Centre files review petition, Amit Shah urges, peace, harmony in Himalayan

The post also highlighted the issues that have resulted in widespread protests and bandh calls in the Himalayan state 

NITESH R PRADHAN, SNS, GANGTOK, 6 FEBRUARY 2023: Amid widespread protest and anger in Sikkim, the Centre today filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on the recent observation that has termed the Sikkimese Nepali community as "persons of foreign origin."

"Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) files revive petition in Supreme Court against some of the observations and directions in a recent judgement dated 13th January, 2023 in two petitions of 2013 and 2021 filed by Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim and Ors in Supreme Court," Union Home minister Amit Shah's office today posted on social media.

The post also highlighted the contentious issues that have resulted in widespread protests and bandit calls in the Himalayan state.

"Gol reiterated its position about the sanctity of Art vide 371F of the Constitution that safeguards the Sikkimese identity, which should not be diluted. Further, the observation in the said order about persons of foreign origin settled in Sikkim like Nepalis should be reviewed as the said persons are Sikkimese of Nepali origin," it added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought support on the issue in the national capital.

"I apprised the Honorable Speaker about the stand of the state government and the sentiments of the Sikkimese population regarding the observations made in the recently pronounced judgment by the Honorable Supreme Court of India. Further, I informed him that the state government has filed a review petition in the Honorable Supreme Court to expunge the said observations and ensure that the sanctity of Article 371F is integrally maintained," said Mr Golay.

Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indrahang Subba also called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today. "I apprised him on how the Supreme Court has unjustly observed the Sikkimese Nepali as persons of foreign origin, which has deeply hurt the sentiments of our people," Mr Subba said.

The Opposition has sharply attacked the state government in the matter, while Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) Chief Bhaichung Bhutia met Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling. Both the leaders agreed that the matter was that of Sikkimese identity and everyone should work together, keeping their political differences aside for the betterment of Sikkim. Mr Chamling assured Mr Bhutia that he would support any bill presented in the assembly to restore the Sikkimese Nepali Seat Reservation and the implementation of the Inner Line Permit.

Mr Bhutia also met Keshav Sapkota, the general secretary of the Joint Action Committee, and handed them a letter, seeking the JACs support on the HSPs demands.

"During the discussions, the JAC general secretary agreed that the Sikkim government was at fault and that the Chief Minister should apologize to the people of Sikkim for the lapses on the government's part due to which the unfortunate sentence 'persons of foreign origin like Nepalis' appeared in the judgment," an HSP leader said.

The SDF has welcomed the assurances from the Union home ministry  "The SC Judgement is a product of the submissions, pleadings and documents placed before the Supreme Court by the officers of the respondents taking authorisation from the competent authority. Therefore, making the writ filed and relied upon by the AG Sikkim and his team in this case is of utmost importance. It must be Delhi. They called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah today. According to an official release, the team apprised him of the issue of the foreigner tag" on the Sikkimese Nepalis and "distortion of the definition of Sikkimese," as a result of the recent Supreme Court observation.

The release added that Union Home Minister Shah has said that the people of Sikkim are an integral and essential part of India and that the Constitutional provision for the people of the state shall be protected. "He appealed to the people of Sikkim to maintain peace and harmony in the state and advised political parties to refrain from attempting to take political mileage out of this sensitive issue," the BJP Sikkim social media post said.