10/09/2025
OPPOSITION’S IRRESPONSIBLE ATTEMPT TO INSTIGATE SIKKIM’S YOUTH CONDEMNED: BIKASH BASNET
Gangtok, 10 Sept (PR): Some ambitious individuals from the opposition of our state are shamelessly trying to exploit the current political and economic turmoil in Nepal to instigate the youth of Sikkim through social media. Such an attempt is utterly nonsensical and deeply irresponsible. Nepal’s situation is not something that occurred overnight; it is the result of nearly three decades of unemployment, political instability, rampant corruption, unsystematic administration, mass migration, unstable governance, derailed economy, oppression, poverty, inflation and painfully slow development. The death of 19 innocent youths during the violence is deeply unfortunate and condemnable, no society should have to pay such a painful price. To equate Sikkim’s reality with Nepal’s crisis is an insult to the progress and resilience of our state.
Nepal continues to struggle with one of the weakest economies in South Asia. Its GDP per capita hovers around 1,381 USD. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, forcing a large section of the working-age population to seek opportunities abroad. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture, remittances, and tourism, while systemic corruption and unstable governance have held back development. Nepal’s present unrest is the demand of time, a reflection of frustrations over many years of oppression and mismanagement. But in Sikkim the story is different that our state has moved steadily on the path of prosperity and progress, emerging as one of the best-performing states in the country under the most popular, pro-people leadership of HCM Shri P.S. Golay.
Opposers instigating in Sikkim by taking cues from Nepal, it must be made clear that protests there may have begun with causes but the aggression soon turned into a disaster for the country. Violence, destruction of government property & records, looting of banks and sales outlets have damaged Nepal’s economy, cost thousands of jobs and pushed ordinary citizens into deeper uncertainty. Do they expect the same to happen in Sikkim as well? Just because they dislike SKM does not mean they have the right to instigate violence, disrupt peace, and endanger stability. No one has been given the authority to push Sikkim into chaos by drawing misplaced instances from Nepal.
In stark contrast to Nepal’s turmoil, Sikkim under the pragmatic leadership of HCM Shri P.S. Golay has witnessed one of the most remarkable economic transformations in the country. The per capita income has reached over ₹7 lakh in 2023–24, recording a growth of nearly 14 percent in a single year. Sikkim today stands second only to Goa in per capita Net State Domestic Product, reflecting both prosperity and inclusive growth. Between 2019 and 2024, the state’s GDP expanded by 85 percent, per capita income rose by 64 percent and capital investment surged by nearly 270 percent. Poverty has drastically reduced, with only 2.6 percent of the population living below the poverty line, making Sikkim one of the best-performing states in India in poverty alleviation. Even at the industrial level, Sikkim leads the nation in average wages with factory workers earning minimum 15k monthly, almost double the national average. These achievements are not mere statistics; they represent real changes in people’s lives.
What makes this progress even more meaningful is that it is backed by people-centric governance. Schemes such as Chief Minister's Self Employment Assistance Scheme, Aama Sasaktikaran Yojana and Aama Sahayog Yojana have empowered mothers with financial security and dignity. The Shravan Kumar Award has recognized and encouraged filial responsibility among the youth. Educational reforms, free healthcare initiatives, housing support and entrepreneurship schemes like Skilled Youth Startup Scheme Sikkim INSPIRES, and the Niyukti Kendra, which provide training, upskilling and entrepreneurship opportunities have further uplifted the youth and common people. For the first time in decades, Sikkim’s development agenda is centered on human welfare rather than political exploitation.
It is therefore both shameful and dangerous that few frustrated voices on social media are trying to spread propaganda by comparing Sikkim’s situation with Nepal. If they genuinely wish to talk about “revolution,” then they must first reflect on the twenty-five years of oppression during the previous regime. They should remember the brutal beating of students in 2014, the violent attack on the SKM headquarters in 2013, the election-related atrocities of 1999, and the 1997 Employment Exchange Andolan where countless youths were humiliated and deprived of opportunities. And if corruption is their chosen issue, then they must first explain the Sikkim Mahaloot and Barmaloot scams that drained the state’s resources, along with the reckless destruction of Sikkim’s aspirations under their leadership.
Today, Sikkim is not only stable but forward-looking. It is a state where education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment are placed at the heart of governance. The Gen-Z of Sikkim is ambitious and far-sighted and the government has created ample opportunities for them to dream big and achieve those dreams through schemes like NB Bhandari fellowship scheme, APATAN fellowship, CM Lakshya coaching, CM Mentorship scheme, 50 additional MBBS seats, CM Scholarships and many more. Any attempt to mislead them by drawing false parallels with Nepal is nothing more than a reflection of the opposition’s frustration and desperation.
Above all, we must never forget that Sikkim is a proud part of the great Indian Union. As India under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emerges as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, a global voice of democracy, technology and innovation, Sikkim too shares in that glory. India today is a nation of strength, stability,vision and Sikkim is contributing its own golden chapter to this journey. We are proud Indians, and our future lies in the collective progress of a rising India. Unlike neighbouring country, whose present crisis is a result of short-sighted politicians and unstable governments, India has thrived because of its strong Constitution, robust democratic institutions and federal system that balances unity with diversity. This is why India remains incomparable with Nepal, and Sikkim stands firm as an integral and progressive part of this great nation.
Bikash Basnet
