Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on December 16 alleged that people in the state were earlier subjected to discrimination on religious grounds during the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) regime, and asserted that such practices have ended after the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) came to power in 2019.
Addressing the State-Level Pre-Christmas Celebration at Jorethang Playground, Tamang said Sikkim today enjoys an atmosphere of religious freedom and equality, where people of all faiths can live and celebrate without fear or discrimination. He said the present government believes in respecting every religion and has worked to create a space where communities can come together.
“Today, there is complete freedom for all religions in Sikkim. No one is being victimised now. But before 2019, people were discriminated against because of their religion,” the Chief Minister said while addressing the gathering.
Questioning whether such large-scale pre-Christmas celebrations were held in the past, Tamang claimed that during the SDF rule, people did not get the opportunity to celebrate religious events in an inclusive manner. He said the current celebrations carry a broader message of unity and togetherness beyond the festive spirit.
“This is not only about celebration. It sends a message that religion should never divide us. We can meet, greet and celebrate together,” he said.
Referring to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Chief Minister said that Christ preached love, equality and humanity. He alleged that previous rulers failed to uphold these values despite projecting themselves as religious.
“Lord Jesus taught us that we are all equal. But earlier rulers did not follow his teachings, even though they claimed to be religious,” Tamang said, drawing a strong response from the audience.
He also appealed to the youth and citizens of the state to follow the values enshrined in all holy scriptures, including the Gita and the Bible, saying they promote humanity, discipline and moral strength.
“All holy books teach us the same values. If we follow them honestly, we can move forward in life,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the previous government, Tamang said those in power earlier believed themselves to be invincible but failed to work for the people. He questioned the relevance of holding office if it is not used to serve society.
“If someone occupies the highest office but does not work for the people, then there is no meaning to that position,” he said.
Describing himself as a “chief servant” rather than a chief minister, Tamang said his government remains committed to public service and inclusive governance. He added that many day-to-day difficulties faced by people before 2019 have been reduced under the present administration.
“I want to work as a chief servant, not merely as a chief minister,” he said, reaffirming his focus on serving the people of Sikkim.