Gangtok: The Senior CPI(M) leader of north-Bengal West Bengal Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya and CPM Rajya Sabha MP from Darjeeling Suraj Pathak who were here today in Gangtok to attend the celebration programme of West Bengal being ruled by the Left Front for the past 30 years along with left members of parliament. The 30 years of left government celebrations was organised by the Sikkim unit of Communist parties and was also attended by leaders from opposition parties in Sikkim who were invited to speak on left platform.
The CPI(M) today extended full support to the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)'s ongoing relay hunger strike against the half a dozen proposed hydel power projects in Lepcha reserve of Dzongu in North Sikkim.
At a function here today to mark the CPI(M) led Left Front's 30-year rule in neighbouring West Bengal, its Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said during his visit to B.L. House ,"We announce our full support to the hunger strike by the ACT. We are not against development. But we are convinced that it should not be at the cost of the people".
Criticising the state government for not showing sensitivity to the concerns of the local people, he said it should invite the strikers for talks, look into their problems and find a solution instead of shying away from the issue.
The ongoing hunger strike by ACT completes 46th today.
On the Left Front being in power in West Bengal for such a long time, he said it was not just a record for the country but for the whole world. Empowerment of people particularly the rural poor has kept us going in the state," he said.
The CPI(M) today extended full support to the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)'s ongoing relay hunger strike against the half a dozen proposed hydel power projects in Lepcha reserve of Dzongu in North Sikkim.
At a function here today to mark the CPI(M) led Left Front's 30-year rule in neighbouring West Bengal, its Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said during his visit to B.L. House ,"We announce our full support to the hunger strike by the ACT. We are not against development. But we are convinced that it should not be at the cost of the people".Criticising the state government for not showing sensitivity to the concerns of the local people, he said it should invite the strikers for talks, look into their problems and find a solution instead of shying away from the issue.
The ongoing hunger strike by ACT completes 46th today.
On the Left Front being in power in West Bengal for such a long time, he said it was not just a record for the country but for the whole world. Empowerment of people particularly the rural poor has kept us going in the state," he said.
However,Left Rajya Sabha MP has said he would not be able to raise this issue immediately in parliament as he need to study and understand ongoing protests of ACT first . Pathak also promised to take up the cause of the Lepchas in the monsoon session of Parliament. The leaders of Sikkim opposition parties also spoke in favour of Affected Citizens of Teesta and expressed their concerns for failing health of hunger strikers.
SPCC leader Santosh Bardewa, Tara Shrestha, SHRP general secretary, SAFE convener Bharat Basnet and ACT president Athup Lepcha appealed to the CPI-M in its mission to protect Dzongu and the Lepchas settled there.
Lone Congress MLA, Acharya Tshering Lama requested MP Pathak to raise the ACT issue in Parliament. SIBLAC convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia, former minister KN Uperti and former MP PT Gyamtso also addressed the gathering.
Lone Congress MLA, Acharya Tshering Lama requested MP Pathak to raise the ACT issue in Parliament. SIBLAC convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia, former minister KN Uperti and former MP PT Gyamtso also addressed the gathering.
