Withdrawal of odd-even rule a victory of public pressure: CAP Sikkim

<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif"><b>GANGTOK,: </b>The Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim has welcomed the withdrawal of the “arbitrary and ill-conceived” odd-even vehicle restriction imposed by the SKM government across Sikkim. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The decision to roll back the policy is nothing but an admission that the government's move was poorly conceived, improperly implemented, and completely disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary citizens, said CAP Sikkim in a media statement on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The odd-even rule for vehicular movement across Sikkim was withdrawn through a government notification on May 31. The restriction, however, continues in Gangtok town.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The CAP Sikkim expressed that the people of Sikkim expected responsible governance when the Prime Minister appealed for fuel conservation and austerity measures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">Instead, the SKM government rushed to impose a blanket odd-even restriction without any scientific study, public consultation, administrative preparedness, or assessment of its impact on daily life, said the party.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">According to the CAP Sikkim, students struggled to attend classes, teachers faced difficulties in commuting, farmers were inconvenienced, small traders and businessmen suffered losses, and thousands of citizens were forced to rearrange their daily lives because of a decision taken in haste and imposed without thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">“From the very beginning, CAP Sikkim warned that the Prime Minister's appeal should not be converted into a tool for public harassment or political theatrics. Unfortunately, the government chose publicity over practicality and optics over governance,” said CAP Sikkim spokesperson Zigmie D Bhutia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">Bhutia maintained that the government remained completely indifferent to the concerns of the people even though the CAP Sikkim repeatedly raised the issue through press statements, video messages, social media campaigns, and public outreach. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">“The withdrawal of the odd-even rule is a victory of public pressure, democratic resistance, and constitutional accountability. It is also a reminder that no government, regardless of its majority, can impose irrational decisions on the people and expect unquestioning acceptance. The people of Sikkim have sent a clear message - governance is not about announcements, publicity stunts, or political grandstanding. Governance is about listening to people, understanding ground realities, and making decisions that serve the public interest,” said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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