Sikkim CM : “Call off the hunger strike and come to me and then we will sort out the problem”
GANGTOK, August, 08: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has once again called for an open and amicable discussion with the members of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) over the hydel project issue.
He was addressing a congregation of Lepchas at the Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations held here at the Sikkim Government College auditorium.
The indigenous festival celebrated in honour of Mount Tendong was attended by Lepchas from all over Sikkim as well as from outside.
The Chief Minister emphasized that development shall take place at any cost and hydel projects will not be scraped if it meant fulfilling the wishes of some vested interests.
Repeatedly stressing that the sanctity of Dzongu will be maintained at any cost, Mr. Chamling said, “Call off the hunger strike and come to me and then we will sort out the problem.”
He also emphasized on the need to educating more Lepcha youths and said that the endeavour of the State Government would be to provide employment to all the local Lepcha youths of Dzongu in all Governmental posts within Dzongu.
Questioning all political parties about their absence during the signing of MoU and at the time of public hearing for the power projects, the Chief Minister said, “The Opposition parties using ACT as a platform to further their own agenda and are playing with the lives of two innocent people. “If any thing happens to Dawa and Tenzing Lepcha, the Opposition parties will have to responsible.” He also said that Opposition parties were provoking the innocent Lepchas of Sikkim and misleading them using the hydel project issue as a ploy.
He said that Lepchas being one of the most primitive tribes of Sikkim has always been of keen interest to his Government. “It is under our Government that Lepchas were armed with their full political rights as a result of which today they enjoy their rights with full dignity. The SDF government has always ensured social and religious security for each and every community in Sikkim,” he said.
“Without any demand from the Lepchas, the SDF Government declared a gazette holiday on Tendong Lho Rum Faat, which itself speaks volumes as to how much the Government cares for the welfare and well- being of the Lepchas,” he said, adding that the persistent demand to identify Lepchas as one of the vulnerable tribes of India is being persuaded in full earnest by his Government with the Centre.
He also said that by 2015, the State will earn a revenue generation of Rs 1000 cores which will be enough to propel the State towards greater economic prosperity.
Earlier, Minister for Health, Hissey Lachungpa who is also the chairperson of the celebration committee, told the gathering that development in the State should never be stopped as it would usher in greater prosperity and opportunities for the people.
Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, MLA, Dzongu, in his address, said that Opposition parties are leaving no stone unturned to make the Dzongu issue a political agenda for the upcoming election in 2009.
In his address, CT Lepcha, President Renjong Mutacnchi Rong Tarjum said although ACT had given various justicfications for their Satyagraha and hunger strike and their reasons for opposing the hydel power projects in Dzongu, the ACT had declined to meet the Chief Minister to seek a way out of the impasse when the Tarjum advised it to do so last year. He added that the State Government had the interests of the Lepcha community in mind and would never let its people down.
