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{{Short description|Referendum that resulted in Sikkim becoming an Indian state}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox referendum
| name = 1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum
| title = Abolishing the [[Chogyal|monarchy]]
| country = Kingdom of Sikkim
| date = {{Start date|df=yes|1975|04|14}}
| yes = 59,637
| no = 1,496
| total = 61,133
| electorate = 97,000
| voter_registration = if nothing is entered or term is omitted, the term "registered voters" is used. if "no" is entered, "registered voters" is replaced by "eligible to vote"
| map =
| mapdivision =
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| notes =
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A '''referendum on abolishing the monarchy''' was held in the [[Kingdom of Sikkim]] on 14 April 1975.<ref name=DD>[http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=in011975 Sikkim (India), 14 April 1975: Abolition of the monarchy] Direct Democracy {{in lang|de}}</ref> It was approved by 97.55% of voters, and resulted in the country becoming an [[States of India|Indian state]].
==Background==
Sikkim had been a [[protectorate]] of India during the [[British Indian Empire|British colonial rule]] since the 19th century. The arrangement was continued after [[Partition of India|India's independence]] through a treaty in 1950, by which India assumed responsibility for communications, defence and foreign affairs, as well as the "territorial integrity" of Sikkim. Sikkim had autonomy in internal affairs.<ref>{{citation |first=Leo E. |last=Rose |title=India and Sikkim: Redefining the Relationship |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=42 |number=1 |date=Spring 1969 |pages=32–46 |doi=10.2307/2754861 |jstor=2754861 |ref={{sfnref|Rose, India and Sikkim|1969}}}}</ref><ref name=ML>{{Cite book|title=Sikkim: Society, Polity, Economy, Environment|last=Lama|first=Mahendra|publisher=Indus Publishing Company|year=1994|location=New Delhi|pages=110–111}}</ref> The [[1974 Sikkimese general election|April 1974 general elections]] resulted in a victory for the India-friendly [[Sikkim National Congress]].<ref name=DD/> The new government sought an increase in civil and political liberties, but was suppressed by the [[Chogyal]], [[Palden Thondup Namgyal]].<ref name=IRI>[http://www.iri-asia.net/cms_file.php?id=75&dl=1 India]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} International Republican Institute</ref> In May it passed the Government of Sikkim Act, which provided for responsible government and furthering relations with India,<ref name=ML/> and on 4 July 1974 the Parliament adopted a new constitution that provided for the country becoming a state of India, which the Chogyal signed under pressure from India.<ref name=DD/>
On 4 September 1974, the Indian [[Lok Sabha]] voted in favour of making Sikkim an "associate" state, with the [[Rajya Sabha]] voting for an amendment on 8 September, giving it a status equal to that of other Indian states and absorbing it in the Indian Union.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19740905&id=vR5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7242,1915999 Lawmakers Vote Sikkim Status of Indian State] The Spokesman-Review, 5 September 1974</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19740909&id=b4YjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Cn4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5616,816824 Sikkim Bill Ratified] New Straits Times, 9 September 1974</ref> On 8 September 1974 the Chogyal called for a free and fair referendum.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19740909&id=CQwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4272,2162710 Sikkim Leader Wants Appeal] The Montreal Gazette, 9 September 1974</ref>
On 5 March 1975 the National Congress repeated its calls for integration into India, whilst the Chogyal again called for a referendum.<ref name=DD/> On 9 April Indian troops entered the country, disarmed the palace guard (killing one of them and injuring four others)<ref>''Asia Yearbook 1976''</ref> and surrounded the palace,<ref>''The World in 1975''</ref> putting the king under house-arrest.<ref>Barun Roy (2012) ''Gorkhas and Gorkhaland'', p250</ref> On 10 April 1975 the [[State Council (Sikkim)|Sikkim State Council]], with the support of Indian [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]], unanimously voted to abolish the monarchy and merge with [[India]] in order to obtain full Indian statehood. A referendum on this issue was set for 14 April.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19750411&id=_g8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CmYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1266,1583524 Sikkim Referendum Slated on Indian Statehood] The Lewiston Daily Sun, 11 April 1975</ref>
==Results==
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!Choice
!Votes
!%
|-
|align=left|For||59,637||97.55
|-
|align=left|Against||1,496||2.45
|-
|align=left|Invalid/blank votes|| ||–
|-
|align=left|'''Total'''||'''61,133'''||'''100'''
|-
|align=left|Registered voters/turnout||97,000||
|-
|align=left colspan=3|Source: [http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=in011975 Direct Democracy]
|}
The results of the plebiscite were questioned by [[Sunanda K. Datta-Ray]] who argued that "it took at least two days by jeep, the fastest mode of transport, to reach some of these inaccessible habitations, and it just would not have been physically possible to complete arrangements, hold the polls and count votes between 11 and 15 April."<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Indian hegemonism drags Himalayan kingdom into oblivion|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Indian-hegemonism-drags-Himalayan-kingdom-into-oblivion?page=1|access-date=4 December 2016|agency=Nikkei|publisher=Nikkei Asian Review|date=21 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403015228/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Indian-hegemonism-drags-Himalayan-kingdom-into-oblivion?page=1|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Supporters of the [[Chogyal]] maintain that 70 to 80% of voters were outsiders from India.<ref name=":0" />
==Aftermath==
After the declaration of the results, Sikkim's chief minister [[Kazi Lhendup Dorji]] cabled the results of the referendum to Indira Gandhi and asked her "to make an immediate response and accept the decision" to which she responded by saying that the Indian government would introduce a constitutional amendment in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] that would allow the kingdom to become part of India constitutionally.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19750417&id=uxZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2627,5630200 India Slates State Status for Sikkim] Toledo Blade, 17 April 1975</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/16/archives/sikkim-votes-to-end-monarchy-merge-with-india.html Sikkim Votes to End Monarchy, Merge With India] The New York Times, 16 April 1975</ref>
The Indian Parliament gave its final approval to the constitutional amendment making Sikkim a state on 26 April 1975.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19750427&id=26NVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MOADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3221,7095696 Sikkim annexation OK'd] Eugene Register-Guard, 27 April 1975</ref> On 15 May 1975 [[President of India|Indian President]] [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]] ratified a constitutional amendment that made Sikkim the 22nd state of India and abolished the position of the Chogyal.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19750516&id=4spRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fm0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4840,2124351 Sikkim Annexed, Now Indian State] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 16 May 1975</ref>
==Reactions==
[[China]] and [[Pakistan]] called the referendum a farce and a disguise for the forced annexation of the principality, to which Indira Gandhi replied by reminding them of their [[Incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China|takeover of Tibet]] and the issue of [[Pakistan-occupied Kashmir]], which she believed was Indian territory, respectively. The Chogyal called the referendum "illegal and unconstitutional".<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19750416&id=vDogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_mYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7319,25549 Sikkim Voters OK Merger With India] Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 16 April 1975</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19750415&id=B0YfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ftEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2633,5501632 Sikkim Votes On Indian Merger] Daytona Beach Morning Journal, 15 April 1975</ref>
The [[U.S. government]] viewed the merging of Sikkim into India as a historic and practical inevitability, given the state's location on important trade routes. The [[Soviet Union]] responded positively, though with a muted response.<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975NEWDE06554_b.html SIKKIM: AN HISTORIC PROCESS, BIG PROBLEMS REMAIN] US Embassy, New Delhi</ref> In 1978, Gandhi's successor, Prime Minister [[Morarji Desai]], expressed regret and criticised the annexation of Sikkim, which along with increasing inflation led to violent protests against him by youth wing of the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19780320&id=BZgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GOkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4827,2990865 Use Tear Gas on Indian Mob] Gettysburg Times, 20 March 1978</ref> While Desai said the annexation was "not a desirable step" and bemoaned the fact he could not undo it, he also claimed "most of the people there wanted it" due to the unpopularity of the Chogyal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1978-03-08|title=Desai Deplores Annexation of Sikkim, but Says He Cannot Undo|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/08/archives/desai-deplores-annexation-of-sikkim-but-says-he-cannot-undo-it.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-17|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911085920/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/08/archives/desai-deplores-annexation-of-sikkim-but-says-he-cannot-undo-it.html |archive-date=11 September 2017 }}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Sikkimese elections}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=History of Sikkim, 1975 referendums, 1970s in Sikkim, Indira Gandhi administration, Referendums in Sikkim, Sikkim monarchy, Monarchy referendums, April 1975 events in Asia, Invasions by India
|description=
}}

[[Category:History of Sikkim]]
[[Category:1975 referendums]]
[[Category:1970s in Sikkim]]
[[Category:Indira Gandhi administration]]
[[Category:Referendums in Sikkim]]
[[Category:Sikkim monarchy]]
[[Category:Monarchy referendums]]
[[Category:April 1975 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Invasions by India]]

1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum - Revision history

MetaBOT at 11:43, 13 July 2023