Protesting SSA group to seek permission for dharna and continue trying to meet CM

GANGTOK, 24 Jan: Around 30 members of the All Sikkim Departmental Adhoc Staff Group [ASDASG] teaching and non-teaching staff of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan [SSA] under the Human Resource Development Department [HRDD], who had gathered at the District Administrative Centre here at Sichey this morning seeking permission to sit for a dharna to press for their demands from the Superintendent of Police [East] Office had to return disappointed as today was a Government holiday.
“They wanted to meet the SP [East], but today being a government holiday the office of the SP [East] was closed and so I requested them to return tomorrow morning when the office reopens and meet the SP [East] regarding the permission,” informed Sub Divisional Magistrate, East, Dr AB Karki while speaking to NOW!
“Initially they were agitated and angry at being let down, but then I explained to them the procedures that have to be followed for obtaining such permissions and that this was not the right way to do things,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jigmee Bhutia, a member of the ASDASG, while speaking to NOW! later, informed that they had no idea that today was a holiday and that it was only when they reached the DAC premises that they came to know that today was a Government holiday.
“We could not meet the SP to apply for the permission, but we still wanted to sit for the dharna there. It was only after the assurance and guidance of the SDM [East] that we left from the DAC premises”, he added.
“On Wednesday, we will come and meet the SP [East] and seek his permission to sit for the dharna, and if we are not given permission for the dharna, we will go ahead with our hunger strike in front of the DAC,” he stated further adding that half of them will seek permission for the dharna, while the other half will seek an appointment with the Chief Minister, tomorrow morning.
The SDPO [East] and the PI of the Sadar Police Station were also present at the DAC today to control the situation from getting out of hand.