Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eying the 2024 assembly elections has issued a stern warning to its alliance partner the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party today at its 44th Foundation day celebration program at Rangpo today. Dilip Jaiswal, Sikkim BJP incharge has accused the state government that the amount of development that should have happened in the state has not yet been done. He also warned Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang(Golay) that being a CM he must not be using unparliamentary words during public speeches, referring to a viral speech of the CM where he had stated that he would act as a SKM president.
“CM is supposed to be a Gurdian. He should not use such unparliamentary words,” said Jaiswal in a public speech today.
He also stated that regional party acts only as an agent between the state and centre and only a national party like BJP can bring development. He also lashed out at its alliance partner the ruling SKM for allegedly perpetrating violence against opposition Sikkim Democratic Front(SDF), saying that in a democracy every party has the right to carry out its programs without fear.
Eyeing the key Bhutia-Lepcha votes SIBLAC convenor, Tseten Tashi Bhutia officially joined the saffron party amid speculations that has lingered in the political arena about his RSS/BJP affiliation. During his speech, Bhutia stated that he has joined the party in the interest of Sikkim and Sikkimese as BJP can only secure the sanctity of Article 371(f).
Bhutia also sharply criticised the ruling SKM party for failing to secure complete protection of the Sikkimese in the recent amendments IT act in the Finance bill 2023 which has expanded the definition of Sikkimese by adding two new categories of people.
He also credited the BJP and centre government for expunging “foreigner” remark on Sikkimese Nepali. “The foreigner tag has been expunged but dilution of Sikkimese term remains, the people arewell aware of these fact,” he said. He also clarified his stand on his BJP membership saying that since he was not in any public position he did not feel it was necessary to make his political membership of BJP public.
Further he also said that he “cannot ditch the BJP” as it was the BJP that helped Bhutia-Lepcha reserved seats of Sikkim assembly to remain so even when the erstwhile state government wanted to change it into a Schedule tribe reserved seat.
Blaming the ruling SKM for not representing the interest of Sikkimese people, Bhutia said that the verdict of Supreme Court and the subsequent expansion of Sikkimese term through the recently passed Union Finance bill can be revisited and amended by the parliament for which the BJP’s support is important.
Bhutia also ruled out any electoral role for himself and stressed that he has joined the party to sucure the interest of Sikkim and Sikkimese people.
State BJP President and MLA DR Thapa projecting that only BJP can secure the right of Sikkimese people stated that people have now started realising this fact and have started joining the party.
“Till BJP remains we will not allow any kind of betrayal in the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Sikkimese people,” said Thapa. He also stressed that the saffron party would is as much a local party as any other regional political outfit and said that in case of BJP getting a position in future elections to form the state government it will only be locals who will be part of the government. He added that it was the agenda of regional parties to paint BJP as an outsiders party to cover their own non performance.
Countering the ruling SKM on the political violence, Thapa said that BJP condemns the violence inflicted upon the Sikkimese people and would pursue a political of mutual respect, love and harmony. He further said that such “goondagiri” is practiced by the weak. Addressing the question of media on the conflict within SKM and BJP he said that the party feels duty bound to check the government when they do something wrong.
Stressing on BJP as a party for Sikkimese people, Arjun Rai, Vice President of BJP Sikkim said that the saffron party we will pass a local protection act so that only locals will be in power and their future, rights and privileges will be secured.
BJP sources said that approximately 500 people joined the saffron party at today’s Foundation day program held at border town of Rangpo.
Nitesh R Pradhan
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