Ven Sonam Lama, Sikkim’s minister for ecclesiastical affairs, public health engineering (PHE), and water resources, called on Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi on Monday.
During the meeting, Mr Shah enquired about the well-being of the state and reviewed its developmental initiatives. A key issue highlighted was the long-pending matter of the early return of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, to India. The home minister assured his full support in facilitating the process.
The discussion also touched on cultural and historical matters. Mr Shah appreciated that under the leadership of chief minister P S Tamang (Golay), the state has revived the annual Vijay Diwas celebrations to honour the Indian Army’s victory at Nathula.
On developmental concerns, minister Lama placed before the home minister several proposals, including projects related to water supply and sewerage systems under the public health engineering department and initiatives of the water resources department under the “Vibrant Village Programme”.
The Union home minister assured the Sikkim government of his full cooperation and intervention in addressing these issues at the earliest.