Bhaichung Bhutia claims Sikkim government going to dilute Article 371F

GANGTOK: Bhaichung Bhutia, footballer turned politician from Hamro Sikkim Party on Thursday has claimed that Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay has given his node to the centre for dilution of Article 371 F in the state.

Criticizing the Chief Minister for not raising the demand for Inner Line Permit for the state to the centre, he said, “It is unfortunate that Mr Golay did not think of raising the demand for Inner Line Permit for Sikkim. Our CM has virtually given New Delhi the green signal for further dilution of Article 371F in Sikkim if not now, and then surely in the longer run.”

The ex-captain of Indian Football also said that the recent One Nation One Ration Card is a great bargaining point for the CM to demand the ILP.

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“I am sure that hardly any Sikkimese with proper Sikkimese documentation will take the benefit of claiming rations in other states. So why is the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) led Government misleading the people? The government knows that they are already guilty of diluting Revenue Order No.1 and Article 371F.

The territory of Sikkim is protected by Article 371F of the constitution, which is the result of the agreement in 1975 between the Union of India, the king of Sikkim and the political parties of the state.

“Most North-East states having International borders already have the ILP in place and Assam being a BJP ruled state has not implemented the One Nation One Ration Card scheme due to heavy Bangladeshi Influx.

He claimed that present government cannot be trusted to safeguard the interests of the Sikkimese people but continue to pursue their own benefit.

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