Sikkim: Cong emphasises on protecting Article 371 F to avoid its dilution- AICC Secy Pradyot Manikya

TNT News | October 09, 2018

During his visit to Sikkim for the first time after being appointed as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary in-charge of Sikkim, Pradyot Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Monday emphasised on the fact that the Congress party  is committed to safeguard the spirit of  Article 371 F provided to Sikkim by the Constitution of India.

He further said Congress will always remain dedicated to protect and fight for the rights and privileges of Sikkimese people.

Addressing a press conference here Debbarma said that the Congress Party had provided the constitutional guarantee in the form of the Article 371 F of the Constitution to protect the interests of Sikkim and its people. On the same, he asserted that the Congress party would always remain committed to protecting and safeguarding the special status provided by the constitutional provision and would not support its dilution in any manner.

He said that the party would not allow the further dilution of the Article 371 F in any manner. He said that the dilution of the special provision to Sikkim would create complication for the state. He said the special status of Sikkim needs to be continued in the interest of the people of Sikkim.

Debbarma said the Congress party fully supports the reservation of seats for the Sikkimese Nepali in the State Assembly.

The party is committed to raise this issue in the Parliament and restoring political right of Sikkimese Nepali which it understands is essential for strengthening the social fabric of Sikkimese society and maintaining communal harmony which has prevailed here for generations. He stated that the ongoing influx in Sikkim would dilute the interest of Sikkimese people.

He also informed that SPCC would reopen all its district offices and urged youths and people from different walks of life to come forward and take initiative to work in the interest of Sikkim as a whole.