Sikkim: Siblak termed the minister’s statement as ‘anti-BL, anti-old law’

Gangtok: Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has strongly condemned certain statements recently made by Senior Minister Kunga Nima Lepcha regarding Revenue Order No. 1, the old law of Sikkim protected under Article 371F.

In a press release on Wednesday, SIBLAC acting president Karma Yenten Chankapa termed the SKM minister’s alleged comments during a party meeting in Saramsa as “anti-BL, anti-old law and anti-Sikkim statements” and lodged a strong condemnation of the organisation.

“It is unfortunate to note that a person like Kunga Nima Lepcha, who climbed the political ladder by advocating the rights of Bhutia-Lepcha communities, is now bent on eradicating the rights of Bhutia-Lepcha communities from Sikkim. This shows that he was just playing with the sentiments of Bhutias and Lepchas for his personal and political gains,” said the SIBLAC working president.

Chankapa said a large number of Bhutia-Lepcha lands protected under Article 371F were illegally transferred to outsiders in the last four and a half years and accused the Land Revenue Minister of being involved in these land deals.

The acting president of SIBLAC said the minister’s statement was “nothing but a desperate attempt to hide his wrongdoings after realizing that he has lost his ground among the people of Sikkim.”

“As an apex organization of the Bhutia-Lepcha community, SIBLAC is duty bound to inform the common Bhutia-Lepcha about the misdeeds of the government and individuals like them.”

Kunga Nima Lepcha, so we have highlighted this through our conference organized in November 2023. Now, it is up to all the stakeholders and Bhutia-Lepcha individuals to strongly oppose such blatant anti-BL misdeeds to protect the rights and interests of the Bhutia-Lepcha. Today and for future generations,” Chankapa said.

The acting president of SIBLAC urged the state government to immediately clarify its stand on the alleged anti-Sikkim statement made by Minister Kunga Nima Lepcha. He said, failing which, we will be forced to accept that the SKM government is also bent upon destroying the rights and interests of the people of Sikkim.

Acting President of SIBLAC said, we caution not only the BL community but the entire people of Sikkim that the law prohibiting the sale of Sikkim lands to outsiders has been violated in an unprecedented manner, which all right-thinking Sikkimese should condemn. People need to protest. ,

Chankapa said the long-running civil unrest and violence in Manipur is a prime example of the consequences of such misrepresentation of facts.