Gangtok:16th May:51st Statehood Day celebrations were further enlivened due to presence of the Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan and Union Minister for Communication & DoNER.
Governor OP Mathur ,Speaker SLA MN Sherpa,CM PS Tamang and Mrs Krishna Rai, joined by Ecclesiastical Affairs Minister Ven Sonam Lama , joined the VP and UM in releasing a book and a poster . Vice President inaugurated a number of projects virtually by pressing the button.
Addressing the gathering ,here he started in ‘Nepali’ and wished people in Bhutia language .President ,described people of Sikkim as ‘Organic’to convey their simplicity .
‘I was really very happy , the day Sikkim was merged with Indian union in1971 (he said due to slip of tongue in place of 1975),as I felt our border was strengthend.’ He referred to Sino- India war of 1962 and adverse results hence was worried about border then.
Recollecting the event,he said he was in class 2 during the war and school finals when Sikkim got Statehood.He had never imagined at that time that someday he will be present here on 51st Statehood Day and that too as the Vice President.
VP said , during his next visit he would like to visit vibrant villages of Sikkim on border.There are 58 such villages he stated.
‘Those vibrant villages are not the last villages but the First villages ,’ said VP.
Due to Inclement weather VP travelled to Sikkim by road. He appreciated the welfare conservation, climate , cleanliness , social security , health and other schemes of CM PS Tamang led Govt. VP particularly mentioned ‘Mero Rukh Mero Santity’ and Community driven tourism’. ‘ Sikkim has really shown how tourism can be community driven. How responsible tourism can happen in the Himalayan region.’ He also referred to Sikkim’s eco , adventure tourism and home stays. However, VP suggested publishing pamphlets for tpurists to give them an idea of the way of life here, instead of getting annoyed with them. This he said should be done by hotel managers. VP apprecythe no vehicle zone in the heart of town i. e. the MG Road.
The celebrations were marked by mesmerizing cultiral programme,including folk dances and songs.
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