Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
BATTLE FOR SIKKIM
“It
is better to light a candle
than curse the darkness.”
FROM
DARKNESS TO LIGHT
All
those who march forward into battle in Sikkim next month in the Assembly and
Lok Sabha polls remember one thing: “It is better to light a candle than curse
the darkness.”
There’s no win without a fight…so fight hard
and win…win the hearts and minds of those who have placed their hope on you.
Good
Luck and Cheers,
(Jigme N Kazi)
Journalist & Writer
Sunday, March 9, 2014
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:
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Price: Rs.
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Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim
Kandoika, New Market, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim
Good Books: Old Market, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim
Jainco: New Metro Point, 31A National
Highway, Gangtok, Sikkim
Rachna: Development Area, Gangtok, Sikkiim
Bulk
copies available at Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
SIKKIM OBSERVER Page 1 Saturday
Feb 22-28, 2014
Vol XXIII
No 2: Blog:jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com;Email:jigmekazi@gmail.com,sikkimobserver@gmail.com
Obama to meet Dalai Lama in White House
(Left)US President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama at the
White House in July 2011.
Washington, Feb 21: US President Barack Obama will meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama, a fellow Nobel peace laureate, at the White House today.
"The President will meet
the Dalai Lama in his capacity as an internationally respected religious and
cultural leader," National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden
said.
Obama met the Dalai Lama in
February 2010 and July 2011, she said, adding the US presidents of both parties
over the past three decades have met with the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Hayden said the United States
supported the Dalai Lama's "middle way" approach of neither
assimilation nor independence for Tibetans but recognised Tibet to be "a
part of China".
"We do not support
Tibetan independence," she said. Hayden said the US strongly supports
human rights and religious freedom in China.
"We are concerned about
continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan
areas of China. We will continue to urge the Chinese government to resume
dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, as
a means to reduce tensions," Hayden said.
The Nobel peace prize winner,
who is here for a two-week tour of the US west coast, on Thursday told a
Washington audience that he is warming to capitalism.
Can Golay halt Chamling’s forward march?
Gangtok, Feb 21: “From now on if any SKM supporter is assaulted, I say take the fight
to Mintogang itself. Youth and women of the party must now be ready for this,”
declared PS Golay during a public meeting of his party, Sikkim Krnatikari
Morcha (Sikkim Revolutionary Front), in Singtam, east district, last week.
What is attracting the
Sikkimese people towards Golay is his simplicity and straightforwardness. “I am
a simple man. When I was a minister for 15 years, I did not build even a single
building on government land, nor did I set up hotels or other businesses or add
to my bank balance,” said Golay.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Pawan Chamling,
Golay adds, “If SKM forms the government tomorrow, I would not be the one to
usurp government land or build a casino. Our aim is to make our youth
millionaires and not to become one ourselves.”
Meanwhile, the ruling Sikkim
Democratic Front (SDF), which has been in power since 1994 for four consecutive
terms, is planning to hold a massive public meeting in Jorethang, south
district, on March 4 during its anniversary celebrations.
AAP to field Medha Patkar from Mumbai
Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’ says no
to politics
New Delhi, Feb 21:
The Aam Aadmi Party decision to field Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and
activist Medha Patkar from Mumbai’s Northeast Lok Sabha constituency is likely
to increase troubles for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The seat is now held by NCP MP Sanjay Dina Patil. Ms.
Patkar, last month, announced her full-fledged support to the Aam Aadmi Party.
At the time she said she would extend only outside support.
Medha Patkar |
She has been active in the Northeast constituency through
her several agitations for the slum dwellers. The constituency has large number
of slums in Mankhurd, Govandi and Deonar. The seat is divided into pockets of
Gujarati, Muslim and Dalit population, along with sizeable Marathi voters.
Patkar said that the
main agenda of her campaign would remain corruption by the established parties.
“I took this decision after consultation with various organisations. The AAP is
raising the issues which we always wanted to raise and hence I found this party
a good platform,” she said, The Hindu
reported.
Earlier, Patkar had said that she would support the party
only from the outside, and in return, ask for AAP's support for her 25-30
candidates all over the country. But Kejriwal insisted AAP will back all
candidates of Patkar's National Alliance for People's Movement (NAPM) only if
she joins the party.
Spreading its wings nationally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
approached activist Irom Sharmila Chanu to contest the Lok Sabha elections from
the inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
Irom Sharila Chanu |
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan had proposed the idea to contest
the elections to Sharmila, which she later refused. Sharmila has been on a fast
for the past 14 years demanding to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA). "Since I don't want to enter politics, I have applied my mind and
rejected the offer this morning," she said. She added that politics
according to her was uncertain and vague as people could not keep their faith
and trsut on the politicians. In 2012 during the Manipur Assembly elections,
Sharmila had termed the politicians as 'shameless people' as they had failed to
act on the presence of AFSPA in the state.
Name Nam Nang road after
Prince Tenzing: Bhandari
Gangtok, Feb 21: Former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who was close to the
Palace, has reportedly urged the authorities to name the steep Nam Nang Road
linking MG Marg with Deorali in memory of the late Crown Prince Tenzing.
Prince Tenzing |
The suggestion, if it
receives positive response from the Chamling Government, would be a fitting
tribute to Prince Tenzing, who was killed in a car accident on this road on
March 11, 1978.
Prince Tenzing was the eldest son of Chogyal
Palden Tondup Namgyal during whose rule Sikkim was taken over by India in 1975
in the guise of ushering in democracy in the former kingdom.
Bhanndari |
Bhandari’s Palace-baked
Sikkim Parishad party, which fought the 1979 Assembly polls on an anti-merger
plank, routed pro-merger LD Kazi’s party and formed the government on October
18, 1979.
Prince Tenzing was a dashing
young man who was very popular among the people. More than 30,000 turned up in
Gangtok from all over Sikkim during his funeral.
Bikers against racial discrimination
Bangalore, Feb 21: More than 200 riders of several bike-riding clubs and individual
riders, vroomed on about 150 bikes cutting through the heart of the city
unequivocally condemning the racial discrimination, as part of the 'Bikers
Against Racial Discrimination’ ride under the aegis of Brotherhood of
Bulleeters Motorcycling Consortium (BOBMC) here last Sunday.
Several women riding the
bikes, some really heavy machines, attracted the attention of onlookers. The
rally had a long contingent of bikes from Royal Enfield, Honda, Duke and
others. Thousands of pamphlets were distributed throughout the route of the
rally to educate people about the event and the cause.
There were many placards with
messages including 'Racism is Wrong’, 'Racism has no place in a democratic
country', 'Friends Are Made by Heart, Not by Skin Colour', 'We, the riding
family, won't stand racial discrimination', 'Stop All Violence Against
Northeast' and 'We All Have Eyes, But to See Right, We Should Use Our Brains'.
A very diverse set of people in terms of race, religion, region, age, gender
and language participated in the rally. Large number of people from
North-Eastern states and Caucasians took part in event.
The bike rally, led by senior
bikers Prem Menon and Ajit Lakshmiratan,
was flagged off from the Town Hall at 8:40 am and passed through Hudson Circle,
Mission Road, Lalbagh Road, RV Road, Nanda Theatre Road, JP Nagar, BTM Layout,
Silk Board, Outer Ring Road and culminated at the BDA Complex in HSR Layout at
10 am.
Lakshmiratan, a Biker from
50+ Bulleteers said: "We are very much concerned about the racial
discrimination prevalent. It is a blot on our society and we condemn it. We as
a responsible biking community and express our solidarity with North East
brothers and sisters."
Professor Rini Ralte from
Mizoram, who made Garden City her home, addressed the bikers and said:
"Racial Discrimination is a violence faced by us every day in Bangalore
and in other cities. The recent exodus of thousands of North East people from
Bangalore indicates the kind of constant fear we live under. Ours is a struggle
against discrimination, ours is a struggle for justice and peace."
Human Rights activist Manohar
Elavarthi from Praja Rajakiya Vedike appreciated the efforts of the biking
community in fighting against racism. He demanded that Police should be
sensitized on the issues of North East people and to recruit people from the
region into Karnataka police force to make it racially diverse. He appealed to
the bikers to continue this long struggle to change people’s attitudes and to
bring lasting changes against racism.
Bishwajit Singh Rajkumar, a
biker from Manipur said: "As a biker, I have never faced any racial
discrimination inside the biking community. I am proud to be part of this
community and want the larger society to emulate our biking community and learn
to accept the people who are different from you. If you want to understand
people, you should visit their places and meet them; spend time with them. Then
only one will start to understand that they are as beautiful as you."
Ringo Pebam, a biker from
Manipur, who works in this city, said: "North East people face insults,
harassment, sexual harassment, physical violence and humiliation on a daily
basis. People here know very little about North East people, our history,
culture, food habits, languages; people don’t know that India is home to people
of different races. We demand changes in school and college curricula to
include information about North East so that all Indians are aware about us.”
Sikkim bags national tourism award
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shashi
Tharoor,presenting the National Tourism
Award 2012-13 to Sikkim Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel during a function at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on
Tuesday. (Right)
Gangtok, Feb 21: Sikkim
has been declared as best state in the country in implementation of Rural Tourism Projects by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
Union Minister for
Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor,presented the National Tourism Award 2012-13 to Sikkim Tourism
Minister Bhim Dhungel during a function held
at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Tuesday.
According to Union
Tourism Ministry, Sikkim is the perfect destination to experience warm hospitality,
rich culture and scenic splendour of natural beauty, an official release said.
Dhungel said that
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has
launched an ambitious Rs 140 crore project for developing various tourism
convenience facilities,view points,halting points and other infrastructural
facilities project in the State .
Dhungel said at present around 80,000 tourist visit rural
tourists destinations in the state annually and added that target has been
fixed to attract 1.50 lakh tourist to rural tourist destinations in next five
years by creating additional infrastructural
facilities in the State..
Sikkim tourism Secretary C.Zangpo, Sanjay Singh DE(P), Shova
Lama AD, Binita Rai, PRO Tourism and
Vijay Thapa were part of the official delegations who attended the function
Seemandhra TDP leaders raise
demand for separate Telugu nation
Hyderabad, Feb 21:
Exasperated Telugu Desam Party leaders from Seemandhra have sprang a surprise
by raising a new demand of a separate country with its own parliament if the
Centre is unable to keep the state of Andhra Pradesh united.
No less than half a dozen senior TDP leaders, including MPs,
have echoed this demand in the last few days. Leading the bunch is TDP MP and
industrialist Modugula Venugopal Reddy, who shot to infame after threatening
suicide with a broken microphone in the Lok Sabha moments after the Telangana
Bill was to be tabled on Thursday. “Give us our own parliament. We will be a
separate country like Bangladesh and Pakistan,” he told mediaperons here.
“When Parliament does not bother about sentiments of
Seemandhra people and give respect to the region’s MPs, what is wrong in the
demand for a separate country,” he said adding, “five crore denizens of
Seemandhra are subjected to `genocide’ by Sonia Gandhi who is not bothered
about their concerns.”
Incidentally, many Seemandhraites active on social media
have been posting comments echoing these sentiments. A Facebook group on
“Seemandhra, a separate country” has been created, though it has few takers.
One of the comments was: “When there is no respect for Andhras, there is
thinking whether we should be part of this country or not.” Former minister and
Telugu Desam legislator Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu has been repeating the demand
for a separate country is also part of the separatist chorus.
Senior legislator Payyavulu Keshav, who has been the face of
Samaikyandhra movement in the Telugu Desam, said, “Are we living in India. Are
we not part of India? We are forced to feel like aliens in our own country.”
Former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy was the first
senior TDP leader to voice the nation desire. He repeated the statement several
times, the latest being on Friday. “If a separate state can be created on the
basis of self rule, why should south India not be a separate country on the
same plank,” he said adding, “that day is not far away”.
Former minister and TDP leader Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy
did not see any fault in the demand. “In fact India should be like the European
Union, where countries have their own independence.” He even named the
Seemandhra `country’ as Telugu Desam or the nation of Telugus.
Press freedom: from Talk Sikkim to Sikkim Talks
Gangtok, Feb 21:
Sikkim’s monthly newsmagazine Talk Sikkim
has, once again, bounced back. This time in its new avatar: Sikkim Talks.
Mita Zulca, editor of the magazine, has taken the lead in reviving
the publication. According to reports, the Talk
Sikkim, owed by Deependra Khati, was under much pressure to close down Talk Sikkim as it highlighted activities
of former minister PS Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (Sikkim Revolutionary
Front).
“The magazine was launched in September 2008. It is now
2014. Hardly ever in the stands on the scheduled date, it nevertheless sold out
each time it did make it there,” says Zulca in Facebook.
She adds, “It ‘shut down’ twice but came back again to great
support from the readers. This time with a name-change but no one seems to care
about that at all.A special thanks to advertisers who saw us through good times
and bad. And to all readers who kept us motivated with their support.”
Meanwhile, local journalists are not too happy of the lack
of action taken by the authorities to nab the culprit who attacked the printing
press of Sikkim Express here at
Daragaon recently.
Anna joins hand with Mamata to launch 'Fight For
India' campaign
New Delhi, Feb 21: After India Against Corruption,
social activist Anna Hazare will now launch 'Fight for India' campaign with
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Anna and Mamata met on Wednesday
and have decided to launch this campaign ahead of Lok Sabha elections. This
comes after Mamata hosted a dinner in honour of Anna in Delhi.
The Gandhian has been growing
closer to the West Bengal Chief Minister ever since his split with former Delhi
chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Te duo have decided to campaign in the eastern
states and UP from middle of March, CNN-IBN reported.
Anna wanted a commitment from
Mamata on delivering on promises if she comes to power. Anna also wanted to
support and campaign for other candidates as well.
Anna joins hand with Mamata
to launch 'Fight For India' campaign
The Gandhian has been growing
closer to the West Bengal Chief Minister ever since his split with Arvind
Kejriwal.
Anna had earlier praised
Mamata after meeting Kejriwal and reportedly compared the lifestyle of the chief
ministers.
Talking about the VIP
culture, Hazare said that Mamata wears slippers even after she became CM but
persons take bungalows despite promising not to do so in a veiled dig at
Kejriwal.
Anna had, however, said that
he had never endorsed anyone and that he had written to political parties about
17 issues that need to be taken up for the welfare of nation. "I sent 17
points to every political party. The points if implemented will change the
nation for good. Nobody responded. Only West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee sent a reply. We need such people," he reportedly said.
KS Tobgay was an upright
person: CM
Gangtok, Feb 21: Condoling the death of KS Tobgay, Secretary Land Revenue and Disaster
Management Department, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, while expressing his
“profound grief, sorrow and deep anguish over the sudden demise”, said Tobgay
was “an upright person with impeccable integrity.”
In his condolence message,
the Chief Minister said Tobgay was “a man with amicable disposition, was known
as a calm, soft spoken, hard working and an upright person with impeccable
integrity.”
Chamling described Tobgay as
a “thorough gentleman” and “an experienced bureaucrat” and his death created a
“great void” in the State administration.
Army jawans rescue 584 tourists stranded in Sikkim
Gangtok, Feb 21: Army jawans rescued 584 tourists, including 106 women and 14 children,
who were left stranded when unexpected heavy snowfall caused major road blocks
in Sikkim's Nathula, officials said in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Army personnel under
Trishakti Corps cleared over 100 vehicles in two separate locations in Nathula
on Sunday, PTI reported.
In the first incident, 250
tourists got stranded near milestone 17, where a tourist vehicle tilted
precariously due to heavy snowfall blocking nearly 40 other vehicles.
A team of army men comprising
two junior commissioned officers and 10 jawans led by Subedar major KM
Chandgude from a nearby army transit camp on patrol cleared the snow, making it
possible for the stranded vehicles to return to Gangtok by evening.
Elsewhere near Nathula, 334
tourists, including 106 women and 14 children, in 65 vehicles got stranded due
to inclement weather and heavy snow were also rescued, Army officials said.
With weather turning worse
and life threatening, the men in olive greens swung into action and rescued all
tourists to a safe place.
Besides sheltering them
through the night the army men also provided them hot beverages and food.
Telephone facilities were
also provided to them to contact their near and dear ones. On Monday morning,
after breakfast, vehicles were arranged to transfer them to Gangtok.
Located around 56 km from
Gangtok at an altitude of 14450 ft, Nathula is close to the Indo-China border
and is a major tourist destination in Sikkim.
PEOPLE&PLACES Chogyal of Sikkim
Chogyal was placed under house arrest before Sikkim’s annexation
This article on
Palden Thondup Namgyal, the 12th Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, was
written on May 23, 2008 by the Radical Royalist during the Chogyal’s 85th
birth anniversary.
Sikkim Observer brings this article to light on the occasion of the
32nd anniversary of the historic funeral of the Chogyal in Gangtok
on February 19, 1982.
This spring (May 2008) the
world’s attention was drawn to Tibet, where on 10th March this year the people
commemorated the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan upheaval against the Chinese
occupation. The protests spread from Tibet across the whole world and along the
route of the torch relay for this year’s Olympic games people demanded: “Free
Tibet!”.
In the Southern part of the Himalaya another
occupied territory did not attract any attention at all: Sikkim. The Kingdom
which had defended its independence for 300 years against powerful neighbours
was annexed by India in April 1975 and became the 22nd state of the Indian
Union. The 85th birthday of the 12th Chogyal of Sikkim gives me the opportunity
to focus on the fate of the tiny Himalaya Kingdom.
Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal,
Twelfth Consecrated Ruler of Sikkim, was born in Sikkim’s capital Gangtok on
22nd May 1923. The Denzong Chogyal was the second son of the late illustrious
Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, who will always be remembered as Sikkim’s gracious,
enlightened and benevolent ruler.
In 1935 he continued his
studies at St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, and completed his studies at
Bishop Cotton School, Simla, in 1941.
Funeral of the Chogyal in Gangtok on February 19, 1982. |
As the Heir Apparent, Gyalsay
Palden Thondup Namgyal undertook the Indian Civil Service Training Course at
Dehra Dun in 1942 and thereafter returned to Sikkim to look after the
administration so that the needs of the people could be taken care of.
Chogyal Palden Thondup
Namgyal was keenly alive to the needs of the people and as Heir Apparent had
exercised direct personal supervision over various departments of the
government of Sikkim. He was his father’s adviser on external affairs and led
the Sikkim team, which negotiated the Treaty with India in 1949-1950. By
contract Sikkim became India’s “protectorate” on 5th December 1950, not unlike
Nepal and Bhutan that were forced to sign similar treaties after the British
had left the subcontinent. So far the other two Kingdoms could maintain their
independence. If Nepal will be able to keep the two greedy neighbours outside
the borders should the country be declared a republic, is in doubts.
The Chogyal was connected
with a number of cultural and academic bodies in Sikkim, India and abroad. He
had been the President of the Mahabodhi Society of India since 1953 and he led
the Sikkim delegation to the Sixth Buddhist Council that was held in Burma in
1954. He participated in the 2500 Buddha Jayanti Celebrations in India in 1956,
and was the only member of the Working Committee from Sikkim. In March 1959 he
attended the 2500 Buddha Jayanti Conference in Japan and represented Sikkim at
the Sixth World Fellowship of Buddhists conference in Cambodia in 1961. In
1958, under the patronage of Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal, he set up a centre for
Mahayana and Tibetan studies at Gangtok , and this world famous centre bears
the name of “Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.”
In August 1950, he married
Sangey Deki, daughter of Yapshi Samdu Phodrang of Tibet. Sangey died in June 1957.
In March 1963 he married Hope Cooke, grand daughter and ward of Mr. and Mrs.
Winchester Noyes of the United States of America, which drew a huge media
attention to the tiny Kingdom. The Chogyal had three children from his first
wife, namely Tenzing, Wangchuk and Yangchen. His second wife bore him Palden
and Hope. After his father’s death, Palden was crowned as the Twelfth Chogyal
of Sikkim on 4th April 1965. (Please note the photo, where his US-born wife
Hope Cooke is sitting at his right on a lower throne.)
Among the honours and
distinction the Chogyal held were: The Order of the British Empire (1947),
Padma Vibushan, India (1954) and Commander de l’Ordre de l’Étoile Noire, France
(1956).
The Indian invasion
Small numbers of Nepalese had
been migrating to Sikkim from about the 15th century, but it was only under the
British that the Nepalese began entering Sikkim in great numbers, entirely
upsetting the traditional ethnic balance of Sikkim. This social engineering was
done by the British to weaken the traditional Lepchas – Bhutia strength. The
Eleventh Chogyal and representatives of two of Sikkim’s largest parties, the
Sikkim State Congress and the Sikkim National Party, agreed in May 1951to a
parity formula . According to this formula, the seats in the state council were
to be divided equally between the Bhutia-Lepcha group, and the Nepalese. The
Sikkim State Council was then institute in 1953.
In April 1973, after making
allegations that elections had been rigged, ethnic Nepali protested in front of
the King's palace, demanding civil rights and the sidelining or even removal of
what they called the "feudal" monarchy. Palden Thondup Namgyal, the
King of Sikkim, ultimately gave in and signed an agreement on 8th May 1973.
The document called on India
to provide a chief executive, and to hold elections for an assembly. The
agreement was the first step in the disappearance of the Kingdom of Sikkim. The
inhabitants of the Kingdom are in no doubt that the Indian Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi and her local agents fomented the unrest. Indira Gandhi’s
dictatorial and imperialist attitudes were are a major concern in the 70s.
Asked in 1998 by the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, why the
Sikkimese army did not resist the Indian invasion, a former captain of Sikkim's
army replied: "The Indians soldiers had joined the army because they were
hungry and received a warm meal; to shoot at them would not have been in
accordance with our Buddhist faith. We knew four days in advance about the
invasion, but the King had ordered not to fight."
In 1975, Sikkim’s Prime
Minister “appealed” to the Indian Parliament for representation and change of
Sikkim's status to a state of India. In April 1975 the Indian army moved into
Sikkim, seizing the capital city of Gangtok, disarming the Palace Guards and
putting the Chogyal under house arrest.
A “referendum” was held in
which 97.5% [!] of the votes cast (or counted!) agreed to join the Indian
Union. China did not recognize India’s occupation of Sikkim until 2003, which
led to an improvement in the Sino-Indian relations. In return, India announced
its official recognition of Tibet as an integrated part of China.
The Chogyal never renounced
his throne and hoped till the end that justice would win.
On 29th January 1982 Chogyal Palden
Thondup Namgyal died a heartbroken man from cancer in New York. His second son
Wangchuk inherited the rights to the throne after the Chogyal's eldest son
Crown Prince Tenzin had died in a car accident on 11th March 1978.
LITERARY
Wendy Doniger's book: 'You must tell us
what terrified you'
Arundhati
Roy writes to Penguin India
Everybody
is shocked at what you have gone and done—at your out-of-court settlement with
an unknown Hindu fanatic outfit—in which you seem to have agreed to take Wendy
Donniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History off the bookshelves of 'Bharat'
and pulp it. There will soon no doubt be protestors gathered outside your
office, expressing their dismay.
Tell
us, please, what is it that scared you so? Have you forgotten who you are? You
are part of one of the oldest, grandest publishing houses in the world. You
existed long before publishing became just another business, and long before
books became products like any other perishable product in the market—mosquito repellent
or scented soap.
You
have published some of the greatest writers in history. You have stood by them
as publishers should, you have fought for free speech against the most violent
and terrifying odds. And now, even though there was no fatwa, no ban, not even
a court order, you have not only caved in, you have humiliated yourself
abjectly before a fly-by-night outfit by signing settlement. Why?
You
have all the resources anybody could possibly need to fight a legal battle. Had
you stood your ground, you would have had the weight of enlightened public
opinion behind you, and the support of most—if not all—of your writers. You
must tell us what happened. What was it that terrified you? You owe us, your
writers an explanation at the very least.
The
elections are still a few months away. The fascists are, thus far, only
campaigning. Yes, it's looking bad, but they are not in power. Not yet. And
you've already succumbed?
What
are we to make of this? Must we now write only pro-Hindutva books? Or risk being
pulled off the bookshelves in 'Bharat' (as your 'settlement' puts it) and
pulped? Will there be some editorial guide-lines perhaps, for writers who
publish with Penguin? Is there a policy statement?
Frankly
I don't believe this has happened. Tell us it's just propaganda from a rival
publishing house. Or an April Fool's day prank that got leaked early. Please
say something. Tell us it's not true.
So
far I have had been more than happy to be published by Penguin. But now?
What
you have done affects us all.
Arundhati
Roy
(Author of The God of Small Things,
Listening to Grasshoppers, Broken Republic and other books all of which are
published by Penguin India)
Just Out!!
Book: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland
Publisher:
Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, Sikkim
Price: Rs.
525/-
AVAILABLE AT:
Observer Building, Nam Nang, Gangtok, Sikkim
Kandoika, New Market, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim
Good Books: Old Market, MG Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim
Jainco: New Metro Point, 31A National
Highway, Gangtok, Sikkim
Rachna: Development Area, Gangtok, Sikkiim
Bulk copies available at Observer Building, Nam Nang,
Gangtok, Sikkim.
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