Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has firmly dismissed speculation regarding a possible merger between Sikkim and Darjeeling, branding the notion as baseless and politically motivated by opposition forces seeking to mislead the public.
Addressing the 13th Foundation Day celebration of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) at Pacheykhani, Tamang urged citizens to disregard such rumours. “The person who is raising this issue; go and ask him. Even he will say that the Sikkim-Darjeeling merger can never happen,” he stated.
The Chief Minister contended that the opposition’s focus on irrelevant matters highlighted their lack of substantive political issues.
“The opposition leaders who are raising this issue are useless people. We are protected by the Constitution, and a Sikkim-Darjeeling merger is impossible,” he asserted.
Tamang highlighted the constitutional safeguard provided to Sikkim under Article 371(F), which preserves its distinct identity and historical legacy.
“Our Article 371(F) gives us protection. Sikkim has its own history, and Darjeeling has its own,” he emphasised.
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Challenging those propagating such claims, Tamang invited them to engage in a constructive debate rather than spreading misinformation.
“Do not misguide the people of Sikkim. If you have any real concerns, come and debate with us. But you have no genuine issues, and that is why you are spreading such misleading statements,” he remarked.
Turning to matters of governance, Tamang highlighted the outcomes of a recent high-level meeting in Delhi. He clarified that the discussions centred solely on securing tribal status for 12 left-out communities of Sikkim.
“This meeting was organised for one reason only—to ensure tribal status for the 12 communities that have been left out. Intellectuals from all these communities are part of the committee working on this,” he explained.
Acknowledging initial errors in recent resolutions passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Tamang assured that corrections had been made through a formal corrigendum.
Reaffirming his government’s dedication to the state’s welfare, Tamang declared, “We are the government, and we are here to protect Sikkim and its people.”
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid a politically charged atmosphere, with the opposition facing criticism for creating unrest through unsubstantiated claims.
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