Gangtok: Prominent tribal leader Tseten Tashi Bhutia has voiced strong opposition to a proposal by the Gorkha Rashtriya Congress (GRC) advocating for a merger between Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Responding to the contentious suggestion, Bhutia remarked, “He who shakes his neighbour’s house will have his own house shaken,” signaling his firm rejection of the idea.
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), a key organization representing the state’s tribal interests and led by Bhutia, has also issued an emphatic “NO” to the proposed unification.
This opposition comes as the GRC escalates pressure on the governments of Sikkim and India, setting a February 7, 2025, deadline to address their demand for either statehood for Darjeeling or its integration with Sikkim.
Bharat Dong, the leader of the GRC, has accused Sikkim’s government of deliberately obstructing the merger process, which has been the GRC’s central agenda since its establishment in 2004.
Dong claims historical precedence for the merger, asserting that Darjeeling was originally leased from Sikkim in 1835 and later shifted to Bengal during the 1905 partition. He further alleged that Darjeeling’s post-independence transfer to West Bengal disregarded competing claims from India, Pakistan, and China.
Dong cited a 1918 law that formalized Darjeeling’s inclusion in West Bengal, which he claimed was repealed in 2018 without any subsequent action to rectify the district’s status. He issued a stark warning, stating, “If no action is taken by February 7, we will demand a separate country. Darjeeling is neither a part of West Bengal nor India.”
The GRC has long advocated for Darjeeling’s integration with Sikkim, pointing to shared historical and cultural ties. However, Dong accused Sikkim’s political leaders of hindering progress on the issue, describing them as “brokers” who exploit the merger debate for personal gain.
In response, SIBLAC dismissed the GRC’s assertions, emphasizing Sikkim’s unique identity and steadfast opposition to any move that could jeopardize the state’s stability. Tribal groups and local organizations have echoed SIBLAC’s concerns, warning that a merger could disrupt Sikkim’s social harmony and administrative autonomy.
As tensions rise, the proposed merger has sparked heated debates, with Sikkim’s leadership and its tribal communities standing firm against the GRC’s demands. The issue has underscored the deep divisions over Darjeeling’s future and the challenges of reconciling historical claims with contemporary political realities.
Read More: Assam: Chirang Court Sentences Two to 20 Years for Gang Rape of Minor