Sikkim BJP demands “immediate investigation” into corruption allegations against CM and SDF leaders

PARTY TO HOLD 12-HOUR HUNGER STRIKE IF APPEAL REMAINS UNATTENDED 
GANGTOK: The Sikkim-unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced plans to organize a 12-hour hunger-strike within 30 days if the concerned central and state agencies, petitioned by it, did not initiate immediate action against the corruption charges leveled by the party against the Chief Minister and other leaders of the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF], whom, the Sikkim BJP has accused of ‘embezzling’ Rs. 6,254 crore.
In a document submitted to different leaders and constitutional office-bearers at the State and the national level, the Sikkim BJP has accused the ruling party of causing “unprecedented loss of revenue on account of corrupt practice of the Sikkim Government”. This, the party has based on observations included in the latest CAG Report.
The Sikkim BJP president, Padam Bahadur Chettri, addressing a press conference here at the party’s head office at Tadong today, alleged that the SDF government has not disclosed details of the “up-front” money received from the many power project developers. He alleges that this amount which should go to the state exchequer has been deposited into ‘personal accounts’ in foreign banks.
The BJP has contended there has been unprecedented corruption in Sikkim which “far exceeds the entire annual plan outlay of Rs. 1400 crores”.

Quoting the CAG Report, it informs that the upfront premium for hydel projects in other states was levied at a rate of Rs. 10 lakh per mega watt while in Sikkim, the amount was only Rs. 10,000. The “meager rate of 10,000 per MW led to loss of revenue ranging between 60.08 crores and 279.87 crores as compared to other hydropower States” the CAG Report excerpt included by BJP in its communiqué to Central and State authorities, states.
The same report adds that “due to imposition of penalty at an abysmal low rate of 10,000 per MW per month for delay in commissioning of projects by the private developers, the state stood to lose between 2,514.49 crore and 2,622.76 crore per year as compared to Uttarakhand, HP and JK and 137.08 crore per year as compared to Arunachal Pradesh”.
The Sikkim BJP has inferred that in comparison to the budget of Sikkim and with a population which is comparable to a sub-division in other States, the amount quoted above is “astronomical and mind- boggling and far exceeds, in terms of percentage, the 2G Spectrum scam… or the still higher ISRO Antrix-Devas deal.”
“In normal circumstances in a well governed state, there are constitutional bodies to take care of corruption and cognate issues. But in Sikkim, the Public Accounts Committee is ineffective. In fact Sikkim is under one-man dictatorial rule since 1994 and the Sikkim PACs are under his control. There is no opposition in Sikkim,” the Sikkim BJP president rued today.
The party was now requesting the “competent authorities” to “perform their solemn duty and initiate immediate CBI investigation, recover the loss and other remedial measures”, Mr. Chettri added.
Speaking to media persons, the Sikkim BJP president who was accompanied by vice president, GM Rai and  secretary, Amar Singh Sunwar informed that the BJP has sent a 5-page document to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha, the President of the BJP, New Delhi, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, New Delhi, the Chairman Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim  to ‘specifically ensure’ that the Governor of Sikkim directs the CBI to submit a preliminary report of investigation and order regular investigation and submit a charge sheet or charge sheets against the ‘accused’.
The BJP has also asked the Governor to “act in compliance with his oath of allegiance and defend, preserve and protect the Constitution” and adds that if no action is initiated, aspersions will be attracted on the office.
Further, the letter has also demanded that corruption in Sikkim be discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
The party has demanded that the Chief Secretary, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter, initiate action.
Targeting the Secretary of Power, the BJP has underlined that he keep, “in his personal custody”, all papers relating to the matter in issue and make a list of documents. “We have all the requisite certified documents under RTI Act. He shall be personally and criminally held liable if any paper is missing or manipulated or mutilated. As Secretary, Power, it is his duty to clarify the issue under reference either to me personally or through media on the loss of revenue caused by private power developers”.
In this regard the BJP has also written to the Union Power Minister, Power Minister, Government of Sikkim, MP, BJP, LK Advani, Anna Hazare, MP, BJP and Sikkim Incharge, Nikhil Chawdhari [to raise the issue in Parliament], BJP Prabhari for Sikkim State, Indra Sen Reddy and Bhagat Singh Koshyari, MP, BJP, former CM, Uttarakhand.
Similarly, the BJP, in its letter to the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI], New Delhi has asked him to “start investigation immediately”, arguing that legally, there was no bar on the CBI to conduct investigation in Sikkim.
The letter has also appealed the Registrar General, Supreme Court, to move the apex court for suo- moto taking up the case and the president, Supreme Court Bar Association of India, to raise the issue of corruption in the Supreme Court.
The 5-page document also rails against Justice Radha Krishna Patra, retired Chief Justice of Sikkim, who has been appointed to also head the commission of inquiry into corruption allegations against the Chief Minister.