Horemheb's Musings

I have just finished reading GBS Sidhu’s “Sikkim – Dawn of Democracy”, an account of his service as Officer on Special Duty (Police), basically the RAW agent in charge of Sikkim during the pivotal years of 1973-76 when Sikkim merged with India. After reading Andrew Duff’s “Sikkim” this book provided a 360 degree perspective on the saga that is Sikkim’s merger with India. One book written from the royalist perspective and the other from R&AW perspective.

In one book (Duff) Thondup, the last Chogyal (King) of Sikkim is presented as a feckless pathetic character struggling amidst the tides of change surrounding him, while on the other book (Sidhu) he is portrayed as a shrewd Machiavellian political operator and manipulator. On some things however both perspectives are quite aligned – the autocratic high handedness of BB Lal, the last Chief Executive and first Governor of Sikkim. Both books also agree on the mistake of using Indian Army to forcible disarm Sikkim Guards days before the fateful Assembly session that called for merger with India and abolishment of the institution of Chogyal.

What is also undisputed is that absolute incompetence in the handling of Sikkim post merger by the Indian National Congress. Both Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai played their petty partisan politics squandering a great opportunity to stabilise and integrate Sikkim and in that progress doing great injustice and treachery to the stalwart freedom fighters who worked tirelessly for decades for Sikkim’s merger with India ( Kazi).

Now lets compare this situation with Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. From the tight management in the immediate aftermath to the gradual devolution of control it was a masterly exercise. Starting with the strict lockdowns to ensure peace and stability in the months immediately following the abrogation, to conducting of the Panchayat elections to restart the democratic process and finally to the recently concluded Assembly elections it was definite proof that BJP had learnt from the mistakes of Congress.

Hold the ground when required, give way to opposition when opportune.

The mistake of 1987 elections was not repeated, with BJP letting democracy do its magic even if hitherto unsavoury elements contested elections and became MLAs – like Engineer Rashid. Rather than trying to make partisan gains BJP played it smart by enticing the former rebels and terrorists to join the political process and thus make it their vested interest to maintain peace and stability.

Indian National Congress today, harbouring the same arrogance of the 1970’s and 80’s but with negligible capability and acumen would have been disastrous in Kashmir. BJP certainly managed Kashmir far better than Congress ever did in Sikkim, Goa or Hyderabad, all examples of Congress high handedness that ruined and soured the hard work of Indian patriots, armed forces and civil service officers.