News
Gurudongmar Dispute
Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Convenor, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) submitted a memorandum over the dispute of Gurudongmar Lake to Sikkim Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhavan on June 23.
Asking for the intervention of the Governor to "save the interest of Buddha Dharma in this Himalayan region", Bhutia informed the Governor that this dispute has already taken a religious and communal overtone and could be a threat to the peaceful existence among all religious communities in the state.
In the memorandum, Bhutia said that the dispute has been unnecessarily raked up by Guru Singh Sabha, a Gurudwara based in Siliguri, West Bengal and they have even filed a writ before the Sikkim High Court.
In response to this, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, tweeted: "I strongly object to the fake claims and misinformation shared by Tseten Tashi Bhutia who has staked Buddhist claim on Guru Dongmar Gurdwara in Sikkim through his letter. He has blamed even the Army while questioning the Sikh history in his letter to the Hon'ble Governor of Sikkim."
In his memorandum, Mr. Bhutia said that there is no credible evidence to support the idea that Guru Nanak ever visited Sikkim. "The present petitioners who are creating this controversy and projecting themselves as protectors of the Sikh faith are disrespecting the founder by falsifying his life history and stoking up communal and religious disharmony in the state and country."
–> Documentation: Memorandum to the Governor - June 22, 2023
Coordination Meeting SIBLAC
Tseten Tashi Bhutia was unanimously reinstated as the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Convenor during a coordination meeting held in Gangtok.
The reinstatement was done during the meeting attended by SIBLAC Co-Convenor Chewang Rinzing Lepcha, association executives and members. The meeting had been called to discuss the resignation submitted by Tseten Tashi as the SIBLAC Convenor. Tseten Tashi was also present at the meeting.
It was informed that Tseten Tashi had requested the SIBLAC executives to look for an alternative considering his health. Tseten Tashi maintained that even if not in the Convenor's post, he would continue to advocate and speak for the Sikkimese including the Bhutia-Lepcha community. He reminded that the SIBLAC Convention in 2022 had passed three resolutions for the security of the BL communities which were submitted to the state government. Till date, no reaction could be seen.
"The state government still has time to act upon the resolutions submitted by SIBLAC", said Tseten Tashi. He added that the SKM government could face repercussions in the 2023 elections if paying no heed to the resolutions.
Tseten Tashi contended that the BL in Sikkim are facing a step-motherly treatment. To counter this, he joined the BJP. "However, this is my personal choice and I did not join the BJP for any personal gain. It was for the safety and security of Sikkim and the Sikkimese", he said. He maintained that the Sikkimese identity has been breached, thereby compromising the security of the Sikkimese.
SIBLAC member Ongdi Pintso Bhutia said: "Some people with their vested interests and political ambitions are trying to mislead and misguide our BL community. That needs to be stopped. Tseten Tashi Bhutia has spent more than 20 years serving the Sikkimese people and their interests with great honesty and transparency."
Tribute to the Convenor
In recognition of his decades of dedicated service in favour of the indigenous people of Sikkim, SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia has been nominated a member of the Panel of Community Leaders formed by the National Commission for Minorities (NMC), Government of India, in January 2023.
The panel provides advice to the State and National Commissions for Minorities on social, educational and welfare activities of the concerned communities. Since Sikkim does not have a State Minority Commission, Agya Tseten will make his recommendations to the NCM, directly.
The NCM held its annual conference on March 29 with two panel discussions on the role of minorities in the development of India on the one hand, as well as the role of the administration in addressing minority related issues on the other.
–> Documentation: NCM Nomination Tseten Tashi Bhutia - January 2023
