Delhi govt suspends official over ‘offensive’ ad that mentioned Sikkim as separate nation

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal on Saturday said that 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.

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.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) May 23, 2020

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal later in a tweet said Sikkim is an integral part of India 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 Advertisement has been withdrawn and action taken against the officer concerned. https://t.co/BgTcjJF4MF

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 23, 2020

The advertisement had called for volunteers to join the Civil Defence Corps has stated ‘citizens of India or a subject of Sikkim, Bhutan or Nepal’ as an eligible applicant. The advertisement has appeared in a leading English newspaper.

Sikkim govt asks Delhi govt to withdraw ad

Earlier, Sikkim government wrote to Delhi Chief Secretary expressing disappointment over an advertisement, published by the Delhi government in which Sikkim was mentioned as a different country along with Bhutan and Nepal.

The letter, written by Sikkim Chief Secretary SC Gupta, said the people of the state have been “immensely” hurt as they take pride in being a part of India ever since Sikkim became a separate 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,” he wrote.