Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023 08:30 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023 02:51 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The youth wing of Joint Action Council (JAC) is all set to host a daylong exhibition of Sikkimese collectiveness through its first Sikkimese Unity Festival at MG Marg here on Wednesday.
Cultural presentations along with joshilo youth-centric activities like music and beatboxing are listed by the JAC youth wing as a public engagement towards its persistence for Sikkimese unity.
Addressing a press meet here Tuesday evening, the JAC youth wing executives appealed to the Sikkimese for their strong participation in their traditional attire and to strengthen the message for unity among the Sikkimese.
“This festival is for our unity as Sikkimese. We invite people to come forward and give their participation in the event. We celebrate our own community-level festivals but this festival is needed to showcase our collective cultural richness,” said the JAC youth wing functionaries.
Those addressing the media were Adishree Pradhan, Nitesh Basnett, Amrit Sharma and Sangay Gyatso Bhutia.
Asked about JAC’s intentions being questioned by certain quarters for holding its event on Holi, the JAC youths maintained that the organisation condemns such description being attached to its unity festival. We have no such interest in such things…such narrative is being attempted to discredit JAC and we strongly condemn it, they asserted.
To give context to the unity festival, the JAC youths reminded that strong concerns still exist over the Sikkimese identity following the January 13 judgement of the Supreme Court which granted income tax exemption to the old settlers. The Sikkimese term has been diluted and this event also aims to remind the people that the issue is still alive and we must remain united, they said.
Considering the 8th day of a month as auspicious for Sikkim, the JAC is planning to hold monthly events on every 8th day to generate public awareness on the Sikkimese identity and unity.
To a question, the JAC youths asserted that they firmly believe in non-violence and have been voicing its concerns through peaceful democratic forms of protest and activities. We have never spoken against any community and always went for peaceful activities, the biggest example is the Sikkim bandh of February 8 which was held in a peaceful manner, they said.
