Gangtok: Leader of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and former chief minister Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling pitched for the repeal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with immediate effect.

Chamling further said that the repeal of CAA will make way for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Sikkim. “Today what I am saying in the Assembly is not something unnatural. It will be appropriate for us to revisit 2019 when the Central government clearly said that all the Northeastern states will be given an option on CAA. Either CAA or ILP—the respective Northeastern states will take the final call on this issue,” Chamling said.

“Nobody from Sikkim attended that meeting in Delhi. Rather Manipur could read the mood of the people’s mind and it implemented ILP. So, I am urging the government to repeal CAA and make room for ILP in Sikkim,” he added further.

However, the chief minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Golay didn’t waste any time and hit out at Chamling.

“Let me remind my friend that the ILP committee has already noted down the opinion of all the stakeholders. The government is just waiting for the final report. Once the committee tables its report, we will take appropriate action,” Golay said.

At the same time Golay also took a dig at Chamling. “SDF was in power for 25 years. Why did the then SDF government din’t implement ILP in Sikkim,” Golay asked by adding, “The  SDF MP in Lok Sabha supported citizenship amendment bill in Parliament.”

Responding to this charge Chamling said, “During SDF’s tenure ILP was not needed because there was no CAA. I request the government not to get into political cock fight over this issue and rather take steps to repeal the CAA.”

“Sikkim is in safe hands. The union home minister said that CAA will be implemented only when Sikkim Assembly will pass a resolution. Above all Sikkim is protected by Article 371 F.