The Sikkim Limboo Tamang Tribal Joint Action Committee (SLTTJAC) has decided to reach out all the Limboo and Tamang members in the State to ask them not to cast their votes for Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) candidates of Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as the party has failed to resolve the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation issue.
SLTTJAC asserted that Limboo and Tamang of Sikkim should not cast their votes to the SDF party which has failed to work to protect the rights of Limboo-Tamang communities.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, SLTTJAC spokesperson Adeep Tamang expressed that the SLTTJAC now does not have any trust on the State government on this issue.
“JAC will reach out to all Limboo and Tamang members across the State with anti-SDF campaigning for its failure to resolve the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation issue,” he said.
In the same vein, SLTTJAC president SB Subba said the JAC will go to the people to inform them about how the SDF government has failed to reserve seats for Limboo and Tamang in the State Assembly.
He added, “We will request the people not to cast their votes to the SDF party which has totally failed to protect the rights of Limboo and Tamang.”
He also urged all the political parties to first understand the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation issue properly rather than making the issue a political weapon for their political benefit.
Responding to queries on SDF’s announcement to field candidates from the LT communities, Tamang said just announcement of five candidates from a party is not enough as there is no guarantee of their victory.
He asserted that instead of making such announcement, the ruling party should have called for an all-party meeting to fix five constituencies for Limboo and Tamang to ensure five LT representatives in the State.
Tamang alleged that Limboos and Tamangs of Sikkim were not only deprived of their seats but of their rights as well despite being tribals.
He also urged Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling not to further give false assurances to the people.
The SLTTJAC president condemned the allegations levelled by the Sikkim Limboo Tamang Apex Committee against the SIBLAC and the Centre on the seat reservation issue.
He stated that the State government and its LT legislators were totally responsible for not working according to the law on the issue of seat reservation.
Tamang lashed out at the LT legislators of the SDF for not speaking a single word on the issue.