NEW DELHI: Shuttan fears that the theory of “greater Sikkim,” a kin to the “greater Nepal” concept attributed to the Gorknaland leader, Subhas Ghising, may be gaining around in the Nepal dominated areas of India along its border with the kingdom.
Though Bhutan has no concrete evidence so far to substantiate its fears in this regard the fact that the Indian Government has not brushed it off altogether is being taken as an indication that there is some element of concern by the two countries on the issue.
A pamphlet, titled “The Gorkha people of southern Bhuran must unite and fight for our rights,” states: “We the Gorkhas of southern Bhutan are not only the majority but we also have 17 million brothers and sisters in Nepal and over 10 million living in India. Unless the minority Drupkas (native Bhutanese) come to their senses and immediately undo the damage and great harm they have done to themselves, there is every possibility that the borders of the Gorkha state of Sikkim and adjoining districts of Kalimpong and Darjeeling can very easily be extended across the whole of southern Bhutan, Then instead of Bhutanisation of southern Bhutan, we may see the day when the minority Drupkas of northern Bhutan are themselves Nepalised by the Gorkhas of southern Bhutan.”
Bhutan also claims that the “antinational” of southern Bhutan recently looted a monastery and smuggled idols and other antiques into India for sale. It claims to be aware of at least one instance, the first of its kind, when an antique from a Bhutanese monastery was found in Sikkim.
On the other hand government sources here say they are aware of Bhutan’s fears, The Home Ministry is in the knowledge of the queer development in Sikkim where the Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, while addressing a convention of his Sikkim Sangram Parishad recently, once again questioned the validity of Sikkim’s merger with India in 1974.
For the first time during the past few months, however, seeds of rebellion were sown in the Parishad, A prominent Parishad legislator Pawan Chamling, has formed new party, Sikkim Democratic Front. The front has a single point charter to refuel Bhandari’s observations on the merger issue and propagate that it was done to uphold democratic values. Government sources are silent on Bhandari’s recent charges that Chamling was being projected chiefly by the Center.
Government sources concede that like Ghising, Bhandari’s efforts have been to emerge as the sole leader of Nepalisin India. But unlike the former, Bhandari has not had any occasion to compromise, they point out. They say the two “victories” that Bhandari is once again publicizing as his own are the recognition of Nepali as one of the official languages and Indian citizenship rights to over 70,000 residents of Sikkim, who were denied the same at the time of merger. Government sources say that citizenship issue is still a matter of controversy in the state with the minority Bhutia Lepchas, the original inhabitants, insisting that most of the people were of Nepali origin.
In August, 1992, the “great Sikkim” question was discussed at a high-level meeting organized by the Home Ministry here. It was attended among others, by the Cabinet Secretary, Home, Defence and Foreign Secretaries, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and officials of the West Bengal Government.
Referring to the overall implications of the movement for“greater Nepal” = which Bhutan now calls “greater Sikkim” the meeting observed; “It is unlikely to gain Support, Out if not tackled immediately and properly, the movement will develop a momentum of its own and then it will be more a case of event forcing our reactions than the other way round, The problem has not yet assumed alarming proportions, It can still be tackled, given the will and pragmatic approach.”
Article extracted from this publication >> June 18, 1993
