1st ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award to Sikkim CM

CM conferred with 1st ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award

Status of the Kings of Sikkim would be installed in the days to come:
Chamling

GANGTOK, August 24: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was today conferred with the first ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award on the occasion of Pang Lhabsol celebration held here today.

Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh who attended the celebration as the chief guest handed away the gold plated medal to the Chief Minister. The Award, instituted by the Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee will be given only once every 10 years.

While addressing the gathering, Governor Singh said the unique festival of Pang Lhabsol enhances unity and brotherhood. “This festival which promotes peace and unity should be continued,” he said adding “Sikkim shows best example in maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood”.
The Chief Minister while expressing his happiness on being conferred with the award said, “There are few self-vested people, who always make an issue of every award I get”. He said these people should rather focus on development and constructive works. “We have to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony for a happy and prosperous Sikkim,” said the Chief Minister.

He also appealed the Bhutia Lepcha community to keep away from the people who are trying to mislead the people on the basis of communal hatred. He said according to 1978 survey Bhutia Lepcha land has increased in the State and BL Community are leading the Sikkimese society to the path of development. The Chief Minister also announced that statues of the kings who ruled Sikkim would be installed in the days to come stating that it would be a peculiar example in the country.

“Sikkim is one of the States where the Government has succeeded in maintaining peace, unity and communal harmony which the civil society requires,” he further said.

Thukchuk Lachungpa, the president of Pang Lhabsol Committee (Statue of Unity) presented a brief report on the celebration. He said Pang Lhabsol Committee in Gangtok has completed its 15 years of existence.

The award, Mr. Lachungpa said was presented to the Chief Minister for his untiring effort to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony in the State. He said no communal clashes have ever occurred under the governance of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

Earlier the Governor and the Chief Minister offered prayers at the ‘Statues of Unity’.

On August 23, the State HRD Minister NK Pradhan inaugurated the traditional food joint set up by Sikkim Hotel and Restaurants Association at Titanic Park.

Pang Lhabsol was also celebrated at Rongli,w here monks and devotees gathered to offer peace prayers. At Ringhem Gompa, in North Sikkim, prayers were led by Rinpoches and Bongthings followed by Kawang and distribution of Cho (offerings).

source; sikkim express