Citizen Action Party protests at Tashiling Secretariat over Minister’s controversial statement

Ganesh Kumar Rai, leader of the Citizen Action Party (CAP), led a protest at the Tashiling Secretariat on January 8 demanding clarification from Puran Kumar Gurung, the Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services of Sikkim, over a controversial statement he made regarding the deletion of beneficiaries' names from a list of fish farmers.

Rai said that during a recent public event, Minister Gurung claimed that two fish farmers’ names were removed from the list of beneficiaries because they had supported the Citizen Action Party in the elections. Rai condemned this statement, calling it an act of political bias. He emphasized that the Minister’s comments were concerning, especially given the fact that the Minister had sworn an oath to serve the people impartially when he took office.

"We are here to demand a clarification from the Minister, who was not present at the office today. We have left a memorandum requesting an explanation," Rai said. "The Minister took an oath in the name of the Indian Constitution to serve without bias, but his actions contradict that oath. Sikkim is celebrating its 50th Statehood Day, and yet the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party engages in such divisive politics."

Rai further criticized the political interference in the distribution of benefits to farmers and demanded that the Minister apologize to the affected beneficiaries. "This is a matter of farmers' welfare. The Minister should not play politics with people's livelihoods," Rai said.

The CAP leader gave the Minister 20 days to provide clarification and an apology. He also expressed concerns that if citizens are denied benefits based on their political affiliations, it could have a detrimental impact on the public's trust in the government. "We will continue to hold the Minister accountable, and if he runs from the issue, we will seek answers wherever we meet him," Rai added.