Sikkim-Darjeeling integration a serious matter, not just a headache, says SDF

The Sikkim Democratic Front ( SDF ) said that the issue of Sikkim-Darjeeling integration, which gained prominence after 2019, is not a recent topic, but a matter that has stirred up serious discussions and concerns. SDF said that Before this, the issue had not been a significant topic in either Sikkim or Darjeeling. However, it was after the Gorkha National Congress met with the Chief Minister of Sikkim, P.S. Tamang, in Mintogang and submitted a memorandum that the matter started gaining traction.

The party said that the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government, in its tenure, made its position clear by supporting the demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling. This was formally presented in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly where a bill was passed to show support for the cause, a fact well-known to the public. The SDF government never allowed divisive forces or powers supporting the integration of Sikkim and Darjeeling to have any opportunity to pressurize the government or gain support. During the SDF era, such forces never had a chance to rise.

The party claimed that SDF government consistently upheld the special provisions of Article 371F of the Indian Constitution, ensuring the protection of Sikkim's identity and rights. One of its key achievements was the revival of the Sikkim Subject, which had been sidelined for some time. This allowed individuals holding the Sikkim Subject to be exempted from income tax, thus increasing its value. However, since the SKM government took charge, the special provisions of the Constitution were altered. Under the amended provisions, all Sikkimese living in Sikkim before 1975 were granted income tax exemptions, which changed the definition of Sikkimese to include people who had no direct connection with the royal subjects of Sikkim.

SDF said that the SKM government's decision to revise these provisions is seen as undermining the core identity of the Sikkimese Bhutia, Sikkimese Lepcha, and Sikkimese Nepali. Furthermore, the recent changes have brought the constitutional recognition of Sikkimese closer to ordinary citizens living in Sikkim before 1975, without any solid documentation to prove their status as citizens of the state.

SDF said that the SKM government has also brought in laws such as CAA, NRC, and Finance Act 2023, all of which go against the special provisions granted to Sikkim under Article 371F. These laws have only bolstered the forces pushing for Sikkim-Darjeeling integration, a cause that many view as dangerous for the state's sovereignty.