JAC plans indefinite protest on definition of Sikkimese identity

SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, APRIL 1, 2023: The Joint Action Council has called for an indefinite protest if the Sikkim Government fails to act on the issue of distortions in the Sikkimese identity in the special assembly session to be held on April 10.The Joint Action Council will hold a public rally in Singtam on April 8, and if the government fails to to address the distortion of Sikkimese identity in the special assembly session, it will call for an indefinite protest across the state. 

The Joint Action Council rally in Singtam on April 8 will be held in Singtam in response to concerns about the widening of the definition of the term ‘Sikkimese’ in Section 10 (26AAA) of Income Tax Act 1961 under the Finance Bill 2023 passed by the Lok Sabha.JAC executives asserted in a news conference in Gangtok on Saturday that the definition of the term “Sikkimese” should be maintained as inked in the May 8, 1973,tripartite agreement between the then Chogyal, political parties, and the Government of India. 

The 8 May accord clearly stated who the Sikkimese were and this should be preserved, they said. The demonstration on April 8 will urge that the historical and constitutional definitions of Sikkimese be preserved. On Friday, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang conveyed in a social media post that a special session of the Sikkim assembly would be conducted on April 10. The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha announced on the same day that the extraordinary Assembly session would be conducted in response to public concerns over the Finance Bill 2023, in which the definition of the term ‘Sikkimese” under the Income Tax Act 1961 has been broadened with an amendment. SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling asserted, however, that the modification in the Finance Bill was in accordance with a Supreme Court verdict and specific only for income tax exemption to old settlers