Sikkimese groups slam climbing attempts on Mount Kanchenjunga

A serious concern has been raised by the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) over recent climbing expeditions on Mount Kanchenjunga. 

The committee has sent an urgent appeal to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Sikkim, asking the state to strictly enforce the ban on scaling the sacred peak.

Mount Kanchenjunga is not just a mountain for the people of Sikkim. It is considered a holy place and the guardian deity of the state. For the Bhutia and Lepcha communities, the mountain holds deep religious and cultural importance. It is part of their identity and spiritual life. Because of this, the state government issued a notification in 2001 that clearly bans climbing the mountain. This was done to protect its sacredness.

The committee pointed out that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 also protects such religious sites. This law prevents any changes that might harm the religious character of these places. The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee said that climbing Mount Kanchenjunga goes against this law and hurts the feelings of the local people.

Despite these clear rules, some expeditions have taken place recently, including one by the army from the Sikkim side. This has caused a lot of anger and pain among the Sikkimese. The committee said this shows a lack of respect for their culture and beliefs. It also breaks the law meant to protect their sacred mountain.

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SIBLAC has asked the government to take strong action. They want the climbing ban to be enforced fully and for clear steps to stop any future attempts to climb the mountain from all sides. They also want the government to warn all mountaineering groups, both in India and abroad, not to attempt such climbs.

The committee has called for a public statement condemning any violations of the law. They want the government and the state’s Sangha MLA and Ecclesiastical Department to explain why the rules have been ignored. According to SIBLAC, it is their job to protect the religious rights of Sikkim’s people, and they have failed in this duty.

SIBLAC also demanded an inquiry into the recent army expedition. They said the officer who allowed the climb should face strict punishment under the law. The team that climbed the mountain must apologize to the people of Sikkim and perform a religious ceremony to seek forgiveness from the guardian deities.

The committee stressed that protecting Mount Kanchenjunga is about more than just the environment. It is about respecting the religious freedom and cultural heritage of Sikkim’s people. They urged the government to act quickly and strongly to protect this sacred place.