Chamling seeks support from Govt employees, vows to end ‘victimisation & recommendation’ culture

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Saturday alleged that the SKM miserably failed to fulfil its 2019 poll promises while asserting that the SDF accomplished all those works promised in its past election manifestos.

Chamling was addressing the SDF election campaign public meeting for Martam-Rumtek constituency at Sang bazaar. He was accompanied by SDF Lok Sabha candidate PD Rai, Martam-Rumtek candidate Dr Mechung Bhutia, party functionaries and workers.

In his election campaign speech, the SDF president maintained that SKM made several promises and guarantees to be achieved within ‘10 days’ and ‘100 days’ of forming the government in the 2019 election. “Not a single promise of the 2019 election was realized; the SKM formed the government on lies and is again trying to do the same with fake ‘guarantees’. In contrast, whatever we (SDF) had promised in our election manifestos, we have worked and achieved during our 25 years of government. See our election manifestos of past, those are documents of our guarantees, whatever we have written, we have fulfilled,” he said.

Chamling highlighted the steps taken by the past SDF government for the security and welfare of State government employees, and requested them to reward the good deeds done for them this time on voting day.

“Voting is taking place on April 19. I request the government employees to return the favour for one time. I am your man…under our government, you got income tax exemption, highest pay scale, promotion and all other facilities. To save Sikkim and bring back peace, I request you to vote for SDF for one time, support us in the interests of Sikkim,” said Chamling in his direct appeal to the State government employees. He reiterated that there would be no political victimisation of government employees if the SDF returns to power.

The SDF president promised to end the culture of recommendations for getting government jobs and welfare schemes.

“There will be no need for recommendations from MLAs, ministers and panchayats, we will create a government system wherein the people will easily get their welfare schemes as per rules and criteria. Government benefits and welfare schemes are the rights of the people and they do not have to get recommendations from any elected representative,” said Chamling. He also shared with the Martam-Rumtek people about the numerous new programmes and schemes lined up by the SDF for the development of Sikkim and its people.

The former Chief Minister promised to allot lands to the landless Sikkimese families through land bank scheme and build their houses. We will make Sikkim free from landless people (Sukumbasis) by giving them lands, he said. He added that the SDF is giving top priority for all-round development and progress of rural Sikkim through various projects and policies including free power and free rice. All the business and livelihood opportunities and contract works in the villages will be given to the respective villagers only, he promised.

In his address, SDF candidate Dr. Mechung Bhutia committed to develop Martam-Rumtek as the best constituency in the State. To achieve this, we have made programmes and projects so that Martam-Rumtek becomes the model constituency of Sikkim, he said. He urged the people to vote for the SDF for ‘saving Sikkim’.

Similarly, SDF Lok Sabha candidate PD Rai shared that the SDF 2.0 government would work for the holistic development of Sikkim by taking everyone together. This election is very crucial for Sikkim and SDF is committed to protect the rights and interests of Sikkim and Sikkimese, he said.