Vlogger Arrest Sparks Sikkim Election Feud: Nepali Woman Returns Home as Tensions Rise

There is a stir on both sides of the international border following the recent arrest of Nepali vlogger Uma Chamling Rai by Sikkim police and her subsequent return to her home country.

The events also revealed the fierce political maneuvering that was going on between the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) in advance of the Sikkim Assembly elections.

According to sources, Uma, who has 1.1 lakh Facebook followers, was detained on December 30 and charged with violating sections 153A, 153B, 505 (1), and 505 (2), which prohibit inciting animosity between various groups, after she uploaded a video on Facebook urging the Rai community to attend the Rai community's Udhauli Sakewa festival, which is scheduled to take place at Legship in West Sikkim on December 30.

Spokesman for the ruling SKM, Jacob Khaling, referred to the Legship festival as an SDF event. The Legship festival's organizers refuted the accusations.

Additionally, on December 26, Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), the chief minister of Sikkim and president of SKM, went to another Udhauli Sakewa festival in Namchi.

Uma announced that she had been forced to return to Nepal in a video that she shared on Facebook on Monday. "I would like to express my gratitude to the government and people of Sikkim for this gift. This is an incident that I will always remember. I was imprisoned after talking about my community.Uma remarked, "I don't think I discussed anything political.

Numerous Nepali artists denounced the detention. "Artists ought not to be used as tools for political gamesmanship," a Nepali singer told this publication.

Uma was placed under arrest, according to Sikkim police, following a complaint and learning that "her personal security was under threat."

Uma was placed under police remand for five days by the court, but on Sunday the police decided to send her back to Nepal. A police officer stated, "We will file a report (about the pushback and their action) before the court in due time."

The Sikkim government was attacked by the SDF, led by Pawan Chamling, for the arrest. "The arrest is an indication of the current government's desperation and frustration. Their behavior demonstrates how hopeless the administration is. According to SDF senior vice-president Tshering Wangdi Lepcha, Uma had not made any statements in support of the organization.

But the SKM camp persisted, claiming that Uma had been encouraged by SDF to produce online content that might stoke conflict within the community. Two three-day seminars were held by the SDF, one in Batabari Dooars from May 5 to 7, and the other at Delo in Kalimpong from June 9 to 11. The SDF's closed-door seminars in these two locations were attended by Uma's guides during her stay in Sikkim, according to a source from the SKM camp.

According to observers, the dispute surrounding Uma demonstrated the fervor of the competition ahead of the Sikkim Assembly elections.

After 25 years in power, Golay had won 17 of the 32 seats in the 2019 elections, removing Chamling from office. This year, Chamling is attempting a comeback.

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