REMEMBER THE LEADERSHIP WHICH WON INCOME TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE SIKKIM SUBJECTS

Apropos the letter, ‘A Sikkimese Speaking’, appearing in your paper dated February 17, 2012. The comments shared in it deserve appreciation for the writer.
As a bystander, however, one cannot forget wondering that the State lost beautiful opportunities at the right time when it was entering the Indian Union when many of the things which were possible and easily achievable under the great Indian Constitution were not pressed.
Perhaps, the political masters then were not farsighted enough or lacked experience in statecraft. Let us not judge them in retrospect as it will be unfair. As the provision in the Constitution clearly provides that all laws prevalent and enforced in Sikkim until amended or repealed, protects and guarantees the security for the people of Sikkim. What the people of Sikkim need and should always bear in their minds is to stay united and think clearly and not be led by narrow thinking.
The case of Income Tax exemption is a classic case of portrayal and justifying unity of the people of Sikkim. In fact, this is the third milestone in the democratic history of the State. The first being the Sikkim Subject regulation 1961 which brought together all the subjects of Sikkim under one benign umbrella which the then Chogyal government gave to our people. The second milestone was the incorporation of Sikkim Subject Regulation 1961 in the Indian Citizenship Act. And lastly, the third milestone has been its due recognition and incorporation in the Indian Income Tax Act.
How this last milestone became possible can be heard in the deep recesses of the hearts of the people of Sikkim, demonstrates the very leadership and guidance which Sikkim has produced presently as the Head of the Government. I say leadership and guidance as political leadership operates at the State and national level. And guidance to the state bureaucracy who have to be guided and led to deal with the problems. This has to be hailed for many, many years to come in future. The third generation, or may be the fourth generation or the coming generations have to hold it sacred in their hearts.
Chintamani Sharma, Pakyong, East Sikkim