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 Buddhist community. Responding to the appeal, Amit Shah assured that the Government of India would make every possible effort to resolve the matter at the earliest, acknowledging its importance for the state’s spiritual and cultural identity.
The meeting also touched upon Sikkim’s developmental concerns, especially under the Vibrant Village Programme, which aims to strengthen infrastructure in border areas. Lama presented the state government’s proposals for water supply projects, sewerage systems, and water resources management, underscoring the urgent need for central support to accelerate their implementation.
Union Minister Shah praised Sikkim’s unique initiative of observing Vijay Diwas at Nathula each year, a practice started under Chief Minister P.S. Tamang (Golay). He assured full cooperation from the Centre in addressing both developmental and administrative priorities of the state, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Sikkim’s connectivity, cultural preservation, and public welfare initiatives.