Upreti sees opportunistic sympathy seeking in Bhandari’s invocation of Art 371F

GANGTOK, 06 May: Former Minister KN Upreti has dismissed former CM Nar Bahadur Bhandari’s claim of having been removed from the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president’s post due to his pro-Sikkim stand, as an attempt at playing to the gallery by raking up an emotional issue [Article 371F of the constitution and seeking to win over the people’s sympathy. Speaking as a senior SPCC member, Mr Upreti, in a press statement issued today, has contended that Mr. Bhandari was “punished for his inaction”.
Mr. Upreti argues that Mr. Bhandari “has no moral right” to stay in Congress any longer for having failed to organize or revive the Congress in the State since the 2009 general election despite the party high command’s request to do so.
He has accused the SDF government of having “crushed and victimized” Congress supporters for the past four years and alleges that Mr. Bhandari “miserably failed to take up the matter with the Central leadership for their redressal”.
He has also accused Mr. Bhandari of insincerity and of having spoken ill of the party and the people instead of working for them.
Mr. Upreti believes that Mr. Bhandari wants to remain in the Congress for selfish reasons and was using Article 371F as a bargaining tool.
“His threatening to Congress High Command that if the party did not revoke his expulsion he would revive SSP or SJP, is principleless and opportunistic politics of Mr Bhandari. I would advise him to retire honorably rather than trying to fool the people anymore,” Mr. Upreti conveys.

Party-based Panchayat system cause of violence, says KN Upreti

GANGTOK, 07 Nov: Former Minister and senior vice president Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee [SPCC], KN Upreti has raised concern over the incidence of violence in the recent Panchayat Election.
In a press release issued today, Mr Upreti has stated that, “It is unfortunate that even after the election, candidates and supporters are being attacked and the Govt. has failed to give protection. Rather supporters of the ruling party are themselves indulging in such violence which deserves condemnation”.
He has blamed “party based Panchayat system” to be the cause behind this and has expressed that the system should be changed back to the “party-less” system that was in place earlier.
Mr Upreti has further stated that the panchayat poll will now be followed by victimization of the Independent candidates and their supporters along with others who will be deprived of govt. benefits and schemes on the pretext of supporting Independent candidates.

KN Upreti and six others expelled from Congress

GANGTOK, 25 March: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, at an emergency meeting held today at its head office here, expelled KN Upreti and six other members from the Congress for anti-party activities.
The other six expelled members are: Phuchung Bhutia, Bharat Basnet, Avinash Yakha, Arun Rai, Laxuman Gurung and Nima Wangchuk Bhutia.
A press release issued by SPCC spokesperson Kunga Nima Lepcha, informs that meeting, chaired by the SPCC president Nar Bahadur Bhandari, was attended by PCC, DCC and members of the frontal organisations. The meeting discussed the replies received to the showcause notices served to the seven Congress members, “headed” by Mr. Upreti, “for their continuous anti-party activities”.