Sikkim Is India': BJP MP Raju Bista slams Congress leader for ‘neighboring country’ remark

A big political issue has started after senior Congress leader Dr. Ajoy Kumar, who looks after Tripura, Odisha, and Nagaland for the party, called Sikkim a “neighboring country” during a press conference at the Congress headquarters on July 1. His comment has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, especially from Raju Bista, BJP Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and National Spokesperson of the BJP.

Raju Bista on July 2 condemned the statement, calling it not just “factually incorrect” but also a “grave insult” to the people of Sikkim. Bista questioned how a former IPS officer and Member of Parliament could make such a basic geographical error. “This is not a slip of the tongue,” Bista stated. “It shows either deep ignorance or a deliberate attempt to provoke.”

Sikkim, which joined the Indian Union in 1975, is currently celebrating 50 years of its statehood. The timing of the remark has made the situation even more sensitive, as the people of Sikkim are marking five decades of being part of the Indian family. “Calling Sikkim a ‘neighboring country’ is not just wrong—it is an attack on the identity of every Sikkimese who proudly calls themselves Indian,” said Bista.

He also questioned the intent behind the statement and hinted that this could be part of a larger pattern within the Congress party. “Why do Congress leaders repeatedly make comments that undermine India’s territorial integrity?” he asked. “Is this the result of political desperation, or is it linked to the controversial MoU that the Congress party signed with the Communist Party of China?”

Bista did not stop there. He took aim at the platform from which the statement was made—the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. “It is deeply worrying that such comments were made at the headquarters of a national party. A place that should represent unity and uphold the values of the nation is now being used to create confusion and hurt national sentiments,” he said.

The BJP leader called upon all Indians, regardless of political affiliations, to stand united and condemn the remark. “Every Indian must raise their voice against this. Our Constitution guarantees unity and integrity. We must protect it,” he said.

The controversy comes at a time when Sikkim is enjoying increased national attention as it commemorates its golden jubilee as a full-fledged Indian state. Across the state, various cultural events and government programs have been organized to celebrate the journey of Sikkim over the past 50 years.