Sikkim Cong asks EC to look into charges against SDF

Sikkim News (Gangtok, Sikkim): The euphoric winds of ‘Gorkhaland’ created by BJP satrap Jaswant Singh in Darjeeling hills in the past few days has sailed over the Teesta river and wafted into the neighbouring State of Sikkim which is also in midst of active election campaigns for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

With Mr. Singh being splashed the headlines of the regional and local dailies of Sikkim over the past few days, the BJP MP candidate from Darjeeling constituency has beefed up the confidence of the party for the Sikkim polls here.

The Gorkhaland issue of Darjeeling is a vital factor in both political and social sector of Sikkim as both the regions enjoy brotherhood ties with each other.

Seeing the wave being created by Mr. Singh right across the other side of the Teesta river, the Sikkim BJP unit was quick to latch on to the momentum.

“The BJP will once again form the government in the Centre. The party is very serious towards the separate State demand of our Darjeeling brothers as the party has sent the Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha as their candidate from Darjeeling. Time is not far when the Gorkhaland dream of Darjeeling is realized under BJP government”, said the BJP candidate for Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency, Padam Bahadur Chettri today during an election rally at Rangpo, the border town of Sikkim, a significant venue to pitch for Gorkhaland issue.

The Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district is located just next to Rangpo separated by the Teesta river.

Mr. Chettri expressed his confidence that Mr. Singh will play a crucial role in the Parliament on the Gorkhaland issue after begin elected from Darjeeling. “Sikkim must also supplement the efforts of BJP towards Gorkhaland. I have high hopes from the Sikkim people that they will send me to the Parliament to assist Mr. Singh on the Gorkhaland issue”, he said.

“Even if I can’t match the leadership of Mr. Singh, I will be there to support him in the floor of the Parliament when the Gorkhaland issue is being raised”, said Mr. Chettri.

BJP candidate from the Poklong-Kamrang constituency, Padam Prasad Sharma slammed the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government for ‘betraying’ the interests of Darjeeling people. He accused the SDF government of trying to suppress the Gorkhaland issue by filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court over the frequent closures of the NH 31 A during political disturbances in Darjeeling region. Please support Gorkhaland during the upcoming Parliamentary elections in Sikkim, he appealed.

Santosh Kumar Bardewa, the BJP candidate from West Pandam constituency accused the SDF president and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for not fulfilling his promise made to the Darjeeling people for passing a resolution in the Assembly in support of Gorkhaland.

Interestingly, the Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Sikkim, KN Uperti has also expressed his support to the Gorkhaland demand. He had recently said that the State Congress president NB Bhandari has already expressed his explicit support to the Gorkhaland cause of the Darjeeling people.

Sikkim Express