Centre should keep an eye on security in Sikkim: BJP

Gangtok, Apr 4 (UNI) BJP central committee general secretary (organization) Ram Lal today said the Centre should keep a watchful eye on the development and security aspects of Sikkim as it is a border state and an important region.

''All political parties and especially the Centre should ensure security in the border state as no country can afford to neglect its international borders,'' Mr Lal told mediapersons here.

Sikkim shares international border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Nepal and Bhutan.

The Centre should have policies for development of border states, Mr Lal added.

He was on a two-day visit to Sikkim to oversee the preparations of the state BJP unit for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

''Sikkim has remained underdeveloped with widespread unemployment among educated youths and rampant corruption in the implementation of different schemes,'' he said.

Mr Lal also supervised the initial discussions of the state BJP unit with a regional party Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) for forming an alliance.

Top SHRP leaders met Mr Lal yesterday and offered to ally with the national party.

''BJP is a national party and we welcome any party if they agree to our principles and we will work out a common minimum programme soon,'' Mr Lal said.

The general secretary said the BJP-led NDA coalition will come back to power in the next General Elections as the ''Congress-led UPA government had been following wrong policies.'' The BJP leader also met the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) members, who were on an indefinite hunger strike against the proposed mega power projects in Dzongu, North Sikkim.

Mr Lal assured to raise the issue at the national level after going through their memorandums.

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