Saturday, Nov 12, 2022 08:00 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Nov 12, 2022 02:26 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Sikkim Republican Party (SRP) president K.B. Rai on Friday maintained that Sikkim Police irresponsibly dented the image of the five individuals by hastily disclosing their names in the Sumanta Kumar’s case.
Kumar had been arrested by Sikkim Police on November 1 following his controversial protest at Jantar Mantar against Article 371F earlier this year. During questioning, he gave names of five persons to the police who allegedly extended or offered support. These five persons were also questioned by Sikkim Police.
“The accused is said to have received more than 700 calls. We were surprised when the police disclosed the names of only five persons. Among them, two persons faced a strong pressure from the ruling party. These five persons are in the questioning process at present and only when there is proof of their involvement, police should have released their names in public,” said the SRP president at a press meet here.
Rai added that every individual has their dignity and rights and in the particular case, police should have withheld their names till conclusive evidence against them was collected. It is good to name them only when there is proof collected and we also demand that those hurting the Sikkimese sentiments should be punished as per law, he said.
In this context, the SRP president added that though Sikkim government took legal action against an individual demanding removal of Article 371F, there is a more pressing need to revisit and demand accountability over the violation of special Constitutional provisions for Sikkim.
“We ask the past and present governments about what they have done to protect old laws and other provisions of Article 371F? The biggest betrayal happened in 1979 when the Nepali seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly were done away with. The majority population of Sikkim are even today facing injustice and inequality. The government of yesterday and today need to answer on this,” said Rai.
The SRP president reminded that the SKM party, while in opposition, had advocated for restoration of Nepali seats in the Assembly. Now they are in the power and must work towards restoration of the lost Nepali seats besides bringing back all our old laws that have been repealed over the years, he said.
