BHANDARI’S POLITICAL CAREER IS IN COMA,15 April, 2004; NOW! 1 CONG THE LIFE SUPPORT, QUIPS CHAMLING Bharat Sanchar Thursday, 15 April, 2004 Vol. 3 No. 17 Gangtok Rs. 3 Nigam Ltd. a Govt. of India enterprise Office of the General Manager Telecom Gangtok : Sikkim NOTICE All BSNL subscribers are hereby informed that all tel- ephone numbers in Gangtok beginning 222, 223, 224 and 225 are being changed in a phased manner to now be- TURN TO gin 20, ie is the second number of these phones will pg 5 henceforth be “0.” FOR DETAILS SDF RELEASES 92-PAGE MANIFESTO OF ITS a NOW REPORT Also emphasised is SDF’s com- GANGTOK, 14 April: “The Sikkim mitment to guarantee “full safeguard Democratic Front ran two successive of the political, economic, social and terms in office without any distur- MISSION & AMBITIONS traditional rights” of the minority bances or hindrances. This is a record Bhutia Lepcha communities. of sorts in the country. We hope to an unprecedented change and devel- On the reservation of seats for the continue with the people’s support opment. Our politics is dedicated to Limbus and Tamangs, the manifesto and faith in the next term as well.” the welfare of all communities of the records: “After a proper census and Chief Minister and SDF presi- State. We will continue to move ahead the delimitation process is over, we dent, Pawan Chamling, said this with our revolution until we establish shall initiate time-bound discussion while releasing the SDF manifesto a system that guarantees complete with the Union Government for the for the upcoming Assembly as well political freedom, social justice and reservation of seats for the Tamang as Lok Sabha elections here today. peace to the people,” he said. and Limbu communities in the “The SDF party has fulfilled all The SDF manifesto is divided Sikkim Legislative Assembly as per promises made to the people during into seven sections. Apart from Mr. the Constitution.” the last elections and even more than Chamling’s appeal, which forms It also assures to make a “strong that, we have been able to maintain the preface of the document, sepa- case” for increasing the Assembly a clean image in the public percep- rate chapters are dedicated to SDF’s strength [to 40] and representation tion. Now, our main endeavour will vision for 2015, its political and in the Lok and Rajya Sabha [2 each]. be to carry our work forward as there ideological stand, targets for the THREE CMs, ONE MANIFESTO: SDF president and Chief Minister On delimitation, the SDF has is still a lot to be done for the State next five years and a chapter on the Pawan Chamling releases his party’s manifesto for the upcoming si- promised to “hold interactions with multaneous polls. He is flanked by former Chief Ministers, BB Gooroong and her people,” he said. demands with the Central govern- the people, intellectuals and public [left] and Sanchaman Limboo [right]. While pointing out the salient ment. There are nineteen further representatives before the final con- points of the 92-page manifesto, subgroups which cover such top- health, youth management, etc. ticle [371F] has become more ex- clusion.” “The interests and rights of Mr. Chamling said that one of the ics as political and ideological pro- While reiterating that the SDF plicit and strongly expressed.” the Sikkimese people shall be pro- key components of the party’s grammes, power decentralisation, has been able to “ensure full po- “Our Government shall con- tected and further consolidated in the manifesto is the protection of the policies on economy, industry, ag- litical rights of the Sikkimese peo- tinue to uphold the dignity and hon- process of delimitation,” it adds. democratic institutions. riculture, horticulture, welfare ple as per the Constitution,” the our of the Sikkimese people,” the Full devolution of power and in- “We intend to continue to uphold schemes, environment, education, manifesto adds that “today this Ar- SDF manifesto adds. turn to pg 6 the party’s pro-poor and democratic principles in the next Government as well. While we do not intend to claim that we have established a completely Bhandari presents Cong’s “first & final” list of candidates new era in Sikkim during the last nine as the lone Lok Sabha seat. Mr. Bhandari, confident of re- and half years, we have still brought a NOW REPORT Contenders 2004, the “We have chosen the candidates turning to power after a two-term hia- GANGTOK, 14 April: The Sikkim on the basis of their winning potentials tus, said that the anti-incumbency complete SDF and Cong [I] list Pradesh Congress Committee-I and have also weighed merit on their factor will vote the SDF out of power. of candidates on pg 6 (SPCC-I) today released its list of loyalty towards the party and the peo- candidates for both the upcoming ple. We have also tried to maintain a saree Assembly as well as Lok Sabha polls. balance of all the communities of the Although the Cong [I] waited for State in our selection of candidates,” HONG KONG this date to formally release the list - Mr. Bhandari said. sale after consultations with pundits and While Mr. Bhandari has kept Rinpoches for a favourable time and both the Gangtok as well as Central BAZAAR @ date - it contained little or no surprises, Pendam seats for himself, LP Tewari as most of the names had already been has been given Temi-Tarku and KN Any Item Rs. 90 to Rs. 150 made public on earlier occasions. Upreti has been given Rhenock. FIRST Mimani’s Former Chief Minister and Con- Five SDF dissidents have also found Gift Items, Crockery & Other TIME IN gress president, while releasing the berths in the Congress list. They are: DB Attractive Goods! SIKKIM MG MARG list, said that the list was the “first Gurung [Geyzing], Kunga Nima Lepcha and the final” one and no changes [Assam Lingzey], Sherhang Subba ST PRIL TH PRIL would be made to it. The Congress [Dentam], Sonam Choda Lepcha HOTEL BAYUL, MG MARG, GANGTOK 1 A -30 A is contesting in all 32 seats as well [Dzongu] and Tseten T. Bhutia [Pathing]. CMYK 2; NOW!; 15 April, 2004 ED-SPACE NOW! FIRST WITH THE NEWS POLICE! Three youth from the Congress camp walked into the NOW! office on 14 April. One of them was a fresh-faced kid who has only just given his class XII board exams. Let us keep the debate on whether such young minds should be exposed to the corrupting influence of politics for a later day and move on for now by accepting it as a matter of personal choice. The three came with a complaint and host of allegations against the police. In particular, about the treat- ment meted out to them at Kaluk thana. The three allege that they Part-1 Eight motorcyle enthusiasts we passed a settlement]. were “tortured” for three hours at the thana for belonging to the finally sit down to write with a banded together as the Mahesh was carrying a video- Congress camp. The exact details and the circumstances that led gnawing itch on my calf, ac- Himalayan Explorers and cam and would be shooting through to the incident will unfold in the coming days. What is obvious is Iquired this morning courtesy a thundered off to the trip, sitting pillion on any bike. leech. Recollection is a tough feat Our first stop was a bit beyond Kabi. that their story will be immediately lapped up as the truth by most Gurudongmar on their first people. That is what is disconcerting. Stories of police atrocities when it has to be done to its utmost Minor tuning problems had shown are accepted without question not just in Sikkim, but all over India. capacity, and I embark upon this feat Enfield Expedition together up and Aalam had to be on his feet This, for a force that is here “to serve and to protect,” is rather in trying to recollect my past week, on 08 April. They are back for the next ten minutes. We set off ironic. Why is it that whenever we say “Police” it comes with an before the memories fade further. and one of the team- again to stop at Mangan for lunch. exclamation mark? The trip was a dream that I had members, ABHISHEK PANDEY So far it had been a peaceful ride, What we have to accept before we start trying to figure this out, never thought would transform to shares his experience with though people like me who never is that the Indian Police is of colonial make. The British masters reality. A bike trip up north, past the travel in groups, had a tough time readers of NOW! in a two- required a force to keep the subjects in check. Solving crimes dreaded Chungthang army check keeping pace and concentrating on was only incidental to this aim since it helped the rulers keep the post where everything living has to part recollection... the bike directly in front. Lunch as troublemakers [and potential challengers to their rule] locked up show a permit to get across, to compounder; Vrinda [still don’t usual had a drowsy effect [it never or under constant surveillance. Khaki, the cop colour, was engi- Gurudongmar. Only that this time know what he does]; Tenzing, bas- fails to show up] and we rode to a neered to induce fear. More than half a century has passed since I would not have to run, beg and ketball player, hotel management point just beyond Mangan to take a colonial rule ended for India, but the policing mindset is yet to plead with the police department.