Indian who's a foreigner in Sikkim Neeti Tandon
CNN-IBN Posted Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at 19:20 Updated Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at 21:32 [image: Email]<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/03_2007/foreigner-in-sikkim-indian-in-assam-35427.html> Email<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/03_2007/foreigner-in-sikkim-indian-in-assam-35427.html> [image: Print] <http://www.ibnlive.com/printpage.php?id=35427§ion_id=4>Print<http://www.ibnlive.com/printpage.php?id=35427§ion_id=4> QUESTIONABLE CITIZENSHIP: Congress MP Moni Kumar Subba claims that he is an Indian, but CNN-IBN proves that he is a Nepali citizen. <http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/35427/indian-whos-a-foreigner-in-sikkim.html> *also read* - Subba defensive, row in Parliament <http://www.ibnlive.com/news/subba-defensive-row-in-parliament/35406-4.html> - Impact: Subba story stuns BJP | SIT<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/impact-subba-story-stuns-bjp--sit/35376-4.html> - Subba claims he is supreme<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/subba-claims-he-is-supreme/35350-4.html> - Subba's school missing on map<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/subbas-school-missing-on-map/35344-4.html> - Cong MP born 4 times at 3 places!<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cong-mp-born-4-times-at-3-places/35342-4.html> *Gangtok:* The Congress MP from Tezpur, Moni Kumar Subba, has lied about his place of birth, date of birth and education. He claims that he is an Indian, but CNN-IBN's Special Investigation proves that he is a Nepali citizen, something that has been suspected for long. Subba's nationality was first questioned in 1985, when the Chief Electoral Officer of Sikkim stopped him from including his name in the state's electoral rolls. TT Dorji was Sikkim's Electoral Registration Officer in 1979 and today he is the Finance Secretary of the state. Dorji gave CNN-IBN an attested copy of his report in which he said this about Subba: *"I have examined the detailed investigation reports submitted by the Special Branch and the Vigilance Police Force of the Sikkim Police. These reports certify that Shri M K Subba, son of Dhan Bahadur Subba, is a foreign national from Nepal. Shri M K Subba does not fulfill the criteria for enumeration as a voter." * *'Speak to my lawyers'* When confronted with this report, Subba refused to comment on camera. CNN-IBN's hidden camera recorded him saying this: "*Ye vakil ko dikhao. Hum to dosti ka baat se aapko bulaya tha. Hum kuch nahi bolega. Yeh maine bola tha ki nahi *. (I called you here for friendship. I will not say anything about the case. Show this to my lawyers)." Subba's old friend, Bal Chand Sarda, who has set up the Royal Plaza Hotel in Sikkim in partnership with the MP, confirms the fact. "He (Subba) is from Nepal, no doubt about it," said Sarda. *CNN-IBN: **How can you be so sure? * *Sarda*: That everybody knows. *CNN-IBN: **He says he is born in Darjeeling?* *Sarda*: No, no. If he was born in Darjeeling, he must prove it. Even his language is typically that of Nepal. Subba's third wife, Karma Kanu, also confirms that her husband is not an Indian. "Indian *toh nahi hai vo. Ab *Nepali India *aane se *Indian *to nahi ho jayega. Hai to *Nepali (He's not Indian. Just by coming to India, a Nepali does not become an Indian. He is still a Nepali)," she says. Subba managed to get listed as a voter in Assam. He was elected as a Congress MLA from Nowbasia in 1991, becoming possibly the first foreign national to win an election in India. *Election challenged* But Subba's election was questioned. Bhim Bahadur Chhetri, who knew Subba from his Nepal days, challenged Subba's nomination in Guwahati High Court. Chhetri's complaint was listed as election petition Case No. 8/91. RP Sarmah, an advocate in the Guwahati High Court, told CNN-IBN about the petition. "Bhim Bahadur Chhetri knew him (Subba) from childhood. They were of the same age. But Chhetri died under mysterious circumstances in Udalgudi (in Assam) after filing the case," Sarmah said. Subba was born in Nepal, in Ward No 8 under San Sabu panchayat. The high court dismissed Chettri's petition challenging Subba's nomination, as Chettri himself was a Nepali national. Subba went on to become an MLA in June 1991. Subba first tried to include his name in the voter's list in Sikkim, but failed. It's strange that he was allowed to get his name included in the electoral rolls of another state and then fight elections too. (*With Sudesh Bhatt*)
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