Gangtok, Nov 30 : Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Jacob Khaling, has issued a clarification following allegations and misleading statements circulating online that appear to blame the Government and the Hon’ble Chief Minister in connection with a financial assistance case.
Khaling stated that the applicant had formally requested support to establish a restaurant, not a homestay. He said the application clearly mentioned the purpose, and based on the request, the Government sanctioned ₹1 lakh, which was handed over as per the official norms.
According to him, the applicant is now falsely claiming she had applied for a homestay, leading to confusion and unnecessary controversy. He clarified that there is a separate and dedicated Home Stay Scheme under the Tourism Department that provides up to ₹52 lakh for eligible applicants. Under this scheme, multiple homestay units are currently under construction across all six districts.
Khaling added that if she had genuinely applied for a homestay, her request would have gone through the verification process and would have been considered under the appropriate scheme. He stressed that the support provided to her was strictly based on her own written request and as per the guidelines.
He further stated that instead of making accusations, the assistance should be acknowledged as part of the inclusive and progressive governance initiative led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
Khaling concluded by urging the applicant to review her original submission before issuing misleading statements or accusations against the Government.
