Chief Minister PS Golay responded to persistent criticism on Sunday, January 12, about the planned Ed Sheeran concert at Sikkim's Natives Party Golden Jubilee festivities. The Chief Minister made it clear that no government funds would be used for the concert, stressing that it would be fully funded through sponsorships, while speaking at the Namprikdang Namsoong Festival's closing event in Dzongu, Namprikdang.
"I said lately that we would try to get Ed Sheeran to Sikkim, but I didn't say the government would pay for it. The government will merely help with logistics; the state will not pay for the concert's organization. The money will be handled by sponsors,” Golay said.
Opposition parties have criticized the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government for putting ostentatious entertainment ahead of the people's immediate needs after the announcement of the planned performance. The Chief Minister refuted these accusations, stating that "well-wishers" have shown their desire to support the event, including the ticketing system.
"What if Ed Sheeran visits Sikkim without any funding from the government? Sikkim will gain international attention as a result of his performance. The performance will draw thousands of tourists from outside the state, who will stay in our hotels, travel to our stunning locations, and bring in money for the tourism industry," he said.
Tamang further chastised the opposition for politicizing the event while neglecting the potential global and economic benefits for Sikkim. He asked them to consider their dwindling political importance, citing their defeat in the 2024 elections. The Chief Minister emphasized his government's stance, stating that the state does not fund large-scale entertainment events and urged a focus on Sikkim's development rather than indulging in what he called "pointless discourse."
