Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, who will arrive in Sikkim on Saturday (April 2) on a three-day visit, will look into matters concerning internal security and development of Sikkim.
He will hold a conference in this regard with the chief minister and a bunch of state officials including the chief secretary, DGP, Army commanders, development commissioner and other Sikkim government officials.
Shivraj Patil, during his visit last month had indicated that the security on the borders with Nepal and Bhutan would be strengthened and that in two years, 20 more battalions of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) would be raised and deployed.
The expansion plans were greeted with great vigour by all since it promised to provide greater employment opportunities as well.
The union minister will also hold discussions with the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his cabinet members on various issues focusing on the all-round development of the state. Sikkim MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as well as the MLAs are slated to have meetings with Patil.
Press Advisor, BB Gooroong informed the media that Chief Minister Chamling was likely to raise the pending issues of Sikkim which had been already submitted to the Government of India. The state had demanded Rs 1,000 crores as 'peace bonus', as was given to Mizoram for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the state.
Gooroong also said that the Government had submitted a demand to the Centre that the number of assembly seats be raised to 40 from the existing 32, so that the communities like Limboos and Tamangs could be accommodated, without minimizing the number of seats so far enjoyed by the Bhutia-Lepcha tribals.
He said that though Government of India had included communities like Limboo and Tamang in the list of Scheduled Tribes, their demands for reservation of seats in the Sikkim Assembly are yet to be tackled.
Gooroong also said that the Government had submitted a demand to the Centre that the number of assembly seats be raised to 40 from the existing 32, so that the communities like Limboos and Tamangs could be accommodated, without minimizing the number of seats so far enjoyed by the Bhutia-Lepcha tribals.
He said that though Government of India had included communities like Limboo and Tamang in the list of Scheduled Tribes, their demands for reservation of seats in the Sikkim Assembly are yet to be tackled.
Patil will also address Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee meeting and also discuss various Sikkim Congress perceptions on various important issues vis-à-vis the functioning of the Chamling administration.
According to official sources, Patil will be accompanied by the Minister for north-eastern affairs (DONER}, PR Kyndiah, Minister of State, Home affairs, Manikrao H Gavit, and a team of senior officials from the home ministry and the DONER.