Gangtok, May 16: Sikkim celebrated its 48th Statehood Day on Tuesday at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok.
Sikkim Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay along with other ministers and dignitaries attended the programme.
While addressing the gathering, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay highlighted the history of Sikkim as a democracy, claiming, “It has been the contribution of every former Chief Minister of the State from the first CM LD Kazi to me being the sixth, every CM, legislators, ministers, MPs have contributed to the development of Sikkim as a democracy. In the next two years, we will be celebrating 50 years anniversary of Statehood, a golden Jubilee in 2025. I thank the fighters for Sikkim’s democracy in the past for bringing us to this momentous occasion.”
The celebration began with garlanding of LD Kazi’s statue outside the Chintan Bhawan premises by the dignitaries.
“All the promises given to Sikkimese people, we are fulfilling such promises steadily. Many feel no work or no ‘parivartan’ has happened in Sikkim, many allege us as such through social media and media reports. But in these 4 years, State’s revenue had increased by 57 percent for the year 2022-23 as compared with 2018. About seven percent increase in 2020-21 as compared to 2018. All leakages have been controlled by the government such that all leakages can be stopped altogether in the future. We have not kept schemes on hold keeping election in mind or as an agenda,” CM Golay stated.
He further added, “Despite being one of the youngest states in the country, Sikkim has made exemplary work and gained success as a State in these 48 years. The state government’s first priority is national security. Whatever Sikkim is today is due to team work and to move forward there is a need for unity. Before complaining to central leaders, we should verify on the progress made by the State.”
Sikkim Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya lauded the organic practice and its success in the state along with various social welfare initiatives to be some of Sikkim’s biggest success.
Sikkim became 22nd State of Indian Union on May 16, 1975 under the leadership of Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa, the first chief minister of Sikkim who ushered democracy in the erstwhile Chogyal Kingdom.
