Public organisation against dilution of Art 371 (f)

Gangtok, Feb 8 (UNI) A newly-floated organisation today threatened to launch a statewide movement protesting the dilution of a constitutional provision which protects old laws of Sikkim and Sikkim government establishment.

'Citizens for Clarity' (CFC) demanded the repeal of all laws that have been extended from the Centre to the State.

Their motive is to clear the confusion over the provisions of the Article 371(f) provided to the Sikkimese people.

CFC Convenor Biraj Adhikari told newspersons here that the Article says all laws in force before the merger of Sikkim with India in May 1975 would be protected and the laws could be repealed or amended if required within two years of the merger.

However, despite the constitutional guarantee, many central laws have been extended to the state after 1977, violating the provisions of the constitution.

Mr Adhikari said the CFC would oppose all laws extended to the state after 1977 and demanded its repeal. He said the organisation would take up the issue with the public.

He feared the issue would affect the peace of the state as very few people had clear knowledge about the Article.

Mr Adhikari said the Article, a special constitutional provision enshrined in the constitution with an objective to protect the culture and tradition of the Sikkimese people.

However, the dilution of the provision had adversely affected the objective and the political leaders had so far done nothing to protect it, he said.

Mr Adhikari hinted towards the formation of a commitee comprising of people from different sections to be formed to maintain a status quo of the law as of May 1977 and demanded the government to finalise a cut-off year to determine the vexed Sikkim Subject issue and measures to protect the interests of people who arrived in the state after the cut-off year.

UNI