Bhandari slams govt for overpaying advisers

GANGTOK, April 11. - The Sikkim Congress today targeted the ruling government's band of high profile advisors, alleging misuse of government funds in the guise of a pseudo-think tank that has drained the state's coffers for long.

Unleashing the charges, state's Congress president, Mr Nar Bahadur Bhandari singled out three advisors of the state government - Mr Mahendra P Lama of the Delhi-based Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Mr Ashok Lahiri, economist and Mr Muchkund Dubey - all members of the state planning commission.

All of these appointees of the SDF government have been kept on abnormal salaries," Mr Bhandari alleged. "While Mr Lahiri and Mr Dubey take home a pay package of more than Rs 50,000 per month, Mr Mahendra P Lama's bill for stationary bills alone exceed Rs 20,000 per month," he added.

"There are plenty of senior technocrats, academicians and bureaucrats from Sikkim better suited for the job, with an in-depth knowledge of the state's affairs and its complexities, unlike the outsiders appointed by the state government, Mr Bhandari alleged, adding "This is nothing but a mockery of the so-called austerity measures propounded by the state government every now and then."

The Congress president, who addressed a press conference here today, also welcomed three members of the Sikkim Democratic Front's Central executive committee from the North district, to the party fold. Two-time minister, Mr Sonam Choda Lepcha from Dzongu constituency of North Sikkim, Mr Choppel Lepcha, former chairperson of Sitco and member of the North District zilla parishad and Mr Tenzor Lepcha, former zilla Adhyaksha, North Sikkim, formally joined the Congress party today.

Adding up charges against the SDF, the Congress leadership also blamed it of trying to annul the sole Sangha seat, comprising of elected representative of the Buddhist monasteries, by not nominating a contestant. Picking on the SDF's decision to leave the Sangha seat vacant for the coming Assembly polls, the Congress termed it as a ploy to extricate the Sangha seat provision of which is guaranteed under article 371(F) of the constitution.

The Congress president also circulated copies of a handwritten letter, supposedly written by chief minister Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling to Mr RC Poudyal, noted politician of post- assimilation Sikkim, in which he had apparently claimed to being successful in derogating the Sangha seat.

Confirming inclusion in the Congress of Mr Tseten Tashi Bhutia, SDF legislator from the last Assembly and SIBLAC convener, Mr Bhandari said that the joining of Mr Tseten Bhutia, though not complete, was confirmed. He added that he would be awarded a party ticket from the Pathing constituency.

Courtesy
The Telegraph

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