SDF demands CM’s resignation over Rs. 27 crore tourism permit revenue loss

GANGTOK, : The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has demanded that Chief Minister P.S. Golay take responsibility for the alleged disappearance of Rs. 27 crore in tourism permit revenue and resign from his post on moral grounds.

“The Chief Minister himself publicly revealed through the media that Rs. 27 crore of tourism permit fees is missing, and is asking others where the money went. He is the head of the State and heads the Home and Finance departments. It should be the people or the Opposition asking questions regarding the missing money. He should be giving an account of the missing revenue to the people instead of asking the people about it,” SDF spokesperson Amber Rai said on Saturday.

Rai was addressing a media conference at the SDF Bhavan here.

“As per the Chief Minister, Rs. 27 crore, which is a huge sum of money for a small State like Sikkim, has been lost from the State treasury. He should take responsibility and resign as Chief Minister on moral grounds. He should not blame others as the entire responsibility lies with him. That Rs. 27 crore is money generated through the tourism sector for the welfare of the people of Sikkim. The Chief Minister must resign,” the SDF spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister told the media that the Sikkim government received only Rs. 3 crore as permit fee revenue from the 15.67 lakh visitors to Nathu La in 2025, even though the total revenue was estimated at around Rs. 31 crore. We lost Rs. 27 crore, he said, while explaining the State government’s decision to introduce an AI-based integrated online tourism permit system to prevent revenue leakages from tourism permit fees.

The SDF spokesperson maintained that tourism, a major economic driver of Sikkim, flourished under the previous SDF government.

“Such instances of tourism revenue loss never happened during the SDF government. Unfortunately, instead of carrying forward the good work done by our government in the past, we are now seeing a loss of government revenue in tourism sector,” he said.

Asked about the proposed AI-based integrated online tourism permit system, Rai said the SDF welcomed the initiative of the State government.

“We welcome the online permit system as it is in line with the present technology-driven era. We must not be afraid of adopting and using new technology. At the same time, it must ensure that tourism opportunities go solely to the Sikkimese and not to outsiders. That is our only condition,” he said.