Chronicle 2003
Tseten wants Borders with Bhutan an Nepal sealed
SIBLAC Convenor and sitting MLA of the State Assembly, Tseten Tashi Bhutia, has called on the Governor to initiate measures to seal Sikkim's borders with Bhutan and Nepal at the earliest to check an exodus of illegal migrants from the two countries fleeing the war-like situations there (crackdown on Indian militant outfits in Bhutan and Maoists in Nepal).
In a letter to the Governor, Mr. Bhutia has suggested that underground organizations like ULFA, NDFB, KLO and Maoists were pushing Nepal and Bhutan, two countries that flank Sikkim, towards war. Fleeing militants are already pushing towards Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and the possibility that they could also seek shelter in Sikkim cannot be ruled out, he writes while adding "There is also an urgency to request the Union Ministry of Home for providing paramilitary forces to patrol these areas in the wake of arrest of BNLF, Maoist activists and an ISI agent in Sikkim recently."
While admitting that the Centre would be unwilling to even seal the borders temporarily as part of its commitment to treaties of 1950, Mr. Bhutia maintains that the measure is "inevitable" because of domestic compulsions and to protect the interest of the Sikkimese people.
Mr. Bhutia claims that "presence of and incoming large number of illegal emigrants or infiltrators from neighbouring countries which have caused immense social, political, economic and ethnic imbalance in the State." He has also alleged that despite the "best efforts" by few social organizations to bring the focus on the "serious consequences" of growing influx, "the policy makers have not been able to check this unabated flow".
"The entry of foreign nationals from the two neighbouring countries existed ever since Sikkim became a protectorate kingdom of British India and has been more pronounced since Sikkim became the twenty-second state of India", he adds.
He refers to the Census Report to point out that Sikkim has seen a "unprecedented growth" of 1234.7% in the last century against the national average of 258.75%. "The growth was attributable to unabated immigration of people from outside the State and neighbouring countries", he contends. Given Sikkim's experience with influx, it was necessary to seal the borders as suggested, the MLA reiterates.
SIBLAC protests Lake Temple
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee, an umbrella organisation working for the welfare of the two ethnic minority communities in the state, has protested against the construction of a temple at the Khecheopalri lake in west Sikkim, considered to be sacred for Buddhists in the region.
In a press release issued by SIBLAC spokesperson Tenzin C'Wang, the apex body has 'condemned' the encroachment of a Buddhist shrine inside the boundary of the Khecheopalri monastery near the lake.
"The wreckers of the Khecheopalri have dealt a mortal blow to the rule of law and provisions of the Places of Worship (special provisions) Act of 1991", C'Wang said.
The construction of the temple, belonging to another faith, in what is considered to be a holy lake for Buddhist pilgrims has already angered Buddhists and monks alike.
SIBLAC hits out at Rival Views
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), an umbrella organisation working for the welfare of the two minority ethnic communities in the state, has slammed a section of the people for opposing its demands.
Without naming anyone, the apex body said a section of anti-Sikkimese people considered SIBLAC's movement for restoration of the distinct identity of Sikkimese Bhutias and the restoration of political rights of the Bhutia Lepcha a threat to the interests of the majority community in the state.
In a press release issued by SIBLAC spokesperson Tenzin C'Wang, the apex body said the views of these people were unreasonable and called them 'voices of insanity' which posed a threat to the unity of Sikkimese people.
Of late, SIBLAC has come under fire from various groups representing other communities. Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling has also been highly critical of SIBLAC's demands. The chief minister in almost all his recent speeches has attacked the apex body and even labelled them anti-national for their stance on Nathu-la.
C'Wang said SIBLAC's stand had stirred a debate with regard to special constitutional safeguards provided to minority Bhutia Lepcha people under Article 371F of the Constitution. The apex body reiterated its demand for restoration of their political rights, including the amendment to the Scheduled Tribe Order 1978, which had 'wrongfully' included eight other communities in the Bhutia category.
The press release adds that distortion of the identity of the Sikkimese Bhutia people in the Constitution through the Scheduled Tribe Order, continued to be a matter of concern for the organisation as well as for Sikkim's one lakh Bhutia- Lepcha people.
SIBLAC claimed the distortion of identity of such magnitude could be attributed to factors such as lack of anthropological knowledge, improper field study and absence of pressure from political leaders and social organisations during earlier years.
Clarifying their position on Nathu-la, the apex body said it was not against the opening of the trade route, but was against it till the rights of the Bhutia Lepcha were restored.
SIBLAC remains insistent on Protest against Nathula
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee [SIBLAC] has said that it has not sidelined the demands of the Lepcha community and it is still willing to discuss the issues in an amicable manner.
"We have not ignored the demands of the Lepcha community. In fact, SIBLAC was formed to further the cause of both Lepcha and the Bhutia communities. We had asked the Lepcha Joint Action Committee to arrange a meeting with us but it is they who have not responded to our suggestions", Nima Lepcha, Convenor of SIBLAC said.
Responding to allegations by the various Lepcha associations in the state that SIBLAC had undermined the cause of the Lepcha community and had ignored their two memorandums asking for support to Lepcha-specific demands, Mr. Lepcha said that SIBLAC, in a letter dated May 8, 2003, addressed to Namgyal Lepcha and N. Tshering Lepcha, had asked the Lepcha Apex body to arrange a meeting with them "any time according to their convenience to discuss the Lepcha demands threadbare", but instead, "they wrote to us saying that they were withdrawing support from SIBLAC. The allegations are baseless. The ball is actually in their court", Mr. Lepcha said.
The Lepcha associations had requested for such demands as 50-50 sharing of all BL reservations between the two communities and a revision of Revenue Order No. 1 to protect Lepcha land from alienation to even Bhutias.
In its first press conference since returning from Delhi after holding what it calls a "very successful and historical demonstration to create an opinion" among the powers that be at the Centre on the issue of the protection of the rights and privileges of the BLs in the state, SIBLAC Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha along with spokesman Tenzin Tsewang contradicted allegations made by the Lepcha associations and maintained that the Lepcha cause was still "very much part of the SIBLAC agenda", with or without the support of some organisations.
"Just because some Lepcha organisations have decided to withdraw their support from SIBLAC, does not mean that we don't have the support of the Lepchas anymore. The majority of the Lepcha community is still with us", Mr. Tsewang claimed.
The Lepcha Joint Action Committee had earlier announced that it had withdrawn support from SIBLAC and had disassociated itself from any of its demands or agenda. It had also distanced itself from the latest SIBLAC protest over reopening of Nathula till the issues of the restoration of BL rights in Sikkim were resolved.
It may be recalled here that the Lepcha associations had announced that they did not support the SIBLAC protest against Nathula. "It is an international issue in which we don't want to involve ourselves. Furthermore, all Lepcha organizations have already pulled out of SIBLAC, so, it has no truck with what SIBLAC says or does. SIBLAC's state- ments should not be construed to be representative of Lepcha opinion in Sikkim", said Norzang Lepcha, the legal counsel to the All Sikkim Lepcha Joint Action Committee.
During the recent demonstrations in Delhi, SIBLAC's protest was centred around the reopening of Nathula, which was lapped up by the media there. Mr. Bhutia, in an interview to a news channel during the rally said that the reopening of Nathula would lead to "terrorism activities, increased influx and law and order problem in the State" and that the indigenous BLs did not want to "end up like Kashmiri Pundits".
Mr. Bhutia, when asked to justify his fears on the influx issue, said that SIBLAC was not opposed to the reopening of Nathula per se. "Our opposition to Nathula trade is stemmed from our fears and apprehensions and we are of the opinion that some important measures must be taken up before it is opened for trade, to safeguard the rights and privileges of the BLs and other ethnic communities of the State.
SIBLAC's three-point demand has been the restoration of the original definition of 'Bhutia' by amending the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes Orders, safeguard of political rights of the BLs by amending the Representation of People's Act, 1980 and fresh delimitation of reserved BL constituencies to guarantee majority voters from the two communities in the reserved constituencies.
In direct response to SIBLAC's Delhi-Yatra, the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at a recent public meeting held at Pakyong said that SIBLAC was playing a dangerous game by bypassing the State Government. "If something goes wrong now (vis a vis the issues raised by SIBLAC) then we should not be held responsible", he said. Similar misgivings against SIBLAC were voiced by the Health Minister, D.D. Bhutia, who commented that SIBLAC was not a bad organisation, but that those leading it were confused about their real identity and were, in turn, confusing the people.
Sikkim CM criticizes Bhutia Community
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling lashed out against the Bhutia community which had recently held a demonstration in Delhi and challenged the constitution, with the help of "anti-nationals" and a section of Delhi-based Tibetan refugees.
He said when India and China entered into an understanding to open the border trade route via Nathula, a section of Bhutia had opposed this till their demands were settled.
Chamling said the demonstrators had gone against national interest, playing into the hands of the opposition party in the state which had never accepted the merger of Sikkim to India. He even cautioned the centre to stop the conspiracy.
He said the allegations were baseless. "There is no dilution of rights to tribals in Sikkim and others, under article 371F of the constitution." Chamling was addressing a programme to observe Gandhi's birthday.
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) had held a demonstration on September 28 in Delhi for safeguarding the political rights of Bhutias and Lepchas. Their poster "no protection no Nathula" had created a sensation.
The recent induction of Tamangs and Limboos in the list of scheduled tribes had created a hue and cry among the Bhutias and Lepchas in the state, though according to a Supreme Court judgement, 12 seats reserved for Bhutias and Lepchas could not be diluted.
SIBLAC Rights Rally in Delhi
A delegation of the Bhutia Lepcha from Sikkim converged for a sit-in at Jantar Mantar to demand a solution to their 'long-standing grievances'.
Over 400 members of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), an umbrella organisation working for the welfare of the two communities, today took out a protest rally against the reopening of the Nathu-la trade route.
The gna and gyaling were beaten and blown to add the ethnic touch to an agitation that has been dragging on for the past five years. The Committee has demanded the fulfilment of three demands - amendment to the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes Order Act, 2003, Representation of the People Act, 1980, and delimitation of Assembly constituencies.
Delegates said if the grievances are redressed, the aberrations in the definition of the Bhutia Lepcha would cease as would the erosion of the safeguards mentioned in Article 371F of the Constitution. They said the current usurpation of rights by members of other communities would be done away with.
"These constitutional amendments have taken away the rights promised to the indigenous Bhutia Lepcha during the merger of the state with the Union. In fact, our identity is at stake", said SIBLAC spokesman Tenzin C'wang. C'Wang added: "With the reopening of the trade route, there will be a major demographic shift in population and create further influx into the state. This apart, a whole lot of issues related to acquisition of land will also crop up. We are therefore demanding that the members of the two communities get all safeguards before the trade actually takes place."
"This demonstration is an appeal to those who are in power positions", said Anil Lachenpa, executive Committee member. "Drawing nationwide attention would help find a fast solution to our problems. It will provide an impetus to our struggle and will be understood as an urgent appeal", he added.
Monks, who comprised a sizeable section of the delegation, however, had their own demands to highlight.
Court disposes Writ
Sikkim High Court yesterday disposed of the writ petition filed by the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) seeking intervention on the widespread communal posters plastered by miscreants in the state earlier this month and making it look like the organisation's handiwork.
The two-member bench of Chief Justice R. K. Patra and Justice N. Surjyamani Singh in its order mentions that the court permitted the withdrawal of the writ by the petitioners and granted them the liberty to approach the appropriate authority for necessary relief.
Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha, Convenors of SIBLAC, the umbrella organisation working for the welfare of the Bhutia Lepcha communities, had filed the writ against the state government earlier this month. Their grievance was that although a first information report was filed with the Sadar Police Station on August 9 making a case under section 153A IPC, the officer in charge had not taken note of it.
SIBLAC invokes Guardian Deities to sustain BL Unity
"Vested interests have been trying to divide the Bhutias and Lepchas and by invoking the guardian deities and the ancestors through this prayer, we hope to re-establish the bonds of blood-brotherhood that the two communities swore centuries ago", said Tenzin Tsewang, spokesperson for SIBLAC which organised a Sol-kha at Kabi-Longstok.
The prayers at Kabi, conducted jointly by Bongthings and monks, invoked the guardian deities of Sikkim and the ancestors, in a bid to buttress the BL unity, which SIBLAC fears is fragmenting under the influence of those who view it as a threat.
Mr. Tsewang insisted that even though Lepcha organisations had withdrawn support from SIBLAC, the apex committee continued to enjoy the support of a sizeable number of Lepchas in Sikkim who are unhappy with their organisation's continued silence on issues concerning the ethnic minority group of Sikkim.
Owing to the road conditions, the prayer meet at Kabi drew fewer people than expected, but the invocations went off well in the bright weather that held throughout. Among those present for the prayer were SIBLAC office-bearers including its Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha, SPCC President Namkha Gyaltsen and former Ambassador Karma Topden.
Mr. Tsewang added that the prayers were a 'curtain-raiser' to the departure of SIBLAC members to Delhi (scheduled for later this month) where they plan to hold a series of sit-ins and dharnas in a bid to spread awareness about and win support for their demands.
The latest list of SIBLAC's four-point resolution includes a demand for commensurate increase in seats reserved for BLs (up from 12 to 17) should the State Government's demand for increasing the Assembly strength to 40 get accepted. It has also demanded that the reservation formula of the Assembly seats be followed even at the panchayat level and also replicated in reservations for higher studies and employment opportunities. In its fourth demand, SIBLAC calls for such a delimitation that ensures that BL voters are in majority in BL constituencies.
The prayer meet ended with SIBLAC members undertaking an oath to "continue with their struggle for BL survival".
If it is 40, BLs must have 17
SIBLAC Steering Committee adopts resolution to demand increase in BL seats in State Assembly
Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee seldom demanded increase in BL seats in the Sikkim Assembly. But when Union Government decides to increase the Assembly seats to 40 as demanded by the State Government, the BL seats should also increase in the same proportion.
A resolution to this effect has been adopted by Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee in its Steering Committee meeting held on Second Saturday of July at BL House. The resolution came in the wake of Cabinet's decision to demand increase in Assembly seats from 32 to 40.
The Four Point Resolutions of SIBLAC adopted on Second Saturday's meeting states:
- The proportionate increase of BL seats in the State Government's formula of increasing the number of Assembly seats from 32 to 40;
- The reservation of seats for BL at Panchayat Level on the basis of reservation principle as applied in Assembly seats;
- The reservation of seats in higher studies and appointment on the basis of reservation principle as applied in Assembly seats; and
- Delimitation of Assembly constituencies on the basis of Census 2001 ensuring that BL voters remain in majority in BL constituencies.
The demand to increase BL seats to 17 is not at variance with the provisions of Constitution, for Art. 371F recognises the implication of maintaining ethnic equilibrum to safeguard the interest of BLs and Nepalese of Sikkimese origin.
SIBLAC will soon approach political organisations in the State to support its demand.
Tseten voices Fears of Gorkha's 'sinister Designs'
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) sees sinister designs of the Gorkha Apex Committee (GAC) to create communal unrest in the State. SIBLAC is of the opinion that GAC, through its mouthpiece Jai Gorkha, a Nepali newspaper currently in circulation in the State, is "terrorizing the minority community (the Bhutia-Lepcha and the monk community) and disturbing the law and order situation in the state through derogatory remarks" aimed against the community.
Ruling party MLA and SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia, on June 25, also filed an FIR at the Sadar Police Station accusing GAC and Jai Gorkha of intimidation and threatening the Bhutia-Lepcha community. In the FIR, Mr. Bhutia points out that the newspaper, purportedly edited and published by one YB Limboo, contained "false, mischievous, malicious and highly defamatory" remarks against the BL community and "unnecessarily dragged some senior officials and eminent personalities from the community" into its criticism. Mr. Bhutia alleges in the FIR that the remarks are "intended to terrorise and whip up communal disharmony, hatred and wide-spread unrest in the State."
"So far the law enforcing authorities in the state, instead of taking suo-moto action against GAC, has turned a deaf ear and has done nothing to stop the circulation of the newspaper", Convenor Nima Lepcha said. He has requested immediate action against "the people involved with the newspaper."
SIBLAC has also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, signed by Mr. Bhutia and Nima Lepcha, Convenors, in this regard.
"GAC has not only challenged the rights and privileges enjoyed by the BLs under Article 371F, but has also attempted to intimidate the most democratic and peaceful movement spearheaded by SIBLAC. What is most unfortunate is the fact that GAC has even targeted the Sangha seat and the monk community of the State and has openly challenged the legitimate right of the Pemayangtse Monastery over its monastic estate", the memorandum reads.
SIBLAC has asked the Buddhist community as well as "other peace loving people of Sikkim" to join it in condemning the newspaper. It has expressed hope that the State government will take the necessary action to stop the publication of the newspaper and "check the growing communalism in the State".
SIBLAC Reproval
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has condemned the "indifferent attitude" of 12 Bhutia Lepcha members representing the two communities in the Sikkim legislative Assembly. The 12 representatives had failed to turn up yesterday at a meeting called by SIBLAC - an umbrella organisation of the two ethnic communities - to discuss the political rights and welfare of the two communities.
In a press release issued today, SIBLAC said the meeting of its committee members yesterday was attended by over 600 members and headed by Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha. The meeting, which sought to solicit support and guidance from the legislators, saw the organisation pass a resolution condemning the attitude of the 12 MLAs.
SIBLAC had written to the legislators to attend the meeting as special invitees. Neither did they turn up nor did they send any written reply, the spokesperson of SIBLAC said. SIBLAC is headed by sitting legislator from Assam Lingzey Tseten Tashi Bhutia as the Convenor. The other Convenor is Nima Lepcha, who represents the Lepcha community.
Advani offers Seat Hope
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today assured a delegation of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) that the Centre would examine the demands of the organisation on delimitation of Assembly constituencies and restoration of political rights of the indigenous Sikkimese communities.
In a memorandum submitted to Advani, the delegation urged the Union government to ensure that Legislative Assembly seats reserved for indigenous Bhutias and Lepchas be kept only for them. The six-member delegation was led by SIBLAC Convenors Nima Lepcha and Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who is also an MLA. Former Rajya Sabha MP Leonard Soloman Saring, Sonam Yongda, Norbu Pintso Bhutia and Jigme N. Kazi were the other members.
The delegates said they were apprehensive that the 12 seats reserved for them in the Assembly under Article 371F of the Constitution would be further reduced to accommodate new entrants in the ST list of the state. Assembly seats were reserved for the ethnic Bhutias and Lepchas on the basis of constitutional provisions, which were inserted during the time of Sikkim's merger with the Indian Union, they added.
They said, though the Bhutias and the Lepchas had been on the ST list since 1978, seats in the assembly were reserved for the two communities on the basis of their ethnicity and not because they appeared in the ST list. "Members of the delimitation commission will visit Sikkim this month. In case the decision goes against our interests, we will be left with no other option than to launch an agitation and mass movement. Our demand has been pending with the Centre for the last 25 years", spokesperson Jigme N. Kazi added.
The delegation also drew the attention of the Deputy Prime Minister towards a Supreme Court judgement upholding reservation of the 12 seats in the 32-member House. SIBLAC demanded that delimitation of Assembly constituencies for the reserved seats be done on the basis of Article 371F, which reflected assurances given to the Sikkimese people at the time of merger.
SIBLAC at Governor Doorstep
With its demand for the ouster of additional advocate general N.B. Khatiwada finding few takers, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) today knocked the doors of the Raj Bhavan. A delegation of SIBLAC members, including Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha, met Governor V. Rama Rao today and submitted a memorandum pressing for Khatiwada's removal.
Khatiwada's claim that Bhutias and Lepchas are not original inhabitants of Sikkim had hurt the sentiments of the two ethnic communities in the state, the organisation claimed. According to revenue order No. 1, land belonging to Bhutias and Lepchas cannot be bought by members of other communities. The additional advocate general, in a counter affidavit, had stated that the Lepchas had come from Thailand and Burma while the Bhutias were natives of Tibet. He claimed that he had documents to back up his claim.
SIBLAC has alleged that Khatiwada was a litigant against the state in the particular case and therefore had violated established administrative rules, professional ethics and moral propriety. According to the organisation, the additional advocate general by virtue of holding one of the highest law offices in the state should resign on moral grounds. "How can someone who is supposed to give legal advice to the government and uphold the laws and actions of the administration turn against the government", a SIBLAC member asked. He further alleged that Khatiwada's counter affidavit, demanding the interpretation of the revenue order No. 1, contained accusations that could trigger a communal violence.
The memorandum to the governor comes a day after Khatiwada said that his remarks were largely misunderstood. He claimed that he had made the statements as a rebuttal of the allegations of the erstwhile Bhandari government, which had filed an affidavit challenging him in the Supreme Court. The additional advocate general said he had quoted the 15th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica which mentions that years ago Sikkim was inhabited by three communities - the Nawang, Mon and Chang. The Lepchas and Bhutias had come only later.
Bhutias and Lepchas cry for Advocate Ouster
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has sought the ouster of additional advocate general of the state N.B. Khatiwada, alleging that his remarks against the two communities on a particular case have triggered communal tension in the state. His statement that the Bhutias and the Lepchas were not original inhabitants of the state had hurt the sentiments of both the communities, the organisation claimed.
According to Revenue Order No. 1, the land belonging to the Bhutias and the Lepchas cannot be bought by members of the other communities. Khatiwada in his court affidavit claimed that Lepchas came from Thailand and Burma while the Bhutias were natives of Tibet. He has also alleged that a large number of Bhutias migrated from Tibet along with the Dalai Lama in the late fifties.
Asked about the SIBLAC's demand for his removal, Khatiwada said anti-democratic and pro-Chogyal forces were out to malign his image. He claimed to possess documents and notifications that would prove his statements.
The apex body also held a rally to demand protection of the rights of the two ethnic communities. A large gathering of more than 2000 Bhutias and Lepchas from all over the state participated in the procession. There was a considerable presence of government employees belonging to the two communities in the rally that started from B.L. House on Tibet Road, crossed the Raj Bhavan on Bhanu Path and then reached M.G. Marg via Kazi Road.
Participants of the rally carried banners reminding the people and the government of the rights of the Bhutias and Lepchas. Senior SIBLAC members stated that the rally was a "silent" march to press for the protection of their rights.
Prior to the procession, a public meeting was held at the B.L. House where the Convenors Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha addressed the gathering, demanding protection of their rights guaranteed under Article 371F of the Constitution.
Tribal Body in Rights Cry
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has appealed to the MLAs and leaders of various political parties to support their demand for safeguarding the constitutional and political rights of the two ethnic minority communities in the hill state.
The apex body's initiative comes in the wake of the recent appointment of Tseten Tashi Bhutia, a sitting Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) MLA from Assam Lingzey, as the Convenor of the SIBLAC. Yesterday, the newly appointed Convenor met the leaders of all three major political parties in the hill state.
Bhutia held talks with Sikkim Sangram Parishad chief Nar Bahadur Bhandari, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president Namkha Gyaltsen and state BJP president K.C. Pradhan. The SIBLAC Convenor urged the leaders to support their demands, which included an early implementation of the delimitation process for the assembly constituencies.
The Assam Lingzey MLA reportedly told the leaders that the ethnic Bhutia and Lepcha communities are concerned over the safeguard of their distinct identity and political rights ever since the Scheduled Tribes Order 1978 and the Representation of the People Act 1980 were implemented in Sikkim.
"Despite repeated representations to both the Centre parliaments, New Delhi has turned a blind eye to our demands", alleged Bhutia. SIBLAC is demanding for the amendments of the acts since they are going against the interest of the two communities.
The tribal apex body, however, has found an ally in the state BJP. Sikkim unit president K.C. Pradhan has, in fact, written a letter to the SIBLAC, expressing the BJP's support for the cause in no uncertain terms. "We cannot disagree with the arguments and the two said acts have violated Article 371F of the constitution, which gives Sikkim a special status", said the letter.
Pradhan also said the Bhutias and Lepchas needed support from the majority Nepali community in the hill state to bolster their long pending demands. More than 70 per cent of the population in the state belong to the Nepali community. The SIBLAC has also appealed to 12 Bhutia and Lepcha MLAs to take up their demands with the Centre. The Convenor has urged his colleagues to work for the welfare of the communities.
Sikkim BJP supports SIBLAC Demands
The Sikkim Pradesh BJP has come out in support of the demands of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) on delimitation of assembly constituencies and restoration of political rights of the Bhutia-Lepcha communities of Sikkim.
In a letter addressed to Tseten Tashi Bhutia and Nima Lepcha, the two Convenors of SIBLAC on March 16, Sikkim Pradesh BJP president KC Pradhan said, "We cannot disagree with the argument of SIBLAC that the Scheduled Tribe Order 1978 and the Representation of People's Act 1980 have violated Article 371F of the Constitution."
The Bhutias and Lepchas under the banner of SIBLAC have been demanding delimitation of assembly constituencies as per the provisions of Article 371F of the Constitution.
The state BJP president also said in his letter that the Bhutia-Lepcha communities need the support of the majority Nepali community in the state in their struggle to protect their distinct identity and political rights.
The state government, however, apart from ruling out dilution of the political rights of any of the tribal communities on the floor of the state assembly last month, has also set up a high-powered committee to examine issues relating to reservation of seats for the ethnic Bhutia-Lepcha and Tamang-Limboo communities, delimitation of constituencies and article 371F according special safeguards to the state.
SIBLAC Convenor
Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), a non-political, social umbrella organisation working for the two minority communities in the state, received a shot in the arm when Tseten Tashi Bhutia, sitting legislator from Assam Lingzey, was made the Convenor of the apex body.
The high profile Bhutia replaces the outgoing Convenor Pintso Bhutia. Nima Lepcha is the other head of the body representing the Lepcha community.
In a lengthy press statement issued to the media, SIBLAC has thrown several issues to the people and the authorities concerned.