Sikkim tribals raise their head to get reservation in state assembly

Gangtok, June 30: In order to get a reservation in the state assembly, Sikkim tribals, represented by Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Apex Committee, approached Union Minister for Development of Northeast (DoNER), Dr. Jitendra Singh, requesting him to take up with the Government of India on Friday.

 

In a meeting, the delegation led by C B Subba, former Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Committee, it was submitted before the Minister that the Government may take necessary steps for the reservation of seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly for Limboo and Tamang Scheduled Tribes. They also requested that the appropriate decision may be taken at the earliest so that the provision of reserved seats may be available before the upcoming Assembly elections in the State next year.

The members of the delegation also handed over to the DoNER Minister, a copy of the letter written by Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling, recommending the provision to provide seats to the Limboo and Tamang tribes.

In a separate memorandum submitted to Dr. Jitendra Singh, the members of the delegation argued that the said tribal community in the State of Sikkim nurses a sense of deprivation of their political and fundamental rights, ever since they had been declared as Scheduled Tribes in 2003 under article 342 of the Constitution. They requested that the issue is taken up early so that they do not have to suffer further injustice or sense of discrimination.

The memorandum asked for suitable Parliament legislation or Ordinance to provide a minimum of five reserved seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly for the Limboo Scheduled Tribes. This, according to them, would promote peace, harmony in the border State.

 

Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to the points raised by the delegation. He said since the matter pertains primarily to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and to the other concerned Ministries; he would forward this memorandum accordingly and also take up the issue with the concerned Ministries.