All Indigenous Bhutia Lepcha Tribals of Sikkim Holds Press Meet in New Delhi

Guwahati: The representative of various Bhutia Lepcha organisation of Sikkim came together under an umbrella organisation as All Indigenous Bhutia Lepcha (BL) Tribals of Sikkim to press for the issues concerning the twin communities and the State in general. This was informed by the organisation at a Press Conference at Press Club of India in the national capital on Saturday.

Addressing a Press Conference Tseten Tashi Bhutia from Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha of Nationalist Sikkim United Organisation (NSUO) and Phigu Tshering Bhutia of Bhutia Lepcha Protection Force (BLPF) and others shared the concerns of the State and its people

The members stressed on the need to save Sikkim to save India by saving Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Indian union and reminded that the Indian government had committed for faster advancement of the socio-economic and political rights of the Sikkimese people upon its merger into the Indian union in 1975

Stressing on the need to respect the sanctity and implementation of Article 371F of the Indian constitution in letter and spirit, the members said,

“Irresponsible enforcement of these Union laws in Sikkim is against the very spirit of the Indian Constitution and its own Article 371 F. Hence it is very imperative that all the acts and approaches of both the Union as well as the State should be in accordance to Article 371 F in letter and spirit,” they reiterated.

The members also raised the issue of Maintaining the existing Bhutia-Lepcha Assembly seat ratio of 37.5 percent in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The members also thoroughly insisted that status quo of 37.5 percent seats should be maintained. Restoration of seat reservation for the Sikkimese of Nepali origin in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and reservation of seats for Limboo-Tamang tribal communities was also demanded.

The members further stated that Inner Line Permit (ILP) system should be implemented in Sikkim to check influx. The members also demanded that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be implemented in in Sikkim to check the ever-growing and uncontrolled influx saying there already are thousands of people with dubious citizenships on record.

Also Read: Sikkim: How it Merged into India