Opposition just opposes, 12 left-out communities are important: CM Prem Singh Tamang at IndraJatra celebration

Addressing the gathering at the State-level IndraJatra celebration at Kabrey today, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang strongly criticized the opposition and explained why the state government had held a special meeting in Delhi on November 4, 2024, concerning 12 left-out communities. The Chief Minister referred to the opposition as mere “opposers” who consistently oppose every issue and noted that they do not have a single representative in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

The November 4 meeting was organized to address the exclusion of twelve Sikkimese communities — Bhujel, Gurung, Jogi, Rai (Kirat Khambu), Kirat Dewan, Yakkha, Khas, Mangar, Newar, Sanyasi, Sunar, Thami, and Maji — from recognition as Scheduled Tribes. Tribal recognition is crucial as it provides constitutional safeguards, voting rights, and access to reservation benefits. While the Limbu and Tamang communities were granted tribal status in Sikkim and some parts of West Bengal, these 12 communities remained unrecognized, leaving them without equal rights and protections.

The struggle for recognition has a long history. Communities from Sikkim and Darjeeling had campaigned together, supported by leaders such as the late Nar Bahadur Bhandari and Dilmaya Bhandari, even holding protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Though an ordinance was prepared in 1987, it took until 2003 for the Limbu and Tamang communities to gain recognition. Subsequent governments promised to include the 12 left-out communities, with resolutions passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. However, proposals were repeatedly returned by the Registrar General of India (RGI) due to gaps in ethnographic reports.

The RGI highlighted that reports should reflect Sikkim’s historical and cultural context and align with Article 371F of the Constitution. Earlier reports had caused confusion by describing the communities as originating from Nepal, Burma, or other regions. In response, the Sikkim government engaged top scholars, anthropologists, and experts from institutions like JNU, Sikkim University, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to prepare detailed and authentic reports for each community. These experts were supported with travel, lodging, and honorarium to ensure credible submissions that could not be rejected by the Centre.

CM Tamang said that granting Scheduled Tribe recognition to these communities remains a strong political and social commitment. He stated that the government’s goal is to secure equality for these 12 communities with the Limbu and Tamang communities, protecting their constitutional rights and ensuring fair treatment for future generations.

The Chief Minister urged unity among all communities and reaffirmed that the government would continue to follow up with the central authorities to secure the recognition, fulfilling a promise decades in the making.