A MOVEMENT HAS BEGUN
I continued with publication of the Observer before, during and after the October
1999 Assembly polls. However, by then I was too engrossed with the basic and
fundamental issues that concerned the people and didn’t care much for my
professional duties nor the political fortunes or misfortunes of political
parties and individual politicians. Sikkim was facing a deep political crisis
and I was not prepared to sit on the sideline and let the future slip out of
our hands.
Improper and undemocratic selection of party
candidates, imbalances in the selection of ethnic representation and Bhandari’s
uncalled-for utterances against certain communities at the fag end of the
campaign sealed the fate of the Opposition leading to the SSP’s humiliating
defeat in the Assembly polls held on Oct 3. The SSP, which was expected to
almost form the government, got only 7 seats, while the rest of the 25 seats
went to the SDF. Poll prospects of the parties before selection of candidates
favoured the SSP. However, Bhandari dug his own grave by going against the BLs
and OBCs at the last minute.
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| Athup Lepcha |
As compared to the SSP, the SDF’s selection
of candidates was not only better but more balanced on ethnic representation.
Those who either do not understand or blatantly choose to ignore the
intricacies of ethnic balance in Sikkim’s political and administrative set-up
have never faired well politically. It was surprising that Bhandari had so
blatantly and arrogantly ignored certain basic and fundamental factors in Sikkim
politics. He paid dearly for it and his supporters and sympathizers were let
down so badly because of his folly. And finally, Bhandari’s autocratic style of
functioning and his arrogance, fueled by his sycophants, paved the way for his
party’s defeat in the polls.
At the height of his popularity before the
polls Bhandari almost resorted to his old style of functioning. He ignored
credible individuals and loyal party workers in preference to rank opportunists
and sycophants. Bhandari-watchers and those around him who keenly observed his
change of attitude and behaviour, which to a large extent reflected his egoistic image when he was in power, were
convinced that his five-year in the Opposition had not humbled the former ‘dictator.’
Many would have supported Bhandari had
he been a changed man; but since this was not the case they opted for Chamling,
who was looked upon as the ‘lesser evil.’
On October 10, 1999, a week after the polls,
the OSU formed its first frontal organization – Sikkim Khukuri-Khorlo Movement
(SKKM). Pradhan – now 63 and still going strong – was appointed President of
the new body, whose main role and objective was to “spearhead the movement for
restoration of the political rights of the Sikkimese”. The formation of the new
body was well timed. It sent a clear message to the people and those in power
that the OSU would not only continue with the seat issue but would adopt a more
strident method to achieve its objectives.
After Pradhan was appointed SKKM President by myself as OSU Chairman we hoisted the red and yellow flag of our organization in Gangtok for the first time. Till this point the khukuri (traditional weapon of the Nepalese) and the khorlo (wheel of dharma representing the BLs) remained a mere symbol of the organization. The wheel, which also represented the chakra in the national flag, also reflected the sentiments of ‘other Sikkimese’ in the State. Now, under the changed circumstances, it became the organization’s flag, symbolizing the unity and identity of the Sikkimese people. Formation of the SKKM was seen as a virtual revolt against those who let us down and were bent on coming to power irrespective of the irreparable damage done to the future of Sikkim and the Sikkimese. It not only reflected our commitment to the common cause of all Sikkimese but also our resolve to achieve our objectives.
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| KC Pradhan |
The Inner Circle of Sikkim (ICS) was first
conceived in 1981 during my college days in Bombay. It took shape in the ’80s
and surfaced only in 1994 when political instability rocked the State, leading
to the abrupt downfall of the 15-year-old Bhandari Government. While the ICS
was regarded as the think-tank and top policy-making body of the organization the
SKKM became the OSU’s main frontal wing. The OSU remained as the main body of
the entire organizational set-up.
“With the formation of SKKM the movement for
restoration of the political rights of the Sikkimese people will assume a new
dimension. The SKKM will now take the initiative in ensuring the Sikkimese
people’s participation in the democratic movement,” the OSU’s Press statement
said on October 10, 1999, a historic day for the organization.
Adopting different strategies to achieve its
objectives, the OSU sought the help and cooperation of “all political and
social organizations in Sikkim and all sections of the population in the
State.” While stating that “Both the Central and State governments will also be
taken into confidence in our sincere and genuine efforts to preserve Sikkim for
the future generations of the Sikkimese people,” the OSU said it was “committed
to observing peaceful, non-violent and democratic means to achieve its objectives.”
By openly declaring that we would take
everyone into confidence while going about our job we wanted to send a clear
message to all concerned, including the State Government, that we were open to
suggestions and ready to take help from any quarter. This message and our
sincerity in dealing with the issue in the past so many years – sometimes under
very difficult and trying circumstances – ought to have cleared all doubt and
misunderstanding and opened channels of communication with all concerned
parties, including the State Government and the ruling party.
All parties – if they are really keen on
solving our basic political issues – should and could have seized the
opportunity, got our support and settled the issue once and for all. Our main
objective was to solve the problem and get our demands met; we were not there
to take credit for our efforts and our success. Many failed to understand this
and this led to doubt, mistrust and misunderstanding. Those looking for
personal and political gains on the issue either doubted our motive or refused
to join hands with us as they feared being left out in the cold. Our
credibility, competence and commitment to the cause made those who profess to
also champion the same cause insignificant and insecure. This was indeed the
main reason why they failed or deliberately did not cooperate and caused
unnecessary obstacles in our fight for our survival. If you yourself are not
trustworthy you also fail to trust others. In such a situation ‘common cause’
becomes the ultimate victim.
Despite the OSU’s pledge that it would not
take part in electoral politics in the State unless seats in the Assembly were
restored to the Sikkimese, the political establishment had great doubt on us
and tried to suppress our movement through devious means. It felt that if we –
KC-Jigme combine (KC Pradhan is often referred to as ‘KC’) – succeeded in our mission it would lead to the eclipse
of many politicians and political parties which for a long time have been
fooling and misleading the people on the said issue for their vested interests.
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| Jigme N. Kazi |
One of the top bureaucrats close to Chamling
from the BL community tried to arrange secret meetings between Pradhan and the
Chief Minister during this period. Why doesn’t Chamling want to meet me or for
that matter the entire OSU team? Had Chamling done this he would surely have
benefitted a great deal. The precarious situation we were facing made me write
the editorial in the Observer in
December 1999 under the caption “Sikkim’s Future: Agents of Disunity At Work”:
“The move initiated by some senior bureaucrats from the minority Bhutia-Lepcha
community on the demand for restoration of Assembly seats in the State is not
very encouraging. Their negative attitude towards those who are genuinely
involved in the movement for restoration of the democratic rights of the
Sikkimese people as per the terms and spirit of Sikkim’s ‘merger’ reflects a
colonial mindset and sycophancy that is gradually growing in the State
administration. To please their political masters they are going against the
hopes and aspirations of the Sikkimese people, who are looking for ways to
safeguard their long-term rights and interests in the land of their origin.
For nearly a decade and half after the
‘merger’ the legitimate rights of the Sikkimese people belonging to the three
ethnic communities have been suppressed. Under the leadership of Pawan Chamling
the Sikkimese people were successful in ensuring that a climate of fear was
removed and the democratic process reinstated. Having fought for restoration of
democracy in the State it is now the right and the responsibility of the
Sikkimese people to openly and fearlessly come together and march ahead
hand-in-hand for their ultimate fight to preserve the distinct identity of
Sikkim within the Union.”
The editorial added: “Any move to browbeat
or suppress the Sikkimese people’s movement for a special place in the Indian
Union cannot and must not be tolerated. All those who have an evil design and a
hidden agenda for Sikkim will surely be exposed even as they consciously or
unconsciously reveal their true nature. While adjustments can be made on minor
matters there cannot be any compromise on basic issues that concern the
Sikkimese people.
The leadership of the Organization of
Sikkimese Unity (OSU), which is spearheading the demand for restoration of all
the 32 seat in the Assembly to bonafide Sikkimese belonging to the three ethnic
communities, have rightly observed that they will not bow to the diktats of
those who are unwilling to fight for the unity and identity of the Sikkimese
people.
What should rightly be brought to the notice
of the public is the attempt made by some highly-placed bureaucrats to either
buy off or cause a split in the organizations, including OSU, which are
hell-bent on preserving Sikkim for the coming generations of the Sikkimese
people. One senior officer pointed out that Revenue Order No 1 fully protected
the interest of the minority community and it was unwise to demand restoration
of Assembly seats for the original Bhutia-Lepchas in the State. Is this acceptable
to the BLs? Certainly not. In a small State like Sikkim restoration of the
democratic rights through seat reservation is the only weapon to ensure the
survival of the Sikkimese against massive influx in the State.
Another senior officer is making concerted
attempts in causing disunity and misunderstanding among the OSU leadership. His
attempts to arrange secret meetings with one of the OSU leaders with the
powers-that-be is an indication that something is wrong somewhere. These
developments must be viewed in the light of the Government’s attempts to
crackdown on those who recently organized a 12-hour hunger strike on the seat
issue on October 2.”
The editorial reiterated its stand on the
Assembly seat issue: “For the first time in the past twenty five years a
serious and genuine attempt is being made by concerned citizens to respect the
mandate given by the Sikkimese people on the seat issue. Ever since the
abolition of Assembly seats reserved for the Sikkimese people in 1979 to this
day the Sikkimese people have voiced their legitimate concern for their future
survival in the State. “
The editorial added: “A handful of
politicians and bureaucrats cannot and must not be allowed to suppress the
democratic urges of the Sikkimese people for their vested interests. The
Sikkimese people will certainly be faced with many challenges in the near
future. When a new situation comes into being and when the Sikkimese people are
on the crossroad they ought to take note of who their real friends and enemies
are. Sometimes wolves are clothed in sheep’s clothing. The time is nearing when
the sheep and the goats will be forced to take their rightful place in society.
To avoid any embarrassing situation the concerned authorities must fall in line
and bow down to the wishes of the people. As the new millennium approaches
Sikkim and the Sikkimese people will be given a new opportunity to redefine
their place in the world’s largest democracy. What is needed is reconciliation
and a more positive attitude to move forward together.”
(Ref: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland, Jigme N. Kazi, Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, 2014.)