Congress demands resignation of Pawan Chamling

Gangtok, Aug 2 (UNI): Accusing the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front's government of being incompetent of solving the present row over hydel power projects in the state, the Congress party today demamded resignation of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling saying he has no right to continue in the office.

Referring to the stalemate over the ongoing Satyagraha by Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) members which entered 44th day today, Sikkim Pradesh Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari said the government did not have 'guts' to solve the issue.

"If the government cannot solve such a small problem then how it will tackle bigger problem in future in the interest of Sikkimese people," Mr Bhandari told a news conference today.

ACT members are on a hunger strike since June 20 protesting against the proposed implementation of mega power projects in the tribal areas of Dzongu, North Sikkim.

Mr Bhandari claimed that the government's indifference towards the concerns of ACT has compelled them to launch the hunger strike.

"The issue can be solved amicablly. But the SDF government has failed to do so. Given a chance, we can solve the problem in less than 12 hours," said the SPCC chief and former chief minister.

With thousands of labourers expected to come in Dzongu for the mega power projects, Mr Bhandari said that Sikkim has accepted merger with India but she did not want to be submerged, referring to obvious ecological disturbances by the power projects.

Mr Bhandari said that today's press meet was the last warning from the SPCC to the SDF government to stop hydel projects in Dzongu and added that the patience of the party was running thin over the delay in government's approach to solve the issue. "There should be no projects in Dzongu," he asserted.

The SPCC chief also said that his party was not against development but stressed that development should not be at the cost of the people. "We are keeping the Congress High Command informed over the developments in the Satyagraha as per its directions," he claimed.

UNI