CAP President Ganesh Rai on tribal status debate: We are against the procedure, not the issue

Citizen Action Party (CAP) President Ganesh Rai on February 3 said that while his party does not oppose granting tribal status to the 12 left-out communities of Sikkim, they strongly disagree with the procedure being followed by the state government.

Speaking on the issue, Rai said that the process of securing tribal status for these communities must adhere to established norms. He pointed out that, as per standard procedures, the state government must formally recommend the matter. However, he expressed concern that the Sikkim government is bypassing the necessary steps, particularly its coordination with the West Bengal government.

Drawing a comparison to the inclusion of the Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Rai said that language-related matters and tribal status issues are fundamentally different. "For tribal status, the state government’s recommendation is essential. Sikkim and West Bengal must have a strong working relationship because, ultimately, the West Bengal legislature must approve it," he said.

Rai criticized the involvement of Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and said that the Member of Parliament does not share good relations with the West Bengal government. "Without engaging with the West Bengal government and relying only on the Darjeeling MP, the Sikkim government is not handling the issue correctly," he said.

He warned that by neglecting discussions with the West Bengal government, Sikkim is jeopardizing inter-state relations. "If the relationship between Sikkim and West Bengal deteriorates, the common citizens will suffer. Tomorrow, Sikkim residents may face difficulties due to the state government’s flawed approach," Rai said.

Rai said, "We have never opposed the issue itself, but we strongly object to the procedure being followed. The Sikkim government must engage with West Bengal, prepare a proper report, and move forward systematically."