Chamling demands minority status for Indian Nepalis

Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling urged the Centre to grant minority status to the Nepali speaking people all over the country.

The budget session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly concluded in Gangtok on Friday with an appeal by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to the Centre to grant minority status to the Nepali speaking people all over the country.

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A resolution to this effect had been passed by the state assembly during the session two days ago.

Initiating a debate on the demand for grants of different departments under his charge, the Chief Minister said the Nepalis, who constituted about one per cent of the country's total population, fulfilled all the parametres for being granted this status.

Besides their minuscule population, Indian Nepalis have a distinct cultural and linguistic identity which makes them all the more deserving of such a status, Chamling said.

Talking of the sacrifices made by members of the community in the past, be it the country's fight against terrorism or the several wars it fought against its neighbours, the Chief Minister said granting them a minority status would go a long way addressing their popular and emotional demands of a distinct Indian identity.

Sikkim Governor V Rama Rao had also advocated minority status for the community following the same line of argument in his address to the house on the opening day of the budget session on September 7.