Sikkimese Nepali Identity Row: 12-hour Sikkim bandh called by JAC paralyses life in the state

The Joint Action Committee has given the state government a 7-day deadline, ending on February 7, to take action on their concerns

The 12-hour state-wide bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to protest the Supreme Court’s observation regarding the Sikkimese-Nepali people of Sikkim and giving them the tag of ‘immigrant’, has paralysed normal life across Sikkim today. The bandh began at 6 AM this morning.
Visuals that have come in from capital city Gangtok, other places like Rangpo, Namchi, Jorethang, Melli, Mangan show roads deserted, shops, business establishments, and educational institutes shut, not even a soul on the streets of Sikkim.
So far, no reports of any untoward incident have been reported. The police are maintaining a strict vigil throughout the state in view of the ongoing bandh.
The Joint Action Committee, which has been advocating for the removal of the “immigrant” tag from the Sikkimese and Nepali communities, called for the state-wide shutdown, which seems to have evoked overwhelming support from the masses.
The shutdown is meant to send a message to the Union government in response to the recent Supreme Court observation that designated the Sikkimese and Nepali communities as “immigrants” and struck down the use of the term “Sikkimese” in its observation.
The Joint Action Committee gave the state government a seven-day deadline, ending on February 7, to take action on their concerns.
The JAC cited the public demand for the shutdown, stating that they welcome the state government’s decision to hold a legislative assembly session, which is set to take place today.

The Joint Action Committee also stated that their future actions will depend on the outcome of the February 9 Legislative Assembly Session as well as the outcome of a meeting between various political groups and members of the state government with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence.

It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on the issue on February 6.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a social media post, had confirmed, “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) files a review petition in the Supreme Court against some of the observations and directions in a recent judgement dated January 13, 2023, in two petitions filed in 2013 and 2021 by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim and Ors in the Supreme Court.”
The Union Home Minister further affirmed, “GoI reiterated its position about the sanctity of Article 371F of the Constitution that safeguards the Sikkimese identity, which should not be diluted.” “Further, the observation in the said order about persons of foreign origin settled in Sikkim like Nepalis should be reviewed as the said persons are Sikkimese of Nepali origin.”

Also read: Sikkimese Nepali row: Sikkim CM thanks Amit Shah for filing review petition before Supreme Court

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