Darjeeling-Sikkim merger not acceptable: Sikkim protected by 371F: SDF

Gangtok: MK Subba, spokesperson, Sikkim Democratic Front(SDF) party on Sunday said that his party does not support the idea of merging Darjeeling with Sikkim.
Subba was responding to the statement made by the Gorkha Rashtriya Congress which had raised the issue. The idea has been condemned and opposed strongly by the party that has ruled Sikkim for 25 years. ‘It is the time for people of Sikkim to wake up, else it will be too late. You have to protect Article 371 F. The pressure for merger is from hardliners. We have to focus on the safety of our state with the help of Art 371 F (Special provision for Sikkim),’ said Subba while interacting with media.
When asked if anything was brewing in Delhi, he remained non-committal. The issue raised by the Darjeeling party from time to time has been attracting strong reactions from different corners of Sikkim. Subodh Pakherin Chief Coordinator, Gorkha Rashtriya Congress met Governor of West Bengal, Jagdish Dhanker and submitted a memorandum requesting for the merger.
In the meantime, social activist cum Politician Passang Sherpa, also reacted to the idea of merging the two places and said, ‘The demand for merger is outrightly rejected by the people of Sikkim as it is neither Constitutional nor justifiable. Such a propaganda can only lead to social and political instability in the very sensitive state bordering 3 countries and most importantof which is China.