Sikkim: Nepalese word not in petition, says association on ‘immigrant row’

Gangtok: Amid the growing disparity between the old settlers of Sikkim and the Sikkimese Nepali community over the Supreme Court verdict labelling Sikkimese Nepali community to be ‘immigrant and foreigner’, the old settlers of Sikkim have assured ‘best possible solution’ for the removal of ‘certain objectionable words.’

Reacting to the ongoing row over 400 families of Old Settlers being granted an income tax exemption, the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) on Sunday stated: “We are taking steps from our end for removal of those words and discussing India’s top legal experts on the matter and accordingly will file a petition from our end in the Apex court once again for removal of those words. The best possible solution to the same will be sought from our end. We regret that certain objectionable words have been employed in the judgment.”

The AOSS informed how the case was admitted on January 28, 2013, in the Supreme Court, highlighting how the verdict was given after almost a decade. “As the proceedings began, we were informed that there were words in the petition that hurt the sentiments of our regional brothers and sisters of the Sikkimese Nepali community residing in Sikkim. Immediate steps were taken from our end to amend the petition and we filed an amended petition. The latter submitted petition was shared with all and everyone was happy with our gesture, many thanked us too later on and understood our position,” mentions a press release.