Rahul can't understand Sikkim in mere 20 minutes: Chamling

Gangtok,27 April¬:Coming down heavily on Rahul Gandhi for his caustic observation about Sikkim, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today said the Congress General Secretary cannot understand the Himalayan state and its local issues in barely 20 minutes.
"He does not understand Sikkim and the issues of the state. One cannot comprehend the issues in 20 minutes," Chamling told reporters here in reply to a question about Gandhi's comments on the state of affairs in the Himalayan State, two days back.

Chamling said the 39 year-old MP's assessment that the state government had failed to fully utilise about Rs 5,500 crore granted by the Centre in past years and could not implement the central schemes like NREGA, were not true.

Sikkim has been one of the states to fully utilize the Central funds and implement the Central schemes, he claimed.

On the impact of Gandhi's electioneering in Sikkim, Chamling said the SDF has been firmly entrenched in the state politically and could not be adversely affected by the campaigning by the national leaders of other parties.

Youth must come forward in politics: Rahul Gandi

Gangtok, 25Apr il: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said called upon the youths to come forward in active politics in order to change the present quality of politics in the nation.

“Unless the youths come forward to politics, then politics will not change. We have to maintain a uniform perspective in the nation”, said Mr. Gandhi while addressing a Congress election rally here at Paljor Stadium packed with thousands of Congress supporters.

In his brief address, the Congress youth leader spoke about his target of encouraging more youths towards politics through the youth wing of Congress.

“I always meet youths from Northeast States wherever I go in the nation. I am very happy and proud that they are coming ahead especially in service sector”, said Mr. Gandhi.

Maintaining that Congress party and his family shares special attachment with Sikkim and other parts of the Northeast region, Mr. Gandhi made an emotional statement by appealing the people to carry on the old ties. My family has a big space for Northeast region in our hearts and these old ties must be carried forward, he said.
Speaking on the context of Sikkim, the young Gandhi scion reminded the people that he had fallen in love with Sikkim when he was 18 years of age. “I had stayed in Gangtok during a month course at Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute and I have toured all over the beautiful State of Sikkim. The tourism potential of Sikkim is unmatched in the nation and we will provide all possible help from the Centre to Sikkim”, he said
.
Reminding that the Centre has been sending huge funds for the development of Sikkim and Sikkimese people, Mr. Gandhi said that Central funds have not reached the people of Sikkim. “We have send Rs. 5,500 crores to Sikkim and sanctioned several big schemes like Mid Day meal and NREGA for the Sikkimese people. But it is unfortunate that these funds and programmes have not reached to the people here”, said he said.
“We must change this and if people are not happy then you can change the government here in Sikkim during the elections”, said Mr. Gandhi.

While assuring that the Congress party will give attention to the pending local issues of Sikkim, Mr. Gandhi underlined the need to establish a proper educational institute. “We will see that quality education reaches to you. We will keep on sending money to Sikkim”, he said.




Mr. Gandhi also assured all possible help from Centre to solve the problem of 30,000 unemployed educated youths in Sikkim. We will spare no efforts to solve the unemployment problem in Sikkim, he said. The voice of small States like Sikkim must be heard and we will listen, he said.
The Congress youth leader concluded his brief speech by promise to return to Sikkim again to continue with his goal of encourage more youths to politics and Congress party.

no alternative’ of the SDF party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Sikkim:Chamling

Gangtok,19 April: Claiming that even the opposition political parties have already ‘conceded defeat’, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) president and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today claimed that there is ‘no alternative’ of the SDF party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Sikkim.

“Actions speak louder than words. People must judge SDF by our works and performances in the last 15 years while casting their votes. If there is a better party which has better programmes for Sikkim than us, vote for them. But there is no better party than SDF right now”, said Mr. Chamling in an election campaign meeting at Paljor Stadium here in Gangtok.

“There is no alternative of SDF party and I am confident that people will elect a conscious party and leader to government in coming elections”, said Mr. Chamling.

Stating that SDF faces no hurdles in the coming elections, the party president claimed that even the opposition parties have already conceded defeated. “The workers of the opposition parties have already given up only, only their leaders are fooling people with baseless issues. The opposition leaders have no issues or morality and people must be careful of such destructive forces”, he said.

Downsizing the opposition parties as non-entities in Sikkim, Mr. Chamling said that the main issues of Sikkim are being overshadowed by baseless issues. Our main issue is development of Sikkim while unfortunately the opposition parties are trying to suppress the real issues with baseless issues, he said appealing the people about their crucial responsibility in the forthcoming elections.

“People must vote for establishing a people’s government and realize the importance of capable leadership to lead Sikkim in the 21st century. Don’t go after the date-expired opposition parties. Today only SDF party is the only party in Sikkim which is capable to fulfill and realize the dreams, aspirations and hopes of the Sikkimese people”, said Mr. Chamling. He added that the victory of SDF will not only be the victory of the party but ‘it will be the victory for the Sikkimese people’. Sikkim and Sikkimese people must win, he said.

“After we came to power in 1994, SDF has restored the pride and freedom of Sikkimese people. Give another mandate to us by casting your votes to SDF on April 30. There is no bigger court than people’s court. We have always respected the mandate given to us and never betrayed the people”, said Mr. Chamling.

Sikkim goes to polls on April 30. Elections to the 32 Assembly constituencies and lone Lok Sabha seat will be held simultaneously.

Peace and Spring

The pigeons play in Spring Sun at Singtam Bazar.

In the name of God

On the occasion of Good Friday Participant of Catholics in mass at Saint Thomas Church Gangtok.

EC censures IPR Secretary for violating model code of conduct

Gangtok, April 10: The Information and Public Relations (IPR)
Secretary MG Miran has been censured by the Election Commission for
his failure to prevent the release of an
advertisement containing the achievements of the State government,
which it said, amounted to the violation of the model code of conduct.

The Deputy Election Commissioner JP Prakash told reporters in New
Delhi that the poll panel has censured the IPR Secretary for his
failure to prevent the release of the advertisement to the media which
contained publicity to the achievements of the state government.
The Chief Secretary has been asked to ensure that such mistakes on the
part of the state government officials should not be repeated in
future.

The opposition political parties had lodged a strong complaint in this
regard to the Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla who had visited the
state last week to review the poll prepareness for the forthcoming
assembly and parliamentary polls in Sikkim.
Chawla had called for a ‘zero tolerance’ to the violations of the
model code of conduct.

CHAMLING BEGINS SDF ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON DEVELOPMENTAL PLANK

Jorthang 9 April: With the release of Party Manifesto for upcoming assembly and parliamentary election in Sikkim, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front Party today started its election campaign from Jorethang South Sikkim where the Party President Dr. Pawan Chamling released the party manifesto and also addressed the huge gathering gathered here from different corners of the state. The programme was started with the welcome address of former Minister for RM&DD KN Rai who was also the convenor of today’s public meeting. It was followed by the speech of Lok Sabha candidate of SDF party PD Rai where he said that the party and its President Dr. Chamling has provided him with the great responsibilities to serve the state and nation and stated that he will work according to the party manifesto and the advice of Dr. Chamling which according to home will be the most beneficial for the common people of Sikkim. He further said that he will strongly raise the voice at Parliament for the common people of Sikkim. He said that he will work according to the will of party and the need of poor and common people.
Addressing the huge gathering at public ground Jorethang SDF party President Dr. Pawan Chamling stated that SDF government has done unexpected development in the state during its tenure of 15 years and also informed about its further agendas for the development of the state and its people. Here Dr. Chamling said that SDF after its formation of next government in Sikkim will focus on Education, Tourism and Health Sectors. He further stated that the main aim of the government was to build the strong society and state as a whole and said that more than 100 crores (10%) of the budget will be set aside for the human resource development in Sikkim. Under this amount the educated youths of the state will be provided with the trainings of skill development inside the country and abroad.
He further informed that in next term of SDF government all the adhoc teachers of the state will be regularised while the entire Muster Roll employees will be regularised in their respective departments. According to Dr Chamling the next SDF government will focus on the education sector and assured to make all the government educational institutes of Sikkim as capable and good as Public schools. “SDF government wants to make the youths not only educated for degree but also a capable and skilled one”, he said. He further assured that Government will provide 100% financial assistance to the students who will get admitted in the top 20 universities of World and also assured of all possible help for those students who want to take admission in the renowned schools, colleges and the universities of the country.
Talking upon the health sector Dr. Chamling said that the government will provide thorough check up once in a year along with the health insurance to the poor people in free of cost.
In tourism sector Chamling said that his next government will focus upon the tourism sectors where the promotion of village tourism along with cultural and traditional tourism will be given the priorities, he added.
He reminded the people of central tax exemption for the Sikkemese during the 15 years of SDF government and promised to exempt the business community of Sikkim with this direct tax in the next tenure of SDF government.
Talking upon the job opportunity in Sikkim he said that he will never promise like other parties that the SDF government will provide all the educated youths of Sikkim with the government jobs but assured to provide all the jobs inside the state to the educated youths of Sikkim. Almost all the villages of Sikkim has been linked with the vehicular roads and the state has witnessed unexpected infrastructural development during the tenure of SDF government and now the SDF government in its next tenure will work for the qualitative development in Sikkim under which all the developments will be maintained and repaired qualitatively.
At present Sikkim is witnessing 30 thousand crores worth working capital in Sikkim from the developmental works like power projects and other industrial projects.
Here he denied to utter the name of any opposition parties and told the gathering to compare the present SDF government with of earlier. He also reminded the people with the number of pro poor schemes being introduced by the SDF government and urged the people to give one more chance to make Sikkim of his dream. Stating the SDF as the party of poor, Dr. Chamling said that once again people will vote for SDF not because of face and communal feelings but due to the works which the SDF government has done in last 15 years and because of the pro people agendas of the party. “I can understand the pain and problems of my people”, he added. Opposition parties in Sikkim were not going to win even a single constituency in upcoming election, Chamling lauded.
The main attraction of today’s launching of SDF’s election campaign at Jorethang was the joining of Sikkim Progressive Party President Sher Hang Subba in SDF along with his 1100 supporters. He was welcomed by the SDF party president Dr. Pawan Chamling. During the meeting Chamling briefed the gathering about the declarations of the party which it has made in party manifesto. The meeting was also attended by Salghari-Zoom SDF candidate Madan Cintury and the other candidates of the party while almost all the former MLAs and Ministers also gave their presence.
Chamling will address the party election campaign at6 Soreng and Mangelbarey, West Sikkim on 10th April 2009.

EC assures free and fair elections in Sikkim

Gangtok, 2 April: Election Commissioner Navin B. Chawla today assured the political parties here that the Election Commission will take all necessary measures for conduct of a free and fair assembly and parliamentary polls in Sikkim.
Sikkim goes to poll on April 30.

The high level ECI team is in Sikkim for a two day visit to take an assessment of the preparations for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the State.
During an hour long meeting with the representatives of the recognized national and regional political parties on an individual basis at Tashiling Secretariat, the EC told the political parties that all necessary measures will be put into place for the conduct of the Assembly and Parliamentary polls in the Himalayan State.

Mr. Chawla is accompanied by deputy Election Commissioner R. Balakrishnan and legal advisor SK Mandiratha.

The parties attending the meet were the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Congress, BJP, CPIM and NCP. Each party was given ten minutes to meet the ECI team individually for submitting their views and grievances.

While, the representatives of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) in their meeting with the Central Election officials were reported to have expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the forthcoming polls, the opposition parties expressed their concerns about the fairness of the ongoing poll process in the state.

Expressing their concerns on a wide range of electoral process, the opposition parties demanded that the poll panel should take preventive measures to assuage their fears.
The EC assured the opposition parties that he will look into the specific charges.

The poll panel team will meet the top civil and police officers, including the Chief Secretary ND Chingapa, Director General of Police (DGP) CM Ravindran and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) TT Dorji tomorrow next to review poll preparedness for the forthcoming polls.

SNPP, SJP forms ‘United Sikkimese Alliance’

GANGTOK, 2 April : Two regional parties, Sikkim National Peoples Party (SNPP) and Sikkim Janekta Party (SJP) today formed an electoral alliance ‘United Sikkimese Alliance (USA)’ for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Sikkim.

Announcing the alliance today in a press meet here in Gangtok, SNPP president Biraj Adikhari said that the alliance has been formed ‘respecting the sentiments of the people’.
“Forget the common people of Sikkim, even NGOs are calling the opposition parties to unitedly fight the coming elections so as to ensure a one to one fight against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party”, said Mr. Adikhari.

“We tried our best to convince the other regional and national parties to set up a united front in the coming elections so that our votes are not distributed ensuring an easy victory for the SDF”, said Mr. Adikhari, who has been nominated as the convener of the newly floated alliance ‘USA’. Though, today only two regional parties are in USA, we are in dialogue with the two more political parties, he said.

“The door is open for other parties to join USA unconditionally”, said Mr. Adikhari. The main objective is to prevent vote distribution of the opposition parties, he added.
SJP president Basant Rai said that ‘USA’ has been formed to answer the call of the people who want a united Opposition in the State. “Though we new parties but we are trying to show the way to the other opposition parties that an electoral alliance is possible to achieve objective of ousting the ruling SDF party from the government”, he said.

“USA will try to field candidates in all the 32 Assembly seats in the coming elections. We will work out our candidates in our own strongholds and jointly campaign”, said Mr. Adikhari. He explained that while SNPP will be concentrating in North and East districts, SJP will be given charge of election campaigning in South and West districts. In some areas, both the parties will jointly campaign, he said.

The list of USA candidates will be declared within the next four-five days and we are hopeful that two more political parties will join us, said Mr. Adikhari. He also said that alliance will work out a manifesto with a common minimum programme.
“We have agreed on some points like restoration of Nepali seats in the Assembly and unemployment issue to be included in the common minimum programme”, said Mr. Adikhari.

I have a long political experience which I can use to serve Public of Sikkim: Koirala

Gangtok,2 April : Thirty nine year old Punya Prasad Koirala from CPIM party has achieved the distinction of becoming the first person to file his nomination for the upcoming Assembly elections in Sikkim.

The CPIM candidate formally submitted his nominations today to the Assistant Returning Officer Yashoda Bhandari for East district here at the East district administrative office. Today was the date from which nomination process for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections begin. Last date of filing nominations is April 9.

Mr. Koirala, a founder member of CPIM party in Sikkim, filed his nominations from the Namcheybong constituency in East district.

“Today is the historic day in my life as it is for the first time in my 21 years of political career that I am standing for an election. I have the full support of my party”, said Mr. Koirala while speaking to media after submitting his nomination papers.

Mr. Koirala is associated with CPIM party for the last 19 years and is a founder member of the party in Sikkim.

“I hope that the people from Namcheybong constituency will understand that I have a long political experience which I can use to serve them”, said Mr. Koirala.
Sikkim CPIM State Committee secretary Balaram Adikhari said that the party will be fielding more candidates till the last date of filing of nominations. We will field more candidates than the last 2004 elections, he said.

CPIM had field only one candidate during the 2004 elections from Chakung constituency in West Sikkim. The candidate Kul Man Mukhiya however was routed in the elections and had to forfeit his security deposit