Aiyar shown black flags by his party workers

Gangtok, Apr 1 (UNI) Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was greeted with protests on his three-day visit to the state, with congress workers showing him 'black flags' and placards with message 'Aiyar go back'.

Earlier, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) Vice President T Gyasto told newspersons that the executive body of the party in consultation with party President N B Bhanadari, who is now campaigning for the party in Asom, had at an emergency meeting decided to boycott the visit of Mr Aiyar to the party office.

The decision follows Mr Aiyar's statement that Panchayati Raj institutions in the state and described it as one of the best in the country.

The SPCC condemned the statement as the institutions in the state were functioning in a ''most undemocratic way'' and various poverty alleviation programmes like old age pension, SGRY, Indira awas yojana, BPL, National Rural Employment scheme were not being implemented properly, Mr Gyasto said.

He also alleged that the beneficiaries for various schemes were being selected on partisan basis and the supporters of Congress party were being discriminated.

The Congress leaders said the state governor, who visited the entire state to assess the functioning of the Panchayati Raj system in the state, was also highly dissatisfied with its functioning.

''SPCC President N B Bhandari had also informed Mr Aiyar about the ''maladministration'' and ''corruption'' resorted to by the ruling government before his tour to the state, Mr Gyasto said.

But despite that Mr Aiyar choose to give a good certificate to the ruling SDF government without talking to the Panchayat office bearers and the people.

''By boycotting Mr Aiyar's visit, we want to send a clear message to the party high command that this type of protest would continue if the central leaders did not change their attitude,'' SPCC members said.

Later the party workers sent a memorandum to Party President Sonia Gandhi in this regard.

Mr Aiyar is scheduled to return to Delhi tomorrow.

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