Former Chief minister of Sikkim Nar Bahadur Bhandari starts jail stint in Gangtok hospital

Gangtok, Aug. 10: Nar Bahadur Bhandari today arrived at the CBI court in a convoy of 21 vehicles to surrender before a special judge but was hospitalised after an hour-long stint in jail.

The three-term former chief minister of Sikkim went out of the court in a Sikkim police car for the mandatory health checkup before being sent to the Rongey jail. But by 4.15pm, he was back in STNM Hospital with complaints of chest pain.

The 70-year-old Bhandari had been sentenced to one month in jail and fined Rs 5,000 by Sikkim High Court in a 27-year-old graft case.

Yesterday, acting Chief Justice S.P. Wangdi upheld the verdict of a CBI court that had found Bhandari guilty of defalcating funds in a rural water supply scheme of 1984.

The judge, however, commuted the six-month jail sentence passed by the trial court in 2008 to a month. Bhandari had been asked by the high court to surrender before the special judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) today.

At 11am, a sombre Bhandari arrived at the district and sessions court at Sichey. The court premises were abuzz with anticipation since morning with lawyers and the general public milling around for a sight Bhandari who had been a three-term chief minister from 1979.

The Sikkim Pradesh Congress chief arrived in his red SUV with another 20 vehicles carrying his followers. The mood was sober with no slogans being shouted. Bhandari was greeted by all as he walked into the CBI court. He stood there without speaking a word for about two hours and 10 minutes while the proceedings took place. State Congress vice-president Kunga Nima Lepcha had accompanied him.

Two hours later, Bhandari boarded a white Maruti Gypsy of the Sikkim police to be taken to the STNM Hospital for the mandatory medical checkup. The check-up was completed and the police set off for the state jail at Rongey, 11km from here, at 3.15pm.

Sources in the jail said Bhandari, after completing the paperwork there, complained of chest pains and was brought back to STNM Hospital in another hour. He has been admitted to Cabin 1 of the cardiology ward of the hospital.

While doctors refused to say anything about Bhandari’s health, sources close to him said the former chief minister had been admitted to hospital twice in the past with cardiac problems.

Sources in the jail said two guards would be posted outside the cabin at all times. “We will allow two visitors at a time during visiting hours and he will be allowed home-cooked food,” a jail source said.

Yesterday, Bhandari had said he would not move the Supreme Court against the sentence. He had said he would go to jail “for Sikkim and the Sikkimese people”.

Sources in his party had said yesterday that Bhandari would make the “best of the situation” at the time of his surrender and try to get “as much publicity as possible to gain the sympathy of the people”.

Today, while leaving the district and sessions court, Bhandari said he was being convicted for a scheme for the success of which the Centre had once lauded him.

“I had promised the people of Sikkim that I would do away with their namlos (ropes used to carry water pots), and I have done that by implementing the rural water supply scheme in the state. I was also awarded by the Centre for the success of the scheme. I am now going to jail for the same scheme. I am going to prison for the people of Sikkim. What will happen after I serve out my term will only be known then,” Bhandari said.

Yesterday, however, he had hinted that he might leave the Congress and float a regional party. He had said he was upset with the Congress high command in Delhi because it had done nothing to rein in the CBI, which prosecuted him.

Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari, President Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee welcomes Gorkhaland Pact

Gangtok 19th July: President Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari rejected the proposal of the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to name Sikkim Government College, Tadong as Nar Bahadur Bhandari College. It was proposed by the CM during his village to village tour.

Speaking with media in a meeting held at the party head office at Development Area Mr. Bhandari

informed that CM Pawan Chamling had also proposed to name Soreng road after him but it was also turned down and he had said that he is not fit for it. Mr. Bhandari further said that the ongoing tour of the CM is a total failure and a fruitless exercise as many people in the visited area are unable to meet the CM and place their grievances before him.

Adding more Mr. Bhandari stated that the people are fed up with Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government as SDF led Mr. Bhandari further alleged that due to Panchayats SDF government fails in proper implementation of the central government scheme in the state as the people are not given the chance to select their Panchayat. Panchayat in state are selected by the government and party and due to which the Panchayat are working in favor of government instead of serving the public and due to this reason the public in the state are not satisfied with the activities of the Panchayats. Public have the right to elect their Panchayat in a democracy but ruling government do not follow democratic principles in the right earnest added Mr. Bhandari.

Addressing the Sikkim University issue Mr. Bhandari said that CM Chamling speaks about the quality education in the state during every public meet but he fails in providing land to Sikkim University and in addition CM Chamling is also encouraging the student to speak against the Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University who holds a respectable post. Mr. Bhandari informing more said that if the ruling government fails in providing land to Sikkim University within this year then the fund allotted for the construction of the university by UGC will return back so its high time that CM Chamling has to take initiative and handover the acquired land to SU.

Adding more Mr. Bhandari stated that CM Chamling is talking about providing quality education in the state but there are numerous schools in the state facing the crisis of Mathematics teachers along with uniform and book.

Speaking over the rising unemployment problems in state Mr. Bhandari said that the SDF led government lacks employment generation programme and due to which the unemployment problems is increasing in the state currently.

Furthermore Mr. Bhandari congratulated UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister Mr. P Chidambaram, Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms. Mamta Banarjee and president of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Mr. Bimal Gurung for solving the long pending problem of Gorkhaland on 18th of July 2011.

Informing further Mr. Bhandari said that GJM can demand Gorkhaland state in future on the base of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) as well.

During the programme about 32 SDF members from Namthang and Yangthang joined Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee and Mr. Bhandari welcomed them by offering khadas.

government is unable to keep its promises made to the people of Sikkim

Pawan Chamling offers to name Sikkim Government College after Nar Bahadur Bhandari, Ex-CM

Sikkim Chief Minister Dr.Pawan Chamling

Gyalshing, July 14: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling offered to rename Sikkim Government College at Tadong as Nar Bahadur Bhandari College should the former Chief Minister gives his consent.

“Our government has been honour our former leaders and recognizing their contribution to Sikkim, we have been naming the government infrastructures after them. If former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari gives his consent, we will name the government college at Gangtok after his name”, said the Chief Minister in his address during the 197th Bhanu Jayanti celebrations held at Kyongsa near Gyalshing.

 Nar Bahadur Bhandari

In his address, Dr. Chamling asserted that there are only two leaders in Sikkim so far. “My direct political adversary is Nar Bahadur Bhandari. He has a vital role in the inclusion of Nepali language in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution and I appreciate his contribution”, he said.

“Credit goes to Bhandari for establishing college in Sikkim but Dr. Pawan Chamling is the leader who established Sikkim University”, said the Chief Minister. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Nepali Literature and Culture Research Centre at Kyongsa and unveiled the statue of Adikavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

“The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government has given full protection to the languages and cultures of all communities in Sikkim. We are also giving lot of thrust on intellectual initiatives. The people should be conscious as how to harness the potential and protect this centre at Kyongsa”, said Dr. Chamling. He urged that nobody should think that the centre is meant for Nepali speaking community only. The Chief Minister also assured to meet all the additional infrastructural requirements of the center which will be under the care of the West district collector. He directed the concerned department to prepare an estimate of all the additional requirements of the centre.

SIKKIM EXPRESS

Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) presidential elections postponed

GANGTOK, September 21: In a major blow to incumbent Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) president Nar Bahadur Bhandari, the All India Congress Committee has postponed the election process of the State unit till further announcement.
Bhandari was all set to become the SPCC president for the third consecutive term as he was the lone candidate in the fray after the nomination process ended on September 13. His rival, KN Upreti had backed out demanding that the new SPCC president should be nominated by the AICC.
Upreti, who is also the senior vice president in the party, had contended that the elections for the SPCC president had created a major division in the party as two camps emerged-one in his favour and other pitching for Bhandari.
The SPCC vice-president and his supporters had asserted that they would not be accepting Bhandari as their party president through the ‘divisionary’ election process. However, they were ready to accept him as their party president if he is nominated by the AICC.
Upreti went to New Delhi and approached the party high command on September 14 and as it appears now, his perseverance has paid off with the SPCC presidential elections postponed.
A statement from Congress returning officer Zubair Khan as forwarded by SPCC functionary Avinash Yakha states: “Due to some unavoidable circumstances the election process for organisational election – 2010 of PCC president, PCC executive, AICC members and Pradesh election committees in Sikkim has been postponed till further announcement”.
Khan had stayed in Gangtok till September 12, the penultimate day for filing of nominations. He was overseeing the election process of the SPCC.


SPCC President N.B.Bhandari



Speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS over phone, Khan said that Upreti had approached the party high command on the SPCC president election issue. While giving orders that the SPCC election process be postponed, Congress chief election officer Oscar Franandez has assured Upreti to enquire into his grievances and come up with a decision soon, he said.

The postponement order from faxed to the SPCC headquarters here on September 17, at a moment when it was being asked when Bhandari will take up his president post for the third consecutive time.
As per the party sources, the announcement of Bhandari as the new president was supposed to take place today but contrary to the expectations, the statement about the election process being postponed came.

When his response was sought on the postponement, Bhandari said that he has no statements to make at the moment.



Meanwhile, Upreti told Sikkim Express that he and his supporters had met Sikkim in-charge Luizino Faleriaro at Delhi on September 14. When he heard our grievances, he called up Zubair Khan and in consultation with Oscar Fernandez, the SPCC election process has been postponed till further notice, he said.

“We told the party high command that Bhandari is not very much interested in fulfilling his responsibilities as the SPCC president. Since the 2009 elections, he has not met party president Sonia Gandhi and was averse to maintaining good relations and network with the party high command which had a demoralizing effect on the party supporters here”, said Upreti.

Upreti said that he briefed the party high command that elections to the SPCC president post have created huge divisions in the party. We want the SPCC president to be nominated by the AICC president but Bhandari got scared and remained adamant on the elections, he said.

Even the central leadership is not happy with Bhandari, though whether he would be retained as the SPCC president by the party president is another matter, said Upreti.

On asked what will happen next, Upreti said that the party high command would be submitting a report to Sonia Gandhi. What decision she would take, we cannot say at this juncture, he said. The decision will come in next 10-12 days and we are hoping for an early conclusion, he said.

When asked if he is ready to accept the SPCC president post if the party high command opts for him instead of Bhandari, Upreti replied in affirmative. “I will accept the decision”, he said.

Sikkim Cong graft slur on Chief Minister Chamling

Gangtok, July 26: The opposition Congress today released a 108-page booklet highlighting the alleged corruption of the chief minister, five ministers and seven former ministers who had misappropriated wealth worth Rs 113 crore between 1994 and 2009.

Around 40 pages of Sikkim Mahaloot, the booklet, are on chief minister Pawan Chamling. The booklet was released by former Sangha MLA of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee Acharya Tshering Lama at the party office here at Development Area.
Former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari said the party had released the book to make people aware of the “misdeeds” and “corruption” of the leaders of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front.
“The booklet is the result of a research conducted by the party on innumerable information collected through RTI applications and from various reliable sources to expose such public enemies,” said Bhandari, the SPCC president.

Four SPCC functionaries had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in July 2006 alleging that the chief minister had amassed assets worth Rs. 15.38 crore, disproportionate to his known source of income. The petitioners had prayed for a CBI probe.

The apex court had dismissed the petition on March 25. “It’s always open to the petitioners to approach the investigative agencies directly with the incriminating materials and it is for the investigative agencies to decide on the further course of action,” the court had said in its order.

The SPCC lodged its complaints with the CBI on May 24 and July 1. Most of these complaints have now been compiled in the booklet.
Bhandari said the documents submitted to the CBI were copies of affidavits filed by those named in the complaints declaring their wealth and income to the election authorities from 1994 to 2009.
He said the booklet had already been submitted to Congress president Sonia Gandhi before a party delegation meets her next month

Former Sikkim CM Bhandari celebrates 69th birthday

Gangtok, 5 OCT: Former Sikkim Chief Minister and the state unit Congress President Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari today celebrated his 69th birthday and vowed to serve the people till his last breath.
A stream of people from across the state visited him at the party office at Development Area and greeted him on the occasion of his birthday and wished him a long life.
Mr Bhandari, who has been out of power for over 15 years, acknowledged the greetings by his party men and followers and pledged to serve the people of Sikkim till his last breath.
In a lighter vein, the former chief minister said, “I have become old now, but the tag of ‘buddha’ (old man) has been attached to me since a long time as people had started calling me ‘buddha’ at the age of 39 years on assumption of the post of the chief minister in 1979.”

SDF party is terrorizing voters: Bhandari

GANGTOK, September 8: Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) president Nar Bahadur Bhandari today accused the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party of terrorizing the voters of Namchi-Singithang constituency.
In a letter to the DGP, Mr. Bhandari requested the police to ensure that democratic rights of the voters who are going to exercise their political rights are not eroded at any cost.
“It is observed during the election campaign of the Indian National Congress that the people are afraid to come out of their homes and listen to the speeches of INC. Their fears were expressed through confidential calls made to the leaders of INC, who are camping at Namchi”, said Mr. Bhandari.

Addressing a press meet today at SPCC head office here at Development Area, Mr. Bhandari alleged SDF of using its legislatures, panchayats and government officials for strong arm tactics. The SDF party is terrorizing the voters, he said.
Commenting on the upcoming bye-polls, Mr. Bhandari dared the SDF party to vacate the Namchi-Singithang seat to the opposition if the ruling front believes in democracy. The SDF party should not be so serious for one single seat as they have already 31 legislatures in the Assembly, he said.
The SPCC president also accused the SDF candidate Binod Rai of being a poor choice by the ruling party.
Accusing the SDF government of delaying the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission, the SPCC president demanded that the employees must get their dearness allowances before Dasai. He also slammed the ruling front on a host of issues including unemployment, inflation, corruption and casteism

Cong gears up for Sikkim

GANGTOK, 20 AUG: The Congress has begun preparations for the forthcoming by-election in Sikkim. Stressing the need of an Opposition member in the 32-member state Assembly, the SPCC president and former chief minister Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari slammed the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) for its involvement in “un-democratic practices” in the state Assembly.
Mr Bhandari claimed today that the Congress would field a candidate in the by-election for the Namchi-Singithang Assembly constituency in South Sikkim.
The election would be held on 15 September. The seat fell vacant after the chief minister and SDF president Mr Pawan Chamling resigned following his victory in both the Namchi-Singithang and Poklok-Kamrang seats of South Sikkim in the April Assembly elections.
The Sikkim Democratic Front had won all 32 Assembly seats in the elections.
The Congress has forwarded the names of two party members, Mr Yuva Raj Rai and Mr Avinash Yakha as prospective candidates for the Namchi-Singithang seat. The Congress is also expecting support of the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party and the CPI-M in the by-poll.
Terming Sikkim as an EVM victim, the SPCC president criticized the SDF government for violating the model code of conduct by using the “questionable” EVMs in the Assembly and General elections in April 2009.
It may be mentioned, Mr Bhandari had filed a case in the Sikkim High Court and later in the Supreme Court questioning the credibility and integrity of the EVMs used in Sikkim after the 2004 elections.
“How can the state use the same EVMs while the case is sub-judice?” he questioned today.
According to Mr Bhandari, EVM demonstration conducted across the country revealed several flaws in the system.
Mr Bhandari himself being a member of the EVM demonstration forum, said that
in one instance the resultant votes shown for 22 button pushes was only 2 while in another case 4 button pushes showed 22 votes cast in the EVM. He further said that similar demonstrations could be conducted in Sikkim subject to the people's demand.

Sikkim Congress President N.B.Bhandari Supports Gorkhaland

GANGTOK, June 20: The Sikkim Congress chief and former chief minister Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari has expressed support towards the Gorkhaland demand. He also criticised senior Congress leader and Union ministers Mr Pranab Mukerjee and Priya Ranjan Das Munshi for their anti-Gorkhaland stand. “If these ministers are against Gorkahland, why are they supporting the Telangana movement?” he questioned. While expressing solidarity towards the Gorkhas and the separate state movement he criticised the Centre too claiming that if the Centre was against Gorkhaland, it should discontinue Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh as independent states and restore those to their earlier positions. Urging the GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung against compromising with the Gorkhaland demand, Mr Bhandari advised the GJMM to continue its movement on Gandhian principals. “The demand for Gorkhaland is their constitutional right,” he added.When asked about Sikkim was facing problems due to the Gorkhaland movement he said, they are fighting for their right and so smaller problems will have to be ignored. “We should also support them by setting up a core-committee,” he added

SIKKIM CONGRESS CRIES FOUL, SAYS POLLS NOT FAIR

GANGTOK, October 26: Although reports indicate a fair and peaceful Panchayat polls today, the Opposition Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) has surfaced with allegations of rigging and malpractice from Bhusuk School Polling Booth, Upper Samdong Polling Booth and from Rinchenpong.
The party supreme Nar Bahadur Bhandari along with General Secretary, SPCC, Kunga Nima Lepcha, Secretary, Panchayat Election Cell of SPCC DB Basnet and Booth Secretary of 31, Gangtok, Mohan Prasad today visited several Polling stations contiguous to Gangtok.
A press release issued by the party states that the Bhusuk School Polling booth was not only manned by only two police but had ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party workers transport voters in taxi vehicle bearing Registration number SK-04-5754. The release further reveals that the voters were treated to lavish lunch and drinks at the residence of the SDF party candidate for the Bhusuk Panchayat Ward.
Basing these activities as violation of Section 1 (4) (a) and Section 4 (7) of the Model Code of Conduct, the opposition Congress as stated in the release had immediately reported the matter to the Secretary of the State Election Commission who later noted the report as well as assured for appropriate action.
The release also informs of a Scorpio bearing number SK-02-7128 engaged in transporting voters and involved in other illegal activities in Turung.
Emphasizing that the polling of votes must start at 7.00am and close at 4.00pm as per Election Rules, the SPCC states that a poling booth in Rinchenpong constituency, West District was sealed before 3.00pm thereby depriving the voters coming to cast their votes of their right to franchise.
The SPCC further states that the Electronic Voting Machine issued to Upper Samdong Police Booth went defective twice after recording a number of votes. The party has questioned on the implications of the vote count of the casted votes if a new machine is used for recording the remaining voters

Bhandari alleges that Panchayat elections won't be fair

GANGTOK, October 07: Former Chief Minister and President, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) Nar Bahadur Bhandari, has demanded a strong legal action against ST Tamang, the former Returning Officer, Soreng Sub-division for alleged administrative failure.
In a press conference called today at the head office here, Mr. Bhandari also said that the incident at Soreng was entirely “cooked up” by RB Subba, Area MLA of Soreng.
“The appointment of BB Subba as the new Returning Officer is also a ploy of RB Subba,” the SPCC chief alleged. He demanded more stronger action against Sonam Tshering Tamang for his unfair
Stating that this time’s Panchayat election is all controversial and unfair in Sikkim, Mr. Bhandari also demanded a probe by the Election Commission where an allegation was made over the incident in which the concerned area MLA utilized a government vehicle for the election campaign.
During the time of final scrutiny of the candidates, the SDF party made one Tenphuti Bhutia of Soreng constituency to fill up the nomination over night without submitting the prior formalities as per the Election Commission, he alleges. Stating the incident as entirely against the code of conduct and the norms of the election commission, he also alleged SDF party workers for beating up one of the SPCC candidates in West District. “Fourteen of the SPCC candidates in Soreng are under political pressure by SDF party workers,” he informed.
The entire details will be intimated to the Commission for further necessary actions he said adding “Central Government and Home Department should also initiate in the fair play.”
He too criticized the foreign tour of the Chief Minister as “leisure trip” stating that he is not in the State when its people needed him the most.
Dwelling on the sixth schedule of Darjeeling won by the DGHC, Mr. Bhandari stated that the same is not all in favour of the people of Darjeeling. “Darjeeling’s dream of getting Gorkhaland is being shattered day by day due to the inefficient effort of Subash Ghishing,” he alleged.

Mr. Bhandari also further added that winning of panchayat seats by uncontestant candidates means denying local people a right to choose their representative at grass root level.

Nar Bahadur Bhandari supports separate Gorkhaland state

Gangtok, 8 October :Sikkim State Congress President and Former Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Nar Bahadur Bhandari on Sunday supported the demand for formation of a separate Gorkhaland state. "Only the formation of separate Gorkhaland state could fulfil the aspirations of the hill people of Darjeeling and surrounding areas.... The special autonomous status under the sixth schedule of the constitution was not sufficient for economic development of the region," he said. The former Sikkim chief minister said he would espouse the cause of a separate Gorkhaland state even as he took a dig at the GNLF chief Subash Ghising for distancing himself from the demand of the statehood by expressing satisfaction at the centre's decision for according special status to the hill region under the sixth schedule.

N.B.Bhandari : Supporters Of Opposition Panchayat Candidates Face Harassment, Abuse

Gangtok, October3: The four opposition parties leaders led by SPCC president NarBahadur Bhandari informed that opposition candidates say they have been routinely stopped and harassed by the authorities, and have sometimes threatened by members of Sikkim Democratic Front for participating in the grass root elections in state scheduled to be held on October26. We will use the elections -- which are our constitutional right -- to conduct a broad political campaign. We hope to win this campaign."

The answer, he believes, is to take the message direct to the people -- by knocking on their doors.

But opposition activists find themselves harassed by the ruling party members told Tara Shrestha of SHRP as SDF wants opposition to withdraw their candidates from panchayat elections.

A delegation led by NarBahadur Bhandari and other senior opposition leaders has met Sikkim Election Commissioner as well as top brass of Sikkim police alleging obstruction and also to record their protests against unfair methods of SDF party.

PRASHANT IS PRECISE FOR HILL PEOPLE: BHANDARI

Gangtok,September 24: Nar Bahadur Bhandari, President, Bharatiya Nepali Rashtriya Parishad and Former Chief Minister of Sikkim has conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to 'Pahar ko Gourav' Prashant Tamang for his becoming the Indian Idol-3. Bhandari has expressed his pleasure. The victory goes to the common people who love Prashant, his singing. Prashant is precise for hill people who united the entire hill population with nation, Bhandari said.

25 Sikkim Congressmen Released

photo : Congressmen courting arrest at Sadar Police Station

Gangtok: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee whose members and supporters were arrested by Sikkim Police suo-moto on Sikkim Governor effigy burning case were released on bail after a court order.

The Session Judge of East & North District Shri S.W. Lepcha ordered the release of 25 congressmen after the expiry of their judicial remand on bail. The Sikkim Congress members and supporters arrested with burning of effigy of Sikkim Governor outside the Congress head office on August4,2007 and charged with rioting, sedition,assaulting a constitutional head and unlawful assembly were released on bail today.

The arrested Congress leaders included Mr T Gyatso, vice president of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee and Mr JB Darnal, general secretary of South district. Former chief minister and Sikkim Congress president Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari has expressed his happiness over the release of the party leaders. Mr Kunga Nima Lepcha, one of the Congress spokespersons, said: “We organised a long victory procession in the town to celebrate the release of the party leaders.” A large number of party leaders and workers greeted them with garlands and khadas .

Earlier, The High court of Sikkim has dismissed two petitions challenging FIRs against Congressmen .

Sikkim High Court Accepts CBI Appeal against N.B. Bhandari

Gangtok : The High Court of Sikkim yesterday admitted the criminal appeal filed by the CBI against the acquittal of former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari on charge of corruption by the Special Judge under Prevention of Corruption Act at Namchi on March 21,2007 involving his Yaksha residence located at Ranipool,near Gangtok.

On July18,CBI filed an appeal in the High Court of Sikkim against acquittal of Mr.Bhandari.

The Chief Justice Shri A.N.Ray of Sikkim High Court found the CBI appeal 'as deemed fit for admission' after an hour of arguments by counsels of both sides presenting their case .The Chief Justice ,after hearing counsels from both sides, remarked that there was scope of the argument in the case and allowed the leave petition filed by the CBI in the interests of the Justice.

Sikkim Opponents Denounces Sharp Attack On Them

Gangtok: The tone and the temper of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling's speech on 60th India's independence day celebrations at Palzor Stadium of Gangtok has received strong reaction from opposition political parties in Sikkim.

Shri Nar Bahadur Bhandari,President of The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee after unfurling the national flag at party headquarter Congress Bhawan in development area,Gangtok held a meeting of his party members to express their reaction and regret on the apparent attack on the ACT and its indefinite hunger strike and tried to remind that Independence day is celebration of nationalism but not a day to advocate political agenda and programme against opponents that certain passages of Dr.Chamling have sounded ... in his speech on occasion of 15th August .

SPCC expressed its regrets and condemned the political tone of speech on national day of August15 and a string of attacks on Opposition political parties by Sikkim chief Minister.

Meanwhile, in statement issued to press by SIBLAC, The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling's speech on Independence day was an unjust attack on social organisation like theirs and regretted that speech was a political one .

The Sikkim Chief Minister's speech elated His colleagues, angered His political opposition, and rallied a great many doubters.

Opposition Protest Over Effigy Arrests

Sikkim Congress & SHRP Supporters Shows Solidarity to their Arrested Members.

Sikkim Democratic Front Leaders Go For A Silient March To show their Solidarity to Sikkim CM.

Gangtok, Aug. 9: Congress supporters and members of Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad today attempted to court arrest in front of the district administrative centre (DAC) at Sichey here.
They were expressing solidarity towards their colleagues arrested in connection with the burning of effigies since last Saturday.
While Congress supporters had burnt the effigy of Sikkim governor V. Rama Rao on Saturday, Parishad members burnt the effigy of chief minister Pawan Chamling yesterday.
This morning, 22 Congress members reached the DAC shouting slogans in support of their arrested colleagues. The Congress demonstration was followed by the arrival of a group of 20 Parishad workers wanting to court arrest.
Though Sikkim Armed Police personnel were deployed in the area as a precaution, nobody was arrested.
On the other hand, supporters of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, led by senior cabinet ministers, today walked around the town in silent support of the chief minister, following the effigy-burning episode yesterday.
At Raley in East Sikkim, the Citizens’ Forum, a non-political body, organised a meeting in support of the protests launched by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) against hydel power projects. Raley falls in the area where the Teesta Stage-V hydel project is being developed by the NHPC. According to residents, the projects have caused great cracks to appear in the buildings of the adjoining areas.
In a communiqué issued through the state information and public relations department today, the government strongly refuted allegations made by Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari about its alleged lack of concern for the ongoing hunger strike by ACT members.

Arrest order for Nar Bahadur Bhandari & Cong five

Arrest warrants against Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and five others in a defamation suit filed by B.B. Gooroong

Gangtok, Aug. 9: The court of the civil judge here has issued bailable arrest warrants against Sikkim Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and five others in a defamation suit filed by B.B. Gooroong, the adviser to chief minister Pawan Chamling.
Gooroong had charged Bhandari and the editorial team of the Congress periodical Sandesh for defaming him and tarnishing his image in an article that appeared in it in November last year.
Titled Sikkim Ma Burmaloot, the article had letters purportedly written by Gooroong to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi asking them to withdraw the special rights of the Sikkimese people and the “son of the soil” policy.
Gooroong had claimed that the letters were forged and filed a defamation suit. Today, he was present in court along with two witnesses: former Lok Sabha member from Sikkim and presently the general secretary (publicity) of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front Bhim Dahal and member of the Sikkim planning commission Y.B. Thapa.
In what has been touted as a rare and swift order never seen in the state before, the civil-judge-cum-magistrate Prajwal Khatiwa examined the complainant and the two witnesses and took cognisance of the offence. The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 31 and the arrests can be made any day before that.
Besides Bhandari, the others who have been booked under Sections 500 (for defamation) and 469 (forgery for defaming) of the IPC are the chief editor of the Congress periodical Santosh Bardewa, Purna Kumari Rai, Dil Kumari Chhettri, Anil Lachenpa, and J.B. Darnal.
Speaking to Media later Gooroong said the judge taking cognisance of his petition was a major victory and. “The letters were concocted and forged and the truth is now coming out.”

Top Sikkim Congress Leader Gives Police Arrest

Gangtok: Twenty-two Congress workers courted arrest at Sadar police station today.

Demanding an immediate release of 4 congress supporters who were arrested by Sikkim Police on issue of effigy burning of Sikkim Governor, The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee has one of its top leader Major Gyatso along with 21 congress members gave courting arrests at Gangtok Sadar Thana. The Sikkim Police after arresting Major Gyatso along with supporters sent them for medical checks and later on produced before Court.The jail bharo abhiyan was launched to express solidarity with four party members, arrested earlier for burning the effigy of governor V. Rama Rao last Saturday.

Today’s protest was led by the Sikkim Congress vice-president Major T. Gyatso in the presence of senior party functionaries including chief of Seva Dal Norbu Pintso Bhutia. All those courting arrest claimed they were also present at the site where the effigy was burnt.
“The people, who were taken into custody, have given their statements and have been sent for medical examination. We will begin investigations after producing them in court,” the superintendent of police (East), M.S. Tuli, told media.

There was however, confusion regarding the presence of the lone Congress member in the Sikkim Assembly, Acharya Tshering Lama, in the police station. The Acharya told reporters that though he had gone to the police station to court arrest he had been dissuaded by the police chief.
“I was told by the police that to arrest an elected representative they had to take prior permission from the Speaker of the Assembly,” the Acharya claimed.
Police officials said the Acharya was there only to extend support.

At an emergency meeting here, the SPCC also announced plans for protests and demonstrations against arrests of Congress members as well as in support of ACT indefinite hunger strike.SPCC President Nar Bahadur Bhandari announced an agitational programme including satyagraha and courting arrest by its more members tomorrow also.

The Congress meeting, chaired by Nar BahadurBhandari adopted a party stand condemning the arrests by Sikkim Police suo moto of its members and demanding their immediate release.The arrests of Congress members is illegal and politically motivated and The indefinite hunger strike by ACT is the most glaring and cruel example of the anti-people policies of the SDF government,” he said.

He also informed of the receipt of letters from Congress President SoniaGandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the agitation of Affected Citizens of Teesta against Hydel projects in north sikkim .The Home Minister has informed that matter is being investigated and looked into by his ministry .