Finance Bill an attack on Art 371F: Congresss

GANGTOK,: Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) chairman Gopal Chettri on Friday said the Union Finance Bill 2023 was an attack by the BJP-led Union government on Article 371F of Sikkim in accordance to its agenda of ‘one Nation, one Constitution’.

“The Finance Bill was passed without any discussions in the Lok Sabha though it was also related to the special Constitutional provisions of Sikkim. It was an attack on Article 371F and we feel that it is a move by the BJP government to fulfil its agenda of ‘one Nation, one Constitution’ by gradually diluting Article 371F,” said the SPCC chairman at a press meet here.

The Finance Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on March 24, among other amendments, expands the definition of Sikkimese under section 10 (26AAA) of Income Tax Act 1961. The amendment follows the directive of Supreme Court of India of January 13 to grant income tax exemption to the old settlers of Sikkim.

Chettri recalled that the ‘foreigner’ tag on Sikkimese Nepali community in the same judgment had enraged Sikkim. However, the expansion of ‘Sikkimese’ is more dangerous and effective as it now becomes a law once it is endorsed by the President, he said. He interpreted it as a conspiracy against Article 371F and claimed that the SKM-BJP alliance government is “fatal” for Sikkim with implementation of Central Acts and policies like ONORC, CAA and NRC.

The State government only wants to appease the Centre to save its chair and there has been no reaction from the State government so far, said the SPCC chairman. He also accused Sikkim’s lone Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba of not defending the Sikkimese rights in the Parliament when the Finance Bill was placed.

Chettri added that the Sikkim government should stop its move for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State as the whole exercise is now rendered irrelevant. Now those who were here in pre-merger Sikkim and their family members will now come to Sikkim and the State will also become a haven for laundering black money, he said.

Chettri contended that if BJP comes to power in Centre and a weak government is elected in Sikkim in 2024, “Article 371F will be finished forever”. “If we are not serious now then there may be no Sikkim left tomorrow… remember there are talks of a permanent solution,” he said.

At the press meet, the SPCC chairman also condemned the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a MP following conviction in a defamation case. The SPCC strongly stands with Rahul Gandhi who was made a victim of the conspiracy by the BJP to silence him as he was constantly raising questions against the government on corruption, unemployment and Adani group, he said.

The press meet was also attended by SPCC executives Aita Tamang and Karma Tashi Bhutia.