Sikkim MP Indra Hang Subba meets PM Modi, raises ST inclusion and infrastructure demands
Synopsis
Sikkim's lone Lok Sabha MP handed PM Modi a wide-ranging memorandum on 30 July covering tribal recognition for 12 left-out communities, a Greenfield Highway parallel to NH-10, restoration of Pakyong Airport flights, an IIT for the state, and a facilitated visit by the 17th Karmapa — a rare bundling of constitutional, strategic, and cultural demands in a single sitting.
Key Takeaways
Indra Hang Subba , Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha MP, met PM Narendra Modi at Parliament House on 30 July .
The memorandum demands inclusion of 12 left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribe list — a long-pending state demand.
Subba sought revision of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to enable ST seat reservation in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly .
Key infrastructure asks include a Greenfield Highway parallel to NH-10 , an all-weather strategic road along the Indo-Nepal border , and restoration of flights at Pakyong Airport .
The MP also sought an IIT or extension campus and a NIFT for Sikkim, plus facilitation of the 17th Karmapa's visit to the state.
Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha representative, Indra Hang Subba, on Thursday, 30 July met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House, New Delhi, and submitted a formal memorandum pressing the Centre on a range of long-pending developmental, constitutional, and strategic concerns affecting the Himalayan state. The meeting covered issues from tribal recognition to airport connectivity and higher education infrastructure.
Greetings and the Tunnel Mishap
Subba conveyed the greetings and gratitude of the people of Sikkim and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) to the Prime Minister, acknowledging the NDA government's sustained support for the state's development. Prime Minister Modi also enquired about the recent tunnel mishap in Sikkim, prompting Subba to brief him on the state government's response and to thank him for his concern and support extended to the affected families.
Scheduled Tribe Inclusion and Constitutional Demands
A central demand in the memorandum was the early inclusion of 12 left-out communities of Sikkim in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list — a demand that has remained unresolved for years. Subba also urged the Centre to revisit relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to enable reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The memorandum additionally flagged pending issues relating to the Limboo and Tamang Scheduled Tribes, whose recognition and associated rights remain contested.
Infrastructure and Connectivity Demands
On the infrastructure front, Subba sought the construction of a Greenfield Highway parallel to National Highway-10 to bolster regional connectivity. He also called for the development of an all-weather strategic road along the Indo-Nepal border in western Sikkim, with links to Border Outposts — a demand with clear strategic and defence implications given the state's sensitive geopolitical location.
The MP further requested the restoration of scheduled commercial flight operations at Pakyong Airport, which has faced operational disruptions, and called for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or an extension campus in Sikkim, along with a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in the state — moves that would significantly expand higher education access for Sikkim's youth.
Karmapa Visit and Cultural Significance
The memorandum also sought the Centre's facilitation of a visit by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa to Sikkim — a matter of deep religious and cultural significance for a large section of the state's population. The request underscores the intersection of spiritual heritage and diplomatic sensitivity in the region.
What Comes Next
According to a statement from the Office of the Member of Parliament, Subba expressed confidence that the issues raised would receive positive consideration under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, and that action on these fronts would help accelerate Sikkim's inclusive, strategic, and sustainable development. The memorandum now awaits formal response from the relevant central ministries.
Point of View
Border infrastructure, civil aviation, higher education, and religious diplomacy in a single sitting. That breadth reflects Sikkim's structural disadvantage: as a single-seat state, its MP must compress an entire state's backlog into every prime ministerial access window. The ST inclusion demand for 12 communities is particularly overdue; delays in tribal recognition have direct consequences for land rights, reservations, and political representation. The Pakyong Airport and NH-10 demands are not merely developmental — in a border state abutting Nepal and China, connectivity is a security variable. Whether these issues move from memorandum to ministry action will be the real test.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Indra Hang Subba and why did he meet PM Modi?
Indra Hang Subba is Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha Member of Parliament. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House on 30 July to submit a memorandum seeking the Centre's intervention on developmental, constitutional, and strategic issues affecting Sikkim.
What is the demand to include 12 communities in the Scheduled Tribe list?
Sikkim has long sought the inclusion of 12 communities that were left out of the official Scheduled Tribe classification, which would entitle them to constitutional protections, reservations, and land rights. The demand has remained pending for years and was reiterated in Subba's memorandum to PM Modi.
What is the current status of Pakyong Airport?
Pakyong Airport in Sikkim has faced disruptions to scheduled commercial flight operations. Subba's memorandum urges the Centre to restore regular commercial flights, which are critical for connectivity in the landlocked Himalayan state.
Why is the 17th Karmapa's visit to Sikkim significant?
The 17th Karmapa is one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism, and his visit to Sikkim holds deep religious and cultural importance for a large section of the state's population. The request for Centre facilitation suggests the visit involves diplomatic or administrative sensitivities.
What infrastructure projects has the Sikkim MP sought from the Centre?
Subba has sought a Greenfield Highway parallel to National Highway-10, an all-weather strategic road along the Indo-Nepal border in western Sikkim with links to Border Outposts, and restoration of flights at Pakyong Airport — all aimed at improving connectivity and strategic readiness in the border state.
