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 |
Home | About Us | Contact
Us | Site Map | Feedback
