‘Common Platform’ against hydel projects condemns arrest of faith healers in Tashiding

…REITERATES CALL FOR THE CM’S PERSONAL INTERVENTION TO RESOLVE HYDEL DILEMMA
GANGTOK, 12 Dec: Responding to the Sunday incident in which 7 faith healers were arrested by the West Sikkim police from the Tashiding hydel project site, the Common Platform against Hydel Power Projects today requested the Chief Minister to personally intervene on the West Sikkim hydel projects issue.

Addressing a press conference here today, SIBLAC convener, Tseten Tashi Bhutia, condemned the incident and contended that the situation was now going out of hand and stressed that it was time for the CM to personally intervene in the matter. The situation might worsen if the CM fails to take immediate action, he added.
“If there is no intervention from the CM at the earliest, then we will reveal our future strategies very soon,” he further expressed.
Mentioning that the people of Sikkim want peace in the state, Mr. Bhutia stated that given the fact that Sikkim is surrounded by international borders, people here are also guarding the borders as unpaid soldiers and that the least that could be done to reciprocate this was to stop “playing” with the future in the name of development.
Suggesting that the CM might be misguided by government officials on the matter, Mr. Bhutia urged government officials to present the correct picture of the ground situation and the people’s sentiments to the CM and not misinform him with ulterior motives.
On the arrest of jhankris on Sunday, Mr. Bhutia demanded that the SP West prove the charge of ‘wrong intention’ leveled against the faith healers.
“That place is their Devi Than, protected by their faith and even under the Places of Worship [Special Provision] 1991; it was the police and the administration which were causing disturbance there,” he countered.
Attacks on religious leaders are not healthy in a democratic set-up and such incidents are disheartening for the people, Mr Bhutia stated further adding that such acts render the awards and programmes conducted by the government for religious leaders totally meaningless.
He also questioned the Ecclesiastical and Cultural Affairs & Heritage Departments’ lack of participation in the matter. Further stating that the three projects over Rathong Chu contradict the CM’s 1997 decision and statement he urged the CM become the Chief Minister of that time again.
Mr Bhutia also informed of plans to visit the project affected areas at the earliest. ASESE & UA general secretary, Ritesh Rai also addressed the press conference.
The arrests have also been condemned by National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation [“NASBO-371F”] through a press release issued by its president Sonam Kaleon today.
“This organization strongly condemned and protest the inhuman treatment meted out against our respected Jhankris, our dharma gurus, yesterday at Tashiding by the local administration which is not tolerable. It is very unfortunate that such shameful act should occur in even this 21st century. The concerned authorities must apologize for such anti-social and anti-religious act of theirs,” the release states.