‘ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE POWER WILL TRIUMPH OVER MONEY POWER”
Issues raised in Jigme N. Kazi’s reply to the
“Essentially, the fight is between a few good men or women, who
represent the hopes and aspirations of the Sikkimese people, and a bunch of
opportunists, sometimes masquerading as politicians or social workers, who are
backed by those in power,” says Kazi. He, however, adds, “Ultimately, people
power will triumph over money power.”
Shri Namkha Gyaltsen
President
Gangtok (
Subject: Show Cause Notice
Sir,
This
has reference to your letter No. SPCC/012/01, dated August 19, 2001, regarding
a show cause not9ice (copy enclosed – Annexure –1) issued to me by the Sikkim
Pradesh Congress Committee for my alleged anti-party activities. In this
connection my reaction to the allegations is as follows:
- Allegation 1: Repeated refusal to attend the SPCC meetings:
(a)
As per records maintained by
the SPCC I have attended most the party meetings held in
(b)
I did not attend the party
meetings held in Gangtok on July 27, 2001 and August 19, 2001. I have genuine
reasons for not being able to attend these two meetings:
(i) July 27 meeting: I had informed the
party President that I would not be able to attend the meeting as I was engaged
in observing an important puja at home on this day. The pujas were performed by
five lamas of the Chorten Monastery of Gangtok. They, along with other members
of my family, relatives and workers at my construction site, may be contacted
to verify this fact.
(ii)
August 19 meeting: On August 18 night, the party President rang me up and asked me to
attend a party meeting in Gangtok on August 19 (Sunday). I told him that I
could not attend the meeting as I had already agreed to attend a public meeting
of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad at Sangram Bhawan, Gangtok (SSP letter inviting
me to attend the meeting enclosed – Annexure II). Since it was a Sunday and a
holiday at my Press I could not send my reporters to cover the meeting. I
attended the SSP meeting and sat on the press gallery among other journalists.
Local journalists, SSP leaders and workers may be contacted to verify this
fact. The SSP meeting began at 11 a.m. and lasted till 3 p.m. The SPCC meeting
was also called at the same time.
Allegation 2: Attendance at meetings of other political parties:
(i)
I attended two public meetings
of the SSP at the Sangrarm Bhawan, Gangtok on May 24, 2001, the 17th
birth anniversary of the party, (SSP letter inviting me to the meeting enclosed
– Annexure-III) and August 19, 2001. Invitation letter to me from the SSP to
attend these two meetings as a journalist are enclosed. During the two meetings
I sat on the press gallery along with other journalists. SSP workers/leaders
and journalists may be contacted to verify this fact.
(ii) I do not remember attend any other political party meetings of
either the SSP or
any other parties as a journalist or as a Congressman after I joined the
Congress
party in November 2000. The charges leveled against me are not specific.
They
are false, baseless and politically-motivated.
Allegation 3: Misuse of office of the General Secretary of the party by
way ofpublication of newsitems deliberately distorted to lower the
prestige of the Congressparty and party members:
(i)
The charges are not specific. I
edit Sikkim Observer, an English weekly published from Gangtok. The AICC
President, along with other party functionaries from
(ii) The show
cause may be referring to a newsitem in the Observer dated August 11-17,
2001 captioned: “Stalling SSP-Cong merger aiding ‘vested interests” (copy of
newsitem enclosed – Annexure – IV). If the party wishes to raise any objection
to the said newsitem it should take up the matter with the Editor/Publisher/Printer
of the Observer and not with the SPCC General Secretary. Though the
Editor/Publisher/Printer of the Observer may also be the SPCC General Secretary
it is not correct to penalize the General Secretary on the basis on the
newsitem. The action taken against me is an indirect method to impose indirect
press censorship and suppress freedom of the Press, an issue the Indian
National Congress has always been championing.
If the Observer report is baseless
appropriate action may be initiated against the paper. However, if the report
is based on facts and feelings of the people appropriate action should be
initiated against the concerned persons who are indulging in anti-party
activities and damaging the image of the Congress in the eyes of the people.
I believe the
actual reason why the SPCC, during its meeting held in Gangtok on August 19,
2001, decided to suspend me from the party for alleged anti-party activities is
because I was perceived as a stumbling block for a few Congress leaders who are
bent on placing their personal interests above the interest of the party and
the people at large.
Having replied to the show cause notice it
is my bounded duty to place before the party leadership the developments within
the Congress party in the past few months and the present political situation
in the State in the right perspective.
Independent observers, including Congress
workers, and the people, by and large, are convinced that casteist and communal
forces, aided by rampant corruption in the administration, have not only
destroyed the age-old peace, harmony and unity of the Sikkimese people, but
have also hindered real economic development in the State. If prompt and
appropriate action is not taken at the right time by the concerned authorities,
which include the Congress party, there is every possibility of this sensitive
and strategicallylocated border State heading towards an unchartered
destination, which is likely to endanger national unity and integrity.
I believe that the need of the hour is for
all secular and democratic forces to put aside their personal interests and
differences and work for the larger and long-term interests of the State and
the country as a whole. Despite being the major player in the State’s
integration into the mainstream the Indian National Congress has never won a
single Assembly elections in
The fact that the SSP President, Shri Nar
Bahadur Bhandari, wants to merge his party (SSP) with the Congress has been
brought to the knowledge of the AICC and the PCC. With the approval of the PCC
and with the prior knowledge and consent of the AICC talks were initiated on
SSP’s merger with the Congress since January 2001. The PCC President, Shri
Namkha Gyaltsen, had written a letter to the AICC President, Shrimati Sonia
Gandhi, in January 2001 on this matter (letter enclosed – Annexure-V). While
the talks have progressed on the said issue it came to an abrupt end when the
PCC Executive Committee at its meeting held in Gangtok on Jly 27, 2001 decided
that the merger of the SSP with the Congress be suspended temporarily. The
press release of the party meeting on July 27 is enclosed (Annexure – VI).
Circumstances in
which the process of the proposed merger of the Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP)
with the Indian National Congress, which began in December-January this year,
and which came to an abrupt and unexpected end, albeit temporarily, on July 27,
have formed me to set the records straight and also to place certain vital
issues and events on record.
I do this with utmost sincerity and honesty
not only for the interest of the Congress party but also in the larger interest
of the State and the country as a whole. I am persuaded and am convinced that
the Congress leadership and party workers, within and outside the State, have a
right to know how, why and who takes decisions on their behalf on various
matters that concern them and the people at large.
It was under the direction and guidance of
the PCC President, Shri Namkha Gylatsen, and with due permission from the AICC
and PCC that Shri Balchand Sarda, PCC Treasurer, former MLA and one of the most
respected and seniormost Congressmen in Sikkim, and I, PCC General Secretary,
became official mediators of the party for talks with the SSP President, Shri
Nar Bahadur Bhandari, on the merger issue. Out main role has been to arrange
meetings between the leaders of the two parties for discussion on the said
issue.
Starting from January 2001 we pursued the
matter most sincerely giving it the priority that such matter deserves. After
holding several meetings with Shri Bhandari – in at least three of these
meetings the PCC President was present – we finally received a written document
from Shri Bhandari where he put forward several conditions for the proposed
merger.
Out last and perhaps the most important
meeting with Shri Bhandari was held in Gangtok on June 20. The PCC President
was also present during this meeting. The outcome of this meeting was very
fruitful and all of us decided to brief Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar on the merger
issue with a view to taking the matter to its logical conclusion during the
AICC’s political training camp in Guwahati on July 13-14.
Realising that
informal talks on the merger issue had reached a final stage just before our
Guwahati meet it was now the right time to take up the matter officially with
the PCC as well as the AICC while observing the due process on such matters.
However, despite these developments we were
surprised to note that the matter was not presented to Shri Aiyar in the right
perspective. Instead, the party leadership conveyed the impression that it
wanted to contest the ensuing Panchayat polls on its own and asked for Shri
Aiyar’s views on the matter and funds from the AICC to contest the polls.
Shri Aiyar clearly told us that before
forming any kind of strategy on the panchayat polls the party should first
settle whether there is going to be an outright merger with the SSP or just an
alliance. Only after this matter is settled the party should formulate its
strategy on the ensuing panchayat polls. Shri Aiyar indicated that some of the
conditions placed before the party by the SSP President may not be acceptable
but he clearly and very categorically stated that matters regarding the merger
and panchayat polls should be decided before August 31.
Despite Shri Aiyar’s clear instruction on
the two issues an emergent meeting of the PCC Executive Committee was fixed for
July 27. The decision to hold this meeting took place in Guwahati itself.
During the July 27 meeting the PCC Executive Committee decided to temporarily
close the chapter on the merger issue. The reason given for this abrupt move
was that the conditions placed by Shri Bhandari were too “rigid” and,
therefore, not acceptable to the party.
After the Guwahati meet and just before the
July 27 PCC meeting PCC President’s comments on the merger issue was carried in
a local English weekly: “As of now the merger between the Congress (I) and the
Sikkim Sangram Parishad is temporarily suspended” (Weekend Review July 20-26,
2001). Judging by Shri Gyaltsen’s remarks and the development that followed it
appears that the decision to put an abrupt end to the proposed SSP-Cong merger
was taken even before the PCC meeting on July 27. Is this just and democratic?
(copy of newsitem enclosed – Annexure – VII).
In view of the above background I would like to place
on record the following points:
1. Shri Bhandari remains an influential figure
in State politics. The proposed merger of the SSP with the INC is a big issue
not only for the two parties but for the State as a whole. A few leaders at the
top alone cannot and must not be allowed to take decisions either in favour or
against the merger. It is perfectly OK to confine the talks among a few
selected Congressmen at the initial stage. However, once the preliminary
discussion are over all levels of the party’s hierarchy must be taken into
confidence while deciding on the said matter. The AICC ought to be the deciding
factor on such important matters.
- The importance of observing the democratic process and
involving party workers from the grassroots level on the said issue was
emphasized by Shri Aiyar to the PCC President and myself during his visit
to the State in June this year. Shri Aiyar very specifically stated that
it was not enough for the PCC alone to pass a resolution welcoming Shri
Bhandari in to the party. He asked us to call a general body meeting of
the party and place the issue before them. This was never done. Shri Aiyar
also said a tripartite meeting between the AICC, PCC and SSP should be
held in Delhi to sort out contentious issues once the merger process is
formally under progress.
- When the PCC President raised the subject of the ensuing
panchayat polls in
- The emergent meeting of the PCC Executive Committee was called
on July 27 to discuss on the ensuing panchayat polls and “other party
matters”. The panchayat polls was the ‘principal agenda’ for the said
meeting as per the calling letter (letter enclosed – Annexure – VIII) for
the said meeting. No specific mention was made in the letter that the
meeting would discuss the merger issue and yet a very important decision
was taken on this issue. Why?
- A Press release of the party after the July 27 meeting said the
conditions put forward by Shri Bhandari for the proposed merger were not
acceptable to the AICC as well as the PCC. Apart from Shri Aiyar’s
reaction on the conditions the PCC, in my view, has no knowledge about the
AICC’s views on the conditions put forward by the SSP President. If the
PCC leadership has received the AICC’s views on this it must and should
let party workers know about it. Observation of the democratic process
demands transparency, openness and accountability at all levels of
functioning.
- Shri Bhandari did place his conditions in writing before the
Congress part. The PCC had earlier demanded that if Shri Bhandari is
really keen on joining the Congress and merging his party with it he
should spell out his conditions in black and white. The SSP President
responded positively to this request. That some of his conditions are
unacceptable to some of us is a different matter altogether. But did the
SPCC (I) President reciprocate Shri Bhandari’s gesture and place before
him our reactions and conditions for the proposed merger? No we did not.
Instead, we temporarily closed the chapter without even having the
courtesy to inform him of our decision, leave alone placing before him our
conditions. We, too, have out terms and conditions on matters regarding
party organization, elections, issues etc. for the proposed merger. Were
we ever given an opportunity to place our views on this issue on record?
- Democratic process and decency demands that the PCC President
formally place before the PC, DCC etc. the demands and conditions put
forward by the SSP President. Discussing the conditions placed by Shri
Bhandari with a few Congressmen informally is not enough. When the PCC
authorizes the PCC President to obtain Shri Bhandari’s conditions for the
proposed merger in writing it was expected that copies of the conditions
made by him be distributed to party leaders and workers to study and apply
their mind and react to it before taking a final decision on the issue.
Unfortunately, this was never done. Although
I had a brief glimpse of the conditions on two occasion, I, though the General
Secretary of the party, do not have a copy of it. Shri Bhandari is a
controversial figure and each of us will surely react favourably, adversely or
neutrally on the proposed merger. However, after a thorough discussion and
debate a consensus must be arrived at on the issue in the interest of the
party. The PCC’s executive body alone cannot have the final stay on the merger
issue. The process that took almost 7 months cannot be put to rest, albeit
temporarily, in one single meeting of the Executive Committee of the PCC when a
positive note had been struck on the issue. Is the decision on the merger issue
taken by the Executive Committee on July 27 in favour of the Congress party or
the ruling party? Proper explanation must be given on this issue.
- The leaders of the Indian National Congress at all levels in
the States as well as the Centre are expected to work in the best interest
of the party and the country at all times. The manner in which the merger
issue has been handles by a section of the PCC leadership recently has
created doubts in the minds of the people of the credibility and integrity
of the SPCC leadership and the image of the party as a whole in the State.
That the above developments have taken place at a time when there are
strong allegations and reports that some Congress leaders are hobnobbing
with those in power and working against the overall interest of the party
are very serious and disturbing developments which calls for a thorough
enquiry by the party high command at the earliest.
It is now almost confirmed that a delegation of the Congress party met
the Chief Minister, Shri Pawan Chamling, at his official residence at
Mintokgang in the morning of July 18, 2001. While no one can object to
Opposition leaders meeting the Chief Minister the fact that such meeting took
place at a time when people, including Congress workers, have doubts and are
suspicious of the dubious role being placed by certain Congress leaders in the
present political situation is highly questionable. Is the Congress high
command functioning from Mintokgang (CM’s official residence) or from
My
meeting with the PCC President on August 1 confirmed that at least a dozen
Congress members were present at Mintokgang on July 18. The PCC chief has also
disclosed to me that they had gone to Mintokgang with his prior knowledge and
consent. While the party cannot object to its members meeting the Chief
Minister is it advisable to enter the Chief Minister’s residence at this
juncture? It is high time that the party leadership at the top intervene and
took serious view of the anti-party activities indulged in by rank opportunists
and power brokers within the Congress and set the party in the right course
before more damage is done to the party.
- To enable Congress workers to revive the party from the
grassroots there is the need to identify real and genuine Congress workers
at all levels and allow them to play a more effective and dominant role in
the better functioning of the party in the State. To achieve this
objective the AICC should immediately send a competent and independent
team to thoroughly probe into the activities of the Congress party and
some of its leaders. Only after the team submits a report to the AICC
should the party high command take necessary action. People power should
be mobilized and money power of vested interests should not be allowed to
influence the activities of the party in the State.
10. I strongly believe that there is a
conspiracy, aided by outside forces, to ensure that the Congress party does not
move ahead but remains a stagnant party. Instead of accepting the challenges
and forging ahead we have yielded and submitted ourselves to the evil designs
of our adversaries. Congressmen like myself have become a victim in the present
circumstances. Apart from being suspended from the post of General Secretary I
have also been removed from the post of Co-ordinator, Political Training Department
of the AICC (enclosed SPCC press release of 19.8.2001 – Annexure – IX).
Having
seen it all I do not have faith and confidence on the present leadership of the
party the State. The party high command ought to take a serious view of the
situation and take immediate remedial steps to set things right. I seek speedy
justice from the party high command on my own behalf, on behalf of the party
workers and the Sikkimese people as a whole.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Jigme N. Kazi)
Copy to: (i) Shrimati Sonia Gandhi,
President, AICC
(ii) Shri Mani Shanker Aiyar,
AICC Secretary Incharge of Sikkim and
North-East
(iii) Shri Oscar Fernandes,
General Secretary, AICC