GANGTOK, 24 Oct: Sikkim Solidarity Forum submitted a memorandum to the new Governor of Sikkim on 22 October to take “appropriate action” against Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim for terming members of the Sikkimese Nepali community as “foreigners”.
The five-page memorandum signed by the president, Bharat Basnett along with other members of the forum also includes a copy of the FIR filed by the Forum with the Superintendent of Police [East] on 1/8/ 2013 to investigate alleged illegal activities of money laundering and tax evasion carried out in the state in the past.
The five-page memorandum signed by the president, Bharat Basnett along with other members of the forum also includes a copy of the FIR filed by the Forum with the Superintendent of Police [East] on 1/8/ 2013 to investigate alleged illegal activities of money laundering and tax evasion carried out in the state in the past.
DISCRIMINATION IN SIKKIM
ReplyDeleteAn obscure, recently formed organization ,called Sikkim Solidarity Forum has submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Sikkim on 22nd October 2013. They are complaining against the Association of Old Settlers who have gone to the Supreme Court with their grievances against discrimination and want the Old Settlers to withdraw their petition.
The petition of the Old Settlers has been accepted by the Supreme Court and in a subsequent hearing the Honourable court has even observed pithily that nobody should pressurize the Association to withdraw its petition.
The State Government has also specifically supported the Association in the Supreme Court. (It has also actually passed an Official Bill in the Assembly supporting the Association of Old Settlers.)
The remedy (if any ) for the FORUM and all like minded people now lies in the Supreme Court and not in either the Raj Bhawan or the streets of Gangtok.
The new Governor of Sikkim, an experienced man has been a senior IAS Officer and a two term Parliamentarian to boot.
He is not likely to support a cause which is being heard by the Supreme Court and is supported by the State Government.
Please see below the concise point wise contents of the ill thought out memorandum which makes the following representations.Our counter comments to each point are given in Capitals.
1. That the merger of Sikkim was effected under article 371F which protects the old laws of Sikkim
CORRECT.
2. That the Indian residents of Sikkim were offered Sikkim citizenship by the Erstwhile King without alienating their property and commercial interests in India but they refused this offer.
NOT CORRECT. IN FACT A BLATANT LIE. READ SIKKIM SUBJECT REGULATIONS WHICH ARE QUITE EXPLICIT ABOUT REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP.
to be continued in part 2
Continued part 2
ReplyDelete3. The Memorandum attaches an FIR filed by the forum against a list of “Indians” and demands action against them. The list consists of people who have been assessed for tax for money transfer via gifts. These taxes have apparently been paid as per demand which the attached list itself shows!!
HOW HAS THIS LIST OF TAXPAYERS BEEN CONVERTED TO A LIST OF CRIMINALS?
IN FACT THE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE AS POWERFUL PEOPLE WHO GAVE GIFTS ---IN CRORES TO ( Rajesh Khanna , Sridevi and a host of other film stars) ARE ABSENT. THIS MISSING LIST IF ANY REQUIRES AN INQUIRY AS THESE PEOPLE PAID NO TAX ON THE GIFTS THEY MADE AND EVEN TODAY PRESUMABLY STRUT THE POLITICAL STAGE OF SIKKIM.
4. The Memorandum next makes out a blatantly false and communal claim of blaming the Association of trying to take away benefits awarded by the Erstwhile King to the Bhutias ,Lepchas and Nepalese ??.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS ALSO ALWAYS GIVEN THE SAME EXEMPTIONS AS EVERYBODY.THE KING MADE NO DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND IN FACT NO SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENT ALSO EVER MADE ANY DISCRIMINATION (UNTIL THE CENTRAL GOVT. WAS MISLED INTO INSERTING THE DISCRIMINATORY CLAUSE IN THE FINANCE BILL 2008.)
Continued part 3