SNPP condemns Tribal State promise of parties

GANGTOK, 01 Apr: Sikkim Nationalist People’s Party [SNPP] has welcomed the inclusion of the issue of protecting Article 371F in the manifestos of the various political parties. However, the party has condemned the assurances of making Sikkim a Tribal State.

Speaking at a press conference today, SNPP president, Biraj Adhikari stated, “We already have the Sikkim Subject Certificate and are being given various benefits because of it so there is no need to make Sikkim a Tribal State”. Tribal means backward and it would mean taking a step backwards, he added.

For the past 40 years most of the parties have been including the protection of Article 371F in their manifestos but none of them have fulfilled their promises, he alleged further adding that even the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] has now stopped including the assurance of a Local Protection Act in its manifesto. SNPP itself is not contesting the 2014 elections.