Sikkim Nagrik Samaj reaches CBI headquarters, submits 5 FIRs on corruption

Gangtok: Sikkim Nagrik Samaj (SNS), which has been very vocal about alleged rampant corruption in the state government, has reached the CBI headquarters in New Delhi.

The group said it has submitted 5 FIRs with supporting documents to the CBI Director on November 17 over the issues of “massive corruption in Sikkim”. The delegation from SNS included Patron Tseten Tashi and president Bharat Basnet.

A press release from the civil society group reads, “Different FIRs to CBI about the corrupt practices in state government involving politicians, bureaucrats, contractors and companies have been submitted. All the relevant documents of corruption are submitted to CBI director for immediate action.”

Speaking with EastMojo from Delhi, SNS general secretary Pasang Sherpa refrained from disclosing the contents of the FIRs but he acknowledged, “5 FIRs with relevant documents have been submitted. There is no CBI office in Sikkim, so we submitted it in Delhi. The concern is under investigation, we will not be mentioning the details against whom. We will not publicise the subject yet, as we may disclose the whole thing. Investigation has just begun; we will reveal in the days to come.”

Sherpa also mentioned the ongoing debacle concerning the West Point Mall in Gangtok under the Smart City Project.

The press release said a separate meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs was also held. The SNS press release said, “We apprised them about the illegality and irregularities in functioning of Gangtok Smart City Development Limited. A complaint letter on this regard is submitted to the ministry. Taking cognizance of the irregularities by Gangtok Smart City Development Limited, the ministry has initiated action and will be submitting its report to Sikkim Nagarik Samaj within 30 days.”

Sherpa said, “We have taken congnizance on three points, but importantly on the involvement of people and their opinions on Smart City projects. They must hold meetings with the public and the stakeholders but they haven’t. Other point being 14 storey construction in a seismic zone. We also highlighted the absence of parks and public recreational place in Gangtok. Instead, only malls are coming up.”

The SNS has been raising concerns over the demolition and supposed welcoming of private projects in Old West Point and Old STNM Hospital premises, which have faced widespread criticism from the general public for “welcoming congestion and lack of open spaces in Gangtok”.

There have also been many voices raised demanding more parking spaces, recreational spaces for children and the elders alike and, if possible, a park to create more open space in the clustered Gangtok area.

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