“Central Govt should fulfill the legitimate demand of Darjeeling people”

SIKKIM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF GORKHALAND DEMAND

LEGISLATORS HOLD UP STATEHOOD DEMAND AS ‘GENUINE, LEGITIMATE, JUSTIFIED AND CONSTITUTIONAL’
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, unanimously adopted the Government Resolution No.3 of 2011 brought in by the Chief Minister calling on the Central Government to respect the “hopes and aspirations deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of the people of Darjeeling” and fulfill the demand for a State of Gorkhaland. Such a move, the Resolution asserts, would “ensure peace, security and development of Darjeeling and the Region as a whole”. [click here for copy of the Resolution]
The Resolution is explained in the subject line as: “To ensure peace, security and development of Sikkim and the region, free movement of National Highway 31A lifeline of Sikkim is central to the well being of land locked sensitive border State. Formation of Gorkhaland - the ultimate and permanent solution”.
The Resolution calls on the Central Government to “kindly consider the legitimate demands of the people of Darjeeling for Statehood and take necessary steps as required under the Constitution”.
The Resolution was seconded by MLA Ugyen Gyatso Bhutia.
Reading out the resolution, the Chief Minister held it up as “historic” and explained its need as the only recourse available to respect the sentiments of the people of the neighbouring hills, while also guaranteeing that Sikkim was not routinely made to suffer connectivity problems.

The Resolution records, “In this peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the State, disturbances with no signs of normalcy and decrease taking place for so many years in the neighboring areas of Darjeeling in West Bengal affecting our lifeline National Highway 31A clearly indicate that only a permanent solution is the remedy”.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the situation in the Darjeeling Hills developed in 1985 and has since affected Sikkim as well, with the estimated economic loss per day to bandhs [outside Sikkim but which cut off Sikkim] standing at Rs. 50 crores.
In his vote of thanks, the CM also remarked that till the “genuine and constitutional” demand for statehood was not understood by the Centre, Sikkim would have to face the brunt of the disturbances along NH-31A. He stated, “We shall always remain burdened under the threat of the highway being closed and how long can we live in this insecurity?”

It is also stated in the Resolution that, “This [frequent cutting off of Sikkim] should not happen and cannot be allowed to go on without end when we are all living in a democracy as the proud citizens of this great Country with equal voice and entitlement”.
The Resolution details the few successes Sikkim has had in keeping the highway open through the disturbances in the Darjeeling Hills, and points out that even with the support of the Supreme Court and efforts of the Central and WB governments, uncertainty remained and inconveniences frequently imposed on Sikkim.
The Resolution also highlights that the creation of smaller states has worked well for the country and that this further shores up the demand for Gorkhaland, especially since the people of the Darjeeling Hills, “affected by their current status as part of a larger unit due to cultural, ecological and historical coherence requesting for grant of Statehood justify creation of successful smaller States”.
Further, that “the resolution of this issue will mean that it will be in interest of the people of Darjeeling region as well as in the interest of the nation. Experience of the past few decades have clearly suggested that smaller states are more conducive and better governed.”
The CM went on to add that the resolution would “respect the “sentiments” of the people of the Darjeeling Hills with whom Sikkim has always shared a “special bond”.
“For the security of the Sikkimese people, Gorkhaland is an important demand which needs to be fulfilled as we are emotionally attached to our neighbours,” he expressed.
The CM stated in his address, “Let there be peace on the borders of Sikkim, only then will Sikkim be peaceful and the developmental pace set here proceed without any undue pressure. Thus the demand for Gorkhaland should be passed”.
Concluding his remarks on the issue, the CM said, “This is our contribution to the peace and development in the region and this historic resolution will ensure this. We are part of a global village and we are all interlinked in our pursuit of progress. If our neighbours are happy then we too shall be happy with them”.
The Resolution, he said, also flowed from Sikkim’s responsibility towards its neighbor.