Sikkimese Identity Row: Finance Bill amendment only for income tax purposes assures FM Sitharaman

Amid the ongoing row over the definition of who is a Sikkimese and the recent amendment to provisions of the Finance Bill that is being seen as a threat to the identity of the Sikkimese people, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday assured the people of Sikkim that the definition of Sikkimese Lepcha, Sikkimese Bhutia and Sikkimese Nepali has not been touched and never will it be touched or changed.
‘Definition of Sikkimese as Lepcha of Sikkimese origin, Bhutia of Sikkimese origin and Nepali of Sikkimese origin will always be respected and it has neither been nor will be touched upon,’ the Finance Minister told Sikkim CM PS Tamang, a press release issued by the office of the Sikkim CM said.
The Sikkim CM had met the Finance Minister today to discuss the issue that did not remain confined to just being an identity issue but had snowballed into a big political controversy, a political hot potato with opposition parties and even civil society organizations calling for protest rallies and demanding resignation of BJP and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha MLAs.
Further clarifying on the amendments made to the Finance Bill, the Finance Minister said that finance bill amendment is only for the income tax purposes as per the Supreme Court order and it in no way impinges upon the definition of Sikkimese, the release said.
A clarification to this effect will be issued soon by the Finance Ministry.

CM Tamang expressed “immense debt of gratitude” to the Finance Minister and assured the Sikkimese people, “As always, our government will leave no stone unturned to protect the rights and interest of our people.”
The CM further said, “Government of India has always stood by the state of Sikkim and Sikkimese people in every need and necessity, howsoever big or small. The apprehension of dilution of article 371F of the Constitution of India due to the Finance Bill Amendment 2023 in the Income Tax Act of Government of India, among the people of Sikkim is being spread by certain people in our state which is not right.”
He said that he had reiterated in the meeting that soon a resolution of the state assembly of Sikkim will be passed, requesting Ministry of Finance, Government of India to modify the two sub-clauses of 26AAA of Income Tax Act 1961, so that this issue is settled for all times to come.
“I assure each and every Sikkimese that our government is at the forefront to protect the interest of the entire Sikkimese people and the state of Sikkim,” the CM said.
Earlier, during her visit to Sikkim recently, the Finance Minister had clearly stated that article 371F of constitution of India is not affected in any manner by this amendment.
The Supreme Court in its clarificatory order of 8th February, 2023 had clearly mentioned that this order was for the purpose of income tax only and Article 371F was not the subject matter of the case.
CM Tamang was accompanied by Minister Sanjit Kharel, BJP MLAs TT Bhutia and Pintsho Namgyal Lepcha, Chief Secretary Govt of Sikkim, V.B. Pathak and other senior Sikkim government officials.

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