Rijiju addresses election rally in Sikkim
Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju addresses election rally in Sikkim on October 17, 2019. Image: Northeast Now

Union minister of state for youth affairs & sports, Kiren Rijiju on Thursday urged the people not to get misguided on the rumours of BJP diluting Article 371F for Sikkim.

He asserted that BJP would instead work to always protect and further strengthening the Article 371F.

He mentioned that the Centre would work for Sikkim and its people in the close coordination with the State Government.

Rijiju was addressing the people at Vijay Sankalpa Sabha of BJP, an election campaigning meeting for Martam-Rumtek constituency, at Ranipool in East Sikkim.

He arrived in Sikkim by road from Bagdogra airport earlier on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting was also attended by the state chief minister P S Golay, ministers and senior leaders and workers of BJP and SKM party.

Speaking further in the meeting, he mentioned that the Article 371 was totally different from the Article 370 as the Article 371 connects states with the mainstream.

Rijiju also said rumours spread by some elements that BJP would topple the State Government in Sikkim were totally wrong.

He said that the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP would always work for the people of Sikkim in close coordination with SKM government.

He stated that SKM already has its strong government in the State so the Centre has big dreams and vision for the State and would work in the close coordination of the State government.

Rijiju expressed that SKM party has given two seats to BJP with a big heart and BJP will always respect the act of SKM.

He said that the success of the alliance of BJP-SKM will give a good message.

He also appealed to the people to support the alliance by ensuring the huge margin victory of BJP in both seats.

He expressed that the chief minister would win the by-poll with landslide victory.

He assured the people to be their representative at Delhi.

Rijiju said Sikkim is a small and beautiful state and has its own identity and the people from outside see Sikkim and its people with respect.

He mentioned that Central Government under the leadership of Modi has been working for the north-eastern region in priority basis.

He mentioned that the Prime Minister has directed all union ministers to visit different north-eastern states every month.

He said that the present central government has filled up the gap between the Centre and the states by working for the north-eastern region in the priority basis.

Earlier, BJP state president, D B Chauhan expressed his confidence on the victory of the alliance in all three seats in the by-poll.

The meeting was also addressed by BJP candidates, Y T Lepcha and Sonam Venchungpa and senior leaders of SKM and BJP.

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]