If Pawan Chamling can buy Bhaichung Bhutia’s land, Golay will resign

SUJAL PRADHANGANGTOK, EOI, APRIL 14, 2023 : Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday challenged opposition parties to prove that Article 371F of the constitution which guarantees special provisions for the Himalayan state was diluted. 

Asserting that though the definition of the Sikkimese people has been expanded under a Central law, Article 371F remains intact, he said adding that he would resign if proven wrong. "I challenge all those who are spreading rumours saying that371F is over," Tamang said while addressing the Ambedkar Jayanti function here. 

“If people without Certificate of Identification and Sikkim Subject Certificate apply for the post of Assistant Director(IT) as advertised by Sikkim Public Service Commission and if those applications are accepted, I will resign along with the entire cabinet," he said. 

“I challenge Pawan Chamling to buy Bhaichung Bhutia’s land at Tinkitam and if Pawan Chamling is able to transfer the land of Bhaichung in his name I will immediately resign from the post of the Chief Minister,” he said. 

Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF)president Pawan Kumar Chamling had recently claimed that people of the northeastern state feel betrayed as Art 371F was "violated."Chamling had claimed that the Financial Bill, 2023 redefined Sikkimese as any Indian citizen domiciled in Sikkim, extending to them the same benefits as enjoyed by the original inhabitants.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister asked the Power Department to fix the issue of power cuts as Gangtok and the surrounding areas were facing frequent power cuts for the last many days. 

He also said the appointment of ad hoc teachers had met the shortage of teachers, there was no transfer of teachers on pressure and rules for regularization had also been made