Guwahati, August 20 (NKTV): Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) Chief and Indian Football icon Bhaichung Bhutia on Thursday demanded Inner Line Permit (ILP) for the state of Sikkim. He also hit out at Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for not raising the issue with the Centre during his visit to New Delhi.
Bhutia said that most northeastern states with international borders have the ILP in place and Sikkim should also have it. “It is unfortunate that our CM did not think of raising the demand for the introduction of Inner Line Permit in Sikkim” he said.
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 said.
He said that the Government of Sikkim should have urged the Centre to reconsider the introduction of ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ in Sikkim as settlers from outside may take undue benefit from the scheme even as hardly any Sikkimese is likely to seek ration outside the state.
Inputs from PTI
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