Senior politician and Vice President of the SKM (Sikkim Krantikari Morcha) party, G M Gurung, has countered the remarks made by BJP's Incharge, Dr. Dilip Jaiswal, against Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
Gurung expressed strong disapproval of Jaiswal's comments, stating, "You may be a national leader, but you don't have the right to insult our Chief Minister." The SKM Vice President stated the significance of respecting the authority and dignity of the elected leader of Sikkim.
Gurung acknowledged BJP's aspirations to secure victory in Sikkim but drew a sharp line at the perceived disrespect towards the Chief Minister. He warned against any further attempts to denigrate the stature of the state's leadership stating that such actions are intolerable and insulting to the people of Sikkim.
The SKM leader highlighted the historical and cultural importance of Sikkim within the Northeast region, calling upon the central government to demonstrate love and respect towards the state. He criticized Jaiswal's alleged threats against the Chief Minister, drawing parallels with the principles of inclusive development espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This is not Bihar or Bengal where such behavior might be tolerated. This is Sikkim," Gurung said asserting the sovereignty and dignity of the state against external interference.
Furthermore, Gurung issued a firm rebuke to BJP's electoral prospects in Sikkim cautioning that disparaging remarks against the Chief Minister could adversely affect the party's electoral fortunes in the upcoming elections.
"BJP was poised to gain significant traction in the region, but speaking against our Chief Minister will only hamper their prospects," Gurung said.
Earlier, on April 1, Jaiswal had issued a warning to Sikkim CM saying, "If you terminate any employee of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang will also be terminated."
These comments, coupled with accusations of corruption, created a tumultuous atmosphere in Sikkim's political landscape.
Jaiswal claimed that Prem Singh Tamang, in an attempt to forge alliances, had recently visited Delhi to seek support from the BJP.
Furthermore, Jaiswal said that Tamang would soon join Arvind Kejriwal in jail for corruption charges.
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