The Sikkim government has expressed displeasure over an advertisement published by the Delhi government that referred to Sikkim as an independent country.
The Sikkim government on Saturday wrote to Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev expressing displeasure over an advertisement published by the Delhi government that referred to Sikkim as an independent country and clubbed it with Nepal and Bhutan.
In the letter, Sikkim chief secretary SC Gupta said that the ad is offensive to the people of the state and must be withdrawn immediately.
Gupta further added that the people of Sikkim have been immensely hurt as they take pride in being a part of India ever since Sikkim became a state in 1975. "This is immensely hurtful to the people of Sikkim who take pride in being the citizens of our great country ever since it became the 22nd state of the Indian Union on May 16, 1975," the letter read.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang also condemned the advertisement and had asked the Delhi government to rectify it.
Following the development, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal took to Twitter and said that a senior officer has been suspended for publishing the advertisement.
"A senior officer of Directorate of Civil Defence (HQ) has been suspended with immediate effect for publishing an Advertisement which disrespects the territorial integrity of India by making incorrect reference to Sikkim on the same lines as some neighbouring countries," Baijal tweeted.
In another tweet, the L-G added that the concerned authorities have been directed to immediately withdraw the offensive advertisement.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted that Sikkim is an integral part of the country and such errors cannot be tolerated.
"Sikkim is an integral part of India. Such errors also cannot be tolerated. Advertisement has been withdrawn and action taken against the officer concerned," he wrote.
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