Political violence: Oppn SDF, ruling SKM’s partner BJP demand for President’s Rule in Sikkim

SDF leader Bhaichung Bhutia blamed CM Tamang for the attack on KN Rai and alleged that organized crime are happening in the state at the behest of the Chief Minister

Political parties in Sikkim, especially the opposition SDF and the BJP, which is in coalition with the SKM, have now called for President’s Rule in Sikkim.

This indeed is a significant development that both the parties have come up with the similar idea since they believe that doing so will help in the conduct of free and fair conduct of the Assembly elections in the state, likely to be held anytime around this April.

SDF Chief and former 5-time Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, “The entire incident is not at all a good sign for the state and the entire nation as well because it is criminalisation of politics. Sikkim is now going ahead in terms of violence, there is no law and order, there is no government at all. There is a Jungle Raaj going on. We have been repeatedly telling the Centre that this is the prevalent situation in our state. The Government of India also has responsibility, and they should look into it. Since when this government has come to power, such incidents of political violence has been occuring, the police is nowhere to be seen. There is total Gundaaraaj (Rule of Goons) going on here, so the Government of India must soon impose President’s Rule in Sikkim and elections must be held under the President’s Rule.”

Footballer turned politician and SDF leader Bhaichung Bhutia too echoed similar sentiments and slammed CM Prem Singh Tamang, who is also in charge of the Home Department, for allegedly failing to control incidents of political violence in the state.

“We are not demanding President’s Rule for one particular incident, but such incidents are recurring. And when you have an illegal CM than there is utmost necessity for President’s Rule. A case involving the CM is already pending in the Supreme Court. He has been appointed the CM through backdoor entry. So this conditions of-political violence, becoming a CM illegally, so it is justified to have elections under the President’s Rule.”

Bhaichung Bhutia also termed the attack on KN Rai as a pre-planned attack.

Backing his statement Bhutia said, “A lot of our party workers and leaders have been attacked in the last 5 years and the attack on KN Rai proves that it was an organised attack. KN Rai had gone to participate in a social event, he had not gone for a party program, but despite that it was planned full proof and the attack was carried out. The perpetrators had full details of his movement. This shows that the attackers were guided by their boss. There may be phone taping to monitor the movements, so it is clearly an organised crime happening under CM PS Tamang.”

On the other hand, it is likely that the SKM may face more challenges ahead of the Assembly elections since it’s coalition partner BJP too has joined the chorus for President’s Rule in the state. In fact the BJP leadership in the Himalayan state has already written to the Centre in support of the demand.

BJP leader Passang Sherpa said, “If such incidents of violence increase in Sikkim, than certainly we think that free and fair elections can only happen under the President’s Rule, we believe so. We have already demanded that in our letter to the central government.”

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