Sikkim MP Presses PM Modi for Tribal Status and Infrastructure Upgrades

Gangtok: Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi on July 30. The meeting centered on a memorandum detailing urgent infrastructure and social reforms for the Himalayan state. Subba brought greetings from the Sikkim government and thanked the Centre for its ongoing support.

Modi asked for an update on the recent tunnel accident in Sikkim. Subba provided a full briefing on the state government response, noting that he "thanked Modi for expressing concern and extending support to the affected families."

The memorandum pushes for Scheduled Tribe status for 12 left-out communities. Subba also requested amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to reserve Assembly seats for the Limboo and Tamang communities. He further asked for central support regarding the 17th Karmapa visiting Sikkim.

Infrastructure remains a top priority. Subba wants a Greenfield highway built parallel to National Highway-10 to avoid the unstable Teesta valley. He also pushed for a strategic all-weather road along the Indo-Nepal border in western Sikkim plus better links to Border Outposts. Commercial flights must resume at Pakyong Airport. To boost education and industry, he asked for an IIT campus and a National Institute of Fashion Technology to help the local textile sector.