Bhandari describes Gooroong as an anti-national

Gangtok, Nov 20 (UNI) Sikkim Pradesh Congress president Narbahadur Bhandari today refuted the allegations of Mr B B Gooroong, advisor to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, saying, '' It's Gooroong, who is an anti-national and not me. '' Mr Gooroong was opposed to the merger of Sikkim with India and was an ''anti-national'', Mr Bhandari told a crowded press conference here.

Mr Bhandari also distributed the copies of excerpts of some books written by some eminent authors on the merger to the media persons to substantiate his point.

As per the extracts from a book titled '' Inside Sikkim : Against the Tide'' written by Jigme N Kazi, the book quoted Mr Gooroong as saying, '' The guilt of having participated in the process of merger has left a very deep and painful scar on my heart. '' Mr Bhandari also distributed papers that indicated Mr Gooroong offering traditional scarf to Tobgyal Wangchuk Tenzing Namgyal on his consecration as the 13th Chgyal of Sikkim on February 19,1982, indicating his support for the contiuance of royalty.

An extract from the book ''The Smash and Grab'' written by Sunanda K Datta Ray on the annexation of Sikkim quoted Mr Gooroong said, '' We hereby recognise you as the 13th consecrated Chogyal of Sikkim. '' Mr Gooroong in a press conference recently had dubbed Mr Bhandari as anti-national for questioning the merger of Sikkim with India in a booklet and said his government had already taken up the matter with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Since the merger took place when Ms Indira Gandhi was in power, the state Congress chief had no right to question it and demanded his removal from the party post.

Mr Bhandari also described as baseless Mr Gooroong's allegation that his government was dismissed in the eighties by the then Prime Minister on corruption charges.

He said Ms Gandhi took a decision to dissolve the Assembly and the decision was approved by the then President.

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