Gangtok: Sikkim Democratic Front party carried out a protest rally from SDF party office on Indira Bypass to Gangtok District Administrative Centre on Monday. The protest rally was led by SDF party supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling along with his party supporters and cadres demanding justice for former speaker KN Rai who was attacked on March 1. Rai has since been referred to a hospital in New Delhi, needing reconstruction surgery.
Following the protest rally, SDF lone legislator Chamling named Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay to be the ‘mastermind behind the attack on KN Rai’ as well as the violence that has happened in the State in the past five years.
He stated, “All the violence is done by the current government and the mastermind lives in Mintokgang, the official residence of the CM. When the CM himself does such political terrorism and organized crime, how will the Police carry out their duties? Police are under pressure, they are helpless. Whatever the CM is saying is to hide his own crime, only to blame the SDF party. When the law and order is with the government, if such attacks were carried out by SDF shouldn’t they be arresting us? If I have done a crime or anyone from SDF has, I should be arrested, I am responsible for this party as its president. Hence, all crimes happening are the responsibility of the SKM party and PS Golay. If anything happens to KN Rai, then all the blame goes to PS Golay”.
SDF had given the government an ultimatum till March 5 to arrest the mastermind behind the attack on KN Rai on March 1. “To this day, there has been a failure to arrest the mastermind which has prompted us to carry out this peace rally. Those arrested are all SKM party cadres. They are no criminals but a part of an organized attack. People are afraid to speak up and even if they reach police stations, their complaints go unheard. Whatever has happened, the government is answerable as law and order and the police is under the state government. Since SKM and the government are involved to this day no one has been arrested. This is an organized crime which everyone knows”.
Demanding a CBI inquiry on the attack on KN Rai, Chamling stated, “The people of Sikkim do not have faith in the government, the police, the administration nor law and order. The investigation of the attack on KN Rai must be carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This is the demand we have placed with both the state and the central government. There is political terrorism and there is no justice being delivered by the State Government, only CBI can investigate”.
The SDF has submitted a memorandum requesting the imposition of President’s rule in the state ahead of the elections. They cite the current environment as being non-conducive to ensuring peaceful, free, and fair elections.
“To not have a peaceful environment during elections, SKM is carrying out such violence to develop fear among the people before elections.
We have submitted our memorandum to the Governor and the central government. Within this week, election will be declared. Hence a peaceful environment must be created in Sikkim, so the elections can be free and fair. There is a need for President’s Rule in Sikkim for the elections. Elections cannot be carried out in the current situation as there is a fear psychosis among the people. We are the most violent state in the country right now.”
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With promises of peace under SDF regime, Chamling made a vote appeal stating, “To free the people from such violence and fear, SDF party is contesting this election. Our motive is peace in Sikkim, improving the law and order situation and bringing back democracy to Sikkim. Until and unless we Sikkimese people do not get justice, we will carry on such protests.”
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