Wednesday, Nov 08, 2023 07:15 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Nov 08, 2023 01:37 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The Sikkim Republican Party (SRP) is taking up the demand for restoration of lost Nepali seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly as its main issue, said SRP president KB Rai at a press meet here on Tuesday.
Rai maintained that the SRP is willing to work with any organization or party whoever supports this issue of Nepali seats restoration for taking it to the logical end. The SRP is the only political party in the State which can take up this issue strongly to the Centre for the restoration of Nepali seats, he said.
Commenting on the recent SIBLAC convention, the SRP president expressed that it is not wrong for the minority Bhutia and Lepcha communities to speak for their protection and identity. The majority community should understand their feelings and stand, said Rai, also endorsing the submissions made by SIBLAC convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia at the convention.
We also welcome his statement that if Nepali seats get restored in the State Assembly then the seat reservation issue can be settled in-house, but we feel that the Sikkimese Nepali communities are busy in their materialistic development and away from their political rights, said the SRP president.
On the same, Rai announced that the SRP is taking up Nepali seat restoration as its main issue and is ready to work with any political party and organization that supports this issue which is still guaranteed in the Article 371F. The SRP is the first political party in Sikkim which always stressed over the seat allocations in a proportionate manner in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and equality in the politics and this can be settled in-house after the restoration of Nepali seats in the Assembly, he said.
Rai urged the people to come together with their opinion, views and suggestions on the restoration of Nepali seats in the State Assembly. We are organising a seminar by inviting different organisations and individuals from different areas to discuss the issue in near future, he said.
The SRP will be meeting the SIBLAC representatives to discuss the issue.
The SRP president urged the people of Sikkim to support and take ahead the issue of restoration of Nepali seats. He demanded the State government to immediately call a special Assembly session to pass a resolution on Nepali seats restoration with historical, legal and constitutional background and to pass a formula for Limboo-Tamang seat reservation and send it to the Centre.
