SKM supports Gorkhaland,opposes merger of Sikkim andDarjeeling, says Jacob Khaling

EOI, DARJEELING, 26 DECEMBER 2022 : Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim Jacob Khaling on Monday said the issue of merger of Darjeeling and Sikkim was a political stunt and propaganda to mislead people of the two regions and create an atmosphere of unrest and in security.

Khaling was in Darjeeling to drum up support for nine-year-old Jetson Dona Lama, the singing sensation and prodigy from Sikkim, competing in a reality singing show. “Darjeeling and Sikkim have their own history. 

We are neighbours and have stayed together over the years. Darjeeling has played a major role in the development of Sikkim whether it is through education, music, health or sports. There was a time when Sikkim would look up to Darjeeling. But even then Sikkim did not want to merge with Darjeeling. Now things have changed and Sikkim is developing rapidly. Neither the people of Darjeeling nor of Sikkim want merger,” he asserted.

Interestingly, the Darjeeling-based Sikkim Darjeeling Ekikaran Manch (SDEM) has been propagating the merger issue over the years and has also claimed that the Centre has shown keenness in exploring the issue as a plausible option toits commitment to finding a permanent political solution for the hills.

However, the political secretary to the Sikkim Chief Minister termed it a political stunt. “It (merger) is not a political issue for us (Sikkim). As far as we are aware, the Centre has not given any thoughts to this. It is misleading propaganda and a political stunt by people with vested interest to create a sense of confusion and unrest. The stand of our party Sikkim Krantikari Morcha is clear. We are against such talks,”said Khaling.

On the demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland that even the Sikkim government had extended support to and passed a resolution in the Sikkim assembly some years ago, Khaling said the demand was constitutional and justified. “Not only the Sikkim government but also the Sikkimese people support the over100 years old demand of a separate state.

The demand is constitutional and justified therefore we have no problem in supporting it. For a democratic system to flourish In a country, it is important to look into the demand of the people,” he said.

In 2011, former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling passed a resolution in the Sikkim Assembly, favouring the creation of a Gorkhaland state; stating that the formation of Gorkhaland was the only solution to ensure free movement of traffic on NH-10 which was the lifeline of the land-locked State and vital for peace, security and development of Sikkim.“It is also true that there is a limitation to our support. 

We have raised the Gorkhaland demand in our Assembly and passed a resolution and support it. Beyond this we cannot extend any support. We cannot take to the streets in Sikkim,” said Khaling. The political secretary to the Sikkim Chief Minister also said he was hopeful the Centre would fulfil the demand for granting tribal status to the communities of the two regions before the 2024 election.