Sikkim CM Thanks FM Sitharaman for Buddhist Circuit Budget Proposal; Arunachal to Repatriate Devnimori Relics

PTI, GANGTOK / ITANAGAR, FEB 9, 2026: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi and expressed gratitude to her and the Central Government for the Union Budget's special focus on the North-Eastern Region, particularly the announcement of the Scheme for Development of Buddhist Circuits.

In a Facebook post, Tamang said the proposal to support the preservation of Buddhist sites and monasteries, improve connectivity, and enhance pilgrim amenities deeply resonates with the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Sikkim and has been welcomed by the people.

In the budget, Sitharaman proposed to launch a scheme for the development of Buddhist Circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The scheme will cover preservation of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation centres, connectivity, and pilgrim amenities.

"We remain deeply grateful for the kind attention and valuable guidance extended by the Central Government on matters of vital importance to the progress, prosperity, and overall welfare of our state," Tamang said in the post. He also conveyed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and constant encouragement, under which states like Sikkim continue to receive unwavering support and inspiration for holistic and people-centric development.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday arrived in Colombo as part of an official Indian delegation to receive and facilitate the return of the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha from Sri Lanka.

The Devnimori relics are among the most revered Buddhist antiquities discovered in India. They were excavated from the ancient Buddhist site of Devnimori in Gujarat’s Aravalli region in the 1960s, where archaeologists uncovered a stupa believed to date back to around the 3rd–4th century CE, officials at the state research department said. Inside the stupa, relic caskets containing sacred remains associated with Lord Buddha were found, along with inscriptions and artefacts linked to early Buddhist worship.

These relics are considered highly significant in Buddhist tradition, symbolising devotion, continuity of faith, and the spread of Buddhism across the region.