Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday said the people of Sikkim felt reassured and encouraged by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the state’s 50th year of statehood celebrations in Gangtok. Addressing a large gathering during the golden jubilee celebration, Tamang said the Prime Minister’s visit carried deep emotional and political significance for the people of the Himalayan state. The programme was attended by Governor Om Prakash Mathur, ministers, Members of Parliament, legislators, officials and thousands of people from different parts of the state. In his speech, Tamang warmly welcomed the Prime Minister and other dignitaries present at the event. He said the people of Sikkim were honoured to celebrate the historic occasion in the presence of the Prime Minister and described the visit as an important moment for the state. The Chief Minister spoke about Sikkim’s spiritual and cultural identity and said the land was blessed by the presence of Mount Kangchenjunga and the teachings linked to Guru Rinpoche. He said the people of the state considered it a matter of pride that the Prime Minister had joined the celebrations marking 50 years of Sikkim becoming a part of the Indian Union.
Tamang recalled that during an earlier programme connected to the statehood celebrations, the Prime Minister could not attend physically because of bad weather conditions and had instead addressed the people virtually. He said the Prime Minister’s physical presence at the current celebration had now completed that unfinished moment for the people of the state.“Your esteemed presence has completed that moment and given it fulfillment,” Tamang said during his address.The Chief Minister also congratulated the Prime Minister for becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister earlier this year. He said the achievement reflected political stability, democratic continuity and commitment towards public service. According to Tamang, Modi’s leadership had strengthened India’s standing at the global level and increased confidence among citizens across the country. He said several initiatives introduced under the Prime Minister’s leadership had helped improve development and welfare delivery in different parts of India. Referring to the slogan “Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” the Chief Minister said the approach had encouraged inclusive development and ensured that welfare schemes reached people from different communities and backgrounds.
Tamang also praised the Centre’s focus on women’s empowerment. He said women in Sikkim had played an important role in the state’s social and economic progress and added that efforts to increase women’s participation in development activities had received strong support from the people of the state.He referred to the “Pride of the Hills” initiative and said such programmes reflected efforts to improve opportunities for women living in hill regions and remote areas.During his speech, the Chief Minister also highlighted the difficulties faced by hill states like Sikkim. He said geographical challenges, difficult terrain, scattered population, remoteness and limited revenue resources often slowed development work in mountainous states. Despite these difficulties, he said Sikkim had continued to move forward through careful planning and support from the Centre. Tamang thanked the Prime Minister for including Sikkim in the Buddhist Circuit initiative, which aims to improve tourism and connectivity linked to important Buddhist heritage locations. He said the move would help strengthen tourism in the state and create more economic opportunities for local people.
The Chief Minister also spoke about Sikkim’s focus on sustainable development and environmental protection. He said the state had consistently promoted environmentally balanced growth and worked towards protecting natural resources.He noted that Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state in 2016 and said the state continued to promote organic farming and eco-friendly development policies. According to him, Sikkim’s development model had increasingly focused on sustainability and environmental conservation.Tamang said the continued support shown by the Prime Minister towards the people of Sikkim had strengthened public confidence in the state.“We assure you that your presence here today is a symbol of reassurance and security,” he said. The Chief Minister further said that the people of Sikkim felt their concerns, aspirations and development needs were being heard at the national level.