SDF celebrates 22nd foundation day

EOI, Gangtok, 4 March 2014: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front today celebrated its 22nd foundation day in a grand way in Jorethang where party president and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling congratulated members and supporters on the 22 years of the SDF’s existence and two decades of its governance.

Sikkim was ruled by dictators before and after it became the 22nd state of India until the pro-poor people regime of the SDF took control of things, asserted Chamling.

“There was no security for the poor and needy in the state during the times of previous governments. Despite being chosen by the people, those dispensations did nothing for the common man, but it was the people’s turn to rule after the SDF-led government came to power,” he claimed.

The SDF will always remain a regional party, but to ensure the wellbeing of both state and country, it will support any party that forms the government at the Centre, said Chamling. He highlighted the achievements and developments under the SDF government saying its goal is to make Sikkim the richest state in the country by 2015.

Talking about various agendas and appearing confident of retaining power once again, the SDF chief said he would change the structure of education in government schools and bring them at par with private institutions. The next SDF government’s target will be to grant tribal status to all the left-out communities and to provide seat reservations for the Limboo and Tamang communities in the state assembly, he promised. Chamling also pledged to bring the 17th Karmapa to Sikkim and granting tax exemption to the non-Sikkimese business community residing in the state since 1969 or earlier.

Commenting on the ongoing turmoil in the state, the chief minister accused the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha of being a party filled with “rapists, drug addicts, thieves, murderers and looters” who are roaming around like “Ravanas” and creating panic across the state.

Further, Chamling accused SKM chief PS Golay of complicity in the murder of former DIG Arun Kumar Shresta and also held him responsible for murdering dozens of innocent people in west Sikkim. He recalled all those killed by name and declared them as martyrs while promising every possible help to their families. 

The SDF chief went on to accuse the SKM of torching more than 100 vehicles and vandalising another 500 and more. He claimed the SKM has hired goons from outside of Sikkim to create violence and chaos in the state. “They have a hidden agenda of merging Sikkim with Darjeeling and making Sikkim a part of Gorkhaland,” he alleged.

“This is the 21st century, an era when people are the real rulers, who vote for those who provide security and not support those who disturb the peace,” said Chamling, while urging supporters to oppose such anti-social elements asserting “the people of Sikkim love peace and will never support the SKM”. 

During the programme, 800 members of rival parties joined the SDF and were welcomed on board by the party president who also inaugurated ‘Garib Uthan Bhawan’, the zonal party office for the South and West districts.

The chief minister was accompanied by his wife Tika Maya Chamling, SLA Speaker KT Gyaltsen, ministers, MLAs and a huge crowd of party members and supporters from across the state.