Outside interference won't be tolerated: SDF

Gangtok, Apr 16 (UNI) The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) today termed the pilgrimage tour of Darjeeling Lepchas as a 'totally sponsored' procession by the opposition parties.

''It (the procession) is a conspiracy hatched by all the political opposition parties to hit the SDF government since they find no constructive issues left in the political area ,'' said SDF party spokesperson K T Gyalsten at a press meet.

Around 500 Lepchas from different parts of Darjeeling had marched from Kalimpong with an objective to do pujas at Dzongu, their holy place on April 14. However, the march was aborted today due to lack of permits to enter Dzongu and growing resentment by the Lepchas from Dzongu.

The marchers were escorted by Sikkim Armed Police to Rangpo border in the afternoon.

Terming the procession as 'totally sponsored' by the opposition parties, the SDF party accused the opposition of trying to disrupt the developmental activities by roping in outside help.

'' By bringing people from outside and interfering with the internal matters of the state and trying to disturb the peace, the opposition parties are trying to obstruct the rapid development process that is being done under the SDF government,'' said Gyalsten.

'' Such move is anti-people, anti-Sikkim and anti-democracy and against the future generation of the state,'' he said.

Gyalsten reminded that Sikkim is a peaceful and progressive state in the Northeast and a sensitive border state. The outside forces have no right to disturb the peace, he said and appealed the Centre to take serious note of this fact.

Another SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal said that despite the protests and opposition's ploys, the SDF government will not be shaken even a bit in its mission to make Sikkim a self sustainable state by 2015 through hydro power projects.

'' Our promises will not be shaken,'' he said.

UNI BG KK AB 2106