‘Terror’ slur on ruling party

Gangtok, Feb. 3: The Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad has accused the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) of unleashing terror on the people so that they did not extend support to the opposition outfit.

The accusation follows a day after the Parishad observed its sixth anniversary at Bhaichung Stadium in Alley, Namchi, known to be an SDF stronghold. The opposition party members claimed that as many as 20 vehicles were damaged after they were pelted with stones. The party is expected to decide on its next course of action by tomorrow.

On Friday night, a vehicle belonging to Tara Shrestha, the general secretary of the Parishad, was set ablaze by unidentified people. The vehicle was parked near Shrestha’s residence at Daragaon, Tadong. Another vehicle hired by the party for the meeting was also set on fire the same night at Linkey under Pakyong subdivision in East Sikkim. The Parishad has blamed the SDF in both the cases.

“The anniversary meeting was a grand success with some 700 vehicles full of supporters attending it. The SDF tried to prevent the vehicles from coming to the stadium, but failed. What they did instead was damage cars belonging to common people, who had given them on hire,” a senior Parishad leader said.

Supporters of the ruling party also clashed with members in Namchi after the meeting. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

District collector (South) D. Anandan admitted that there were some incidents of stone throwing and clashes but added that there had been no arrests. “The police and district administration intervened on time so that there were no law and order problems,” he said.

The Parsihad has adopted a few resolutions at its meeting, including an agenda to fight for the scrapping of all power projects in North Sikkim and reservation of seats for Limbus and Tamangs before the next Assembly elections.