Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : A significant political controversy has erupted following a shocking statement by senior Congress leader Ajoy Kumar, who, in a critical assessment of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) handling of the North-Eastern states, remarked that Sikkim, along with six other states, was "not a part of India." This egregious gaffe immediately drew furious condemnation from the BJP, which accused the Congress of a deep-seated contempt for the region and a disregard for national unity.
The incident unfolded during a press conference where Ajoy Kumar was attempting to highlight the alleged neglect of North-Eastern states by the BJP government. In his zeal to criticize, he controversially stated, "Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura are not a part of India." While he quickly attempted to rephrase, suggesting the BJP "treated" them as if they weren't part of India, the damage was already done.
The BJP Sikkim unit vehemently denounces the outrageous and ignorant statement made by INC leader Ajoy Kumar, who shockingly referred to Sikkim as a "neighboring country" during his press conference at AICC headquarters today. It is utterly deplorable that a former IPS officer… pic.twitter.com/Uwoi6gTyV4
— BJP Sikkim (@BJP4Sikkim) July 1, 2025
The Bharatiya Janata Party wasted no time in seizing upon the remark, turning it into a scathing attack on the Congress. BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra led the charge, vehemently condemning Kumar's words as an insult to the nation's integrity and to the people of the North-East. Patra accused the Congress of harboring anti-national sentiments and questioned the party's commitment to India's territorial unity, especially regarding sensitive border states like Sikkim, which formally integrated into India in 1975.
This blunder provides the BJP with potent ammunition, particularly as political discourse often veers towards nationalism and regional identity. The incident revives the long-standing political narrative that the Congress historically neglected the North-East, a charge the BJP frequently levels while promoting its own 'Act East' policy and development initiatives in the region.
Facing swift backlash, Ajoy Kumar later issued a clarification, asserting that his intention was to criticize the BJP's 'step-motherly' treatment of these states, making them feel disconnected. However, the initial statement's severity has left the Congress on the defensive, struggling to contain the fallout from a remark that has been widely perceived as undermining India's sovereignty and unity.
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