GANGTOK, July25: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) today denied chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling’s allegation that members of the affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) who are on a hunger strike to protest against the upcoming hydroelectric projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim, are backed by the Opposition parties of the state. “The ACT activists are fasting for a genuine cause. They do not need anyone’s support,” the SPCC president and former chief minister, Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari, said here today. Reacting to Mr Chamling’s allegation, the ACT general secretary, Mr Dawa Lepcha, said: “We have launched the agitation to save our land. The CM’s allegation that the Opposition parties are supporting us is totally baseless. Protecting environment and sanctity of Dzongu is not a political issue.” Mr Kunga Nima Lepcha, a spokesperson of the SPCC, said that the chief minister and the Dzongu MLA are trying to mislead the people by claiming that over 300 people from Dzongu participated in a recent SDF meeting in the area. “The SDF hired people from different parts of the state and carried them to Dzongu in vehicles. Later, they claimed that those who participated in the meeting were all Lepchas from Dzongu,” Mr Lepcha, alleged. “In total disregard of the Sikkim Government Servant Conduct Rules, the state government employees are openly and persistently participating in the political activities of the SDF,” the SPCC president, Mr Bhandari, said. “The state government should take disciplinary action against these employees,” he added. Mr Bhandari lambasted the state government for its apparent failure in dealing with the ACT’s hunger strike. “It is unfortunate that the government is not taking the matter seriously,” Mr Bhandari, said.
