Hundreds rally to protest against writ petition

Photo: Voice of Sikkim

SNS,Gangtok, 11 July 2013: Hundreds of Sikkimese people took out a mass rally in Gangtok today, protesting against the writ petition filed by some Old Settlers allegedly targeting the Sikkimese Nepali community. 

The rally, organised by the Denzong Welfare Association (DWA), started from fifth Mile area and crossing several thoroughfares ended at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Those leading and participating in the rally demanded the petitioners withdraw their petition during its hearing at the Supreme Court slated for tomorrow. 

The writ petition has triggered rumblings in the state as it has allegedly demanded abrogation of the Income Tax exemption facility the holders of the Sikkim Subject Certificates enjoy in case the same cannot be extended to the Old Settlers, mostly from the ‘mainland’ India. 

This aside, the petition is supposed to have branded a section of the Nepalese Sikkimese as foreigners, enjoying the exemption by deceit. 

The DWA president, Phurba Sherpa said the petitioners must withdraw their petition on 12 July. Members of several social and political organisations have also joined the rally, holding placards opposing the ‘unacceptable’ slur hurled on the identity of the bona fide Sikkimese by some members of a minority community. 

The protestors said they were compelled to take to the streets by the drift of the development. “If the situation warrants that we must fight the case out at the court, every one of us would gather at the Supreme Court to have the slur of foreigners permanently removed,” one of the participants said. 

A large number of Sikkim Police and IRB jawans were deputed to avert any untoward incident during the protest rally.