Ruling SKM under fire for 'Sikkimese' term 'dilution'

Bhaichung Bhutia demands resignation of SKM, BJP legislators

NITESH R PRADHAN, SNS, GANGTOK, 2 APRIL 2023 : Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) Chief Bhaichung Bhutia has demanded the resignation of members of the ruling SKM and BIP legislators in the wake of the presidential assent to the Finance Bill 2023, which has added two new categories of "Sikkimese," and which has been opposed by various social and political groups in the Himalayan state.

"It has severely diluted the safety net of Sikkim, which is Article 371F.The amendment has added two new categories to the definition of Sikkimese, completely taking away the special identity of Sikkimese. The BJP and SKM, both the parties of the double-engine government, are equally responsible for this dilution of Article 371F.This act has betrayed the trust of the people of Sikkim and has undermined their cultural and social identity. By diluting Article 371E the BJP and SKM have disrespected the historical significance of Sikkim' s merger with India in 1975," Mr Bhutia said.

Blaming the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government, he said it had all staved When the state and central Governments gave the NOC to the Supreme Court of India to extend the definition of Sikkimese. "Their NOC and ignorance had also caused a foreigner tag on the Sikkimese Nepali community for which they apologized in the Supreme Court, but never apologized to the people of Sikkim instead, they shamelessly celebrated 'Vijay Diwas' for diluting Article 371F. After the NOC, the Finance Minister of the BIP bulldozed the Finance Bill in Parliament without any discussion," the HSP President added.

Taking pot shots at the BJP he said that it was for the first time in the history of India that a ruling party, the BJP was itself disrupting the Parliament. SKM Lok Sabha MP lndrahang Subba did not oppose the Bill, and did not even written application to hold on to this particular amendment, he alleged.

"In light of these developments, we demand all BJP and SKM MLAs to resign from their posts immediately. They have lost the moral right to represent the people of Sikkim, and their actions have left the people of Sikkim vulnerable to exploitation and marginalisation. The people of Sikkim should stop at all costs the lateral entry and back door entry of BJP in Sikkim using the money and muscle power and by using greedy politicians who want to hang on to power men after getting convicted in a corruption case", Mr Bhutia said.

He further said that Sikkim deserves representatives who truly understand and represent their interests. "We believe that the people of Sikkim deserve a government that respects and upholds their unique cultural identity and heritage," he said.

Further hardening the stand on the row, socio political group Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SPYF) also opposed the IT exemption to old settlers saying, "We do not welcome the income tax exemption of a handful of rich people, but we advocate the argument that the indirect taxes paid by all should be reduced in favor of the majority of the common Sikkimese people. So far, political parties and governments have only worked for direct tax (income tax) exemptions in favour of a handful of rich people, but now it is necessary to advance the debate on indirect taxes in favor of the majority of the common Sikkimese people."

"The exemption of income tax to the newly added categories is to include them within the definition of Sikkim. Therefore, their income tax exemption is distorting the definition of Sikkimese," the forum said.

The state assembly is all set to convene a special session on 10 April to discuss the matter.