GANGTOK, Feb 9 � BJP Sikkim State unit staged a day-long dharna against the rising prices of all essential commodities in front of the District Collector (East) office today.
The dharna was led by the State President Padam Bahadur Chettri and attended by the National Youth President of BJP and Yuva Manch in-charge of Northeastern States including Sikkim, West Bengal and Orissa, Amit Thakar.
The dharna was joined by the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Un-employed Association and Sikkim Educated Unemployed Association.
Addressing the dharna, Thakar mentioned that the BJP has started the movement against price rise all over the country under the supervision of the President BJP, Nitin Gadkari.
Thakar said that the nation is deprived of information and news of Sikkim due to the non-operation of Gangtok DD Kendra.
�We dont know much about Sikkim and what are the Chinese activities in Nathu La border because Gangtok DD Kendra is not running. There are around 30 employees at this centre who take salaries but there is no work�, said Thakar. He said that the Gangtok DD Kendra is deliberately not being allowed to function as it would remove the monopoly of a private news channel supported by the ruling government in Sikkim.
He further mentioned that the price is rising in such a way under the UPA Government that the common people are facing difficulties just to have a decent meal of rice and dal.
Sikkim has become the most corrupted State in the whole country, Thakar alleged. A journey of three hours from Bagdogra to Gangtok takes five hours due to the pathetic condition of the National Highway. �If this is the state of a National Highway, then it is better not to imagine the condition of the roads in the rural areas,� said Thakar. He further alleged that only 20 per cent of the PMGSY funds sanctioned by the earlier NDA Government has been utilised in Sikkim.
The State BJP later handed over a memorandum to the District Collector (East) addressed to the Governor of Sikkim.
The memorandum urged the State and the Central Governments to immediately take firm steps to curb price rise and provide goods at reasonable rates.
