Gangtok, May 23: A faction within the Sikkim Pradesh Congress today lashed out at Nar Bahadur Bhandari for issuing a joint statement with the BJP over the insider-outsider issue.

The rebel faction alleged that the state Congress president had, along with the Sikkim units of the BJP, CPM and the Himali Rajya Parishad, supported the Sikkim Darjeeling United Action Forum.

Headed by R. Moktan, the Kalimpong-based organisation had demanded an apology from chief minister Pawan Chamling for his statement that ?outsiders must be thrown out of the state?.

Congress spokesperson Biraj Adhikari said at a news conference at Sonam Palgey that the statements had been made by the leader in his individual capacity and no discussion of the state Congress had preceded them.

On May 17, Bhandari had attended an all-party meeting organised by the forum, and along with the presidents of the BJP, the CPM, and the Himali Rajya Parishad, had said Chamling should apologise for his statements.

?The BJP is our rival, both in the state and at the Centre. As president of a national party like the Congress, he (Bhandari) cannot unilaterally decide on a stand without consulting other senior PCC leaders,? party vice-president O.T. Bhutia said. The rebel group, which includes AICC member T. Lachungpa, vice-presidents O.T. Bhutia and K.N. Upreti, has demanded the replacement of the state president by someone more ?pro-people?.

Bhandari was not available for comments.