Sikkim govt misleading people on reservation to Limboo and Tamang

Gangtok, Aug 3: The Sikkim unit of the BJP today criticised the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front government for misleading the people by spreading the rumour that reservation of seats for the Limboo and Tamang Communities in the state assembly would be provided soon after the present Delimitation Commission finalised its report.

BJP President H R Pradhan said the state government had not yet submitted a definite proposal for the reservation of Limboo and Tamang communities despite pressure from the union government.

In the absence of a definite proposal neither the central government nor the Delimitation Commission can do anything on the issue and the structure of the seats in the state assembly will remain unaltered till the next Delimitation Commission.

Mr Pradhan said as per the guidelines the next Delimitation Commission would be set up not before 2031.

The Limboo and Tamang Communities have been demanding for reservation of seats in the state assembly after their inclusion in the ST list in 2002.

Though the state government has passed a resolution in the state assembly and requested the centre to increase the number of seats in the state assembly from the present 32 to 40 but submitted no specific proposal yet due to what Mr Pradhan said as ''lack of political will.''

In the present arrangement 12 seats are reserved for Bhutia and Lepcha communities, 2 for SC and 1 for the Bhuddha Sangha in the 32-member house under the provision of section 7 of the Representation of People Act 1950. Mr Pradhan said the Delimitation Commission had only finalised its report in respect of only 15 states by the end of its tenure on July 31 last.

The Commission had sought an extention of its term for an year till July 31, 2007 to complete the delimitation reports of all states and union territories.

The BJP leader demanded the state government to submit a definite proposal and pressurise the union government to initiate legislative process to provide reservation to the two communities before the Delimitation Commission finalised its report.

Otherwise Mr Pradhan said the Limboo and Tamang communities would have to wait for 25 more years for their political rights.

He said the BJP had already filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the publication of the final report of Delimitation Commission and a direction to the state government to submit a definite proposal on the reservation to the two communities.

Mr Pradhan wanted the state government to act fast and not to mislead the people by spreading rumours.

UNI