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Sikkim asks for more representation in Parliament, national bodies
Gangtok, Apr 12: Sikkim has sought doubling of its seats in both Houses of Parliament to four and 25 per cent increase in assembly seats to 40 from the existing 32.
Gangtok, Apr 12: Sikkim has sought doubling of its seats in both Houses of Parliament to four and 25 per cent increase in assembly seats to 40 from the existing 32.
Currently, the state has one seat in each of the two Houses of Parliament.
The demand was made by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling when he met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here last night. Chamling also asked for increased representation for the Sikkimese in important national bodies like National Security Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Sangeet and Lalit Kala Academy and various other social and educational boards as also national commissions including women, minorities, labour, natural resources and environment so as to enable full and complete integration of Sikkim and the Northeast region into the national mainstream.
The memorandum signed by all the 32 MLAs of the state assembly also wanted social, political and constitutional rights and privileges to Limboos and Tamang communities, without affecting or diluting the rights and privileges enjoyed by Bhutias and Lepcha tribals. He also sought SC and OBC status for ethnic communities like Gurung, Mangar, Sunwar, Thami, Rai, Dewan, Jogi and Bhujal.
Chamling also sought a moratorium of 28 years on the enforcement of income tax act, 1961, to safeguard the old practices, customs and laws. Vajpayee assured him that the Centre would look into these demands made by the state government.
Bureau Report
The demand was made by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling when he met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here last night. Chamling also asked for increased representation for the Sikkimese in important national bodies like National Security Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Sangeet and Lalit Kala Academy and various other social and educational boards as also national commissions including women, minorities, labour, natural resources and environment so as to enable full and complete integration of Sikkim and the Northeast region into the national mainstream.
The memorandum signed by all the 32 MLAs of the state assembly also wanted social, political and constitutional rights and privileges to Limboos and Tamang communities, without affecting or diluting the rights and privileges enjoyed by Bhutias and Lepcha tribals. He also sought SC and OBC status for ethnic communities like Gurung, Mangar, Sunwar, Thami, Rai, Dewan, Jogi and Bhujal.
Chamling also sought a moratorium of 28 years on the enforcement of income tax act, 1961, to safeguard the old practices, customs and laws. Vajpayee assured him that the Centre would look into these demands made by the state government.
Bureau Report