During the recently held Sampurna Kranti Diwas, former Chief Minister and SDF President Mr. Pawan Chamling delivered a speech loaded with accusations against the current SKM government, led by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay). From various false charges and misgovernance to claims of selling off sacred mountains and state infrastructure, his statements reflected not leadership but political insecurity and utter frustration of losing power. His remarks, while dramatic, lack evidence, facts and public acceptance.
One of his most reckless claims was that Sikkim today is under political terrorism and organized crime. The reality is that Sikkim has become more peaceful, democratic and transparent than it ever was during the 25-year-long SDF rule where political terroism was root agenda. The present government has institutionalised direct public interaction, made grievance redressal systems accessible and has upheld political tolerance, something sorely missing in the previous regime where fear and favouritism prevailed.
Mr. Chamling’s sweeping comment that “70% of the state budget is lost to corruption” is both fabricated and irresponsible. The SKM government has, in fact, transformed governance through digitisation — from e-tendering and DBT to online tracking of public funds. Today, benefits reach genuine recipients not political insiders. Be it old-age pensions, housing assistance, free medical care, or student scholarships, support is delivered based on verified need not party allegiance.
His comparison of housing schemes only exposed the failings of his own. The Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme (CMRHS) during his time was riddled with poor-quality construction, political misuse, and last-minute election-time distributions. In contrast, the Sikkim Garib Awas Yojana (SGAY) launched by the SKM government has become a symbol of dignified, high-quality, and timely housing for the poor. Earthquake-resistant homes, proper sanitation, and transparent beneficiary selection have made SGAY a gold standard in rural housing – something Mr. Chamling seems envious of.
Chamling went further to accuse the current government of stealing greenhouses and agricultural inputs. The truth is, the agriculture sector under SKM has seen structured reforms, including GPS-based greenhouse allocation, QR-coded supply chains and direct support to farmers for power tillers, livestock, and training — all delivered through corruption-free channels. Under the SKM government, farming has regained dignity — a sharp contrast to the SDF regime where farmers were often mocked, and agriculture was treated as a backward or “absurd” profession. Today, the government has introduced structured incentives for milk production, subsidized livestock, expanded cold chain support, and launched cash crop incentives that are helping thousands of farmers switch from survival farming to income-oriented agriculture. Ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, dairy farming, floriculture; these sectors are receiving financial support and technical training. Milk procurement rates have been revised in favour of farmers, and farmer cooperatives are being encouraged. None of this was imagined under the previous government, which never gave agriculture the respect it deserved.
In his typical style, he mocked innovation and claimed SKM’s startup program is like “Tambola.” This reflects his complete disconnect with today’s youth. The SKM government has launched the Skilled Youth Start-Up Scheme, providing grants, training, and incubation support to local entrepreneurs in IT, agro-processing, wellness, and tourism. Sikkimese youth are now building businesses, creating jobs and shaping the future ,a far cry from the dependency and frustration created under the SDF era.
An important point Mr. Chamling conveniently omitted is the usage of Chief Minister’s Discretionary Grant (CMDG) and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. In his 25 years in office, the people of Sikkim never witnessed these funds being used transparently. There is no clarity on who benefited — if at all — from these public funds. In contrast, under CM Golay’s leadership, CMDG and the Relief Fund are actively used to support medical treatment for critical patients, scholarships for economically weak students and seed grants for young entrepreneurs. This is a government that not only manages funds responsibly but uses them where it matters most for the people.
Healthcare under the SDF government was infamous for lack of facilities, referrals without follow-up, and patient neglect. Today, Sikkim has dialysis and cancer care centres,appointments of specialists, expanded health schemes for pregnant women and doorstep delivery of primary health services in remote regions through Mobile Village Clinics. What Mr. Chamling couldn’t deliver in two decades has now become a basic right under the present government.
He also claimed that rural houses were built in seven years without explanation. The explanation is simple , the SKM government prioritised the people, worked faster, cut out corruption, and built what his government only promised. He questioned the use of census and hinted at NRC fears. But in reality, the present government has actively protected the identity and constitutional rights of Sikkimese janata and the twelve left-out communities ST status and LT seat reservation moving their forward through proper constitutional channels.
As for claims that Sikkim’s mountains, tea estates, and taxi stands have been “sold,” the people of Sikkim are well aware of the truth. Fact is that under Chamling’s era Temi Tea estate bungalow was leased to outsiders and even many govt hotels were leased out for over thirty years. No sacred site has been sold, no land auctioned behind closed doors. In fact, many of the questionable deals and handovers took place under Chamling’s own government some of which are still being legally and financially corrected today.
His bizarre math that the SKM government has taken ₹30,000 crore in loans while he used just ₹65 crore in 25 years ,only shows his desperation to remain relevant. Budget figures under SDF were never transparently disclosed, while today every budget session is live, audited and public. Chamling’s government left behind unpaid liabilities, incomplete projects, and an outdated system. SKM has not only cleared many of those but launched new, ambitious projects without compromising fiscal responsibility.
He claimed GPF/CPF and retirement funds have been “eaten.” This is false. Retirees continue to receive their dues, regularisation of ad-hoc and temporary employees has been done at an unprecedented scale, and the workforce today is more secure than ever. No harassment of local borrowers is happening under Sikkim Bank, contrary to his claim; rather, over 10,000 locals have received soft loans ; in-fact these loans were allotted to his family and close ones without any valuation and now they are being defaulted and to cry against bank’s act is Chamling’s another reflection of his lie.
His final remarks about a “stamp duty scam” being India’s second biggest scam hold no legal basis. The matter is under judicial consideration and there is no verdict or finding against the present government. As for income tax — it was under Chamling’s SDF government that steps toward IT imposition in Sikkim were initiated. Today, SKM is the one fighting for exemptions and protections for all Sikkimese, including old settlers.
To conclude, Mr. Chamling’s speech was not a roadmap for the people but a recycled script of blame, denial, and fiction. The SKM government under CM P.S. Golay has restored faith in governance by working with integrity, acting with compassion, and delivering results. In just six years, Sikkim has seen what true people-centric leadership looks like. The difference is clear, and the people are watching.
No amount of political theatre can undo real progress.
Bikash Basnet, Spokesperson, SKM
