Sikkim has accumulated Rs. 22,000 crore in loans over 50 years, says BJP President

Sikkim BJP President DR Thapa has expressed serious concerns over the state's economic condition, rising unemployment and governance issues. Speaking on February 1, he said that Sikkim has accumulated a loan of Rs. 22,000 crore in the past 50 years, yet there is little progress to show.

"Sikkim's economy is in a very poor state. Unemployment is high, employees are not getting their salaries, and contractors remain unpaid. The health system is not good, and job opportunities are almost non-existent. We all need to work together to make Sikkim a better place," he said.

Thapa also raised concerns about the security of Sikkim as a border state, surrounded by China, Bhutan, and Nepal. He pointed out that criminals from other states often seek refuge in Sikkim due to the lack of strict entry regulations.

"When Meghalaya is getting ILP, why not Sikkim? As a sensitive border state, we must find ways to implement ILP for better security," he added.

Regarding the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the 12 left-out communities of Sikkim, Thapa said that he had no comments, as he was not invited to any discussions on the issue. "Sometimes, I even doubt if I am a citizen of Sikkim because we were never called for the meeting," he said.

Thapa, who has been reappointed as the BJP State President for a second term, said that efforts are being made to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. "BJP government schemes have not yet reached many villages in Sikkim. People are unaware of these schemes, and we need to change that," he said.

Speaking on a recent Supreme Court ruling, Thapa said that the judgment, which originated from a Chandigarh medical college case, upheld Article 14 of the Constitution on equality. However, he assured that this would not impact Sikkim, as Article 371(F) provides special constitutional protection to the state.

Thapa criticized the present government for selling the Teesta Dam project, which was once projected as a key development for Sikkim. He expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the project, particularly after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) disaster.

"The GLOF disaster took Sikkim 100 years back. Over 80,000 people were affected, 500 hotels shut down, and many small businesses suffered. The government should reassess the environmental impact instead of rushing ahead with new dam projects," he said.

Thapa dismissed talks of a Sikkim-Darjeeling merger as baseless rumors. "This is not news but pure speculation. BJP Sikkim is completely against it. Discussing this repeatedly could mislead the public, which is unacceptable," he stated firmly.

Illegal immigration remains one of Thapa’s biggest concerns. He pointed out that over 4 lakh illegal migrants have entered Sikkim, and the situation could worsen without proper checks.

"I opposed the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme because it allows migrant laborers to access rations in Sikkim. This will only encourage more migrants to settle here. If this continues, Sikkim’s identity and security will be at risk," he warned.

Thapa called for stricter border controls, temporary permits for outsiders, and an immediate demand for ILP implementation to safeguard Sikkim’s future. "Without ILP, Sikkim is not safe," he said.