‘Sadbhavna meet’ of Citizen Forum of Sikkim

GANGTOK: A congregation of thousands attended the ‘Sadbhavna meet’ of Citizen Forum of Sikkim (CFS) in BL House, Tibet Road on June 9, deliberating on recent comments tarnishing the image of some Sikkimese communities.
Organised under the initiative of Citizen Forum of Sikkim (CFS) under the Chairmanship of Thuckchuk Lachungpa, the meeting was also attended by Convener to CFS, PK Pradhan, including representatives of government and NGOs as the 27th November Committee, All Sikkim Government Drivers Associations, Sikkim Government Employees Association, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, Sikkim Bihari Jagran Manch, etc.
Anguish came repeatedly voiced at the meeting, as spokespersons took to the dais reiterating that the recent comment of Jagat Singhi has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikkimese people. Although Singhi had apologized for his comment, the Citizen Forum of Sikkim called for the mass consciousness towards understanding and protection of people’s rights.
Condemning the comment of Jagat Singhi, the Chairman to Citizen Forum of Sikkim Thuckchuk Lachungpa opined such statements crops up because of the unresponsive behavior of Sikkimese people. Persistently pleading the people to be more alert towards their rights, he said, “We even broke the record of Kumbakarna with our impassiveness. Time is now ripe to rise from the slumber”, Lachunpga urged.
He aged nearly eight years back a famous journalist Vir Sanghvi had written an article tarnishing the image of Nepali communities and it was the Citizen Forum then that assumed an active initiative to which later Sanghvi placed his calcifications.
Lambasting the Home Department for not permitting the Forum to hold the meeting in Chintan Bhawan, Lachungpa said the Home Department denied its permission on the pretext of the meeting likely to be of political kind.
“But now I will like to ask the Home Department if it considers this meeting political atall?”, Lachungpa inquired. He retorted that the meeting was relates to all residents of Sikkim and has nothing to do with any kind of politics. “It’s not an issue of politics rather a matter of survival”, he said.
President to 27th November Committee TN Dhakal said Sikkim was integrated into India with lucrative offers, but no one can hamper the rights and protections of Sikkim provided during the time of its mergence. “We should live peacefully as Sikkimese rather than dividing ourselves into communities”, he opined. Expressing concern over the tremendous influx in Sikkim he added, if properly not checked, it will be much easy for terrorist to enter in this peaceful Himalayan state.
Addressing at the occasion, PK Pradhan on his part also expressed his concern over the statement of Jagat Singhi coining it highly objectionable that encourages communalism. The President to Sikkim Chamber of Commerce SK Sarda said the Chamber of Commerce would not endorse such statements under any circumstances.
Others to address the meeting were, Sonam Dorjee Lepcha, Narsing Rai, Devi Prasad Kharel, MB Bagdas, Mani Kumar Khatiwada, Thupden Lachungpa, Yangee Pinasa and Nirmal Mangar. Accepting the apology letter of Singhi, the Forum bid all not to endorse any such comments that entertains disunity in Sikkim.