Sikkim Governor N Shrinivas Patil today urged the Centre for reservation of seats in the assembly for Limboo and Tamang communities, who constitute a sizeable population of the Himalayan state.
"This is one of the long pending and pressing issues of Sikkim needing expeditious resolution by the central government," he said during his customary speech in the legislative assembly on the first day of the week-long budget session.
"This (demand for reservation of assembly seats for the tribal Limboo and Tamang communities) warrants serious attention in a time-bound manner as this problem has potential to adversely affect the prevailing peace and tranquility in the most peaceful state of the nation," Patil cautioned.
Limboo and Tamang communities constitute nearly 33 per cent of Sikkim's population. They were granted scheduled tribes status by the NDA government in 2002.
The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front had included their seat reservation issue in its election manifesto in 2004, 2009 and 2014 and took it up with the central government for resolution without success so far.
The Sikkim Governor also urged the Centre to allow the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Darje, head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism to visit Rumtek monastery in the state in deference to the sentiments of local people.
Representations have been made to the central government since 2000 for the 17th Karmapa to be allowed to visit Sikkim.
The central government had banned entry of all the three claimants to the title of Karmapa to the Rumtek monastery in East Sikkim in 1994.
Patil said that the 17th Karmapa's visit will boost peace and tranquility in Sikkim and help in spiritual development of the people who are so simple and religious-minded.
The Sikkimese Buddhists who follow the Khagyu sect recognise the 31-year-old Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the real heir and successor of the 16th Karmapa who passed away in 1981.
The Sikkim Governor also called for income tax exemption to business communities as they had settled in the state prior to the enactment of the Sikkim Subject Regulation, 1961.
Patil, during an hour-long speech, spoke at length about organic farming, ever-improving infrastructure, education and healthcare system among a wide range of issues.
The legislative assembly will take up discussion on the Governor's speech tomorrow, the Speaker KN Rai said.
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