Rare, valid, demand

SNS, Editorial, | 11 October, 2016:At a point in time when most persons in authority would be seeking to exploit prevailing circumstances to boost their security mechanisms etc, there would appear something rather innocent to the chief minister of Sikkim seeking a ‘peace bonus’. Yet the simplicity of PK Chamling’s plea serves to enhance its validity: “There is no insurgency, no militancy, no violence in Sikkim. Our state is the most peaceful in the country. We should be given a peace bonus by the Central government,” he has said, and recalled a similar reward of. Rs.183 crore in 2003 for being the “most peaceful state in the country”, unsullied by the insurgencies in adjoining areas. And he was happy to point out that the situation remained unchanged. Though he spoke in terms of a bonus, the chief minister really sought a more equitable share of national resources: there was no rail link to Sikkim, work on an airport had made little progress for over a decade. “Our only lifeline is a road. But the condition of the road is very pathetic.

We urge the Central government to take more development initiatives in Sikkim, as well as other North-eastern states.” For good measure he added that “Sikkim has tremendous potential to be the ‘Switzerland of India’ and a ‘Ram Rajya’ (which should click with the present government) as it is blessed with tremendous beauty and natural resources, but it needs help from the Central government.”

There is another side to the argument, albeit a negative dimension. Regions that are generally trouble-free are placed on the back-burner while violent areas (Jammu and Kashmir, and the Maoist belt in central India are fair examples) are promised “development” to wean disgruntled youth away from violence. Yet, as Mr Chamling stressed, Sikkim was also in desperate need of development, its young people also had aspirations. Precisely what role Niti Aayog will be playing in national affairs remains hazy, but it must find the courage to break new ground and incorporate the concept of a “peace bonus” into its formulations - it is not a matter concerning one state alone.

When last were events in Sikkim “front-page news” in the national media? When the former Chogyal was causing trouble? Or when the Chinese were advancing to Nathu La? It is all very well to salute ancient cultures, highlight traditional handicrafts, and even promote tourism in the area - which also requires heavy investment in the development of infrastructure - but not good enough. Will the people in Sikkim have to await a flare-up on the Line of Actual Control that will get the military minds all worked up - or worse, violent agitation putting down local roots?