Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Apex Committee (SILTAC) has expressed its full confidence that Limboo and Tamang of Sikkim would contest the upcoming Assembly election from their reserved seats.
A delegation of SILTAC recently returned back home satisfied and convinced from Delhi with the positive development on the issue of seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang in the Centre.
A seven-member SILTAC delegation comprising its chairman CB Subba, advisors Kalawati Subba and Lakpa Ghising, general secretary Basant Kumar Subba and members Anita Tamang, Sukra Kumar Subba and Bikram Tamang recently visited different Union Ministries concerned and agencies in Delhi to know about the latest development on the issue.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, SILTAC chairman CB Subba mentioned that with this successful tour, the SILTAC was 99 per cent hopeful that Limboo and Tamang would contest the upcoming Assembly election in the State from their reserve seats. He informed that during the tour, it was known that the file related to seat reservation issue has already been cleared by the Ministry of Law and presently with the Home Ministry and would soon be presented in the Union Cabinet for the decision.
Updating on the recent Delhi tour, Subba informed that SILTAC delegation met Union Ministers and senior officials of different ministries and agencies in Delhi from June 25 to July 5 and also presented its memorandum forwarded by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
The delegation met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on June 27 and received positive assurance after a fruitful discussion on the seat reservation issue. Then the delegation had a meeting with Union Law Minister Jual Oram on June 28 and Union Minister of State for DoNER and Prime Minister Office, Jitendra Singh on June 29, who also gave assurance to work on the issue.
The delegation had a fruitful discussion in the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe on July 2 and then met the Secretary and Joint Secretary of Union Home Ministry, who informed that the Ministry has been working tirelessly on the issue. The delegation also called on the President of India on July 4 on this issue.
The delegation also met the National Chairman of All India Confederation of SC and ST Organisation, Dr Udit Raj on July 5 and the tour finally ended with the meeting with the Union Cabinet Secretary, Pradeep Kumar Sinha on same evening, who also assured to take positive action on the issue.
Subba informed that the delegation also submitted its memorandum to the Prime Minister, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP national president Amit Shah on not getting the chance to meet them in person. He also expressed his confidence that the Limboo and Tamang would get their seats in the State Assembly very soon.
However, he mentioned that some irresponsible political parties and organisation have been using this issue as a weapon just for their political benefit. He added that the State Government has been working consistently and tirelessly but some vested interest political parties and organisation have been trying to divert the issue to another direction just for their political benefits.
“During our recent Delhi visit, it has been known that the Centre has received 67 memorandums on this issue from different political and apolitical organisations so far, which has also been responsible for the delay of this issue as it has created confusion in the concerned ministries,” Subba informed. He added that these memorandums have created confusion as it does not have the scientific, reasonable and democratic formula for the seat reservation. He mentioned that the Centre has been working on the scientific formula sent by the SDF government for the early seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang.
Subba mentioned that opposition parties and some organisations have been trying to mislead the people with their irresponsible statement and activities.
SILTAC advisor Kalawati Subba also expressed his confidence that Limboo and Tamang will get their seats in the State Assembly very soon.