NAMCHI, 19 Oct: Sikkim Democratic Front party vice president, former Minister GM Gurung surrendered to the police today here at Namchi today in connection with the FIR lodged by Golay supporters alleging his involvement in the Namthang clash of 14 October. Following his surrender, his bail petition was accepted and granted by the District & Sessions Court here. Mr. Gurung and five other SDF supporters, since released on bail, have been booked under sections 147/ 148/ 149/ 447/ 427/ 323/ 506 of the IPC.
Following his release on bail, the ruling party took out a massive rally through town and its supporters gathered in strength at the public ground, Singithang, where a public meeting was held.
The rally was joined by political advisor to the Chief Minister, KN Rai, South District working president Gagan Rai, South District youth convener cum MLA Namchi Singithang, Binod Rai and GS in-charge South District, RN Rai along with other party leaders, party youth and Cheli Morcha and more than 800 SDF supporters.
The rally started from the party office here where Mr. Gurung was offered garlands and khadas and then proceeded to Singithang.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Gurung explained, “Our party leaders and our party are not above the law and though false allegations have been levelled against me by the opposition group on the Namthang incident, out of respect for the law of the land, I came here to surrender”.
He stressed that the SDF party has always protected and maintained peace in Sikkim and will remain committed to this ideolog.
About the Namthang episode, he explained today that he, along with the Namthang area MLA Tilu Gurung and other party leaders were in a meeting at the Namthang party office when they learned of a large number of Golay supporters coming up to Namthang for an Anthyesti Kriya. They decided against a confrontation and stayed in the office waiting for the motorcade to pass.
Mr. Gurung further detailed that when the vehicles had passed, they were stepped out to return home when some of the vehicles turned back towards them and raised slogans against the party and the Chief Minister. It was then that on the SDF party workers, Prahlad Gurung, approached them and told them not to raise slogans his party and president.
“With this, the Golay supporters attacked him with Khukuris and iron rods and soon the mob started attacking everyone, even women were not spared by them,” he said.
Mr Gurung reiterated that the Golay supporters were trying to damage the peace and tranquillity of the state.
“The lack of issues has driven the Golay group to desperation and are hence, attacking innocent people and misleading them,” said Mr Gurung.
“If PS Golay truly wants to bring change in Sikkim in favour of the Sikkimese people he must play good politics. He has to come up with a better agenda than our party instead of spreading terror in the state,” he added.
He challenged the dissident SDF MLA to resign from the party, form his own party and then fight the by-election against an SDF candidate from the Upper Burtuk constituency.
“Our party had given him all the respect as a founder member of SDF. I and many others had never opposed the party and the party president for not being made a Minister then why is Mr. Golay against the government after serving 15 years in the government as a Minister from the SDF party?”, he questioned.
Political Advisor to the CM, KN Rai in his address said that Mr. Tamang’s politics is becoming synonymous with violence. Condemning the alleged act of Golay supporters in Namthang, he said the incident has only made the people aware of what his “revolution of change” is about.
The meeting was also addressed by GS In-charge South, RN Rai and Cheli Morcha vice convenor Sanju Rai.
