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Chamling condemns ransacking of Congress office

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, MARCH 3. The Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, has condemned the ransacking of the Congress headquarters in Gangtok on Sunday night. He suspected the incident to be the handiwork of his opponents to ``malign'' his Government's image in the run-up to the Assembly polls scheduled for May 10.

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from Gangtok, Mr. Chamling said, ``I am willing to order a CBI inquiry if the Congress leadership so desires.''

The Congress state president and former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, was away in Delhi when the incident occurred.

``The incident could be a conspiracy to make an issue out of non-issues,'' he said. ``How else does one explain its occurrence at a time when his [Mr. Bhandari's] people including his security guard were present in the office?'' Mr. Chamling asked. ``The Congress has no faith in the Sikkim police and the State Government. A probe has been ordered. If required the CBI or any outside Government agency could be called in to ascertain the facts.''

A special investigation officer has been appointed by the Sikkim Government to probe the incident and submit a report in 10 days, the Chief Minister said. ``My government believes in providing a level playing field to all political parties and has initiated necessary action to ensure the rule of law,'' he added.

``I have also constituted a special committee headed by the Director-General of Police to review the law and order situation in the State on a fortnightly basis till the election process is completed,'' Mr. Chamling said.

Many Congress leaders including the former Chief Minister, Sanchaman Limboo, recently left the party protesting Mr. Bhandari's appointment as state chief.

The Congress is the main challenger to Mr. Chamling's Sikkim Democratic Front in the coming polls.

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