‘We have none to save in Padam Gurung’s death case,’ says Golay

PRAKASH ADHIKARI, EOI, GANGTOK, AUGUST 10, 2023 :  "We have no one to save in Padam Gurung's death case. Do not doubt us," Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang said on Thursday in a public meeting at Rangpo on the occasion of the Sixth Jan Numukti Diwas of the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.

Different opposition parties have accused the SKM government of trying to protect the culprit in the alleged murder of student leader Padam Gurung.

“We have no one to save in this case. We do not want to arrest the wrong person. Our aim is not only to arrest. But the culprit will have to face the court where he will begiven the verdict that he is the killer. We could arrest the six friends or the restaurant owner, but they may be released in six months. We want to arrest with all the evidence that points towards his death. Only then his soul will rest in peace.”

Accusing the opposition of turning the death of Padam Gurung into a propaganda material, he said: “The opposition parties are turning it into propaganda. They are playing politics over his grave. We are serious and reluctant to speak as it may be a sub-judice matter. We will leave no stone unturned to punish the culprits if there are any. Those without any issue are accusing the police and the SDM to defame them.” 

Narrating the follow-up of the incident of death of the president of Student Representative Council of Namchi College on the night of June 27-28 night. Golay said: "I came to know on the morning of June 28, directed the Namchi SP to investigate the matter and find the culprit. 

On July 1 a special investigation team was constituted, then after a high powered committee was formed on July 4". 

 Golay said the opposition did not have an issue currently, "Hence they are playing politics over his dead body. We have constituted a judicial inquiry under retired judge N. K.Jain, where even the police are answerable. The committee has called 35 witnesses between July25 and 29. On Padam Gurung death if there are evidence from witnesses, they must submit these to the committee. There should be43 witnesses collectively. Even thereafter if no conclusion is drawn we will give the case to a bigger committee", said the Chief Minister.

He mentioned about a few political deaths during the tenure of the past government Golay asserted: "We will not leave the culprit. People should believe us and the judicial inquiry. Those doing politics must question the crimes of similar kind termed political killings which happened in the regime of the previous government".Golay also mentioned how he had been made a victim of  politics when he had been put behind bars over a cow distribution case dating back to1995 when he was the Animal Husbandry Minister during the Pawan Kumar Chamling regime.

He said: "I was a victim of politics that took me too jail. JanUnmukti Diwas is a black day for dictators like Chamling. This day is the day I got freed from the politics that had put me in jail. I gave directions from jail too, I could have just relaxed. But I carried the change in system from jail itself. To condemn this day as black day is wrong, when Chamling celebrated his own birthday as an SDF event till2019."

Taking a jibe at opposition parties, Golay said: "Chamling came to power when former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari was weak, Ganesh Rai is now talking against Chamling when he is weak. But we did so when Chamling had secured all 32 seats when they were at the strongest."

Over electoral promises for2024, Golay said: "To say SKM will not come to power in 2024 is the same as Chamling saying we won't come to power in 2019. The way we have served the poor in the state in these four to five  years, we shall form the government in 2024 with all 32 seats; winning with a record margin. Our candidates in all 32seats and one MP have already been fielded under the symbol of table lamp. Don't look at individuals but look at our symbol and vote in 2024. We will change the course of Sikkim in the next five years".

Slamming the opposition further, Golay said: "Wear a CAP under umbrella (SDF) and blow whistle (Hamro Sikkim Party). It doesn't matter to the SKM party. CAP doesn't even look like a Sikkimese party when it doesn't have Sikkim included in the the name of the party. Their work also speaks against giving houses and jobs to the poor. Now CAP is against drivers and Drivers Welfare Board, we are making drivers.

SKM was an old license plate for vehicles in Sikkim.”Golay also spoke on the burning concern of Uniform Civil Code across the north-east region,  asserting: "Sikkim is protected under Article 371F. Across the north-east where there are such special provisions, UCC will not be implemented".

On the occasion, Sikkim Chronicle co-founder Yougan Tamang, North East Taxi founder  Rewaj Chettri and film producer Sushma Gurung were among the prominent people who joined the SKM.

The Chief Minister also said his government had maintained pace among communities and ensured a Manipur-like situation was not repeated in Sikkim. “I have ensured peace and amity between various communities in Sikkim. Otherwise, there would have been a situation like Manipur."