GANGTOK,: State BJP president DR Thapa has reiterated that the Sikkim-Darjeeling merger issue is a baseless issue and should not be given the weightage to be discussed on any forum.
“As stated multiple times by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sikkim since the beginning & once again till it needs to be reiterated again and again that this is a baseless and ridiculous issue - unification of Sikkim & Darjeeling, one which is impossible and shouldn’t even be given the weightage to discussed on any forum,” said the State BJP president in a Wednesday media statement.
Recently, the Sikkim-Darjeeling merger issue has again emerged with political parties on both sides giving their comments on it. Congress has accused BJP of spreading the merger narrative but the BJP unit maintains that such baseless discussions needs to be abolished permanently.
“The baseless discussion around Sikkim & Darjeeling merger needs to be abolished once and for all and it's essential to acknowledge that it's not a feasible or possible concept. Sikkim has its unique special status under Article 371F of the Indian Constitution, which grants it a distinct set of provisions and protections. This special status is a result of Sikkim's historical and cultural context, and it's what sets it apart from other States in India,” said Thapa.
Thapa asserted that Sikkim's special status under Article 371F is a significant factor that makes unification with Darjeeling impossible. “This article provides Sikkim with a unique set of protections and provisions that are not available to other States in India. It's what allows Sikkim to maintain its distinct cultural and linguistic identity, and it's what sets it apart from other states in the region,” he said.
The State BJP president urged that focus should be given on development of Sikkim instead of engaging in debates about unification.
“In conclusion, the idea of Sikkim and Darjeeling unification is a non-starter. It's time to move on from this debate and focus on the development of Sikkim. With its unique special status under Article 371F, Sikkim has a lot of potential for growth and development, and it's essential to prioritize initiatives that promote the welfare of its people. Let’s focus on issues that matter and will further the growth of Sikkim and strictly bury these nonsensical discussions to the ground,” said Thapa.
