Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

01 Sep

Sikkim’s new anthropological research reinforces its campaign for tribal recognition

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

out communities with the submission of a fresh ethnographic study to the Union government in New Delhi. The report, prepared by a nine-member expert committee, was formally handed over on August 18 in the presence of representatives from the Eleven Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim plus one (EIECOS+1), scholars, and senior officials. The study is the outcome of months of detailed fieldwork and academic collaboration. It includes contributions from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholars, inputs from economic advisor to the Chief Minister Mahendra P. Lama, and officials from the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI).…

01 Sep

The chief minister of Assam denies the “Bengali as Bangladeshi Language” dispute, claiming it is politically driven

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly dismissed the controversy over the labeling of Bengali as a “Bangladeshi language,” terming it a politically motivated issue designed to divide communities for electoral gains. Speaking at a large public gathering in Silchar on Sunday, the Chief Minister underlined that there is no conflict between the Assamese and Bengali communities in Assam, and urged people not to fall into the trap of divisive politics. In his address, Sarma sought to reassure the people of Barak Valley, where a large section of the population speaks Bengali, that the government respects every language and…

30 Aug

“America is attempting to intimidate India”: Sikkim chief minister supports Modi’s “vocal for local” in the tariff dispute

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang accused the United States of attempting to “bully India” by slapping a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, and urged citizens to rally behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “vocal for local” campaign to strengthen domestic industries. Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, Tamang said, “America is trying to bully India. PM Narendra Modi has said that we will not come under any pressure and work for the welfare of our people. The call to go ‘vocal for local’ must be followed.” He added that his temple…

30 Aug

Congress criticizes Amit Shah for the Guwahati waterlogging and the Assam Accord

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam Congress on Friday launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of failing to deliver on long-standing promises concerning the Assam Accord and the recurring waterlogging crisis in Guwahati. The party also questioned the propriety of Shah inaugurating the new wing of the Raj Bhavan during his visit to the state. Addressing the media, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi said that the people of Assam have been repeatedly assured by Shah of progress on issues central to the state’s identity and development, but very little has been achieved on the…

29 Aug

The NARI 2025 research identifies Gangtok as one of the safest cities for women

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The recently released National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI 2025) has highlighted a stark contrast in women’s safety across India, while bringing a note of optimism for the Northeast. According to the report, four out of every ten women in Indian cities feel “not so safe” or “unsafe” in their surroundings, with safety concerns peaking during night hours due to poor street lighting and lack of visible security. Surveying 12,770 women across 31 cities, the report revealed that harassment—ranging from catcalling, lewd remarks, and staring to physical touching—is a daily challenge for many women. Some young girls…

29 Aug

Guwahati is paralyzed as widespread waterlogging and traffic mayhem are caused by heavy rain

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Life in Assam’s capital came to a virtual standstill on Thursday as relentless heavy rains flooded peripheral roads and residential areas, leaving commuters stranded and daily activities disrupted. The downpour, which lasted for several hours in the afternoon, submerged major thoroughfares and minor lanes, creating traffic snarls across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, heightening concerns about further flooding. Several areas, including Zoo Road, RG Baruah Road, GS Road, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, Gita Nagar, Maligaon, Hedayetpur,…

28 Aug

Sikkim Police arrest three people in a Dalep operation after busting a significant drug haul in Namchi

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

In a major breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Sikkim Police seized a large quantity of illegal drugs and arrested three individuals in Namchi district earlier this week. The successful operation was carried out by officials of Temi Police Station, who acted on specific intelligence inputs and intercepted a suspicious vehicle in Dalep, under Namchi district. The vehicle, a four-wheeler bearing registration number SK 06 Z 0114, was stopped during a coordinated police checking drive. Upon thorough inspection, the team discovered a significant stash of controlled substances, legally falling under the category of “commercial quantity.” According to police officials, the…

28 Aug

Gaurav Gogoi claims that “Vision Assam” is exposed by the NITI Aayog report

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government on Tuesday, claiming that the recently released NITI Aayog report has punctured Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s “Vision Assam” narrative.Taking to his official social media handle, Gogoi accused the state government of indulging in publicity rather than addressing the fundamental issues that affect the daily lives of people. He said the NITI Aayog’s findings on Assam’s development indicators were a wake-up call that highlighted the gap between promises and ground reality. According to the latest survey, Assam has been ranked 26th among Indian states in health…

27 Aug

Minister Sonam Lama of Sikkim meets with Amit Shah and requests backing for important state issues

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, Public Health Engineering (PHE), and Water Resources, Ven Sonam Lama, held an important meeting with Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday. The talks focused on a range of pressing issues concerning Sikkim, including religious, cultural, and developmental priorities of the Himalayan state. One of the key subjects raised by Minister Lama was the long-pending demand for the early return of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorji, to India. Lama highlighted that the spiritual leader’s presence is deeply significant for the people of Sikkim and the larger…

27 Aug

In Assam, Amit Shah will blow the poll war horn on August 29

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Guwahati on August 29, where he will combine government programmes with a major political show of strength. His visit is being viewed as the formal launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. According to BJP general secretary Pallab Lochan Das, Shah’s day-long schedule includes the inauguration of the newly built Raj Bhavan and the launch of the year-long birth centenary celebrations of Golap Borbora, Assam’s first non-Congress Chief Minister. However, the highlight of the visit will be the Panchayat Sanmilan at Khanapara’s Veterinary College…