The sherpa community of the state rejects the Regulation of Transfer of ...

"The sherpa community of the state rejects the Regulation of Transfer of Land bill passed by the state government and we also demand that 5000 acres of Sherpa community's landed properties sold to other communities must be returned to the sherpas", said Pasang Sherpa, the spokeperson of Denzong Sherpa Association.



Sherpa was speaking at a coordination meeting organized by Denzong Sherpa Association at Sherpa Community Hall of Okhrey under Daramdin constituency.



He further stated that the sherpa community wants their lands protected under ambit of Revenue Order No. 1.  He added that DSA reiterates their single point demand of the land of Sherpa community be brought under protection of Revenue Order No. 1 like the Bhutia-Lepcha communities. He termed the the land protection bill passed by the state government as 'forcefull implementation of unwelcomed bill' and against the interests of sherpa communinty of the state. Pasang Sherpa further stressed that as per the historical facts and evidence, the term 'Bhutia' is not a single caste, but defines a group of communities comprised of sherpa and other communities, Hence the sherpas are also part of the bhutia ccommunty and they are entitled to constitutional rights being enjoyed by the bhutias. He warned that if the state government tries to alienate the sherpa community, the greater movement would be started off. 





Sonam Gyatsho Sherpa, chief convenor of Sherpa Protection Forum informing the gatherings claimed that conspiracies to exempt the sherpa community from definiation of B.L is being hatched and demand to alienate the sherpa community from B.L has been placed to the central government. He added that it is due to appeasement policies of the state government towards certain community the weaker section like sherpas are facing grave injustice. He also alleged that sherpa community's poitical representative has failed to speak up for the sherpas in time of need. Terming the land protection bill passed by the state government as unwanted, he said that the state government has no rights to determine the future of sherpa community without assessing the historical facts and evidence. 



He added that the land protection bill passed by the state is unconstitutional and the sherpa organization would approach the central government very soon with the demand of quashing the bill.  "If the state government was so concerned about protection of lands of sherpas, why it did not placed the bill in the assembly earlier? Why was the government silence about the conspiracies being hatched to alienate the sherpas from the definiation of B.L. Is it constitutional to force the implimentation of bill upon the sherpa communities without their approval?" he asked.





Sonam Gyatsho Sherpa further informed that if their demand is not fulfilled the organization would knock the door of central government.



Lachen Sherpa, president of DSA in his speech reiterated that their movement for protection of lands of sherpas is apolitical, adding that if some forces tries to give their movement a political colour then DSA would field its own candidates in upcoming  election. He complained that sherpas lack strong political representation in the state.

He added that sherpa community has been denied their rights since 100 years and it is time for the sherpa community to be united to fight for their rights in a democratic way. He also informed that DSA would approach the different central government's ministries of the tribal affairs regarding the issue. He added that sherpa community would get their constitutional right and no forces could stop them to have their constitutional right. He called for greater participations sherpas in the movement.