nepalese, held a rally here yesterday.

Held under the aegis of Denzong Welfare Association (DWA), the rally started at 5^th Mile in Tadong and ended at the Paljor Stadium. Supported by several social organizations and political parties the rally was organized to ensure that the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) either withdraw or amend its application in the apex court that reportedly stated that Sikkimese Nepalese in the State are ‘foreigners’. This has greatly hurt the sentiments of the people, particularly the Sikkimese Nepalese who are one of the three ethnic communities of the former kingdom and possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate.

One of the placards in the rally said, “We are Sikkkimese Not Foreigners.” The Sikkim People”s Forum headed by former chief secretary PK Pradhan, which is likely to play a major role on the issue, will meet Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on the issue. It has called everyone to respond to the need of the hour in a peaceful manner.

Incidentally, the matter is being heard in the Supreme Court today and AOSS has already assured that it would amend its petition to placate the Sikkimese Nepalese.

SDF govt ‘dictatorial’, democracy suppressed: SNPP

 Demands Subba & Co’s release

    SHRP supporters on protest-mode on ‘foreigner’ tag

Gangtok, July 12: The Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) has strongly condemned the arrest of A.D. Subba, President of the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP), and other members of the party for protesting against Sikkimese Nepalese being labeled as ‘foreigners’ by members of the old settlers in the State.

SNPP President Biraj Adhikari said his party “strongly protests the attempt to deny any form of democratic protests by the dictatorial Government of the Sikkim Democratic Front.”

Adhikari in a press statement said the attack “is another example of the high handedness of the State government after the barbaric police attacks on the office of another opposition party in the state.”

The SNPP also expressed its surprise “at the utter lack of sensitivity of the administration to the heightened sense of anger of the majority community in Sikkim due to the petition” of the old settlers filed before the Supreme Court.

“The party demands that all detainees be released without condition immediately and suggests that the administration be more vigilant when tackling democratic forms of protest in the future,” the release added.

Subba, who was undergoing medical treatment at the STNM hospital here on Wednesday, has alleged that  some of his party members who were arrested were beaten up in police custody. This allegation has been denied by Police authorities.

DIG (Range) Sikkim Police, MS Tuli said SHRP took out the procession without permission and have been booked under sections 188, 353, 283m 436 and 34 IPC.

Stop Teesta projects: West Bengal

Kolkata, July 12: West Bengal wants the Centre to stop all future hydel projects on the Teesta river, the State's Irrigation Minister Rajib Bandopadhyay says.

Bandopadhyay told bdnews24.com that he has taken up the issue with chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has agreed to move Delhi on the issue.

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation ( NHPC) has already set up three hydel projects on the Teesta in East Sikkim and at Kalijhora and Ranvi on the Bengal-Sikkim border.

"They (NHPC) have plans for ten more such projects to generate power from the Teesta. But this cannot be allowed," Bandopadhyay said.

The Minister said that while these projects may be run of the river types and would not involve much reservoir storage, sudden release of water from the upstream during the monsoon could lead to an Uttarakhand type disaster from areas alongside the Teesta downstream.

"It could wipe out huge populations in West Bengal and perhaps further down in Bangladesh if there's such surge in water volume due to abrupt release," Bandopadhyay said, citing experts in his department.

The town of Jalpaiguri suffered heavily during 1968 in such an event when the Teesta swelled up suddenly due to heavy rush of water from upstream.

The NHPC, he said, have finalised these projects including the ten latest ones without consulting West Bengal, which was clearly unacceptable.

China defends latest Ladakh incursion, says PLA troops were patrolling its side of LAC

Beijing, July 12: Virtually defending the latest incursion by the PLA in the Chumar sector in Ladakh, China on Wednesday said its troops were patrolling on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and asserted that "status quo" should not be changed pending a final settlement.

"I have seen the relevant reports but I am not aware of the specific situation", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing when asked about the incident that took place ahead of Defence Minister AK Antony's visit to Beijing last week, PTI reported.

"Chinese Defence forces have been patrolling along the Chinese side of the LAC of the China-India border", she said. "The general situation in the border areas is stable. We have the consensus that pending the final settlement of the boundary question no one of us (none from India or China) should change the status quo along the LAC", she said, indirectly asserting that neither side should resort to any infrastructure development.

Aerial view of five tents erected by intruding Chinese troops inside Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi sector of Ladakh

"China would like to make joint efforts with the Indian side to safeguard peace and tranquillity of the border areas", Hua said. The incident took place on June 17 when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops intruded into the Chumar sector in Ladakh and smashed some bunkers besides cutting wires of cameras installed at the Indian border post.

While the Army headquarters is tight-lipped about the incident, the broken camera equipment was returned to an Indian Army patrol at a flag meeting on July 3 in Chusul area following furious negotiations between the two sides, DNA reported.

Chumar, a remote village on Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh border, is being claimed by China as its own territory

China, India pledge on border

More talks for troops in Sikkim, Ladakh and Arunachal

New Delhi, July 12: India and China on Saturday pledged to strengthen the existing agreements on maintaining peace and tranquility along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two sides also agreed on a slew of confidence-building measures, including increased military-to-military contact and frequent border meetings between commanders.

“Peace and tranquility on the border was an important guarantor for the growth and development of bilateral cooperation, trust and understanding between the two militaries,” said a joint statement released after Defence Minister AK Antony met his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan at Beijing, The Tribune reported.

The two Asian giants agreed to quickly conclude negotiations on the proposed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement. The two ministers announced greater interaction between their defence forces. This is major change as India had suspended all military relations with China after the latter refused visa to its General and chief of the northern command in 2009.

Antony and his counterpart reviewed the working of various agreements and protocols to maintain calm at the border. A standoff in Ladakh had escalated tension between the two sides in April this year.

The joint statement listed new proposals to ramp up military ties. Senior military commanders from service headquarters, command/military region and field formations will go on exchange visits on a regular basis. Troops stationed on the border will engage in talks more often. The border personnel meetings will now take place with greater frequency and at more locations.    

   Currently, such meetings take place twice in a year at each of the three designated spots - Chusul in Ladakh, Nathula in Sikkim and Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh. The two navies will increase ship visits, consider conducting joint maritime search and rescue exercises and cooperate in counter-piracy operations. Similarly, the air forces will expand their functional exchanges. Military training institutions will also strengthen their exchanges at the faculty and student levels.

General Chang Wanquan has accepted Antony’s invitation to visit India. Antony’s visit to China was the first by an Indian Defence Minister since 2006.

Editorial

SUPREME COURT VERDICT

Cleaning Up The System

The Supreme Court’s latest bid to clean up the political system in the country should be welcomed. Those, including politicians and political parties, opposing it giving some lame excuses should be ignored. The Supreme Court has said parliamentarians and lawmakers convicted of a crime will be immediately disqualified. The court struck down as ultra vires, or invalid, a provision of the Representation of the People Act, which protects legislators and gives them three months to file an appeal. The SC decision will not apply to lawmakers who have been convicted and have filed their appeals in the higher courts before the pronouncement of this verdict. The court order also says a convicted lawmaker cannot contest elections again or cast his/her vote from jail.This ruling could lead to several lawmakers in Parliament and state assemblies losing their seats. According to findings by the Association for Democratic Reforms, an NGO, 1,460 sitting MPs and MLAs face criminal charges in various cases.

Under Sec 8(3) of the RPA, a person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from contesting elections. Further, he or she cannot contest for six years even after acquittal. However, sub-section 8(4) says a lawmaker, if convicted, cannot be disqualified if he or she files an appeal in a higher court within three months. The court’s decision should come as welcome news for the election commission, which has been pushing for this amendment in the law for a while now. Political parties have opposed such a step by reasoning that it would lead to people levying false charges against politicians to prevent them from contesting.

Sikkim district on priority list for health care

Gangtok, July 12: One of the districts in the State has been identified as one of the 184 high priority districts (HPD) in the country which will receive funds from the Centre for health care facilities.

The high priority dictricts (HPDs) were decided based on their poor indicators. Relative ranking of districts has been done within a state (based on composite index) and bottom 25 per cent of the districts have been selected as high focus districts for that state, senior health officials said, PTI reported.

These 184 HPDs include 17 districts from Madhya Pradesh, 19 from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Rajasthan and Bihar, 9 from Maharashtra, 8 from Gujarat, Karnataka, 6 from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, 5 from Haryana, Manipur, Chattisgarh, Punjab and West Bengal, 4 from Meghalaya and Mizoram, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh, 3 from Kerala and Uttarakhand and one Pondicherry, Sikkim and Tripura.

Sikkim women rescued from Goa prostitution den

Panaji, July 12: Eighteen women, most of them from northeastern states and Nepal, were rescued after a raid on a Goa night club which doubled up as a prostitution den, police said on Monday.

Two people, including a pimp and the night club's owner Ronnie Chakravarthy, were arrested after the Saturday raid in Calangute, said police inspector Nilesh Rane.

"The victims are mainly from Manipur, Sikkim and Nepal. There was a Goan girl too. They had been hired as waitresses and dancers, but in fact they were used for prostitution," Rane said.

Calangute, located 20 km from Panaji, is one of the most popular beach villages in Goa and known for its night life.

20 weavers undergo handloom training in East Sikkim

Gangtok, July 12: A 60-day Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS) training on handloom weaving for 20 weavers of Rongney, East Sikkim sponsored by Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Government of India, Ministry of Textiles and organized by Sikkim Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd., , Gangtok was concluded on Saturday.

The programme was attended by the Panchayats of 30 – Rongey – Tathangchen G.P.U. Indra Maya Pradhan, Vice-President, Rinzing Dorjee Bhutia, Panchayat Secretary, Munna Chettri, Member, Shanti Gurung, Member and officer of D.H.H. Chozang Tshering Lepcha, Deputy Director (Training), and Jigme Pintso Bhutia, Assistant Director (IHDS).

Jigme Pintso Bhutia, Assistant Director (IHDS), informed the weavers on information relating to handloom sector development i.e. health & life insurance, weavers credit card, yarn pass book, subsidy on yarn, mill gate price etc. in the State.

The Panchayats were very thankful to the department for organizing such training in their area. Looms, accessories and raw materials were also distributed to weavers through the Panchayats for initiating the launch of their first products. Certificates were also awarded to the trainees.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 10-16, 2013  

Editorial

DEALING WITH GRAFT

China Takes The Lead

China’s new leader Xi Jinping has kept his promises to eradicate the administration of corruption. This week, China’s former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun has been given a suspended death sentence by a Beijing court for corruption and abuse of power. The 60-year-old former minister has been accused of accepting bribes to the tune of USD 10.53 million over a period of 25 years when he was in power. The combined punishment for Liu's crimes is death penalty with a two-year reprieve, deprival of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property.The stiff sentence against him comes in the wake of promise by China's new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping to crackdown hard on corruption.

During his tenure as railways minister, Liu helped his relatives to win cargo transportation contracts and railway construction contracts. He also helped them in the acquisition of shares in a bullet train wheel set company, and with enterprise financing, by breaking regulations and applying favoritism. In India, the slow pace of investigation and lengthy court processes make a mockery of our justice system. Worse still is the fact that our political leadership – at the Centre as well as in the states – do not have the will to fight corruption.

Chief Secy inspects drinking water source, tells officials to do their job well

Gangtok July 9: Chief Secretary R Ongmu along with the Secretary P.H.E T.B Rajalim, Chief Engineer, contractor and other concerned officials from the department visited Rateychu the reservoir of the drinking water for the capital on Saturday.

During this visit the Chief Secretary inspected various work for Greater Gangtok Water Supply Schemes, and appealed to them to complete the work in the stipulated time frame with quality work in mind, an IPR release said.

She also urged the Secretary and the concerned officials of the department to have good road map for future to give regular supply of drinking water for the people of Gangtok possibly by also increasing the amount of supply from the current rate, keeping in mind the target for the next twenty years.

Ongmu also assured full cooperation from her side and also informed that there won’t be any constraint of funds for the ongoing work in the area for the continuous supply of drinking water for the residents of Gangtok.

Stop AADHAAR scheme, its encouraging influx:KSU

Shillong, July 9: Citing influx as a major concern, a powerful students group in Meghalaya on Thursday asked the government not to go ahead with the National Population Register (NPR) biometric enrolment, and the implementation of the Aadhaar scheme in the State.

The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) expressed the need to put on hold the proposed enrolment drive as the State first requires stronger mechanisms to check influx.

"Our demand from the state government is to stop this biometric enrollment and implementation of Aadhaar. Amidst our focus on the need to have strong mechanisms to check influx, this enrolment will defeat the purpose of checking the menace of influx in the state," said KSU supremo Daniel Khyriem, IANS reported.

He alleged that the NPR biometric enrolment or implementation of Aadhaar will only facilitate "outsiders" to strengthen their claim of being genuine residents of Meghalaya.

The NPR biometric enrolment will lead to the implementation of the Unique Identification number (UID) in the state. After the enrolment comes to a close, each individual will be provided with the UID number.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) aims to provide UID or Aadhaar, a 12-digit ID number, to all residents on a voluntary basis.

The NPR biometric enrolment in the state commenced on June 21 from Raj Bhavan where Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary was the first in the state to have completed the process.

The biometric enrolment in the state is part of the second phase of data collection for NPR. The first phase of this national exercise was completed in 2010 along with the housing and house listing operations for the 2011 Census.

Save Kabi Longtsok activists get Chief Secy’s assurance on historic site

‘Save Kabi Longtsok’ protest at Kabi, North Sikkim, recently.

Gangtok, July 9: The Save Kabi Longtsok Committee (SKLC) has been assured by Chief Secretary R. Ongmu that the Government would not allow the sacred and historic site to be defiled, according to Committee President Sonam Tshering Bhutia.

The assurance was given when a delegation of monk body and Committee members led by Venerable Champo Lhendup and Acharya Phigu Lama of Kabi Sangha Thargayling monastery, met the Chief Secretary last weekend, according to a press release of the SKLC.

“During the interaction she gave us a patient hearing and assured us that she will not allow the holy place to get defiled as she was well versed with the facts, the sacredness and importance of Kabi Longtsok and Sikkim’s history,” the release said.

The Chief Secretary also assured the delegation that the proposed ‘beautification and development’ project at the historic site of Kabi Lungtstok in North Sikkim “will be seriously scrutinised and shifted from the present sacred site,” the release added.

LOGO DESIGN CONTEST

            The Tsuklakhang Trust is a religious charitable trust dedicated to uphold and propagate for the benefit of all sentient beings the traditional religious, social customs, ceremonies and teachings expounded by Guru Rimpoche. This was patronized by successive Chogyals of Sikkim and on 26^th of August 1982 His Highness Chogyal Tenzing Wangchuck Sisum Namgyal established The Tsuklakhang Trust to continue this rich heritage. Accordingly, the Trust has earnestly been undertaking the activities supporting propagation of teachings introduced in Sikkim by Neljorcheshe through religious, education and charitable causes and performs ceremonies of Gongsar, Pang Lhabsol, Kagyet, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duchen, Drukpa Tseshi etc.

 In order to garner popular support while portraying the vision and goals of the Trust, an official logo and motto for the Trust is proposed to be created by way of public participation. Therefore, entries are hereby invited from interested participants for this noble cause. The logo and motto best reflecting the Trust’s vision will be presented with a letter of appreciation and a token amount of Rs 5,000/- during the ensuing Pang Lhabsol celebrations on 21^st August 2013. 

Logo specifications:

The logo design - in colour A4 size paper (gloss, 90-120 GSM) along with the motto should be submitted to the office of THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST, Tsuklakhang, Gangtok Sikkim by 10^th August 2013. The logo imprint should be clear using soothing colours that depict the objective of the Trust.  The motto text should also be printed clearly with visible and readable font (type Times New Roman and size 14) on a page. Interested participants can obtain further details from the Trust Office at Tsuklakhang, Gangtok or the undersigned.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                      (Namgyal T. Bhutia)                                                                                                                         SECRETARY

      THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST

   (Ph: 9434103318 & 8967542498)

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   July 6-12,  2013    

Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

NCP chief's man made Sikkim Governor

Gangtok, July 5: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday appointed bureaucrat-turned-politician Srinivas Patil, a trusted aide of NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, as Governor of Sikkim.

Patil's appointment is seen as a major setback for chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. Patil, a former Pune divisional commissioner, had defeated Chavan by a huge margin in the 1999 Lok Sabha election from Karad.

Patil, who joined the state civil services as deputy collector, was inducted into the IAS in 1979. In 1999, he resigned from the IAS to join led NCP.

Patil's appointment as governor surprised not only the NCP but also senior Congress leaders, as it was never expected that a politician who defeated Chavan would be considered for a gubernatorial assignment. His appointment clearly indicates the ever-increasing clout of Pawar in the ruling UPA at the Centre, The Times of India reported.

"We welcome Congress president Sonia Gandhi's move to accommodate NCP while appointing the governor," a senior NCP leader said. "It will strengthen the bond between Congress and NCP in the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly polls. However, we are surprised over nomination of Srinivas Patil as the governor of Sikkim."

Patil succeeds outgoing Governor BP Singh.

Scrap Kabi-Lungtsok project, monk body tells govt

Call for Minister TT Bhutia & Penday’s social boycott

Gangtok, July 5: The Monks of Sikkim have urged the State Government to scrap the proposed ‘beautification and development’ project at the historic site of Kabi Lungtsok at Kabi in North Sikkim.

The monk body has sent a stern appeal to Minister Thinley Tshering Bhutia and Penday Kazi from trying to destroy the sacred site and thereby erasing Sikkim’s history which has been preserved down the ages.

In a press statement, the association’s General Secretary Lama Sherap Tenzing Lepcha termed the proposed project as “anti-BLs (Bhutia-Lepchas)” and “anti-Sikkimese”.

 During its meeting held here this week the monks “expressed their anguish” over the “insensitive manner” in which the State Government went about its job in trying to erase Sikkim’s sacred history.

The monk body observed that in the name of ‘development’ the State Government seems bent on destroying Sikkim’s religious and cultural heritage.

It has urged the Kabi monastery monks to socially boycott Bhutia and Penday and declared them as ‘tenshik’, destroyer of faith.

Penday was the Congress candidate who reportedly sold himself to the ruling party in the Assembly polls in 2004 by not filing nomination papers from the Kabi-Tingda Assembly constituency.

SIBLAC demands CBI probe on Kabi-Lungtsok project

Gangtok, July 5: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has sought CBI probe into the proposed development project at the sacred and historic site of Kabi-Lungtsok.

This demand has been made to Governor BP Singh by SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

The memorandum on the demand was handed over to the Raj Bhawan Secretary as the Governor was out of station, a press release said.

SIBLAC has appreciated the assurance given by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee President Kunga Nima Lepcha on the issue. Lepcha said he would raise the demand for scrapping of the project with the Union DoNER Ministry.

It has at Kabi-Lungtsok that Sikkim’s indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha ancestors signed a blood-brotherhood treaty between the two communities in the 13^th century. This led to the formation of the Namgyal Dynasty four hundred years later in 1642.

China lifts 17-year ban on Dalai Lama photos at Tibet monastery: Rights group

Beijing, July 5: Chinese officials have lifted a ban on Tibetan monks displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama at a prominent monastery, a rights group said on Thursday, an unexpected policy shift which could ease tensions in the restive region.

The decision concerning the Gaden monastery in the Tibetan capital Lhasa - one of the most historically important religious establishments in Tibet - reversed a ban introduced in 1996, the Britain-based Free Tibet group told Reuters, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

   It was made as similar changes are being considered in other Tibetan regions of China, and may signal authorities are contemplating looser religious restrictions and a policy change over Tibet, three months after President Xi Jinping took office.

Chinese officials in western Qinghai province are also considering lifting a ban on Tibetans displaying pictures of the exiled spiritual leader, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a US-based advocacy group.

It said there were also draft proposals in the region to end the practice of forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, and to decrease the police presence at monasteries. Officials in Lhasa and Qinghai could not immediately be reached for comment.

Such measures appear calculated to reduce tensions between the Tibetans and the government after a series of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. Since 2009, at least 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in China in protest against Beijing's policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations.

Most were calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans' reverence for and loyalty to the Dalai Lama has almost no equal among the world's communities and if this policy is extended beyond this individual monastery as other reports suggest, it will be very significant for the Tibetan people," Free Tibet spokesman Alistair Currie said.

The new policy at the Gaden monastery and the discussions in Qinghai come after a scholar from the Central Party School published an essay questioning China's policy on Tibet. So far, President Xi has said very little publicly about Tibet.

His late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, was close to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift the senior party official still wore decades later.

"There's increasingly a view that due to the critical nature of the situation of Tibet, a discussion of a change in some hardline policies is merited and there's a need for the Dalai Lama to be involved in some way," Kate Saunders, spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, Reuters reported.

Saunders said the draft proposals in Qinghai were likely to be implemented either in August or September.

Editorial

CBI ‘AUTONOMY’

“Still A Caged Parrot”

After it was accused by the Supreme Court of turning the CBI into "the state's parrot", the government has submitted a 41-page proposal on how to free the CBI of political control.

The document, given to the Supreme Court, keeps administrative control of India's top law enforcement agency firmly with the government, leading CBI officials to comment that the agency "is still a caged parrot." The proposal says the CBI director will be chosen by a committee  of the  Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge. The affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday was based on recommendations made by a Group of Ministers, set up after SC castigated the government over the CBI probe into coal blocks allocations.

Anti-corruption campaigner and politician Prashant Bhushan wants the investigation to be  transferred to a Supreme Court-monitored team because he says the CBI lacks independence. He dismissed today's proposal as "hogwash." The BJP, however, trashed the suggestions as a "farce". "Who will select these retired judges to whom the CBI will be accountable? Many are men of integrity wedded to judicial values. Yet there are many who are perpetually seeking post-retirement jobs," senior leader Arun Jaitley wrote in his blog. To ensure functional autonomy, the government proposes that the administration and superintendence of CBI in high-profile corruption cases be vested with the CVC. But CVC will not have the power to direct CBI to probe or dispose any case. In all other cases, CBI would be administered and supervised by the Centre.

Muslims in Sikkim: a paan shop next to the masjid

By SYED AHMED

A few days back, an important work took me to Sikkim, the small State that nestles between the peaks of the eastern Himalaya. While staying at the capital city Gangtok I came across a small majid close by the city bus-stand. Near the masjid I met two bearded Muslims running a big paan shop. I talked to one of the Muslims at the paan shop, named Mohd. Rauf, to know more about the Muslims in the State. Rauf said he came to Gangtok from Bihar in the early 70s in search of livelihood. He was later joined by his brother, who also works at the paan shop.

I inquired about the settlement of Muslims in Gangtok and other parts of Sikkim. He informed me that there is no indigenous Muslim population in the State. “All the Muslims in Sikkim came from outside, mainly from Bihar, UP and West Bengal in search of work. Around 80 per cent of the Muslims are from Bihar, while the rest are from West Bengal and UP. There are around ten thousand Muslims in the capital city. There are also Muslims in Rangpo, Ranipool, Rinnak, Rangili, Jothang, Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan, Simtam, etc. In all, there must be around twenty thousand Muslims in Sikkim. As the State Government does not allow outsiders to buy land here the Muslims and in fact all the outsiders stay in rented houses. I have also been staying in a rented apartment with my brother all these years,” Rauf said.

“Majority of the Muslim population are temporary migrant workers. Many of these Muslims engage in construction works. The rich local population engages skilled constructor workers and manual labourers for the construction of their residential buildings. The State Government too engages these people for building roads, office building, dams, constructing roads on the hills, etc. Many Muslims also do petty business. They open small shops. Some Muslims are popular here as tailors. A few early Muslim settlers are working as Government employees, mainly as teachers and policemen. Some have also married the local women,” Rauf added.

Later I entered the masjid complex and talked to the Imam, Maulana Asgar Ali, who hails from Madhubani in Bihar. The Imam further informed, “There is only one masjid in Gangtok. This area is called Apar Arithang. There are around six to seven thousand Muslims here. The masjid was constructed in 1942-43. It was then constructed with wood. It is said that a wealthy Tibetian Muslim from Ladakh, named Sabila Sardar had acquired the land for the masjid from the local ruler. The descendants of Sabila Sardar still live in Gangtok. One of his grandsons named Saeed is running a big shop at the MG Road. There are very few Tibetan Muslims here in Gangtok. However, there are quite a large number of Tibetan Muslims in Kalimpong. They are all wealthy businessmen. There are another 8 more masjids in different parts of Sikkim. There are also prayer houses for other religions too. There is a Gurudwara at Deorali near Gangtok town.”

“I came here to work as Imam few years back. I get five thousand rupees per month. The masjid is managed by public subscription. We have organized a body called Anjuman-e-Islamia, Gangtok, to manage the masjid and the Muslims here. It is a registered body. The jurisdiction of the Anjuman is fixed from Tadong to Vajra, Balwakhani and Chandmari to by-pass. There is no madrasa here. The Muslims have realized the need of having a madrasa. We have started the construction of the madrasa building here in the masjid complex,” the Imam added.

Sikkim is renowned for its scenic beauty, rich flora and fauna and ethnically varied population. The State with an area of 7096 sq. km. has a population of just around 6 lakh. The 8586 meters high Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, dominates the skyline of Eastern Sikkim. Sikkim has more than seventy Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s. The State has 660 species of orchids. And it is famous for the mask dance performed by Lamas in Gompas.

Majority of the State’s population are of Nepali ethnic origin. The native Sikkimese consist of the Bhutias and the Lepchas. Migrant resident communities include Biharis, Bengalis and Marwaris.

Hinduism is the State’s major religion (61%), followed by Buddhism (28%) and Christians (7%). The minority religious communities, consisting of Muslims, Sikhs and Jains form almost two per cent of the State’s population. (TwoCircles.net)

Prez, PM urged to save historic site at Kabi Lungtsok

Gangtok, July 5: Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Tseten Tashi Bhutia has sought the intervention of the President and Prime Minister on efforts made by the Sikkimese to save the historic and sacred site of Kabi Lungtsok in North Sikkim.

In his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the SIBLAC chief has expressed concern over the State Government ‘development’ project at the historic site which is expected to cost Rs 8.5 crore.

Bhutia has urged the Union Government “to save heritages, places of worships and Dharma in Sikkim which otherwise in the name of development is reaching the verge of extinction,’ a press release of the Committee said.

SU celebrates 6^th foundation day

Gangtok, July 5: The Sikkim University celebrated its sixth foundation day on Tuesday. A programme was organised at the Saramsa Garden auditorium to mark the occasion. Delivering the welcome address, Vice Chancellor T B Subba commended the efforts of faculty members and administrative staff in shaping the character of the university and its students. Thereafter, Professor A C Sinha, National Fellow of ICSSR delivered the VI Foundation Day Lecture on “Social Formation in and around Sikkim in the middle of the 20th Century.”

 In his lecture, Sinha elucidated important events that shaped the existing socio-political-cultural mosaic of Sikkim. He also donated around one thousand books from his personal library to the Sikkim University, PIB release said.

C D Rai graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. Addressing the programme, Rai observed that the education scenario in Sikkim has undergone a sea change in the last seven decades. “Education is the greatest weapons to delivery anytime anywhere,” he said.

N K Pradhan, Minister HRDD, Government of Sikkim who was the Chief Guest at the event assured that state government will continue to do its best to ensure that the Sikkim University gets the best of infrastructure. “Government wants the University to become a centre of academic excellence which can give the best education to any child from anywhere in the world”, he added.

Students of the University presented a vibrant cultural show with which the programme concluded.

INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

NAVNITA CHADDA

“Why can’t we reach an understanding with our own people?”

Kashmir is mired in a series of overlapping conflicts, rather than being a single issue to be solved. In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Life’s  Syed Asma, academician and Kashmir expert, Navnita Chadda shares her scholarly insights on Kashmir. 

Kashmir Life: Tell us a bit about yourself?

Navnita Chadda: I am a professor. I teach in Delhi University. I read and write. My main disciplinary base is International Relations but Kashmir has been my area of interest for 20 years. I started working on Kashmir in 1992 when movement was on its peak. Since then I have been reading and writing on the subject. So, it has been a long while.

KL: You have so far written two books on Kashmir. Being a non-local, what prompted you to choose Kashmir as a subject?

NC:  When I started my first project I did not choose Kashmir as such. My interest was academic and quite conceptual in nature. I wanted to understand in a country like India where there are so many diverse identities why is it that some identities at any given historical juncture become politicized, and why some of them become violent? I had a chance of looking at Kashmir, Punjab and North East India and as luck would have it, the first library I consulted at Nehru Memorial Museum, Kashmir was the most organised section there 

KL: What were you working for and what was the project about?

NC: I was then working as Assistant research Professor in Centre for Policy Research. The project basically was why some identities get politicized and why some get violent? So, my first book, ‘State, Identity and Violence’ was born out of that project.  It came out in 2002.

KL: What is your understanding of the conflict in Kashmir? What do you think people in Kashmir want?

NC: There is no single definition of conflict because I do not think there is a single conflict in Kashmir. There are several layers and several players to it. Each conflict has its own dynamics and they all overlap. It is not in a neat and straight category. No conflict is too generous that it won’t get impacted by others. It does! So, the main conflict, I would say, is here [Kashmir] – the demand for separation and self-determination that was voiced in 1980s. But there were so many other conflicts in the same period like Ladakh started the movement for the status of Union territory and Jammu had raised the demand for more integration. Then there were several other layers like that of linguistic identity, conflicts like Gujjar demanding Scheduled Tribe status. Later in 1990s Pandits started demanding their own homeland.

KL: Which among these is predominating?

NC: It is obviously the separatist movement or the Azadi movement but it does not capture the dynamics of the whole State.

KL: Why do you think it is the predominant one?

NC: I think because lot of people got affected by it. There is no doubt that whole Kashmir society has gone through a very double-end period for last 20 years. Lot of people have given up their lives, lot of people have lost their lives. There is hardly any family which is not affected by the conflict, so, that makes it most predominant. But it does not subsume other complexities of the conflict. Other conflicts have a dynamic of their own which takes it in different trajectories. And they have impacted on why this one [the predominant one] has succeeded or not succeeded. They all are integrally linked and this was the most interesting thing that I found while researching about Kashmir.

KL: What is the link in all these conflicts and why do you think the main conflict did not succeed?

NC: The movement here [Kashmir] demanded self-determination on the behalf of ‘all’ the people of Jammu and Kashmir but they actually were not representing the interest of ‘all’ the people. And ‘all’ was very diverse. They had their own definitions of self-determination. I believe that this is the most critical factor why they haven’t been successful. I think they got check-mated at home. The standard explanation that I find in the literature is that Kashmir’s insurgency got defeated because of India’s military might. My argument is that it got defeated on political grounds and it got check mated by its own communities of the State which did not support the demand. So, basically I think it got fragmented in a very political way and separatist leadership was not in a position to present a front which was all inclusive.

KL: After 2002 elections you had said that the major challenges the new government had to face were ‘deepening communalisation and regionalisation’ in the State. Can you please elaborate?

NC:  I have said this post Farooq Abdullah’s government after reading the recommendations in the Regional Autonomy Committee (RCA) report. I believe it strengthened the communal fault lines. If you look at the complexion of J&K state today,   there are three regions, one is “Hindu majority”, one is Muslim majority and other is Buddhist majority. RCA report re-carved the boundaries of the entire state or suggested to do so. It re-carved the boundaries in such a way that it suggested the entire J&K to be into eight regions, of which 6 became Muslim majority. The way I looked at it historically, it was revival of 1975 plan of ‘Greater Kashmir’ of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. I feel that strength of the state lies in its diversity. Plural diverse fabric of society is strength of the society and not its weakness. So, if it is the strength you should not weaken it by undermining it, by territorially casting it different.

KL: Do you think state government is powerful enough to fulfil its promises if New Delhi is not willing?

NC: Absolutely yes! I personally am very uncomfortable with this thought that state government has no authority and Delhi is dictating its terms.

KL: And where do you think India in Kashmir has failed?

NC: I as a scholar think that in Kashmir’s case we get caught in the chimera that unless we talk to Pakistan we cannot resolve it. In a way it is true, but I personally am not convinced that if our population is alienated and if we are saying it is our people so why can’t we reach out to them independently. So, if Delhi is willing to offer a substantive political deal in terms of autonomy, self-rule, and other common grounds, why is it that we can’t reach an understanding with our own people?

People want their political aspiration to be addressed and to my mind it can be addressed. So, why there is a gap in that stand is an element of puzzle.