BJP sits on dharna against corruption in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 03 May: The State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] held a day-long dharna in front of the District Administrative Centre at Sichey on Tuesday to protest against alleged corruption in the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] government.
Speaking to media persons, Lok Sabha MP from Kathiar in Bihar, who is also in-charge of Sikkim, Nikhil Chowdhary said that he had been made in-charge of Sikkim by the party high command to look into issues concerning the state and to see whether funds from the centre were being utilized properly or not by the state government.

“The centre is very concerned with the development of the North East, including Sikkim, but the DoNER funds and schemes meant for this region are not being utilized properly,” he claimed. “I have been informed that many schemes have not been implemented while others have been left halfway and works taken up in 2007 had still not been completed till this year [2011],” he added.
“When funds and schemes meant for the welfare of the people are not used for their welfare, there is bound to be some backlash from various fronts,” he said and added that the CAG reports have to be taken seriously as these are the findings on the shortfalls of the ruling government.
“People have rights, and one of their rights is to inquire after the welfare funds meant for them because it is they who elect the government to power and the government is liable to answer. So, if the Chief Minister and his government are not involved in corrupt practices, then he should come forward and speak and inform the people,” the MP said. “But if the CM is involved and knows about all the scams and corruption then there should be a CBI enquiry and if found guilty he should be punished as per law,” he added.
“I have spoken with the State BJP unit president regarding various issues concerning the state and now I will take up these burning issues in the next session of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha, along with other leaders and if that doesn’t work then we will hold another massive dharna at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in the coming days,” he further said.
Earlier, the State BJP president, Padam Chettri informed the gathering that according to findings included in the CAG report, a 6254 crore scam is suspected between the State government and power project developers in Sikkim.
“We are giving the SDF government 30 days to respond to the letter from the BJP and if even after that there is no response, we will take this dharna to New Delhi and demand that action be taken against the corrupt government in Sikkim,” he said.
He also submitted a memorandum concerning issues that need to be addressed by the Sikkim in-charge MP from Bihar.