Former Indian footballer and chief of Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) Bhaichung Bhutia demanded Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Sikkim. He has criticised Chief Minister of the state Prem Singh Tamang for failing to raise the issue with the Centre during his visit to New Delhi.
Bhutia said that most Northeast states with international borders have the ILP in place and Sikkim should also have it. It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister did not think of raising the demand for the introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Sikkim, he added. Instead, the chief minister gave a green signal to the Centre to further dilute the provisions of Article 371F, which protects the rights of the Sikkimese people, Bhutia claimed.
Bhutia said that the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government has already allowed the “solution” of Article 371F and Revenue Order Number 1. He also urged that the chief minister should make public all memorandums and demands given to the Centre during his visit to New Delhi, claiming that the people of Sikkim have a right to know the specifics.
