Demand for ILP in Sikkim: PS Tamang govt constitutes committee to oversee applicablility

The Prem Singh Tamang government in Sikkim has constituted a 9-member committee to oversee the applicability of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the Himalayan state.

The 9-member committee includes:
Shanta Pradhan (Retired Secretary, Govt of Sikkim) Chairman
TN Dhakal, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Member
MP Subba, Advisor, Education Department, Member
Sarala Rai, Retd IAS, Secretary, Govt of Sikkim, Member
YP Gurung, Retd IFS, Secretary, Govt of Sikkim, Member
SD Tshering, Retd IES, Secretary, Govt of Sikkim, Member
Passang Gyali Sherpa, Resident of Gangtok, Member
Tashi Cho Cho, Secretary, Home Department, Member
Tshewang Gyachho, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Member Secretary
As per the government notification, the Committee shall study the implementation of ILP and its impact in other Northeastern states and make suitable recommendations.

Besides the Committee shall also visit Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. The Committee shall also consult and take opinion of all stakeholders. Apart from this, the Committee shall co-opt services of any other officer of the Government of Sikkim if deemed necessary and the Committee shall submit it’s report within 1 month of the issue of the Notification.

It may be mentioned that the demand for implementation of ILP in Sikkim has been one of the key demand of the Bhaichung Bhutia led Hamro Sikkim Party.

In order to pursue their demand, the HSP led by Bhaichung Bhutia had also organized a Jan Sansad or People’s Parliament last year to garner people’s opinion on the issue.

The Jan Sansad adopted the following resolutions:

(1) The Inner-Line Permit must be implemented in Sikkim without any delay

(2) The Government of Sikkim pass a Resolution to Implement the ILP in Sikkim and send it to the central government for further action

(3) The central government should implement the ILP in Sikkim at the earliest

Worth mentioning, the BJP besides other parties including Sikkim republican Party as well as other organizations such as Lepcha Apex Committee too had endorsed the demand of HSP.

Also Read: “Immigrant” tag on Sikkimese Nepali: Sikkim CM allays fears, to meet Central leaders today