The Hindu : Budget will hurt the poor: Chamling

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 02, 2002

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Budget will hurt the poor: Chamling

By Pratim Ranjan Bose

GANGTOK MARCH 1. The Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, today said there had been attempts to disrupt "peace and tranquillity in the State by secessionist and fundamentalist forces". Mr. Chamling, who has been apprehending an attack on him, said there had been reports of secessionist groups joining hands with the Maoists in Nepal.

"I am told that some groups are being trained by the Maoists.'' He alleged that the former Chief Minister, Narbahadur Bhandari, who led the Sikkim Sangram Parishad, was encouraging the secessionist forces. "I have a feeling that there are efforts to fuel such fanaticism. He suspected that the ISI was playing a role in creating trouble in the State.

Reacting to the 2002-03 Union Budget, he said that the hike in prices of essential commodities and fertilisers would hurt the poor people.

The State is scheduled to have the second panchayat polls in September. "I am sure our results will be better this time,'' he said. The forthcoming State budget would provide interest free loan of over Rs. 1 lakh for two years for the unemployed youth and free LPG connection to 36 per cent of the population.

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