Sikkim Democratic Front sacks ex-MP & Anna sympathiser

Gangtok, Aug. 28: Former Sikkim Democratic Front MP Nakul Das Rai and a youth leader who was on fast in Gangtok to show solidarity with Anna Hazare have been expelled from the party for unspecified reasons.

The chief minister and SDF president, Pawan Chamling, expelled 15 other members also from the party late on Friday. He did not cite any reason for the expulsion.

“The SDF president, Pawan Chamling, has used the provisions in the party constitution to expel these members,” said a statement from the party.

However, none of those ousted has been sent any official communication from the SDF as yet.

While eight of the sacked members are panchayat members, seven others held various posts at local levels.

The 51-year-old Rai is a founder-member of the SDF and was considered to be a heavyweight in the party. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 on SDF ticket.

“Chamling has expelled me without any probe and has acted merely on flimsy complaints lodged with him by the sycophants in the party. It is not that I have been ousted after I was found guilty of any wrongdoing. I had been contemplating resigning from the SDF as I am engaged in other activities. I have struggled a lot to ensure that Chamling came to power and everyone knows that. I will soon elaborate on all these matters,” said Rai.

The ex-MP also said he had been instrumental in forming the SDF and he would lay bare Chamling’s attitude towards old party soldiers.

The other prominent leader to be shown the door was Yong Tshering Lepcha, who had started a fast on August 20 to synchronise with Anna Hazare’s hunger strike at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi. Lepcha, 44, had been admitted to the STNM Hospital since August 24 and had been on drips since then.

A vegetable farmer from Nimtar in East Sikkim and the convener of the Youth Front of SDF in the district, Lepcha said: “If today is the happiest day in my life to see that my support for Anna Chacha has not gone in vain, yesterday was the saddest day when I came to know about my expulsion. I do not know whether I was ousted because of my support for Anna Hazare. I had sat on a hunger strike so that there is support to the national campaign against corruption from Sikkim also. I have not indulged in any anti-party activities by going on fast.”

Lepcha was a supervisor in the state power department and left the job in 2006 to devote full time to the SDF.

He broke his fast today.

Source: The Telegraph

Rally vents ire on bill to curb rights

Gangtok, Aug. 24: A massive rally was taken out in Gangtok today to demand an apology from the Sikkim chief minister when he withdraws the Public Order Bill in the Assembly on Friday.

The procession was unprecedented in terms of the number of participants during the 18 years of Pawan Chamling rule. More than 4,000 people carried the Tricolours and placards condemning the bill and shouted slogans in support of Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal bill.

The Sikkim Prevention and Control of Public Order Bill, tabled in the Assembly on August 11, had triggered a political furore in the state with Opposition parties up in arms against the alleged suppression of fundamental rights of the citizens.

The outrage prompted the Sikkim Democratic Front government to announce on August 16 that the legislation, dubbed as “black bill” by the Opposition, would be withdrawn on August 26.

However, the recently floated Nagarik Adikhar Suraksha Sangathan Sikkim, which calls itself an apolitical forum, refused to take the government’s word at face value and organised the rally.

“The government must formally withdraw the bill according to the Assembly procedure and Chamling must apologise to the people for trying to curb their fundamental rights. Everyone had supported Chamling in 1993 when he first started his movement to bring democracy in Sikkim but after 18 years in government, he himself has proposed a bill aimed to cut the tongues of the people,” said NASSS chief co-ordinator M.N. Dahal.

The bill seeks to ban processions, hunger strikes, squatting, sloganeering and waving black flags or other forms of agitation that might “promote enmity or hatred between sections of the society” on the “grounds of religion, race or caste”.

Dahal also talked about alleged attempts by the SDF to scuttle the rally. “The SDF cadres have been running around for the past couple of days, threatening people of dire consequences if they join the rally… attempts were also made to disrupt our rally today and more than 300 vehicles carrying people for the procession were blocked on different routes.”

The NASSS said the rally had also been taken out to extend strong support to the anti-corruption campaign of Anna Hazare.

The rally, which started around 11.30am from Deorali, moved up to Hospital Dara along the footpath of NH31A and concluded at the parking lot near Paljor Stadium after covering a distance of 4km. The NASSS functionaries also burned a copy of the bill.

SDF rebel’s support

The SDF rebel legislator, Prem Singh Tamang, said the Sikkimese people had given a “strong response” to the call for the rally against the bill.

“The people of Sikkim are conscious about their rights and have given a strong response to the NASSS call against the bill. I congratulate and thank them. Those who participated in the rally had withstood torture and intimidation,” he told reporters.

source: The Telegraph

Chamling using 371 F as a shield in CBI inquiry: SNPP

Gangtok: Sikkim National Peoples Party (SNPP) today alleged the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) for using the special provision act, 371 F as a shield in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry upon state chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and others.
Speaking to news men here today, SNPP president Biraj Adhikari stated that Chamling and his men are avoiding the CBI inquiry applying the special powers provided by 371 F which in turn could have been implemented at the time when numerous central government Acts entered Sikkim like as Direct Income Tax Act.
“Since long, SNPP has been maintaining that 371 F could be used for the betterment of state people. But the same is being applied now, when Chamling has felt a necessity of it from abstaining CBI inquiry of his own”, he underlined.
Adhikari further teached that the state in recent years is flooded with numerous central government Acts which in turn diluted the 371 F to a larger extent.
Claiming the fact that the CAG reports have been indexing that Sikkim is facing rampant corruption from past 16 years, he stressed the necessity of CBI inquiry over Chamling and other SDF party men at the earliest.
“State opposition parties labeled allegations could be a fabricated one but not the CAG reports. If central government act unmoved in Chamling’s CBI inquiry, it will be certain that central government has no role in Sikkim state”, he mentioned stating that the delay in CBI inquiry could lead towards decreasing of faith of state people towards the central government.
Speaking in same line, SNPP Treasurer Diley Namgyal Barfunga said that Chamling and his party men should let the probe agency investigate in order to come up with clean hands.
“SDF claims a democratic and clean government in Sikkim. If the ruling party words are to be believed then what is the fear from CBI invading state for inquiry”, he questioned.
Censuring the Loksabha MP, PD Rai statements that Bhandari along with state opposition parties are playing a proxy war against SDF party and chief minister Chamling through filing politically motivated cases and FIR, Barfunga said that the opposition parties are acting in democratic manner with the filing of cases and FIR are a democratic instrument, thus the statements of Rai makes no sense at all.
Commenting on the recently passed Lokayukta bill and announced Patra commission, Barfunga cleared his party stand in it stating that the move was made only after the FIR of disproportionate assets against SDF men was made and CBI started investigating upon it, SNPP smells a vested interest of Chamling on its aforesaid introductions thus it condemns the same.
“Central government should make sure that democracy is established in Sikkim. If the guarantee is denied then the absolute merger of Sikkim with India comes under cloud”, he supposed.
-Haal Kahabar

Opposition has no respect for the constitution: Chamling

Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling today slammed the opposition parties for boycotting the elections to urban bodies and charged them with being disrespectful to the Constitution.

"The opposition parties showed utter contempt for the Constitution under which the election for the urban civil bodies polls were held in Sikkim by staying away from the election process," he said at a function to felicitate the elected ward members.

The opposition was not not justified in their decision to boycott the polls at the last minute as they had ample opportunities to raise objections to the delimitation and reservation of seats for various communities at appropriate platform and seek corrective measures on their grievances, Chamling said.

The Sikkim Democratic
Front (SDF) has swept the urban bodies polls winning 44 out of 47 wards unopposed. Election will be held for remaining three wards later.

The ruling party has also clinched seven urban bodies, including Gangtok Municipal Corporation and Namchi Municipal Council and five Nagar Panchayats in Rangpo, Singtam, Geyzing, Jorethang and Mangan.

Source: Zee News

AOSS congratulates CM

Gangtok: The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) are in joyous mood to hear the order of Supreme Court dismissing the petition against Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling, says a press release by AOSS president Mr. S. K Sarda. “We congratulate our Chief Minister for this victory”, the release said.

The release also noted: “Dr Chamling has brought massive change in Sikkim’s economic, social and cultural scene and has strengthened the economy of Sikkim by his visionary leadership. This has raised the living standard of the people and opportunities now abound in Sikkim in trade, commerce, industry, tourism, floriculture, agriculture and animal husbandry”.

Source: Sikkim Reporter

Writ petition in SC against Pawan Chamling and others by four SPCC leaders “dismissed

Gangtok: A division bench of Supreme Court of India, Coram Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J. N. Panchal, in a historic order on Thursday, March 25, 2010, has “dismissed” the writ petition instituted in the Apex Court by way of a PIL under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.

In the court order it is noted that the petitioners Kunga Nima Lepcha and three others, all office bearers of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee headed by former Chief Minister Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari as its president, “have leveled some allegations against the incumbent Chief Minister of the State of Sikkim who was impleaded as respondent no.2 herein”.

“The crux of these allegations is that he has misused his public office to amass assets disproportionate to his known sources of income…” In the 11-page judgment the bench further noted: “Before addressing the substance of the petitioners’ submission, it must be mentioned that there are four petitioners in this case who are serving as office bearers of a political party in Sikkim. Petitioner No.3 has affirmed through an affidavit dated 21st August, 2007, that they were advised to file a writ petition before this court by former Chief Minister of Sikkim and currently serving as president of a political party….”


“The fact that this petition was instituted at the initiative of four individuals belonging to a political party raises the apprehension that they were motivated by a sense of political rivalry rather than public-spirited concern about the misuse of the office by the incumbent Chief Minister. We must of courseemphasize that the writ jurisdiction exercised by the court cannot be turned into an instrument of such partisan considerations….” “Hence, the writ petition is dismissed, however with no order as to costs”. In a press release of Sikkim Democratic Front issued on the day by party spokesman Mr. Bhim Dahal, SDF party has congratulated the party president and Sikkimese people as a whole for this historic win.
“Mr. Bhandari has been rejected more than nine times by the people through different elections and he had faced severe defeats against Mr. Chamling in different courts at least seven times”, says the release.

The release also recalls that on 16June, 1996, the then, Sangram Parishad President, Mr. Nar Bhadur Bhandari had gone to the Governor Mr. Randhir Singh urging him for a PIL against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. He had given an ultimatum of 24 hours to the governor on September 3, 1996. Again on December the same year, he had gone to the High Court of Sikkim to impose corruption case on Pawan Chamling which was dismissed by the HC on December10, 1997. He went to the Supreme Court against the HC judgement and lodged a PIL. The Apex Court also dismissed the case on April 30, 1997. Another appeal against Mr. Chamling was dismissed on July 18, 1997 on the same issue. Mr. Bhandari, again went to the SC against the decision of the Governor on October 14, 1997, which was again dismissed. Sikkim has made a name for itself within the Indian Republic and abroad because of the able leadership of Pawan Chamling and his good works, the release noted. It is added, Opposition has to realize that, if they have to win the heart of people, they have to come up with good principles, policies, plans, pro people leadership and eschew the habit of disturbing the development saga heralded by Pawan Chamling.

Source: Sikkim Reporter

Bhandari rebuffs proposal to name road in his honour

Sikkim Congress President and Former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari has rebuffed the state government's proposal to name a road in his honour.

"I have outrightly rejected the Pawan Kumar Chamling government's proposal to name the Buduan-Soreng Road in West Sikkim as Nar Bahadur Bhandari Marg and told them to refrain from offering such token gesture," he told reporters here.

The state government, at a cabinet meeting held on March nine last, had decided to name the Budang-Soreng Road in West Sikkim after Bhandari in recognition of his contribution, and had directed the Home department to seek the latter's consent proposal for the same.

Accordingly, the Home department Additional Secretary S K Pradhan had written a letter to Bhandari on March 12 seeking his consent for naming the road, but the former Chief Minister firmly replied the proposal was "not acceptable".

PTI

Chamling wants Sikkim to become a hub of Buddhist circuit

Gangtok: Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today said that Sikkim has the potential to become a hub of Buddhist circuit to enhance its profile as an international tourism destination.

Sikkim can be developed as a hub connecting all major Bhuddhist destinations in India and its neighbouring countries, he said at the Regional Conference of the Tourism Ministers of the East and North-Eastern states at Chintan Bhawan here inaugurated by Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja.

The Rumtek Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Lumbini in Nepal, Taktsang in Bhutan, Potala and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China present themselves as the unique trail of eco-tourism and pilgrimage tourism, he said.

The development of all these tourism destinations will help regional integration and enhance cross-border religious bonds among the people of these countries, besides presenting a viable economic and commercial opportunities, Chamling said.

On Sikkim's own potential as a key tourist destination in the country, the chief minister asked the Centre to provide more funds and incentives for development of tourism infrastructure and marketing.

PTI

Sikkim CM, Pawan Chamling warns private sector

Gangtok, Oct 12 (PTI) Accusing the private sector with deliberately violating in a "brazen manner" their agreement with the Sikkim government to provide employment to locals in their units, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today threatened to review the terms of agreement with the 'guilty' companies.

"The private companies have been violating in a brazen manner the terms of understanding/agreement with the state government to promote local employment to such an extent that local people employed in the industrial units have been harassed and victimized by the management", he said at an investor's meet here.

The local workers were discriminated by being paid less remuneration than their colleagues from outside while the private companies have gone back on their commitment to provide training for honing their skills for available jobs.

Sikkim Govt to fulfill aspirations of the people, says CM

Gangtok: A high level coordination meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling was held in the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat on Friday, October 9, which was attended by council of ministers, MP Lok Sabha, Mr. P.D Rai, Chief Secretary, Addl Chief Secretary and HODs.

In the meeting Chief Minister stated that his government has been re-elected for the record fourth time with a thumping mandate by the people of Sikkim and now it’s time for the government to work in order to fulfill the dreams and the aspirations of the people of Sikkim.

He emphasized that first of all systematization of the programmes and the policies of the government is a must and it should be the first priority. He appealed to the admistrators, government officials and the general public to change their mind. He said, “we should all work towards finding solutions of the problems and the hindrances faced by the government as well as the people as the road ahead is long and we have miles to go”.

He once again urged the administrators and officials “to come up with new innovative ideas and programmes to take the state towards the path of progress”. Talking about education Dr. Chamling reiterated that there should be no compromise in education and “we should try and give world class quality education to our children”. Man power management is must and we should utilize them to the optimum, he said.
Talking about the e-governance he pointed out that first and foremost thing is for all the departments to update their respective websites on regular basis with correct and latest data.

He also mentioned that new STNM hospital will be constructed in the existing place, Animal Husbandry Department will be shifted to Shokethang and that place will be utilized for making ultra modern shopping complex with parking facilities in the near future, and all existing towns of Sikkim will get a major face lift. He emphasized that “all our villages should be refurbished with all the required amenities so that the people of rural areas don’t have to turn to town and the urban areas. He revealed that his government is gearing up for an innovative and ambitious programme, namely, Village action plan for Sikkim. He stresserd that administration and its working style should be simplified and make it more people friendly. Talking about the waste management which in future can be a cause of concern for the state, he thinks that experts and new technologies should be used. Every constituency will have a play ground and a community centre, he said.

He told the department to ensure that all ongoing projects are completed as soon as possible and new plans and projects are submitted to the government by december for approval, he urged. Earlier Chief Secretary Mr. T.T Dorji began the proceeding with his welcome note while Addl Chief Secretary Mr. Karma Gyatso in his closing note assured the Chief Minister that they will all work earnestly towards achieving the targets set by the government leaving no stone unturned.

Sikkim Reporter

Sikkim: Chamling announces capacity building institutes

Gangtok, 6 OCT: Expressing concern over the lack of enthusiasm among the local people to take up private enterprises, Sikkim chief minister Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling (in picture) today announced that capacity building institutes would be set up in each Assembly segment of the state, by December this year.

Each Assembly segments must have a functional capacity building institutes by the year end and the authorities should hire accommodation on rent for the purpose in the event of unavailability of government premises, he said at the consultative meeting on the capacity building.

Once the capacity building institutes did come up, it should be the endeavour of the area MLAs and the local administration to bring the unemployed people there to take up training to hone their skills in order to make themselves self employed, Mr Chamling said.

Stating that there was abundance of professional opportunities already available in Sikkim and many more in the pipeline in the years to come, the chief minister regretted that the local people were not equipped skill wise to take up such jobs in the private sector.

Observing that unemployment could be one of the reasons behind the spurt in insurgency across the country, Mr Chamling today said the unemployed and unskilled youths of Sikkim will be trained under the capacity-building programmes to make them employable and enterprising so that they reject such separatist ideas.

“It is in the interest of the image of Sikkim as a peaceful and tranquil state that the local youths - unemployed and unskilled ones ~ remain involved in the ongoing development process to keep at bay negative thinking as is the case in other North-Eastern states,” he said referring to the insurgency in this region.

Directing the bureaucracy and the lawmakers to ensure the attendance of the unemployed and unskilled youths during the capacity building programmes in all assembly segments once the institutes become functional there in December end, Mr Chamling said insurgency could be kept at bay only by keeping the youths engaged in positive endeavour.

The key to containing insurgency lies in development and percolation of its fruits among the local people, the youths in particular...the bureaucracy and the lawmakers should take up the responsibility to help the youths to receive training under the ongoing capacity building programmes to reap the benefits of the development and employment opportunities available in Sikkim, he said.

Conference
About 400 participants from across the country will deliberate on “substance abuse and suicide” at the three-day national conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) from October nine.

Hosted by Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) at Tadong, the delegates will dwell on various aspects of (drug) substance abuse and suicide from socio-economic and medical point of views, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) Vice-Chancellor Brigadier (Rtd) SS Pabla said today.

The experts opinion on the twin vices will be relevant for Sikkim in particular, since the state has been dogged by the growth in the number of suicide cases over the years and its youths taking to abuse of banned substances.

Brig Pabla said representative of government hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), NGOs, have been invited to attend the conference to update themselves about various initiatives at the social-medical level against suicide and drug addiction.
Health minister Mr DN Takarpa will inaugurate the conference at the SMIMS premises.

Pawan Kumar Chamling submits his papers from 2 Sikkim constituencies

In Namchi, Chief Minster and SDF president Pawan Chamling filed his nomination papers from two separate constituencies of Namchi-Singhithang and Poklok-Kamrang (newly demarcated from the earlier Damthang constituency after the last delimitation) both in South Sikkim. He had won uncontested from the then Damthang constituency in the last polls.

Since early morning, a huge gathering of party supporters waited for the SDF president to submit his papers to the South District Returning Officer D Anandan at the district administrative complex. He alighted from his private vehicle and walked into the complex amidst huge supportive slogans.
While the supporters waited outside the complex, the SDF chief entered the Returning Officer’s chamber along with few personal aides and legal representative to submit his nomination papers for the above constituencies. MORE...

Pawan Chamling appeals Sikkim people to vote for SDF on the grounds of “Comprehensive Development Delivery”

Dedicating a 56 page election manifesto to the people of Sikkim in the 21st century, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) president Pawan Chamling has appealed the Sikkimese electorate to vote for his party on the ‘comprehensive development delivery’ plank.

“We at the SDF party are committed to an ever-green, modern, food and water secure, prosperous and self-reliant Sikkim. No effort will be spared to transform our youths into responsible citizens of the future through good health, education and capacity building. Our three pillars of development for the future are growth with equity, cost and green effectiveness and excellence in terms of quality and deliver. Vote for us in this plank”, said Mr. Chamling in the party manifesto which was formally released yesterday. MORE...

Daughter first, polls later for Chamling

Busy with his daughter’s wedding, Sikkim chief minister and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) president Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling will finalise the names of candidates for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state.

This would be Mr Chamling’s bid for a fourth successive term in power.

He has been busy since last week with preparations for his eldest daughter’s wedding tonight at Namchi, his native town, party sources told PTI.

Mr Chamling is likely to start party work next week and finalise the list of candidates and poll manifesto for 32 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat. MORE...

CM inaugurates Sherpa Cultural Bhavan at Okarey

In the third day of his whirlwind tour of West Sikkim, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today dedicated the Sherpa Cultural Bhavan at Okarey under Daramdin constituency constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.25 crore to Sikkimese people. While inaugurating the Sherpa Cultural Bhavan, the Chief Minister said that the institution does not belong to the State government but is a platform for the people for meaningful activities. “The bhavan does not belong to the State government from today. It belongs to the people to do activities for the promotion of their cultural heritage”, he said. MORE...

Massive rally to protest “dual citizenship” allegation against Chief Minister

Protesting the allegation of dual citizenship of the Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling floated by the state unit of Bharatiya Janta Party, the South District working committee of ruling Sikkim Democratic Front on Friday held a mass rally at Namchi. More than 2000 party workers from all the eight constituencies of South District participated in the rally which was led by South District in-charge cum party Vice President and MLA Melli constituency, GC Rai and President SDF South District, Gagan Rai. HRDD Minister GM Gurung, MLA Rakdong Tintek constituency Norzang Lepcha, Zilla Adakshya Rabichandra Gurung, Upadhyaksha Himal Tamang and other office bearers of the south district working committee were among the participants. MORE...

Sikkim bandh call annoys govt

Gangtok, Sikkim Jan. 23: The Pawan Chamling administration in Sikkim has reacted strongly against the proposed bandh in the mountain state on 26 January sponsored by the National People’s Party of Sikkim, demanding Mr Chamling’s resignation from the chief minister’s chair on the dual citizenship issue.

The BJP north-east in-charge Mr Harendra Prasad created ripples recently by alleging that Mr Chamling enjoyed citizenship of two nations - Nepal and India. The chief minister and his party have rebuffed the allegation but the NPPS was quick to seize the initiative and called for a bandh in Sikkim on 26 January on the issue. MORE...

SIKKIM: SNPP calls Sikkim bandh on Republic Day over Art 371F

Gangtok, Sikkim January 16: Recapping its primary commitment towards ‘restoration of Sikkim’s merger conditions as enshrined in the Constitution’, Sikkim Nationalist Peoples Party today sneaked in its cards over the ‘dual citizenship’ row to call ‘a dawn to dusk Sikkim bandh on January 26’.

SNPP today calls for an all Sikkim bandh for 12 hours starting from 6 am and ending on 6 pm and will raise black flags all over the Sikkim with national flags, said the party president Biraj Adikhari in a press meet here at Gangtok. The national flag shall signify the Sikkimese people’s commitment towards democratic of the Union and the black flag shall demonstrate the resentment of the Sikkimese people to the blatant violations in the terms of association of 1973 as enshrined in the Constitution, he said adding that January 26 was the most appropriate day to sent a strong message to the Centre. MORE...

Pawan Chamling focuses on home-made resources

Gangtok, Jan 29: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today announced that a mandatory clause for using produces of the state and employing local residents would be inserted in the legislation that issues and renews trade licences.

Chamling directed chief secretary N.D. Chingapa to frame a proposal and put it before him. The chief minister was addressing a gathering of businessmen, civil society representatives and stakeholders of the tourism industry at a meeting on “development of Gangtok and its cleanliness” at Chintan Bhavan here.

“Every shop and hotel must use local the organic products of Sikkim,” Chamling said.

He appealed to the businessmen (most of whom belong to the Marwari community) to engage local residents in every trade unit.

The meet was organised by the Sikkim urban development and housing department. Its minister, D.D. Bhutia, was present at the meeting. The chief minister directed the department to get the figures on Sikkimese people being employed and produces used in black and white.

“Vehicle owners must employ drivers from Sikkim and that must be verified while renewing permits,” he said.

On the ongoing beautification drive and renovation of M.G. Marg, the main thoroughfare of the town, Chamling asked the businessmen to keep all the shops in Gangtok neat and tidy. This has to be done by February as the international flower show is scheduled for March.

All the shops and private houses in M.G. Marg must have three garbage bins (for degradable, non-degradable and metal wastes) for better disposal of waste, Chamling said.

A satellite township of Gangtok was being planned in Ranka on the adjacent hill to de-congest the capital, Chamling added.

Chamling warned of outside interference

Gangtok , Sikkim : Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today warned that “outside interference” in the internal affairs of the state will not be tolerated.

The chief minister was addressing a meeting organised by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) at the Guards’ Ground in Tathangchen here today.

Prior to the meeting, the SDF took out vehicle rallies from all over the state that converged on the capital in a show of strength. The rallies were aimed at silencing the Opposition in the wake of protests against hydel power projects in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu and elsewhere in the state. All senior leaders of the party, legislators and cabinet ministers attended the meeting.

Chamling’s scathing critique made obvious references to the support extended to members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) by CPM leader and Bengal minister Asok Bhattacharya and the Lepcha organisations of Darjeeling.

In the course of his three-hour speech Chamling also came down heavily on ACT alleging that the organisation was just a front for such outside forces.

“There is only a handful of people from Dzongu are taking part in the hunger strike. The rest are all outsiders,” he said.

The vehicles converging on the town clogged the streets and caused huge traffic snarls on NH 31A.

Eleven members of the CPM’s Sikkim unit were today arrested by Bengal police after they obstructed the NH 31A at Melli. They were detained for a couple of hours at the Melli outpost and later released on a personal bond.

Source: The Telegraph