Chamling: Lashing out

Gangtok, April 17: Pawan Chamling yesterday blamed ?outside forces? for whipping up controversy and stoking unrest in the state.

This is the second time the chief minister spoke publicly about the violence that erupted in the funeral procession of a truck driver and the growing resentment among muster-roll employees against the ?corporatisation? of the power sector.

Chamling made these observations at the party meet of the Sikkim Democratic Front, which was held on the Guards ground at Tathangchen in here.

Most cabinet members, legislators, senior leaders, central working committee members and active leaders of the party had attended the meet.

?Such activities will not be tolerated henceforth,? Chamling said, adding that the government had done all it could have to restore normality and that the state could do well for itself without ?outsiders meddling in its affairs?.

?We are taking measures to ensure that such forces do not take root in the state,? he said.

Moving from ?outside forces? to the opportunities the government was providing, Chamling invited local people to come forward and make the most of them.

?This will ensure that all the affairs of the state, in all sectors, are taken care of by people of Sikkim themselves. We should handle our own responsibilities and reap the benefits ourselves by engaging in the activities,? the chief minister said.

During the meet Chamling also announced that Rs 30 crore had been sanctioned for development of power in the villages.

Handing over a major responsibility to the panchayats, the chief minister said the rural bodies would overlook the progress of these projects.

Chamling had a busy three-day schedule this week. Having attended the Sikkim Samman Sammelan, he had also chaired the daylong panchayat sammelan and participated at the Baisakhi utsav.