Yet, like in earlier times both the media and the political thinkers had mixed opinions behind Golay’s participation in the SLA, and what role he will be playing if he attends. Golay, known for his at times rebellious approach left no stone unturned in slamming the policies of the state government and the chief minister Pawan Chamling putting on one acquisition after another on the second and third day of the budget session. Golay, on the second day of the Budget session started his address by saying, “I strongly expressed my dissatisfaction on the governor’s address which has highlighted the achievement of the Sikkim government yesterday.” Pointing at the gradual decline of the state GDP, Golay said that the state government in the past 18 years has failed in every aspect. Golay also said that the SDF government has failed in alleviating the condition of the poor in the state. Discarding the claims of the state government on Sikkim being a prosperous state, Golay said that the state’s per capita debt is `46, 784. Golay challenged the Pawan Chamling Government on the question hour session demanding him to come out with a white paper on alleged corruption amounting to `50,000 crores in the hydropower sector. The dissident leader also raised allegations of misuse and corruption in the earthquake relief funds. The other issues Golay raised on the second day of the assembly were MGNERGA, education, Sikkim University, Infant Mortality Rate among others. Later on Golay was received by his sea of followers as he walked out of the SLA which resulted in the imposition of 144 CrPC (Curfew) around the SLA and adjoining areas the next day. On the 3rd day Golay was again active in the Assembly session. On the day his speech diverged towards the chief minister acquisitions and his acting as per the directions of the outsiders. While on the third day, he was not allowed to speak as much as on the second day and was given only 7-10 minutes more than his allocated time of 15 minutes. He, however, did not attend the second half of the assembly. Addressing media persons outside the assembly he termed it as a ‘Black Day’ in the history of Sikkim, as he said that stopping him from speaking in the assembly is similar to suppressing the voice of the Sikkimese people. A certain section of the media mentioned the next day that Golay ‘Walked Out’ of the assembly after being debarred from finishing his speech. Unlike the 2nd and 3rd day, Sikkim Legislative Assembly (SLA) Speaker, KT Gyaltsen suspended Golay from the House on the final day for the statements made by him to the media after he left the Assembly session on the 3rd day of the budget session. Quoting Rule 317 of the Provision of the Rules of Procedure, the Speaker informed Golay that he was withdrawn from the House for the day and that his participation in the day’s proceedings was suspended. The Speaker also said that Golay leaving mid-session on day 3 was not a walk-out, as reported in the media as he had not registered his protest in the floor of the House first. After being debarred of the assembly, Golay told reporters that it was a conspiracy to suppress the voice of the people. “I have put on this black band in protest since I was not allowed to speak the truth. I was about to disclose many more discrepancies within the SDF party which is why I have been treated in this way. The time will come when truth shall prevail,” said Golay while also mentioning that the whole SLA episode has depicted the ill democracy in the state. Meanwhile, members of the media fraternity were also mistreated when they had gone out to get Goyal’s version and were denied readmission into the SLA.

Anoop Rai