Gangtok, Sept. 28: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) has asked members of the two communities to contest the coming panchayat polls “under protest” as the Sikkim government has failed to provide seat reservation in the polls.
“I appeal to members of the Bhutia-Lepcha community to contest the elections under protest,” said Tseten Tashi Bhutia, the Siblac convener at a news meet yesterday.
The members of the umbrella organisation feel that though various communities are getting reservation in the coming panchayat polls, the Bhutias and Lepchas will not be given the opportunity. The panchayat polls are slated for October 26.
Twelve seats in the Sikkim Assembly are reserved for Bhutias and Lepchas on ethnic grounds. They are troubled because in the panchayat polls, the Bhutias and Lepchas have been tagged with the Scheduled Tribes leaving them less scope to contest.
“I appeal to members of the Bhutia-Lepcha community to contest the elections under protest,” said Tseten Tashi Bhutia, the Siblac convener at a news meet yesterday.
The members of the umbrella organisation feel that though various communities are getting reservation in the coming panchayat polls, the Bhutias and Lepchas will not be given the opportunity. The panchayat polls are slated for October 26.
Twelve seats in the Sikkim Assembly are reserved for Bhutias and Lepchas on ethnic grounds. They are troubled because in the panchayat polls, the Bhutias and Lepchas have been tagged with the Scheduled Tribes leaving them less scope to contest.
