GANGTOK,: The Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim has strongly condemned the
media statements made by Roads & Bridges minister NB Dahal wherein the
Public Works Department (PWD) of West Bengal government was blamed for the poor
maintenance of NH 10.
The
purported media statement was given by Dahal to a national media outlet.
“In his
statement, minister Dahal blamed the Public Works Department (PWD), West Bengal
for the poor maintenance of NH10 and even threatened to personally visit the
PWD office, West Bengal with hundreds of youths to register a complaint and
further stated to hand over the maintenance of NH10 falling under West Bengal
to Government of Sikkim. Such inflammatory remarks are highly irresponsible and
threaten to damage the longstanding, harmonious relationship between Sikkim and
West Bengal,” said CAP Sikkim spokesperson Phuri Sherpa in her press statement
on Wednesday.
“This
unfortunate statement comes at a time when inter-State cooperation is crucial,
particularly in light of the recent GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) event,
which has caused significant damage to roads along the Teesta basin. The
Government of Sikkim has failed to take any meaningful action following the
disaster, neglecting to send an official delegation to engage in dialogue with
the West Bengal government regarding the restoration and maintenance of NH10.”
“Instead,
the minister has chosen to cast baseless blame, further straining an already
delicate situation,” said Sherpa.
The CAP
Sikkim spokesperson pointed out that, during the prolonged blockages of NH10,
alternative routes maintained by the West Bengal PWD such as the
Gangtok-Lava-Gourbathan route, Panbu route, Jorethang- Takbar- Darjeeling
route, and Sittong route remained operational, ensuring a steady flow of
traffic.
In stark
contrast, roads within Sikkim, including those leading to critical areas like
Lachen, not to speak of road conditions within the capital city of Gangtok
which are in deplorable conditions, especially post-GLOF, with no effort made
by the State government to address these vital connectivity issues, she said.
“Minister
Dahal's failure to prioritize the crumbling road infrastructure within Sikkim
while pointing fingers at the neighboring State raises serious questions about
the State government's commitment to its own people. Rather than making rash
and baseless accusations, the minister should focus on addressing the dismal
condition of Sikkim's own roads, many of which are currently in a state of
neglect, severely impacting the livelihoods of drivers, students, and
businesses alike,” said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.
“We
believe that issuing such provocative statements will only serve to worsen
relations between Sikkim and West Bengal, two States that have coexisted
peacefully for decades. The negative impact of such remarks will be felt most
acutely by the people of Sikkim—particularly the driver community, businesses,
and students—who rely heavily on NH10 for their daily commute and trade.”
Sherpa
contended that the failure of Sikkim’s Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, to
engage in any meaningful dialogue with his West Bengal counterpart, Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee, despite sharing national platforms, highlights the
lack of initiative on part of the State government in resolving this critical
issue.
“The
Citizen Action Party (CAP) – Sikkim urges Minister N.B. Dahal to retract his
reckless statement immediately in the larger interest of Sikkim and its people.
We call upon the government to take a more responsible and constructive
approach by engaging in meaningful discussions with the West Bengal government,
addressing the real issues at hand, and focusing on improving the State’s own
road infrastructure rather than issuing baseless threats that serve no purpose
other than to stoke unnecessary tensions,” said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.