Guwahati: The Sikkim BJP will meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the foreigner’s tag controversy, said state party president Dr Thapa on February 4.
According to Thapa, the delegation would present Shah with a memorandum asking for a prompt resolution to the repeated insults made among the Sikkimese and Sikkimese Nepali communities.
The decision was taken on February 4 after the BJP held its State-level coordination meeting at its Singtam headquarters to discuss the Sikkimese Nepali Community’s label as a foreign community and concerns voiced about the designation as “Sikkimese” in the most recent Supreme Court (SC) judgement.
The meeting was attended by the vice-president SB Karki, MLAs NK Subba, Dr Thapa, ST Venchungpa and YT Lepcha, and other senior office-bearers.
Thapa demanded an urgent Assembly session during the meeting in order to pass a suitable resolution to clear the Sikkimese Nepali Community of the stain and restore the Sikkimese identity.
Meanwhile, the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDFproposal )’s for a two-day “Sikkim Bandh” on February 4 received a range of reactions in the Himalayan state.
The SDF had declared the bandh in protest at the Supreme Court’s reference to the Sikkimese Nepali people as immigrants while also exempting all previous residents of the state from income tax.
Shops and other businesses were just partially open.
SDF activists set fire to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s statue while yelling anti-Tamang slogans and “blaming him” for the political climate in which the Sikkimese Nepali population was fighting for recognition.