SLTTF put pressure on communities Mlas for political protection

Gangtok, May 28 (UNI) Sikkim Limboo Tamang Tribal Forum (SLTTF) has urged its communities' Mlas represeting the state assembly to ensure protection of political rights of their people.

The SLTTF in a letter to the mlas has demanded to take 'strong steps' to protect the political rights of their communities.

Before this, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has written a letter to the twelve Bhutia-Lepcha MLAs urging them to demand for proportionate increase in seat reserved for them in state assembly if it was expanded to 40 seats from the existing 32.

Meanwhile, two regional parties, Sikkim Gorkha Democratic Party (SGDP) and Sikkim Progressive Party (SPP) have presented their own formulae to solve the vexed issue.

In its five-point memorandum to the Limboo Tamang MLAs, SLTTF has emphasized that representation in the assembly should be reserved on the basis of population as per the democratic norms mentioned in the constitution of India.

The SLTTF regretted that the Limboo Tamang communities even after accorded Scheduled Tribe status four years ago, they were yet to be given seat reservation in the state assembly.

Another association, Sikkim Limboo Tamang Joint Action Community (SLTJAC) has blamed the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front government for not having seats reserved for their communities.

SLTJAC president R B Subba has accused the SDF government for the not having a clear cut proposal in the seat reservation issue.

Meanwhile, Sikkim Gorkha Democratic Party (SGDP) will be hosting a one-day deliberation on the issue at Singtam, East Sikkim on June 10. The party has invited senior politicians, academics, social organisations and SIBLAC to discuss on the issue and achieve a common understanding.

The national parties like the BJP, Congress and the CPI(M) were yet to make any statement on the issue.

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