Gangtok: A wave of condemnation has swept across Sikkim following the publication of a national English daily’s May 13th edition, which featured a map of India conspicuously omitting the northeastern state.
The blunder, occurring mere days before Sikkim’s highly anticipated 50th statehood anniversary on May 16th, has ignited a fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Sikkim unit.
Party officials have vehemently denounced the cartographic error, labelling it a “grave error” and a “blatant affront to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of India.” They emphasized the state’s constitutionally protected status under Article 371F, highlighting the severe implications of the omission.
The BJP Sikkim unit has issued a stern demand for an immediate and unequivocal public apology from the newspaper’s editorial board. They have also insisted on a complete rectification of the erroneous map in subsequent publications. Furthermore, they have called upon the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident and take decisive action against the publication.
“The people of Sikkim will not tolerate being rendered invisible or disrespected in any manner,” declared the BJP Sikkim unit in a resolute statement. The party has pledged to vigorously defend the state’s honour and its rightful place within the Indian Union. The timing of this error has exacerbated the situation, occurring as Sikkim prepares to commemorate its golden jubilee, marking 50 years since its incorporation as India’s 22nd state in 1975.
Read More: AIUDF MLA Questions Abrupt Halt to Pahalgam Anti-Terror Operation