Guwahati: Former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling on Sunday claimed that the COVID-19 budget had been mismanaged and that the SKM-led state administration was to blame for widespread corruption in the state.
Speaking at the ongoing “Save Sikkim Mission,” which the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party started, Chamling made this statement.
The SKM government is to blame for Sikkim’s widespread corruption. The Covid relief money has been squandered to the tune of about 90%. He continued, “The Chief Minister and his family have been giving their close aides money and automobiles.”
He also pointed out that there is no budget allocation for such distribution of money and vehicles, adding, ”Even the financial assistance for medical treatment is distributed, not by the health department, but by the CM and his family randomly in their private residences”.
Chamling further claimed that the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) money laundering fraud was suppressed by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).
”The MCX money laundering scam reported in the national media has been suppressed and swept under the carpet,” he said.
Speaking on drug trafficking in the state, Chamling stated that Sandalwood and drugs are being smuggled out of India, while Gold is being smuggled in from China through Nathula.
Many traffickers have important positions in the SKM party. The SKM party has complete control over the government work tender process. Contractors from outside Sikkim have been given the bulk of the main contract jobs. He stated that a person had been granted a government job worth Rs 10,000 crores.Chamling further asserted that the SKM government began physically assaulting members of the opposition party as soon as it took office and that it is determined to silence any criticism of it.
”Several of our party colleagues have been severely attacked. My vehicle and my supporters have been chased by stone-pelting SKM goons right from the time of the by-polls in 2019. Several vocal citizens and our party workers who voiced their concerns on Sikkim’s important issues have been harassed legally and tortured mentally,” he avowed.
“Many people have been detained and the SKM government is pressuring the Sikkim police to act as its agents. There have been instances where police stations have declined our FIRs,” he added.
He added that “hundreds of government personnel have lost their jobs in the last four years” and that “the CM, Ministers, and MLAs are openly threatening government employees and the general public with victimisation.”
”We will soon release the names of all the victims of the atrocities of this despotic government,” he claimed.
Moreover, Chamling stated that the “Save Sikkim Mission” is a mission that the Sikkim people have desired.
”They (people) have been inviting me to their towns and villages and to their homes to discuss these unfortunate and destructive developments taking place under the SKM government. The Mission started with tremendous public support. The people’s mood, determination, and energy are there for everyone to see. They are fearless and their movement is unstoppable. We are all out to save Sikkim from these forces that are all out to finish Sikkim. The victory will be ours and the victory will be of the true lovers of Sikkim,” he added.