23/03/2023
Press Release
After the successful organisation of the peace march against the rising violence in the state by Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum(SPYF), SKM has been trying to vilifying SPYF through press releases and press statements.
Here we would like to reply to their allegations.
1. RISING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS A FACT
Ever since the speech of the chief minister of the state on the foundation day of the ruling SKM party, the state has been exponential rise in the political violence. The zero arrests of any one of those involved in the violence show under whose haste such incidences are taking place. People specially those not in the good book in the ruling have been targeted. Some were attacked in their own home. Some were attacked when they were going for the morning walk. The offices of opposition parties were vandalised and stone pelted.
2. MEMBERS OF SPYF TOO WERE ATTACKED
Not just the members of the opposition parties, even the members of SPYF were also attacked on 5th February at Melli South Sikkim on day broad light. Almost all the office bearers of the organisation have been harassed through several court cases filed in the behest of the ruling party. Moreover, to speak against violence it is not necessary that we ourselves must be a victim. Such organised attack from the party in power is a dangerous sign for the society as a whole. It is a duty of every individual to stand against such attacks.
3. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION MUST NOT BE CURTAILED
In a democratic set up, everyone has the right to express freely. Simply because the party in power does not like any kind of dissent they cannot go on attacking people who are unwilling to cowed by them.
4. FEAR PSYCHOSIS BEING USED AS A WEAPON BY THE RULING PARTY
In the villages, those who do not host the flag of the ruling party in their house are being seen as an enemy by the ruling party. Such families are being deprived of any governmental welfare schemes. Members of such families, if in government services, are being victimised through transfer to places as far as Delhi, Kolkata etc. If a family does not send at least one member of the family to party functions they are being penalised in one way or the other by the ruling party. Such atmosphere of psychological terror is being devised by the party in power.
5. SPYF AND POLITICS
First the very day of foundation of the organisation on 26th January 2017, SPYF has been clear that we are apolitical only in the sense that SPYF is not for electoral politics. Everything and anything under the sky in the society today is directly or indirectly linked with the politics. No one can be aloof from politics no matter how one tries. If someone belief he is aloof from politics, he is only a fool. Right from the price of basic commodities, to education, health, employment opportunities, road, even environment everything is associated with politics. What SPYF has been doing is also a politics. What differentiate our politics from the rest is that our politics is not driven by the desire to rule people and all our actions in the past have been in the interest of the common people of Sikkim.
6. SPYF AND POLITICAL PARTIES
SPYF has never been against any party in particular. We have joined hand with any party or organisation which shares common interest with us. In 2019, when SDF was enjoying its 25th year of power, we had done several movements in the demand of standard public health services in Government hospitals. Then the SKM supporters including its leaders were in our support. In fact almost all the opposition then had joined our movement. This is not the first time that the political parties support were in support of SPYF.
7. CONCLUSION
The ruling party instead of mudslinging SPYF must work on fulfilling its election promises like restoring democracy in the state among many other promises. The state of democracy in the state is poorer than that in SDF regime. The people are living under constant fear. The chief minister of the state is heard threatening people in his every alternative public address. Anyone voicing dissent is seen as an enemy. If the ruling SKM claims itself to be free from the cases of ensuing violence in the state then each and everyone involve in stone pelting, physically attacking and vandalising properties must be arrested and action must be taken against them as per the law.