“Whatever the State Congress says, it is farthest from truth”, Mr. Dahal said in a press meet on Saturady. He distributed to reporters photo copies of California Governor, Mr. Arnold Scharzenegger’s letter dt. August 4, 2009, to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, inviting him as a “government leader” to participate in the summit.
The Governor’s signed letter reads - “Although we are separated by many miles, we are united in our duty as government leaders to address a common challenge that knows no geographic bounds: climate change.
Recalling last year’s inaugural Governors’ Global Climate Summit as “a huge success”, the letter mentions, “At the summit, you and I along with nearly 30 other government officials from eight countries signed a declaration acknowledging the threat of climate change and committing to collaboration on deforestation, transportation, energy, technology transfer and information sharing”.
Mr. Dahal scoffed at SPCC statement that Dr. Chamling has not done anything in the field of environment. Can they (SPCC leaders) prove it, Mr. Dahal asked. “They have to prove it as their statement is contrary to the appreciation and awards which the Chief Minister has received on behalf of the people of Sikkim. So far Dr. Chamling has got about 60 awards and letter of appreciation, nationally and international”, Mr. Dahal said and produced a few of them to the media.
“Under the able leadership of Chief Minister Chamling, Sikkim has made the Union of India proud. Sikkim is now a leading name in international and national arena for its manifold achievements, especially in environment and peace, Mr. Dahal said.
He said, “We are working hard to achieve overall development and self reliance. We are utilizing our water resources to augment power generation without doing damage to the environment”.
Power Projects are being constructed on waste land without doing any harm to flora and fauna, he added.
Regarding another SPCC allegation about ACT agitation, Mr. Dahal said, “Their (ACT) arguments are baseless. ACT is propped by certain quarters”.
