Preparing to hand over Sikkim to the youth, says Chamling

RHENOCK, 01 Apr: Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] president, Pawan Chamling, today reiterated that the next SDF government will be even more youth-centric. He mentioned that the government would work to make the youth self-reliant by creating jobs and opportunities in different sectors to hand over Sikkim to its youth. Mr. Chamling, it may be recalled, has been informing people at his campaign meetings that apart from working on quality completion of the still pending projects and success of expressed Missions, he would also be working on grooming his replacement in the next term should he get voted back in government.
Mr. Chamling was addressing the people of Rhenock constituency today at Rhenock Bazaar as part of his election campaign. Later in the afternoon, he addressed the people of Chujachen constituency at Rongli Bazaar. SDF is fielding Bhim Dhungel from Rhenock which is the second-largest constituency of the State in voter strength [15,153]. Interestingly, neighbouring Chujachen with 15,402 voters has the highest number of voters.
Speaking further at Rhenock, Mr Chamling stated that the youth has to work with the government to make the state of their dreams. He added that the youth of Sikkim have to enter politics with constructive and positive thinking. “Politics is a serious undertaking and the youth and qualified persons should come into politics to purify it instead of just dismissing it as dirty or taking it up to settle scores,” he said, stressing that service of the people should be primary motivation and not revenge or power.
The Chief Minister stated that he has brought Sikkim to its current level of well-being and fame and whoever comes next will have to take it further and not destroy all the development that has been brought about. Earlier governments and monarchy in Sikkim saw the dominance of the rich and powerful but the SDF government has worked to provide respect and prestige to the poor for the overall development of the state, he said.
The next SDF government will complete all remaining works and also introduce new programmes to make people self-reliant and increase the purchasing power of the people, Mr Chamling added.
Listing out various activities and achievements of the SDF government, he stated that everything is not in the state’s hands and that some issues rest with the Centre and this is often used by the opposition to mislead people.
While making announcements for Rhenock, Mr. Chamling announced that a Chatt Puja Surya Mandir will be constructed and handed over to the people of Rhenock by the next SDF government. He added that like Siddhi Vinayak Mandir, a big monastery, church and Masjid if required will also be built in the area.
The Rhenock hospital is already upgraded and now qualitative upgradation works will be carried out, he added. He also announced to provide a proper public ground, community centre, Fire Station, taxi plaza, beautification works, pedestrian footpath and other requirements. He also stated that the next government would solve the drinking water problem in Rhenock.
On the allegations of huge debt on the state, the SDF president clarified that the state has to follow the rules and directions of the central government and the funds that the centre gives to Sikkim comes in a package of 90% grant and 10% loan. The loan component thus cannot be avoided, he said.
“At present there is Rs 2,800 crore debt on the government which is the lowest in the whole country and this loan is not on the people of the state,” Mr Chamling clarified. With the commission of two hydro power projects, the state will be debt free in two years, he added. Mr Chamling further urged the people not to get misguided.
The party president stated that the party candidate for Rhenock, Mr. Dhungel, will work better with his 10 years experience as the people’s representative. While urging the people to support him, he stated that in case of any shortcomings on the part of the party candidate, he would take over the entire responsibility of the area.
Lok Sabha candidate, PD Rai, in his address, assured to place all issues of the state in the Parliament and with the concerned ministries by working in the interest of the people of Sikkim.
Likewise, SDF party candidate Bhim Dhungel mentioned that only after the SDF government did real development take place in Rhenock and assured that the party will continue with its developmental works in the area.