Gangtok Times
'Gangtok Times' being launched at the Press Club of Sikkim. Image credit - Northeast Now

An English daily newspaper, ‘Gangtok Times’ was officially launched here at the Press Club of Sikkim on Saturday.

During a function, former MP and Sikkim Democratic Front party spokesperson, Bhim Dahal, who was present as the chief guest, Legal Advisor to the CM, KT Gyaltsen, OBC Board Chairman, TN Sharma and Press Club of Sikkim president, Joseph Lepcha officially launched this new English daily.

‘Gangtok Times’ has been published by Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai and having Sonam Yangchen Lepcha as the editor.
Gangtok Times was started by a veteran journalist, CD Rai as a weekly newspaper in Sikkim and now his son PD Rai has come forward to continue this newspaper as a daily.

On the occasion, the chief guest mentioned that journalism has been flourishing in the State only since 1994 and the government and journalists have been working in good understanding.

He stated that Sikkim journalists have been able to moving ahead by maintaining unbiased in their works. He expressed his best wishes for the progress of Gangtok Times and further expressed his hope that this new newspaper will address social issues along with political issues.

While speaking on the status of print media in the present time of social media, Dahal mentioned that others cannot take the power and importance of print media.

Legal Advisor to the CM, Gyaltsen expressed his happiness on the launching of ‘Gangtok Times’ and speaks about the important role of press and media.

He stated that press and media was a medium between the government and the people. He stressed upon the need of positive and creative journalism. Likewise, OBC Board Chairman Sharma congratulated the entire team of Gangtok Times and expressed his best wishes to give contribution towards the State.

Earlier, ‘Gangtok Times’ publisher and MP Lok Sabha Rai mentioned that ‘Gangtok Times’ was started as a weekly newspaper by his father and a veteran journalist, CD Rai and speaks about the need to launch this newspaper as daily.

While speaking on the freedom of press has become a challenge in the country, he expressed his hope that such situation would not be created in the State.

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]