Sikkim United Front (SUF) has asked the Lok Sabha MP of Sikkim, PD Rai, to withdraw his support to the Citizenship Bill, 2016 in the interest of the people of Sikkim.
The party argued that implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would emerge as a threat to the indigenous communities of Sikkim and their rights & interests.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, SUF president Narendra Adhikari stated the Bill is a very serious and sensitive matter in context of a small State like Sikkim, which has a population of just over 7 lakhs.
Adhikari stated, “Implementation of the Bill in the State will put the existence of indigenous communities of Sikkim into danger.”
The SUF president asked the Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai to withdraw his support towards the Bill.
He further said when the birth rate of Sikkim has been recorded very low, the implementation of such Bill in the State would turn the indigenous communities of Sikkim into minority in the future. He also questioned over the silence of the State Government on the Bill.
Speaking on the ‘One Family, One Job’ scheme of the State Government, Adhikari stated the SUF has welcomed the initiative of the State Government in providing Government jobs to local youths.
But raising question over the intention of the Government on launching such a scheme near the election, Adhikari said it was just a political stunt of the ruling party.
He also questioned whether the youths of Sikkim have got jobs on the basis of their qualification and capacity. Adhikari also alleged emotional exploitation of the youths of Sikkim through such scheme.
Adhikari also stated while the SDF Government has suggested the youths to get engaged in private sectors as Government jobs have become saturated, the plan of the same Government to offer jobs to 20,000 youths shows its double-standard. “This shows that the ruling government does not have any programme for the youths,” added Adhikari.
On the other hand, SUF general secretary Ramesh Khanal demanded OBC status for Chettri, Bahun, Newar, Jogi and Sanyasi communities of Sikkim.
He also demanded that vocational and Sanskrit teachers’ jobs be regularised in Government schools, besides, the employees working under the Organic Mission and National Health Mission should also be regularised. He also demanded that the remaining arrears of the Government employees be immediately released.