March 11: Party workers are very important in a democratic culture as they voice the concerns of the people. Therefore, the party workers should be included while drafting the policy framework discussions. This was one of key messages of the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley while addressing the Dzongdags last evening. 

During the annual Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party meeting last month, the party workers had expressed their grievances to the Prime Minister for being excluded from the local government activities.
          
“The officials refuse to accept us during local government activities. The say we work for political parties and do not take us into consideration,” said one of Tshogpas.

Regarding this the Lyonchhen asked the Dzongdags to understand that without party workers, there would be no political parties and in fact, no democratic government.

“We must abide by the Law when the issue is about appointment of chairman and other members. But to participate as observers, there are no specific rules. Therefore, as we invite other Dzongkhag officials as observers we should invite the party workers as they represent the party,” said the Prime Minister adding that the intake of party workers should be left to the discretion of the respective Dzongkhags.

Lyonchhen said to facilitate a strong democratic foundation everyone must work together, hand in hand.

“Regardless of one’s position, everyone has to work together. Likewise, at dzongkhag and geog levels, interactions among the people should be there. This will ensure peace and prosperity. But when you don’t have such interactions, conflicts arise. This results in division of society into political and apolitical groups. Therefore, everyone must work together,” reminded the Dzongdags of the 20 Dzongkhags who are in Thimphu for the annual conference.

Apart from politics, Lyonchhen also briefed the Dzongdags on promoting the country as a world class service delivering hub and to attain self sustainability by 2020.