Tiger-rat analogy of Sikkim CM

TT, Gangtok, Sept. 29: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today said allowing Bengal commercial vehicles to travel around Sikkim would amount to the "tiger eating up the rat".

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Chamling last month requesting him to "re-examine" a reciprocal transport agreement between the two states that allows Sikkim's commercial vehicles to enter and roam anywhere in Bengal.

The state government wants the same passage for vehicles in Bengal, but apart from the four district headquarters tourist vehicles from Bengal are not allowed to travel anywhere in Sikkim.

When asked if he would accede to the Bengal government's request, Chamling repeated a Nepali saying which translates to: "It would amount to the tiger eating up the rat."

He meant that if Bengal commercial vehicles were allowed to travel everywhere in Sikkim, they would harm the tourist taxi business in Sikkim.

The Bengal chief minister had pointed out that "tourist vehicles from Sikkim are able to travel down to any part of Bengal". In practice, commercial vehicles from Bengal are stopped at Deorali, 2km from the Sikkim capital and not allowed to move beyond, even to the district headquarters. When tourists reach Sikkim from New Jalpaiguri or Bagdogra, they disembark at Deorali and book commercial vehicles of Sikkim.

There is no restriction on private vehicles from Bengal.

Officials in both the Bengal and Sikkim governments confirmed that Chamling had not replied to Mamata's letter even though it has been more than a month since she sent the letter.