Golay campaigns in Yangang

NAMCHI, 29 Oct: The dissident SDF MLA, PS Tamang [Golay], convened a public meeting at Yangang today, taking his offensive against his party and its president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, to the latter’s hometown. The public meeting was expected to be confrontational and aggressive, but save reports of some minor run-ins on roads in the outlying areas, no untoward incident was reported thanks to the elaborate police bandobast.
Interestingly, all shops in the south district town were closed today with the shopkeepers taking a day off and many going away for a picnic. Mr. Tamang, in his address today, alleged that the ruling party had forced the shops to shut down and expressed concern over the loss of business suffered by the people. He also alleged that this was a common ploy of the ruling party and contended that it has been trying to discourage people from attending his meetings and rallies. Such attempts have failed and now the tide was turning against SDF, he said.
SDF party workers from Yangang however countered that the shopkeepers had decided to close for business on their own accord. A shopkeeper added that the businessmen here have traditionally organized a Dusshera picnic every year and mentioned that this year’s picnic coincided with the meeting of the Golay camp.
Meanwhile, the public meeting saw the Upper Burtuk MLA launch into a scathing attack on the SDF Government, focusing his allegations on corruption and nepotism. He accused the State Government of having lost touch with the people and alleged that personal considerations had led to the Sikkim University land at Yangang not being acquired despite having been earmarked four years back.
He also accused the ruling party of intimidating the people with threats of withdrawing aid and other benefits from them if they spoke their mind or pointed out mistakes. He also challenged his party to expel him if it had the courage and also announced that he would be floating his own political outfit after the panchayat elections.
It is also learnt that the SDF party workers of Yangang today approached the sector magistrate appointed for the area for the panchayat elections with a complaint of offensive and personal attacks launched by Mr. Tamang against SDF leaders and their families.
A confrontation was expected and could very well have transpired today had it not been for the over cautious police picketing which ensured that SDF party workers, even those on panchayat campaign tasks in the vicinity, were not allowed through to Yangang bazaar. The precaution was well taken since some minor incidents still reportedly transpired, but were checked in time.
The other speakers from the Golay camp at Yangang today were Bhojraj Rai, MN Dahal, Avinash Yakha, Kala Rai, Nima Theeng, Phuchung Bhutia, Birbal Subba and MK Subba.