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Journalism of Courage
The state government has taken exception to a 8216;pilgrimage8217; by a 500-strong Lepcha group from West Bengal apparently to offer prayers at Dzongu in North Sikkim, as it believes the tour has been organised by those involved in politicising the hydroelectric power project issue in the state.
Expressing concern over the matter, the state government has charged a group of people under the banner of 8211; Affected Citizens of Teesta ACT- with organizing a trip of Lepchas from neighbouring state after failing to garner support from the locals.
8220;The state government has noted with concern the ongoing 8216;tour8217; by a group of people from Darjeeling and surrounding areas in West Bengal to North Sikkim from April 14 last ostensibly for the purpose of pilgrimage,8221; an official statement said here.
The fact that the tour is being organised by a group of persons under the banner of ACT 8211; agitating against some hydroelectric power projects clearly indicated a propaganda against the projects coming up in North Sikkim, it said.
Those agitating against the hydroelectric power projects, who have failed to elicit support from the local people to their cause, have now solicited support from the people of the neighbouring state in order to step up their agitation, the statement said.
Charging the ACT with trying to vitiate peace and tranquility in the Himalayan state by trying to create a wedge among the people on the ground of religion, caste and residence, the state government has urged people including visitors from West Bengal not to be misled by the 8216;false8217; and 8216;misleading propaganda of the ACT.8217;
The state government blamed the ACT for the deadlock in the redressal of the issues related to the power project at Dzongu and said the involvement of 8216;vested interests8217; and the opposition parties with their agitation has come in the way of resolution of various issues being raised by the ACT.
On the ACT8217;s contention that the Dzongu hydroelectric power project be scrapped in deference to the religious and cultural sentiments of the indigenous Lepcha people, who revered the mountains as their dieties, the state government sought to downplay the religious or ethnic issue by saying that it stood for development of the state and its people.
To another charge of the ACT that the power project would jeopardize the environment of the mountain region, the state government clarified that no area was being destroyed on account of the construction of the power project.
